Scarlett narrowed her eyes at the sight of Raimond in front of them. The smiling priest was waving cheerfully at their approaching group. A deacon of the Quorum, standing alone in the front of the entrance to a bastion housing the manifested avatar of one of the most powerful demons in existence was already odd enough, but the fact that he seemed so unfazed by their presence was even stranger.

What on earth was Raimond doing here?

Scarlett was certain he hadn’t been part of this questline in the game. None of the Followers had been involved, at least not during this part. So what was it that had brought him here now, of all times?

“Is that…Father Abraham?” Allyssa asked from her perch on a horse behind one of the other knights, leaning over the man’s back to get a better look at Raimond.

“Contain your excitement, for it is indeed I, Ray Abraham!” the priest shouted enthusiastically in response, his voice carrying over the distance. “Welcome and salutations, my erstwhile shrine-venturing companions!”

Their group drew closer. Where he stood, a short distance away from the citadel’s entrance, the surroundings had taken on a pale, crimson hue. The citadel’s entrance consisted of a thirty-meter tall gate gaping ominously, its depths shrouded in a veil of darkness that seemed to beckon them in.

Scarlett eyed it for a few moments before returning her attention to Raimond as they stopped not far from him. The priest’s eyes were scanning over her and the rest of the group.

“Baroness Hartford, Allyssa, Shin, and Fynn,” he said. “Allow me to express my deepest admiration and delight at our fortuitous reunion, though the circumstances themselves are less than ideal. It seems fate is rather insistent on orchestrating our rendezvous.”

“…That does indeed appear to be true,” Scarlett replied, scrutinizing him closely as the knight who she’d been riding behind helped her dismount. The knight gave Raimond a brief, surprised look, evidently taken aback by the sight of a follower of Ittar here. While Raimond’s white robes deviated from the typical attire of the Followers, the intricate patterns on his sleeves hinted at his affiliation.

How could he be here, just as they arrived? How long had he been waiting? Why, of all places, would he be standing outside of Anguish’s citadel? A multitude of questions swirled through Scarlett’s mind, but perhaps the most pressing of them all was this: how much did he know?

Raimond’s smile only seemed to grow wider as he observed her expression. “I shall pose you the same query I suspect you have for me, Baroness. What brings you and your retinue to this most foreboding of places?” He gestured dramatically towards the colossal citadel, its imposing presence casting a long shadow over them.

Scarlett remained silent for a moment, weighing her answer. “…I was working alongside Duke Valentino on an investigation of a nearby village when this structure materialized out of thin air. Given the circumstances, we could not simply ignore its presence. Thus, I was chosen to assess the situation.” She motioned towards the six knights who accompanied them, all of whom had now dismounted along with the rest of her party. “These are members of the Sable Knight order, under the command of Sir Franke Home.”

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Ray Abraham, a humble priest in the service of Ittar.” Raimond nodded in greeting to the knights. Then, his gaze turned towards Scarlett. “Coincidentally, I too was in the midst of conducting an inquiry on the behalf of my superiors in a nearby settlement when, as you can see, events took an abrupt and unexpected turn. The fearsome aura of this fortress was unmistakable even leagues away, and like you, I couldn’t simply turn a blind eye.”

Scarlett concealed her surprise.

If he had been investigating a nearby settlement, there was only one realistic candidate.

“Perhaps, was this settlement you were investigating Crowcairn?” she asked.

“That it was,” Raimond replied. “I assume the same holds true for your and the duke’s investigation?”

“It does.”

She couldn’t recall any mentions of the Followers investigating Crowcairn in the game prior to this questline. Clearly, this was another instance of the events in this world deviating from her expectations.

She shifted her gaze to the horizon, where only the top of the barrier enveloping Crowcairn was visible. “I imagine it must have been shocking for you when that barrier was erected. You were fortunate not to be trapped inside along with its inhabitants.”

Raimond chuckled. “Indubitably. Ittar knows what onerous challenges and arduous demands I would have faced had I been confined there.”

Scarlett returned her attention to him, studying him. She had a nagging feeling that there was a hidden meaning behind those words, though she couldn’t quite decipher it.

Raimond, as if sensing her apprehension, turned his focus to her companions, his gaze lingering on their faces. “I was speaking the truth when I said that I feel this encounter to be a fateful one. That a mere two days have elapsed since our last meeting, and already, here we find ourselves, drawn together by some unseen gossamer thread of providential fortuity. And was it not but a day ago that I arrived in Crowcairn with Rosa herself as my travel comrade as well? I presume you gave her temporary leave from her duties in your employ, Baroness?”

Scarlett frowned as the other members of her party displayed varying degrees of surprise at the man’s statement.

“Rosa’s here?” Allyssa asked, a concerned expression appearing on her face as she looked in the direction of Crowcairn.

Raimond shook his head. “It appears she had a prior engagement with an acquaintance in the region, which is what led her here. However, I am quite certain that she is not currently within Crowcairn’s confines.”

His eyes met Scarlett’s as he spoke.

He knew. Or at the very least, he suspected that Rosa might somehow be involved in all of this.

“What could Rosa possibly be doing that brought her all the way out here?” Allyssa asked.

Fynn remained silent, but the brief glance he sent Scarlett made it clear he was wondering the same.

“No matter the answer to that, I don’t think that should be our immediate concern,” Shin said.

The others turned to study the citadel.

Scarlett, though, kept her attention on Raimond. “If I may ask, Father Abraham, what was your intention in coming here?” She scanned their surroundings. “…And did you come alone?”

No one else was in sight, and there was no sign of any form of transport that could have brought him here from Crowcairn. Surely he couldn’t have run, could he? Unless he knew beforehand where the citadel would appear—which was unlikely—it felt odd that he would have arrived here before her.

The priest raised an eyebrow. “Ah, yes, that is a good question. Although I am certain there are plenty of brethren in my order who would have been more than elated at the opportunity to accompany me on this endeavour, ultimately, it was a task I was assigned to undertake on my own. As for my intentions… While I do like to pride myself on being a man of both action and great foresight, if I am to be frank, I hadn’t quite planned that far ahead yet.”

He paused, a hint of a wry smile curving his lips. “Perhaps I held the hope that, once I arrived, the right path would reveal itself.” Now he wriggled his brows at her. “And it appears that it has. Ittar must be smiling down on me today.”

“How did you arrive here before us?” Scarlett asked. “We left not long after the structure appeared.”

“That, my dear noble friend, is a trade secret.”

Scarlett fought to suppress her growing frown. She found none of those answers reassuring. Not knowing his motives and the true purpose of his presence here left her feeling both uncertain and unsettled. What if he knew everything, and this was just him toying with her?

However unlikely that felt, the Followers did have access to the Augur, and Scarlett couldn’t dismiss the possibility that the seer could see more than anticipated. Raimond’s previous appearance when they cleared the Sunfire Shrine had been suspicious enough, and now, here he was again.

“Now,” the man in question said. “I believe a more pertinent question in this situation might pertain to what your intentions are from here, Baroness. We are facing what appears to be an incursion from the very Blazes themselves, and judging by your attire and timely arrival, you’re prepared to explore more than just the exterior. Am I too hasty in assuming you are planning to enter inside?”

“You are not,” Scarlett replied.

One of the knights turned to her with widened eyes. “We’re entering that thing?” Then, realizing himself, he cleared his throat awkwardly. “What I meant to say, my Lady, is that we don’t know what might be awaiting us inside. Assessing the threat is important, entering poses risks we don’t understand. There is no guarantee of a safe exit…”

“Nevertheless, we are proceeding,” Scarlett stated firmly. “As Father Abraham also observed, the existence of this place cannot be ignored. While Captain Home might have called for reinforcements from Bridgespell, we do not yet know the purpose of this structure or if waiting for help is a viable option.”

With Raimond’s presence here, though, she did have to consider the possibility that the Followers were prepared to deal with the situation and had the Dawnbringers at the ready. If that were the case, the situation could be more precarious than she thought.

For one thing, she wasn’t sure if the Dawnbringers could resolve this situation without her insights. While they boasted some of the most powerful members of their order, this wasn’t solely a matter of strength. Moreover, their involvement might endanger Rosa.

That wasn’t something Scarlett could allow.

Glancing at Raimond, his enigmatic smile only deepening her uneasiness, she fought to suppress the annoyance in her. It mainly arose because she didn’t know what that smile meant in this situation. Was he an adversary, an ally, or something in between?

“If you are ready to delve into the depths of this place, then I would be more than willing to offer my assistance, Baroness,” he offered.

“That would be most welcome,” she replied, even despite her reservations. Given the circumstances, she lacked a justifiable reason to reject his offer.

At least his assistance might prove helpful in navigating their way through the citadel, especially now that they couldn’t rely on Rosa’s charms for healing. While Allyssa’s healing potions were available, magic remained the superior alternative.

“Mister Thornthon, Fynn, the two of you will take the lead,” Scarlett said, motioning towards the entrance ahead. She then turned her attention to the knights. “For those who do not feel confident entering, you may remain here. Otherwise, I ask that you cooperate with my people to protect those in the rear.”

A couple of the knights appeared less than enthusiastic, but none voiced any objections as they began to advance towards the gate.

Scarlett and the others followed, walking towards the dark veil that covered the entrance and concealed the citadel’s interior. As they crossed the threshold of the veil, they found themselves in a wide entrance hall — or at least what might have been supposed to be one. Somewhere along the way, the design had been twisted into madness.

The walls were a disconcerting blend of blood-red and pitch-black stone, their colors intermingling in erratic patterns. Human faces seemed to emerge from the stone, trapped in expressions of eternal agony, as if forever captured in the throes of their final moments. Chandeliers, fashioned from bones and magma, hung from the ceiling, dripping molten rock onto a floor covered in countless markings and claw-like indentations.

The oppressive atmosphere that had enveloped the citadel’s exterior now weighed even heavier upon them. Though Scarlett could still bear it, she imagined that most ordinary citizens would crumble under this pressure.

“By Ittar…” one of the knights gasped, and Scarlett saw some of them, along with Allyssa, grimace at the unsettling sight before them.

They would have to get used to it quickly, though.

Shin and Fynn led the way into the room, followed by the knights, while Scarlett, Allyssa, and Raimond stayed near the back. As they ventured further in, the knights cast wary glances at the walls and surroundings.

Fynn was the first to stop. Translucent claws formed above his knuckles, the wind surging as he assumed a combat stance.

A piercing howl reverberated through the chamber, and something began to materialize at its center. Its form was a grotesque amalgamation of nightmares, a spectral head suspended in the air, with translucent skin that revealed veins pulsating with a perverse energy. Malice burned in its eyes, and jagged onyx teeth filled its gaping maw. Sinister, smoky tendrils drifted from it, leaving a trail of dread in their wake.

A [Whispering Specter], if Scarlett’s memory served her right. She could feel its unearthly wails and incantations probing at her very soul, washing over her with a profound sense of revulsion.

Allyssa brought one hand to her mouth, and one of the knights averted his gaze.

“Well,” Raimond remarked beside Scarlett. “That’s certainly a…unique gatekeeper.”

Scarlett turned to him. “One which you might be particularly well-equipped to handle.”

“I’m tempted to ask if that was meant as an insult or not, but I will choose to believe the latter. I suppose it’s not entirely inaccurate. However, for some reason, it almost makes me lament the commonly hallowed nature of lumomancers as the natural bane of the Blazes’ denizens.” He glanced back at her. “From what I have seen, though, I am not the only one with suitable means for this type of foe.”

She arched a brow. He really was more perceptive than one might expect from a priest, even when it came to more subtle things like magic. It seemed he had discerned the nature of her magic and was aware that it was true pyrokinesis. While it might not match lumomancy in how powerful it was against demons, she had learned from Arlene that it was better than ordinary pyrokinesis against them at least.

Considering how effective it had proved against ghosts and similar creatures, perhaps that wasn’t too surprising.

The [Whispering Specter] emitted another piercing howl as Fynn engaged it. From there, the battle began.

The Specter was undeniably formidable. The numerous tendrils that escaped from its mouth had the power to send two knights flying across the room with a single blow, leaving smoldering marks on their armor and skin that threatened to corrode through their bodies. Without Raimond’s swift reactions, those knights might have died on the spot.

The fact that the first foe they encountered—even if it was essentially a mini-boss—posed such a threat suggested that Anguish and her demons weren’t as weakened as Scarlett had hoped. They might be weaker than in the game, but not to the extent that this would be a walk in the park.

A pleasant surprise, however, was that Scarlett had evidently underestimated her party’s ability to handle the threat.

From their previous encounters, she thought she had a pretty decent grasp of everybody’s capabilities. But now that they had the knights helping in drawing the enemy’s attention and protecting the rear, both Shin and Fynn could concentrate more on the fight than usual. Fynn, in particular, flaunted his ridiculous strength by effortlessly tearing off the Specter’s tendrils and repeatedly pushing the demon back.

Additionally, when facing a single opponent like this who focused on melee combat, Allyssa and Scarlett were given free reins to time their attacks for maximum efficiency and damage. With Raimond assisting them—providing healing and occasionally casting offensive lumomancy invocations that seared through demon’s skin—their combined efforts proved a significant threat to the Specter.

In the end, the demon lay battered and defeated on the floor within a few minutes, dissipating into nothingness as its essence returned to the Blaze of Anguish, where its true body resided.

Scarlett glanced at her mana.

[11497/12063]

From the beginning, climbing this citadel was a question of endurance. She possessed the firepower, but did she have enough mana to make it to the top?

Initially, her plan had been to rely on [Ittar’s Genesis]’s supply if necessary. The divine tier artifact would have been incredibly useful in that regard, but with Raimond and the knights in tow, that option was locked away for now. While concealing it under a cloth might work with ordinary people, knights and a priest of Ittar would undoubtedly detect its aura.

Nevertheless, Raimond’s presence brought its own advantages. Perhaps she wouldn’t deplete her mana reserves if they continued like this. Since she didn’t know how big this place was compared to the game, nor how many foes lay ahead, accurately gauging the situation was hard.

Walking past the knights, who still appeared somewhat shaken from the battle, Scarlett made her way to the far end of the hall. There, a pair of massive stone doors adorned with disturbing images led to the next chamber. Fynn moved up beside her. While waiting for the rest of the group to gather themselves and catch up, she signaled for Fynn to open the doors.

The white-haired young man complied, pressing his shoulder against the heavy stone and pushing. It took a few moments, even for him, but eventually, the doors creaked open. When Scarlett caught sight of what lay beyond, however, her expression darkened.

Before them stretched a long hallway, teeming with dozens upon dozens of smaller demons. It seemed as if her dreams of conserving mana were in ruins.

She did not look forward to how this would smell once she was done.