Chapter Fifty Two - 052"What about that assassin?" Felix asked, interrupting the heavy silence. He looked around. "What happens if she shows up?"
"The Sworn aren't assassins exactly...they're contractors. That means she has a specific job, and it don't have to be about killin'." Harn scratched his jaw with a gauntleted hand. Why doesn't he take his armor off? Seems like it'd get uncomfortable after a while.
"It seemed like that job involved siccing a dozen giants on you all," Felix rubbed his side, memory of the pain fresh for the next month. "What are the Sworn, anyway?"
"Ain't important. They're bad news, is all. They take a job and don't quit. Did she say anything to you?" Harn asked.
"No, though I asked. She just kept trying to kill me." Felix shrugged, eating another mouthful of monster meat. Man, this is good. What is in these monsters?
"I doubt that; the Sworn aren't known for pulling their punches. She has plans, we just don't see em yet," Harn sighed and looked at everyone. "If she shows up, leave her to me or Maggie, yeah? The only way to deal with the Sworn is to run away or put em down. Hard."
Magda nodded and added. "Felix, how did you encounter her in the first place? She attacked you?"
Felix quickly swallowed another mouthful before replying, grease spilling down his chin. "Oh, ugh. Sorry." He wiped his chin with his wrist. "I spotted her across the street, running under some sorta shadow magic. Like a cloak to help her hide, I think."
"Hmm," Magda tapped one of her shields, one of the smaller kite style shields usually strapped to her arms. "That settles it. Felix you're lookout during the rescue mission. If you're seeing an activated stealth Skill from a street away while also in this fog, you've got better eyes than all of us combined. You up for it?"
"Yeah," Felix replied, feeling a spark of pride worm its way into his chest. Acknowledgement felt nice, if suspicious, especially when it was from the shield warrior. "I can do that."
"Good!" Harn laughed. "Let's finish off this beast and get some rest in. We gotta be fresh for tomorrow."
Over the next twenty minutes, Felix and the others polished off the rest of the meat, temporarily filling the endless void in his belly. Near the end of their meal, Felix received a startling notification.
Congratulations!
Your Title Gourmand Has Garnered Your Companion Insight!
They Have Fully Digested Their Opponent's Mana!
Your Companion, Pit Has Learned A Skill From A Hoarhound!
Cold Resistance (Common), Level 1!
Pit has felt the powerful effects of frost and has grown stronger for it. Damage reduction increases with Skill Level.
He nearly dropped his plate in surprise. Felix turned toward his Companion and found him stretching his wings over in the corner, the blue-grey offal of the Hoarhound utterly cleaned from the floor.
Must have been an elemental core in there. He looked at Magda and smiled to himself. She did us a favor, huh boy?
Elation and sleepiness floated over their connection, and Felix smiled wider. Get some rest, buddy. Big day tomorrow.
"What is so funny?"
Felix glanced up at Vessilia, who sat on the tier above him. "Nothing, just talking with Pit."
"Talking?" She looked around. "Is that a Skill?" Felix nodded and her eyes lit up. "That is fascinating! You said you made a pact with the--with Pit?"
He noticed her slip but shrugged it off. "Oh yeah, when he was still real little...that makes it sound like it was years ago. It was last week," Felix peered over at his friend, who was sprawled on Felix's bedroll, belly up. He rolled his eyes with a smile. "They grow up so fast."
Vessilia laughed, throaty yet oddly self-conscious. She was a strange bird for a noble; Felix's idea of the aristocracy was one hundred percent informed by TV and popular media rather than any personal experience, but she was surprisingly down to earth. Even if she held some lofty ideals. Felix easily remembered her words about saving people, about doing good in the world.
Not bad goals. Not at all. Oh! That reminds me. He cleared his throat. "I was meaning to ask, what did your Omen turn out to be? If it's not too personal."
"No no, it's exciting, really." Vess gushed. She beamed as she announced, "My Omen is the High Priestess. Bonuses to Perception, Endurance, and Willpower."
"Pfft, typical. Rich, pretty, noble, now ya got a Royal Omen?" Evie playfully jostled her friend and smiled. "That's amazin', really. I Revealed the Devil. Bonuses to Agility, Dexterity, and Endurance."
"Of course you Revealed that one," Vessilia smiled back at Evie.
Not to be outdone, Atar raised his chin and said, "I Revealed the Chariot."
Harn whistled. "That ain't half bad at all. Bonuses to Willpower, yeah?"
Atar smiled and nodded. "Yes, as well as Endurance and Agility." Evie laughed.
"Siva's Touch! That's a good way to round you out, Atar," she exclaimed. "Get that Stamina up and you moving faster, all while workin' with a bigger Mana pool." Atar puffed up even more, adjusting his fancy robes.
"Wait," Felix put out his hands. "What are Royal Omens? I thought everyone had access to the same ones?" This time, it was Atar who jumped in.
"More of an informal designation. Omens tend to run along family lines, same as nobility. The Royal Omens are the ones that everyone considers part of the upper crust: the Emperor, the Empress, the Heirophant, and of course, the High Priestess."
"Interesting," Felix hummed to himself, adding the tidbit to his mental notes. He was so busy going over his thoughts that it took him a whole minute to realize the Tin Ranks were all watching him expectantly.
"Well?" Evie asked, gesturing to the rest of them. "We've shared. What about you? Maggie said you'd already Revealed your Omen."
"Oh, yeah. Sure of course. My Omen is the Magician. Bonuses to Willpower, Intelligence, and Perception," Felix said.
"What?" Atar went wide eyed. "You have the Magician?"
"Yeah, surprised me too. But it's worked out. My Willpower is my highest stat, now." Felix surreptitiously watched his allies as he said that, and he saw two reactions of note. The first was Harn, no surprise, who seemed faintly nonplussed at the admission; it was hard to tell with his stony features. The other was Atar, who simply sat staring at the fire for a long moment, then stood up and walked away from the fire pit.
Felix watched him go before turning back to the others with a raised eyebrow. "What was that about?" Evie waved her hand dismissively before shoveling the last of her food in her mouth. Vessilia actually answered.
"He was probably surprised at your Omen. It is uncommon for Humans to have it."
"Right, yeah. Harn was saying that. But still, that was a weird reaction," Felix said.
Evie swallowed and laughed lightly. "He's probably just jealous. Those bonus stats are perfect for a mage. He got Chariot, which ain't bad at all, though. Noctis knows he needs more physical stats."
"Hm, just when he was warming up to me," Felix muttered. Vessilia smiled.
"I would not worry overmuch. I have only known the man for a month, and he is competitive to a fault. Perhaps he only wishes to improve upon his spellcasting." She shrugged, her long brown hair tumbling down her shoulder as the braid that usually bound it finally came loose.
Felix considered Atar, who had retreated to his corner and was seated cross-legged upon his bedroll. Maybe I can convince him to help me. He certainly understands magic better than I do. When his attention returned to the group, he found Evie in the middle of speaking to Harn.
"-some Essence Draughts. Just in case."
"Sure," Harn replied, pulling over his pack and getting a few silver vials out. He handed two of them to Evie, though Vessilia waved the offer away. "That's what they're here for, right? What about you, Felix?"