Page 171 of Mercy Written in Blood

"Four years?"

"At least."

"That predates the Archive discovery."

"Yes."

"And the tunnel excavation."

"Yes."

Renji thought of the physician's journal, the mural, the symbol repeated across records the Accord had concealed from nearly everyone alive.

"The Archive was not uncovered by chance," he said.

"We do not know that."

"You suspect it."

Kael put on his coat.

"I suspect the Unveiled permitted it to be found."

"Why?"

"That is the question."

"You know more than you have told Haruki."

"Yes."

"You know what the White Lotus represents."

Kael adjusted one cuff.

"I know what it represented."

Renji waited. Kael did not continue.

"You came into my home, accused me of being in love and drank my tea," Renji said. "You can answer one question."

"I accused you of nothing."

"You stated it as fact."

"Because it is more efficient."

"The lotus."

Kael glanced towards the sword resting on its stand. For a moment, his expression seemed far older than his face.

"The Archive was never merely a collection of records," he said.

"What was it?"

"A record of a promise."

"Between whom?"