Chapter 194 - Apparitions
The vast dome encompassing Crowcairn loomed before Scarlett as she peered through the carriage window, murmurs of bewilderment rippling through the contingent of the duke’s men gathered outside. It was a sight that was far from ordinary, even in this world of dragons and magic. The greyish hue of the dome possessed an eerie luster, as though it repelled the very sunlight that tried to pierce its veil, offering only a distorted and colorless glimpse of what lay within.
The villagers of Crowcairn had activated the Sanctumbrum. They were no longer bothering to keep their existence a secret.
A few meters from the carriage, Scarlett saw Sir Home, clad in armor atop his horse. His gaze was fixed upon the barrier, his countenance grim. His lips moved, forming words inaudible to Scarlett, but eventually, he grabbed the reins of his horse and turned it around, sweeping his eyes over his troops.
“Our foe has revealed their hand!” he declared, his voice carrying over the large group before him. While Scarlett couldn’t be certain if all of them were as elite as the force assembled to confront the Vilewyrm, there were more people now than there had been then, including a significantly larger number of mages. “I do not have to be the one to tell you that this is no natural occurrence, but nor is it the work of demons! Its origin, however, is something almost equally sinister, for this is the doing of our empire’s most ancestral enemy, the Tribe of Sin!”
A wave of surprise swept through the ranks of soldiers and mages, flashes of anger and realization flickering across their faces. Everyone in the empire knew of the recent attacks by the Tribe, and there were few who considered them anything less than a scourge upon these lands.
Scarlett supposed she couldn’t fault their reactions, given the Tribe’s track record.
“Mages, prepare yourselves. This barrier is formidable, but that does not mean it has to be impenetrable. We shall commence our assault forthwith. The rest of you will begin fortifying our position.”
Sir Home guided his horse up alongside Scarlett’s carriage as they approached the village. Their heads were at the same level as Scarlett opened the window, letting the cool air inside and allowing the man to address her. “Baroness Hartford, it appears we finally have an answer as to the identity of our perpetrators. I must admit, I didn’t even consider the possibility of the Tribe’s involvement. Now that I see the truth laid bare before me, though, it feels painfully evident.”
Scarlett regarded the man. “I presume you have previous experience with the Tribe, Captain?”
He nodded gravely. “That I do. I fought against them in my youth and during my time as a Solar Knight. It’s been many years, but this isn’t the first time I’ve seen one of their accursed ‘Sanctums’.”
“Are you confident that your current forces will be capable of breaching it?”
“I cannot say for certain, but we have no choice but to try. I’ve seen them be brought down before, so there is hope. Leave this to us, Baroness, and conserve your energy for now. We will strive to forge a path forward.”