"Meanwhile the Guilders and Inquisition got equipment and recruits to spare," Trendle grumbled, making his curled mustache wiggle. "They'll get through em far faster than we ever could."
"We need a better way ta fight them," Harn rumbled. He had taken off his armor again, but he looked far less tired than he had in a long while. "We get too close, and Bodie's right: we get swarmed."
"I may have an idea," Felix announced. Everyone turned back to him with expectant gazes. "But we may need to do a few trial runs."
When Felix explained his idea, several of the Guilders broke out into laughter and Evie punched his shoulder with a grin. Harn literally chortled, full throated and everything.
Make An Entrance is level 39!
Only Zara stayed quiet, though she let a thread of her Spirit touch Felix's Affinity to make it clear to him: she was not pleased.
"You're idea is foolhardy in the extreme, Felix," Zara said while baring her teeth. "You cannot fight the Revenants. Not as you are. You know this."
Felix stopped at the threshold, door open and courtyard abuzz outside. He didn't turn around, just considered the moving crowds, feeling the new emotions that was growing by the second. Cal's crew were out there, answering questions and letting them know they had it under control. Zara watched him with an eyebrow raised.
"You're going to do it anyway though, aren't you?" She asked. "Just as before."
Felix didn't even answer. He just opened his Affinity completely in reply. Zara's eyes widened a moment before she snorted. "Ridiculous. You place the Untempered above your own well being?"
"You can feel me," Felix said. "Yeah. Yeah I do. They can't defend themselves, not against Revenants. The Tin Ranks aren't much better. There is no choice here, Zara."
"There is always a choice."
Zara considered him for several beats of his heart, her ice blue eyes boring into his own. Felix felt stripped under her gaze, flayed to the bone almost. Finally she let out a very unladylike grunt. "Find a way to center yourself, at least. Practice those breathing exercises I showed you. Level Meditation. And Avet's teeth, don't go eating everything you see."
The grim set of Felix's mouth eased, just a touch. "Thank you, Zara."
Zara frowned and walked away. "Thank me by not getting killed, Felix Nevarre."
He had gone through the door when her voice floated back to him. "And don't miss your lessons!"
The Healer's Ward was quiet compared to the hubbub outside. Portia hadn't even returned. After sharing his letter with the others, Felix, Evie, and Vess had all made their way over.
"Where's your Hand?" Felix asked Vess with a pointed glance around. Vess thinned her lips at the question.
"I told him off. I cannot believe he spoke that way to you."
"What, the stuck up thing or the 'you cannot comprehend the power it takes to kill' tripe?" Evie asked through a mouthful of bread. Where had she gotten bread?
"He is insufferable," Vess said as they passed Portia's empty office. "I cannot understand why my father would ever have saddled me with him."
"He's strong though," Felix admitted. "I can't deny that having him out there is a good thing. We need all the help we can get in this."
Vess tilted her head at him, conceding the point.
"Psh, Revenant's ain't nothin'. We've handled em before, and we can do it again," Evie said, swallowing the last bit of her loaf. "I bet I can kill more Revenants than that ponced up fop."
The rows of ill patients passed them one by one, his friends' conversation not doing enough to keep his attention away. Men and women of all Races were wheezing and sweating, their skin reddening and scaling. The Primordial energy in the air was changing them, faster than Felix realized. And the further back they went, the worse it got...until it didn't. The last three rows felt blessedly cool, like someone had invented and then turned on an air conditioner. Felix glanced around, but there were no fans to account for the temperature change, though he noticed that many of the patients were breathing easier and their skin had smoothed.
It worked better here. Why? It keeps coming back everywhere else. He'd stopped by three times now to consume the ambient Mana in the air of the Healer's Ward, each time leaving it calmer than before. But the energy in the air had always returned...just not here. Near the mages.
Sitting up on one bed, heads together, Alister and Atar were weak but clear eyed. They leaned against each other, and though their breathing seemed labored, it was clear.
"Atar! Noble-boy! You're not dead!" Evie exclaimed. "Congratulations!"
"Evie," Atar croaked, his voice creaky from disuse. "You're...you, as always."
"Atar, Alister, how are you feeling?" Vess asked. She sat gingerly on the bed beside them, keeping her eyes on the pair. "Do you need food or water?"
"We're fine, Vess, thank you," Alister said. His voice was just as bad, if not worse than Atar's. His eyes lingered on Atar's own, and Felix noticed him gingerly grip the other's bandaged hand. "It's been...bad. But I'm told we have you to thank, Felix?"
Felix shrugged, uncomfortable. "I have a useful Skill. I just wish it could have been more help to everyone else here." Though the weight of the Revenant's influence in the ward was less now, it was still both extant and beyond the reach of his Skill.
"Your Ravenous Tithe, was it?" Atar asked and Felix nodded. "A strange ability, but to be expected considering its...source."
"Damn useful though," Evie said. "Listen, you see the Territory Wide Quest? How soon before you two can fight?"
"They have been through quite a lot, Evie. I'll not have them fighting until I'm sure they're clear of the worst of it," Portia said, walking down the aisle. "Now if you please, my patients need their rest." She gestured gently toward the exit.
Vess gave Atar a hug and Evie almost punched Alister on the shoulder before she caught Portia's stern eye. Felix simply nodded, his own emotions in turmoil. His read on their Spirits was troubling; they were both fresher than before, but traces of Primordial energy clung to them. Like a stain. Something surged inside of him, an emotion he couldn't name, but Felix fought it back.
Bastion of Will is level 55!
"Felix? Can you make a pass through the ward again? I fear it's grown once more."
Breathing heavily from whatever that was, Felix nevertheless nodded. Portia half opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say more, before turning around and walking back to her office. Evie and Vess, freed of the healer's attention, lingered and spoke more to the mages.
She still wants me to share how I do this. He shook his head. As if I'd willingly give anyone else these Skills.
Felix wasn't an idiot. The rampaging emotions he'd been experiencing were clearly from the Primordial energy that he'd been using to advance himself. Essence, energy, whatever. I just know I have to find a way to stop this without....stopping.
Ravenous Tithe was the key to saving these people. He knew it.
Felix just had to save himself first.