There is this sense of betrayal with the Priestress during the Awakening that doesn't exist with that asshole guard, Fenton or something, because she acknowledges the parents' good intentions and agrees to keep quiet but still spills the beans when asked— like, I get that MC is just some stranger kid and she isn't willing to risk her neck for them off the bat, but promising not to say anything then breaking it immediately just doesn't feel right. It would have been better for her to say "I'm not gonna say anything to anyone now but I won't lie if asked" than whatever just happened. 🥲 I loved the parents and wanted them to be safe.
Btw, the Priestress theorizes that the parents got the suppressants from the city since they cannot afford it otherwise as farmers— with the Mother's recent reveal, did she use whatever money she had hidden for the elixirs, or did Nyx send her them since he had the means? Would her status protect her from the ultimate punishment for treason (even though Nyx says neither she nor MC have any rights to exercise— it doesn't mean the status doesn't carry any weight) and extend that to her husband and child?
I was also surprised MC crying for their parents to run didn't get any reaction— I was half-expecting the guard to slap them or at least tell them to shut up, how can you speak on the behalf of traitors, etc.
Hi! I love hearing your thought process.
If Fendon was the one who brought the MC to the Priestess (rather than Elanil), she says that though she won’t report the parents to the Baron or Justiciar herself, it is likely too late already. The Priestess has her own concerns as well. She knows that the first place that will be checked for accomplices is the temple. Justified or not, it takes a clergy member proficient in divine magic to make an inhibiting elixir and they’re the nearest temple. She knows—as a Priestess who has been around for as long as she has—that no small town clergy member would risk creating something so illegal when the obvious culprit would be between them or a handful of others. It’s more likely for the elixirs to be made in more densely populated areas where it could be one of hundreds.
Once the vanguard confront her she really has no choice. They already know the MC’s parents tried to suppress their mark. There’s no dancing around that. Fendon could use other means to determine where the MC lives/their status. But by asking Velrose he’s essentially gauging her personal fault. If she were to push back then there’s no telling what kinds of accusations would be directed towards her and the clergy members she guides. It wouldn’t be fair to put them in jeopardy because the MC’s parents decided to break the law, no matter their reasons.
Mage MC’s mother has no political connections or status. She was the step daughter of the last Crown. And while she was afforded all of the material benefits of living within the Crown’s immediate family, she was still not blood related. Nyx mentions that the two half-siblings were treated very differently because of that one simple fact. She was provided for, but not given anything. That includes any kind of title or status. Once she became an adult she wanted nothing more than to get away from it. It’s why Nyx was only ever involved from afar.
MC’s reaction didn’t get a response from the vanguard because they were a distance away dealing with the parents. One set appeared to be a potential threat while the other was in the midst of begging for the sake of their child. They left the MC to Priestess Velrose.
