Unbound

Chapter Seven Hundred And Eighty Four – 784

Chapter Seven Hundred And Eighty Four – 784

Felix paced at the edge of a sloped roof, the sky of Levantier above him full of Manaships slowly meandering between him and the clouds. He worried at his lip with his teeth. It had been several long minutes since Pit had eaten the Twilit Ape, and all Felix had to soothe himself was silence.

Pit. Is it done? Is the fight over?

Yeah. His Companion sounded tired. People got hurt, but I'm helping.

Hurt? Felix's thoughts went to Vess immediately. Who? How many?

Haven't counted. Lots. Oh! A measure of pep returned to Pit's voice. We found one!

One what?

A tenku!

Felix loosed a breath. Really? Where? Did the map lead you to them?

It did. Sorta. But that's how we found this Twilit Ape, anyway, who was chasing her.

And you saved her.

Tired or not, Pit's emotions swelled with pride. I'm a hero.

A grin stretched Felix's lips. He was proud of his friend, too, but mostly he was relieved. Team Flight had already taken a significant step toward completing a fourth of their ultimate task.

Is she still there?

I think so—yeah, she's out there, flying around our fleet. I don't think she trusts us yet.

Wait, fleet? What fleet?

A whisper of effort rippled through his friend. I'll explain later. I'm healed up, so I gotta keep helping.

Go. Felix forced his emotions to still. He envisioned buildings crawling over them and crystalline houses sealed tight around his fear and anxiety as Void Sanctuary hummed within him. Do what you can. Tell me more later.

I will.

Their bond faded into the gulf of distance between them, until Felix could feel little from his Companion. With them being so far away from one another, Pit was only a mote in the corner of his consciousness, easily accessed but muted, like a friend in another room of a huge mansion.

Zara landed atop the roof, her black chorister robes fluttering around her. "Are things settled? You seemed terrified for a moment there."

"Yeah. There was an attack. Pit handled it."

"That is a relief. I did not know your Companion bond could be accessed at such a large distance. You’ve never mentioned it.”

“We weren't sure. Never tested it this far away."

"It is good that we can stay in touch with at least one of the teams. Would that you had a second Companion to send to Jaast."

"I think I have enough people in my head."

Hmm?

Yeah, I'm talking about you. Go back to sleep.

Hunger settled back, the darkness at his center swirling a touch faster. She had been resting more and more recently, but she was alert now.

"Hey! Who's on my roof? Get off before I call the guard!"

Felix winced. “We should get going."

"Indeed."

"So, it was a Divine monster that attacked them?" Atar asked.

Felix walked with the others now, hands in his pocket as they trudged across a short bridge. "Yeah, created by Noctis and Vellus. We tasted it ourselves, and it’s impossible to mistake them.”

“We knew they were a threat. Your visions saw these Moontouched," Zara said. "Pit handled himself incredibly well."

"He's a strong boy," Felix agreed. "I didn't get all the details yet, but it sounds like they found some Manaships and a lead on their goal."

"Better than us," Atar admitted. "Faster, too. How long have we been walking in this city? It's nearly nightfall."

"Tern's home is on the opposite side of the caldera, and there are no convenient pathways," Zara explained. "And no, for the tenth time, we will not take a ship."

Atar rolled his eyes. "Why not cloak us in your Void Skill and let us leap across this Blighted city?”

“There's too much weirdness going on here. The Oath threads, the Towers, and their magic auras... I can't be certain we won't be spotted by wards or worse."

The building before them rippled as if made of water, radiating from the knocker in spreading concentric circles. Then the windows began to light up. Sigaldry flashed, rising to the surface of the building before disappearing again, tracing lines that flowed in and out of view. The wooden walls flexed one last time, hard lines tightening around the triangular door, until it looked like exposed beams pointing at the entrance.

The knocker opened its eyes.

"Gah!" Atar exclaimed.

"Who dares approach my home?" The knocker demanded in a booming voice. The house rippled again, shockwaves rolling away from the iron face. "What ruffian hedge-mage dares—"

He peered at them. "Zara Cyrene?” “Hello, Vilas."

The iron face looked at them all and pursed its rusted lips. The hinge creaked. "Why?"

"The Realms are turning. Confluence beckons."

The iron face stiffened, immediately losing whatever magic was animating it, and the entire front of the home settled back into its normal shape. The door opened, creaking into a dark entryway.

"Come in, then," said a sharp, higher-pitched voice. "Be quick!"

Inside, it was like a hoarder's dream. A plain wooden floor was covered in rugs of various sizes and colors, many of which were threadbare. Piled atop them were pedestals, side tables, and plinths by the dozen, crowding everything but a few narrow pathways. Atop them were glass jars and metal cages, filled with objects that gleamed with visible Mana vapor. The vapor flowed upward like clouds of incense, accentuating the dim Manalamps that lined the walls between even more objects in shadow boxes.

A wide staircase rose up in the back of the entryway, and it was much nicer and solid-looking than the one outside. Three arched door frames led into other equally cluttered rooms, looking far more like a thrift store museum than a home.

The doors slammed shut behind them, and an array activated just beneath the surface. It hummed at Felix, a faint chorus across his senses.

He locked us in.

"Welcome to my home." The man before them was short, only a bit over five feet tall, and was very clearly elderly. He was an Elf, judging by the shape of his ears, but his skin was creased and weathered, appearing older than any Elf Felix had ever met. He was still fit, though, looking slim in his green-gold robes. They were an older design, Felix guessed, and unlike any he'd seen elsewhere. Loose at the shoulders, but tapering in at the waist and down his slender hips to the floor. A darker green undershirt extended down his arms, looping across the backs of his hands, where bright blue embroidery depicted diving birds clutching thorned flowers.

"Vilas." Zara stepped forward, and the two of them embraced briefly. "How are you?"

"I've been better. Age is taking its toll on me."

"You look fantastic. I see you've ditched the walking stick.”

“Bah! The only people that fooled were the Apprentices and petitioners. Grandmasters aren't known for their infirmities."

Atar sucked in a tight breath. "I'm sorry. You're a Grandmaster?"

Vilas’ attention shifted to the three of them, but he didn’t answer. "Who are they, Zara? Fledgling Chanters? Your Apprentices?"

"They can speak for themselves."

"Atar," Alister chided.

"No, it's quite alright. I am being quite rude." Tern’s face split into a grin. "But so are you. Bringing Sorcerers into my home. Sorcerers and something extra." Atar stiffened.

do you think he means me? Flame whispered.

"So it speaks as well." The old Elf walked up to Atar, peering at him. "Fire attuned, but not of a type I've seen before. Must be your passenger. I've not seen an Urge so intertwined with a mortal in all my days. And to have two in one place. Remarkable."

"Two?" Atar asked.

two?

Tern's expression faltered, his eager gaze turning contemplative. He looked between Atar and Felix. "Am I wrong?"

Felix frowned. "Yeah. I don't have any sort of Urge inside me."

"Interesting." Tern looked absolutely delighted. "Then you are something new. Or perhaps very old. Hmm."

"Maybe it's just something I ate," Felix suggested with a smile. "Can we talk?"

"Aren't we speaking now?" The Elf leaned over, inspecting Alister now. "Another mage. Force mana attuned."

Alister brightened. "Why yes. How did you tell?"

"You've absorbed several units of the vapor in this room, but only the force Mana has been depleted. You have a passive Skill active." He flicked Alister in the chest. Felix clenched, but the Elf's finger pinged off of a faint blue shell that coated Alister's jacket. "Force ward."

Alister gaped. "How can you distinguish levels like that? Do you have an array running Mana Gauge?"

"Tricks of the trade, son. Live for enough centuries, and you'll learn so many you'll have to start inventing new ones." He whirled back to Zara. "You used our code. I assume your need is dire."

"Dire enough to bother an old man," she said with a sharp-toothed grin.

"Bah!" he walked away, through the archway, on the right side of the room. "Come, sit. Tell this old man your problems, Chanter Cyrene. And bring your students with you."