Chương 250: Chapter 246 - Inheritance

Scarlett's eyes quickly adjusted to the gentle, otherworldly light suffusing the chamber, some of it seeming to emanate from the myriad symbols adorning the walls, each pulsing in a mysterious rhythm. Tall structures resembling pods occupied the corners, their surfaces intricately etched with ancient runes. Scattered throughout were arcane devices and instruments, their purposes and designs unfamiliar to Scarlett.

At the room's center floated a conspicuous orb, its light casting dancing shadows on the stone floor where a constellation of star-like patterns converged towards it, the air buzzing with latent energy. An undeniable tension hung heavy in the atmosphere, an unseen force that instilled a disquieting sensation of being watched.

"So," Rosa remarked dryly, a touch of irony in her tone.

"The hidden library beneath the secret library conceals a hidden forbidden section, which, in turn, hides yet another secret chamber." She raised both eyebrows.

"Am I the only one starting to question these Zuvers' architectural choices at this point?" Glancing at the woman, Scarlett detected a glimmer of caution beneath her casual demeanour. Returning her gaze to the enigmatic room, Scarlett paused at the threshold, her eyes roving over the foreign environment before stepping inside. What manner of place was this? Was it a chamber from the game that she had simply never discovered in her previous playthroughs? Or something unique to this world?

Given her growing suspicions about the nature of the Orrery, she leaned towards the latter. Her attention fell upon the pods at the edge of the chamber. Five in total, all but one remained sealed shut. Their fronts were semi-transparent, through which she could vaguely discern the twisted, distorted outlines of various unnatural shapes — some contorted beyond any recognisable form. She was hoping those wouldn't start moving. Her focus lingered on the lone, open pod, wondering what its purpose had been.

Given its size, it looked suspiciously like it could have accommodated the custodian. Turning, Scarlett noticed that the entity in question had followed her into the chamber, though it remained mostly still, merely observing her with its impassive, unblinking gaze. Considering it wasn't a living being in any conventional sense, she supposed it must have been crafted or created somewhere. Maybe this was that 'somewhere'.

Although from its earlier confusion when searching for text related to Thainnith, she gathered it wasn't aware of this chamber's existence. Redirecting her search to the floating orb at the center, she studied it intently for a few seconds. Regardless of whether that was true or not, it was clear that this thing was the heart of this place. Its appearance reminded her a bit of the Astral Soulstone, yet it was also distinctively unique.

At the back of her mind, that same instinctual urge from earlier commanded her to destroy the orb. This, in itself, told her a lot. It also stoked the simmering embers of her growing displeasure even further. Raising her left hand, Scarlett aimed the Orrery directly at the orb, observing the reaction. The short pointer moved about as much as it had with the sigil before.

"What is that?" Rosa asked.

"I do not know," Scarlett responded.

"…Like, are you saying 'don't know' as in you're keeping a secret," the bard pressed, "or you genuinely have no clue?" Scarlett turned to face her.

"I was genuinely not aware this chamber existed until now."

"Oh…" Rosa's expression turned somberly pensive as she regarded the orb closely.

"In that case… I think we should leave that thing well alone." Scarlett looked at her with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"And why is that?" Rosa placed a hand over her heart, eyes suddenly deepening to a darker, more foreboding shade of violet.

"It's hard to explain, but there's an unusual sensation coming from it. Everything in this room feels…weird, but that orb…" She shook her head slowly.

"It's on an entirely different level." Scarlett watched her quietly for a moment longer.

"Do you believe it poses a threat?"

"Not sure, but I'd rather you didn't risk try finding out." Scarlett turned her attention to Fynn.

"Can you sense anything?" He shook his head as well.

"Nothing at all, in here." Scarlett refocused on the orb. Ignoring it wasn't an option, especially if the Anomalous One desired its destruction. There was also its apparent connection with the Orrery itself to both consider and unravel.

"I can tell what you're thinking," Rosa said, her tone edged with the same concern that had been there before.

"Or at least part of it. If you're set on investigating that thing, let me try instead. I've got the Heartstone, so I might be able to protect myself from any harm."

"No," Scarlett responded decisively.

"It is best if neither of you gets involved." She wasn't going to let her people assume any unnecessary risk this time. Besides, if the orb was indeed related to both the Anomalous One and the Orrery, she was the only one suited for examining it. After casting one final sweeping look across the rest of the mysterious chamber, she began purposefully advancing towards the orb. Delving into this place's secrets could wait, but first, she intended to uncover the true nature of this orb.

As she drew nearer, she scrutinised the object more closely. From afar, it resembled more a floating sphere composed of pure energy, but upon closer examination, she realised that it was physical. Beneath the intense aura of brilliant light surrounding it, the orb appeared crafted from some sort of lustrous metal, adorned with complex, flickering lines and indecipherable runes that almost seemed to shift and move.

Beyond the Anomalous One's insistent urging to destroy the orb, Scarlett felt the object itself beckoning to her in some ineffable way. Not deceptively, as though trying to lure her, but rather an… invitation.

"Scarlett…" Rosa's voice called out from behind.

"Hold whatever you have to say," Scarlett replied, her focus narrowing on the orb. There was no item description, which she had been hoping for, but despite what Rosa had said earlier, she didn't think it was dangerous. Cautiously and deliberately, she extended her finger, allowing it to barely graze the orb's surface. Instantly, impenetrable darkness enveloped her senses. She blinked rapidly, finding herself adrift in a vast, unending void. It didn't feel like she'd been physically teleported elsewhere, though.

Was it some sort of mental or metaphysical shift, then? Looking down, she noticed the Orrery's twin pointers were now aligned, indicating a single unified direction straight ahead. After a moment's contemplation, she steeled her resolve and began walking in that direction. At first, it didn't feel like she was getting anywhere, simply moving through infinite nothingness, with all perception of time becoming increasingly uncertain.

Gradually, however, the void began transforming, solidifying into a distinct path of ancient stonework beneath her boots. Simultaneously, the stark edges of the void grew brighter until, eventually, she found herself surrounded by the breathtaking, open expanse of a dusky twilit sky awash in the fiery hues of an encroaching sunset. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

A raised dais or platform shimmered into view in the distance, upon which stood a solitary figure facing away from her approach. As she got closer, the silhouette of this entity remained stubbornly indistinct, its form blurred as if refusing to fully materialise into coherent focus even as she drew nearer and stepped onto the platform itself. There, she stopped, carefully studying the elusive, ever-shifting outline of the mysterious figure before her.

Their archaic vestments seemed to fluctuate between countless states and configurations, making it near-impossible to make out any details. In fact, the only thing she could say for certain about this presence was that they exuded a formidable, dominating aura of immense power, almost as if their mere existence commanded the respect and deference of the surrounding space. Slowly, the figure turned to face her.

While their features remained obscured and blurred as well, she could perceive hints of ageless, greyish skin, with eyes that radiated a potent, silvery luminescence, settling their penetrating gaze directly upon her. Words, initially emerging as unintelligible murmurs and echoes, gradually reached her as the figure spoke. These indistinguishable utterances steadily changed, sharpening into familiar tones and cadences until, at last, they fully coalesced into perfect English.

"Welcome, inheritor, to this hallowed sanctuary hidden from prying eyes," the figure intoned in a rich, resonant voice imbued with a timeless quality.

"I harbored lingering doubts that this sanctum would remain undiscovered, yet I am relieved to see those fears unfounded and witness your arrival myself." Scarlett watched the entity warily, staying silent for a moment before responding.

"…Who are you?"

"I am…or rather, I should say, I once was merely a man," the figure replied, its words weighing heavily upon the air.

"The one known as Thainnith." It closed its brilliant eyes slowly.

"Now, I am not even that. Now, I am likely dead. And your presence here portends that my hopes of my demise sparking a miracle to fend off the threats to our world did not bear fruition." Its eyes reopened, regarding her with a gaze edged with sorrow.

"For that, I am sorry." Scarlett stared at it, or him.

"…Are you truly Thainnith?" The figure nodded.

"I am, though I have been known by many other titles — the Veilweaver, the Ascendant, the Second Divinarch, Guardian of Equilibrium, and others that are of little consequence now. At this moment, you are here, which means you have found my hidden laboratory within the Veiled Library. For that, I must commend you." A weighty silence lingered as Scarlett absorbed the gravity of his words. Despite most of his visage being obscured, his voice seemed to carry the burdens of millennia, resonating with wisdom.

It simply felt like he was telling the truth. But she could scarcely believe it. Meeting Thainnith himself far exceeded any of her expectations. His name permeated much of the game's lore, but as far as she was aware, the man himself never made an appearance. Encountering him like this was… Well, she didn't quite know what it was.

"Your arrival suggests the world once more teeters on chaos' brink," Thainnith said, his words sounding equally like a question and a statement.

"…That is correct, yes," Scarlett replied after a brief hesitation.

"If you know who I am, you must have questions."

"I do." Thainnith clasped his hands behind his back, gaze drifting towards the horizon.

"Understandable. Regrettably, I may not have all the answers you seek." Scarlett's forehead pulled together slightly.

"Why is that?"

"Because I no longer walk among the living," he explained.

"What stands before you is but a shadow of my former self, a reflection crafted at this sanctum's inception. It lacks the full breadth of my knowledge and the ability to address every conceivable inquiry you may present."

"You appear to have no issue freely conversing with me now." Was this thing perhaps similar to the infused Auranthial Deacon Embertwood had left behind in the Sunfire Shrine?

"Any dialogue we may be engaging in is merely an illusion," Thainnith said, his glowing eyes, intense yet phantom, locking onto her.

"I can interact to this extent because our exchange falls within anticipated parameters. As a divinarch burdened with the fate of this realm, however, I could not afford to anchor even a fragment of my essence here. Hence, straying beyond my predictions will mean your questions may be left unanswered." Scarlett's brow furrowed in thought. Was he implying that Thainnith—the original Thainnith, that is—had literally pre-designed this echo of himself with a catalogue of queries and replies?

The notion was baffling if this was the result. It felt like talking with a real person. If it was true, though, how limited was his response range?

"…Earlier, you referred to the concealed chamber within the Veiled Library as your laboratory," she began carefully.

"What was its purpose?"

"Myriad," Thainnith answered, his voice taking on a more sedate tone.

"Myriad, always. Its original purpose, I cannot even recall. It has been too long. The passage of time, the accumulation of years, and the relentless march and ceaseless demands of my charges have eroded all but its distant memory. Doubtless, its purpose has shifted innumerable times hence. However, now, as I fashioned this inheritance for one such as you to find, it served a singular, paramount objective — to finalise the Tribute of Dominion." Surprise flitted across Scarlett's features.

"Is this where you created the Tribute of Dominion?"

"More accurately, it's where I conducted the requisite research," the man clarified.

"Though my latest recollections find me still engaged in that pursuit, your presence suggests I ultimately succeeded long ago. For years—how many, I do not know—I dedicated myself singularly to that endeavour here. Only recently had I contemplated what must follow my success — the Tribute alone cannot deliver this realm's salvation. The threat against it will inevitably resurface, and once it does, I can no longer stand against it.

This epiphany led me to establish this sanctum, to leave a legacy for those who might continue the fight, however meager it may be compared to the immensity of the task."

"And you believe I could be one of those people?" Scarlett asked.

"Is that why you called me 'inheritor'?"

"Indeed."

"How can you be so certain that I am the right person?"

"The fabric of the future is woven with fate's fibers and conjecture, its path fixed yet veiled from any but its architect. Though I wish it were not so, I am far from such an architect, so certainty often eludes me." Thainnith shook his head, and the movement seemed to come with a sigh of the space around them.

"Your arrival speaks volumes, as few others could uncover this place. It defies yet aligns with my expectations — I foresaw a pivotal figure eventually discovering this sanctum, someone unbounded by the fate that has most of us a thrall. Yet I did not envision someone of your… particular composition. My abilities do not fully comprehend nor predict what you are, which itself is surprising. Moreover, you bear the unmistakable mark of one touched by the Anomalous One, yet you do not seem here to destroy me."

Scarlett's eyebrows rose.

"You can discern the Anomalous One's influence on me?" Wasn't that related to the system's workings in some way? Could he still detect it, despite that?

"I can," Thainnith replied simply.

"How?"

"I cannot say." A frown tugged Scarlett's lips downward. That was…slightly frustrating. Did that mean he would not, or could not, elaborate? Either way, what could she do about it? For a few moments, she simply studied the mysterious figure before her, considering his transient appearance.

"You claim to have created this sanctuary to leave a legacy for those like me," she began eventually.

"What precisely did you intend for me to inherit?"

"My will, first and foremost — a heavy burden to bear, no doubt, but hopefully lighter for you than it was for me." Thainnith's gaze seemed to drift past her momentarily before returning to her.

"At the time of my creation here, my sole focus was thwarting the Anomalous One and the threat it presented. No force in this world can definitively accomplish this, yet the Tribute of Dominion will do so nonetheless. In my era, I have no doubt about this. Your presence signals a pivotal moment in your era, where the world faces similar perils. This means that the location where I will safeguard the Tribute of Dominion will soon open."

"You are referring to Beld Thylelion," Scarlett said.

"That may be the name I bestowed upon it."

"I am already aware of its unveiling. I have seen the future where it happened." Thainnith observed her in silence.

"… I lack an appropriate response to that, regrettably. Know that the Tribute of Dominion cannot be concealed forever, even were that my wish. Its very nature is to ultimately reveal itself, and when that occurs, inheritor, regardless of your present affiliations, if you do not wish to see the Anomalous One be set free, you must secure the Tribute first." Scarlett stifled a sigh. Was there no point in telling him about her knowledge of the future, then?

Had she been too optimistic in hoping that he might comprehend matters transcending the system's bounds simply because he had crafted elements that seemed to go beyond the game's existing framework that she knew about?

"…I understand. I will make it my mission to secure the Tribute first," she said. Not that she'd ever had any other plans. Thainnith responded with a grave nod.

"I wish I could offer you the Tribute's location, but its final resting place remains unknown to this me. However, I likely orchestrated a trail to uncover its sanctum. Should you require guidance on where to begin, that much I can provide."

"That will not be necessary. I am already aware of Beld Thylelion's whereabouts."

"Then you have come here more prepared than I thought. Perhaps hope yet remains that this world may endure, even in my absence." Scarlett watched him quietly, waiting to see if there was more he wanted to say.

"…Is there nothing else you wished to impart?"

"The Tribute of Dominion's importance cannot be overstated," he replied.

"I agree, but surely there is more to this 'inheritance' of yours than that?" She basically knew all of that stuff from the game already. Observing her intently, Thainnith seemed to ponder her question, though that felt unlikely if his responses were predetermined.

"You need not worry," he eventually said.

"There is indeed more to my legacy, but it cannot be transferred to you immediately."

"Why not?"

"It requires further preparation before it can be finalised. Simply be patient."

"…Very well."

"In the meantime, are there any further questions you have for me?" he asked. Scarlett considered him for a bit.

"I want you to explain the Anomalous One's true nature in greater detail."