Scarlett froze.
How did he know of her ties to the Cabal?
“…I am not certain what you mean by that,” she said.
Dean Godwin studied her closely, his gaze unswerving. From a side pocket in his jacket, he withdrew a silver ring and effortlessly slid it onto one of his gloved hands. “Pardon my rudeness, Baroness, but I believe that is a lie.”
She glanced over at Lady Withersworth and the others engrossed in their own conversation, the sound still not reaching her.
“I thought this would be a discussion best kept between us,” Godwin said. He stood half a head taller than her, and there was a weight to his words that hadn’t been there earlier. “Now, if you would not mind answering my question… What is your connection to the Hallowed Cabal?”
His presence loomed large yet was strangely relaxed, but it wasn’t anything Scarlett couldn’t deal with. It reminded her of the pressure she had felt when standing in front of the emperor, though. Perhaps there was some magic at play. When the man looked at her, it felt as if he was observing more than just her physical being.
She cleared her throat. “I have never heard of this ‘Hallowed Cabal.’”
While she didn’t know what he knew or how he’d learned it, admitting anything here was ill-advised. But so was provoking an archwizard. She needed to find another way of handling this situation.
Seconds passed as the older man silently assessed her.
“Very well,” he eventually said.
With one wave of his hand, their surroundings transformed, and the two of them found themselves standing in a vast void of white light.
Scarlett blinked at the sight.
Teleportation would have been far too conspicuous in this setting, so this was likely an illusion of some kind. That meant it was likely a lumomancy or umbramancy spell, or perhaps a combination of both. Given that mind-affecting spells didn’t seem to affect her much—something umbramancy often focused on—lumomancy was the primary candidate.
She shifted her focus to Godwin. He wasn’t a lumomancer, though. Aeromancy and terramancy were his areas of expertise, as far as she knew. Did this mean he was just that skilled of a mage that he could do this despite that, or did he utilize some kind of artifact?
The corners of the man’s mouth curled up in a small smile as he watched her reaction. Then, he moved his gaze to the side. In the expansive white space stretching endlessly before them, a single symbol materialized. It resembled grey rock etched into the empty air, forming a character that felt slightly familiar to Scarlett.
Was it ancient Zuverian, maybe?
“Truth. That’s what it says,” Godwin explained, gesturing towards the symbol. “Have you ever encountered this symbol before?”
Scarlett continued examining it, trying to recall if there was anything significant about this character that she knew from the game. She drew a blank. She had learned a bit of Zuverian in her studies, but it wasn’t enough to help her here.
“I believe you have,” the man continued. “I would prefer if you were honest with me now while I am asking nicely.”
She turned to face him. “I have no recollection of seeing this character in particular. If I have, it held no special meaning to me.”
He arched an eyebrow. “There is no use lying to me.”
“I am not lying.”
He studied her for a few more seconds.
“Dean Godwin.” Scarlett motioned at their surroundings. “Before we continue this conversation, could you explain exactly why you saw fit to bring me here and interrogate me in this manner?”
The man brought up a hand to his chin, thoughtfully stroking his beard as he contemplated her. “You have placed me in quite the dilemma now, Baroness, and have me questioning my own judgement. If you are indeed ignorant of what this symbol signifies, then I may very well have made an embarrassingly erroneous assumption.” His black cape fluttered as he turned to the side, peering into the distance. “Perhaps a mistake grave enough that I would have to erase your memory simply to ensure news of it does not spread.”
For a fleeting moment, a shiver ran down Scarlett’s spine. Mistress had once said something similar, so she couldn’t discount the possibility that something like that was possible.
Godwin faced her again, a trace of mirth now glinting in his eyes. “Unfortunately, that is beyond my capabilities, so your memory will have to remain intact. I would appreciate it if this stayed between us, however.”
The tense atmosphere between them disappeared for a second—
“Of course, that is assuming what I saw is wrong.”
Then returned with full force.
Scarlett didn’t let her worry show as she regarded the man. “And what, exactly, is it that you think you saw?”
His eyes met hers.
“Hmm. Before that—” He gestured with his hand, and the Zuverian character vanished, replaced by a red rabbit the same shade as the interior of the man’s cape. “What color is this little fellow?”
“…Red,” she answered.
“Maroon, technically. But close enough, I suppose.” This time, the man merely flicked his index finger, and the ‘maroon’ rabbit transformed into a blue creature resembling a badger. “Now tell me that this walladger is red as well.”
Scarlett frowned, turning back to him.
“Indulge me, if you would,” he said. “Although I am in no rush.”
She eyed him for a few extra moments. If she just drew things out long enough, Lady Withersworth or someone else might eventually notice something was up. The question was whether they would take any action then. Or if they even could.
If they did, would it be worth evading the man’s questions here? There was clearly something he sought from her, though he seemed uncertain about what himself. For now, continuing to play along with his game seemed like the best course of action.
Raising her hand, she pointed at the ‘walladger’. “That is red.”
Godwin scrutinized her intently for a few seconds before nodding his head. “You are a skilled liar, but a liar nonetheless.” He let out a low chuckle. “This certainly puts me in a rather uncomfortable position.”
Scarlett took a step back, readying herself to use the [Charm of Expeditious Change] at a moment’s notice. The temperature slowly began to rise, and small flames flickered into existence at her feet.
That might have been the wrong decision.
The man blinked, staring at her. He cleared his throat and coughed into his fist. “It seems my words may have caused a misunderstanding. I suggest you ease up on your magic, else you wish to accidentally set some unsuspecting guest’s clothes on fire.”
With another wave of his hand, a gentle breeze swept past Scarlett’s legs, extinguishing the flames.
“When I say that you are a liar, I mean that you failed to convince me that blue is red,” he said. “I apologize for the confusion. As for why this puts me in an uncomfortable position, you see, it’s because it indicates that you truly don’t recognize the symbol I showed you earlier, and that I may have acted somewhat impulsively.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I presume you will explain what you mean by that?”
A small smirk appeared on his face as he clasped his hands behind his back, gazing into the white void again. “I won’t waste too much of your time with irrelevant details, but suffice it to say that over my somewhat long life, I have traveled extensively and witnessed many wonders. Books could be written about the adventures I’ve lived. And they have, though I am not one to boast.”
He didn’t look at all reluctant to mention that.
The man raised his left hand, displaying the finger adorned with the ring he had put on earlier.
Scarlett examined it more closely. Generally, she couldn’t prompt the system to provide descriptions of items carried by others, but occasionally it worked if the person deliberately showcased it to her.
Her eyes widened as the message actually popped up.
[Mark of the Keen (Epic)]{The threads of speech form an interwoven web upon which falsities hide. The gift of unraveling this weave lies in the blood of Grehalyr — lent in part to this ring}
“There was once a tribe known as the Grehaldrael that resided in the mountain range south of here,” Godwin said. “You likely have not heard of them, but they were a fascinating group that I encountered in my youth. Quite unique, that lot. In several ways. One notable trait they possessed was the uncanny ability to always know when someone lied.”
Scarlett had already understood what he was getting at the moment she read the description.
He looked back at her. “This was a gift I received from them. While its capabilities are somewhat limited, it carries a similar effect. I will tell you, it gets tiring rather quickly to always know when others are lying, but it can prove advantageous at events such as these, where dishonesties are a currency of their own.”
He knew she had been lying about not knowing of the Hallowed Cabal, then. If he truly desired, it would be hard for her to keep anything completely hidden from him.
“There are several aspects regarding you that I am curious about, Baroness,” the man continued. “I would say ‘suspicious’, but I am already doubting my own judgement, and it would be embarrassing if I jumped to any further hasty conclusion. So, for now, let us settle on ‘curious.’” He studied her for a few moments. “To steer our conversation back on track, however, I will unfortunately have to pose this question once more. And I do hope you will be forthcoming with me this time. What is your connection to the Hallowed Cabal?”
She thought it over for a few seconds before answering. “They are an adversary of mine. I have had several altercations with the Cabal in the past.”
“In the past, you say? And what is your relationship with them at present, if I may ask?”
She shot him a look. The man wouldn’t let her wriggle out of this.
“I am still at odds with them,” she replied.
“Yet you no longer have altercations with them?”
“…We have reached an arrangement, of sorts.”
“An arrangement with the Hallowed Cabal?” The man’s gaze grew sharper. “I presume you are aware that the Cabal is an enemy of both the empire and its citizens? What is the nature of this arrangement, that a noble of the empire would have dealings with such a group?”
Scarlett creased her forehead. “The empire could not protect me nor my people from the Cabal. In order to safeguard myself and those under my command, the Cabal and I have agreed not to interfere or threaten each other out of turn. I am in no way supporting them or acting against the empire, so I see no reason as to why I should not prioritize the safety of my people.”
The man appeared somewhat surprised by her response. “Pardon my saying so, but it’s hard to believe that the Cabal would agree to such an arrangement with a mere baroness. I am not sure if you are aware, but there are members within that group whom even I would not wish to face.” He furrowed his brow. “But you do seem to be telling the truth.”
“I have told you as much as you are owed under these circumstances, Dean Godwin,” she said firmly. “The exact means by which I convinced the Hallowed Cabal, however, is not something I am willing to divulge. It has the potential to jeopardize the safety of far too many people.”
If he knew she possessed The Angler Man’s heart, there was no telling what he would do. It was entirely within his power to take it from her and use it to eliminate The Angler Man, which would effectively doom her and those close to her to be hunted down by the rest of the Cabal. And while killing the Cabal’s leader might prevent some future disasters, it could also bring about unforeseen consequences. Even if she could somehow protect herself and everybody around her—including those living peacefully in her lands—it was far too risky a move.
“Hmm.” Godwin started rubbing his beard. “While I fail to think of anything that might cause you to take that stance, I will not press the matter further. However, there is still one question that remains unanswered, though I am starting to suspect you may not even know the reason behind it yourself.”
Once again, he regarded her not as if he was looking at her, but rather through her.
Scarlett steadied herself.
“Are you aware that you are defying fate?” he asked.
She paused. “…Pardon?”
The look in his eyes was that of someone observing a peculiar specimen whose existence they couldn’t quite explain. “Do you perhaps know what the dogma of the Hallowed Cabal is? Do you know what the truth they seek is?”
She frowned. She was familiar with all of that from her playthroughs in the game, yes, but what did he mean by her defying fate? That could be interpreted in a number of ways that might relate to her current situation, but she found it odd that he was even talking about fate to begin with.
He continued speaking as if he had guessed her thoughts. “Fate is not truly a thing that can be predicted. It is most likely not even a thing that any single individual can truly comprehend. Even glimpsing it is a feat that perhaps only the gods can accomplish, and I suspect that they are mostly blind to it as well. I have lived for quite some years now, traveling across countless lands in my time, yet I would never dare claim such an ability myself. As an accomplished archwizard, though, what I have learned to see—however modestly—is when others go against that fate. That said, there is only one group of people I have observed who exhibit this phenomenon, and that is among the Hallowed Cabal. Certain members of the Cabal are so deeply entwined in the pursuit of their ‘truth’ that they defy the very currents that steer the course of this world.”
Scarlett stared at him.
This was news to her.
She knew why the Hallowed Cabal had been created, and why they were fighting the empire. She knew why they were fighting against the very gods themselves and the current order of this world. However, she knew nothing about this fight against ‘fate’. Was this something unique to this world? Did it have anything to do with the fact that some things were predetermined to happen as they did in the game? Or was this something else?
She could at least understand why Godwin thought she was going against fate if this was true. There were over a dozen explanations that she could think of from the top of her head, but all of them boiled down to her presence here as Amy Bernal in Scarlett’s body. But now the Cabal was somehow connected to this as well? And that was why he thought she was associated with them?
Was he the only one who could see this, or were there others like him? Had any of the people she had met before noticed this as well, but chosen not to mention it? Godwin was one of the most powerful mages in the empire, but there were others on a similar level. Arlene and Mistress were just two examples.
“It seems my words have made you start to consider,” the man said. “Do you perhaps know what makes you so special?”
She remained silent for a while, gathering her thoughts. “…There are too many possibilities for me to disclose them all.”
Godwin blinked. Then he laughed.
“Adalicia mentioned that you were an interesting lass. Withersworth did as well, though he wasn’t quite as generous with his words. I will admit, I was initially disappointed when I first saw you and realized you were a potential associate of the Cabal, but I do believe I understand what they meant now. I also think I understand why Rowley turned so reticent when your name was brought up.”
Scarlett’s mouth twitched as she recalled her encounter with the vice-dean of Elystead Tower.
“Could you perhaps indulge me and mention only one or two?” Godwin asked.
She pressed her lips together. “…I have seen glimpses of what might happen in the future. I did not like what I saw, so I took it upon myself to change it.”
The man’s expression grew more focused, a glimmer of intense interest shining in his eyes. “The future, you say?”
“Yes, or rather, a possible future, were things to unfold without any intervention.”
If the Cabal was also ‘defying fate’, then she wasn’t sure how accurate the predictions surrounding them were. Based on what she had seen, they still seemed to hold true, but it was hard to know for sure.
“And how did you accomplish this?” Godwin asked. “Did you perform a ritual of some kind, or was it due to the influence of Ittar or some other deity?”
“Before I answer that, I would like to understand more about your ability to perceive my defiance of fate,” Scarlett said. “Is it a skill all archmages possess?”
“Archwizard,” the man corrected. “Though, in this context, I will admit the distinction hardly matters. And to answer your question, no, I would imagine I am the only mage in the empire capable of such a feat. However, one can never truly know the secrets others hold.”
“So it is not the result of a spell?”
A wry smile graced his face. “If there were a spell that could unveil the threads of destiny, then it would be a powerful spell indeed. Those threads are the underlying gears governing our world, surpassing even the workings of magic and the gods. That is precisely why your claim of glimpsing the future intrigues me so.”
“I would appreciate it if you kept this information to yourself,” Scarlett said.
“While I may be able to honor that request, I hope you understand that I cannot simply overlook a matter of such magnitude. No true wizard could.”
She eyed his unwavering gaze. “…What is it you desire in return?”
Godwin crossed his arms, adopting a thoughtful expression. “First, I want to confirm that your foresight is truly not influenced by any of the gods.”
She let out a sigh. “To the best of my knowledge, it is not.”
“Hmm.” He tapped a finger against his arm, then turned his head to gaze into empty space. “It would seem as if we are out of time.”
Scarlett followed his gaze, but all she saw was the white void surrounding them.
The man turned back to her. “Perhaps this is for the best. This setting is not ideal for discussing matters of this nature. Would you perhaps agree to arrange a meeting in the future? I am eager to learn more and delve deeper into this phenomenon, if it does indeed turn out to be the truth. Of course, in return, as the dean of Elystead Tower, I am at your disposal to answer whatever questions you might have and provide certain assistance where you may require.”
Part of her wanted to refuse, but it felt like that would be a bad idea at this point. Instead, she nodded. “Very well.”
Godwin smiled. “I am pleased that we have reached an understanding.”
He clapped his hands, and suddenly, the world reemerged around them, accompanied by the cacophony of noise that resonated all the more after having experienced its absence.
Scarlett glanced at Lady Withersworth and the others, who still seemed absorbed in their own discussion, as if oblivious to the peculiar events that had just unfolded. What must it have looked like to them?
Dean Godwin winked at her before seamlessly joining their conversation, eliciting a burst of laughter from the gentleman with a comment that prompted Lady Withersworth to shake her head.
Scarlett observed them for a while, uncertain how to feel about what had just happened. It wasn’t necessarily bad, given the circumstances and the archwizard’s personality, but she disliked being backed into a corner with limited options. She would have to see how she dealt with this in the future, and if she could squeeze any benefits from it.
Lady Withersworth looked in her direction, seeming to consider her for a moment before the woman’s gaze shifted briefly to Godwin.
Choosing not to burden her with worry, Scarlett soon joined the conversation as well—to the degree which she could, at least—and temporarily set aside her thoughts on everything else.
For now, she had to focus on getting through the rest of the evening. The rest could wait.