Scarlett eyed Godwin for a few seconds before speaking. “I hope you will excuse the sudden interruption. Mistress’ appearance was not within my expectations.”

The archwizard smirked subtly. “I could tell as much.” He glanced at Empress, who was still sitting on the table. The cat remained perched on the table, calmly observing them while grooming herself. Godwin’s gaze then shifted to the spot where Mistress had disappeared only moments ago. “Before coming here, I did not expect for you to have so many…intriguing associates.”

Scarlett sighed. “To be frank, neither did I.” This entire day had been far more chaotic than she could have anticipated. “Can I trust you to keep what you have heard here today strictly between us?”

Godwin nodded with sincerity. “I am a man of my word, and I intend to keep it that way.” He gestured towards Empress. “Besides, I suspect it is in my own best interest to do so.”

The cat briefly met his eyes before returning to licking her paw.

The archwizard turned back to Scarlett, his focus intensifying. “However, my promise applies specifically to what I just heard. It does not extend to the matters I initially came here to discuss. I hope you understand.”

Scarlett met his gaze before eventually nodding in return.

“Noted,” she replied, careful not to appear too guarded. She wasn’t confident she could extract another oath from him, so she would simply have to rely on her negotiation skills from here on. She also had to remain mindful of his lie-detecting artifact. “Let us continue, then.”

“Since I will not be divulging your secrets, I will take the liberty to be more open about my thoughts,” the man said. “I am curious about your conversation with Mistress just now. Though I am far from an expert on demonology or matters related to the Viles, I have heard of incarnates before. Based on your earlier words, it would appear you have one somewhere within your household.”

Scarlett kept silent for a moment, and he waited patiently.

An incarnate was to the Viles what an avatar was to the gods, though it was also the opposite in some ways.

The Countess was an example of an avatar, serving as a mortal vessel for Adtia—the forgotten goddess of the night and lady of the moon—to channel her power into the Material Realm in order to directly influence it. Some avatars were unaware of their true nature, like the Countess, but it was usually pretty obvious to those who knew what they were looking for. As far as Scarlett knew, the connection between an avatar and their deity wasn’t supposed to be harmful, although the same couldn’t always be said for roles such as augurs.

Incarnates, on the other hand, weren’t vessels that the Viles could channel their power through, but rather receptacles for their power. A fully realized incarnate was more akin to an empty doll for the Viles to use as they wished. It was the most effortless and straightforward way for them to influence the Material Realm, which was why all of them would show interest whenever a potential incarnate appeared. That was also why, to the rest of the world, someone like Rosa was a walking time bomb unless handled correctly.

“It is true that I have a potential incarnate here,” Scarlett eventually responded. “However, this is not a matter that directly concerns you, Dean. I would prefer if you did not involve yourself.”

Godwin raised an eyebrow. “It appears both you and this incarnate companion of yours are at risk of being targeted by demons,” he said. “While I have heard rumors of Mistress and her abilities, I am uncertain of the extent to which they are true and how much she can help you. Should things go awry, however, it seems to me as if this situation could trigger another Desolation Calamity. It is said that event was also caused by the birth of an incarnate in the Material Realm, and that is something deserving of my attention, don’t you agree?”

Scarlett gave him a measured look. “The Viles will not lay their hands on this incarnate. I will ensure that the situation remains under control.” If Mistress could keep any demons off their trail for a while, she should be able to handle this. Godwin would hopefully be able to discern the truth of her statement.

The man studied her. “You certainly appear confident in the accuracy of your words, at least.” The atmosphere seemed to grow heavier around him. “But under circumstances like these, the most prudent course of action would be to ensure that the Viles simply cannot reach the incarnate in the first place.”

Scarlett froze, her blood rushing as anger flared up inside. She narrowed her eyes at him. “It does not matter who you are,” she pressed out, her voice dripping with cold fury. “I will not allow you or anyone else to harm my people.”

Godwin met her intense stare with a cool expression.

“Is that so?” he asked. Several seconds passed as he watched her. Then, finally, he nodded slowly, a glimmer of approval flashing in his eyes.

“Very well,” he said, voice steady. “That is as acceptable an answer as any, considering things. Your loyalty and drive to protect those under you are commendable, at the very least, and I respect that much. It seems as if I may have misjudged your personality somewhat before today, but I am glad to gain a better understanding of your motivations.”

Scarlett’s tension eased slightly, and some of the anger dissipated as she realized the man might not have entirely meant his earlier words.

“I will not interfere with your current matters concerning this incarnate companion of yours,” the man continued. “However, I will be investigating further into it when the opportunity arises. I hope you will not resent my intervention if I judge that the situation has devolved too far.”

She pressed her lips together, then begrudgingly nodded her head. There wasn’t much more she could ask for. He was already showing her an immense amount of respect by leaving it at that for now. More than she ever thought he would have.

Godwin cleared his throat. “Well, now that that’s settled, perhaps we should return to what I originally intended to discuss before we were graced with the presence of our unexpected guests?” The silver-grey-haired man leaned forward slightly, a classy smile appearing on his face. “I recall that when we last spoke, you agreed to enlighten me further about this ‘future sight’ of yours.”

Scarlett took a deep breath, composing herself after the sudden surge of emotion she’d experienced moments before, and preparing herself for what was coming. She had anticipated this for the last few days.

In front of her, Godwin reached into the depths of his cape and produced two items. One was a small, intricately crafted amulet made of shimmering silver that seemed to possess an ethereal quality when caught in the light, almost as if the metal was alive. The other was a polished obsidian mirror framed with elegant gold runes.

Scarlett’s brows furrowed as she examined them.

The man spoke. “This first item is an ancient Zuverian artifact that I once borrowed from the Hallowed Cabal after a rather eventful encounter with them in the past. Its precise purpose and function have always eluded me, but it is somehow linked to the defiance of fate that I have observed in some of their members. It played a role in my own understanding of this phenomenon.”

He gestured toward the second item. “As for this, I took the liberty of creating this tool over the course of the last two days, with the assistance of a knowledgeable acquaintance of mine. It combines certain divination and analytical enchantments to determine likelihoods and probabilities. It is the closest approximation I could create within such a limited timeframe to replicate what you claim to possess, though even with more time, I hesitate to say I could create something of much higher quality.”

As Scarlett inspected the items, the first one prompted a description from the system to manifest.

[Whispering Amulet of Thainnith (Unique)]{An ancient power resonates within, whispering words of a realm untouched and sealed. When that which cowered trembles, these whispers relate its stirring with watchful eyes}

She stared at the text. This was connected to the Seals of Thainnith.

It was a good thing that Mistress had already left.

“Do you perhaps recognize what this is?” Godwin asked, drawing her attention back to the old man. He regarded her with a curious expression.

She hadn’t thought she showed any reaction on her face, but now that he’d asked, she had no choice but to respond honestly. “I do recognize it, to a certain extent. At the very least, I have an idea of what it is.”

A deeper interest seemed to spark within the man’s eyes. “And what might that be?”

Scarlett glanced at the item description, carefully thinking of how to craft her response. “Since you seem well-acquainted with the Hallowed Cabal, I presume you are aware of what it is they want?”

He nodded. “I am more familiar with their doctrines than most.”

“In that case,” she said, “are you acquainted with the name Thainnith?”

Godwin paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

“Thainnith… I believe that was the name of one of the legendary divinarchs the ancient Zuver were said to have among their numbers,” the man mused.

During the time of the Zuverian civilization, powerful magic casters had been far more prevalent than in the present, and magic had supposedly permeated their society to a much greater degree than among today’s civilizations. But the Zuver had limitations they couldn’t surpass, even among their most formidable mages. The divinarches, however, had transcended those limitations. They were a group of half-deity Zuver who held partial rule among their people, and they could even rival actual gods in some aspects. The last of the divinarches died during the Severance, the ‘cataclysm’ that left almost all of Zuverian civilization in ruins, and Thainnith was one of them.

“In that case, do you know of the Seal of Thainnith?” Scarlett asked.

Godwin considered her for a moment, as if contemplating the reason behind her question. “I have heard mention of the Seal of Thainnith in legends and ancient records, but information on the topic is scarce. From what I have gathered, it was purportedly a seal created sometime during the Severance to bind an object or being of great power. What I do know is that the Cabal has some connection to whatever was sealed away.”

Scarlett nodded in confirmation, pointing towards the amulet in his hand. “I believe that artifact’s purpose is to observe that seal.”

At least if she interpreted the item description correctly. It could also be an artifact that was supposed to communicate with what was inside the seal, but she didn’t feel like that fit.

The archwizard lowered his gaze to examine the amulet more closely. “Truly?” he murmured, glancing up at her again as if trying to gauge the authenticity of her words, before looking down at the artifact again.

Scarlett, too, took another moment to study it. If this item was indeed connected to the ‘defiance of fate’ that Godwin mentioned, then maybe what was imprisoned by the Seal of Thainnith was the source of that ‘defiance’? The fact that the wizard observed a similar phenomenon among some of the Cabal’s members might be because of their connection to the entity.

She had believed she knew everything there was to know about the seal when she first arrived in this world, but even she had been puzzled when she initially encountered the first piece and the system referred to the sealed entity as ‘that which cowered’. Perhaps that was the first sign of a discrepancy between this version of the seal and the one she knew from the game.

“This is certainly intriguing,” Godwin commented. He fixed his gaze on her. “What makes you believe this is the purpose of the artifact?”

“It is through the same means that I have been granted glimpses of the future. However, it is not entirely predictable or accurate, and I often find myself surprised by its workings. I was not aware of the existence of this artifact before today, for example, but now that I have seen it, I have a notion of what it does.”

The man’s forehead creased in thought. “And how does it manifest for you?” he asked. “Do you experience vision, or does the information appear to you in some other way? Does it feel as if it is channeled into your mind?”

“It is difficult to explain,” she admitted. “One could say that it simply…pops up before me when I need it. It is as if the knowledge has been waiting for me to discover and access it, but the information itself rests within the item and not myself.”

“Pops up, you say?” A chuckle left Godwin as he repeated the words, stroking his beard deliberately. Eventually, he refocused his attention on her. “My apologies. It seems we have veered off course once again. To steer us back to the matter at hand, I intended to inquire whether I could use these artifacts to examine you?”

He extended the two items toward her.

Scarlett eyed them warily. She wasn’t entirely comfortable accepting that request. She had no idea if the system was detectable by the magic of this world, and if it was, how it might appear. But she would prefer not to find out like this.

Not to mention that it was technically a lie that she could see the future. She had managed to convince him of it by being careful with her words, but if he examined her, who’s to say he couldn’t see through her deception?

Unfortunately, she wasn’t in a situation where she could outright refuse his request either. She was being agreeable with Godwin because she wanted his goodwill. She wanted to maintain a cooperative relationship with him and avoid him having a reason to do anything that screwed with her plans.

Reluctantly, she nodded. “You have my permission.”

She hoped that whatever the system actually was, it wouldn’t cause problems for her here. If she looked at it from the bright side, maybe she could even learn something new.

Both of the items floated out of Godwin’s hands as if guided by an unseen force, gliding through the air until they stopped beside Scarlett. There, they began rotating around her head. The air itself seemed to shimmer, and a series of intricate runes materialized as the wizard performed his magic, emitting a soft glow that bathed the room in a multicolored light. The man produced an array of white crystals from his cape, adding them to the dance of objects swirling around Scarlett.

Godwin’s expression grew focused as he proceeded with whatever spell this was, and Scarlett could only sit in silence, waiting for the outcome. As the minutes ticked by, she occasionally stole glances at Empress, who had blended in seamlessly with the surroundings for a while and was observing them with keen curiosity.

Eventually, after ten or so minutes, the magic subsided. The runes dissipated, and the crystals and artifacts returned to Godwin as he concluded his spell. He remained quiet for a short while, holding both artifacts in his gloved hands as he examined the crystals hovering before his eyes, seemingly processing whatever information he had gleaned. Finally, he looked back at Scarlett.

“Did you gain any insights?” she asked, careful not to betray any worry.

“That is a difficult question to answer,” he replied, still appearing somewhat lost in thought. “At the very least, I can say that the source of your ‘fate defiance’ appears different from that of this amulet.” He raised the [Whispering Amulet of Thainnith] into the air. “However, I couldn’t discern the exact nature of this distinction. Perhaps one might say that this artifact, along with those of the Cabal exhibiting the same trait, moves against the current of fate and opposes it, whereas your defiance seems to cause the movement of fate to shift around you instead…” His brows knitted together. “Or maybe it is the exact opposite of that. What I could grasp of what I saw is rudimentary at best, so I am afraid there is much guesswork involved in my interpretation. What I can state is that it is a truly fascinating phenomenon.”

Scarlett pondered his words. They seemed to align with her perspective of having first known this as a game and now living in it as a world with game-esque aspects. Certain things moved in a predetermined manner, and at least some of them were centered around her and the system.

Godwin continued. “The results pertaining to this ‘future sight’ of yours were equally perplexing. Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of meeting two generations of Augurs, as well as numerous individuals from other continents who possess some ability to divine the future. In those cases where I was permitted to study their abilities, all of them exhibited clear signs of being connected to the workings of fate in a manner visible to even someone like me.

“This connection is particularly noticeable in those who received their abilities from deities or powerful beings channeling the tellings of fate to them. Even the shamanistic diviners that I have encountered, who utilized methods beyond our relatively rudimentary understanding of divination magic here in the empire which I was not privy to, displayed similar traits. Yet you, baroness, show no signs of such a connection. Instead, I detected something else at play. It was not a link to fate as a whole, but rather something more defined. An ineffable existence of some kind.”

A pensive expression had settled on the man’s face as he seemed to consider exactly what that might imply. “I cannot ascertain precisely what it was—I cannot do anything other than posit mere hunches—but I intuitively want to liken it to condensed fate. The existence shared certain aspects with fate as I know it, although I could not even begin to comprehend its true significance. It could be something akin to fate in a bottle, a predestined path separate from the fate of this world, or perhaps a collection of all the fates you have already altered through your actions while aware of fate yourself. While it is rather frustrating to admit, I truly do not know.”

Scarlett stayed silent, mulling over his statements. It was reassuring that he couldn’t tell too much, at least. Particularly concerning the system. Yet his description left her somewhat confused as to what he might be referring to exactly.

Was it merely how the system appeared to his spell, or was it something entirely different? Similar to what he’d said, could it somehow be related to the fate of this world that she was familiar with from the game?

Godwin sighed. “I will have to dedicate further time to analyze this. There is much to unravel, and I believe the data from this examination may prove valuable in the future.” With a flick of his hand, the crystals seamlessly vanished into his cape. He stowed away the two artifacts as well with what could perhaps be described as the grace of a seasoned wizard.

“So, does this mean your examination is complete?” Scarlett asked.

The man looked at her. “For now, yes. I have gleaned as much as I can from this session, but as mentioned, there is still much to comprehend. Rest assured, I will delve deeper into this matter and share any further insights I uncover, as is only appropriate.” Before Scarlett could reply, the man continued. “With that said, I am still rather curious about the contents of your visions.”

The words hung in the air for a few seconds.

“Are you asking me to divulge everything I have seen?” she asked.

Godwin raised his hands while sporting a small smile, shaking his head. “No, no, I am not quite that greedy. However, one cannot fault an old man for wondering if there is something relevant or useful to him.” He wiggled an eyebrow.

Scarlett studied him as she took a short while to mull it over.

She had already proven to be an individual who could be of use to the man. She possessed valuable resources he might desire, such as the dragon corpse and items from Abelard’s mansion, not to mention knowledge of the future. Furthermore, she was still a baroness, with him having no clear evidence of any crimes she had committed.

Previously, she had refrained from pushing back too much against Godwin because she felt she lacked the leverage to safely negotiate with such a powerful figure. But now she had established herself. She could afford to be more assertive.

“I must stress once again that the knowledge I possess is often unreliable and incomplete,” she stated firmly. “What it centers on is largely out of my control. This is especially true when it concerns matters involving the Cabal, for obvious reasons. There is not much that I can share with you. Nothing that would be genuinely useful to you and that I am willing to disclose, at the very least.”

She locked eyes with the wizard. “I also want to emphasize that some of the information I hold is highly sensitive and requires careful handling, even by those who have good intentions. While I have been accommodating thus far, that is solely because I value maintaining a positive relationship between us. However, let it be clear that you are not entitled to more than what I have already offered.”

Empress let out a short meow, sounding almost amused by that statement.

Godwin observed Scarlett for a few moments. “No, I suppose I am not,” he eventually replied.

“…That being said,” she continued, taking another moment to choose her words. “There is one piece of information that I believe might be relevant for you to know. It is related to a particular set of Zuverian ruins known as Beld Thylelion.”

She saw a hint of recognition in the archwizard’s eyes.

“Based on what I have seen, Beld Thylelion is likely to open in the near future,” she said. “And within it lies something coveted by both the Cabal and many other factions. The competition to obtain it will be fierce. Adalicia Mendenhall’s research into the Tabernacle on the Rising Isle will be crucial for the mage towers to locate the ruin as quickly as possible so that you can make the proper preparations. If you wish to secure the prizes inside and prevent other groups from claiming them, I suggest you focus your efforts in that direction.”

Scarlett didn’t actually want anyone to reach Beld Thylelion before her, but if someone did, it would be best if it weren't the Cabal. By sharing this information with Godwin, she could steer him towards the right path while maintaining the appearance of assisting him more than she was. It would also better prepare the Cabal’s opponents without her direct involvement. And even with this hint, Beld Thylelion wouldn’t open until it was time—by which point, she planned to have already plundered it for herself.

Godwin seemed to weigh her words carefully. “I have heard mentions of Beld Thylelion, although its exact purpose appears mostly lost to history,” he said. “I do know that it is said to house what legends refer to as the ‘Tribute of Dominion’. In my experience, such legends do not arise without reason, so I must thank you for sharing this with me. Is there anything else you are willing to reveal?”

“This is already plenty,” she replied. “What lies within those ruins is worth far more than anything else I could offer you.”

That was actually true, if one considered the fact that the Tribute of Dominion was irreplaceable and one of the key elements in the game’s storyline. While the Cabal needed the pieces of the Seal of Thainnith to release what was imprisoned in it and initiate their true plans, the Tribute of Dominion was comparable to the interface and power source necessary to execute those plans in reality.

A low chuckle escaped Godwin. “Well, Baroness, you certainly possess some confidence. But very well. I won’t press the matter further for today. How about we discuss something of a more casual nature? For example, the ownership of some of those artifacts you retrieved from Abelard’s mansion.”

Scarlett looked at the man for a short while, then gave a low nod. Finally, a topic she could talk about without having to worry that a slip of the tongue would set loose an archmage on her tail.