Chapter 519: Catching up (1/2)
Ilea didn’t have to search far and wide for a start in the city. Instead she was found by a familiar face after rushing through the many houses for a few minutes.
“Finally,” Felicia said as she came to a stop on the roof next to her.
“Was I expected?” Ilea asked with a smile.
The woman giggled, her near yellow eyes twinkling with the warm light from the houses and streets close by.
“Not exactly, but the whispers of the winds were not silent tonight. And you’re moving incredibly fast.” Felicia said. “We’re short on time, as always. How long have you been here?”
“Just arrived,” Ilea said.
“Good. We’re still looking for the ritual site. Have been for nearly a day already. It’s not in any of the temples but we’re sure they’re here,” she said and jumped down.
Ilea followed.
“They?” she asked.
“We managed to find and destroy the ritual in Harchat, though those who were likely most heavily involved managed to get away. All high ranking members of the Order. We tracked them here and are reasonably certain they’re still in this city,” she explained and vanished.
Ilea tracked her with her sphere and followed, down below and into another part of the city Ilea had only glimpsed at.
“Most of Gyffold is underground. Especially the poorer districts. I assume you were successful in Yinnahall?” she asked.
Ilea nodded. “How do you know where I was?”
“The pirate arrived a few hours ago and joined the search. He mentioned that you found and disrupted the ritual in Yinnahall yourself but were busy with the cleanup,” Felicia said.
“Something like that,” Ilea said.
The woman laughed. “Let me guess, you tried to help out the city?”
“You think that ridiculous? I heard you changed but to that extent?” Ilea said.
Felicia looked hurt, slowing down and summoning something to drink. She took a few gulps and looked at Ilea, her black hair moving slightly in the wind that seemed to be present around her at all times.
[Mage – lvl 248]
“I don’t think it ridiculous at all, Ilea. You always had a heart. Perhaps with your incredible power, you could even back up an unhealthy dose of idealism and hope. Ravenhall and Riverwatch are perhaps proof for that already, who knows?”
“No, I’m simply happy to know that you’re still you,” Felicia added with a bright smile.
“Neither of us is quite the same,” Ilea said but allowed herself a smile too.
“The ritual… we should inform the Order here,” she said.
Felicia nodded. “The pirate informed us of the circumstances in Yinnahall. We found similar evidence in Harchat. Velamyr thought it too high a risk to actually inform them but he did contact certain members of the nobility. It will take time to convince even those who would listen.”
“What about an evacuation? If there are no people here, they won’t be able to use the ritual,” Ilea said.
“If that incentive comes from us, the locals would see it as an imperial infiltration, trying to get them out of their highly defensible city. No, they won’t leave. Michael also confirmed that the ritual doesn’t need as much death as it had claimed in Odiah,” she said. “He told me he’s currently working on a solution for that which might reduce the victims here, even if the ritual is used.”
“Where are they now?” Ilea asked.
“We’re working in teams of two. The copy of Michael who was with me sought out the Pirate when I informed him of your arrival,” Felicia said. “We meet in our hideout every hour to discuss our findings but it’s just a matter of time until the ritual is used. They have the blood and space mages here.”
Figured that out too, or did Hector tell them.
“Any leads to find it?” Ilea asked.
“None,” Felicia admitted with a frown. “The Order here seems less corrupt. They’re loyal to the city and any suggestion of its destruction was only met with confusion and anger.”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to inform them?” Ilea asked.
Felicia looked at her. “I believe they were silenced afterwards.”
Fantastic
“Are we sure the next ritual is even here?” Ilea asked.
“There should be others. The Dawn Company split up to pursue smaller towns and cities in the north of the kingdom and strike teams of the Empire should have reached many in the south. Velamyr thinks it’s highly unlikely that the High King would use this ritual in the capital,” Felicia said.
“That lines up with my information. Which leaves Gyffold,” Ilea said.
“Which leaves Gyffold,” Felicia said and stored her bottle. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“I agree but we can catch up later, Felicia,” Ilea said.
“Are you telling me the great Lilith of Ravenhall can’t have a conversation while looking for a dangerous blood magic ritual site?” the woman said with a smirk, vanishing a moment later.
Ilea followed with a smile.
“You don’t look so good anyway. Have you eaten enough?” Felicia asked as they rushed through the city’s underground, hiding in dark alleys, appearing in empty rooms, and damp halls.
“I rarely forget to eat, not that it’s necessary at our power,” Ilea said.
“You don’t sound like yourself at all!” Felicia said and punched her shoulder as they walked through a stretch of busy streets that provided few areas to hide in. Various vendors, restaurants, and stores sold their goods here with little regard for the time of day.
“Maybe you should take a vacation after this is over,” Felicia said.
“I think I will,” Ilea said and chuckled, both of them wearing Baralia armor.
“I’ll try to make it change,” Felicia said.
Ilea nodded.
“I… know what Edwin told you. That for your help, you’ll get all our gold, everything our ancestors have built. It was not his to give but for what you did, I would give it up. Not my name but all we own,” Felicia said.
“I heard you’re leading your House now,” Ilea said. “What would you do if I took it all. Would you follow your dream to get a farm somewhere, get away from war and politics?”
Felicia giggled, reminding her of the girl she had met near Dawntree so long ago.
“No, Ilea. Not anymore. My father is gone and I was the one to kill him. If you claim what was promised, I will start again with nothing. As long as I remain alive, our name retains its power. Some of it at least,” she said.
Ilea laughed before she touched Felicia’s shoulder. “Don’t laugh, but I honestly forgot about Edwin’s promise.”
Felicia did laugh.
“I hoped as much,” she said after calming down. They were back to their fast paced search of the extensive underground. Occasionally they would stop and inspect enchanted areas or otherwise suspicious sections.
“Why bring it up then?” Ilea asked.
“Because I don’t want to deceive a friend,” Felicia said and looked at her. “Deep down I knew you wouldn’t want it, not if it meant anything to me. I’ll make sure to make the legacy of Lilith proud with what I do.”
Ilea nodded.
“I met Maria,” she said suddenly. “Speaking of my legacy.”
Felicia opened her eyes wide before she nodded. “She’s useful. Sometimes. It’s hard to keep her focused on anything that isn’t her broadening revenge. If she continues at the same pace, she’ll make enemies I won’t be able to protect her from. This war might cloud her actions but I already dread the questions soon to rise.”
“You don’t think she should be stopped?” Ilea asked.
Felicia appeared in front of an enchanted steel door, gesturing for Ilea to have a look.
“Why didn’t you stop her?” Felicia asked. “Even if I tried, I couldn’t.”
“She said she was working for you,” Ilea said.
Felicia smiled a bitter smile. “Maria knows which threads to pull, even if she told the truth. Though I suppose I wouldn’t expect you to fight her either way. Maria’s past at least explains her anger, her want for justice. And for what she’s done for us, it would take more than a few nobles’ deaths for me to act.”
“It’s a delicate issue and in the end I simply hope she can somehow find herself again, not the monster she’s become, her entire being consumed by vengeance,” she said with a quiet voice.
“I heard about Edwin too,” Ilea said, her reverse healing slowly destroying the enchantments in the door. “I’m sorry.”
Felicia waved her off. “I appreciate it and I know you mean it for my sake. My brother wasn’t perfect. He fought and killed, used, and manipulated. He saved me and Aliana, Maria too in the end. And he led us to our ultimate goal. He’s not entirely lost and while it saddens me to see him in this state, I do think he deserves some if not all of it, if only for what we’ve done to you,”
“With our level of power, there is always a way to come back. He’s still alive after all,” she added with a giggle.
“You really did change,” Ilea said and opened the door.
“I was a scared, hopeful little girl for most of my life. I questioned every step I took until I was paralyzed in stagnation. When my father died on that field, I felt like I could breathe again,” Felicia said.
Ilea smiled and stepped inside.