Chapter 208 - All that’s missing is a confessional
Raimond regarded Scarlett silently for a while, the man’s expression concealed beneath his mask. Scarlett wasn’t sure if it was the [The Deacon’s Sunfire Visage] left by Deacon Emberwood or if it simply looked similar, but that didn’t matter much. What did was that Raimond was clad in his full deacon attire, making no attempt to hide his identity any longer.
“So you knew who I was, after all,” he said, his voice devoid of its usual levity. “I suppose I did have my suspicions, but I did not find them warranted, given some of your actions. Perhaps my judgement is not as sharp as it once was.”
“Your identity is not as well-kept a secret as you may think, Deacon,” Scarlett responded.
During her collaboration with Beldon Tyndall, the man had once hinted at recognizing who Raimond actually was. Sure, Beldon was virtually a living repository of the empire’s secrets, but Scarlett doubted he was the only one outside the Followers aware of Raimond’s penchant for ‘wandering’ under a guise.
“It would appear so,” Raimond mused.
A thunderous roar erupted as another demon emerged from the rift at the center of the area, shaking the ground under its feet while the surrounding flames intensified.
The three Dawnbringer members were exhibiting impressive teamwork in handling the threat that the demons posed, though, having already dispatched two of their opponents and pushed the demons closer to the rift while releasing bursts of radiant light from their weapons.
Raimond seemed to briefly turn his attention in that direction, observing the demons, then refocused on Scarlett, his gaze moving past her. “Malachi, I presume?”
Scarlett glanced back at the woman standing there. Though Malachi’s actual expression was masked by an illusion, her entire demeanor screamed alertness as she met Raimond’s stare.
“And Rosa as well,” the priest added, observing the bard leaning on Scarlett. “I did have my wonderings on what her role in this whole debacle was.”
“You’re one of Townsend’s new associates, then,” Malachi said. “The old hypocrite should learn when to step back.”
“I gather the two of you aren’t on friendly terms. He was not particularly complimentary about you either, if you’re interested. I won’t claim to be familiar with your history or what led you to this point, but it hardly matters now. More pressing matters call for our attention, like whatever I just witnessed you doing to Miss Hale there.”