CHAPTER 108: ACADEMY INFILTRATION

"I hope they will be fine," Marcus thought, watching the Defenders prepare for their guerrilla operations against Malachar's supply lines. The weight of sending people into danger, of taking real war responsibilities, was something Marcus couldn't shake off. Did I send the Defenders to their death? The feeling gnawed at him as he, Tom, and Palwin prepared for their own dangerous mission.

Now they were infiltrating the Academy to steal documents that might give them the intelligence they needed to survive the approaching siege.

"Why are we hiding and stealing from the Academy? I don't understand, Marcus," Tom whispered as they crouched in the shadows outside the Academy walls.

"Shush. Quiet. If we asked them and they denied our request, we may never find where the information is kept," Marcus replied in a low voice.

"What are you talking about?"

"You'll see when we find it. I may instantly have to go and take what I need, then help here with the siege."

Tom studied Marcus's face in the moonlight. "I don't understand, but I trust you."

Marcus felt the familiar weight of leadership and secrets. Tom's simple faith made the responsibility even heavier.

"You studied here almost a year. Do you know anywhere we can enter easily?"

Tom thought for a moment, examining the Academy's imposing walls. "I can jump the north wall directly into the garden, but you guys can't." He paused, considering. "Wait, first I could throw you, then I can jump," he said as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

"We don't have bear DNA like you. We can't fall from that height," Marcus protested.

"DNA?" Tom asked with confusion.

Palwin raised her hand hesitantly, waiting for permission to speak.

"You wanted to tell us something. Say your idea, Palwin," Marcus encouraged.

"Tom jump inside, wait for me," she said simply. Then, after a pause, "Portal."

"Ohh," Marcus and Tom said simultaneously, realizing she could teleport them through once Tom was inside.

When they reached the north wall, Tom jumped like a tiger, his enhanced muscles propelling him up the vertical surface in movements that defied normal human capabilities.

Palwin immediately focused her energy and opened a portal. Marcus stepped through, trusting Palwin completely. The sensation was like a rollercoaster ride, but since he'd only been on one once and had been scared to death while also feeling excited, he wasn't sure which emotion was stronger. His heart was beating like crazy as he materialized inside the Academy grounds.

"Now where?" Tom asked quietly.

"Professor Thaddeus's room," Marcus whispered back.

They moved through the Academy at night, sneaking through corridors that both knew from living here for weeks. The building felt different in darkness, more mysterious and somehow larger than during the day.

When they arrived at Professor Thaddeus's office, Marcus positioned Tom strategically.

"Tom, wait at the start of the hall. If anyone comes, stall them."

"How?"

"I don't know, figure something out. They know you, so they won't immediately suspect you're up to something."

Marcus turned to Palwin. "Palwin, I heard you don't like opening portals where you can't see, but I can't pick locks. Can you open a portal behind the door?"

Palwin looked at him uncertainly. "I don't know."

Marcus held her hand gently, offering reassurance and connection. "Here and just one yard inside. Try, please."

Palwin focused intensely, straining with the effort. She managed to open a small portal, but it wasn't large enough for Marcus to fit through.

"You don't have to be afraid. Just make it a little bigger," Marcus encouraged.

Palwin seemed to be in pain from the effort, but she managed to expand the portal. Marcus stepped through, experiencing the same heart pounding sensation as the portal wrapped around him. He appeared in the middle of Professor Thaddeus's office, and the portal closed immediately behind him.

She can't keep portals open for long, he noted to himself.

Marcus looked around and his heart sank. When they had visited the office days ago, documents had been stuffed everywhere in obvious disorganization. Now everything appeared to have been removed or carefully reorganized.

Marcus immediately began checking bookcases and filing systems. When he opened the cases, everything was still there, but now placed neatly and systematically.

This is bad too, Marcus thought. I need to replace everything exactly as I found it or Professor Thaddeus will know someone was searching.

Marcus started carefully pulling documents of similar colors and sizes that he could remember from his previous visit. After half an hour of methodical searching, a voice came through a small portal that had opened near the desk.

It was just a pair of lips visible through the opening. "Cousin, it's been almost an hour. I'm freaking out. Let's go."

While Marcus was getting angry at his overly cautious cousin, he noticed the right scroll among the papers he was examining. He pulled it out carefully and unrolled it.

There it was: the detailed drawing of Malachar's facility. If everything went according to plan, this would be his way in and out.

Marcus folded the document carefully and placed everything else back in its exact position. Then he knocked on the door from inside.

"Palwin, another portal please," he called softly.

Tom's voice came through the opening: "Brother, go to the back of the room. You don't want it opening on your face."

Marcus didn't know what would happen if a portal opened directly on someone, but this wasn't the time or place to test it. He positioned himself safely and waited for Palwin to create the exit portal.

They snuck out of the Academy the same way they'd entered, using Palwin's portal magic to bypass the security that would have stopped any normal intruder.

Once they were safely away from the Academy grounds, Tom couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.

"Brother, my heart was leaving my body. What was it that was so important?"

Marcus showed him the drawing, unrolling it carefully in the moonlight. The facility layout was detailed and precise, showing exactly what Celestine had described.

"It might be my way in," Marcus said simply.

Tom studied the technical drawing with obvious confusion. "Way into what?"

Marcus realized he'd been keeping Tom in the dark about too many details of their mission. His cousin deserved to understand what they were really preparing for.

They found a secluded spot where Marcus could explain without being overheard. Under the stars, with the Academy behind them and the weight of stolen intelligence in his hands, Marcus began to share the plane he made.

"Then I will have to be very good at not getting caught."

They made their way back to home. The Academy mission had proven that Palwin's portal abilities could work for covert operations, but the real test would be much more challenging.

As they walked through city streets, Marcus reflected on how much had changed since he'd first arrived in Valdris as a confused refugee with wild ideas about soap.

Now he was planning to infiltrate the stronghold of an conqueror, using alien technology and magic to prevent the destruction their world.

The scale of responsibility was terrifying, but having allies like Tom and Palwin made it feel possible.

The stolen facility plans felt heavy in his hands, weighted with the hopes and fears of everyone depending on their success.

But for the first time since Celestine had dropped her impossible task on him, Marcus felt like they might actually have a chance to succeed.