Chương 282: Chapter 278 - Who are you, again?

Scarlett's brow furrowed in concentration, her gaze fixed on the thick, square piece of parchment resting on her lap. Slowly, meticulously, she traced intricate patterns across its surface using her pyrokinesis, leaving behind faint, burnt lines as a complex array of intersecting sigils and runes gradually took shape under her careful guidance. After far too long, she finally finished, allowing herself a moment to relax as she leaned back to inspect her work.

With a flick of her wrist, she used her hydrokinesis to whisk away a bead of sweat from her forehead, the sultry, summer-like heat bearing down on her. To the untrained eye, the array might have appeared as nothing more than an elaborate doodle. However, it had taken Scarlett hours and several failed attempts to achieve the precision she desired. Even with her pyrokinesis, which gave her far greater control than mundane writing implements ever could, this task wasn't easy. Satisfied, she raised her hand, palm up.

A small pouch materialised in her grasp as if it had always been there. She tugged the drawstring, revealing a fine, shimmering powder inside. With measured movements, she pinched a small amount between her fingers and began the painstaking process of carefully distributing it along the lines she had just burned into the parchment. Twenty minutes later, Scarlett completed this step as well. The pouch disappeared, replaced by a curious metal pen-like tool with a softly glowing red crystal at its tip.

Arlene had recommended using something like this rather than directly imbuing the array with her mana, insisting it would simplify the process. Channeling her mana into the pen, Scarlett gently pressed its tip to the array. The powder flared briefly before melting into the parchment, leaving behind a gently glowing crimson trail. She traced the design, imbuing it with arcane energies she only partially understood, until the entirety of the array pulsed with a subtle, ruby light.

Her task finally complete, Scarlett folded the parchment and tucked it into her [Pouch of Holding]. She rose from the bench she was seated on, brushing away any stray grains of powder that clung to her dress, and took a moment to survey the lush garden surrounding her, bordered by towering hedges on all sides. The Loci's home had truly flourished into a verdant paradise.

Vibrant, exotic flowers and peculiar plants lined gravel paths, interspersed with ornate benches and elegant statuary that Scarlett had added recently. The air was thick with the heady scent of summer blooms, despite the winter chill just beyond the garden's borders. There were even butterflies and bees flitting among the blossoms. She had no idea where those came from, but they certainly added to the charm of the place.

Her attention shifted to the centerpiece of the garden: the large, uncut emerald perched atop a pedestal surrounded by a circle of carefully tended flowers. The Loci pulsed with an inner light, with the Ashenwraith heart that powered much of its abilities swirling and shifting like living smoke trapped within the crystalline structure beneath the emerald. With a gentle mental nudge, Scarlett reached out to the Loci through their bond.

In the blink of an eye, she was standing before the emerald, her palm resting against its cool surface. The Loci's nascent awareness stirred at her touch, radiating a faint sense of recognition that, while not quite an emotion, hinted at the potential for something more. Scarlett lingered briefly before stepping back. Wrapping herself in a cocoon of warm air with her pyrokinesis, she reached out to the Loci again.

In the next instant, she was transported to the mansion's back entrance, her feet sinking into fresh snow as the winter cold tried to nip at her skin. Without pausing, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. The Loci had grown considerably over the past month or so. Once capable of only minor feats of spatial manipulation—like teleporting a certain cat around—it could now transport Scarlett herself halfway across the estate with relative ease.

It did leave the Loci temporarily drained, needing about an hour or so to recharge, but Scarlett still took quiet satisfaction in doing it now and then. There was an almost strange rush that came with suddenly finding yourself in a new location through magic that she couldn't quite explain. And she also liked to see it as providing the little house spirit with some opportunities for further growth and practice. As she made her way through the mansion's decorated corridors, she ran into Garside.

The grey-haired butler stood by an antique side table in the foyer, hands clasped behind his back as he gazed out at the courtyard. Noticing her approach, he turned, bowing deeply.

"My Lady," he said, his voice as crisp and formal as always.

"I presume you have completed your business in the garden? There is a matter I sought to bring to your attention."

"Garside. Your timing is impeccable, as usual." Scarlett reached into her [Pouch of Holding] to retrieve the parchment she had spent so much of the morning working on. She held it out to him.

"Place this in the estate's northeast corner, in a suitable spot, like the other arrays." The old butler accepted the parchment with care.

"I will ensure it is positioned in a protected location, My Lady."

"Excellent," Scarlett replied, continuing down a connecting hallway with Garside falling into step beside her. While those arrays were far from her primary focus at the moment, she had been dedicating what spare time she could to practicing the 'simpler' magical constructs Arlene had taught her. This latest creation would join three others she had already situated around the estate, forming the beginnings of a very rudimentary defensive network.

The arrays themselves weren't particularly impressive, capable only of conjuring basic fire barriers when triggered by an intruder's presence. Still, they served as both practical exercises and a foundation for more ambitious plans. For the time being, Scarlett was only replicating what Arlene had taught her, but eventually, she intended to incorporate some of the runes that Thainnith's legacy held.

She also wanted to integrate these arrays with the Loci itself, allowing the Idol-touched life form to channel and direct more potent magical effects through them. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Of course, scattering potentially dangerous magical traps across the estate presented its own set of problems.

Scarlett had briefly considered setting up warning markers to prevent the staff from accidentally stumbling onto them, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of having defences. Instead, she had told Garside to inform those working here about the restricted areas, and attempted to convey similar instructions to the Loci, hoping it could remove those who trod too close. Whether the Loci could understand such complex commands, though, was somewhat unclear.

A nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded her that Evelyne would likely disapprove of such cavalier experimentation within the estate. It did give Scarlett pause for another moment, wondering whether she should perhaps remove the arrays, at least temporarily. After all, they were unlikely to deter any real threats, like the Cabal. She'd have to give it more consideration. With her thoughts touching upon Evelyne, her gaze fell to the [Hartford Garnet Ring] adorning her finger.

She had taken to wearing it regularly now, despite not being able to activate it. Whether it was from a sense of rebellion or a desire to send some unspoken message didn't really matter. Pushing these musings aside, Scarlett turned back to Garside.

"Has a meal been prepared?" she asked. Between her magical practice in the early morning and her subsequent work on the arrays, she was, quite frankly, ravenous. Garside inclined his head.

"It has, My Lady. However, you may wish to delay your meal. A guest has arrived, requesting an audience with you." A slight frown creased Scarlett's brow. An unannounced visitor? What, did they expect her to drop whatever she was doing and receive them immediately?

"Tell this person that they will have to wait," she said, a note of annoyance creeping into her voice. She was at least going to eat first.

"I shall relay your message," Garside replied, before clearing his throat softly.

"Though you may wish to know that the individual in question is Miss Breeden." Scarlett stopped mid-step, turning fully to face the butler.

"…Miss Breeden?" Kat had come here?

"Indeed, My Lady," Garside confirmed with a nod. For a moment, Scarlett's gaze drifted longingly down the hallway towards the dining hall. Eventually, she released a resigned sigh. It seemed lunch would have to wait.

"Very well," she said, turning back to Garside.

"Have her shown to the parlour. I will meet her there."

"I already have taken the liberty, My Lady. She awaits you as we speak."

"Of course you have." Scarlett turned on her heel, heading down another corridor that led to the parlour. It had been ages since she'd last seen Kat. The Shielder's sudden appearance was puzzling, honestly, especially given the Guild's current state of high alert. While not exactly upset about the impromptu visit—other than it delaying her meal—Scarlett couldn't help but wonder at the reason behind it. Soon enough, she arrived at the parlour. Garside stepped forward to open the door, and she swept inside.

Seated on one of the plush couches in the center of the room was a tall woman dressed in simple, practical attire, her sun-bleached golden hair tied into a long braid draped over one shoulder. Light blue eyes, set in a fair-skinned face, met Scarlett's gaze. A noticeable scar—angry red skin that hinted at an old burn injury—marked the lower right side of her chin. A smile spread across Kat's face as she looked at Scarlett.

"Well, look who it is," she said with playful sarcasm.

"It's been a while, yeah?" Scarlett studied her for a moment before crossing the room, with Garside remaining outside in the hallway.

"Indeed it has," she replied, her tone carefully neutral.

"I had almost forgotten you existed, Miss Breeden, given your long absence."

"Oh, come on. It hasn't been that long," Kat protested.

"What's with the cold shoulder?" Scarlett settled onto the couch opposite the woman, smoothing her dress.

"Much has transpired in the last several months. Enough that you likely would not believe me, even if I only shared the most credible parts. In that time, I have heard precious little from you, yet you expect a warm reception when you arrive without notice?"

"I see how it is," Kat said, shaking her head slowly.

"You replace me with the shinier, younger generation and go around making a name for yourself, then you forget all about your good ol' pal Kat, who helped you get where you are today. All because she disappears off the face of the earth for a little while." She sighed loudly.

"The world really isn't fair."

"It certainly is not," Scarlett agreed simply. The two of them regarded each other for a few seconds longer before Kat let out a light laugh.

"Well, you didn't kick me out for just showing up like this, so I'm going to assume you've still got a soft spot for me somewhere in that cold heart of yours." Scarlett clicked her tongue, though there was no real bite behind it.

"Do you realise that you caused me to delay my meal? Most who did such a thing would come to regret it deeply."

"You know, you could just have come after eating," Kat pointed out.

"I wouldn't have minded waiting."

"I am not so rude as to treat a friend in that manner after not having seen them for months." The woman's smile widened.

"'Friend', huh? Well, thanks for that. It's nice seeing you again, Scarlett." Scarlett relaxed her expression.

"You as well."

"By the by," Kat said, gesturing towards the entrance with her thumb.

"I couldn't help but notice as I arrived — did you renovate the courtyard or something? It looked different. In fact, this whole place feels…odd, somehow."

"The courtyard had to be rebuilt after it was damaged in a Cabal raid, and later by the blood of an ashenwraith dragon," Scarlett explained.

"As for the 'odd' sensation you speak of, that is likely the presence of the new house spirit that now watches over the estate." Kat blinked, staring at her for a short while before a bemused chuckle escaped her.

"I guess some things never change." Her smile faded after a while, though, her expression turning flat.

"Are you actually being serious, though?"

"Who knows?" Scarlett answered, deliberately being as cryptic as she could.

"…That's just mean." The ghost of a smile formed on Scarlett's lips.

"You should not have interrupted my meal." It was nice seeing Kat again, honestly. It surprised even her how genuinely pleased she was to see one of the first people she'd gotten to know in this world.

"But you just said—" Kat started, then stopped, shaking her head once more in exasperation.

"Ah, whatever. My sincerest apologies, my Lady, for so rudely imposing upon your time and preventing you from partaking in your midday repass." Scarlett arched an eyebrow.

"You have learned some…eloquence, it appears." Kat shrugged, a hint of pride colouring her speech.

"I read a few books when I had the time."

"I believe you meant to say 'repast', however." The woman's expression fell, and she waved her hand dismissively.

"Bah, same thing. Close enough."

"Not quite, but I suppose I must commend your effort," Scarlett said. Then she straightened, her expression growing more serious.

"That said, as agreeable as this reunion may be, I suspect you have not come all this way for mere pleasantries. What brings you here, Kat? I would have thought the Shields Guild has you busier than ever, given the current circumstances." Kat's demeanour sobered to match Scarlett's, the levity leaving her posture.

"It's…a bit complicated," she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.

"But you're right, this isn't just a social call. The Guild sent me, actually. We need to talk."