Chương 348: Chapter 343 - Gearing up

"These are the Chain Devil Gloves," Scarlett said, holding out a pair of deep crimson leather gloves. Chains coiled around the wrists, the metal etched with faint, arcane script.

"And this is the Candleflame Claymore." From a stand beside her, she lifted a long, broad sword. Its blade gleamed with polished steel, a glowing gold-red rod embedded along its base. The hilt branched upwards in a strange, ornamental design, reminiscent of an iron candelabra twisted into the shape of a crossguard.

[Chain Devil Gloves (Epic)] {Fashioned from the severed hands of a slain chain demon, these gloves seek to amplify the wearer's will and lash out against any who would defy it} [Candleflame Claymore (Epic)] {Steel and flame alike shall blaze our trail—unseen by none, unseeing of nothing—a beacon to some, an omen to others} Kat blinked, staring down at the items as if her eyes had decided to play tricks on her. She rubbed them slowly, as if that might somehow make the vision vanish or change.

"Do not make me hold these indefinitely," Scarlett said, a note of mild impatience slipping through. The claymore was heavy, especially without using the strength-enhancing properties of her [Crown of Flame's Benediction]. Kat hesitantly took the sword and gloves, brow furrowed.

"Is this really why you asked me to come along down here?"

"It is." Scarlett nodded, turning back to the wall lined with an array of artifacts and enchanted objects displayed on shelves and mounted upon racks. They were in one of the western wing's basement chambers — a storage room that had, over time, become something of an unofficial armoury. Though 'armoury' might've been generous. It was far from fully stocked, even if it was organised. But any artifact Scarlett hadn't sold off or stashed in her [Pouch of Holding] or the [Bag of Juham] found its way here.

After their last expedition to the Rising Isle, the collection had become… modestly respectable, she'd say. The room itself was protected by layered magical wards — some courtesy of the wizards at Brook Tower, others added by Scarlett using methods of the old Zuver and the Rising Isle. It was, by her estimate, one of the most secure places on the estate.

"You do realise I don't use swords, right?" Kat asked, glancing sideways at her, holding the claymore as if it might bite.

"I am well aware," Scarlett replied. She gestured towards the blade.

"Despite appearances, it is imbued with enchantments particularly suited for a mage of your disposition. It can act as a secondary focus for spellcasting and significantly enhances pyromancy spells. Also, if you place candles in the sockets near the crossguard, it provides an excellent source of illumination. Both practical and symbolic, would you not say?" Kat gave her a flat look.

"You're joking, right?"

"I am not, actually." The woman looked down at the claymore, hefting it slightly.

"…This massive thing?" Scarlett tilted her head slightly.

"It may be heavy, but you are considerably stronger than I am. I do not believe the weight will be an issue." Frankly, the sword would've been a fine fit for Scarlett before she got her hands on the [Eternal Flameweaver's Athame], but it had always been too unwieldy for her to use. Besides, she didn't really need a magical focus. The primary use of one was to replace the need for certain somatic gestures while casting, and that had never been a limitation for her.

Any gestures she did make had always been more flourish than function. She motioned towards the gloves Kat still held.

"Those will also bolster your pyromancy. In addition, the chains can lash out to both bind and bunt nearby creatures." She'd kept these artifacts aside specifically for Kat because she knew they would fit the woman's style.

"Uh… Thank you?" Kat said, sounding unsure, like she wasn't entirely convinced this wasn't part of a prank.

"Consider it the fulfilment of a promise," Scarlett replied. She turned to a large chest, unlatching it and retrieving several more items, which she handed to Kat one at a time.

"These are the Duskswept Cloak of Shielding, the Ashenwraith Mantle, the Emberwreath Circlet, and the Cindersprint Greaves. They are likely worth more than everything else you own combined — and more than what you will own for at least the next two decades. So I suggest you do your best not to lose them."

[Duskswept Cloak of Shielding (Epic)] {A flowing, shadow-dyed cloak imbued with barrier wards to bend force and magic alike — though it weaves protection, it demands presence} [Ashenwraith Mantle (Epic)] {Forged from the remnants of dragons, this scorched armour remembers heat and holds grudges, harnessing the power of its draconic heritage} [Emberwreath Circlet (Rare)] {An ancient band etched with runes of searing focus, it waits to ignite the mind's eyes, sharpening inner fire and quieting hesitation} [Cindersprint Greaves (Rare)] {Laced with embersteel and soot-thread, these greaves leave no prints and draw the wearer faster towards nearby flames, pulled forward by fire's hunger} The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Kat's arms were overflowing, and her expression shifted from confusion to outright disbelief. Scarlett caught the look and resisted the smirk threatening to tug at her lips. It wouldn't do for her to show that. She gestured to the far end of the room, where Fynn sat cross-legged on the stone floor, eyes closed in meditation.

"Fynn can assist you in familiarising yourself with the items before we depart. The training grounds remain at your disposal, though mind your mana use." Kat glanced down at the pile in her arms, then over at Fynn, then back to Scarlett.

"…This feels like a lot, Scarlett. Don't you think it's a bit much?"

"If you are to accompany us to Beld Thylelion, you must be as prepared as the rest of us," Scarlett said.

"Believe me when I say this is nothing excessive. For me, this is well within reason." As if to prove the point, she summoned the [Eternal Flameweaver's Athame] into her hand. A soft glow bloomed on her forehead as the [Crown of Flame's Benediction] materialised as well.

"Compared to these, what you hold is barely a courtesy. So do be a good little Shielder and accept what I have chosen to bestow upon you with grace." Kat stared for a long moment, then let out a small laugh, shaking her head.

"Sure. Whatever you say, boss lady." She moved over to a nearby table and set the gear down, beginning to examine each item in turn. She started with the [Ashenwraith Mantle] — a dark leather scale armour, appearing both scorched and blackened. It was among the pieces Scarlett had commissioned from the Ashenwraith dragon Empress killed, though it had been completed a bit later than the others. As Kat studied her new toys, Scarlett turned back to the shelves and opened another set of chests.

She pulled out rope coils, potion flasks, candle bundles, sealed ration packs, along with other artifacts and travel necessities, laying them out neatly on another table beside her, mentally cataloguing the inventory. Normally, Shin and Allyssa handled these preparations before their excursions, but they were both out in the city — running last-minute errands and gathering alchemical components Allyssa needed.

They'd also mentioned paying another visit to the local Shields Guild branch to try reaching Arnaud Astrey. Scarlett had wished them luck, but she wasn't sure how it would go. The day before, after their meeting with The Gentleman, they'd tried reaching out to Arnaud and returned that evening empty-handed. From what she understood, communication with the capital was difficult at the moment, and Arnaud, specifically, was unreachable for some reason.

Time was quickly closing in on the departure deadline Scarlett had set for herself. If they couldn't establish contact before then, she would have no choice but to leave without Shin and Allyssa. Neither of them wanted that outcome, so they were doing what they could to prevent it, and the two young Shielders were preparing themselves as if they would be joining the journey regardless. Scarlett respected that. And it wasn't as if she wouldn't try to bring them along.

But she was intending to set out this evening, and that would happen without them unless Allyssa's father was accounted for. In theory, she could make the trip to Beld Thylelion alone, trigger the quest that required her to reach the ruins first, and then return to Freybrook to wait until Arnaud was available. But that was an optimistic plan. It assumed there wouldn't be anything hindering her from leaving once she stepped inside the ruins — and she suspected it wouldn't be that simple.

In fact, she suspected many things about Beld Thylelion wouldn't be as simple as anticipated. Her eyes drifted to a trio of artifacts laid out at the edge of the table. The first was a long, curved blade with a silver sheen and veins of deep red running through the metal. A large circular void sat at the base of the blade, as if it was designed to fit into something greater. Beside it rested a small crystal orb, no larger than a clenched fist.

Its surface was flawlessly smooth, and within shimmered an endless swirl of colour — like a captured aurora, trapped in a slow, ethereal dance. The last was a polished rod of obsidian-black, no longer than a forearm, inscribed with delicate silver lines that glowed softly. The markings spiralled in intricate, interlocking patterns that seemed less crafted and more revealed. [Life's Limit (1/?) (Unique)] {A part of a whole, yet it will never be complete} [Glimpse of Eternity (1/?) (Unique)] {Essence captured, forever yearning for wholeness} [Threads of Fate (1/?) (Unique)] {A weave unbroken, binding beginnings and endings into balance. Its strength lies in the convergence of all things.} These artifacts were part of a set she had been slowly collecting. The first had been found in Abelard's Doll Mansion, all the way back when she helped the Withersworths along with Sir Leon. The second she had received from the custodian in the Rising Isle's Veiled Library.

And the third had originally been obtained by her counterpart. Until the other Scarlett acquired it, it should have been in the possession of a small necromantic group somewhere in Stepmond, though Scarlett suspected there wasn't much left of them now. Individually, the artifacts didn't appear to do much, but they would find their use once Scarlett reached the Tribute of Dominion within Beld Thylelion. Her gaze lingered on the last of the tree—the rod—examining the silver glow of its runes. Threads of Fate, huh…

There seemed to be no shortage of talk about Fate in and around Beld Thylelion. She wondered what she, as someone who defied and reshaped Fate, would find there. Scarlett returned to her preparations, double-checking their inventory before methodically packing everything into the [Bag of Juham], her [Pouch of Holding], and a couple of other spatial bags she'd collected over the months but only used on occasion. When she was done, she looked over to Kat. The woman was now fully geared.

The [Ashenwraith Mantle] clung to her frame, its dark, scaled leather catching the light with a dull lustre. The [Emberwreath Circlet]—a thin band of blackened metal inlaid with fine red fabric and runes—rested just beneath her hairline, tucked under her sun-bleached ponytail. The claymore rested over her shoulder, the base of the blade casting faint golden reflections across the nearby wall. Scarlett raised a brow, folding her arms.

"I must say, you appear rather formidable now." Kat rolled her shoulders and flexed her gloved hands.

"Don't I feel it. I've never worn anything this high-end before. Feels like I could take on an A-rank right now." Scarlett nodded slightly. That wouldn't surprise her. Frankly, she already suspected Kat was close to—or perhaps even at—the level of an A-rank Shielder. With this new equipment, she'd only become more dangerous. In game terms, Kat might be somewhere in the level 60 range by now. That should be more than enough for what awaited them in Beld Thylelion.

Most players reached the ruins before they were level 70. Scarlett glanced over at Fynn. In a sense, if he'd reached the point of his second awakening, then he should be more than ready for Beld Thylelion as well. But she couldn't help but worry. Still, they would see soon enough. Whatever lay ahead, she wouldn't let any of them fall easily. She wasn't entirely sure what her own level equivalent would be by now, but she knew she was no beginner anymore.

And once they reached Beld Thylelion, the main quest was supposed to unlock new privileges in her skill menu. Who knew what that'd give her. It was about time they found out.