"The cost—"
"I'm aware of the cost. Political, financial, strategic. But the alternative is losing this entire army to demon lord assault. Eighteen hundred soldiers dead, four heroes killed, complete military disaster. Against that outcome, the cost of Cathedral intervention is acceptable."
The voice was silent, clearly considering.
Finally:
"Affirmative. We will make our plans. The matter is dire enough to justify exceptional response. Cathedral assets will be prepared for deployment."
"How long until they can deploy if I request activation?"
"Preparation requires six hours minimum. The ritual components, the sanctification, the coordination—this isn't simple deployment. This is invoking divine intervention on battlefield scale."
"Six hours," Elric repeated. "So if I request activation at dawn when the assault begins, Cathedral assets could deploy by midday?"
