Chapter 84: Progress without stop
The next day, Lea reported her findings to Dawn, who was getting ready to head to Lacrosa to buy the ingredients for Lea's weapon.
"So, you are telling me someone is setting up a ritual to turn Renar into a permanent location for the Tome of Light?", her right eye twitched with irritation, "Public order had gone down that low?"
Lady Keter casually picked up a chart, "Most of your mystical protectors are doing work on the frontline, it is no wonder the security of the city is loose."
Lea knew from her days of theology study that there are only two ways for those following the Blood God to back down. One is to cripple them completely so they cannot fight anymore. The other is to annihilate them.
For a nation following the Blood God... despite its countless invasions, never did Zankur declare defeat nor sign a real peace treaty.
"Hah... let me check..."
Once again, Dawn mimicked Order and Legacy, scanning the entire city... yet again, nothing.
"What is happening...?", she clicked her tongue, turning to Lady Keter, who was enjoying another slice of cake.
Noticing the gaze, she finished chewing and smiled, "Veil, of course. The power of a Seventh Step or more, it can cover the truth."
Dawn's expression darkened, "Seventh Step... There are barely any Seventh Step Pathstriders left in the world. Who would—"
"Sinclair Apocrypha...", Lea said quietly, her golden eyes fixed on Lady Keter, "It's her, isn't it? She's behind this."
She remembers that night's encounter with the Disciple of the Heretic. Lady Keter took another delicate bite of cake, neither confirming nor denying.
"Akasha Monodrama...", Dawn muttered, connecting the pieces.
Lea nodded, her scaled hand clenching, "Sinclair can use Veil to create fake humans, constructs that seem real until they die and shatter like glass. If she's Seventh Step in Veil..."
She remembers the fake Abyss Hunter, how he shattered like glass after committing suicide. The power of Veil, creating lies so real it might as well be the truth...
"Then she could hide an entire ritual network from even Fifth Step detection..." Dawn finished grimly. She looked at Lady Keter, "Can you see through it?"
The goddess set down her fork, considering, "I could. But that would require effort, and I'm not particularly motivated to expend it for free."
"Another slice of cake?", Dawn offered flatly. Hoping that it wouldn't work.
"Make it two, and I'll tell you exactly where every sigil in the city is located." Lady Keter's smile didn't reach her eyes.
It worked...
"Though I should warn you, knowing where they are doesn't tell you why they're there. Sinclair is complicated."
"Complicated how?", Lea asked, reading Dawn's surface thoughts and sensing the same suspicion she felt. Lady Keter knew more than she was saying.
"Complicated in that she's quite difficult to kill.", Lady Keter said lightly with a hint of frustration for some reason, "In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's impossible. But that's a lesson for another time."
That detail made Lea and Dawn widen their eyes. There seems to be a history between the two... that said, they don't know much about the Goddess of Time.
She stood, brushing crumbs from her robe, "For now, let's focus on the immediate problem. Dawn, you need materials from Lacrosa for the weapon. Lea, you need to destroy sigils before the ritual completes. I suggest you split up."
"Wait...", Dawn said, "Sinclair is beyond Seventh Step and can hide entire operations from detection... how are we supposed to fight her?"
How can you kill something that cannot be killed?
Lady Keter's expression didn't change, but something flickered in those azure eyes, "You don't really need to fight her. Sinclair is a problem that will solve itself. Though she is quite mischievous."
"That's not an answer.", Lea said, crossing her arms with a frown.
"No, it isn't", Lady Keter agreed, "But it's the only one you'll get from me today."
She moved toward the door, "Two slices of cake, Bathory. Chocolate, if possible. Then I'll provide you with a complete map of every sigil location in Renar."
After she left, the remaining two exchanged a long look.
"She knows something." Dawn stated, looking at the goddess casually walk past a maid without so much as a glance. She can't exactly report that she summoned a goddess either.
"She always does.", Lea replied, "The question is whether she'll tell us before it's too late, or whether she's just... observing."
Dawn moved to her workbench, pulling out the addresses Lady Keter had provided earlier, "First off, no, we won't separate; that is a very bad idea."
Dawn took the address notes and finished packing her stuff, "Lacrosa first, get the materials for your gun. Then we start destroying sigils before this ritual completes."
"And if we run into Sinclair?", Lea asked.
Dawn's expression hardened, a bit hesitant, "Then we find out exactly how difficult she is to kill."
Lea said nothing, but her hand drifted to where Hastur would manifest. She'd faced Sinclair before thrice, in her destroyed hometown, in Ein, and here in Renar. The memory of those encounters, the helplessness, the terror, made her skin and scales itch.
This time, she wouldn't run.
Even if some part of her, deep down, suspected that confidence was exactly what Sinclair wanted her to feel.
"Now, come on, Lacrosa!!"
=0=0=
Ding-a-ling~
"Hello and welcome to the Golden Emporium~!!", Qaeidat gave a business perfect smile to the guest.
"I greet you, Great One...", that person greeted the store owner with a polite bow.
"What brings you here, Solafant?"
In front of the Qaeidat was a thin man, their appearance weary yet still carrying a hint of youth. Their ash gray hair was thin and long, making them look not very different from a girl, and those emerald green eyes make them even more endearing. Their outfit was light, often worn by travellers on a journey.
Solafant placed a cheque on the table, written on it was 8,000,000 Cee.
"I would like to deposit this to a new passcard, please.", they made their request, placing a silver card with the four overlapping hourglasses on the table.
"Oh~", her eyes gleam with interest before picking up both, "The fee is a thousand Cee, do you want to deduct it from the cheque?"
"No, I'll pay it myself.", they placed a thousand Cee in banknotes on the table.
Taking the money with a swipe of her hand, Qaeidat began to go through the procedures. While chatting with Solafant.
"So, that girl is back?", she made light conversation with them.
"The Monarch in Silver is back... my lady finally returned to reality...", there was fervor of reverence in their voice, as if praying.
Qaeidat nodded in understanding, keeping up her smile, "I see~ so you want me to keep this safe until she comes, right?"
Hearing that, Solafant bowed their head, "I am sorry to put a burden on you, Great One."
"No worries~ it is no burden upon me at all!!", she was still smiling perfectly.
"Sorry for the trouble. And I bid you goodbye."
After they left, their form changed, transformed into an old man, blending seamlessly into the crowd.