Chapter Four Hundred And Thirty Nine – 439
"You gave up the artifacts? For what possible reason would you do such a thing?" Isla's voice echoed off the high vaulted ceiling of Felix's apartmentsnot quite a shout, but she certainly wasn't being timid with her annoyance. "Those artifacts were priceless and powerful and"
"And only of use to me while remaining in this Territory," Felix snapped. He rounded on the diminutive Chanter, turning away from the servants who had gathered before him. "I could use them to enhance my Authority and powers a bit outside of the Leviathan Depths, but they are more useful here. With my Chancellor." He turned away from Isla and her startled pout. "He needs them more than me."
A notification flashed in his vision again, and he suppressed it for a moment in favor of meeting the eyes of a dozen startled servants in black and gold livery. "Go and speak with Commander Reed. He needs help with provisions and equipment transfer."
The servants nodded in unison and left faster than Felix expectedtheir Agility was quite high for being Untempered. Behind him, Isla was still grumbling but Felix sensed Zara's cool demeanor like a chill cloth against his neck. "Isla. Go and assist the healers and see to it that the transition is as smooth as possible. They will need guidance, with you leaving."
"Hmph."
Felix didn't watch, focusing instead on the storm outside, but his Perception picked up Isla stomping away in a huff. Zara stepped up next to him and peered up at the clouds. "That was poorly done, Felix. Isla is tempestuous, but she is a good resource for you."
"You think I should trust her with my decisions before I make them?" Felix asked, raising an eyebrow. "No. Not doing that until she gives me a reason to believe she has my best interests at heart. I don't even like how close she is to Beef."
"She is Cantus Sodalus, Felix. I trust her with my life," Zara said.
"And in this case, you'd be trusting her with my life," Felix pointed out. "I'll be the one doling out trust, thanks."
"As you wish." Zara was a blank page to his Affinity; her ability to master her own emotions was amazing...and another reason why Felix felt he couldn't quite confide in the Naiad. "I believe I already know, but can you tell me why you put on such a display today?"
Felix grunted. "Because the powers-that-be here need to remember that I'm here, even if I'm no longer around. Yttin in Authority was going to be an uphill battle, but at least now, with the threat of the Scepterand of mepeople will maybe think twice before turning to infighting."
"Hm, a credible tactic...and a common one in the politics of the Continent. It is an approach the Hierophant excels in."
Felix drew in a sharp breath, but wasn't surprised. Not really. He could still see it, the memory of himself standing bloody and armored before the terrified crowd, forcing them to listen. To obey.
Even worse, he had received a new Quest immediately after. The first one in ages.
New Quest!
The Path of Empire!
Many are the benefits of empire, and many are their enemies. Secure a total of 4 Territories under your banner and gain a reward worthy of the ancient emperors. Beware, for the higher you climb, the greater the winds that will attempt to force you from the Golden Path. Unification may be your inheritance, but violence is your birthright. Gird yourself, Felix Nevarre!
2/4 Territories Secured
Reward: XP, Title(s), Advanced Authority, Varies
The Quest description suggested more and more conflict in his future. That wasn't a surprise. He was on a collision course with the Hierophant, and sooner or later they would impact. Felix wasn't looking to add Territories to his collection; he was, at best, a reluctant leader. Yet when all the options he came up against were sacrificing their people for their own gain, how could he do much worse?
Violence is my birthright...Felix wasn't a fan of that line. Before coming to the Continent he'd never been very contentious, not in any aspect. Sure there was the fight on the yacht, but he hadn't started that. A distant specter of anger at those idiots rose up in him, a sure sign of how unbalanced he was feeling. Haven't thought about them in a long time. Or Gabby. Or mom. Gah, that's enough of that. He shook himself, and focused on the second notification, the one he'd been putting off.
Territorial Boundary Warning!
Boundary Has Been Reshaped By Recent Developments!
New Rivers Have Been Established With The [Ghreldan Hills]!
Do You Wish To Send Inquiry To Neighboring Territory?
An inquiry? Like how I could call Haarwatch from the Stronghold? He tapped his lips, and selected Yes.
Establishing Connection With Authority Bearer...
...
Error, Authority Splintered.
No Bearer To Contact.
Inquiry Failed.
Vess produced a glowing silver spear, hovering it in the air level with the man's eye. He yawned. "Hold still, Sworn. This will only take a few minutes."
"What will?" The Sworn's words were lost to a ragged gasp, as Felix's hand clamped over the top of his head.
Oathbinding!
Adamant Discord!
The world exploded into light.
Lightning crackled in vibrant arcs and a silver radiance infused the very air. All around Felix, once invisible strands manifested. At first they were everywhere, connected to everything; walls to floor, stone to stone, air to their lungs. Relationships of meaning, described by forces Felix still couldn't grasp, but he could see them regardless. Too much. Felix narrowed his focus, flaring his Affinity. The random connections dwindled, fading from sight as those specifically connected to the Sworn came into clearer focus.
Felix cast out his Intent like a fishing line. A lasso of his need to know. Show me.
A brilliant silver thread appeared, thick as his thumb and coiled tightly around the Sworn's chest. Felix followed it with his eyes, activating Manasight as his Affinity traversed the length of the connection through walls and ceilings and muddy ground. It emerged at the edge of his range, still heading somewhere into town.
"Hm, not quite," he muttered, and removed his hand from the Sworn's skull. The man's voice returned to him in a stuttering scream that he mastered moments later. Felix reached down and shattered the chains holding the man in place before grabbing him by the arm and hauling him to his feet. "I need to get somewhere higher."
"W-what are youwhat did you do to me?" the Sworn asked, stumbling behind Felix like a dazed child. "My head...my chest...I..."
Felix quirked an eyebrow up, but his strange "thread-vision" saw the silver connection twisting tighter around the Sworn's chest. It was constricting him like a snake.
"II can't b-breathe!" the Sworn gasped.
"Felix?" Vess asked.
"It's not me," he said, before looking closer at the silver cord. Complicated knots had formed across its length, redoubling with every passing second, and likely had been since he started observing it. Is this a warding? A trap to prevent their people from revealing too much? "The connection is changing. The Oath you gave. Who did you give it to?"
"Nnot gonnatell! Can't!" The man was looking purple, his face and upper chest darkening as air stopped flowing inward. His neck bulged with veins and his mouth opened uselessly.
"No," Felix growled. He reached out, coating his hands in his Intent and attempted to take hold of the connection. His hands passed right through it. "Dammit! Adamant Discord!"
Felix had never attempted to manipulate an Oath link before, but he hoped it wasn't any different than grabbing at the air or earth. It was, and yet it wasn't. The silver cord fought against him, writhing away from the electric touch of his Skill, but Felix applied all of his Intent behind his effort...and this time his hands grasped it tight. He pulled at the cord, allowing the Sworn to take an abrupt breath, before looking at the complicated knots securing the connection. They were woven in eye-bending loops that defied description, folded in same ways around and through itself. Frustrated, Felix wrenched his hands in opposing directions.
The Sworn's scream was deafening, but the System rang out in equal fury. A bell tolled, vast and deeper than anything Felix had ever heard. So deep it felt like his soul was being shaken apart.
New Title!
Chain-Breaker (Legendary)!
You have proven yourself dedicated to violating the very laws of Creation, and in so doing have voided an Oath of another through sheer force of your monstrous Will.
+Skill Evolution
Potency surged into Felix's core space, a tight hurricane from the System itself, slamming through his dual cores and into his Oathbinding Skill. With trilling fanfare, the vibrational pattern shifted, twisted into a complex and menacing sound an entire octave lower.
Oathbinding Has Evolved To Skein of Fate (Legendary)!
Level Is Maintained!
Skein Of Fate (L), Level 46!
You have broken the bonds that Siva holds most dear. Not only on yourself, but on another against their Will. You carry upon your shoulders a dire potential, one that others will not be pleased to witness. Be wary, for to weave the Skein of Fate is to invite calamity, Felix Nevarre. Bonds can be formed and broken at Will, ease of creation increases with Skill level, ease of breaking them increases slightly with Skill level.
"That...that doesn't seem good," he said, while the silver cord in his hands writhed like a viper.
"Felix!" Vess cried out, and batted the Sworn from his grip.
The man fell, his skin bubbling into liquid smoke as his final scream filled the chamber. He hit the stone floor and shattered, his form turning to blackened smoke that Felix instinctively grabbed and consumed. When it cleared, all that was left was a single collar of dull silver, spinning slowly on the floor.
"What in Siva's name just happened?" Vess asked.Ñøv€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.
