“An alternative?” Malachi said slowly, sounding skeptical.

“Yes,” Scarlett replied. “An alternative. A trade of sorts, you might say.”

The woman’s gaze sharpened. “For the Astral Soulstone, I presume?”

“Yes.”

“How convenient. For you.”

“Quite the opposite, in fact.”

There were various conclusions for this questline, depending on the player’s choices in the game, and Scarlett had invested substantial time trying to figure out the optimal outcome — one that would benefit Rosa the most.

Considering that Anguish could never truly be killed, a part of the Vile would persist within the bard regardless of how things ended up. But that wasn’t necessarily bad. Rather, it presented an opportunity, if handled correctly. The best way Scarlett knew of ensuring it did was by using the Astral Soulstone, which the player could obtain from Malachi after defeating her final boss form. However, that would present a challenge for Scarlett’s party, which is why she had been exploring alternatives.

The one she had come up with and chosen to pursue wasn’t an option in the game, but she was reasonably confident it could work. It demanded some sacrifice on her part, but she believed it would be worth it in the end.

Lifting her left hand, Scarlett presented the still-concealed [Ittar’s Genesis]. “You may not recognize what this is, but no doubt you can sense the power it contains. If you integrate this relic into the ritual, having it serve as the core instead, it is possible to circumvent the undesirable side effects that the Soulstone would bring. It might not be the optimal solution, but it is preferable to losing control of your faculties, no?”

[Ittar’s Genesis] was undeniably a powerful item. But even then, it could only hold a charge of 20000 mana, which, while impressive, was nowhere near enough for a task of this magnitude. It paled in comparison to what the Astral Soulstone or an ancient dragon’s core could provide as a font of pure energy.

That said, [Ittar’s Genesis] was a divine artifact, touched by the power of a literal god, and it seemed to even have the power to convert demonic energy. Even if it wasn’t on the same level as the Soulstone as a power source, the potential of such a high-grade artifact was a quality unto itself. While Scarlett doubted it was the best solution, she still thought it could work. When Warley Godwin had been working on the [Obedience’s Solitude Loci] at her mansion, she’d taken the opportunity to learn more about this type of magic, preparing for a situation like this.

Naturally, she wasn’t thrilled at the notion of giving up one of her most powerful assets, but the trade-off wasn’t what mattered. Ensuring Rosa had access to the Soulstone took precedence, and Scarlett had other ways of dealing with her mana issues in the future, some involving Arlene.

Besides, [Ittar’s Genesis] had been a double-edged sword since it originally belonged to the Followers.

Malachi seemed to consider her words for a while, glancing down at the concealed crystal sphere in Scarlett’s hand. “…That is assuming your claims are correct.”

“True. There is a possibility that I am lying, but have I stated anything thus far that has been unreasonable? Were you to ignore my words, you would be gambling on your ability to detect a trap set by Mistress, and the odds are not in your favor in such an equation. I would also like to note that, while only Miss Astrey and I are present now, our group extends beyond the two of us. If my sole objective goal was to obtain the Soulstone, I would have sought to simply take it from you by force.”

Taking on Malachi’s boss form with Raimond and the others present might actually be possible, but that situation was a powder keg waiting to explode. This current solution presented fewer risks in terms of outside involvement. Not to mention that Scarlett was curious about the outcome if Malachi succeeded in carrying out her plan. Establishing a relationship with the potential new ruler of one of the Blazes without resorting to unspeakable acts of evil could prove beneficial in the future.

“So, what do you say?” Scarlett asked, watching Malachi.

After a prolonged silence, the woman finally answered. “Fine.”

With a snap of her fingers, another demon trudged forth from the shadows, crossing the chamber. Scarlett noted Allyssa’s subtle movements next to her as the Shielder reached for the flasks on her bandolier, but the demon didn’t look poised to attack.

That wasn’t to say it didn’t look threatening. The four-legged creature stopped in front of Scarlett, salivating as its hungry, expectant gaze fixed on her.

Scarlett raised a brow, but then she tied the handkerchief in her left hand around [Ittar’s Genesis] and placed it on the ground. The demon started dragging it towards Malachi, crossing the crimson sigil lines drawn on the floor in what looked like blood.

[Mana: 5157/12063]

Scarlett had made sure to transfer some of the mana from the artifact to her [Depraved Solitude’s Choker] so that she wasn’t entirely defenseless if Malachi tried something.

A slight gust of wind brushed against her legs, and suddenly the demon paused, spinning around to glare towards the entrance behind Scarlett. It growled — a noise which was soon joined by all the other demons hiding in the shadows around the chamber.

A slight smile touched Scarlett’s lips. A moment later, a powerful wind blew through the chamber as Fynn came to a stop beside her, ready to fight.

Scarlett raised her hand before things came to a blow.

“Hold, Fynn. These are not our enemies.”

The white-haired young man held an intense gaze as he surveyed the place, his eyes darting towards the corners of the room.

“I expected you to arrive earlier,” Scarlett said, throwing him a brief glance. “Did something slow you down?”

He stayed silent for a few moments before turning to her, nodding. “I encountered several strong demons that tried to block my way while going back. They were annoying to get past.”

“I see.” Scarlett’s eyes moved to Rosa, sitting on the throne at the far end of the chamber. Was that Anguish trying to screw her over? If so, the Vile had underestimated Fynn’s abilities. She turned her attention back to Fynn. “And what of the others?”

“I didn’t see them, but I think they circled back to the intersection where we split up before me. They might have taken have lost their way after that, though.”

Scarlett nodded. Fynn was both faster and would have had an easier time tracking her and Allyssa down than the others. It seemed odd that Raimond’s group might have outpaced Fynn in reaching the first chamber, but that could also have been because of Anguish’s influence.

At least this suggested there was still some time until the others would catch up.

Malachi, seemingly reassured that Fynn’s arrival didn’t herald an immediate confrontation, ordered her demons to quiet and had [Ittar’s Genesis] delivered to her.

“It might be wise to continue masking its appearance,” Scarlett suggested, keeping Allyssa’s presence in mind. Some things were best left a secret to the end.

Malachi gave her a brief look, holding the artifact before kneeling at the sigil’s center. She placed [Ittar’s Genesis] next to the Astral Soulstone, using her nail to tear holes in its fabric. Green light radiated from her hands, seeping through the holes and into the divine artifact.

There was not an ounce of hesitation about what she needed to do, it seemed.

“How long will the preparations take?” Scarlett asked.

“The Soulstone will still serve as the catalyst for the ritual, and that is nearly ready,” the silver-haired woman answered, her attention locked on her work. “I merely need to ensure that this…new artifact acts as the new locus. It should not take long.”

“I see. I imagine working with such an artifact is not a challenge for you, given your previous occupation.”

At that, Malachi paused, her piercing eyes moved towards Scarlett for a fleeting moment before returning to her work.

While waiting, Scarlett’s attention shifted to Rosa, who seemed to grow more and more tired while stuck on the throne. She wanted to exchange a few words with the woman, but that could wait until this situation had been dealt with.

The silence in the chamber was thick and tense as the minutes passed, broken only by the faint hum emanating from Malachi’s work. Scarlett began to wonder how much more time they would have had left to reach this chamber before it was too late. It was probably good that they had split up with Raimond like they did.

Next to her, Allyssa was fidgeting nervously with her bandolier and the goggles on her forehead, while Fynn maintained his usual stoic demeanor, keeping a vigilant watch on their surroundings. No demons would be catching them by surprise.

At one point, Scarlett asked the young man to attempt closing the chamber door, in case Raimond and the others did catch up, but unfortunately, it didn’t budge.

That was when Scarlett noticed a subtle shift in the presence near the throne, turning her head in that direction. The atmosphere around Rosa changed, and a chilling grin appeared on Rosa’s face.

Malachi had regained control.

“Prepare yourselves,” she warned the others.

“I must admit, I’m disappointed,” Anguish’s voice carried across the chamber, dripping with scorn. “I had hoped you would tear each other apart while I was away, providing me with a nice view upon my return. But I suppose that was too much to ask, especially when our dear Baroness is involved. I did anticipate more resistance from the half-blood, however. She was far too easily persuaded. This is why diplomacy is always so droll.”

An almost overwhelming pressure descended upon all of them, compressing the very air they breathed. For a moment, it seemed as if Anguish herself had truly descended on the throne, her presence filling the chamber.

Scarlett gritted her teeth as she braced against the pressure, glancing over at Malachi, who glared at Anguish with a mixture of disbelief and rage. For all the woman’s experience with demons, she clearly had underestimated how much power Anguish still held within the citadel.

Although Malachi had been the final boss in the game version of this dungeon, that didn’t mean Anguish just sat idly by and did nothing.

“I’ll have to teach the two of you a lesson in humility,” Anguish said. “We can’t have you misbehaving; proper decorum is expected from guests, after all. I am quite certain you will become more cooperative once those fleshy vessels you call bodies have been softened up some. Especially you, Baroness.”

A pitch-black portal materialized before the Vile’s throne as the space there trembled, and the air in the chamber crackled as two towering figures stepped through the darkness.

One was a monstrosity that stood several meters tall, draped in tattered, smoldering robes that concealed its true form. Its eye socket blazed with pernicious crimson flames, casting an eerie glow over its concealed visage, and bones protruded from beneath its robes, revealing hints of charred, decaying flesh.

The other figure was a serpentine behemoth with scales as dark as the abyss, blending in seamlessly with the chamber’s tenebrous backdrop. Its eyes, however, gleamed with a sinister intelligence, emanating an almost palpable sense of the torment it sought to inflict upon everyone before it.

“Allow me to introduce two of my oldest playthings,” Anguish declared. “Do be careful not to rile them up too much. They tend to be oh so testy.”

Scarlett eyed the two new arrivals. The [Infernal Marrowgeist] and [Serpent of Shadows]. They were the partial manifestations of archdemons and they served as Anguish’s personal guards.

Scarlett had been anticipating their arrival. In fact, she had counted on their and Anguish’s assistance to handle Malachi in case the woman proved uncooperative and too much to handle. While Anguish may have claimed to seek a fight to the death between Scarlett and Malachi, the Vile would probably have prioritized getting rid of Malachi to protect herself.

All at once, Malachi’s demons emerged from the shadows, over a dozen of the savage creatures howling as they charged towards the two archdemons. The Infernal Marrowgeist extended long, wicked bone claws from beneath its robes, wicked weapons that seemed to scorch the very air as it slashed out. Meanwhile, the Serpent of Shadows melded into the darkness, vanishing from sight.

Suddenly, Fynn moved away from Scarlett and dashed for the rightmost wall of the chamber. Ethereal claws formed above his hands as he leaped into the air, swinging the claws at seemingly empty space, revealing the Serpent’s form. The archdemon’s inky scales proved impervious to his attack, however. With a flick of its tail, Fynn was sent hurtling across the room, only narrowly catching himself as his claws gouged into the floor.

Some of Malachi’s demons seized the opportunity to attack the serpent, sinking their teeth into its shadowy body, but they also struggled to pierce its defense.

“Exercise caution and stay towards the rear,” Scarlett told Allyssa, who had already begun checking through her bandolier to find suitable concoctions to aid in the situation. The Shielder was probably using up the last of her reserves at this point.

Scarlett turned her attention to Malachi, kneeling at the center of the chamber. “How much longer do you need?”

The woman scowled, glaring at the archdemons. Perhaps she was trying to figure out how Anguish summoned two archdemons while her powers were restricted. For once, Scarlett lacked the answer herself. All she knew was that Anguish had done the same in the game.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Malachi,” she said after not receiving a reply.

Finally, the woman tore her gaze away from the archdemons and focused on Scarlett. “…Not long, but I must reach the girl and the Vilewyrm heart.”

“I will handle that,” Scarlett replied. “Have you completed the work with the Soulstone? I need it.”

Malachi’s emerald green eyes narrowed for a moment, shifting between Scarlett and Rosa. “…I see.”

She ran a nail over the Soulstone’s surface, causing the black orb to shimmer with colors, and a pulse of energy surged from it into the crimson veins spread throughout the chamber floor. Malachi then cut her wrist with the same nail, completely unfazed, and allowed the dark red blood to drip onto the Soulstone, where it was instantly absorbed.

“It’s done,” she declared, voice devoid of emotions.

With a thought, a mist enveloped Scarlett, transporting her next to Malachi. She picked up the Soulstone, its weight surprising her slightly, and she paused for a moment as distant whispers brushed against her mind.

Dismissing those for now, she turned her attention back to the two archdemons. The Infernal Marrowgeist was now engaged with half a dozen of Malachi’s demons, its bone claws tearing through their ranks. The Serpent of Shadows, meanwhile, clearly wanted to reach Scarlett, but it was repeatedly assaulted by Fynn, who was relying heavily on his wind magic to close the distance whenever it disappeared and reappeared among the shadows.

Not that he was beating the archdemon. Fynn’s wounds were becoming more severe with each passing moment, his white hair and clothes stained with blood. Without Rosa or Raimond’s healing, he wouldn’t be able to hold out for much longer, but at least he was keeping the Serpent occupied along with some of Malachi’s demons. Allyssa had also begun tossing flasks that erupted into small bursts of light, leaving glowing pools of liquid in their wake that reduced the shadows the archdemon could use.

Scarlett began advancing towards Rosa, employing her own magic strategically to aid in the battle where she could. Her hydrokinesis worked to suppress some of the flames that the Infernal Marrowgeist was invoking, though tackling it with her pyrokinesis proved more challenging.

After realising that, she shifted more of her attention to the Serpent of Shadows in order to lessen Fynn’s burden. Malachi’s demons weren’t anywhere as powerful as the Marrowgeist, but they were tenacious and numerous, and their fate didn’t concern Scarlett. The same didn’t apply to Fynn.

As several of her fire arrows and Aqua Mines struck the Serpent, its attention briefly turned to her. Rearing back, it revealed a maw blistering with surging power, reminiscent of the Abyssal Vilewyrm’s breath attack. Instead of unleashing a billowing abyss of darkness, however, it released dozens of tiny shadowy slithers that darted across the chamber and crawled around like mini-serpents.

There were too many for Fynn and Malachi’s demons to handle, so Scarlett had to pick up where they couldn’t. Aiming to eliminate the smaller serpents, she found pretty quickly that they were agile, trying to avoid her attacks as they targeted the sigil drawn on the floor.

She frowned. Were they trying to disrupt it?

Drawing deeper from her mana reserves, Scarlett conjured a new barrage of Aqua Mines, which produced tiny explosions that resonated throughout the chamber.

The serpents were quick and many, but they could not outpace the full brunt of her assault. She managed to eliminate them without entirely depleting her remaining mana, but unfortunately, that had left Fynn bearing the brunt of the Serpent of Shadow’s assault in the meantime, causing his body to be riddled with injuries. Scarlett was amazed he could still even grapple with an opponent of that size at this point.

“It’s finished,” Malachi’s raspy voice called from behind Scarlett.

She looked back at the woman, whose wrist was now bandaged, as Malachi leaned over [Ittar’s Genesis], one hand placed on the artifact.

“Excellent. I leave the archdemons to you, then,” Scarlett said.

Malachi rose unsteadily, her eyes glowing an even stronger shade of green as she uttered a chain of unintelligible incantations that left an unsettling feeling. Around the chamber, all the woman’s demons suddenly grew larger, letting out ferocious roars as they intensified their attacks.

Scarlett spared another quick glance at Fynn, observing that the Serpent of Shadow now became forced to focus more of its attention on the demons rather than dealing with Fynn.

Good.

Scarlett refocused her attention on Rosa, then she moved. Once more, a veil of mist enveloped her as she activated the short-range teleportation ability of her [Garments of Form]. In the blink of an eye, she materialized at the base of the raised dais below Anguish’s throne.

Rosa’s figure, seated above her, exuded an aura of unwavering dominance, surveying the chamber with a tyrant’s confidence.

The Vile inhabiting the bard’s body turned her gaze downwards, her eyes pools of jet-black darkness which locked onto Scarlett with a twisted grin. “Here for the next round of our private chat, I take it? I’ve been eagerly anticipating it.”

Scarlett glanced over her shoulder, confirming that neither archdemon was encroaching on the space near them. Her eyes followed the veins that snaked across the floor, connecting the sigil at the chamber’s center with the pedestal holding the Abyssal Vilewyrm’s heart in front of Anguish.

As long as the sigil operated properly, no demons should be able to approach the throne. Anguish seemed to have found a way to partially bypass that restriction, but Scarlett doubted the same applied to the archdemons; otherwise, they already would have.

“Ignoring me? I’m hurt, Baroness. I was sure you were anticipating this moment as eagerly as I was,” Anguish said.

Scarlett lifted her gaze to meet the Vile’s. “Only to finally silence that insolent mouth of yours.”

“Oh, please. You’ll make me blush.” Anguish’s grin widened. “The more I see of you, the harder it is to contain my desire. I’m practically exuberant at the mere thought of molding you into the perfect servant once we’ve tamed that haughty personality of yours.”

Scarlett stepped onto the dais, approaching the throne, her eyes fixed on the demon. “Had I not found your existence so repulsive, I might have commended your confidence, Anguish. Nevertheless, I expected nothing less than unyielding arrogance from you until the end.”

“Coming from you, that’s almost a compliment.”

“It was not intended as one.”

With the Astral Soulstone in one hand, Scarlett reached out for the Abyssal Vilewyrm’s heart with the other. It felt repugnant to the touch — a fusion of obsidian stone and muscle, oozing black slime and pulsating with a malevolent energy. The tendrils connecting it to the floor yielded easily as she removed it from its pedestal, holding both the Soulstone and the heart before her.

Suddenly, both of their presences seemed to respond to each other, the heart drawing towards the Soulstone, sensing and craving its power. Scarlett granted it what it sought.

As the Soulstone touched the heart, a burst of colors erupted on its surface as a spectacle of tiny fireworks battling for supremacy. Amidst this display, a faint ember of dark violet emerged, gradually growing until it enveloped the entire orb. Thin black tendrils emerged from the Vilewyrm’s heart, snaking across the Soulstone and drawing it within itself. The heart began to crystallize, adopting the same violet hue as the Soulstone as slime dissolved alongside sinew and muscle.

[Astralbane’s Nexus Heartstone (Unique)]

{An astral-bound relic of profound power, wrought and pulsating with the whispered secrets of the Astral Soulstone and the malevolence of the Abyssal Vilewyrm’s core. These opposing forces unite in an intricate dance of temporal equilibrium}

“You intend to implant that into poor Rosalina? You truly are heartless,” Anguish remarked, an inappropriate glee in her voice.

Scarlett narrowed her eyes. The demon definitely had something up her sleeve. If so, she would deal with it as it came.

There was a moment of hesitation as she considered Rosa’s appearance—freckles, wavy brown hair, and all—but the dark eyes and mocking smile left little room for doubt regarding what Scarlett was about to do. She could apologize to the bard once this was over.

With determination, Scarlett thrust the newly created Heartstone straight into Rosa’s chest. It pierced both fabric and flesh, finding its place like a key in a lock. The darkness immediately faded from Rosa’s eyes as she let out an excruciating scream, but Scarlett could only step back and observe.

The Heartstone pulsed with intense light, in sync with Rosa’s agonized cries as it adapted to its new host. Gradually, it settled into a rhythm resembling a heartbeat.

When she was finished screaming, Rosa’s head drooped. When she finally raised it again, her eyes were back to their normal violet hue, meeting Scarlett’s gaze.

“I hate you, Red…” she muttered without much strength.

“I will take that into consideration the next time we are negotiating your wage,” Scarlett said.

“Bold of you to assume there will be a next time,” Anguish suddenly replied in Rosa’s voice, a hint of darkness seeping back into the woman’s eyes.

Rosa’s expression froze, fear tingeing her face.

“Stay calm, Rosa,” Scarlett urged. “Stretch out your senses and feel. You are the one in control now. You simply need to learn how to wield that control.”

She glanced back at the two archdemons, who had gradually gained the upper hand in their battles. Fynn’s arm hung limp at his side, and Allyssa, along with several of Malachi’s demons, grappled with more of the mini-serpents that were crawling across the chamber.

“You can start by attempting to banish those,” Scarlett said, turning back to Rosa.

The woman blinked, looking past Scarlett. She tentatively raised her arm, now free to move the throne’s grip, and motioned towards both archdemons. The air surrounding them shifted, and in an instant, they vanished. The demons clinging to them fell to the floor, disoriented.

Wide-eyed, Rosa stared at her own hand, while Scarlett watched.

On its own, the Abyssal Vilewyrm’s heart would have been enough to suppress a weakened Anguish and offer Rosa the chance at a more ordinary life. However, it wouldn’t have completely freed her. The Vile’s presence would linger, haunting her, and control might still slip at times.

With the Astral Soulstone’s power added into the mix, Rosa could now command the demon within her, achieving a freedom she hadn’t known for years. And since they were still inside the citadel, where Anguish’s power was most potent, Rosa could harness some of that power as well.

“Malachi,” Scarlett called out, not diverting her gaze from Rosa. “You may proceed with the ritual.”

Rosa looked away from her hand, meeting Scarlett’s eyes. “Is it…over?”

“Soon,” Scarlett replied. “Once Anguish has been stripped of her authority, she will no longer be able to reverse this, regardless of the time given.”

Some of the darkness returned to Rosa’s eyes, and the woman’s mouth curved into a slight smirk. “Always so confident. I believe there’s a saying about pride and the fall, pet.”

The smirk faded soon after, replaced by a grimace and worry as Rosa regained control.

“It may take time to acclimate to your new powers, but trust in yourself,” Scarlett said. “As for you, Anguish, I have questions that I still expect you to answer.”

She wanted to know more about this ‘Anomalous One’ business that the Vile had mentioned, as well as the movements of the other Viles.

“Oh, I’m more than willing to provide answers,” Anguish replied. It was only a matter of time before Rosa could suppress the demon if she so chose. For the time being, however, it seemed Anguish could still worm her way to the surface when she wanted. “But I wonder if our darling Rosalina might prefer we focus on more immediate concerns rather than waste our time on that. Although perhaps you don’t want her to know about those.”

Scarlett frowned as a hint of confusion crossed Rosa’s features.

“Ignore her, Rosa. She is trying to sow further discord.”

“True, I do so love to sow discord where I can, but that does not make my words any less accurate,” Anguish said, voice insidiously melodious. “I am merely concerned about how our beloved Rosa will react when she learns of all the innocent blood that is about to be spilled by the schemes concocted to bring her here. She’s not as unfeeling and callous as a certain baroness, so who knows how much it will affect her?”

“What?” Slight bewilderment took over Rosa’s face as she looked at Scarlett. “What does she mean by that?”

Scarlett’s frown deepened. “As I said, pay her no mind. You should be more aware than anyone that she thrives on lies and manipulation.”

“A fine one to talk,” Anguish retorted. “I wonder, how many lies have I told her compared to you? How much have I manipulated? To me, it appears I’m not the one Rosalina should be wary of. But if she finds my words hard to believe, then perhaps I should simply show her.”

Rosa’s eyes changed again, this time filling up with darkness completely, though a lighter shade than before. Soon, though, they returned to their normal state, and Rosa sucked in a deep breath, staring into empty space for a few seconds before turning to look at Scarlett. “What’s happening in Crowcairn right now?”

Scarlett paused, and she could have sworn that a slight flicker of black remained in Rosa’s eyes, as if mocking her. Anguish thought she was gaining the upper hand. Ridiculous, considering how far things had already progressed. But that didn’t mean it couldn’t pose a problem.

“Scarlett, what’s happening there?” Rosa asked again.

“I can provide an explanation for you, dearest,” Anguish spoke up. At this point, Scarlett was starting to suspect that Rosa was letting the demon speak, despite the obvious discomfort it caused. “You see, those villagers had a rather unique arrangement and partnership with Malachi. However, her betrayal and the actions of our Baroness here would have inevitably terminated that partnership. Ordinarily, one might expect the inhabitants of Crowcairn to seek revenge for that, but since that could have proven inconvenient for the Baroness’s grand design, it was more expedient to allow the duke’s men to handle the matter of the unfortunate villagers. Dead men can do little to prove a nuisance, after all. And why should she care when you’ve already done such a good job of numbing her to the sight, dozens upon dozens of times?”

“Anguish, you—”

“Is that true?” Rosa interrupted Scarlett, fixing her with a long, earnest gaze.

Scarlett didn’t know what to say to that look. The situation in Crowcairn was unfortunate, but there was nothing Scarlett could do at this point. If the duke’s men hadn’t breached the Sanctum’s protective barrier around the village yet, they probably would soon. Rosa’s expression suggested as much. If so, it was highly unlikely the villagers could make it out in time.

“I did not send the duke’s men to Crowcairn,” Scarlett eventually said.

“But it’s true that they’re going to kill the villagers?” Rosa pressed. “And that it wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t here?”

“…They belong to the Tribe of Sin. By imperial law, they are criminals.”

“Not every crime deserves a death sentence, especially for an entire village. And the Tribe is not entirely evil. You know that even better than me.”

“That is not how the empire sees it.”

Rosa stared at Scarlett, and the seconds passed in silence. Then, a surge of power behind Scarlett signaled the onset of Malachi’s ritual.

“They’re really going to kill all the villagers?” Rosa asked.

Scarlett locked eyes with her, remaining silent for a moment longer.

The Tribe of Sin was uncompromising in their creed. Even if the duke’s forces chose to show mercy, the Tribe would not allow themselves to be captured. They would either flee if they could or fight to the last able person.

“…The children will likely be spared,” she eventually replied.

Rosa’s expression fell. Despite not knowing the people involved, and despite their affiliations with a group that directly opposed the empire, it seemed the woman couldn’t help but feel compassion. Perhaps Scarlett was partly at fault for that.

Suddenly, Rosa convulsed, a renewed expression of pain etched across her face, and a torrent of crimson and ebony energy emanated from her, surging towards the chamber’s center. Scarlett turned to witness Malachi standing at the heart of the sigil, acting as the epicenter of this occurrence.

“You know, we could save those people,” Scarlett heard Rosa speak behind her, but she could tell immediately that Rosa hadn’t been the one to utter those words. “It would be easy, with my help. And who knows, perhaps we could even save those she told you were beyond saving?”

Scarlett’s head turned back to the bard, who, teeth gritted, slumped back against the throne. “Rosa, do not listen to her.”

She had the situation in control as it stood. If things just proceeded as they were, there would be no need to worry about any uncertainties or risky contingencies. Any deviations from this point, however, could lead to a divergence from the game’s path, rendering Scarlett’s predictions mostly irrelevant.

“Are you comfortable letting even more blood stain your hands, knowing you had the power to prevent it, Rosa?” Anguish asked. “Are you comfortable adding the name of yet another village to the list? Will you let your cherished Baroness bear that responsibility for you?”

“Silence, Anguish,” Scarlett snapped. Closing the distance to Rosa, she leaned over and peered into the woman’s eyes, attempting to see beyond the dark specks present there. “Rosa, they are not your responsibility, nor would it be your burden to bear. Even their deaths are not a certainty. You cannot trust her, so do not do anything stupid.”

For a brief moment, Rosa’s irises cleared, and she stared at Scarlett in surprise. Then, another anguished cry escaped her as Malachi’s ritual persisted. Rosa leaned forward, clutching the Heartstone embedded in her chest, her face now obscured from Scarlett’s view.

“‘Stupid’, of course, means anything that would inconvenience her,” Anguish continued, evidently not giving up.

A few seconds passed, and a faint voice murmured. “…Would you shut up?”

Scarlett blinked. That was definitely Rosa.

A small laughter escaped the woman. It was not the eerie, twisted laughter of Anguish, but a soft, melancholy one.

“…You know, Red, you’re probably the most extraordinary yet bewildering person I’ve ever encountered. Since our first meeting, I’ve been consistently amazed and awed at the ease and confidence you deal with situations, always ready with a plan and a dozen for anything that might pop up. I don’t think you’ll ever really understand what knowing you has meant to me, truly.” Rosa raised her head, a hollow smile on her face as her violet eyes met Scarlett’s. “I know I’m not necessarily the brightest light in your shed, but I know better than to take a demon at her word. I’ll take yours over hers a million times a day.”

“Good, then you know to—”

“But I don’t want to see something like that happen again, even if it is just for the sake of those kids… No, even if it’s just the sake of my own selfish needs. Besides, I’d be more shocked if you didn’t find a way to tilt the odds in your favor, no matter what happens.”

“Rosa, wait—”

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to trust me like I trust you, because I don’t think I’ve done anything to deserve that, but I won’t let her hurt you. I’ll also try not to do anything too stupid, even if I am going to have to disappoint you. I’m sorry, Scarlett.”

Then, Rosa’s eyes flashed black, and the chamber became saturated with the overpowering and all-encompassing presence of a Vile and the ruler of the sixth Blaze: Anguish.