Act 2: Upheaval II - Revelations and search

"Old mission, long story. But he's right, another Elemental we ran into did say that."

Szef Zerva leans forward on her chair and asks, "Is there any way to detect that mental link between the Elemental and the green mage?"

"Question for the Mages."

Konrad:

The young monk is surprised when Konrad mentions that he was making sure she wasn't a green mage, but she quickly regains her composure. "You can never be too careful."

For the first time since she entered the room, Femke speaks up. "If I may?"

"Please do."

Mihai looks at her expectantly.

The others in the room listen closely to what Femke is about to say.

"Wouldn't it be simpler if you inserted an orb in his head while he was unaware of it?"

"Yes." - he answers quickly, but fails to elaborate for a moment as he considers - "But not necessarily easier. I'd have to catch him alone, and be completely silent until the moment i free him. It's very possible that the Enemy can't watch him 24/7, problem is we don't know."

"Use Duma's weaknesses against him," Femke says. "This should provide you with an opportunity."

Nadzieja continues to observe the Tyke woman.

Mihai glances at Nadzieja, but looks away just as quickly, as if forcing himself to dismiss an idea.

Konrad frowns. "If you're saying what I think, I must say, that's far more crass that I expected from you."

"Weakness? What do you mean Femke? Does he love hot dog eating contests as much as I do?"

"......" - Mihai forces himself not to say anything.

"I am not aware of Zenon Duma's weaknesses," Femke replies, impassive.

"But I am," Nadzieja says with a long face. "And no Steve, he doesn't love hot dog contests."

Fluffle and Amber look and each other in confusion.

"You don't look too happy about what he does like though. It's not you, is it?"

"If an Elemental is snooping on the other side when it suddenly loses Duma, whoever he was last looking at will likely become a target."

He says it like a warning.

Konrad winces at Steve's blank understanding. To the szef, he says, "That is not on the table."

Nadzieja meets Konrad's eyes and answers without any hesitation. "Yes, it is." After a few seconds of sustaining the red mage's gaze, she relaxes and sighs. "I just hope it won't be necessary."

She lowers her head and ponders the question. Fluffle and Amber, the youngest people in this room, exchange a glance, having now fully understood the proposed plan.

"So... he loves Nadzieja?" Fluffle asks.

"He loves women," the monk specifies. "He even pays to be with them."

"He pays?" - then catches himself and gets back on track - "Anyway, if it came to that, you'd barely have to touch above his neck, problem solved. I'm more worried about what happens if an Elemental sees you do it just before it loses contact with him. You'll be a target.

Ideally, it should happen when he's having lunch, brushing his teeth, taking a nap. Any mundane time of day that's no different form the others. I don't want to give them anything out of the ordinary to latch on to when they're figuring out how to retaliate."

Steve frowns but keeps his opinion about Duma's sex life to himself. "That's true. Why not invite him and a few others to celebrate the death of the werewolf? Myrzen celebrate a good battle right?"

"Too many witnesses. And who knows what they'd be hiding."