- Be part of something bigger. Velli is a premier employer across multiple industries and markets.
- Comprehensive benefits. We provide everything you need, from housing and food, to exclusive venues and entertainment
- Growth opportunities. Performance based advancement benefits. The more you work, the faster you'll grow.
- We care about you. Velli Enterprises puts family first.
- Reputation. Everyone knows the Velli name. Everyone knows the Velli mission. Be a part of that.
Remember, when you work for Velli, you work for your future.
~ * ~
They spent barely a day on the eleventh level before Seb found himself packing up once again. He didn't mind, Anya's opinion of the challenge was accurate. He just would have been happier skipping straight to the twelfth when they were so certain that the result would be as expected.
On the other hand if they'd been wrong the skip could have been disastrous. This wasn't a case where Anya would be able to save him if he attacked the wrong enemy anymore, or where he'd be able to pull her to safety with a distraction. Depthsborn were never solitary at this point, at least none that they'd found recently. And the one consistent rule was that smaller groups were more dangerous individually.
Now they suspected that they'd be able to handle two extra levels without difficulty. They had confirmed that a single jump felt straightforward. But it did mean he was packing again, that he'd be done and waiting for Anya.
He should sleep in more often. Having her frustrated and hounding him around, her emotions full of cheer and love despite her momentary annoyance, had nearly set him to laughing more than once. He knew she'd felt it, she hadn't said anything, she hadn't had to.
Once he finished packing he took a moment and tagged everything still in the campsite. First setting a heart to hover over his head, another to hover over Anya's, then small arrows pointing at the handful of things she was still getting to.
He caught her amused frustration when she saw the arrows appear before she smiled at the paired hearts that were following them both around as he stepped in to help speed things along.
You know you don't-
I want to love. Plus it means we'll be another level down and able to test out our campground that much sooner, he sent back before she could finish her thought.
~ * ~
The twelfth level looked almost identical to all the others. Caverns and tunnels spreading out in every direction from their arrival point without any seeming pattern.
The flare of Energy coming from the center of the room was less common. They'd seen one other within the Depths, one that Seb had first noticed while delirious and then almost as regularly as clockwork as they traveled to and fro.
Staging Point? he sent.
Staging Point, she agreed.
This means-
-we won't have to spend hours of our time traveling back and forth, at least once we can bind it.
Did Yshe ever add a second access?
I think so? she answered. Memorize this one and we can align it once we're home.
Already have, he answered. But you knew that.
He felt her smile despite not looking at her, knew she'd simply wanted to tell him to do something.
Finding a good campsite took only a few minutes, no need to set up further into the tunnel system if they were going to be taking things slowly for this first trip. The tent went up first, supplies bundled into it while leaving them with just the right amount of space to share when sleeping.
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Their makeshift cooking area was cleared and a sparring circle defined. Not that they'd keep to the circle, half the time they didn't even start in it. But it had become a routine, a place that had meaning to them, a place useful for stretching and unwinding even when alone.
Everything had a place, even if it didn't need one. The places varied from site to site, available space shaped the layout. Once or twice they'd even left the sparring circle out, no point in drawing a circle that was less than eight feet across, they'd either end up ignoring the lines or train on top of one another.
Now all they needed to do was find a small batch of monsters to use as confirmation that this was the right level, make dinner and prepare for tomorrow. It was time to figure out their Affinities.
~ * ~
A week later, Seb wasn't sure how he felt about figuring out Affinities. It had only been a week, they hadn't had any close calls, any real dangerous fights, but he'd hoped for something at least.
Yes, he'd noticed a few small effects, subtle bits of guidance that helped him move between their foes, helped him position his blade better before pulsing, helped him time his attacks to take advantage of openings he hadn't realized existed.
But he wasn't sure if that was his Affinity, or just gradual learning and improvements when working with Anya. It all felt the same, his techniques didn't change, didn't suddenly do anything they hadn't before, didn't react in any ways that caught his eye. His Bladesong sounded the same, it wove between enemies, wove across the field, gave them advantages that at times felt like nothing and at others all but won the battle for them.
He knew mastering a new skill took time. He'd learned that lesson before Awakening. But they'd raced through their progress in record time up until now, they'd discovered their Affinities before they were ready to level up. That push had been a horrible slog, shouldn't this be easier now that they'd done the hard part?
Anya seemed to have it slightly easier, at least he felt she did. She'd charge in, or saunter in, or let him lure a handful to her. She caught their attention, she provoked them, sometimes he felt she was about to start mocking them out loud.
She hadn't managed to cause any challenge effects outright, he'd never seen the Energy patterns twist and snarl around the creatures the way those Affinities tried to capture them. She simply pushed, she never backed down, she refused to slow down.
If they hadn't been sleeping so well most nights he might have complained about the pace, but the last year had shown them just how real the risk of burn out was. They didn't find time for each other, they made time. They didn't push for one last battle, they went back to their campsite and relaxed.
They made time to meditate, knee to knee or back to back in the tent, to simply fall into the moment. Sometimes in complete silence, others fully connected through the band, revisiting their efforts, comparing what they had seen, what they had felt, sharing impressions, images, memories. They never stopped being themselves, two points of view, two sets of thoughts, but in those moments they were two facets, two sides of the same whole.
Seb opened his eyes as Anya finally stirred from where she was sleeping against him. It was still early, early enough that, despite the desire to press on, they felt no rush. They could spend the moment, they could-
Coffee?
Anya, love. We can take a moment.
I'm awake though, I want coffee.
Then go make it, he teased.
You just want to watch me.
Always.
He felt her blush, the warmth of her cheek on his chest combined with the feeling of appreciation all he actually wanted. Kissing the top of her head he slipped out of the bed, ignored her grumbling at having to move, and stepped out of the tent to get breakfast started.
When she came out of the tent a few minutes later, prodding him over the band to make sure he paid attention, she made a point of stretching in front of him before her Husk slid into place. She smirked and stole the coffee out of his hands, sipping it before pouring a new cup for him.
Thank you, she sent.
Breakfast will be ready before you can sit down.
She froze, her Energy flickering before she all but fell to the ground, somehow crossing her legs while spinning to face him, the mug in her hands weaving this way and that so not a drop was spilled. Her eyes looked up at him, challenging him and he felt the slightest urge to oppose her.
Doesn't seem to be, she sent with a satisfied grin.
He lifted a towel, revealing two plates, both piled high with food.
But it is, he answered before handing her one.
You- That's cheating.
Maybe, he sent before taking a bite.
Your reaction, he continued. There was something.
I felt it. I refused to not be sitting before food.
It tried to affect me. Not like with those goblins, but a milder version?
I was daring you to prove me wrong. Or at least I felt as though I was, she sent.
It was definitely something to do with your Affinity, or at least with one of those techniques to defy or challenge.
Affinity, she sent, her thoughts almost crystallizing with certainty. I didn't use any techniques.
He nodded in agreement and focused on his food. As long as one of them was making progress they both were. He didn't have to get there first, he just had to get there. Anya could lead the way, could carve the path and he would find the shape it left behind. Or she'd take the first step and he'd watch it ripple forward, show the possibilities that they both could use.
It didn't matter. Either way they were both making it to that school.
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