Memoirs of Your Local Small-time Villainess

Later in the evening, following their exploration of the Astral Sanctum and its hidden dungeon, Scarlett found herself in the communal space of their accommodations, joined by her party. They were seated around a secluded low table, the others engaged in heated conversation. Allyssa and Rosa, in particular, seemed keen on interrogating Fynn about the events in the Sanctum, while Scarlett's attention was focused on the object in her hand.

[Orrery of Dissonant Convergence (Unique)]
{Crafted through ancient artifice long since forgotten, this mysterious device resonates with hidden energies beyond the veil of the mundane world}

Since neither Gaspar nor any of the other wizards had seemed to even notice its existence, she had ended up keeping the artifact for herself in order to figure out what it was.

Its mechanism was still a mystery to her. The encased metal globe at its center didn’t seem to have a clear function, but the two pointers on its outer bezel were intriguing. When she aligned the longer pointer towards nothing in particular, the shorter pointer remained mostly static. However, pointing the longer one in towards Shin or Allyssa caused the shorter pointer to pivot and shake slightly, giving a similar reaction as with Gaspar.

Directing it at Fynn, though, caused the shorter pointer to move almost twice as much. Even more noticeable was its reaction to Rosa, where it shot to 180 degrees around the face and trembled intensely.

These responses had been consistent over several tests now, creating a clear pattern. Its meaning and significance was something Scarlett was still piecing together.

While she couldn’t be sure yet…

She turned the Orrery towards herself, and the short pointer spun all the way around back to its starting point, vibrating uncontrollably as if struggling to maintain position.

She had some inklings.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Rosa’s voice. “What’s got you wearing your thinking hat with such a serious face?”

Scarlett shifted her attention to the bard, who seemed to have momentarily left the questioning of Fynn to Allyssa to observe her with curious eyes.

Scarlett considered Rosa for a moment, then showed the bracelet in her hand. “Can you tell me what this is?”

At first glance, Rosa’s eyebrows rose with a trace of confusion in her expression, examining the artifact as if she had just noticed its existence. “…A rock, maybe? You sure seem to have a penchant for collecting those.”

“…Your assessment is far from accurate, as usual, Miss Hale.”

Rosa shrugged with a non-affected smile. “Can’t fault a girl for trying. So, what is it, actually?”

“Why not see for yourself?” Scarlett suggested, handing over the Orrery.

The woman accepted the strange metal bracelet, turning it over in her hands without seeming to notice anything unusual.

Scarlett watched her reaction closely. That was fascinating. Rosa didn’t even appear to register its shape being unlike a rock.

After almost a full minute of examination, Rosa’s expression changed, her eyes widening slightly as she stared at the artifact. “Okay, whoa. That is bizarre,” she mumbled.

She accidentally aligned the long pointer towards herself, causing the short pointer to move. Rosa paused upon seeing that, appearing thoughtful, before finally looking back at Scarlett. “Alright, so it’s not a rock. Can’t rightly say I have any better guess than it being a nifty bracelet, though. What do the pointy thingies do?”

“I am still pondering that myself,” Scarlett answered, taking the artifact back.

At least it seemed like the Orrery wasn’t entirely invisible to others. That said, Scarlett had been carrying it around Gaspar for a lot longer than Rosa had been checking it out just now, and he still hadn’t noticed anything.

“Miss Astrey, Mister Thornthon,” she interrupted the conversation between the Allyssa, Shin, and Fynn, presenting the artifact to them. “Can any of you tell me what this is?”

Their reactions were a blend of puzzlement and curiosity. Even Fynn appearing slightly perplexed. Judging from their expressions, it took them a couple of moments even to register what she was asking. When their eyes focused on the Orrery, their confusion seemed to deepen.

“A…rock?” Allyssa ventured hesitantly, as if afraid Scarlett would fail her.

Shin nodded along. “It looks like a rock.”

Fynn, however, simply shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Placing the item on the table, Scarlett encouraged them to try again. “Look closer and see if your answer remains the same.”

The trio scrutinized it more intently, each taking turns to touch and feel it. Despite their efforts, even after a couple of minutes, none of them seemed to see through whatever illusion was placed on the artifact. Fynn’s deep frown hinted that he could sense there was something off about the ‘rock’, but that was it.

“Okay, I give up,” Allyssa eventually declared, turning back at Scarlett. “Are we supposed to notice something special here, or is this one of those trick questions?”

Scarlett retrieved the bracelet again, placing it on the table directly in front of her. “There is something unique about this item, rest assured. I have yet to verify precisely what that is, but I have been confirmed that its true appearance cannot be perceived by most.”

She was still wondering whether it was an item from the game or not. The idea of discovering a game item so casually discarded on a dungeon floor felt strange, though she supposed it wasn’t impossible. Something could have happened in this world that altered its placement. But she was relatively certain that if it was a game item, she hadn’t encountered it.

If it wasn’t a game item, though, its existence raised a bunch of other questions. What was its purpose, and why was it considered important enough for the system to highlight it out like this? Why couldn’t others perceive it as clearly as she could?

A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts, drawing everyone’s attention to the room’s entrance. A young wizard clad grey robes entered. “Pardon me, Baroness, but Magister Penney has arrived wishing to see you, if you’re available.”

Oh?

She supposed she did have a few of things to discuss with him. The mystery that was the Orrery could wait for a bit longer.

“I will be there shortly,” Scarlett said, rising from her seat and picking up the Orrery. She threw the others a brief look. “I suggest you do not wait for me before eating supper.”

If ‘Hugbert’ was here, he’d likely offer to dine with her after whatever conversation they were about to have. While his overt friendliness was a bit too much for Scarlett’s taste, she had to admit that their previous meal together had been pleasantly tolerable.

She followed the young wizard down the hallway to a familiar side-chamber where she had met with the Magister before. There, she found the rotund but jovial man awaiting her with a wide smile.

“Baroness Hartford! I heard about the expedition’s results from Gaspar, and I must say, your achievements have certainly lived up to your reputation!”

“Magister Penney,” Scarlett greeted him with a nod, but the man quickly corrected her.

“Please, call me Hugbert,” he insisted.

Scarlett maintained a polite expression.

She was not calling him that.

Taking a seat opposite the man, Scarlett still had the Orrery in her hands, watching to see if he noticed it. When he didn’t, she casually shifted its long pointer towards him to observe its reaction.

The short pointer barely moved, similar to how it was with most wizards here. Seeing that, Scarlett stowed the artifact away in her [Pouch of Holding] and focused on Magister Penney.

The wizard’s expression held more than its fair share of excitement. “Word of what you found under the Sanctum has spread like wildfire across the Isle, Baroness. Such a discovery hasn’t been made here in generations. A nexus for the Isle’s Etheric wards and defences, I hear. Most exciting!”

“I am pleased to see my findings have as much impact on the Rising Isle as I anticipated.”

“Oh, even more so, I would think,” Hugbert responded with a light chuckle. “Certain members of the council are already buzzing about what demands you might make in exchange for this boon, and any other secrets you might unveil. I just left a meeting where Gaspar shared his preliminary findings, and there was no end to the debate surrounding the significance of your contributions.”

“I can imagine,” Scarlett said.

The man’s demeanor grew more somber. “Indeed. I doubt there is anyone who would think to argue with the value of what you have offered us now. However…despite this, it seems as though the council is still hesitant to approve your request to access our archives for that investigation of yours.”

Scarlett stared at him. “You cannot be serious.”

“I am afraid that I am.”

“…That is absurd.”

She was basically offering them a golden opportunity on a silver platter. How could they not want that?

“I agree. But when the topic was first brought up this morning, it was deferred until we could verify your claims. Now that we have, it became a matter of vote. Unfortunately, four Grand Wizards as well as Arch wizard Newbury voted against granting you access due to your status as an imperial noble. Grand Wizard Hartford, too, opposed it and persuaded two other councilors to side with him, securing a majority against your request.”

Scarlett didn’t get it. Did Gaspar really have a personal grudge against her, then?

“Am I to understand that the council is unwilling to collaborate with me further, even after I have demonstrated what I can bring?” she asked, her tone sharp. “Even after what I have already offered?”

Magister Penney offered a sympathetic, albeit uneasy, smile. “Regrettable as it is, politics sometimes infiltrate even the Isle. Some council members likely view this as an opportunity to protest or force some form of negotiation. While I don’t believe Gaspar intends to squander this opportunity you have presented, he appears to be seeking a compromise of sorts. After having opposed your request, he suggested that he would take it upon him to conduct whatever investigation you were interested, promising to provide you the same results without compromising our archives.”

Scarlett frowned. “And what would the council do if I simply refuse to compromise?”

Hugbert sighed. “Us wizards have always been a stubborn sort, even when it is to our detriment. I suspect the others won’t budge so easily. Given the value of your information, perhaps you could force the others’ hands, but it might be ugly. I can promise you, however, that even without access to our records, you would be compensated appropriately, nonetheless.”

“Compensating me would involve granting my request,” Scarlett said.

The man’s expression wavered slightly. A couple of moments paused where he seemed searching for the right words, and his tone turned earnest. “While it may not seem ideal, Grand Wizard Hartford is among the Isle’s most esteemed researchers, deeply familiar with our historical archives. Enlisting his help might actually offer the most efficient route to the information you seek. And despite his obstinance, Gaspar remains a man of integrity, so I don’t think he would betray your trust.”

Scarlett leaned back, considering his argument.

To be completely honest, she didn’t like it. This whole situation felt like a personal affront, the kind that merited an aggressive response. Yet she also recognized that those feelings mostly stemmed from her character traits, and that any impulsiveness on her end here likely wouldn’t make things easier.

When she actually thought about it, Hugbert’s words did carry some weight. It wasn’t like her investigation into Arlene’s brother was some grand secret. Letting Gaspar handle it on her behalf might not be such a disadvantageous arrangement. Should he fail to deliver, she would have ample reason to raise concerns. If he succeeded, it freed her time for other pursuits on the Isle.

From this perspective, accepting this compromise might really serve her interests better.

But acknowledging this didn’t really ease her dissatisfaction. No matter how you sliced it, this was still the council looking down on her because of her imperial status. While she didn’t want to provoke them directly over this issue, she would at least be determined to ensure they paid out of their pockets for inconveniencing her.

“I will take some time to consider this proposal,” she said eventually. “However, I hope the council understands that I am not one who appreciates being pressured during negotiations. Especially when I have already shown considerable generosity on my end.”

Magister Penney nodded, a knowing smile on his face. “Your point is well taken, and that’s precisely why I’m here. I trust we’ll find mutual ground that satisfies both parties. Gaspar will likely discuss this matter with you in detail tomorrow, so perhaps you can convey your decision then.” His eyes lit up with sudden interest. “Now, leaving that aside, would you maybe be willing to share some hints about what other secrets you might hold regarding our Isle? There has been quite the speculation among us council members, and I’m hardly immune to curiosity.”

Scarlett returned a measured smile of her own. “For now, you will need to be patient. Should I agree to this proposal, I will present Grand Wizard Hartford with a list tomorrow, outlining my conditions for sharing any additional insights. If the council finds my terms acceptable, then we can proceed further.”

Hugbert’s face momentarily betrayed his disappointment, but he quickly recovered his cheerful demeanor. “Understandable enough, I suppose. I certainly can’t blame you for being shrewd, Baroness.” He laughed to himself, tapping the arm of his chair with his hand. “Although, perhaps over dinner, I might coax at least some of those secrets from you, hmm?”

“…That is unlikely,” Scarlett replied.

“Well, in that case, we’ll simply have to stick to more conventional topics of conversation,” he conceded jokingly, rising from his seat. “Speaking of which, you never did finish the story about your visit to that grove connecting to the Wandering Realm…”