Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Four - 154Ultimately, Lilian and Dabney left.
They let them go, though Evie took the time to watch them from atop the keep walls. She saw them move across the grassland and start to climb the cliffs toward the exit before she returned to them.
Felix was conflicted about just letting them go. Surely they'd cause trouble for them, right? Yet Harn insisted this was the lesser of two evils.
"If we'd forced them ta stay, they woulda betrayed us at the worst time. Can't force loyalty, kid." Harn adjusted his gauntlets, and Felix heard something click and shift beneath the metal. "They might bring Guilders down on us, or rat us out ta the redcloaks, but that harnoq's already outta the bag. 'Sides, we don't have time ta worry about it."
That was true enough. They had a little over three hours left on their wardstones, and Alister and Atar were worse off. Without protection, Felix was unsure how long before the Domain would begin to hurt them permanently. Already their exposed skin was red and flaky, despite their Health being at full.
However, both Atar and Alister had chosen to stay. Atar's choice hadn't surprised Felix; the man seemed to have changed during his time away from the group. It was also distinctly possible Felix had never truly gotten to know him. He had certainly seemed appalled at the idea of the Domain bursting.
Alister was another story. Felix barely knew the man, but he definitely gave off the air of a spoiled rich kid. Felix had expected him to join with Lilian and Dabney, the former being his cousin and all. He didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but his reasoning felt flimsy.
"It needs doing," he had said. That was it.
Atar seemed to trust Alister, and the others said the man had been quite capable in the previous fights, if a bit limited. Like Atar and fire, Alister seemed devoted to a single slice of the Mana spectrum. The noble used a similar kinetic Mana as Felix employed with Reign of Vellus...except his didn't discharge lightning everywhere. The Mana was almost the same color blue, however.
Vellus, he mused. Goddess of the tides, of storms, and of blood. Guess it would make sense a skill with her name would have lightning associated with it.
Reign of Vellus had evolved from Tides of Vellus, a Skill he'd stolen from the Wisps he'd fought back in the Foglands. It was how they attacked their prey. So were those Wisps connected to Vellus too? Felix hadn't heard many religious stories during his time in Haarwatch, though the Dusters weren't shy about swearing by the old gods.
It's probably illegal, telling stories about them. Heresy. Felix's lip curled at the word. He'd never involved himself with religion back home and was a self-professed atheist, albeit a quiet one. His thoughts drifted toward his encounter with the being he thought was Vellus and---
--Felix blinked, unsettled. He felt as if the ground had lurched beneath him and felt a little dizzy.
Dangerous memories. He distracted himself from them by opening up his notifications. They had been blinking like mad ever since he'd woken up.
Here we go.
Ravenous Tithe is level 23!
...
Ravenous Tithe is level 35!
Congratulations! You Have Reached Apprentice Tier with Ravenous Tithe!
You Gain:
+20 STR
+20 END
+20 VIT
Bloodline Progression is 80%
Oathbinding is level 10!
...
Oathbinding is level 15!
Manasight is level 44!
Manasight is level 45!
Mana Manipulation is level 24!
Bastion of Will is level 47!
Deep Mind is level 40!
Make An Entrance is level 20!
...
Make An Entrance is level 22!
Corrosive Strike is level 33!
...
Corrosive Strike is level 35!
Unarmed Mastery is level 34!
...
Unarmed Mastery is level 38!
The Song of Absolution is level 39!
The Song of Absolution is level 40!
Reign of Vellus is level 41!
...
Reign of Vellus is level 45!
Fire Within is level 46!
...
Fire Within is level 49!
Etheric Concordance is level 43!