Chương 367: Chapter 362 - What awaits

"Scarlett!" Kat's voice rang out, quickly echoed by the others as they entered the chamber behind her. Their eyes darted between her and the burning scroll hovering in the air.

"I am unharmed," Scarlett said, glancing at them briefly before turning her attention back to the scroll. This was, presumably, her side of the 'trade' Itris had offered. Payment, in a sense, for venturing deeper into Beld Thylelion to retrieve this so-called 'remnant of Fate's fracture' — and to bring it back. Her brow furrowed. She had always thought of Fate as something more abstract. A framework that shaped the world, an invisible hand guiding its course. Everything she'd seen or been told suggested as much.

So how did one find a fragment of something intangible? Why would a fracture of Fate even exist here in Beld Thylelion? And more pressingly… what was Fate, truly? Whatever the answer, she doubted a goddess would appear and offer such a trade without some truth at its core. And while she couldn't be certain, it felt as though Itris had paid a significant cost to reach her and to grant her this scroll. Naturally, Scarlett was curious.

She wanted to understand what all of this meant, and why Fate, whatever it actually was, lingered in this place. How its essence could saturate the very structure of Beld Thylelion, and how such a thing could be fractured in the first place. In that sense, she couldn't dismiss or ignore Itris' request. Whatever happened, she knew she would have to seek out this 'fracture', if only to understand it. But the real question was: what obligation did she have to uphold her end of the deal?

She raised one hand towards the scroll, stopping just short of its burning surface. The [Embers of Will (Divine)] pulsed with heatless flame, runes twisting and looping in incandescent patterns across it. It seemed she already had her reward. Perhaps Itris trusted her. Or perhaps the goddess had no other choice but to offer the reward up front and hope Scarlett would follow through. But as far as Scarlett could tell, nothing bound her to do anything.

No oath had been sworn, no vow exchanged, and she hadn't even given her word. This was her first time making any real degree of contact with Itris. She wasn't the goddess' follower. Her strength didn't come from Itris. Perhaps Itris could sever her access to the [Eternal Flameweaver's Athame] if she deemed her disloyal, but even that Scarlett wasn't so sure about. Really, what obligation did she have here? She didn't even know why Itris wanted this 'remnant of Fate's fracture.'

For all she knew, it could be dangerous. Her knowledge of the goddess was limited to fragmented lore, the temple they'd found, and what Arlene had told her — none of which had necessarily painted Itris in the most flattering light. And on top of that… Itris had called her an Anomalous One. The goddess had recognised what she was. That alone could make her a threat. Did Scarlett truly wish for further dealings with such a divine, ambiguous being? She wasn't sure.

After a moment, she withdrew her hand from the scroll and turned to face the others. They stood in a half-circle near the chamber's centre, watching her expectantly. And she supposed they deserved some explanation. Her gaze settled on Rosa first, lingering longer than on the rest. The bard's easy, too-practised smile didn't hide the worry in her eyes—or the paler cast to her complexion, or the faint violet-shadowed lines at their corners. Whatever divine force filled this place, it was still wearing on her.

It might be best if they didn't linger for too long.

"If you keep staring like that, you might wear down the charm of my face," Rosa said with a light smile.

"And I know you like to be unconventional, but really — we're the ones who should be giving you the concerned stares right now, not the other way around." Scarlett studied her a moment longer, then inclined her head.

"You are not wrong." She let her eyes drift to the others.

"I imagine you are all wondering what just transpired."

"I certainly am," Kat said.

"You vanished into nothing right after a ring of literal fire surrounded you. That's worrying, no matter how you spin it." Fynn nodded beside her, a deep furrow in his brow.

"I couldn't tell where you went."

"Nor could I, to be entirely frank," Scarlett replied.

"Although I have my theories."

"Just to check." Rosa gestured towards the hovering scroll.

"You're not the one keeping that thing aloft, are you?" Scarlett shook her head.

"No. This is a compilation of sacred pyromantic rites and forgotten techniques. It is of what I suspect to be divine origin." Kat's eyes widened.

"Come again?"

"That's new, right?" Allyssa asked, stepping closer to examine the scroll. Her blond hair slipped forward as she leaned in, eyes narrowing.

"It is," Scarlett confirmed.

"And you got it just now from…?" Allyssa prompted.

"A divine communion, I presume," Arnaud said, his voice calm but sharp. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The others turned towards him. He watched Scarlett closely, arms folded, an unreadable glint in his eyes.

"A divine what?" Kat echoed, spinning back to Scarlett as if expecting her to deny it. She didn't.

"Was it the fire goddess?" Rosa asked, pointing at the scroll and then at Scarlett's dagger.

"Kind of hard to miss the theme." Scarlett gave a slow nod.

"It was indeed. Itris." Allyssa patted Shin's shoulder.

"She's the one whose temple we found under Elystead, right?"

"She is," Shin answered.

"Her worship faded long ago, both in the empire and across much of the continent. As far as I know, she has no official clergy."

"Okay, hold on a minute." Kat lifted both hands.

"I get that we're talking about Scarlett here, but aren't we being a bit too calm about this?" Scarlett arched a brow.

"Were you not the one who once suspected I was an Augur? You already knew of my connection to the fire goddess. Why, then, does this surprise you?"

"No, but like—" Kat made a vague gesture.

"There's a difference between 'mysterious magic lady who maybe hears strange potentially world-shaking things' and actual divine communion, okay? Yeah, sure, if anyone were going to have that happen, it'd be you, but still. Isn't this too sudden? Besides, it's Itris we're talking about. She doesn't show up in front of mortals. Ever. In the legends, she only puts people through brutal trials. Most of them end up burned to ash before it even starts." Scarlett tilted her head, mildly intrigued.

"I did not realise you were so well-versed in the lore of the fire goddess."

"I know bits and pieces," Kat said with a shrug.

"Comes with having a mother from the Luicean Isles. They don't bother much with just Ittar over there. It's more of a free-for-all — whichever god you feel is backing you that day, that's your god."

"Is that so…?" Scarlett considered her a moment, then raised the dagger in her hand.

"Tell me, then — have you ever heard of the Eternal Flameweaver's Athame?" Kat stared at her, then at the blade.

"…Going to guess that's what this is called?" Scarlett nodded once. Kat pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a single breath.

"…And I'm guessing that means it's a divine relic. Tied to Itris."

"It is."

"Of course it is." Her tone was almost resigned.

"Of course you'd have something like that. I'm starting to think I'm the fool for being hung up on this. Should have figured all of this already, shouldn't I?"

"Yeah, you really shouldn't be shocked anymore," Allyssa said, giving Kat a look that managed to be both teasing and smug.

"Oi, brat, don't start with me," Kat shot back, levelling a warning finger at her.

"I was delving cursed ruins with this crazy lady before you even showed up."

"But we've explored way more than you by now," Allyssa countered with a smirk.

"Pretty sure that makes me your senior." Kat's eyes narrowed.

"Oh, we're doing this now?"

"I believe we've strayed rather far from the subject at hand," Arnaud cut in, his eyes still fixed on Scarlett.

"Baroness, can you share what you experienced during the communion? I've never heard of one manifesting so abruptly without warning, but given the nature of this place, it might not be entirely unexpected. However, for a goddess to intervene directly suggests matters of considerable weight. So, what did Itris want of you?" Scarlett met his gaze, then gestured toward the burning scroll.

"She made a request. There is something she desires from within the depths of Beld Thylelion. This—" she indicated the scroll—"was offered in return for retrieving it. As for what exactly she seeks… I do not yet know, but I expect I will learn in time." Arnaud's brow creased faintly as he studied the scroll, then returned his attention to her. After a moment, he relaxed his stance and glanced around the chamber.

"Then, for now, I suppose we continue as before." Scarlett also took in their surroundings. The chamber wasn't much more than plain stone, etched with the same patterns that marked the rest of Beld Thylelion. Nothing to indicate why this place in particular had been the point of divine contact. No relics. No arrays. Her gaze shifted towards the branching paths ahead. Where did those lead? How deep had they already come? If they continued onward, would the divine presence here grow stronger or fade?

She even wondered if they might cross paths with traces of other gods.

"So," Rosa said, drawing her from her thoughts. She had come to stand beside her, motioning towards the floating scroll. Arnaud, Shin, and Fynn had moved to examine the adjoining passages, while Allyssa and Kat continued their 'seniority' debate.

"What are you going to do with that?" Rosa asked.

"Other than stand there and look like you're thinking very intense, mysterious thoughts." Scarlett gave her a look.

"…First, are you well? This place appears to be weighing on you." Rosa smiled, and it didn't seem entirely forced.

"Calling me 'well' would probably be generous, but I'll manage. If it gets too bad, I can always lean on the Heartstone's power a little more to dull the pressure. But don't go changing the subject. I'm curious what this fire scroll thingy actually does." Scarlett studied her for a moment longer, then turned to the [Embers of Will]. She extended her hand, letting her fingers brush its flaming surface. It was warm, but not scalding. Like touching smoke woven from heat and memory.

Nothing more happened, but the impression stayed. She traced the shifting runes with her eyes, trying to decipher their meaning. At a glance, they seemed almost incomprehensible. She doubted any modern mage would understand them.

"I believe it is encoded," she said.

"So you can't use it?"

"No, I can." Whether Itris knew she possessed Thainnith's legacy—or had simply assumed the encoded scroll would bind her to compliance—Scarlett couldn't say. Either way, it was irrelevant. The script was primordial, the same language she had seen in the realm she had just returned from. With the legacy, she recognised fragments of it. Meanwhile, the rest bore unmistakable similarities to the runes used by the Zuver, because these were the foundational symbols their magic had been built upon.

Given time, she was relatively confident she could decode most of it. And when she did, she would gain access to every technique sealed within. It struck her that this was what most faiths would consider a sacred object beyond compare. A divine manuscript, given directly from a goddess, filled with doctrine and rites. The kind of relic upon which religions could be founded. She wished she could study it right here and now, but that was probably asking for too much.

"You have that look," Rosa said. Scarlett turned to her.

"What look?"

"The one that says, 'I'm about to uncover this ancient, slightly terrifying shortcut to power — and just you all wait to see what it does.'""…I do not have such a look." Rosa only smiled knowingly before calling across the chamber.

"Hey, Allyssa. Does Scarlett have a 'power-hungry hoarder' look?" Allyssa paused mid-conversation with Kat and looked over.

"Yes. She does." Scarlett narrowed her eyes.

"And when have you seen this supposed 'look' before?" Allyssa began counting on her fingers.

"There's the time we went into that secret library under the Rising Isle. And that other time we found those Zuverian ruins outside Darkshore where the masked lady showed up. The fairy grove place. Oh, and—""Don't forget the haunted doll mansion," Rosa added.

"With her very not-at-all-estranged beau." Allyssa gave a visible shiver.

"Still haunts my dreams sometimes." Kat tilted her head.

"Now that you mention it, she had a similar look back when she dragged me off to deal with that demon outside Ambercrest." Rosa turned back to Scarlett, eyebrows raised in mock innocence.

"There you have it. Verified. Multiple witnesses. The Look is real." Scarlett gave her a withering glare, then turned towards the far corridor where Arnaud and Fynn stood.

"This is irrelevant," she said flatly. Without another word, she reached for the fire scroll, which furled neatly in her grasp, and started forward. She wasn't going to dignify this brazen slander with any further replies.