Yes, Anorah suspected someone in the council had betrayed her, and also planned to set up an ambush when she tried to save the captured men.
But her abrupt outing today was supposed to be a secret. How would one set up an ambush when they had no idea when she was coming?
It was very unlikely that they would wait every day until she came. Not only was it a severe waste of time, but it could likely backfire.
This was the thought she had left with. However, Anorah had unfortunately failed to account for something.
’My people.’
The people, especially those in the grand sanctum, were members of the resistance. Joining the resistance always had the mandate of swearing not to betray the resistance. Though the high synod council members were exempted, due to circumstances.
But was it betrayal when all she did was report her outing to another member of the resistance?
She had ordered them not to inform anyone of her departure, but had unfortunately not backed it up with something binding.
’I overestimated their worship.’
She was practically their god. The one their religion was based on. To think that they would betray her was a thought many would never have thought possible.
She had only been wary of the high synod council, but as it turned out, she needed to spread her wariness over all in the resistance.
’No one could be trusted.’
Anorah’s grip tightened on the woman, and the crowd watched, eyes shocked, as her neck was snapped. She was thrown to the side like some discarded doll.
"Handle the corpse." Anorah’s voice came without any emotion. The attendant flinched as they met her gaze.
There was no remorse, no hesitation in them. It was as though what she had just done was insignificant.
Just like that, she vanished, appearing in the hallway the earlier woman had mentioned. Her gaze soon found the camera staring back at her.
Staring at it for a moment, Anorah vanished once more, appearing inside a large control room filled with numerous screens. She expanded her presence.
"S-Saint!" As one of the operators called out, the others also turned to look. In the next moment, they each rose and bowed deeply in respect.
The Saint’s eyes leveled on one man. In the brief second she appeared, she had scanned all the screens and had seen who manned that particular hallway.
The man was short, hunched. His head was bowed down, and Anorah didn’t miss his trembling limbs.
"You," she said, approaching the small man who instantly became flustered.
What went on next came as a shock to the other operators. Anorah had gone straight to the point. She asked no questions; rather, she stated, declared. He was a spy. He had sold out information.
The man of course tried to deny it, but Anorah’s hands were unforgiving. Her slaps snapped him to reality. And after minutes of brutal torture, he finally broke and spilled.
"I–I... I was only t-told... t-to press this d-device... once the s-signal was given!" he choked, spittle and blood flying with every syllable. "I–I d-don’t know who... who receives it! I swear it... I swear!"
Anorah frowned and grabbed the device from the man’s shaky hands. It was a spherical object with a button in its middle.
"How did you receive it?" she asked.
"I-I just met it o-on my desk! I s-swear!"
With another hardened grip, she broke the man’s neck.
"Take care of the body." With that, she vanished.
Anorah ended her search there. At that point, it was a dead end. It would seem, no matter how unfortunate it was, that she wasn’t in control as she thought. To think this would play under her nose.
’I need to take many measures.’
Anorah’s mind spun. She felt a wave of dizziness hit her.
’How long have I been using it?’ Since the battle, their escape, and torture. Anorah had used the power of Logoth for far too long.

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