The immediate aftermath of the reconnaissance team's loss was a chaotic mix of grief, panic, and escalating blame. Captain's efforts to restore order had temporarily quelled the most outward signs of hysteria, but the fear remained, a festering wound in the sanctuary's core. And that fear had found a clear target in Kael.
Gus, emboldened by the tragedy, became the de facto voice of dissent. He moved among the survivors, his fear contagious, his accusations sharp. "He brought this on us! His power, his connection! They found the team because of him! We have to protect ourselves! We have to cut out the sickness before it kills the whole body!" His words, though cruel, resonated with those who had already lost so much and saw Kael's terrifying abilities as a direct link to their suffering.
Elara remained steadfastly by Kael's side, her small form a shield against the hostile glances and whispers. She tried to argue, to reason, reminding them how Kael had saved them before, how his sensing had at least given them confirmation, however grim. But fear was a powerful counter-argument.
Kael himself was a silent storm of confusion and distress. The recent Bedel, coupled with the overwhelming wave of fear and anger directed at him, had left him more disoriented than usual. He felt the raw emotions, the hostility, directed at him, but he struggled to understand why. He saw the fear in the faces of people he had tried to help. He felt Vispera's warmth beside him, steady but tinged with sadness.
Captain, after the initial wave of damage control, sought out Elara and Kael in their usual corner by the fire. His face was etched with weariness and the heavy burden of leadership. He knew the internal threat posed by Gus and the growing dissent was as dangerous as The Void outside.
"We need to decide how to proceed," Captain said, his voice low, addressing Elara but glancing at Kael. "The reconnaissance mission... failed. But Kael's ability... it did confirm their location. It did sense the presence watching them." He paused, a difficult truth in his eyes. "It might be our only way to gather intelligence on The Void's movements. However costly."
Elara looked at Kael, her heart aching at the price he paid. "Costly is an understatement, Captain. Each attempt... the Bedel... it's taking him piece by piece."
Captain sighed, the sound heavy with the weight of impossible choices. "I know. But the alternative... blindness. Waiting for the Void to strike without warning. Can we afford that?"
The conversation was a grim reflection of the sanctuary's dilemma. Kael's power offered a desperate chance, but demanded a price that felt morally bankrupt. Gus and his followers offered a false sense of security through exclusion, but ignored the desperate need for information.
"We need to continue the observations," Captain stated, his voice firming with resolve. "Carefully. Focus on sensing The Void itself. Its currents, its presence. Can he distinguish between a passive presence and an active threat? Can he sense direction more reliably?"
Elara nodded grimly. She understood the necessity, even as her heart rebelled against pushing Kael further. "I will continue my research into the lore," she added. "Perhaps there are old ways... ways to mitigate the Bedel? Or understand Vispera better?"
Gus, watching from a distance, saw their discussion, saw Kael huddled nearby. He saw the child as a threat, a ticking time bomb. His resolve hardened. He wouldn't wait for Captain to make another "reckless" decision that endangered them all.
The chapter ends with Captain deciding to continue studying Kael's sensing abilities despite the failed mission and the heavy cost of Bedel, focusing on understanding The Void's presence and direction, while Gus's opposition solidifies into a more active threat, setting up a potential internal confrontation.