The question came suddenly and without prompting. Felix was crawling forward through low brush along with the rest of his team in an attempt to avoid a patrol of Reforged. They hadn't progressed that far before the patrols started, the ice warriors ranging much farther than any of them had anticipated. If nothing else, however, the scenery was breathtaking. Despite the dark of the night, the lands practically glowed with Mana. Even to eyes without Manasight it was a luminous wonderland, bathed in the silver light of Siva, her surface far less pocked than Yyero's coppery satellite.
Is now the best time to talk about this? he projected at the sword.
I do not believe the abominations will detect you. Your Voidborn Skill is beyond them.
Really. That wasn't surprising, but that Karys knew the origin of Abyssal Skein was. How could you tell it's from the Void?
How could I not? You are channeling it through your Spirit, Felix. The Void howls in you.
That was a bit concerning. Because I took the Skill from a voidbeast?
II do not know. It is clear that it bears the strength of the Void Realm, but how such a thing has sunk into your core space...it is beyond me, Karys admitted.
Beyond a former Paragon? Or just beyond his faulty memory? Once again, the Memories he absorbed from Karys drew Felix's attention. They sat like motionless stars in the dust of his Essence cloud, too dense to crack or even move down to his core rings. If he could only absorb some of those Memories, perhaps Felix could learn some of what Karys was forgetting.
The crunch of dirt and stick grew suddenly louder as one of the Reforged stomped closer. Felix froze in spite of Karys assurances, yet the former Frost Giant didn't even pause. It's heavy tread continued onward, crushing ferns taller than Evie as it ineffectually searched the forest.
Abyssal Skein is level 46!
Blind to the Void's influence, Karys repeated.
Good to know, Felix sent back.
When the Reforged had all moved on, Felix signaled to his team, all of whom began moving forward as one. It was a long crawl before they slipped into another copse of trees before the unsteady sprawl of Shelim. Felix could just barely see the Tower they needed on the horizon, close enough that they could make it there in a handful of minutes if he dared to fly. That was a foolish risk, however.
"How long're we gonna wait?" Davum asked after he'd brushed pine needles and loam from his armor. "Can't say as I like being cooped up in these trees, not with those giants wandering around."
"We wait until Evie, Harn, and Kikri return," Vess said before planting her partisan in the earth. It sank easily, a whole foot into rock and root filled soil. "Sit tight. Evie and Harn know the assignment, and Kikri is quite capable."
Nevia nodded. "Glad she's out there. Girl's one of the best scout's I've ever worked with."
"She's the same age as you," Vyne said dryly.
"Still a child by her Race's standards," Nevia said. "Elves live a long time. Near twice as long as us Dwarves."
"Meanwhile we're stuck with a handful of decades," Kylar groused.
"Just Temper yourself and live forever," Alister interjected. "You're not destined to a long life if you stay weak."
"Enough chatter," Vess said. "I would rather not have another Reforged patrol on top of us."
They settled in to wait a bit. Felix let his Perception float out from him, taking in his teammates' furtive conversations and the rustling of three hundred industrious insects and a dozen roosting birds. The winds tousled the ferns and leaves all around them, a constant low murmur. In the distance, at the edge of his senses, a Hoarhound prowled through the ruins of Shelim. It was moving away from them, but it made Felix's gut tense regardless.
He knew there was about ten minutes before their agreed upon rendezvous with the scouts, so he distracted himself. Kerys. You said you were curious about the Archon?
Indeed. You say he looks like an Eidolon?
Felix nodded. I thought you were him, when we first met. He is made of golden plates though, not stone like you were.
Perhaps a version developed after I'd begun my duty. Aside from the...holes in my memory, there was a time between my first life and this one that has always remained murky. The adaptation period, I believe the Magi called it. Had Kerys not been a sword, Felix would have sworn he was pacing. The question remains, however. Was he given this position as an honor, or was it a punishment?
I'm leaning toward punishment, Felix thought. Just hazarding a guess.
Perhaps. Those of us who took this honor were lauded with Titles that carried over to our Eidolon Bodies. They made us formidable, and if the Archon has any of them in addition to his clear advancement, then this will be a hard fought battle indeed.
Felix repressed the roiling of his gut. That's what I'm worried about. I don't think we're ready to face him.
Likely not.
Felix patted the sheath at his side. Thanks. That's helpful.
I strive to remain honest, Felix. It is very likely the Archon is too powerful for you or any of your team. The Mark on your Spirit suggests he is at least Master Tier. Kerys paused, and the sword rattled a bit. But your Transcendent Skills offer you a way to affect him.
Really? How?
Kerys hummed to himself. Transcendent rarity typically indicates an ability to affect things and creatures far beyond your own advancement. Not for much or for long. But technically possible. Your Adamant Discord is one such Skill.
I still don't even know what I'm doing with that one, Felix admitted.
What you are doing is grasping at something larger than any simple Skill. Kerys sounded exasperated and a bit annoyed. You are doing things all out of order. Only when someone reaches the Master Tier do they begin to approach the fundamental truths hidden within their Skills and Temperings. It has worked for you thus far, but you lack the significance to grapple with them fully. That you have brute forced these connections by virtue of blood and Skill and your Unbound nature...it is both impressive and alarming, Felix.
You must feel at those connections to everything. Ponder why they exist. What truth is hidden there?
Perhaps you can grasp this, or perhaps not. I suspect you must wait until you've at least garnered more significance in your core before it will truly be your own.
In either case, it is an honor to see you grow, Felix Nevarre.
What can I say, Felix sent with a clenched jaw. I haven't had much choice. It's been either get strong or die.
The way of the Continent, since Age immemorial. The Empire tried to change that, but it seems we were only a bandage on a wound too far gone to rot. I ache that I was not able to defend my people in their final days.
Felix sent comfort along their connection, almost by habit, the way he would with Pit. Yet Kerys calmed a bit.
My thanks. It is...difficult to modulate my emotions in this state. I do not believe a Mind and Spirit were intended for the matrix of this weapon.
Yeah. Sorry about that, Felix sent.
I was prepared to die, Felix. That...filthy Urge had intended for me to be consumed entire. That you refused and I was shunted here? To the ancient relic of myourpeople's hero? Kerys hummed. There are worse fates.
Evie and Kikri arrived back first, ghosting at the edge of Felix's senses before dipping in and out like a dolphin leaping above the waves. Their Common ranked Stealth kept attempting to hide from him, but his high Perception continued to drag them from obscurity andFelix frowned.
Something was wrong.
They arrived in their dark copse in seconds, startling Vyne and Alister both. Evie was panting and Kikri had tears in her eyes.
"Evie. Kikri. Where is Harn?" Vess asked. "What happened?"
That was when Felix felt it. A huge surge of ice Mana, deeper in the city. His eyes even picked out the jagged peaks of glaciers stabbing above the far distant rooftops.
"Evie?" Vess asked again.
"Harn's been taken."