There was silence around the table, each of them absorbed in their thoughts. Felix considered what he knew of the dangers the Domain represented, as well as the wealth that Zara was offering. He needed to consider his Journeyman Tempering sooner rather than later as his Skills kept rising, and the monster cores would only be beneficial to that process, at least for him.
More importantly, if what Zara said was true, then the Maw had a hand in all of this. Or at least, remnants of its power. The beast the Guilders killed was clearly one of its twisted children, those Geist it had mutated with its power. Felix felt a responsibility to do something about that...but also felt a distinct fear. How would this affect his bloodline progression? Would it--
A thought struck him, like a lightning bolt. Could Zara cleanse him of the Maw? Permanently?
"What's the win condition, here?" Felix asked. He looked up at the others, some of whom were giving him questioning glances. "We go in, we destroy the corruption somehow, and then leave? Simple as that?"
"I doubt it," said Vess. "Nothing about this seems simple. Do you have a way to cleanse the Domain?"
"For that, I will have to teach the both of you," Zara said. "We will come to it soon enough. But first I must hear your answer, or else there is no point in continuing. Will you aid me? Will you aid this city?"
Cal looked to Harn, who gave a slow nod. Then she panned to the others, Vess and Evie, and both were quick to agree. Her final glance was to him, and Felix drummed his fingers on the table in contemplation.
"In addition to everything else, you'll teach Vess and I about Chanter magic, right?" Felix looked to Zara and she nodded. "As long as we Oathbind this agreement, I'm in."
Cal's eyes lit up and she turned a sharp smile of her own on Zara. "Exactly what I was thinking. Will you agree to that?"
Zara laughed. "I would expect nothing less."
They quickly hashed out the details of the oath: Zara was to provide all that she had stated to their crew, while they would do their best to eradicate whatever threat lay within the Domain. Secrecy was paramount, and the condition of keeping this information to themselves was part of the oath as well. They were going up against two strong organizations, after all. Neither the Guild nor the Inquisition were going to like them getting involved.
A few seconds later, all of them stood in a circle, hands held outward toward the center. Everyone was familiar with the process by now, but Harn shook his head when he was told to begin.
"Naw, let the kid do it. He has more claim in this oath. It'll lend power to it, too."
So Felix, feeling a bit self-conscious with his low level Oathbinding Skill, began the process. He repeated the terms, the contingencies, and the consequences.
"...we swear by our power and advancement."
As each word squeezed out of his chest, Felix saw those sparks in his vision once again. Blue and gold, they sparked among his allies' faces. After sensing these sparks so often, Felix thought he finally had an idea what they represented. It was an intrusion of the System, interacting with Felix's own strange abilities. Instead of fighting them, Felix let them swell across his sight.
Oathbinding is level 2!
Oathbinding is level 3!
Felix could feel the last remnants of the two Acolytes vanishing from his core, their stolen essences fueling his growth. Then thick strings of shining silver light unspooled between their outstretched hands. The strings stretched from palm to palm, connecting, binding each of them to one another.
Oathbinding is level 4!
The sparks kept flashing, and the silver string kept going. Secondary and tertiary connections formed along their arms and shoulders, complicating their connections. Until the space between them all was dominated by a complex web of silver cords, each string vibrating with a giddy joy that Felix could only let wash over him.
Oathbinding is level 5!
...
Oathbinding is level 8!
The silver web burst outward, spreading in all directions in Felix's sight, arcing over the curve of the world itself. The vital frequencies shook him to the core as Felix sensed their oath affecting and being affected by far more than just their own will.
For the briefest of moments, he sensed a smile. Small and broken, but bright against an unending black.
Then it was gone.
"Gauuuh," Felix gasped and stepped away from the group. The light of the oathbinding was still shimmering above their hands, distracting everyone but Vess to his immediate right.
"Are you--?" She began, but Felix waved her off.
"I'm fine," Felix swallowed a lump in his throat and felt Pit nudge the back of his leg. He accepted the comforting touch. "I'm fine."
"Hoo, that was burnin' intense," Evie said as she shook her hand. "Didn't look any different, but the last one didn't feel like that."
"Now that we're in agreement," Cal said quickly, drawing Zara's attention. "I imagine you have some more details, yes?"
Zara nodded, appearing slightly off-kilter from by the Oathbinding herself. She blinked her eyes clear. "Yes, of course. We have much to discuss."
"Good," Cal gestured out of the dining room, and Zara swept forward.
"You have the run of the house," she said as the two departed. "Just stay inside. There is a persistent visitor outside my wards. Someone seems inordinately interesting in you three."
Felix, Evie, and Vess shared a look.
"Don't worry," she said, her shark-like teeth bared. "I'll take care of it."