Memoirs of Your Local Small-time Villainess

Scarlett paused before the grand obsidian altar inside the Sanctuary of Flames, her eyes fixed on the colossal flame burning with a blinding white-hot intensity at its core. Fierce heat radiated from the flame, creating shimmering waves that distorted the air and cast an unearthly, dancing glow on the obsidian beneath. Statues of the fire goddess encircled the altar, their own fires reflecting the central flame’s brilliance, filling the space with an aura of faint divinity.

At this distance, Scarlett had to actively employ her pyrokinesis to withstand the scorching temperature. She raised a hand, signaling for her companions to stay back as she inched closer to the flame with deliberate steps.

As she halted a few steps away, feeling the violent heat even through her magic, an item description materialised in front of her.

[Sacred Flame (Legendary)]
{This eternal flame embodies the fury and grace of the Fire Goddess, its unending blaze a source of both awe and dread that once bestowed blessings upon the faithful and fiery retribution upon the unworthy}

Scarlett’s gaze lingered on the flame as she considered it closely. From what she remembered, the [Sacred Flame] was a valuable artifact in the game. Most legendary-tier items were, to some extent. Given her affinity for fire, it was probably of particular worth to her. That said, it wasn’t on the same level as Arlene’s [Eternal Flameweaver’s Athame], nor was it the primary reason for her interest in this place. It would have just been an added boon, comparable to her [Tiara of Lost Benediction (Legendary)], but nothing groundbreaking.

At least, that’s what she had originally thought. Now, seeing it in person, her perspective had shifted somewhat.

She could simply take the flame for herself as it was, and it would enhance both her fire resistance and overall pyrokinesis damage. That wasn’t anything to sneeze at, frankly. But thanks to the knowledge she’d inherited from Thainnith’s legacy, a new plan formed in her mind, one that happened to align well with what she had already been doing.

Turning around, Scarlett’s attention fell on the Emberling. The fiery fox was fixated on the [Sacred Flame], but unlike its behaviour with normal fire, it wasn’t bounding towards it recklessly.

Scarlett conjured a small flame to coax it closer. As the Emberling moved to her side, its form seemed to shimmer with a newfound brilliance in the artifact’s presence.

Unlike the fire elementals and the [Lava Hydra], there wouldn’t be any point in having the Emberling try to absorb the [Sacred Flame]. It was neither an elemental nor a true spirit, and despite appearances, it didn’t actually have the power to consume fire. Instead, as an Etherialias and pseudo-spirit, it acted more as a magical conduit for elemental energy, capable of storing the essence of true elemental spirits.

This knowledge, gleaned from the legacy, explained why the Emberling could amplify nearby fires in the Material Realm. It acted as a stabiliser and channel for raw elemental power around it. Scarlett had been slightly uncertain whether this ability extended to elementals before, but her earlier experiments confirmed that it didn’t, or if it did, the effect was minor.

What this meant, though, was that having the Emberling absorb defeated elementals stored their energy inside it. In other words, she was using the Emberling as a mobile elemental battery.

Until now, she had been unsure how to utilise this stored energy. The Emberling’s power didn’t increase with more absorbed essence, and Scarlett had no direct method to channel or access it. However, she’d believed there had to be some way to make use of it.

And according to Thainnith’s legacy, the [Sacred Flame], it seemed, presented one such opportunity.

She couldn’t make the necessary preparations here, though. That would require someone with a bit more expertise and experience than her. Fortunately, she had someone in mind. If she was lucky, they might even be in the capital tonight.

Slowly, she extended her hand towards the undying fire, moving closer with measured steps. The temperature rose precariously, quickly surpassing mere discomfort, but she didn’t stop until she reached the flame. Her palm touched its searing white surface, yet instead of being reduced to cinders, the flame changed, immediately shrinking to a condensed version that hovered above her hand.

Now, it was emanating an almost pleasant warmth.

Scarlett studied it for a few seconds, then tried willing it away. It flared briefly, then disappeared.

The Emberling beside her was left staring at her empty hand, and if she didn’t know better, she would have thought its eyes to betray a hint of perplexity.

“Patience,” she said, mostly to herself. “Your time will come.”

She brought out the [Foxfire Charm] that housed the little pseudo-spirit, using it to dismiss the fox entirely. Her attention then shifted from the now-empty altar to the massive slab of stone covered in intricate etchings and runes at the chamber’s far end.

The possibilities presented by the [Sacred Flame] had been a pleasant surprise, but this stele was her true objective. Ironically, though, it was of far less immediate practical use to her.

She walked towards it, retrieving a notebook from her [Pouch of Holding] and stopping a few meters in front of the slab. Her eyes traveled across the dark stone, observing the vast array of glyphs and channels carved into it. It was, without a doubt, the most confusing piece of inscription she had encountered in this world. The interconnected nature of the symbols, forming a single, megalithic design, spoke volumes about its complexity.

Still, perhaps unsurprisingly, all the symbols were familiar to her in some way, even if the entirety of the construct was far too involved for her to comprehend fully. Opening an empty page in her notebook, she used her pyrokinesis to begin copying down the array, starting from the left of the stele until she had filled the page, then moving on to the next.

“What’s that?” a voice soon called out behind her. Scarlett glanced back to see Allyssa and Shin approaching, while Fynn had stayed back with Rosa.

“…An instruction,” Scarlett replied, returning to her task.

Allyssa’s brow furrowed curiously. “For what?”

“Presumably a spell,” Shin said, stopping close to Scarlett to study the etchings. “I’ve never seen one this…extensive, though.”

“You are correct in that it is for a spell,” Scarlett confirmed, her forehead creased in concentration. “Specifically, a primordial spell.”

The young man fell silent.

“…Is that something important?” Allyssa asked, looking between them.

A sigh left Shin, as if apologising for his companion’s apparent ignorance. “Primordial spells are among the most powerful ever created, dating back to the days of the Zuver. They are supposed to be incredibly rare.”

“Oooh, I thought those symbols looked different from before. So that’s Zuverian. Did you know it would be here, Scarlett?”

“I did,” Scarlett replied. “I have known of this place’s existence for some time, but I could not access it until recently.”

“I see. So you’re going to learn how to cast this spell?”

Scarlett paused her transcription, shooting the girl a short look, then let out a small chuckle. “No, I am not. This spell is far, far beyond my capabilities. It would require someone of Dean Godwin’s calibre to cast it.”

Or Arlene, in this case, given the spell’s school of magic.

“Then why copy it down?” Allyssa pressed, gesturing to Scarlett’s notebook.

“There may be others who are interested in it,” Scarlett said. “Information is power, as they say. And sometimes, knowing a thing exists is just as valuable as being able to use it yourself.”

And even if she couldn’t cast it outright, she had long since considered other applications for it.

The two Shielders soon left her to her work, allowing Scarlett to fully immerse herself in the task of transcribing the ancient spell. Hours slipped by, with what remained of her mana reserves slowly dwindling as she maintained the pyrokinesis necessary for writing. That wasn’t to mention the nasty headache she’d developed, likely a combination of mana exhaustion and using Thainnith’s legacy to interpret the myriad signs and symbols in the spell.

Finally, after what was at least a grueling three-hour session of intense concentration, Scarlett snapped her notebook shut. She’d already double-checked her work, feeling confident it was as accurate as she could get it. Massaging her temples to alleviate some of the mounting pressure, she made her way back to the group.

They had relocated to the chamber’s entrance, seeking respite from the stifling heat on the steps of the stairs there. Rosa, to Scarlett’s mild surprise, was still awake, though she looked as if she’d just run a marathon twice over.

Allyssa glanced up from an array of alchemical flasks and vials spread out on the stone in front of her when Scarlett approached. “Are we done here?” she asked, protective goggles lying on her lap.

“We are, yes,” Scarlett replied, walking past them and up towards the dungeon’s second layer. “It is time we took our leave.”

She hadn’t been worried about time before, but transcribing that primordial spell had taken far longer than anticipated. They might actually be cutting it close. The conclave was in the evening, and they’d already burned several hours down here. She still needed to return to the mansion and make final preparations before departing for Dawnlight Palace.

…It was shaping up to be a thoroughly vexing evening, she could tell.

Not only would she be operating on depleted mana and energy reserves, but she’d also have to deal with a bunch of nobles—most of whom probably disliked her in some way or another—while nursing this persistent headache.

Far from her definition of fun.

But she had no one to blame but herself for cramming this dungeon into her schedule today. She would have saved it for tomorrow, but there was no guarantee that she’d have the time then either. Better to just clench her teeth and power through it.

What was offending another noble or two in the grand scheme of things? Her reputation for being arrogant and standoffish was already a thing. Besides, Lady Withersworth would be joining her, and the woman’s presence might be enough to smooth over any minor faux pas or ruffled feathers.

Still, Scarlett would have to ask Allyssa about any stamina-boosting potions the girl had left in her stock. It might also be wise to have someone replenish the mana in her [Depraved Solitude’s Choker], just in case. She wondered if anyone at the mansion could handle that? Rosa was the only one in the party with significant mana reserves, and the bard hardly had any to spare right now.

She’d have to look into it.

Gradually, the group made their way back through the dungeon’s chambers—with Fynn carrying Rosa—until they returned to the first chamber. From there, it didn’t take them long to reach the underground temple’s entrance, where they began climbing back above.

The passage they had originally taken had closed itself after their initial descent, but it reopened as they approached. Soon, they were back in the back room inside the House of Fire. Things looked much the same as when they first got here, with the fire goddess’ statue at one end and the braziers in front of it now unlit.

[Side-Quest completed: Beat the fire goddess’ forgotten trials]
{Skill points awarded: 4}

[Quest completed: Cleared The House of Fire]
{Skill points awarded: 9}

Scarlett arched an eyebrow. She wouldn’t have thought clearing the trials would count as its own side-quest. That was interesting.

Looking around, her eyes scanned the room for the acolyte they’d talked with before. She could only imagine his confusion and concern when they’d vanished without a trace. From his perspective, he’d allowed a group of strangers into the back of his temple, only for them to vanish without a trace.

She wasn’t really in the mood for it, but at the very least, she owed him a perfunctory word of thanks. If she could manage it.

Changing into one of her dresses with her [Charms of Expeditious Change], she waited as the rest of her party stowed their gear in the [Bag of Juham]. From here, Rosa also had to walk on her own, but it wasn’t far to the carriage.

They filed out through the lone door into the main vestibule of the House of Fire, where Scarlett spotted the masked acolyte seated by the podium. A trace of shock rippled through his posture as he registered their appearance.

Before Scarlett could address him, a glint of bright blond hair caught her peripheral vision. A familiar, lilting voice sounded out, dripping with cheerfulness.

“Why, if it isn’t my quondam companions and dear compatriots? What a propitious coincidence that I would happen upon you here!”

Scarlett felt a small part of her instinctively tense as she turned. There, rising from one of the central pews with a broad, too-perfect smile, stood a man whose appearance screamed of carefully orchestrated happenstance. His long, lustrous hair—as if someone had spent far too much time grooming it before arriving here—cascaded over ornate red robes adorned with gold filigree, gleaming unnaturally bright in the temple’s subdued lighting.

Scarlett’s voice was low, laced with a mixture of resignation and wariness. “…Father Abraham.”