Chapter 7 Temptation
The cheers of Whiterun echoed like rolling thunder across the tundra. Torches flickered along the walls, warm light spilling onto laughing faces as the guards returned from the battle.
The smell of roasted meat drifted through the air, and the sky above was painted gold by the setting sun. Children chased each other near the Gildergreen, reenacting the dragon fight with wooden swords. Bards sang triumphantly near the marketplace.
Scenes like this never existed in the game.
In Skyrim, NPCs barely react even when you save the world.
But here… people celebrated with real fear, real relief, real joy.
And their joy had a focal point—Astrid.
Whispers spread through the crowd:
"That's the Dragonborn!"
"She absorbed the dragon's soul!"
"Did you hear it? The sky itself called her!"
Astrid stood in the center of the admiration, but her expression remained unreadable. The golden light reflected off her hair, giving her an almost divine glow.
Part of me was proud of her.
Another part… couldn't look away.
When the dragon fell, I looted its corpse. The bones were heavy, warm to the touch—still humming with ancient magic. In this world, they weren't just "loot"; they felt like relics carved by the gods.
After we reported to Jarl Balgruuf, the sky itself trembled.
A deep voice rolled over the mountains, ancient and commanding—the summon of the Greybeards.
Astrid stiffened beside me. Even through her shock, she subconsciously reached toward my sleeve, like she needed something grounding.
I pretended not to notice… but I felt it.
We were ordered to climb High Hrothgar at dawn. Until then, the night was ours.
At the Inn – Whiterun's Heartbeat
The Bannered Mare was overflowing with people. The fireplace crackled warmly, illuminating the carved wooden beams of the ceiling. The scent of juniper mead and spiced wine drifted between tables. Laughter, music, and stories filled the hall.
Astrid and I sat at the bar together.
"You fought bravely today," I told her. "You ran straight at that dragon without hesitation. I… couldn't do that."
She leaned back on the stool. Her eyes reflected the firelight—bright, determined, yet shadowed by something deeper.
"You know," she said quietly, "I thought I would die in Helgen. I accepted it. The blade was already raised. And then… everything changed.
I lived.
Because of you."
Her voice trembled for the first time since I'd met her.
"That's why I fought the dragon today. I refused to feel helpless again."
This woman wasn't fearless.
She was a survivor burning with purpose.
But then she looked at me—really looked at me.
"What about you, Alex? Shouldn't you be afraid? You killed people today."
Her gaze was gentle, as if she worried for me, not judging.
"I don't know," I admitted. "Maybe I should be. But something about this world… feels familiar. Or maybe I'm just broken."
Her expression softened even more.
"I don't think you're broken."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I think you're strong."
My heartbeat quickened—not because of the compliment but because of the way she looked at me, like I was the only stable point in her chaotic new reality.
The Celebration… and Jealous Stares
As night deepened, so did the noise of celebration.
Astrid drank with surprising enthusiasm—mead, ale, anything people offered her. She laughed more freely, cheeks flushed a soft crimson. A few strands of hair fell over her face, giving her a rare, relaxed beauty.
But the men around us kept staring at her.
Too many men.
Their gazes lingered on her figure, their smirks full of intent.
I felt something unfamiliar rise in my chest—heat, annoyance, possessiveness. Something primal.
When Astrid leaned her weight against me, drunk and giggling, their stares grew even bolder.
I had to get her out of here.
But before I could, two thugs stepped in front of us.
"Hey sweetheart," one said, eyeing her like prey. "You look lonely."
"She's with me," I replied sharply.
He smirked. "Relax. We just wanna borrow her."
Borrow?
My blood boiled.
One grabbed my head. "Back off, kid."
Wrong move.
Lightning danced in my palm.
"Ever felt electricity inside your bones?" I whispered.
Sparks exploded. He collapsed, screaming and convulsing.
The other lunged with a dagger—
but Astrid moved faster.
Even drunk, she grabbed him by the collar and hurled him into the fireplace. Flames roared as he screamed.
She turned, wobbling heavily.
"No one… touches… my Alex…" she slurred.
My heart jolted.
Not from fear—from the way she said my Alex.
Temptation
As I supported her, she pressed close—too close. Her breath tickled my ear.
"Aleeeex… you protected me…"
She traced a finger along my chest, a lazy, seductive motion only someone completely drunk would dare attempt.
"How should I repay you… hmm? I know…"
She cupped my face, eyes heavy with warmth and desire.
"I'll give… myself… to you…"
Her lips inched closer.
My breath caught—
my rationality shattered—
my heart hammered so hard it hurt—
Then—
"Hurrgh—!"
She vomited on the floor.
The spell broke instantly.
Thank the Divines.
Astrid might be incredible, beautiful, terrifying…
but she was completely drunk.
And I wasn't going to take advantage of that.
Her Room – and a Dangerous Beauty
I carried her upstairs. She clung to me like a lost child, occasionally mumbling my name in a soft, vulnerable tone that made my chest tighten.
Her body was warm against mine; her hair smelled faintly of juniper and smoke. Every step was torture—not because of the weight, but the closeness.
I laid her gently on the bed.
The moonlight from the window traced the curve of her face, the softness of her lips, the shape of her body beneath her clothes. Even disheveled and drunk, she looked breathtaking.
Too breathtaking.
For a moment, I hesitated.
A dangerous thought crossed my mind.
So I cast a weak Spark on my own hand.
Zap.
Clarity returned.
"Good night, Astrid."
I whispered it softly—words she wouldn't remember.
But I meant them.
My Room
Sleep tugged at me, but I opened my status window first. The glowing text illuminated the dim room.
Magic. Weapons. Skills. Progress.
But my mind wasn't on the numbers.
It was on Astrid.
Her courage.
Her fear.
Her warmth.
Her fingers brushing my cheek.
Her voice calling me my Alex.
The journey to High Hrothgar begins tomorrow.
And for the first time since arriving in this world…
I wasn't afraid of the road ahead.
Not while she was with me.
Sleep claimed me soon after.
Status Window
Destruction – 20
• Novice Destruction: Novice spells cost half mana
• Dual Casting: Increases damage when dual-casting
Conjuration – 100
• Novice & Apprentice Conjuration: Reduced spell cost
• Mystic Binding (5): Bound weapons deal +100% damage
• Soul Stealer: Bound weapon attacks auto–apply Soul Trap
Alteration – 17
Enchanting – 16
• Enchanter (1): +20% enchant strength
Archery – 17
• Overdraw (1): +20% bow damage
Sneak – 26
• Stealth (1): Harder to detect
Smithing – 19
Perk Points: 5
Health: 150
Mana: 210 (will increase to 220)
Stamina: 120
Level: 18 (likely 19 after rest)
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