Doubts

Mallory paid a visit to her goddess the second that she got the opportunity to do so and sat opposite her.

Goddess Seshat sat opposite Mallory and questioned her. "What is it that you have to ask?"

Mallory hesitated and asked. "Uhm.. this is about Clarice. I want to know more about her."

Seshat sighed. "I thought so.. this may take a little time to explain. Clarice was another child that I picked up that was in a dire situation. She was very grateful and loyal to the Familia but there are times when her own views are a little conflicting with our goals.

The Familia has always remained within Visa City and had no need to get caught up in the conflicts of the rest of the world. Our Familia are free to leave the city and pursue their own ideals but the Familia will not move along with them.

That is where there are differences between the Familia and those supporting Clarice's faction. She is well meaning and loyal to the Familia but her idea of serving the Familia is to make the name of the Familia be more well known throughout the world.

In order to do so, she set up her adventurer group that has been roaming around for more than ten years to grow her power in preparation for entering Orario. I keep telling her that I do not wish to enter the power struggle in Orario but she has her own plans."

Mallory came to understand a little more. 'So she is a delusional follower that has their own views on how they can serve the Familia without listening to the wishes of others. To persist for more than ten years still shows how driven she is to raise her own or the Familia's fame.

The problem is that in those ten or more years, the bodies that would have piled up would have been many for her to achieve what she has done so far unless she had enough talent to allow her to overcome most difficulties she would face.'

Mallory knit her brows and asked. "She has been an adventurer for more than ten years so the aura I picked up on her can be explained a little but I still have some doubts. First is the means in which she has been adventuring all this time and why did she not just join another Familia?"

Goddess Seshat lowered her head. "I suggested that she leave to pursue her own dreams but I think that her low talent and her being grateful for me taking her in was what let her stay. She was always a stubborn girl that was difficult to get her to change her mind.

She is the leader so she may have accumulated a lot of this bad aura that you speak of through the decisions she had made during her journeys. I have not been around to witness how she has acted out in the world so I do not know how the world has changed her.

She was a sweet girl when she was younger with big dreams but not everyone around her shared that dream.. and here we are now. If she really has crossed some lines then this is partly my fault too since I failed to raise her right."

Mallory rolled her eyes and said. "Do not put yourself down Goddess Seshat. If there really is a problem then it was something you could not control. You have already given everyone the means to walk on their chosen path, how we act on that path is down to us all."

Goddess Seshat nodded. "It is just upsetting to hear that she has changed from that sweet child. Are you certain? During the speech, I believed her and so did many others that she still wants the best for everyone."

Mallory shook her head. "She held malice towards me for some reason and I am still unsure how she feels about those that do not agree with her own goals. I feel that she was putting on a nice act while plotting something. I have been having a real bad feeling lately and I fear that she may be the cause."

Seshat frowned. "I see… Clarice used to be such an honest child but has now started to hide her true self. Do not bother her for now and keep your distance a little. We do not want to make her suspicious and can make some preparations in case something bad really is coming."

Mallory nodded. "I will keep a lookout for any issues around the Familia or the city during this time."

It was unknown what Clarice's intentions were during her time within the city so nobody could predict what she would do.

Sticking around her and constantly investigating would only make her suspicious and possibly prepare extra countermeasures or abort the plan completely to avoid being caught.

There were some people that would be more reckless and rush their plan which could be dangerous for themselves and others.

Clarice had publicly spoke after reaching level three which drew in support for her original goal but was pushing for the Familia moving to Orario.

Not everyone would be so convinced by her speech and would wish to remain around Visa City.

If that plan of hers failed them the next option was to use force and make others submit.

Oars was one of those standing in her way and so were some level two's like Mallory.

If her plan was that simple then there could be some power struggles within the Familia in the future.

If the plan was more complicated and her true goal had been hidden then it could affect the Familia and Visa City far worse than what had been imagined by Mallory.

Once Mallory had left the room, Goddess Seshat sat quietly for a while in a depressed mood. "Is she still the Clarice I know and is still pursuing that dream or has the world changed her so much that she has chosen to abandon that dream? If so then is it really too late for her? Is giving in to her this time what could help?"

Years had passed since Clarice had been her cheerful self but she still kept pursuing her dream which nobody could stop her from trying to achieve it.

It was unknown if she had still continued just so she could help the Familia like she said or if it was so she could prove a point.

If she had given up on her dream or was doing everything for the wrong reasons then even if Goddess Seshat agreed to move to Orario, there may not he positive change brought to Clarice once she finally got what she wanted.

The experiences in the dungeon and the power struggles in Orario would further worsen how much pressure Clarice placed on her own shoulders.

Her lacking talent would make it difficult for her to survive and a place like Orario would further create scenarios where she had to face the harsh reality that she and the Seshat Familia was not ready to enter Orario.

Clarice possessed no special magic or skills so she got to her level with her sword skills and survival abilities which took more than ten years to achieve without ever entering Orario.

In a way, it was quite impressive for her to be able to achieve that but it depended on if she had used normal means to achieve it.

Meanwhile within another location, there was a group of cloaked people that had a resemblance to cultists that were gathered together.

One of them spoke up. "I lost contact with the team placed in the village near Visa City. This is not the first problem we have encountered and it is starting to become annoying now. I think that it is best for our plans to be pushed forward. No more playing around."

Another responded. "A lot of our pawns have been removed from the city and the village so it is difficult to have much influence there."

The first one to speak had responded. "There have been some changes to Visa City that are unfavourable for our plans but I am sure that not everyone is so happy about that. How about we use that to create a little more chaos before we are ready to move?"

They sat silently and then nodded after thinking of their options.

"Hahaha chaos and death will soon come to the Seshat Familia."

"Kekeke with all this death caused by us, we should be able to grow even more."

"What has been planned cannot be stopped."

"Agreed."

"Do any of you have any information on who is behind a lot of our plans failing?"

"Mallory of the Seshat Familia."

"Hmm.."

"Will she be a problem? Be honest?"

"I think so."

"Okay.."

"Then she should removed."

"I will have it arranged."