Chương 414: Chapter 409 - Different

Slate's mouth parted as if to speak, but before she could, Scarlett's voice cut across the space.

"Slate, hold your answer." Livvi turned to her.

"If I may," Scarlett said, meeting her eyes evenly, "is there a particular reason the Guild chose that question to begin with?"

"There is," Livvi replied.

"I presume you know who The Angler Man is?"

"I do. He is the leader of the Hallowed Cabal." Livvi nodded. That was something she herself had only learned recently. She'd known of the Hallowed Cabal in passing—their name surfaced now and then during her work assisting the Guildmaster—but she hadn't known their leader's identity until she'd been briefed in connection with Scarlett's situation. Frankly, she almost wished she hadn't. The man sounded terrifying.

"He is believed to be behind many of the Guild's past information breaches," she explained. The suspicion that he could peer into people's minds also explained much of the Guildmaster's caution when handling sensitive intelligence.

"So eliminating him is a priority for the current Guild leadership?" Scarlett asked.

"It is."

"And whose idea was it to pose this question first?"

"Arnaud Astrey's." Scarlett's brow furrowed slightly. Livvi watched her, wondering what calculation lay behind her eyes. Then Scarlett's gaze dropped to the table as she folded her arms.

"A test, I suppose," she murmured, seemingly to herself. A test? Livvi considered that, trying to follow Scarlett's reasoning. Arnaud Astrey was rarely careless with his wording, so it was possible he'd chosen the question more deliberately than she had assumed. Perhaps it wasn't only meant to probe the Tribute of Dominion's knowledge, but to see whether Scarlett would even allow that knowledge to be shared. Eventually, Scarlett looked back up at Livvi, her expression easing.

"Very well." She made a brief gesture.

"Slate, you may answer." Livvi turned back to the hooded girl.

"The Angler Man can be killed through sufficient destruction of his body," Slate stated.

"…And how do we do that?" Livvi asked.

"Do you seek suggestions?"

"Yes, please."

"Severe blunt force will work." Livvi glanced helplessly at Scarlett.

"You will need to guide her answers more directly," Scarlett said.

"As you can see, she does not infer intent particularly well."

"I see…" Livvi looked back at Slate. The girl truly was unlike anyone she had interacted with before. It felt like speaking to a lifelike doll — except there was an undeniable presence behind those eyes. Unsettling, but unmistakably real.

"If you don't mind," Livvi said, trying again, "could you tell me the simplest way to kill him, assuming we don't know his location or the defences he has in place?"

"The easiest method of killing The Angler Man is by destroying the Essence of Zenthas," Slate replied. Livvi frowned.

"What is that?"

"The Angler Man's heart."

"That still assumes we know where he is and can reach him."

"It does not."

"It doesn't?" Livvi asked.

"Are you saying his heart can be targeted from a distance?"

"No."

"Then…is his heart separate from him?"

"Yes." Livvi's eyes widened. That was possible? Then how was he still alive? She leaned forward.

"Where is it?" Slate tilted her head, her gaze moving to Scarlett. She raised a single finger and pointed at the woman.

"She has it." Livvi froze.

"…What?" She turned to Scarlett, who met her gaze with calm detachment.

"Scarlett," Livvi said slowly, "do you really have—""I am not giving it to you," Scarlett cut her off. Livvi paused, fingers tightening around her teacup.

"Scarlett, how—" She stopped herself, took a slow breath, and began again." Why do you have it? And why wouldn't you share something like that?"

"I have it as leverage against the Cabal," Scarlett replied.

"It is what has prevented them from attempting to kill me, despite the threat I pose to their operations. As for why I will not give it to you or the Guild — his sudden death would provoke the Hallowed Cabal into retaliating against me. If you want him dead in the near future, you will need to find your own method." Livvi studied her, working through the many implications. It was…unbelievable didn't quite cover it. It was simply so far removed from anything she had expected. She didn't know what to think.

"Scarlett," she finally said, meeting the woman's eyes again.

"Can you at least confirm that you have no dealings with the Hallowed Cabal or the Tribe of Sin?" The Shields Guild had long known that Scarlett possessed knowledge of both groups' movements. That fact alone had raised suspicions among some members of the Guild leadership, though Livvi had held on to the hope that there was a reasonable explanation. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Not in the way you fear."

"Then in what way?"

"We merely have an agreement not to interfere with one another." Scarlett gave her a cool look before shaking her head.

"Arnaud already knows this. It is admittedly vexing that he did not inform you, given that he intended you to act as intermediary." On that point, Livvi agreed. She would have preferred to know beforehand. Did the man want to see whether Scarlett would share it with Livvi of her own volition? After a moment, Livvi straightened in her seat, schooling her expression back into composure. If the Guildmaster and Arnaud were already aware of this arrangement, they would have accounted for its risks.

Even if she had her opinions—both on Scarlett's actions and Astrey's—it wasn't her place to challenge that now.

"I have more questions I'd like to ask her," she said, nodding towards Slate.

"If that's acceptable."

"Go ahead," Scarlett replied.

"But understand that I will interrupt if I decide a question is one she should not answer. I may not provide an explanation. I will also warn that she is not omniscient. Information regarding specific locations, faction movements, or future events is generally beyond her reach."

"I understand." Livvi focused on Slate.

"First, I would like to confirm whether there are any other ways to neutralise The Angler Man besides destroying his heart. What would be the next most effective method?"

"Grievous bodily injury," Slate said flatly.

"… Thank you." She supposed that meant there was no easier way. Livvi cleared her throat lightly, then continued. She had a long list of questions. Part of her task today was to assess the Tribute of Dominion's capabilities, to the extent that Scarlett would allow. She began broadly, gauging Slate's range of knowledge, then moved on to narrower and more sensitive topics. Some of those involved current imperial affairs, the Shields Guild's own operations, and other groups of interest.

Most answers confirmed that Slate lacked detailed or classified intelligence. Yet there were people and events she understood with unsettling clarity, without any obvious source. Scarlett intervened several times, and Livvi took careful note of which subjects prompted interruption. By the end, she felt she had a clearer—if still limited—picture of both Slate's abilities and Scarlett's boundaries.

In one regard, it was less than they might have hoped, but that might also have been because she hadn't framed her questions correctly. Intriguingly, Slate seemed capable of expanding her understanding when given sufficient context and intent, suggesting her awareness operated through some form of relational insight rather than fixed knowledge. Unfortunately, that meant Livvi wasn't the best person to question her about some of these topics.

"Are you satisfied with that?" Scarlett asked once Livvi finished her final question and began noting a few remarks in a small journal she'd brought. Livvi looked up.

"I am. Thank you, Scarlett." Her gaze shifted to the hooded girl opposite her.

"You are an incredibly fascinating being, Slate. Do you know that?" She nearly found herself hoping no wizard ever got their hands on her. They wouldn't be able to restrain their interest. Slate's head tilted slightly, which appeared to be a quirk of hers.

"Fascination is a subjective classification. I do not consider myself fascinating." Livvi chuckled softly.

"No, I suppose not. But I do." It was a little tragic, she thought, that so much importance rested on such a serene, childlike figure. Was it a small mercy that Slate herself didn't seem burdened by her role? Livvi closed her journal and slipped it into a small pouch, then withdrew a rolled bundle of documents and placed them neatly on the table. Reaching for her teacup, she found the contents long gone cold—forgotten amid her questioning—but she decided to finish it anyway before continuing.

The porcelain warmed suddenly beneath her fingers, and she glanced at Scarlett with a small smile.

"Thank you." Scarlett inclined her head.

"Do not mention it." Livvi took a sip.

"The Guild wants to better define how we can cooperate going forward while ensuring Slate's safety. For now, we will be providing a communication artifact I brought to the Shielders working with you. It was personally donated by Gratianus Graham." She gestured to the papers on the table.

"These contain the Guildmaster's proposals, along with details on available resources and potential coordination between our…groups, I suppose? I'm not sure how many you currently have working for you. But if you would, please read through them so that we may review everything in detail before I leave." Scarlett's eyes flicked to the bundle.

"Very well. I will see to it at once." She looked back up.

"If you wish, I can have a meal prepared while I review them. It would also give you time to speak with Evelyne and Lady Withersworth."

"That would be lovely." It had been years since Livvi had tasted the Hartford chef's cooking. The man's skill still put most of Elystead's cooks to shame. And it would be good to see Evelyne again.

"Before that," she added, "would it be possible for me to visit your back garden? I've heard much about this house spirit of yours."

"Certainly." A few seconds passed before the door opened. Garside entered, as if summoned by some silent command. He bowed low.

"You called?"

"Yes," Scarlett said without turning.

"Have a meal prepared for Livvi, then arrange for one of the maids to show her the Loci's garden."

"As you wish, My Lady." It was a very brief and not particularly significant exchange, but it felt very typical of Scarlett. And yet, even despite that…Livvi couldn't help but feel that something was missing. Scarlett had changed so much. So quickly. And she only seemed to keep changing. What did the others around her make of it? Livvi watched Garside depart, then glanced down at her cup.

"…You've changed a great deal, Scarlett," she said softly.

"Though I imagine you hear that often."

"I do," Scarlett replied. Livvi's thoughts drifted back to one of their last meetings during the Tyndal Ball in Windgrove. So much had happened since then, but her mind kept circling back there on occasion.

"Scarlett," she started, "do you still not remember what you told me when we were younger? After your mother passed away?" There was a brief silence.

"…I do not, no," Scarlett said. Livvi traced her thumb along the rim of her cup, then looked up at her friend.

"Do you remember me asking before?" Scarlett frowned faintly. She rested one hand on the armrest, tapping a finger.

"I believe so. In Windgrove, was it not?"

"It was." They watched each other.

"…Is there a reason you are bringing it up now?" Scarlett asked after a moment. Livvi hesitated, then looked back at her cup, breathing in the lingering scent of chamomile while listening to the quiet, rhythmic tap of Scarlett's finger. Just like back then, she wasn't surprised Scarlett didn't remember. That felt entirely in keeping with the strangeness—the unfamiliar wholeness—of this new version of her old friend. Her gaze shifted to Slate.

"Do you know if it's possible for people's souls to change?" The tapping stopped. A small furrow formed beneath Slate's hood.

"Define 'soul'."

"You don't know what it means yourself?"

"The term is ambiguous. It refers to multiple concepts, none of which are universally defined." Livvi considered that.

"Then…let's say it means the essence of who a person is."

"Then yes," Slate said.

"A person's soul changes constantly." Livvi blinked.

"Constantly?"

"People are not stable. I do not see how the Livvi Knottley who lived yesterday is not different from the current one. Do adolescent humans not change while transitioning from youth to adulthood?"

"That's not quite what I meant," Livvi said. Slate tilted her head, studying her.

"You refer to the notion of a fixed, non-physical essence that persists beyond change. A self independent of the body." Livvi was silent for a moment, her eyes drifting back to Scarlett, who watched her without expression.

"Yes. That is what I meant."

"Before its unravelling, Fate held a reflection of all that was and is," Slate said.

"Such a reflection could be reconsidered to fit the definition you seek, though it does not align with Scarlett Hartford. Scarlett Hartford is not understood."

"Reconsidered…?" Livvi repeated slowly.

"Wait—what do you mean by not understood?"

"Scarlett Hartford is not of this—""Slate, enough," Scarlett cut in. The hooded girl went quiet, utterly still. Livvi turned back to Scarlett.

"Livvi," Scarlett said evenly, "what is it that you intend with this line of inquiry?" Livvi didn't answer immediately. Several responses pressed close to the surface, but in the end, she set them aside. When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter.

"I'm sorry, Scarlett. It was inappropriate of me to continue after saying I was finished." She set her cup on the table and stood.

"I'll leave the documents here for you to read. If it's all right, I'll go to the garden on my own. I still remember the way." Scarlett's gaze rested on her for several seconds before she inclined her head in a small, measured nod. Livvi returned a polite smile, then moved past her towards the door. Her hand had just closed around the handle when Scarlett's voice came from behind her.

"Would you have preferred that I remained as I was?" Livvi stopped, her eyes fixed on the handle.

"Do you want to know what you told me back then, Scarlett?" There was no reply.

"You said," Livvi almost whispered, "that if you ever had enough one day, you wanted me to help you with one final request." A pause followed.

"…That does not sound like me." She smiled faintly.

"It doesn't, no. But I think it might have been the most honest you were with me." She opened the door and stepped out, leaving the parlour—and Scarlett—behind.