Scarlett and her companions ventured down the path she had chosen at random, their steps gradually taking them deeper into the winding tunnel. It was a peculiar experience, since when gazing ahead, the corridor seemed to stretch on infinitely, offering no discernible progress as they walked. A glance over their shoulders, however, revealed that they were indeed moving away from the central chamber.

Magic did strange things sometimes.

What amazed Scarlett the most was the very existence of a hidden underground place like this. She couldn’t help but wonder how the deacon responsible for it had managed to keep its existence a secret. Excavating it the traditional way would have taken ages and an army of laborers. She supposed magic was the answer to that as well, but that raised further questions. To her knowledge, there weren’t actually any dedicated construction mages or similar professions. It felt as though such roles should exist, but maybe the spells required for such a task were too advanced for it to become a thing on a larger scale. It would require manifest spells, at the very least, which wasn’t something every mage could learn.

Perhaps some of the mage towers had specialized divisions for things like that, though. She imagined there must be a decent demand for such services, particularly from groups like the imperial army. It might be worth looking into in the future, even if she personally had no immediate need for it.

“This place is starting to give me the same vibes as that haunted mansion did,” Allyssa said as they continued through the endless passage. “All that’s missing is a ghost or a creepy doll leaping out at us from the walls.”

“Sounds like you have had some rather intriguing experiences,” Raimond remarked, walking near the front of the group alongside Fynn. The blond-haired priest turned to Allyssa, back facing forward momentarily. “Let’s hope that we don’t encounter any errant spirits of the dead today, shall we? We are in a place of faith and spirituality, after all.”

“But it sure would add some excitement to things,” Rosa chimed in.

The man chuckled. “I suppose it would.”

Allyssa looked around. “What can we expect here, if not ghosts and the like?”

“It’s difficult to say,” Raimond replied thoughtfully. “One can never be too certain with these old shrines and ossuaries left behind by those who pioneered our order. You wouldn’t believe some of the things that the Ecclesiastical Congregation of Sacraments has encountered throughout its existence.”

Scarlett cast a curious glance his way, turning her attention away from the path that continued ahead. So was he part of that congregation, or was it just a temporary cover? She wasn’t familiar enough with the inner workings of the Followers of Ittar to know whether a deacon could also be a member of its various branches, or if the Quorum remained separate from everything else. Maybe he had been a member of the congregation before becoming a deacon.

As she eyed the man, it took her a moment to realize that the rest of the group’s attention had shifted to her, as if waiting for her to answer the question instead.

“…I am afraid that this is one of those situations where I know little more than Father Abraham,” she said. “We will simply have to wait and see. As such, I would recommend that you remain prepared for anything.”

Although she had a rough idea of what to expect here, she didn’t want to draw too much attention to her knowledge while Raimond was present. Besides, with their current party, foreknowledge about their adversaries wasn’t critical.

She sensed that Rosa and the others weren’t entirely convinced by her supposed ‘ignorance’, judging from the looks they gave her, but no one said anything.

They continued down the passage for a while longer, and eventually, despite the corridor seemingly stretching onward before them, they abruptly stepped into a spacious chamber. It appeared to contain nothing more than another endless path starting at the other end.

Fynn frowned, his nose wrinkling together. “We’re not alone.”

“I’m inclined to agree,” Raimond said. The priest stepped forward, and with a wave of his hand, a dozen tall, lanky figures materialized throughout the room as if a curtain had been drawn. Each figure wore gold-red robes reminiscent of the ones worn by the Followers’ priests, their heads entirely concealed by smooth, blank gold helmets. Initially, they resembled statues more than people, standing entirely motionless.

Yet, as Fynn began to move deeper into the room with a low growl, the figures sprang to life. Their arms moved in strange, deliberate patterns, with the left half of the figures conjuring rings of fire that morphed into tiny globes of flames that circled them, while those on the right enveloped themselves in nimbus-like auras of pure light, spinning at remarkable speeds.

Fynn picked up his speed, with Shin following slightly behind, his shield raised. Their group had grown adept at working together, and Allyssa had already begun extracting vials from her bandolier. Meanwhile, Rosa took a step forward, playing her klert to buff the rest of them.

Scarlett, meanwhile, intended to hold back with her mana a bit unless absolutely necessary. This wasn’t the main encounter in this dungeon, after all. She set her attention on those enemies who were using pyromancy.

In her training with Arlene, she had learned that manipulating other pyromancers’ magic consumed less mana than conjuring her own flames. While it could be challenging—nearly impossible against someone like Arlene herself—the woman had claimed that Scarlett had a knack for it.

The half-dozen priest-like foes unleashed a barrage of spells towards Shin and Fynn. However, the moment they did, Scarlett mentally seized control of the pyromancy half.

About a third of the searing fire globules fizzled into nothingness, while another third lost their shape, veering off their intended trajectory and spiraling back towards their casters. Only a handful of them managed to reach Fynn and Shin, but those were shrugged off by the two.

Raimond also lent his support, creating shimmering discs of golden brilliance that blocked the beams of light shooting out from the nimbuses surrounding the other half of their opponents. Occasionally, golden rays extended from a radiant circle that had formed beneath his feet, crawling across the floor to mend those injuries that Shin and Fynn did sustain.

Moments later, Fynn reached their enemies, charging into two of the priests at once, with Shin following behind him. The duo were outnumbered, but with Scarlett keeping the attacks of one half of the priests in check while Raimond dealt with most of the others, it only took their party a few minutes to come out victorious.

Upon defeat, the priests’ lifeless bodies slumped to the ground like bundles of discarded fabric. Surrounded by these heaps, Shin and Fynn almost looked like they stood at the center of the remnants of a wild shopping spree.

Allyssa wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead as she approached them. “What are these?” she asked, kneeling next to one of the red-gold robes on the floor, pulling at it carefully.

Raimond, dusting off some non-existent dust from his own white robes, joined her. “Auranthials, sometimes called the Followers’ ‘Radiant Guardians’. They are a type of construct that was not uncommonly used by my order during the early days of the empire and the Renascence. You could liken them to golems, if you wish.” He stopped next to Allyssa, looking down at the one beside her. “The method for creating them is a closely guarded secret, and whispered to be exorbitantly expensive, so they are a rare sight indeed in contemporary times.”

The girl scrutinized the defeated ‘Auranthial’, then turned to Raimond, brow lightly furrowed. “Their movements were weird. It was almost as if they were alive, but not.”

“They are imitations of life, animated by the techniques and power of Ittar. Rest assured that they aren’t genuine living beings,” the priest said. His gaze wandered around the room, bearing a slightly wistful expression. “There are ways to make them a bit…more, but even so, they are not truly alive.”

“What does ‘more’ mean in this context?” Shin asked, swiping off some black scorch marks from his shield as he approached the two.

Raimond regarded him for a moment, then offered a faint smile as he shifted his attention to the passage that continued onward at the other end of the chamber. “Shall we proceed as we were, perhaps? I suspect this isn’t the only surprise the venerable departed deacon has left for us in this place.”

Both Shin and Allyssa exchanged looks, but neither pressed further on the topic. To Scarlett, it didn’t matter much anyway. She did, however, eye some of the defeated Auranthials and wonder if their remains might have any value. Given the nature of this excursion, though, she wouldn’t be able to take any of it for herself.

They resumed their journey, delving deeper into the dungeon. As they advanced, they ran into a few more groups of concealed Auranthials, varying in numbers. Each encounter lasted a few minutes, but with Raimond here and Scarlett being able to disrupt many of their opponents’ spells, they faced minimal risk for the time being.

In fact, she felt that this was excellent training for her pyrokinesis overall. She recognized the spells the Auranthials used as primarily being [Ignis Barrage], [Emberstrike], and [Blazing Salvo]. While these were fairly powerful spells, some of which she had seen Kat use on occasion, that didn’t stop her from interfering with their structure.

There were limits to how far she could manipulate the spells—she couldn’t take complete control of them and could only hope to redirect them—but it still proved an effective method of using her enemies’ abilities against themselves. It also made her realize that this was probably the closest she would ever come to casting actual spells herself without the use of an item of some kind.

There was still a question of exactly how effective this technique would be against other pyromancy mages other than these Auranthials. They weren’t really alive, and she assumed that individuals like Kat or Evelyne—mages who she considered herself roughly equal to when it came to pyrokinesis, excluding any additional buffs—would be much harder to contend with.

Perhaps she should spar with Evelyne next time she returned to Freybrook. It could prove to be a valuable learning experience for both of them.

After continuing down the same passage and engaging in the occasional battle for a bit over an hour—this was one dungeon that definitely took longer in this world than in the game, she noted—the party arrived in a larger chamber that seemed to mark the end of this section. Neither Fynn nor Raimond sensed any enemies, and there were no paths leading further from here.

On the far wall of the chamber, a stone table held a burning candle, two small chests, and an old silver ring resting in a bowl. Above them, a single mural had been carved into the wall.

Scarlett and the others approached.

For my most steadfast disciple, I leave my repentance towards you and your kin. Even with my lacking guidance, your accomplishments made me proud. Yet, I am burdened with the knowledge that I could not fulfill my promise to you. For this, I am sorry.

“I guess the deacon who made this place wrote that, then?” Allyssa commented. “What does it mean?”

“Sounds like the fellow was sorry for whatever he did to this disciple of his,” Rosa said, glancing at Raimond. “Or for something he failed to do. Strange, though. I wasn’t under the impression that priests took disciples. Not in the traditional sense, at least. Aren’t your lot all about community and teaching the masses?”

Raimond’s face took on a contemplative expression as he considered the ancient text. “Typically, that’s the case, yes. But I have heard that Deacon Emberwood was somewhat unorthodox in that regard. Supposedly, he had mage disciples even while sitting in his seat as a deacon, and from this, it appears as if he held them rather dear to his heart.”

The man looked over towards Scarlett, and their eyes locked briefly. Did he have something he wished to say to her? Eventually, Raimond shifted his attention to the small chests resting on the table. These chests, polished to a gleaming sheen and made of limestone, featured delicate and gilded edges. The priest approached them with measured steps, gently attempting to open the first one. It wasn’t locked, so the lid slid open effortlessly.

Inside was a medallion of deep ocher hue, boasting a single, radiant gem at its center.

[Companion’s Medallion (Epic)]

{Warm to the touch, this pendant evokes the spectral presence of a once-cherished companion, awaiting the command of its master}

Raimond seemed to study the medallion for a few seconds before closing the chest. He then proceeded to open the other chest, revealing a short bronze rod with a brazier at the top and a spike at its base.

[Traveler’s Respite (Epic)]

{A magical flame resides within this rod, prepared to be called upon and envelop its surroundings with its comforting warmth}

Scarlett couldn’t deny that she was tempted by the items and their descriptions. However, these were not part of her primary objective in this place, and she knew the Followers wouldn’t part with them easily anyhow.

Raimond soon gave a brisk nod and closed that chest as well. “The Congregation and record keepers will be quite fascinated by these, I’m sure. Although, truth be told, they seem to be captivated by most anything older than a molding piece of bread, so that may not be saying much.”

“I was under the impression that you were also a member of the Ecclesiastical Congregation of Sacraments,” Scarlett said.

He turned to her, a small smile playing on his lips. “Technically, yes, but I like to consider myself a slightly more free-spirited soul. The world is a canvas, and I am its unerring brush. Each of its movements speaks a language of its own, and I am here to embrace it.”

“A man after my own heart,” Rosa chimed in, her tone light-hearted. “Maybe you should’ve tried the bardic life, like me. I heard you play the flute, yeah? We could have dazzled audiences across the empire as a musical duo.”

More than a hint of melancholy crossed Raimond’s face as he gazed into the non-existing distance. “Ah, wouldn’t that have been a splendid prospect? And why limit ourselves to the empire when an entire continent could have been our stage?”

Rosa let out a mirthful laugh as she shook her head. “Didn’t wanna dampen your spirits with thoughts of missed opportunities.”

“Indeed, dwelling on what might have been can make one rather forlorn. Regardless, it is my calling to wander these lands as a humble priest and offer Ittar’s guidance to those weary souls in need.” Raimond winked at Rosa. “But who knows? Fate’s capriciousness may yet lead us to bedazzle audiences together in the future.”

“True that. You never know,” the bard replied with a grin.

Scarlett observed the two for a brief while, then she stepped up beside Raimond in front of the table and gestured towards the final item resting there.

The old ring. Literally.

[Old Ring (Common)]

{A timeworn silver ring once belonging to a noble youth. Unremarkable in every other way}

She found it somewhat surprising that the ring warranted an item description, honestly. It was basically useless. But maybe it was for the sake of consistency. That was about what she had come to expect from this system.

“I realize it might be brazen of me to ask,” she began, addressing Raimond, “but do you believe it would be possible for me to take this ring? As I am sure you can tell, it is not an artifact nor enchanted in any way. I suspect that it belonged to the deacon’s disciple, and if so, it could hold relevance for my research. I would be greatly appreciative of the opportunity to further investigate its origins.”

“Hmm.” Raimond appeared to ponder her request for a moment, a perceptive glint appearing in his eyes. “I will almost certainly receive some less-than-flattering comments about it later, but considering the circumstances and what you have provided my order in revealing this place, I see no reason to deny your request. In truth, I don’t believe the Followers have any right to meddle in the venerable Deacon Emberwood’s secular affairs, and the fact that he concealed this place from his fellow clergy members already speaks volumes to its purpose. Perhaps allowing you to be here and take this ring aligns better with the man’s original intention than if I and the Followers were to keep it.”

With that, the priest reached down and picked up the ring, offering it to Scarlett.

“Thank you,” she said, accepting the ring and briefly inspecting it before safely stowing it away in her [Pouch of Holding].

In all honesty, she had little interest in the ring or its backstory. It held almost no value for her, and the game had never focused on its significance either. It was just a minor detail, part of the set dressing for this side-quest that the player completed for Arlene. That said, Scarlett did need to get her hand on one of the later keepsakes from this place, so setting a precedent was good.

She was a bit surprised by Raimon’s casual willingness to grant her request, but she wasn’t about to complain. She had been prepared to put in much more effort to convince whoever the Followers sent with her at this point, but he made it easy for her.

She gestured to the two small chests which held the much more interesting artifacts in them. “Will you not be taking those items?”

Raimond shook his head. “For now, it is enough that I ascertain what they are. We will send people to examine them more thoroughly at a later time.”

“I see.” Scarlett redirected her attention back to the passage they had entered from. “Then I believe our business here is concluded. Shall we return and explore the remaining paths?”