So it is done

The way created

Cinder took her last sip of coffee at exactly the same moment that Jonathan set his cutlery aside. Seeing that they were finished, the agent assigned taking the waiter's place, with Jonathan's tacit permission, made his way over to him and collected the dirty dishes in an easy motion before heading into the kitchen to the sink.

Cinder was a little amused to realize that she was so in sync with Jonathan's habits and rhythm of life that she was finishing her breakfast at the same time as Jonathan. The thought made her happy, but she dismissed the thought as unimportant, when Jonathan began to rise from the table. She followed a beat later, letting any potential observer know exactly who was the leader, Jonathan's action determining exactly when breakfast was over and for the day to begin.

Jonathan glanced at Cinder and then looked at her team who had also quickly finished their breakfast and then said calmly. "Get ready, we are leaving in fifteen minutes. I suggest you use the restroom and grab a small bottle of water, leaving the official part of the event without a good reason is highly undesirable, even if you're not the official participants but only the entourage."

Of course each of the young hunters-in-training knew this, but no one would be irritated by the repetition of the instruction, aware of the enormous responsibility that lay upon them at the moment. And every mistake, at best, would simply embarrass the Kingdom of Glenn with their actions and breed a couple of unpleasant rumors, ranging from embarrassing to damaging speculation of why they had to leave the conference. In the worst-case scenario, they would be summarily kidnapped or shot by opponents and supporters of either faction, depending on what crazy idea popped into their heads.

In other words, each of the hunters only nodded briefly at Jonathan's reminder, even Cinder did, before the group separated. Some went straight to the toilet while the others began packing in the small rations and bottles of water along with small bits of energy bars that could be eaten without anyone noticing.

With the practiced ease of a military cadet, Cinder had already prepared everything she needed in a flash as she exited the dining hall into the entrance of the hotel, where the other agents were waiting. Seeing her prompt action, the other members of her team could only sigh, with one unifying thought in their head, which surprisingly enough was mirrored by Cinder if for different reasons. 'Cinder, you have no reason to worry.'

Scanning the road, Cinder could spot at least a dozen agents guarding the road and the hotel – at least that's what she could spot. She wouldn't be surprised if, in fact, the number of agents was close to a hundred, including some almost laughable option like an agent disguising himself as a bin down the street. 'There is no reason to worry. You know perfectly well that everything will go well. It can't go badly, it's unequivocal and simple, it will go well, you have no reason to worry.'

And indeed, Cinder had no reason to worry...

And yet she was still worried.

Her imagination was running wild, fears that had no time to form into a coherent picture, which she instantly dispelled as soon as they could form. Cinder suppressed, and banished them, by repeatedly proving to herself how infinitely stupid and illogical her fears were. And she repeated such a process over and over as a mantra, convincing herself that it was all stupidity and that Cinder shouldn't be afraid...

And yet Cinder still does.

Cinder had always prided herself on her confidence and composure, her poise and self-control...

Still, in the last ten minutes, Cinder had to catch herself three times from trying to start quietly muttering her own conviction under her breath.