What have I gotten into?
He's a demanding little cretin, isn't he? The Maw sniped from his left. Felix didn't bother to respond or even look at it. He was still pissed at how their crossing had gone. The Maw claimed it hadn't had knowledge of how much blood the gate would take from him, but Felix was down to a mere 5% in both Health and Mana. Whatever the gate had done, it had taken all of Felix's strength to make it happen.
Refusing to show weakness, even though Felix's entire body ached after that wild ride through the bloodgate, he focused on the boy. He wasn't in the mood for twenty questions, but maybe this guy would have some answers for him. He regarded the teenager in front of him, estimating his age at somewhere between 17 and 20, at best.
Voracious Eye...
Name: Mervin Cors
Race: Human
Level: 11
HP: 63/75
SP: 13/171
MP: 52/52
Lore: Humans are multitudinous on the Continent. They are statistically weaker than most Races, especially at lower levels.
Strength: High Perception for his level.
Weakness: Strength and Willpower are both lower than average.
He's just a kid, and his stats seem awfully low. Why is he out here alone? Felix didn't entirely disregard the weapon in Mervin's hands, it was a sharp blade after all, but if Felix could survive Harrowing talons he doubted he had much to fear from a Basic Iron Shortsword.
His icons flashed at him again, and Felix suppressed them with a grunt of annoyance. He'd have time to look them over when he figured out what was going on.
"My name is Felix, and this is Pit," Felix gestured to the tenku he sensed trotting in their direction. "We're...travelers. Can you tell us where we are now?"
The boy gave him a confused look. "What? You're in the Foglands."
Felix pursed his lips, not entirely surprised given the presence of Skinks. Always with the Skinks. He squinted around himself and activated his Manasight, but the usual fog didn't appear.
"Where is the fog, then?"
"Where've you been? The fog's been gone for three months," Mervin swallowed nervously. "How could you not--"
Felix didn't let him finish asking his question, but instead jumped out of the rocky gully in which he found himself. Landing heavily at the top, he found himself in a wide valley, with huge, strangely hued trees surrounding him, thick with undergrowth and flowering plants. It reminded him of the lake and waterfall area to an extent. It was familiar enough that he could be in the same forest, though he knew how huge the Foglands supposedly were, so he doubted that. He flared his Manasight again, but there wasn't even the barest hint of fog.
So it's really gone. Why? Felix scratched his chin.
Perhaps it is because a great lummox impaled himself on the Essence Anchor that provided the enchantment. The Maw floated up before him, its diaphanous dress flowing as if underwater. Its eyes bore into Felix's with a renewed animosity. Congratulations. You're back on the Continent. Fool that you are, you won't make it ten minutes once you reach a city. Those who know anything aren't fond of the Nym, you see.
It cackled delightedly, and Felix growled. With a brief effort, he imagined it boxed into his Bastion of Will, deep beneath his mental fortress. He imagined shutting the door and locking it.
Like a popped soap bubble, the Maw disappeared and her laugh cut off completely. Felix let out a relieved sigh and smiled.
Some peace, for a little bit. He hopped back down into the gully, startling the boy again. He grunted at the landing. "Sorry. Had to check where we were."
"S-sure," Mervin stammered, and Felix moved away to give the kid some space. "Wait! Where are you going?"
"Over here," Felix gestured back down the gully, where Pit was sitting on his haunches. "Just have to sort out some Status stuff."
Mervin nodded and sat down, but his terrified eyes didn't leave Felix for a second, even when the Nym reached Pit and ruffled the tenku's feathers playfully.
"We made it buddy. We're back." Pit let out a happy chirrup and went back to preening his bloody feathers. Felix grimaced and then took a whiff of himself. "Oof, first thing we have to do is get a bath, the both of us. It's been...two weeks? Gross."
Felix sat down with a sigh on a protruding rock ledge, keeping the Cors kid within sight at all times. He seemed harmless enough, but the guy had a sword and was out alone in the Foglands; Felix doubted his situation was at all that simple. However, he might be able to lead them to a settlement or, if his guess was right, Haarwatch itself.
He said three months though...It felt more like three days, if that. He ran a hand over his face roughly. He was so tired. Focus. Notifications now, everything else later.
Felix opened his blinking notifications and felt the symphonic blare of the System thrill through him.
Quest Complete!
Escape the Void!
You have managed to escape the clutches of the Void with only minor physical impairments!
Rewards:
+1 Title
+1 Skill
+1 Level
New Title!
Voidwalker (Epic) - You've walked the dark realms of the Mind and survived. +10% WIL and ALA when in the Void. +10% Effectiveness to All Void Skills.
New Skill!
Manaship Pilot (Rare), Level 1!
You've proven your mettle through a trial by fire in the hostile Void. You are now able to utilize Manaships with a greater degree of finesse and efficiency! Accuracy increases with Skill level, Mana exchange rate decreases with Skill level.
You Have Gained 1 Level!
You are now Level 26!
+3 to WIL! +2 to INT! +4 to DEX! +1 to END! +2 to PER! +2 to VIT! +4 to AGL!
You Have 25 Unused Stat Points!
Your Companion Pit Has Gained 1 Level!