Flameruner

Memoirs 278 - Who are you, again?

Scarlett’s brow furrowed in concentration, her gaze fixed on the thick, square piece of parchment resting on her lap. Slowly, meticulously, she traced intricate patterns across its surface using ...

Memoirs 277 - Heated recaps

Scarlett’s remaining time in Elystead passed in a relatively leisurely fashion, marked by very few notable events. She accompanied Lady Withersworth on several visits to the older noblewoman’s ...

Memoirs 276 - And the list grows

Scarlett studied Raimond closely.

He was right.

She had been underestimating him, it seemed. Only a little over a month had passed since she’d disclosed the existence of the Tribute o...

Memoirs 275 - Two deacons in one

When Scarlett awoke to the golden rays of dawn filtering through the blinds, the previous day’s exhaustion still clung to her like a stubborn mist. A flicker of annoyance sparked within her at th...

Memoirs 274 - Conclusions

Using the armillary sphere in Mistress’ office, Scarlett reappeared in the restroom where she had first initiated her vanishing act. She smoothed her dress, checked her reflection in the mirror, ...

Memoirs 273 - This princess is in the right castle

“Regina…?” The young princess’ voice sounded out, soft and confused, as she blinked sleepily in the dim light. Her face was still slack with drowsiness, the fog of sleep slow to clear, but ...

Memoirs 272 - Some slight trespassing

Scarlett stepped towards the armillary sphere, her fingers momentarily hovering above its cool, metallic surface. Then, with a deliberate touch, she activated it. The artifact hummed in response, b...

Memoirs 271 - Crowning achievement

Scarlett edged back towards the chamber’s entrance as Mistress got to work at the heart of the forge. Thanks to Thainnith’s legacy, Scarlett knew exactly what she was looking at: an Empyreal Cr...

Memoirs 270 - Unexpected concerns

The [Firefox Charm] activated, and in a brief swirl of flames, the Fire Emberling materialised between Scarlett and Mistress. The fiery fox’s luminous eyes fixed upon Scarlett, devoid of curiosit...

Memoirs 269 - Behind the mask

Leaving the gallery, Scarlett wove her way through the bustling crowd as she exited the Emperor’s Forum with the weight of numerous gazes pressing upon her. The attention was far more palpable th...

Memoirs 268 - Motioning

Scarlett returned to her seat in the galleries, where Lady Withersworth and Duchess Valentino awaited her. The former greeted her with a knowing smile as she settled down.

“For a moment the...

Memoirs 267 - Questioning

The gathered assembly’s attention was split between Scarlett and the central table, hushed murmurs rippling through the crowd. Scarlett’s eyes narrowed into a withering glare aimed at the baron...

Memoirs 266 - Ugh, politics

Deacon Solnate excused herself from Scarlett’s side with a slight nod, her red robes rustling as she strode towards the table at the center of the Forum. Several eyes around the vast chamber foll...

Memoirs 265 - Connections new and old

The grand banquet hall began to empty as attendants gently ushered guests towards the exit. Scarlett wove her through the thinning crowd towards Trista, the knight’s steely gaze briefly locking o...

Memoirs 264 - The *mingling*

As Scarlett and Lady Withersworth approached the cluster of opulently dressed nobles, their animated chatter dwindled to a hushed murmur. Curious eyes turned towards the pair, and though Lady Withe...

Memoirs 263 - Imperial banquets

With the conclave drawing near, Scarlett and her companions returned to the mansion in the Eastgate district, the red-tinted light of sunset casting long shadows across the elegant facades. Raimond...

Memoirs 262 - Talkative priests

“The one and only!” Raimond announced with a flourish, his entrance accompanied by what Scarlett hoped was merely an imagined shimmer in the air. His priestly robes rustled as he ...

Memoirs 261 - Be thou my flame

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 fr...

Memoirs 260 - Multi-faceted foes

The party sprang into action as the [Lava Hydra] loomed before them. One of its fiery heads lunged downward, flaming jaws agape, but Fynn was ready. He leaped into the air, his form wreathed in a s...

One (final) delay

Hi, good folk. Just letting you know that tonight's chapter will be up tomorrow instead as I had to take some extra time finishing things up on my end. Sorry about that, but I appreciate everyone's...

Memoirs 259 - The House of Fire

The hidden passage within the House of Fire plunged Scarlett and her companions deeper than anticipated, guiding them to the entrance of what looked to be an underground temple, its smooth, darkene...

Memoirs 258 - Pit-stops

As their carriage emerged from the large structure housing Elystead’s Kilnstones, Scarlett and the others found themselves in a vast, snow-dusted plaza. To the north, the Ustrum Assembly stood pr...

Memoirs 257 - Arrayed for success

Despite her expectations, Scarlett found herself in Freymeadow more than once in the week following the Hallowed Cabal and the Tribe of Sin’s attacks on the empire. Though the anticipated busywor...

Delayed chapter (again, it seems)

Sorry for the late notice, but I'll have to postpone today's chapter to tomorrow (once more). I generally try to keep to my schedule, but, well... Things have been hectic lately and will continue t...

Memoirs 256 - Don't quit the grind

Scarlett and Rosa walked along a well-worn dirt path cutting through a wide forest clearing. The bard’s fingers cranked away at the klert Scarlett had gifted her, its melodious twangs mingling wi...

Memoirs 255 - Left in the attic

The soft glow of lanterns cast dancing shadows across the leather-bound tomes lining the Hartford mansion’s library. In a secluded corner, Scarlett sank deeper into a plush armchair, her eyes por...