Scarlett took in her surroundings, careful not to inhale too much of the smoke swirling under the dark orange glow of the setting sun. The ruined settlement ahead might have once been a simple fortification of some kind, with partially broken stone walls scattered throughout and the charred remains of what appeared to be watchtowers sagging precariously in various places. The plains circling the area were sodden and thick with mud, as though it had rained only hours ago, turning much of the scene into a bleak, waterlogged battlefield.
Judging by the bodies littering the ground—imperial soldiers, mages, and figures clad in black robes with various markings on their skin—it seemed this had been a stronghold belonging to the Tribe of Sin. Was she still within the empire’s borders, or was this perhaps outside?
Her gaze fell on a dome of chilling grey energy at the settlement’s center, stirring an instinctive unease at the back of her mind. It wasn’t as large as the one that had surrounded Crowcairn, but it was unmistakably one of the Tribe’s Phantom Sanctums.
The distant clash of battle reverberated through the burning stronghold, flashes of magic lighting the darkening sky. Scarlett’s eyes drifted to the corpses strewn in the mud, then to the spot where her younger self had stood not long ago.
…She couldn’t exactly fault the girl for not wanting to stick around in a place like this.
With no better option, Scarlett began trudging towards the smoldering buildings. The mud clung to her boots, her feet sinking deeper than she would have liked at times. Reaching the settlement’s edge, she paused, narrowing her eyes at the Phantom Sanctum ahead. Was that…?
Suddenly, a barrage of fiery arcs exploded from the air near the Sanctum, their radiance tearing through the gloom like the limbs of some ancient god. They struck the grey dome with overwhelming force, the impact reverberating so strongly that Scarlett felt it in her chest. Her eyes widened slightly as cracks appeared in the Sanctum’s reality-defying barrier, rips exposing a glimpse of the space inside. Another fiery wave followed, and the dome shattered entirely, its fragments dissolving into nothing.
Scarlett would recognise that magic anywhere. It was Arlene. She’d never seen the woman cast a spell on this scale before, but it was unmistakably her.
Moving through the wreckage at the outskirts, she passed more bodies — both imperial and Tribe. The settlement was roughly the size of a small town, but she wasn’t certain what its purpose might have been. Most of the structures didn’t quite look like homes, but rather, temporary quarters and storage facilities.
As she reached the heart of the stronghold, the scene shifted. Where the Phantom Sanctum had been mere minutes ago, she spotted imperial mages and soldiers in the middle of dispatching the last of the Tribe’s defenders, their black-robed bodies spread across the muddy ground, broken and burnt. At the center stood a platform bearing a rectangular pedestal of gleaming black stone.
The Sanctumbrum.
As Scarlett had suspected, she found Arlene among the imperials, wearing a dark mantle draped over her shoulders, moving with purpose as she stepped past the bodies of two Tribe members she’d just felled. Nearby was Delmont, dressed similarly.
“Morley!” barked a gruff voice, pulling Scarlett’s attention to a man in battle-scarred armor, sword and shield in his hands. He was looking straight at her. “Where’s Prescott? And the rest of your troop?”
Scarlett blinked. Was he talking to her?
“…They were killed,” she replied after a moment, moving towards their group.
The man cursed, his face darkening. “Damn it all. These bastards were far better prepared than they had any bloody right to be. Did that Prescott twit at least deal with everyone on the south side before he croaked?”
“Yes,” Scarlett said with a curt nod.
She assumed whoever this ‘Prescott’ was, he’d been among the bodies she saw back there.
The man grimaced but nodded in return. “Right, then. Any remaining threats should’ve been—”
“Not necessarily,” Arlene cut in, her tone unfeeling as she approached the Sanctumbrum. As she got nearer, symbols carved into its surface lit up a dull grey, and a white portal tore open beside it. From the rift emerged a large group of dark-clad figures, weapons in hand and eyes burning with fury.
They surveyed the scene—the burning buildings, the corpses of their comrades—and their gazes quickly fixed on Arlene and the others.
One stepped forward, his voice ringing with venom. “Imperial fiends! You will pay for your sins!”
Scarlett watched as his form twisted grotesquely, expanding until he towered nearly three times as big, monstrous features sprouting from his body.
Arlene moved without hesitation, already casting a spell. The Tribe warrior charged towards her, but a fiery shield formed to deflect the beast’s fists. The force sent him staggering back, but Scarlett’s attention was quickly drawn elsewhere.
The rest of the Tribe surged into battle with the imperials. Two attackers rushed at Delmont, magical energy coiling around their hands, while another darted towards Scarlett. He was big, his face painted, and he wielded twin curved swords that looked far too heavy to wield in one hand.
He was faster than Scarlett would have anticipated, closing the gap between them with alarming speed. His blades shimmered with a strange aura, their edges almost seeming to warp the space around them. Scarlett was forced to activate her [Garment of Form], teleporting away just as the swords cleaved the space where she’d stood.
A scowl formed on her face. She had no desire to take part in this fight.
“Stop this,” she said, fixing him with a hard stare. “I have no quarrel with you or your kin.”
“Silence, deviant. You’ll pay for what was done today!” he roared, charging again.
Scarlett conjured Aqua Mines along his path, detonating them with precise timing. The man twisted through the blasts with impressive agility for someone of his frame, evading the worst of the blows. Scarlett teleported again, narrowly avoiding another swing.
The battlefield chaos roared around her, but Scarlett focused entirely on her opponent. His eyes burned with a righteous fury, devoid of reason, as he rushed her again. Scarlett raised a hand, transforming the muddy ground beneath them. The wet earth dried in an instant, streams of water lifted from the ground, spiraling into serpentine chains that wrapped around the man’s limbs.
He strained against the bindings, and though he was managing, Scarlett simply summoned a cluster of Aqua Mines that detonated in unison. This time, the force knocked him to his knees, his swords falling from his grasp. Extending her control over the surroundings further, Scarlett drew even more water from the sodden ground to reinforce the restraints.
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“That was not a request,” she said coldly.
The man groaned, shaking off the disorientation of the blast, and his eyes snapped back to Scarlett with no less fury than before. He let out a guttural roar, thrashing against the restraints. But this time, they held firm.
Scarlett frowned as his shouts grew louder. With a flick of her hand, she conjured a gag of water, silencing him. She briefly noted how unsettlingly close that came to waterboarding, but pushed the thought aside. This wasn’t personal; she simply wasn’t about to listen to him throwing expletives at her. Her gaze shifted back to the battlefield, assessing the situation.
The imperial forces appeared to have the upper hand. While a few Tribe members still managed to press their advantage, most were faltering. Scarlett was somewhat impressed to see Delmont fending off four attackers at once, holding his own despite the odds. However, the focal point of the battle was undeniably Arlene’s confrontation.
A swirling inferno surrounded the woman, its searing intensity keeping even her allies at a distance. Only the hulking Tribe warrior still stood against her. He was a gruesome sight — his body charred and torn by fire, deep burns exposing muscle and sinew. Yet he continued to fight, bellowing defiant cries that shook the air.
Arlene didn’t flinch. With a simple motion of her hand, tendrils of flame erupted from the scorched earth, converging on him in a blazing spiral. They bound his limbs, engulfing him entirely before tightening like a vice. For a moment, he fought back, holding the flames at bay. But then the tendrils flared brighter, their heat intensifying until his body could take no more. It was over in less than a moment, his body bursting into flames and collapsing into a smoldering heap.
Scarlett was not the only one to stare at the sight. It was a terrifying display of power, and she found herself wondering just what it would look like if the woman went all out.
Arlene turned, her expression impassive, and raised her hand again. A flurry of blazing arrows materialised above her, spinning in the air before launching outwards with unerring precision. They struck down the remaining Tribe members within seconds, leaving only a handful of enemies standing. The imperials had won just like that. While a few soldiers lay wounded or still, most were on their feet.
As the final Tribe members were dealt with, the battle started winding down.
The gruff man from earlier barked orders to his men, then his eyes fell on Scarlett and the restrained opponent in front of her. “Morley,” he said sharply. “We ain’t here to take prisoners.”
Scarlett glanced at the bound Tribe member, then back at other man . “If—”
Before she could finish, the Tribe member was abruptly engulfed in flames. His screams tore through the air as the watery chains evaporated, leaving only ash in their place. As several of the imperial soldiers looked away from the sight, Scarlett’s features darkened, her eyes turning towards Arlene.
“Arlene…” Delmont spoke in a low tone. “That wasn’t necessary.”
The woman didn’t respond immediately. She walked towards the Sanctumbrum, the glowing symbols on its surface still glowing faintly, before sputtering out as she unleashed a concentrated torrent of fire. The device melted into a molten ruin, the portal collapsing in on itself as their surroundings fell into a long silence.
When Arlene returned to the group, she spared Delmont a brief look. “This is war, Delmont. There’s no point in taking prisoners who won’t tell us anything. Keeping them alive is no mercy.”
“That’s right, lad,” said the gruff man. “This ain’t no place for soft hearts.”
Delmont’s gaze shifted to the man, then back to his sister. “I’m not questioning that. I’m questioning you, Arlene — the way you do things like this so easily now.” His words hung in the air as his eyes lingered on her. “…You’ve been at this for too long.”
Arlene remained silent for a while, her expression unchanging. Finally, she turned away. “I’m doing this because few others can at this point. We are done here — I’m leaving.”
With that, she started walking away, not even glancing in Scarlett’s direction. Delmont stayed where he was.
“Don’t rightly understand what’s got your britches in a twist,” the gruff man told Delmont, following Arlene with his eyes. “That sister of yours is about the best shield we’ve got against the Tribe, and you’re acting like that’s a problem. Weren’t those bastards the ones who killed your folks? Reckon you ought to give your priorities another look.”
Delmont’s jaw tightened. “She’s our best weapon, not shield. And neither of you seems to see her as anything else.”
“That’s the same thing when it comes to war, lad.”
“And when this is all over?”
“Then she can be whatever the Blazes she wants,” the man said simply, before turning back to bark orders at his soldiers. “Alright, gather the wounded and use your potions if you’ve got ‘em left. Healers from the Solar Hand will patch up the rest. Flemmings, Everett — search the place, make sure there’s no one left hiding, unlikely as that’d be. You know the drill.”
As he passed Scarlett, he shot her a stern look. “We’ll talk later, Morley. Don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you’d best not disobey orders again. The Hartfords can do as they please, but you’re one of mine, and we don’t leave loose ends. Got that?”
Scarlett met his gaze. “…And what if there are children?”
His eyes turned cold. “Then they’re the children of murderers and cultists. Fewer of ‘em to come after us down the line.”
“…I see.”
“Good. Remember that.”
Scarlett’s attention shifted to Delmont. The man’s gaze seemed to meet hers, frowning in confusion for a moment, but then he shook his head and followed after his sister.
Scarlett turned to survey the grim scene around her. The carnage didn’t particularly disturb her, but a quiet unease lingered. She wasn’t sure what to think of this more ruthless side of Arlene. It was very different from the older woman she knew, or even the younger Arlene she’d encountered in earlier Memories. How long had she been fighting against the Tribe at this point?
As Scarlett considered this, the landscape around her began to shift once more in a familiar blurring of colours. Soon, the area solidified into a scene of dense forest under the sweltering heat of a midday sun. The faint sound of birdsong and the rustle of leaves replaced the burning of buildings. Through the treetops, Scarlett spotted a familiar mountain range. It only took her a moment to recognise where they were.
“I suppose I must give you some credit for tolerating those sights,” a voice broke the stillness.
Scarlett turned to see the younger Scarlett standing there.
“They are distasteful,” the girl continued, eyeing their surroundings. “And was there a particular reason for trying to spare that man? You knew he would die regardless. Were you simply unwilling to perform the deed yourself?”
Scarlett studied her younger self. “…So you are back.”
The girl looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “Astute observation.”
“Where did you go?”
“Nowhere. Where is there for me to go? I simply did not remain.”
Scarlett was quiet for a moment. “…Why did you call me that name earlier?”
“Do you mean ‘Amy Bernal’?”
“Yes.”
“Because I am currently using my name, which leaves you with few other options.”
“So, you know who I truly am, then.”
The younger Scarlett fixed her with a long, appraising look. “…I hope you do not intend to ask me how I know that again. We have already had this conversation.”
Scarlett didn’t respond. She simply observed the girl. This younger version of herself seemed fully aware that Scarlett was living ‘her’ life, and that she was from another world. And yet, the girl appeared unnervingly calm about it. Was it apathy from being a construct confined to these Memories? Or was she even that?
“If I ask what you truly are,” Scarlett said at last, “is there any chance that you would offer an answer I would find satisfactory?”
“None.”
“Then at least tell me why you keep appearing. What is your purpose here?”
“Perhaps you should ask yourself that question.”
Scarlett locked eyes with the girl. “Is that not what I am doing?”
A flicker of irritation crossed the younger Scarlett’s face. “…Stop that. I dislike it.”
“Then perhaps you should—” Scarlett paused as a rustling sound came from the forest. Both of them turned towards the noise. Her eyes widened slightly as Arlene emerged from the trees, limping and bloodied. Her clothes were torn and soaked in crimson, her hand pressed tightly to her side as she staggered towards a nearby tree for support.
Scarlett stared at the woman. Arlene was an arch mage, and an extremely skilled one at that. What the hell could have reduced her to this state around here?
Arlene’s gaze flicked to Scarlett, and for a fleeting moment, she straightened as if bracing for a fight. But when her eyes landed on the younger Scarlett, her posture eased. “…You shouldn’t be here,” she said, her voice strained and uneven. “It’s not safe to bring a child here right now.”
She limped closer, her foot catching on a root. A sharp grimace crossed her face as she fought to steady herself.
“Are you all right?” Scarlett asked cautiously, her eyes following Arlene’s every movement.
Arlene let out a weak, humourless laugh. “Hardly. I’ve been much, much better. Do you know where the nearest settlement is?”
Scarlett shook her head. “I do not—”
“We do,” young Scarlett cut her off. “It is not far from here.”
Scarlett glanced down at the girl, who returned the look with a knowing glint. After a moment, Scarlett turned her eyes up towards the mountain range visible through the trees. She stood silent for a while, lost in thought, before finally looking back to Arlene.
“…Follow us. We will take you to Freymeadow.”