Aurelia had heard stories of Nords being… very boisterous, especially after a battle. Of how they celebrated victory and saluted the fallen by drinking and partying and… beating each other up?
Her eyes stray away from the drunken brawl, slightly amused at the women cat-calling the bare-chested and sweaty man punching each other in the face.
The moment the battle was over, the Companions called for a party that took place in the enormous Jorrvaskr and nearly half of the large square before it, the Guards and warriors that took part in the battle being the main stars of the party.
Entirely deserved too, she had to admit. Even though they may have swung their swords once or twice, or only shot a couple of arrows, the mere fact that they picked up arms and rushed to go and fight a Dragon of all things was worthy of respect.
After the victory, the Jarl sent a guard to thank both her and Leonidas for taking part in the battle, and offered the both of them a home to rest for the night as the man clearly did not wish to summon people for a meeting at night, and after such a battle.
She felt weird at the mere fact she did not mind sharing a home with an Undead… But then again, it's Leonidas.
Said man had excused himself to grab a change of clothing due to having a powerful stench of blood hanging around his robes after he blew up the Dragon and showered in its blood.
As her thoughts fall upon her strange companion, she cannot help but be very, very glad that she spared him back within Bleak Falls Barrow.
His mere presence, the way he attracted the Dragon's focus upon himself, and the way he was pivotal in slaying the beast… With him simply being there, only five warriors fell in battle.
There are nasty injuries and broken bones, but nothing that she couldn't fix with her Restoration Magic or simply mend enough to make it so it wasn't fatal anymore.
Her shoulders slump, and a thin smile tugs at her lips. Never before would she have thought that one day, she'd look at an Undead being and view them as a friend.
Nor the fact that his mere presence actually makes her relieved.
And speaking about her silly friend, he was actually the talk of the night.
"-am telling you, that guy is no mere Spell-Flinger. That's a man, right there." She turns her head to look at one of the Whiterun Guards, helmet sat on the table and bearded face flushed from one too many drinks. "And he ain't no Bard either, yet he spewed insults as sharp as a blade towards the Dragon… And pissed off the fucker so much that it actually stopped flying!"
Her lips twitch at that. Leonidas's way of speech is weird, and it can go from being very polished and noble-like to quite vulgar within the snap of a finger.
And to see him throw those insults out made her forget that there was a Dragon hanging above her head for quite a bit.
That is, until the enraged beast came crashing down and started chasing Leonidas for a very good reason.
Funnily enough, she understood the Dragon. Sometimes she too wants to strangle Leonidas, even though it will be a useless endeavor.
"Unlike all them other coward Spell-Flingers I've seen in my life, that guy did not hang back and hide, he instead made sure to keep the Dragon's attention on himself, and even got up close to blow up the beast from the inside!"
More laughter sounded out, more drinks were downed, and Aurelia smiled at the sight before her.
Those words she just heard… They were true. She doesn't like saying it or even thinking about it, but the enormous majority of Mages are all cowards.
They would do anything in order to make sure that they survive another day, so to further their studies, so to gain more and more power.
Necromancer's are by far the worst of the bunch. Vile cowards that do not care about the lives of those around them and would willingly sacrifice them in order to either survive, or gain power.
After all, the more people die around them the more 'soldiers' and 'tools' they end up having at the end of it all.
Leonidas could have done all of that… But did not. He put himself, a fragile Skeleton, in harm's way and made sure the Dragon was always and constantly focused upon him.
Who would ever have the guts and courage to do that?
An uproar from outside made her perk up and look towards the large doors of Jorrvaskr, whistles and shouts and praises being thrown towards a lone figure that slowly strides into the hall, making her smile grow a tad bit more.
"Maidens!" Leonidas hollers, arms raised high in the air, his voice making the large hall quiet down just a tad, "Lower thy socks below thine ankles! Tonight, we shall be so boisterous that our brothers in Sovngarde will hear us!"
His words made the whole of Jorrvasks go wild while her cheeks flushed faintly.
The previous howls and cheers grew deafening, and some of the ladies even threw their undergarments towards Leonidas, making the surrounding laughter hike up.
Leonidas previous black robes were now hopefully burnt away, while he now wore a dark crimson robe that was quite a bit bigger on his form than normal. Perfect to hide his Undead features.
The hoods was up like usual, and his face was hid by a black leather mask that hid the blue glow of his flame-like eyes.
His hands instead were covered by black and bulky gloves, clearly made by the same type of leather of his helmet.
She watched as his head turned left and right while people called for him to join their table, but her eyes widen when his gaze soon finds her, and he swiftly moves to join her.
Despite not really being in the mood for the festivities or to chat with others, she found the fact that Leonidas wanted to join her quite heart-warming.
"Septims for your thoughts?" He asks softly as he takes a seat beside her. Her gaze falls to her drink, which she had barely touched at all. Just like the food.
Said drink swirls in her mug from a shake of her hand, making her faint reflection disappear in the process, "I feel like things have only been getting worse since I got to Skyrim…"
First she was thought to be a member of the Civil War fighters, the Stormcloaks, and would have been decapitated without fair trial or chance at freedom.
Then a Dragon attacks Helgen, leaving barely a few survivors despite her best efforts in gathering as many people as possible before running away.
And recently, this. Another Dragon attack, and then the reveal that she was this… Dragonborn of Legends.
She had a gut-feeling back then, of coming here because she felt like she could make a change if she tried hard enough… But this wasn't something she wanted to be pulled into.
"Yeah…" The hidden Undead sighs softly despite having no lungs, "Fate can be a bitch. And so can prophecies and all that crap."
Aurelia's gaze doesn't leave his form, "I can't run from this, can I?" His head turns to regard her for a few quiet seconds before shaking slowly.
"End of the world type of bullshit, I am afraid." He whispers lowly, and her hands clench lightly above the table before her, "I wish I could have said no, and that I could reassure you." Deep down, she is glad that he didn't sugarcoat the whole issue and try to lie to her.
"I'd prefer if you are honest with me…" Aurelia drawls out, tired and very annoyed. But also quite afraid.
Yet deep down, she knew she could rely on Leonidas despite the fact that they recently met. And that they should be enemies.
"How troublesome will everything be?" She had to know. She needed to prepare herself, both mentally and physically. Or at least, try to do so.
Leonidas taps the table before them with a low hum, "Going to the Greybeards will help you a lot, but because they are a bunch of dumb senile fools and pretty much asked you to go to them in such a loud way, doing so will very likely end up with us under the siege of Dragons laying in wait, and anyone or anything that may or may not work below them."
Despite his words, Aurelia smiles warmly, her mind mostly focused upon that 'Us' Leonidas said.
He wasn't going to leave her to handle everything by herself…
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Staying here, of course. And milking it for all that it is worth." His words bring her to a confused pause. "Think about it; You are the only one that can put a Dragon down for good, and by doing so you only grow stronger in the process."
"The weaker the Dragon, the more they will want to prove themselves, so they will slowly come here to challenge you, and if you add changes to said challenges, the majority of Dragons will be forced to comply due their pride."
"And finally, by being here and protecting Whiterun, Jarl Balgruuf will protect you from the other Holds who will want you for themselves. Just to protect his city, but yeah... Though you can easily demand more and more benefits from the man, which you should."
That… He put a lot of thoughts into this already, hasn't he? All for her?
"I don't think I can bring myself to make demands, though…" She whispers, as the mere idea of doing so leaves a bad taste in her mouth. "Helping the people is more than-"
"Yeah, no." Leonidas cuts her off, voice stern, surprising her, "You can't do this shit without making demands and having concessions granted to you. You aren't a Nord, Aurelia, you don't have their mentality of 'Live to fight, and die fighting'."
"Just fighting without getting breaks or other ways to relax or anything else will break you. You aren't fighting to protect a single city, but the whole world."
"When the weight of that responsibility truly and fully settles in, you'll beg for an escape. Even if it's for just a few moments."
Leonidas is right. Aurelia had to admit that.
Even her duties as a Paladin and helping people around the lands of the Empire never came for free. After all, she needed food and other necessities, and sometimes even a roof over her head.
She loves helping people, but by doing so for free… She'll only be a tool. A foolish one.
"You're right." She sighs out, then finally takes a long sip of her drink. Deep down, she feels horrible that she can't share a drink and meal with Leonidas.
Setting her mug down, she gives the crimson robed man beside her a warm smile, "Thank you, Leonidas. You're too kind to me."
He shrugs and drops his chin on his gloved palm, "My fair lady, you are but my first companion and friend within this land, so of course I shall treasure you as you are meant to be." And he is back to his fancy way of speech too.
Which means he is in a good mood. And his good mood is rather infectious, it seems.
"Any plans on checking out what we discovered in Bleak Falls Barrows?" He questions lazily, making her pause in confusion.
Then her mind clicks and realization fills her eyes, "Maybe when things have calmed down and I have less eyes on me." She didn't know if this Dragon Priest was still sealed and beneath the city, and she did not wish to risk having these news leak out and terrify the people.
"'Tis a good idea indeed, my friend." Her companion nods, his hidden gaze straying away from her to take in the partying interiors of Jorrvaskr.
Seeing him fall quiet made her curious, so "Septim for your thoughts?" She fired back the line he previously used against her.
Leonidas stirrs, then hums lowly, "I'm just been coming to terms with everything that has happened so far." Her eyes widen at his words, and her armored fingers tremble.
Slowly, one hand slides over the table, but hesitation strikes her before she could rest a hand over his. Would he even be able to feel it?
All these partying people around them, enjoying food and drinks while he can only watch…
Her shaking hand slowly draws back, her stomach feeling heavy with emotions. What could she even say? Would she be overstepping her boundaries?
"I think I'm going to retreat for the night. Not feeling in a party mood right now." Her friend drawls out as he stands, and Aurelia gulps heavily, "This damn place is louder than a pair of skeletons fuckin' on a tin roof." Despite her inner emotions, Aurelia couldn't help the snort that escapes her.
Still, that improved her mood a great deal. And he didn't even try to do that. "I'll come too." She laughs out softly as she stands, forgoing the rest of her drink and food in doing so.
The action clearly surprises Leonidas, "You sure you don't want to eat anything first?" She was probably going to regret it in the morning, but now she really had no stomach for it.
"If you're sure." He nods, then turns away from her, "Now, let us leave before someone tries to shove food down my non-existent stomach. I'd rather not raise eyebrows when it splatters down on the floor below me." Another snort escapes her at that.
That would truly be one silly way to discover that Leonidas is an Undead. Perhaps even awkward and embarrassing on Leonidas's part.
Still, she could not help the fierce blush on her whole face and ears when she heard the surrounding man whistle and cheer Leonidas on as they saw them leave together.
Hopefully this won't raise some embarrassing rumors…
….
She did end up regretting not eating anything, but at least she wasn't the three or so dozen people utterly drunk and passed out either in the canals flowing with water that are all around Whiterun, or bared feet and butts that stick out of bushes and trees.
Truly, taking a walk in the morning right after that wild party ended up bringing Aurelia ceaseless amusement due to the many drunkards strewn across the streets.
And roofs of buildings.
The fact that the majority of the drunkards were the very guards supposed to be patrolling Whiterun's streets made it even more amusing to her.
Still, the walk also allowed her to notice the enormous skeleton of the Dragon and its hide being wheeled into the city, clearly meant to be studied and perhaps even forged into powerful weapons.
That thought slowly brings her to a pause. She does not lack good armor and weapons, but Leonidas…
He is a mage, and that Spell that pretty much destroyed the Dragon from the inside out was already powerful enough to punch a hole into its side.
What if he had a staff to amplify said Spell? Staves have precious Magicka Crystals on top of them, which – depending on the grade – can massively amplify the owner's Mana and make their Spells several times stronger than usual.
Her greatsword does have a low quality Magicka Crystal embedded in its guard, amplifying her Sunfire to greater levels and making it even deadlier against the Undead.
And now here she is, about to go and perhaps buy a weapon for one very silly Undead.
...She left said Undead unsupervised through the night, now that she thinks about it.
Oh well, he surely didn't do anything-
"Did you hear about what happened to Nazeem?" Aurelia hears a woman to her right whisper to her friend group.
Instantly, Aurelia knows Leonidas is behind this.
Divines damn it, you stupid Skeleton…
xxxXXXxxx
It is laughably easy to find where someone is when everyone around you is drunk enough to think that the tree before them is one of the Divines.
Mainly Dibella, the Goddess of Beauty.
Seeing a drunk Nord hump a tree has scarred me for life.
Either way, people thought that the Skeleton before them asking for directions was just a figment of their imagination, and this allowed me to go and do some… tomfoolery, I might say.
Needless to say that everyone will simply blame the party and the alcohol.
All according to keikaku-
"Did you seriously track down this random dude, beat him up, then strap him to a horse and let it go wild?"
Aurelia stares down at my poor, innocent self sitting down on a bench, under the wondrous morning sun right outside our shared home the Jarl kindly gave us to spend the night at.
"Pardon?" Her eye twitches, further feeding my amusement. "I have been here all night long as you snored away, my friend."
Her cheeks flush, and her foot childishly stomps on the ground, "I-I do not snore!"
"You don't? Must've imagined that trumpeting mammoth then." Aaaand she's reaching for her sword. "I would live to apologize."
Bullying her is just too much fun.
Her pout doesn't fade even with my 'apology', and she huffs out and turns her gaze away, "And I even got you a present?" Hm?
I tilt my head at her, then notice the long object strapped beside her sword, covered only by a tarp.
"You shouldn't spend money on me." I say that, but I still feel very happy that she went ahead to do such a thing.
She is a really kind and lovely woman, that I gotta admit.
Aurelia shrugs, pout disappearing into a satisfied smile, "I wanted to, so here." Pulling the tarp covered object over her shoulder, she excitedly offers it to me. I couldn't help but let out a chuckle at the sight.
Still, her excitement seems to be rather infections when I find out that the long object she gave me is a long staff, one with a large spherical blue gem at the top.
The wood of the staff is dark brown, and it all is nearly as tall as me, and a strange feeling fills me when I grasp it. Like it became a connection of sorts, or an extension of me.
"This is a Magicka Staff." Aurelia proudly tells me, fists on her hips, "The stone at the top is a Magicka Crystal, which will enhance your Spells a great deal if you cast them through it." So they work differently from the in-game ones, huh?
How peculiar. There seem to be quite a few differences that I need to learn about as soon as possible.
I wonder if I can still exploit my knowledge of Skyrim, like where I can find some good loot that can or cannot be useful depending on the situation.
Books I doubt can grant me anything, so the only good thing I can do perhaps is get my money up and buy things that may be useful, as I remember this Merchant Guild existing from the corpse of the mage I stole my first robes from.
"Spoiling me, are we?" I chuckle as I set the large staff on the ground, quite satisfied with its looks and feels. How strong will an Arcane Cannon shot through it be? Still, I have to Evolve again and fast, as that Spell does take a lot of my reserves to make it very powerful. "I'd give you my heart, but… Ya know-"
Aurelia sighs, "Yeah, yeah, you don't have it. Throw me a bone, will ya?" I pause.
I look away from the staff to look at her, and she looks away with mildly flushed cheeks.
Did she just…?
A woman after my heart, eh?-
"Excuse me." A voice startles me out of my thoughts and makes both me and Aurelia looks to my left and her right, where a man dressed as a guard of Whiterun – and that isn't drunk and passed out – is standing. "Forgive me, but the Jarl of Whiterun requests your presence."
Ah, the big guy finally decided to summon us. "Of course! Lead the way, my friend!" With a nod, the guard turns around to do exactly that, and I use that chance to lean close to Aurelia. "Remember what I told you."
I don't want her to overwork herself for chump fucking change. She is the Dragonborn, and she is fighting Dragons to keep Whiterun safe, so of course paying her should be natural.
Plus, the remains of the Dragon should be hers to be sold off too.
"I never asked, but… How do you feel?" Aurelia perks up and gives me a confused look, so I explain, "You gobbled up a Dragon Soul, so you… should feel different."
At that, her eyes widen in realization, "I do feel… stronger? My Magicka reserves have grown quite a bit bigger, that's for sure." Huh, so it is different from the game, where she can only hoard them until she finds another Word Wall.
She gets a general power-up to everything here, which is very cool and good. Definitely what she needs to throw hands with Alduin way down the line.
"And I did learn a new Word." She points out, "The one I learned in Bleak Falls Barrow… It means 'Force', while this one means 'Fire'." Ah, so she learned 'Yol', one of my favorite shouts right after Elemental Fury one.
I guess the Dragon we fought was breathing out fire through only using Yol.
I'm afraid that the Dragons that use all three words of that Shout can just breathe out fucking plasma of all things, seeing how the last word of the Fire Breath shout means 'Sun'.
I cannot imagine what Alduin is capable of then.
Miraak really thought he was something and for real believed he could kill the big fucker by himself, the cocky little shit.
Then he got bodied by a fellow Dragon Priest and needed Daddy Mora to come and rescue him. Pfft..
I shake away those thoughts and focus my sight ahead of me as we enter the large square the party started in. Jorrvaskr is enormous, far bigger than the Jorrvaskr of the game.
The overturned ship turned building does look its age, and is certainly quite the eye-catching sight.
Then there's the dead branch of the Eldergleam poking out of the earth, which stands out as a massive dead tree, a circular water canal going around it as a whole.
Similar to the game, as far as I remember. I've been here so much that this sight is just burned in my very Soul.
Aside from Jorrvasks and the set of stairs leading up to Dragonsreach, there are no other eye-catching buildings, which is perhaps done on purpose.
The rest should be in the Cloud District, I believe. Gotta travel around a bit after meeting the Jarl, that's for sure.
For some reason, Aurelia is glaring my way. "I did nothing." I raise my hands innocently, but she just pouts at me.
"I didn't forget about the guy you beat up during the night." Did they even find Nazeem?
After all, I set the horse loose.
"Such baseless accusations, my friend." I wave her off with a huff, "It must've been some other rascal." Yeah, my dumbass did it.
Again, finding people is laughably easy when everyone is drunk and thinks the skeleton before them is a figment of their inebriated imagination.
Hell, some guys even treated me as their buddy!
"Did you have something to do with the knocked out guy on the roof near the gates?" What?
"That I have nothing to do with."
"Ah, so you admit to doing something?" Shucks.
"I'll have you know I am armed and dangerous!" Aurelia raises a brow my way, "I got a pair of shoulder blades on me!" She facepalms. Hard.
"I hate you."
Truly, there is nothing better than being a little shit. How gratifying.
Still, we soon reach the end of the long stairs leading up to Dragonsreach, and we cross the bridge and step through the already open large wooden doors that lead into the enormous castle.
Which, might I say, looks cool as fuck. Never been close to a castle before, so… I'm feeling giddy.
Also, it's all made of wood… I can set this shit on fire with ease.
Another smaller set of stairs later and- Oh, hello Jarl Balgruuf. And Irileth. And… whoever the rest of you fucks are.
"My Jarl, I have brought the Dragonborn and the Mage." We got names, but whatever.
A large fire in the middle of the hall, a large and long table filled with food and beverages on each side, chairs filled with well dressed people that are probably nobles.
At the other end, sitting below a large dragon skull, sits Jarl Balgruuf, who waves off and dismisses the guard, "Thank you, Guard. You can go now."
The guard does so right after a bow, then turns around and walks between me and Aurelia to leave.
My eyes drift towards the robed figure on the Jarl's left, who I believe might be Farengar. He is staring in my general direction, ain't he?
"First of all, allow me to express my thanks in joining the subjugation of the Dragon." Balgruuf speaks, a kind smile upon his bearded face, "It was not your battle, yet you still joined. I am thankful for it and shall reward you, as you are meant to be." Better not be a fucking Enchanted Shield, I swear to God…
Aurelia bows her head respectfully, "I could not just sit by and watch, Jarl Balgruuf." The man nods, clear respect in his eyes, "But, if I may, I bring some… rather horrid news."
The hall falls quiet, and Jarl Balgruuf frowns and leans forward on his throne. "Speak."
Straightening herself, Aurelia takes in a deep breath before doing so, "I come from Helgen, Jarl Balgruuf. The city… has fallen, turned into rubble by a Dragon."
"And it was not the Dragon we battled and felled outside the walls. The one that razed Helgen to the ground was far more massive, with scales as black as night itself."
A low hiss goes through the hall, shared by the would-be nobles sitting around, who instantly start whispering among themselves.
Jarl Balgruuf looks like he sucked in a lemon, and he shares a long look with the frowning Irileth.
"Two Dragon attacks, seemingly back to back… And the Dragonborn appearing at such a time…" The Jarl hums aloud, and I do not miss the way Aurelia twitches lightly at having her identity called out in such a way. "Irileth, send a runner to all the other Holds, warn them of this threat. Hopefully the Civil War can be put to a stop until the situation is handled."
Smart, but doubtful they will listen until some shit happens or someone with greater power puts their foot down forcefully on their throat.
"It might be useful to study the Spell that was used to grievously wound the Dragon." Farengar speaks up, and I instantly latch onto why he has been staring at me.
Mages, nearly all always greedy with knowledge and power. Should have expected it, I guess.
Aurelia glances my way nervously while Balgruuf throws a chastising glance towards his Court Mage.
I, instead? I see another victim of my shenanigans.
"There is not much to share, I am afraid." I start with a friendly chuckle, "After all, I am sure a grand Court Mage such as yourself already knows this flimsy little Spell."
Farengar stills, then straightens himself both suspiciously and curiously, "I do?"
"But of course!" Jovially, I raise my free hand to create a certain sparkling orb, "Here it is. I'm sure you can recognize it at a glance, yes?"
Farengar falls quiet for several seconds.
Then a whole minute.
"Do you take me for an idiotic fool?!" And he finally explodes with an irate shout, making me hold back a cackle.
Once more, Jarl Balgruuf throws a chastising glare towards his Court Mage, "Is something the matter, Farengar?"
With a huff, the Court Mage turns to face his Jarl, "My Jarl, that… Spell right there, is called Magic Missile. It is silly little Spell sometimes taught to children like yours to get them started in the study of Magic, and they use it to play around as children do. It surely is not a Spell capable of felling a Dragon."
The Jarl hums in understanding, then turns to look my way. Aurelia takes this as her chance to cough into her fist awkwardly, drawing the attention towards her, "I am afraid he is not lying, Jarl Balgruuf. The Spell my friend is using is truly the one called Magic Missile…"
Farengar looks like he is about to pop a vein, and I am loving it. He is quite literally twitching! Hah!
"Then, pray tell, what makes your Magic Missile so different from normal?" A lot of fucking speed, and the fact I jammed it up the Dragon's asshole and made it explode.
I raise a hand to rub my chin thoughtfully, "I believe the difference is called a… Skill Issue."
…
"Now listen here you son of a bitch-"
"Farengar!"
Too easy.
"Leonidas?" I perk up as the door to the room is slowly pushed open after a faint series of knocks, startling me out of my thoughts.
Aurelia steps in, her large armor and sword having been forgone for a civilian attire of white upper robes and dark blue leather pants with high boots.
Her long hair were held up in a ponytail, and she looked like she came straight out of a bath.
Damn is she breathtaking. "Yes?" I thought she had wanted to run some errands, or have I been here for longer than I presume?
A frown soon crosses her face as she steps into the room, gaze falling towards the table before me, which I dragged in here from the living room.
I needed it, and I didn't feel like spending time in the large living room. I've never been one to like large homes, as I get satisfied with few things.
Yet, the Jarl went and gave me and Aurelia this large home with four rooms, a backyard and an enormous living room. It makes me uncomfortable.
And I can tell the why he gave us such a large home without blinking. Because we are valuable- Or well, Aurelia is, unless me blowin' a Dragons' guts out makes me 'important' or valuable in his eyes.
If it were anyone else, he'd have rented a good room at one of the good inns in Whiterun for a week or two. But because Aurelia is the Dragonborn, he swiftly made sure to please her greatly by giving her a home free of charge.
"You've been in here since we left Dragonsreach." I hum and lean back on my chair with a low sigh. "And the Sun has just started setting." Well, damn…
I look towards the window and notice that yes, it's slowly getting darker. I can see well in the dark, so I don't take particular notice of changes in brightness if I am not paying attention.
"Guess one doesn't notice the passage of time when they can't get tired." Though I do feel a bit… mentally weary, I guess.
I can't sleep, can't eat, can't drink… I can feel nothing. All my senses are gone besides sight and hearing.
This shit is going to tear me apart in time. I can feel it.
My words make the worry in Aurelia's eyes grow more noticeable, and I'd smile if I could. "Frowning will ruin your pretty face." And there she goes, blushing cutely.
Her flushed cheeks puff up and she cutely stomps her foot on the ground while glaring my way, making me enjoy the view even more, "You are so insufferable at times!" And we just recently met.
If she didn't already have white hair, I bet she'd only last a week before sporting some.
"And you can be very cute at times." I shrug without care, and I am glad that Aurelia has no sword within arms reach or anything to throw at me, because she looks ready to do exactly that.
Scoffing and relaxing her posture, the adorable woman approaches the table with a large map on it, "What have you been doing?" She asks, staring both at the map and at the paper copy of the Dragon Tablet.
Something Farengar did not ask us to fetch… Maybe because he was hollering obscenities my way thirty seconds after our meeting.
My people skills are just wonderful, ain't they?
"Planning, and putting my knowledge to use." I've played the damn game millions of time, cleared all missions, crafted everything and even collected one of every damn item in the game.
Modded it, completed it. Rinse and repeat a billion times over. I know the map by memory, and the fact that this world even has more Dragon Priests than normal tickles my completionism desires.
"Planning?" Aurelia parrots as she leans against the table, making her curves stand out as her robes. "For what?"
I take a slight second to admire the view before answering, "Helping you." She startles and blinks before turning my way with wide eyes. "Each square on the Map is a possible Word Wall location. Each triangle a Dragon Priest location, and each circle a Dragon Mound location." I list off with a drawl, resting my bony chin on my knuckles as I stare at her.
"Dragons do not truly die once their mortal body is slain. Their Souls linger… Until someone like you walks on by and gobbles it up, that is." I have hopes that just visiting a Dragon Mound will let her gain some strength by devouring the Soul of the deceased Dragon laying there.
This obviously wasn't possible in the game… But this isn't the game.
"I…" Aurelia falters, a flush coming back to color her pale cheeks as her eyes dart between me and the large map on the table. "You spent all this time doing this for me?"
I shrug, "And other things. But… Yes. The stronger you are, the more assured I am of your survival, and that is the one thing I care the most about right now." The most important things right now is gaining Souls for myself and making Aurelia stronger.
I do not know how things will escalate from this point on. Or how Alduin himself will escalate. What I can do is simply prepare and hope for the best.
So I can't waste time on useless stuff like going to places where I know some good items were in the game. I cannot hope that the places I know where I can get Daedric Quests for those artifacts are the same.
It's not the game anymore.
The Dwemer Forge, the Eye of Magnus, Wuuthrad, Oghma Infinium, and so much more. I cannot rely on my knowledge, yet not doing so feels like a waste.
"You…" Gulping, Aurelia shyly turns away from me, the flush having gone up to cover her ears too now. She's so fucking cute. "You're so kind to me…"
I chuckle softly and shake my head, then decide not to bully her a bit more right now.
Thus, Aurelia swiftly recovers herself with a dignified cough, yet the dark flush remains and she keeps throwing glances my way as she turns back to the map. "W-What about the crosses?"
"Remember what I asked from the Jarl?" She pauses, flush fading as she narrows her eyes in thought.
Then she perks up a few seconds later, "About if there were things he needed help getting taken care of?" I nod.
Making ourselves more useful in his eyes will simply be better for us in the long run. We'll become less of 'tools to keep the city' safe to 'people the Jarl can trust and confide in', which is important.
As tools can be discarded, but as a good Nord, the Jarl is one who gives trust and never betrays those close to him.
Hence, I plan on making use of that in order to get benefits. What those are, I do not know, but at least they will be there.
"There are quite a few things close to each other up North…" The woman leaning against the table muses absentmindedly, brushing a strand of her long hair behind her ear in a way that captivates my gaze.
If I had a body, I'd try my best to woo her. But alas…
"It'll be our first destination, as I know you'd want to go there quite a bit." My words earn me a curious gaze, and I chuckle softly, "The Jarl has received reports that a large group of Necromancers have made the ruins of Korvanjund their base. We can stop by the Dragon Mound on our way there, killing two birds with one stone."
Her gaze instantly grows chilly, and she swiftly nods without thinking twice about it. She really hates Necromancers a lot, huh? Wonder why.
"What about this spot?" She points to a marked spot close to the ruins we will go to, and I instantly shake my head.
"Absolutely not." She jolts lightly at my harsh refusal. "We are most definitely not strong enough to handle the Dragon Priest Krosis, plus he is a Frost Mage like myself, hence I wouldn't be of much help unless I can overpower him or hit him directly with my Magic Missile." To not talk about the chance of there being a Dragon with the fucker too.
Aurelia bites her lower lip as if she wanted to argue, clearly not liking the fact of leaving such a powerful undead be, but alas… "You know quite a lot…" She muses while eyeing me curiously.
I shrug, having expected such a question to be asked by her, "I may be an outsider, but when it comes to Skyrim, then I might as well be the one that knows the most about it." And I gotta get my knowledge up on this new Skyrim too.
Mainly about the Guilds and how they work, as they might be useful assets in the future.
After all…
[Magistone Staff – Great Quality]The wood comes from the corpse of a Hist, and the Magicka Stone is of Medium Grade, making the staff capable of enhancing Spells launched through it by a large fifty percent!
The Merchant Guild can sell such good stuff.
A fifty percent increase to Spells launched through the staff, just from a Medium Grade Magicka Stone. That's fucking insane, and something I need to make use off.
In fact, I am quite sure Aurelia's armor makes use of a Magicka Stone too, as I believe there is one lodged in the center of her chest-plate.
"When should we move out?" Aurelia asks, clearly eager to go and root out those Necromancers.
"We can go out as soon as tomorrow morning. The faster we take care of these things, the better." After all, if we find out that she can absorb the Souls near the Dragon Mounds, then we'll have quite a lot of places to visit.
Aurelia nods and pulls back from the table, the hesitates lightly, "Please, try to take a rest." I'd smile if I could. She really is sweet.
I lean back and watch her go, then sigh and turn to stare out the window to my far left.
So much to plan, so much to account, so much to do and prepare for, all just to survive. I may have died once, and I may be treating like a joke, but I'd rather not die again.
I shake my head and stand, pulling my hood over my head before stepping outside of the room, then out of my home and into the darkening streets.
The quiet bustle of the city fills my 'ears' as I start walking in a random direction, my gaze locked on the distant sky.
This is my new home, and I'd rather not be a coward and let Aurelia handle everything by herself. Plus, I consider her a good friend, hence I'd rather not leave her alone.
Though… How did I get here? Especially in a skeleton?
I do not believe in chances, or in this being some random bullshit. This place should be a game, and I hope this isn't some higher being looking for amusement situation.
Not that I can do anything about it even if it were.
A sound of dissatisfaction leaves me as I cross my hands behind my back.
That unfortunately has to be the only way I found myself here, as I doubt the Daedric Princes would have done such a thing. Or could have done it.
The Divines are too weak at the moment, so it's neither them.
So none of the Divines, or none of the Daedric Princes could have done-
No.
My steps slowly come to a halt as realization fills me.
There is a Daedric Prince who might be capable of doing such a thing… But could she?
A Daedric Prince whose existence was so terrifying and powerful Hermaeus Mora himself did everything in his power to erase her existence, even from himself.
It has to be her. She has to be the only one capable of pulling such a feat of bringing my Soul from another Reality to this one.
The Forgotten Prince, the Fate-Changer… Ithelia.
Sigh… I have so many fucking questions.
….
"I hope you didn't beat anyone up through the night." Aurelia flatly states as we exit our home, her arms bringing her large greatsword on her back.
I let out a chuckle at her accusation, "I assure you that I did nothing this time. I merely watched a brawl go down at an inn a few streets that way." And man, was it a chaotic brawl. I wonder if these things are common for Nords.
Aurelia blinks at my words, "And you didn't start it?" What kind of animal do you take me for- Actually, never mind.
"Well… Kinda?" Her gaze narrows, and I raise my hands in surrender, "I didn't start it per se… I was just the reason it started."
"Apparently one of the Guards that fought the Dragon with us was off duty and spending time at the Inn, and this drunk Bosmer said something about me that made the guy body slam the Bosmer through a table. Twisted the poor fucker like a twig."
Like, he straight up lifted the elf high in the air, then bodily put him through the table he was sitting at and into the ground.
The fucker did not twitch after, and I do not know if he died or not.
"Seems like you have quite the reputation now." The woman beside me giggles softly, quite amused at what happened last night.
I shrug, "Majority of Nords respect strength, magic or not. And they give even more respect when one willingly fights an opponent they are outmatched against, like we did with the Dragon." The dead are sacred for them, that much is clear and obvious.
They are simple-minded people. They cherish life, yet welcome death with open arms and with weapons in hand.
Something I find admirable.
"I would never be able to do such a thing…" Aurelia muses softly to herself.
I pull the staff she gifted me closer to me, then pause when a familiar voice calls out to us, bringing us to a stop.
Turning my head, my gaze falls on the approaching form of Aela, "You two going out?" She calls out, having seemingly ran all the way here.
"Yeah." I nod, having already an inkling on the why she is here, "A request from the Jarl to clear out Necromancers from a Nordic Ruin up north. Why?"
She flinches and clicks her tongue, "A Dragon was sighted in that direction, around Shearpoint's area, just an hour ago. As big as the one we fought, but with dark red scales." Shearpoint… Where Krosis resides.
It's a mountain, so it has an open view of the surroundings, and especially the road that needs to be taken to go for High Hrothgar.
I fear they have already started laying in ambush, it seems. Fucking Graybeards.
"Aela." The redhead perks up when I call out to her, "Do you have ways to send out signals high into the sky?" Her brows furrow in confusion, but she nods nonetheless.
"Keep them on hand then. If a Dragon attacks, send the signal out." Hopefully we won't be inside the Ruins and miss it at the time.
"What if the Dragon attacks you guys?"
I shrug and turn around, "Worst case scenario, I'll just cover Aurelia's retreat."
Going down while throwing hands with a Dragon is one hell of a way to go out. Sure as hell beats my previous lame ass death.
Still, I wonder if a Dragon's scale color signifies something or-
A gauntlet-clad hand suddenly grips my robe and yanks at it roughly, forcing me out of my thought and to look into Aurelia's very irate gaze, "Don't you dare throw your life away from me!"
I blink at her, her furious words washing over my 'ears' with no effect as I tilt my head, "What life?" She flinches violently at my question.
Raising my gloved hand, I gently pry my robes free from her grip, "I appreciate your words, but please understand how valuable your life is."
"Without you, this world is fucked."
Luckily Aela has left, having probably not wanted any part in the 'lovers spat', as I heard her mutter. Still, I am glad that she informed us of the Dragon sighting.
Aurelia's fists tremble by her side, teeth visibly gritted and face scrunched up in a heavy frown, "I'm not… that important."
…
I raise the staff and bonk her on the head with it without a word, making her yelp and hold the top of her head while pouting angrily at me.
"You say something like that again, and I'm going to bend you over and spank you until your pretty ass turns purple." She flushes darkly and pales at the same time.
Then she starts stammering over her words as I resume my walk.
Sometimes, it's just too easy-
…
Why do I feel like I am in danger?
I turn my head to look behind me, and see Aurelia run towards me. Greatsword in hand, teary eyes and flushed cheeks.
Huh…
"Don't you run away, you damn pervert!"
I am totally not running away.
Nuh-uh.
It's just a strategic retreat.
She's right fucking behind me!
A hand grabs my cloak from behind me, and I might or might have not released a high-pitched girlish scream that could be heard across the whole of Whiterun.
Needless to say that I ended up with a cracked skull.
Literally.
A.N. Short chappy to set up the next one.
A.N. Might move this to Patreon, might not. Dunno.