Chapter 298 - Burning nights
Scarlett stepped into the village square, her gaze fixed on the flames ahead. They hadn’t yet spread to consume all of Freymeadow, but from the many times she had witnessed this scene, she knew it was only a matter of time.
Her eyes shifted to the wooden platform at the center of the square. Atop it stood a familiar black pedestal, crafted from an unnaturally dark stone etched with intricate patterns. It was a Sanctumbrum.
It felt strange seeing it like this, intact. She was used to seeing it in ruins, melting and burning along with the rest of Freymeadow. Her gaze lingered, even as the flames at the edge of the village cast a fiery glow across the darkened sky.
This was probably what Arlene had been searching for. The woman was on a quest to destroy as many of these devices as possible, after all. Considering how powerful she was at this point, it wasn’t surprising that the empire trusted her to handle such missions alone at times.
“Finally, some progress,” a voice spoke beside her.
Scarlett turned to see the younger version of herself standing there, arms crossed, watching the distant flames. There was a note of anticipation in her voice, as though she’d been waiting for this moment.
“…Was this your intention from the start?” Scarlett asked.
“I suppose that depends,” the girl replied.
Scarlett’s eyes narrowed. “What do you hope to gain from this?”
“Very little, in truth. If anything, you stand to benefit here. I simply grew tired of waiting, so I thought it best to expedite matters. You clearly were not about to.”
“…You pressed Arlene as you did for that reason alone?” Scarlett’s voice carried a sharp edge.
The younger Scarlett looked up at her, unbothered. “Pressed her? Hardly. Nothing I said was especially profound or consequential, nor was she incapable of responding properly. I imagine that had she wished so, that conversation would have been very different. Though I will admit, my irritation at your constant fussing over her may have spurred me on partially.”