Chapter 249 - Crisis
“What’s going on? What’s that on your wrist?” Allyssa’s voice snapped Scarlett back to the present.
“You can see this?” Scarlett asked, turning to face the girl with a furrowed brow.
“Um, yes…?” Allyssa replied, her eyes darting uncertainly between Scarlett and the others. “Am I not supposed to?”
Yamina stepped forward, her keen gaze fixed on Scarlett’s wrist. “What manner of artifact is that?”
Scarlett’s frown deepened as she regarded the wizard. Suddenly, all of them could see it? Did that mean it was now visible to anyone, or was it because they all diverged at least slightly from fate? She shook her head, pushing those thoughts aside. There were more pressing matters at hand.
“We can discuss this later,” she said. “Miss Ward, we need to return to the surface immediately.”
Yamina’s eyes narrowed, but after a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “Everyone, prepare yourselves,” she announced, preparing to activate her teleportation artifact.
With a wave of her hand, a blinding light enveloped them, and Scarlett felt the world lurch around her. The piercing headache that had been gnawing at her intensified, threatening to briefly overwhelm her senses. When reality stabilised, she found herself leaning heavily on Fynn and Rosa in their guest quarters, her vision swimming.
As the pain ebbed and her surroundings came into focus, Scarlett straightened, pushing away from her companions. With a flick of her wrist, she activated her [Charms of Expeditious Change] to swap her expedition gear for a more comfortable black dress, then strode purposefully towards the door, ignoring the concerned looks of the others.
At the threshold, she paused, turning to face Yamina. “Miss Ward, you have my gratitude for your assistance tonight,” she said, keeping her voice steady despite the lingering discomfort. “We will need to discuss matters further soon, but for now, our business is concluded. It may be best if you take your leave.”
The woman’s expression seemed to suggest she didn’t quite agree that they were done for now, but after a moment’s consideration, she nodded. “Until we meet again, then,” she replied. With another shimmer of light, she vanished, leaving the room’s occupants staring at Scarlett.
Without another word, Scarlett exited into the hallway. Rosa’s voice called out behind her.