Chapter 123 - New management
Scarlett ran a hand over the faceted surface of the [Obedience’s Solitude Loci], studying the emerald. It felt odd, holding it like this, if only for the fact of how valuable it looked. Like holding a wad of thousand-dollar bills. The brain couldn’t quite comprehend its value.
She pushed those musings to the back of her mind and focused her attention on the Loci.
‘Listening’ to it, as Arlene had told her to, had yet to bring much result. She’d tried it over a dozen times since her talk with the woman, and she wasn’t hoping for much more now. Luckily, if what the system’s description told her was enough, that didn’t necessarily matter.
Now, it was time to put one of her suspicions to the test.
First of all, if part of the Loci’s will was to find a worthy master—which fit with its presence as an item in the game—then she had to show that she could fill that role. That meant somehow convincing a mute gemstone that she qualified.
She brought out the [Mark of the Fey] from her pouch of holding. The blue crystal was a bit smaller than the Loci, and ever since that Idol had interacted with it, tiny, barely visible sparks ran through its core like lightning.
“This was given to me as a sign of trust,” she said out loud, holding up the crystal. At the same time, she tried channeling the intent behind her words into the Loci, like she had done when she interacted with it back at Abelard’s mansion. “When I give my word, I always uphold it. Others of your kin can attest to as much.”
A few seconds of silence followed.
She wasn’t really expecting a reaction from the Loci. It was doubtful whether it actually had the intelligence to comprehend her words, or if it only worked on intent. Still, it was better to play things safe. It was also easier to organize her will and thoughts while speaking.
Lifting the Loci higher, she gestured at the garden around her. “This is part of my domain, as well as my home. If you would allow it, it will also be yours.”
She stood up and began walking around the garden’s center, continuing to channel her intent into the Loci as she spoke. “It is different from your previous dwelling, but I do not think it will be inferior. What it is lacking will soon be added, and I am certain it can reach levels well beyond what you knew before.”
After showing it the immediate area, she proceeded to show it the rest of the hedge garden before continuing onto the adjacent training grounds, all the while ‘explaining’ things to the Loci as they went. Then, slowly making her way across the property, she showed it everything else that was inside the stone walls encasing the estate—the two guards at the gate gave her strange looks when she passed them by, but she ignored it—before eventually crossing the courtyard and entering the mansion itself.