As expected, the call was quickly answered. Before Hayden was able to utter a single word, the voice on the other end was first to speak, in a tone that bordered on worry and yet remained reassuring.

"What's wrong?"

One of the corners of Hayden’s mouth raised up.

“Everything's fine," he leaned against the corner of the wooden desk. "We made it to Oswin's. We had a slight mishap on our way but nothing to worry about."

"Is Theo all right?" The metallic squeak of a door closing and footsteps moving away in the background echoed from the other end of the call.

"Perfectly," Hayden said, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. "He can do magic."

The silence thickened.

"Is that what you called me for?" Madelyn responded puzzled, uttering each word calmly. “It's no surprise; that was the information his brother provided. Why?" her voice got deeper. “Is there a problem?"

Hayden stopped tapping his fingers.

"No, it's just—" he sighed. "I'm a little overwhelmed. It's nothing."

He didn't need to see Madelyn to know the expression on her face.

"What is it?"

"Were you able to find out anything about their plans?" he said cautiously, running his hand through his hair, "what exactly he wants from the necklace?”

"Their intention is not yet clear. But you should still know that nothing great can come of it if the necklace is in their hands.” She paused. “What are you concerned about?"

"Nothing.” Hayden scratched his chin. “I'm just a bit on edge, but I'm fine." He turned his gaze to the overflowing bookshelves. "Has there been any progress?"

"They won't let anyone in the base for now," Madelyn said without changing her worried tone. "Zen is currently dealing with that, I assume that in a few days we will be able to slip in and get something. Everyone's working hard on it."

"Mhm," Hayden said tapping on the hardcover of a book that was on the desk.

"What's on your mind?" Madelyn said gently without the tone of authority most people were used to hearing.

"It's just that... “ He rested his hand on the book. “We still don't know anything about the necklace, about what it does, nothing." Hayden sighed. "I've been thinking about all this..."

The squeaking of a chair resonated on the other side of the line.

"Hayden," she said, and her voice pierced through him. "It doesn't matter what it is. They want it. This is our chance, finally, to do something. To end it all. You can't allow yourself to forget there's something bigger at stake."

"I know. I know that." Hayden rubbed his eyes. "I'm not going to stop the mission. I won't stop anything. But I...I wanted to ask you a favor."

Madelyn hesitated, which was noticeable in the shakiness of her voice.

"What is it."

“I'll follow up with the mission. I'll do my part as agreed. But I want to know why Ethan wants the necklace destroyed." He stopped leaning on the desk. "I need to know for sure. I don't want to do anything I could regret."

"Hayden, we're trying to do our best. We're up to the neck with the preparations. There's no way we can delay it any further. You know this was thoroughly planned."

"That's why I'm asking you for this. We can't simply act without considering the consequences. We wouldn't be any more different than they are," Hayden stood up straight. "Is there any way you can get through to Ethan? There's still time."

“His release is scheduled for next week; we can't do it before then without arousing suspicion," she said. "We can only wait."

The floorboards creaked in a somber symphony and filled the heavy silence in the room.

"We can't allow any mistakes. For now, stick to the objective." Madelyn said. “Everyone here is already tense about what you pulled in the headquarters.”

"I'm sorry. That was impulsive of—"

"It’s okay, I understand," she said in a soft voice. "I have to go back. Let me know if anything happens. Give my regards to Oswin."

"All right."

Hayden turned off the device in his hand and put it away. He felt like giving in to his lack of energy and collapsing on the floor. But instead, he stood there, lost in thought, staring at something far beyond that room. Once again, the silent darkness surrounded him entirely, and solitude only grew deeper inside him.