Talax was left breathless after reliving the man's long-forgotten life, for a moment he housed two distinct identities inside his body. Unlike his earlier encounter with the foreign memories of the spirit, this time he was acutely aware that he was witnessing someone else's life, not his own.
It felt as if he had watched the man's entire life unfold before his eyes, witnessing his most significant moments and eventually his arrival at what would become the dungeon. The experience had been profoundly unsettling, as he couldn't break free from the river of memories. He was a passive observer as the man struggled to earn enough coins to survive, and later focusing on providing for his small family.
What proved most disconcerting, however, was the sensation of sharing the man's pain and weakened state as he fell ill. The thoughts that had once been sharp and powerful, like when he gazed at the woman that eventually became his wife, devolved into a jumble of incoherent nonsense.
Then there was the unexpected appearance of the God in the man's memories. An overwhelming presence that Talax himself had encountered when he first woke up inside the Grand temple, alone and delirious.
With a sudden realization, Talax understood something crucial. Each God possessed a distinct energy, a unique and unmistakable aura. His initial encounter with a God had been with the cruel God, whose aura had been callous and demanding, leaving his followers with a cold sensation, as though they were mere currency to be used and discarded.
In contrast, the Goddess with the red mask had exuded an entirely different aura, an energy akin to gentle caresses, enveloping your entire being, ready to either offer affectionate touch or plunge a deadly knife into the heart.
This God's power was different, foreign yet strangely familiar. It took him a moment to realize that he had felt this aura before. He hadn't made the connection earlier because, despite being the same aura, there was one significant difference. What he felt in the man's memories was the true presence of the God, not just an echo of what had once been.
It had the exact same signature as the destroyed statue they had encountered when entering the dungeon. The imposing power exuded by the statue had matched the strength of the true God. However, it had been like a bubble, easily burst with the slightest pressure, revealing the hollow emptiness behind the formidable facade.
The aura of the actual God, as he had experienced it in the dream, had the same quality as the rest of the Gods, domineering and overwhelming. Yet beneath all that power, he had detected a soft touch, leaving him ambivalent. He couldn't decipher whether that touch would bring death or salvation.
"What's going on again?" Ferdinand's voice cut through his thoughts, and Talax looked up to see that the young noble had left the company of his uncle and his men to join him.
Talax placed a hand on his forehead and massaged it gently, trying to soothe his throbbing headache. "Um..." What could he possibly say? How could he explain what he had experienced? Once again, Vesperine came to his rescue.
"My lord, Talax suffered a mental attack, and as much as I'd love to say it's just his dramatic flair, it's a real thing. Trust me, we'd all prefer it if he could simply snap his fingers and make it vanish, but alas, it takes some time." Vesperine explained. Franny dismissed her explanation with a wave of his hand, his eyes fixed intently on Talax.
"Talax, you may enjoy playing Tichos's games, but I'm not a gambler. I don't want my life to depend on the whims of a heedless God who revels in others' misfortune." Franny's words cut through the air, leaving Talax speechless. Ferdinand had always advised him not to speak ill of the Gods, as one never knew who might be listening.
Vesperine seemed to share his concern, as she attempted to interject with a polite "My lord," but Franny was beyond words. He was seething with anger, and Talax couldn't fathom what had provoked this furious outburst. It couldn't have been him, could it?
"You repeatedly take risks, fully aware that your actions could endanger your companions. You prioritize your curiosity and personal satisfaction over the safety of those around you! I've had enough! I won't tolerate it any longer! We have a purpose here, and you either accept my uncle's orders or we part ways!" Each word that left Franny's mouth felt like the force of an impending explosion, a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Franny was barely holding onto his well-practiced composure, restraining himself from descending into a screaming fit. With remarkable control, he managed to maintain a clipped tone that both chastised and impressed Talax.
While Talax usually would have attempted to diffuse the situation with a joke about Franny's temper, the threat of being left alone inside this deadly dungeon drained all his good humor. He couldn't believe that Franny was genuinely threatening to abandon him.
The anger that had been simmering in the background lately rose to the forefront once again, urging him to argue and antagonize the nobleman. The tension between the two had been steadily mounting ever since the two groups had joined forces, creating an invisible chasm between the two men.
Talax took a few steadying breaths, attempting to calm himself, though it seemed to further incense Franny.
"Do not act indignant! You only have yourself to blame!" The venom in Franny's voice eventually quelled Talax's rising anger, replaced by a sense of pity and sadness.
In a flat, emotionless tone, Talax replied, "You're right. I will avoid any impulsive actions in the future." Franny stared at him with disbelieving eyes, trying to figure out whether he was being sarcastic or sincere.
Their silent standoff was interrupted by Edward's voice calling for Vesperine, who reluctantly left Talax's side. She appeared ready to defy Edward's order and stay with him, offering silent support against Franny's anger. Talax felt grateful, and their budding bond grew even stronger, especially considering how his supposed friend was ready to discard him as if he was a burden. Giving her an encouraging nod, Vesperine hesitated for a moment longer before marching toward the gathering spirits that were beginning to assemble.
Franny huffed derisively, observing their exchange. "I see you've recruited a new bodyguard. But remember, she's on my uncle's payroll." Talax managed to smile, struggling to resist the urge to punch the obnoxious nobleman until he lost his teeth one by one.
"Is there anything else you need, Ferdinand?" Talax's words were delivered with an icy calmness, drawing a scowl from Franny.
"Yes! I need an apology! Don't you understand that your actions reflect poorly on me? My uncle has been berating me relentlessly for bringing you along, and your behavior certainly doesn't help his opinion of me." Talax felt his nose twitch, the anger he had been suppressing welling up again.
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"What can I tell you? I was curious, okay? I couldn't help myself!" Franny groaned and waved his hands in exasperation. “For the love of Avass, can’t you for once be cautious and not act recklessly and stupid?” Talax smiled evilly at the man and saw Vesperine annihilating the spirits with unprecedented speed.
"Well, what about you? Can you not act like a pompous, obnoxious, insufferable little shit?" Franny’s body seemed to vibrate with violence, ready to unleash his fury. Just as Franny appeared ready to explode, Qalo intervened. Until now, Qalo had remained silent, watching their dispute from the sidelines. He approached Franny and placed a hand on his shoulder, though Talax wasn't sure whether he was trying to reassure or restrain him. At this point, he didn't particularly care.
"Ferdinand, you're not being fair. Talax is trying," Qalo spoke calmly. Franny, however, violently jerked Qalo's hand away as if it had burned him. "You're always defending him, taking his side!" Qalo remained stoic in the face of the accusation, taking a step back and shaking his head sadly.
"Ferdinand!" Edward's voice interrupted whatever Qalo might have been about to say. "We're moving on." Franny, who had straightened up when his uncle addressed him, nodded respectfully but chose to stay behind, opting to continue their fight.
Seeing his nephew lingering behind, Edward proceeded forward, surrounded by his fellow adventurers. Surprisingly, Vesperine chose to remain by Edward's side rather than joining Talax, as she had done consistently until now.
The three friends walked in silence, maintaining a considerable distance from the rest of the group. Eventually, Franny couldn't contain himself any longer and exclaimed, "I've never met a nosier person than you in my entire life!"
Talax defended himself, retorting, "Hey! I'm not nosy, I'm curious. I just have to understand how things work." Franny shook his head and pulled out his favorite handkerchief from his bag, wiping his forehead in frustration.
“Well, you know what they say. Don’t you?” Talax's blank stare was answer enough.
“Curiosity killed the boggin! So, be careful not to become a boggin!” Franny's attempt at wisdom only left Talax even more confused “What is a boggin?” Franny turned his incredulous eyes on him. “That’s what’s important?” Talax shrugged. “If I don’t know what’s a boggin, how am I to make sense of what you said?”
Qalo answered with a smiling face. “It’s quite simple Talax. Don’t go after trouble.” He looked at the half orc with narrowed eyes. “You still didn’t answer my question! What’s a boggin?”
Franny huffed, clearly at the end of his patience. “It’s a small creature. That’s not what’s important though. The important thing to take away is that you have to be careful and not act rashly.”
Talax thought about it for a moment and came to a conclusion. “That saying sounds stupid. I still don’t know what a boggin is, but it doesn’t fit. Curiosity killed the cat, now, that feels right!” Both Franny and Qalo regarded him like he had a loose screw.
“How is a cat better than a boggin?” Qalo asked, looking genuinely puzzled. “I don’t know. I just know that the boggin is a stupid choice.” Talax responded calmly.
“And a cat isn’t?” Franny’s outburst was met with laughter. From then on, they bickered like old times, their previous fight forgotten like it had never happened.
After some time Talax decided to check his core and see what had happened when he had relived the spirit’s past. A small star had appeared inside his mana core, blinking faintly next to his wreath Lion-hearted. Thanks to this ability he had been able to fight off the spirit’s attacks. The 20% mental defence that it gave him was instrumental in his fight against the foreign assault.
He still didn’t know how it had worked. Whatever had happened during that time was instinctive, just the instinctive will to defend against an intruder. It seems though, that the fight had given him something more. His focus concentrated on the newest star and information flooded his mind.
Mental Aegis
Your commendable endeavours in warding off mental attacks have helped you evolve the Lion-hearted wreath.
Your resilience against mental incursions has substantially strengthened, affording your greater protection.
In time new abilities may be unlocked.
+10% defence against mental attacks
2% chance of collecting past memories associated with the assailant.
Talax's eyebrows shot up as he absorbed the new information. The idea that he could evolve his wreaths and gain new abilities had been entirely unknown to him until now. This revelation filled him with excitement. The new benefits were substantial, and the added protection felt like a godsent, especially after having tasted how dangerous and insidious mental attacks were.
He now boasted a 30% defense against mental assaults, a welcome layer of protection he couldn't help but be grateful for. The mere thought of enduring another mental assault made him appreciate his latest ability even more.
However, the ability to access past memories left him with mixed feelings. He couldn't decide whether to be grateful or not. Living through someone else's life, especially one filled with suffering like the one he had witnessed, left him feeling unsettled and unnerved.
The more pressing question was how this ability could be of use to him. He struggled to envision a scenario where it would come in handy. The added restriction that he could only use this ability and collect memories from someone who attacked him with a mental assault limited its usefulness.
While he could foresee situations where he might need to extract vital information, with no other option but to use this ability, the fact that it depended on someone launching a mental attack made it less than ideal. If he could find a way to actively use the ability, it could become a significant asset. For the time being, however, it felt somewhat unnecessary and inconvenient.
"Franny?" Talax attempted to get his friend's attention. The nobleman responded with a distracted "mmm" as he closely observed his uncle's actions. Callum had once again vanished, presumably scouting ahead, while the older man engaged in an intense discussion with Vesperine and Walter. Vesperine's animated gestures and Walter's occasional glances, combined with his fire scorpion's erratic movements, indicated that something unusual was happening.
"What's going on with them?" Qalo voiced the question that had been on Talax's mind. "I have no idea," Talax replied, but he turned his attention back to Franny, eager to stay on track.
"Franny!" Talax called out again, attempting to pull his friend's focus away from the ongoing exchange. "Can you evolve your wreaths?" Franny, still fixated on the conversation before him, responded absentmindedly.
"I suppose... Some abilities can evolve..." Franny's words trailed off as his entire body suddenly froze, and his gaze drifted upward. "Avass, that's not fair! I've been your devout disciple for as long as I can remember, and he gets to evolve his wreath?!" With this brief lament, he turned accusatory eyes toward Talax, clearly fuming.
"I guess Tichos rewards those who dare to play with their lives. You had better visit a temple in his name as soon as we get out of here. With your streak of luck, he might even become your patron God!" Franny shook his head sadly and muttered to himself, "When I get home, I'll have a goat slaughtered in his name. Hopefully, Avass will be pleased and reward me with another wreath."
Qalo perked up upon hearing about the ritual, leaving Talax bewildered. Qalo had never struck him as a particularly devout person. Aside from the occasional invocation of an orc Goddess, usually when he faced imminent danger, he rarely spoke of the Gods.
It suddenly dawned on Talax why the half-orc looked so ecstatic. "Do you get to eat the goat afterward?" he asked Franny with a curious glance.
Franny looked at the drooling Qalo tentatively and replied, "Sure."
Qalo's eyes widened, and he even performed a little dance before eagerly pleading with the nobleman, "Please, can I join?"
Franny hesitated for a moment and then relented, saying, "Of course, you can."
Franny looked at him for a long moment. “Of course, you can.” with a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Qalo clapped in delight, but Talax noticed Franny’s shifty eyes and the uncomfortable expression on his face, making him think that the man was lying. He was lying...
Before he could delve deeper into the matter, they were summoned by Edward, and Franny hurriedly joined him, a bit too hastily.
When Talax and Qalo joined the rest of the group, Callum had already returned, and Vesperine seethed quietly to the side while Walter conspicuously drank from his flask, pointedly avoiding eye contact with the others.
"This is as far as we go," Edward declared, his cold gaze fixed on Talax. Before he could react, Talax found himself abruptly shoved out of the way and into the mana barrier.