Chapter 314 - How many arch wizards does it take to...?
A brief silence settled in the chamber following Scarlett’s words. The assembly of powerful wizards seated before her regarded her with scrutinising gazes, their expressions wavering between confusion, curiosity, and perhaps a hint of suspicion.
“…The ‘Anomalous One’?” Arch Wizard Elaine Home finally broke the silence, her voice subdued but deliberate. She studied Scarlett carefully. “I cannot say I’ve encountered the term before.” She turned to her fellow council members for confirmation, but they all shook their heads.
“As far as I am aware, it doesn’t appear in any historical records,” a balding man with sharp features added. Archivist Notley—who had remained notably silent until now—spoke with a precise, clipped tone. “If it exists, it has somehow eluded all mention in our archives.”
Scarlett’s eyes stayed on him for a short while. That much wasn’t particularly surprising. Even she had only heard the term from Anguish, and her own investigations had already confirmed that reliable information on the entity was scarce in this world.
“To put it plainly,” she began, “the Anomalous One is the title given to the entity that took control of the Hall of Echoes. Some of you may better recognise it in connection with a trio of artifacts known as the Seals of Thainnith.”
The mention of the seals elicited some subtle reactions across the chamber. Certain council members frowned, exchanging wary glances with their colleagues.
Scarlett hadn’t thought the Rising Isle would be entirely ignorant of the Anomalous One’s potential existence, but much like the mage towers in the empire, their understanding seemed to be very limited.
“What do you know of the Seals of Thainnith?” Arch Wizard Elaine asked, her tone now more serious.
“Likely more than any of you,” Scarlett replied without hesitation. “Much of my research has revolved around them for some time.”
Her statement deepened the frowns among the council members.
Arch Wizard Newbury shifted in his seat, his calculating gaze fixed on her. “And how did you come by such knowledge? Even in our most comprehensive records, references to artifacts such as the seals are exceedingly rare.”
“I would question whether those truly are your most comprehensive records, but no matter. As for how I came to learn of the seals, the full account is too long to recount here. Suffice it to say that allusions to their existence can be found within several Zuverian ruins in the empire — more than you may realise. Information on the entity they are said to contain is far more elusive, but I have uncovered traces of that as well.”