Path of the Deathless

43 (I) Fever

-43 (I)

Fever

Skill Evolution: Hypersense (Adept) > Seer of Horizons (Heroic)

Skill Evolution: Toughness (Initiate) > Repulsion Shroud (Adept)

Seer of Horizons > 101

Repulsion Shroud > 51

Hydromancy > 44

Deadeye > 91

Bowslinger > 88

Skybearer’s Strength > 56

Tactical Overseer > 77

Wings of the Starhawk > 90

The world returned to Adam as the last fragment of his broken mind snapped back into place. His consciousness came alight as notifications about Skill Evolutions and levels rushed through him. Adam shouted in pain and tried to clutch his head, but he found himself restrained—held in place by dense bands of metal.

Skybearer’s Strength was a thing that granted immense aerial agility and gave one the ability to resist the lurching pull of gravity when performing flying maneuvers. It was the result of him attaining Wings of the Starhawk as a Skill Evolution first. But Skybearer’s Strength wasn’t that great when it came to breaking out of what felt like titanium bands clamped over his body.

“Adept—Adept Adam. Stop struggling. You have not been captured.” The voice was firm but calm.

Adam blinked several times as the last of the blurriness shrouding his eyes cleared. Several thick metal restraints were holding him in place. He looked up and saw various Weaveresses, Umbrals, and automata gathered around him. A few of them were Biomancers, he could tell that by the white coats they wore, but there was also Uva and two Weaveresses that bore focus crystal helmets looking down at him. His body felt like a nest of pain and agony. There were patches of his mind that still felt fractured, memories that he couldn’t access without severe pain.

“What… what happened?” Adam groaned. He blinked and looked around. White room. Webs holding items and machinery in place. Yeah, this was Cradle.

“Your idiocy came bearing ill consequences,” Uva said flatly and coldly. “You distracted the Jealousy and led it on a chase around Compact territory for about fifteen hours with all your clones. Then its Psychomancy field briefly touched your mind, and I almost broke mine trying to stop it from hollowing you out completely. But thankfully and coincidentally, my team and Still Water’s Shadow Cell were not near the gate and did not set off a series of explosives, luring it back to its original position, making it assume the gate was under attack.”

“Ah,” Adam coughed. “Thank you, Sister Uva. And thank the Ascendants none of your people were anywhere near that gate.” Her stare was piercing and unblinking. Adam was starting to feel a building sense of discomfort. “I, uh, I suppose I should explain my reasoning.”

“Cherished Sister,” one of the Biomancers said. “This patient needs—”hat suffers the unwanted details because the world around me is too loud and too obvious.”

Uva proved very good at hiding her embarrassment. Adam proved to be better at spotting the muscles on her face contracting in a very specific way. She did a thing where she channeled her nervousness or tension by pressing her tongue hard against the roof of her mouth—and Adam could hear the sound.If he focused, he could project his—

Uva said mentally. He cringed in place.

“I’m sorry. I’m still getting used to it.”

Her expression then took on a thoughtful quality. “Much more than fine. Do you want to go out hunting alongside me again, Pathbearer-Hero Adam? I think you just gave me an idea.”

He liked that phrasing a lot more. “Adept Sister Uva, there is nothing I would want more in the world.” Adam grinned. “And this time, we might be the ones who get to save Shiv.”