Chapter 228 - Awkward company
Scarlett stared at Nol’viz. In return, Nol’viz stared back at her, the trio of eyes on her expressionless mask blinking in concert.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Scarlett’s mind raced, trying to figure out why one of the Hallowed Cabal’s more formidable agents would be here, right at this moment. As far as she was aware, the Cabal shouldn’t have any business in this area right now.
Unless it somehow involved Ayrlazkreh, maybe? But they wouldn’t have sent Nol’viz for that.
Was it because of Scarlett’s presence, then? Had they decided to betray her after what happened in Crowcairn? Sure, they would know she’d been there, but she hadn’t violated any terms of their agreement. Without jumping to drastic conclusions, they had no grounds to hold her accountable.
Moreover, how would the Cabal even know to expect her here? They had never displayed any signs of predicting the future before, suggesting this meeting was more likely to be a coincidence.
Still, having a Cabal agent in front of her was disquieting.
Nol’viz maintained her unsettling, silent gaze, tilting her head slightly, as if finding something about this curious.
Scarlett briefly glanced at the [Essence of Zenthas] in her left hand, her right gripping the blade that was pressed against the heart-like object. As long as she had The Angler Man’s heart, she should be fine. Together with the teleportation feature of her [Garments of Form] and the way to cancel Dean Godwin’s spell to return to Freybrook whenever she wanted, she was far from unprepared.
Refocusing on Nol’viz, Scarlett adopted an authoritative stance. Before she could speak, however, Nol’viz’s raspy voice, an echoing blend of whispers, cut through the silence from beneath her mask.
“Why are you here?”
Pausing, Scarlett took a moment to consider the question. It seemed like the Cabal agent was as surprised by Scarlett’s presence here as Scarlett was by hers.