Chương 325: Chapter 321 - Warded warnings

Scarlett stared at Arnaud, unsure she'd heard him correctly.

"You are asking me to…hire you?" she said finally, squaring her shoulders.

"Yes," he replied simply. She scrutinised him, her eyes sweeping up and down his figure. Was he serious?

"I was under the impression that you were a man burdened with responsibilities, Mister Astrey. Serving in my employ is not a role that permits divided attention or many secondary pursuits."

"I don't believe that'll be an issue, Baroness," Arnaud said. He clasped his hands behind his back, his posture calm but his expression sharp with intent.

"You would only need to hire me for one job. A singular task, nothing more."

"A single job?"

"Yes."

"…Why do I have the distinct impression that you are alluding to a specific endeavour?" Arnaud met her eyes, his gaze seeming heavy with unspoken meaning. Scarlett frowned.

"You are." He gave a small nod.

"I am."

"What is it?" she asked, not hiding her suspicion. Arnaud was silent for several seconds, attention shifting to their surroundings. His focus lingered briefly on the hedge garden where the Loci resided. From here, its outer edges appeared little more than barren, snow-laden bushes, but within, subtle hints of the temperate climate at its heart peeked through — a result of the Loci's unique influence.

"My daughter mentioned you kept an unusual garden here," he remarked almost conversationally.

"Supernatural in some manner, she claimed. She recommended I see it myself, as she couldn't properly explain it. I can hardly blame her — understanding these sorts of things has never been a strength of us Astreys. Allyssa's talent for alchemy is an exception, and that comes entirely from her mother."

"Do not evade the question," Scarlett said.

"That wasn't my intention." Arnaud returned his attention to her.

"I will answer you, Baroness, but I ask you first to understand my perspective. There is much about you and your actions that is suspect, to put it generously. Yet, as you've pointed out, I'm limited in my ability to address such matters directly. However, I am also a father. And a father worries, especially about things he does not fully comprehend."

"I am not disputing your…paternal affection." A faint smile curved gently upward on his lips.

"I'm glad. Then I won't waste your time. Am I correct to assume you intend to embark on another important undertaking soon, similar to your visit to the Rising Isle?" Scarlett's eyes narrowed.

"Why do you ask?" It might perhaps have been a logical assumption, given how she operated. But she hadn't revealed anything of her future plans to Allyssa or anyone else. And considering her destination, this was suspicious. After all, they were talking about Beld Thylelion. Arnaud shook his head.

"We'll get to that. Would you answer me first?" She eyed him warily for a moment before conceding, "…You may be correct in your assumption, yes."

"Then that is what I would like you to hire me for."

"I must respectfully decline."

"Can I ask why?"

"I am under no obligation to employ you, nor do I have any need for your assistance," Scarlett said coolly. Pressing her lips together briefly, she added, "Now, enlighten me — how did you come by this information, and what precisely do you know?" Arnaud held her gaze, his expression unreadable. He thoughtfully stroked his chin." What I know is fairly straightforward, Baroness. You will, in the near future, leave on another of your ventures.

Where, exactly, is unclear, but similar to your previous 'escapades', it will likely be fraught with danger. However—" His voice dropped, taking on a chilling edge as his eyes bore into her.

"—this time, none of you will survive. Not you, not that bard or the Grehaldrael, not Shin, and not my daughter." Scarlett didn't flinch under his gaze, though she imagined most would. There was something very unsettling about it, like the firm, unyielding stare of a kind man forced to set aside his gentleness. She remained quiet for several moments, weighing his words.

"…That sounds disturbingly like a prophecy," she said at last.

"Perhaps," Arnaud replied.

"I don't claim to understand such things. It aligns with the impression I was given, though whether it was truly a 'prophecy' or merely a prediction, I can't say."

"So, you obtained this information from another source — regarding both my forthcoming undertaking and our supposed demise. How can you be certain of its reliability?" Scarlett glanced down, suddenly conscious that she was still fully equipped with her artifacts and gear. With a casual gesture, she dismissed the [Eternal Flameweaver's Athame] and the [Crown of Flame's Benediction], though she chose to keep the rest for now. At the very least, it helped against the cold.

"I wasn't certain, at first," Arnaud admitted.

"But few things concern me more than my daughter's safety. Even if the information proved false, I felt obligated to investigate. Much of what I uncovered about you seemed to corroborate the prediction — both through my own inquiries and through what I observed after arriving here in Freybrook. Approaching you tonight was simply to secure final confirmation." Scarlett's eyes flicked to the broken chair leg still held in his right hand.

"I see. The spar was a test, then. Though I fail to see what it might have revealed to you." Arnaud lifted the chair leg slightly, examining it in his grip.

"You can tell a great deal about a person's character from the way they fight. How they hold their ground, how they press an advantage, how they respond when underestimated." He returned his focus to her.

"Beyond that, I could confirm that you're every bit as skilled as the rumours suggest. More so, possibly." He paused, studying her closely.

"… It's clear to me that you've improved at a remarkable pace. Too quickly, even. I don't know how seasoned you are, but it wouldn't surprise me if you've seen more combat than most mages off the front lines. Yet even with that experience, there are signs your abilities are advancing faster than your familiarity with them." Scarlett's eyebrows rose somewhat.

She'd had so much practice with Arlene, and the system's skill gave her such an advantage that she didn't think anyone would ever peg her as inexperienced anymore. But this man seemed to have noticed something, nonetheless. Was it because she had just upgraded her mana control and hadn't fully adjusted to the change? Or was it something else? The spar had been brief, after all. She hadn't thought he'd glean much from it.

"None of that was what I was looking for, though," Arnaud continued.

"What I truly intended to confirm was actually your possession of a certain artifact — an artifact that, as it happens, I recognised in your hand the moment I arrived. That made the spar somewhat unnecessary, but I chose to use the opportunity to gauge your abilities more thoroughly regardless." Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Scarlett's eyes widened slightly. She extended her hand, re-summoning the [Eternal Flameweaver's Athame].

"Are you referring to this?" He nodded.

"I am. It's been years since I last saw an artifact imbued with divine power. And from Itris, no less? I thought it unlikely you'd genuinely possess such an object, but I was proven wrong." Scarlett couldn't help the scowl that formed on her brow. How could he possibly have known she had it? Rosa was the only person who should have any idea of its existence in the present day — and even she wasn't aware Scarlett had claimed it as her own yet.

"If you didn't have that artifact," Arnaud continued, "I might not have asked for you to hire me. I was considering leaving without interfering in my daughter's affairs." He shrugged, and for a moment Scarlett saw a little bit of Allyssa in the man.

"Of course, it's also possible I would've taken a more forceful approach. I hadn't quite decided." Scarlett dismissed the Flameweaver again, examining the man carefully. He'd received some sort of prediction involving her and this artifact, one that implied her upcoming trip to Beld Thylelion would end in disaster. To him, then, confirming the existence of the Flameweaver had been his way of validating the prediction. It made a certain kind of sense, though it raised several big questions.

"You still have not explained who provided you with this prediction," Scarlett pressed. As far as she was aware, the Guild didn't have anyone capable of a feat like that. Considering how her very existence muddled fate, she didn't think there was anyone in the empire who even could reliably predict anything related to her. If there was indeed a prediction, it was more likely to be based on inductive reasoning. Either that, or they were talking about something like… A divination.

"You have been in contact with Yamina Ward," she said, her words hanging in the air more as a statement than a question. A flicker of surprise crossed Arnaud's expression.

"Am I wrong?" He was silent for a moment, as if considering his response, then shook his head.

"No, you're not. I don't think it was something she intended for me to share, but she didn't explicitly forbid me from doing so, and you've clearly already deduced it. Yes, Senior Wizard Yamina Ward was the one who told me." Scarlett's gaze dropped momentarily. She didn't fully grasp the nuances separating divination magic from the prophecies that people like Augur made, but she did know that Yamina had made predictions concerning her before.

The wizard herself had admitted they were often vague and difficult to interpret, so Fate was likely still involved somehow, but Yamina's warning about the Hall of Echoes had proven accurate. Given Yamina's familiarity with Scarlett, perhaps divining the existence of an artifact like the Flameweaver wasn't out of the question. But Scarlett's goal of reaching Beld Thylelion was another matter.

"How do you know Yamina Ward?" she asked, refocusing on Arnaud.

"We've cooperated and crossed paths a few times over the years," he replied.

"Then you must have spoken with her recently. When was this? And where?" Yamina had been AWOL from the Rising Isle for a while now, and Scarlett knew the Isle wizards were trying to get in contact with her." That is something she specifically asked me not to disclose, so I'm afraid I can't tell you." Scarlett frowned once more. She wondered if they'd met up in the Unresting Steppes, then, or if this was after Arnaud's return to the empire.

Yamina had access to teleportation artifacts, so she could likely travel around as she pleased. But why would Yamina warn Arnaud about this and not Scarlett directly? Last time, she'd reached out to Scarlett personally — or at least via an avatar. What purpose did she have this time? Maybe more importantly, how much had her 'divination' revealed? Based on Arnaud's account, his knowledge seemed limited to Scarlett's possession of the Flameweaver and a vague warning of danger. Was that all Yamina knew?

Could Scarlett trust it?

"It's understandable you'd hesitate to accept this," Arnaud said after a moment.

"I still have my doubts. But as I've made clear, my doubts are secondary to my daughter's safety." He gestured lightly with one hand.

"That said, I recognise this isn't something you would wish to share with outsiders. So, I'll make you an offer: if you allow me to accompany you, I'll agree not to question the specifics of your undertaking until absolutely necessary. Given what I know of you, I do question the wisdom of this arrangement, but for Allyssa's sake… I am willing to make this concession." Scarlett regarded him silently. Bringing one of the Shield's Guild's most prominent figures to Beld Thylelion was far from ideal.

His involvement could jeopardise her plans in so many ways. Allyssa and the others she trusted — but Arnaud Astrey? For one, Scarlett had been carefully curating the information shared about Beld Thylelion — primarily to prevent factions like the Hallowed Cabal from monopolising the site once it opened. However, her ultimate plan had always been to discreetly enter first before anyone else.

Arnaud's presence would make it infinitely harder to accomplish that without drawing the attention of the factions she was supposedly 'helping' reach Beld Thylelion. Then there was Arnaud himself. Unlike Allyssa and her companions, he had both the ability and willingness to stop Scarlett if her methods conflicted with his own principles. And yet… If Yamina's warning was genuine and reliable, there might truly be something awaiting them in Beld Thylelion that even Scarlett couldn't anticipate.

Something requiring someone of Arnaud's calibre to face. In that case, bringing him could be beneficial. There were few others at his level that Scarlett could convince to join. Not even an arch wizard like Godwin could match up to Arnaud. But it was risky. A double-edged sword. All this could easily be a deception — either by Arnaud himself or, more likely, by Yamina. Scarlett didn't trust the woman entirely. Their past collaboration had been mutually useful, but Yamina still had plenty of secrets.

The wizard's personal interest in Beld Thylelion only made her sudden involvement here more suspicious. As Scarlett was caught up in her thoughts, Arnaud was the one to break the silence by clearing his throat.

"Bear in mind, Baroness," he warned gently, "that if you refuse, I cannot promise what actions I might take." Scarlett paused, observing him. While he might lack the immediate political power to act against her, if he genuinely thought his daughter's life was in danger, he might not hold back.

"…Very well," Scarlett said finally. For now, she had little choice but to accept the situation. She would look into how she could guarantee this was turned to her advantage. Arnaud appeared satisfied, giving her a curt nod.

"Then I will be ready to leave in two weeks."

"What?" Scarlett couldn't suppress some anger that leaked into her voice.

"Two weeks? I cannot wait that long." His eyes sharpened, voice growing harsher.

"This time, I'm not asking, Baroness. I've already spent far more time on this than I should have. There are matters I must resolve here in the empire before anything else. I'm well aware that you can exercise some flexibility regarding your departure, so I must insist." Scarlett held back a scowl, glaring at him for a long moment before reluctantly relenting.

"Fine."

"Good." His expression eased somewhat, though the edge in his gaze remained.

"…If my daughter's praise of you proves deserved, then I will owe you an apology. It's…highly irregular for me to interfere like this — irresponsible, even, some might say." He gave a wry chuckle.

"Things would be far simpler if Allyssa weren't so stubborn. A trait, I fear, she inherited from me. But I won't occupy more of your evening." He turned to leave, but paused only after a few steps, glancing back at her. Scarlett felt a sudden, invisible pressure settle over her shoulders. It was almost comparable to the time she'd stood in front of Ayrlazkreh dwelling beneath the volcano on the Resting Eye, and at the back of her mind, the Loci seemed to recoil.

"One last warning," Arnaud said quietly.

"You might be tempted to leave before I'm ready, taking my daughter with you. Know that if you do so, and she fails to return… I will disregard my role as a Shielder entirely and act solely as her father, regardless of the consequences." He left her with those parting words, heading back towards the mansion. Scarlett silently watched his retreating form. Now, she had three choices. She could leave for Beld Thylelion before two weeks passed, risking Arnaud's wrath and whatever was waiting for her there.

She could leave Allyssa and Shin behind, though the thought left a bitter taste and was as much of a gamble if Yamina's prediction was accurate. Or she could wait the two weeks and take Arnaud with her. All three options were problematic. The question was, which was the worst? Just the waiting in itself carried its own dangers. Though it was unlikely that Beld Thylelion would open within the next two weeks, it wasn't impossible. Certain events in this world tended to accelerate unpredictably, after all.

And Scarlett knew the mage towers and the Followers of Ittar would soon locate the site — if they hadn't already. Raimond had been working on it for weeks, and the Rising Isle should also have gotten itself involved by now. It occurred to her that Arnaud's insistence on two weeks might be deliberate — a means of pressuring her to leave without Allyssa and Shin. Or worse, part of Yamina's play to intentionally stall Scarlett's progress.

She exhaled sharply, but her thoughts were interrupted as she caught sight of a familiar white-haired figure emerging from the mansion. A swirl of frost and wind stirred chaotically around Fynn as he approached Arnaud, halting abruptly before him with a fierce scowl. Arnaud paused, his movements betraying an awkward hesitation. Scarlett suspected he'd kept his earlier 'warnings' discreet, but not that final one. He had forgotten that Scarlett had her own watchdog for such situations.

Despite herself, a quiet, amused breath escaped her. Well, Arnaud would have to handle himself against Fynn. But she wondered how he'd fare when Allyssa learned of all this.