Chapter 57 The Guardian To the Blackreach
Three crude Falmer tents stood., their misshapen frames stitched together from chaurus hide and bone. A faint, nauseating stench lingered in the air damp, acidic, and unmistakably Falmer.
Six Falmer prowled through the area like restless insects. Two lingered near the outskirts with curved bows held loosely in their clawed hands, heads twitching as they listened for the slightest sound. Three others marched in a slow patrol, swords scraping against their shields with every step, the dull clink echoing faintly through the cavern. Slightly apart from them stood another figure the Falmer mage its hunched form gripping a crooked spell staff that pulsed faintly with unstable magicka.
Alex crouched behind a jagged Dwemer pillar, his breath steady despite the tension coiling in his chest. He leaned closer to Astrid, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"Alright, Astrid," he murmured, eyes locked onto the staff-wielding Falmer. "Can you take aim at the mage?"
Astrid followed his gaze, her sharp eyes narrowing as she assessed the distance and angles. After a brief pause, she gave a confident nod.
"Okay," she whispered back. "Got it."
Her movements were smooth and practiced. Astrid reached over her shoulder and drew her Daedric bow, the dark metal catching a faint glimmer of the cavern's glow. The bowstring gave a soft, controlled creak as she pulled it back. With her other hand, she slid a Dwemer arrow into place the metallic shaft cold and heavy between her fingers.
She inhaled slowly, grounding herself, then exhaled just as slowly. Her stance shifted, feet firm against the stone, shoulders squared. The arrowhead aligned perfectly with the Falmer mage's skull as she held her breath, waiting.
Alex glanced at the three Falmer with swords and shields, watching their patrol pattern. Their paths were slowly converging.
"Good," he whispered, arcane energy beginning to hum faintly around his fingertips. "Wait for my signal. When the three melee Falmer get close to each other, I'll cast Chain Lightning."
He shot Astrid a brief sideways look, his expression serious but calm.
"Alright?"
Astrid didn't look away from her target. Her lips curled into a faint, confident smile as she kept the bow drawn.
"Alright."
Alex moved first.
He lowered his posture, every step careful and deliberate as he slipped forward through the shadows. His boots barely made a sound against the cold stone floor, and even his breathing slowed to a controlled, silent rhythm. His eyes never left the Falmer patrol, watching the distance between them shrink step by step, heartbeat by heartbeat.
The three Falmer with swords and shields drifted closer together, their uneven movements finally overlapping.
Alex raised one hand slightly.
"Okay now."
The moment the word left his lips, Astrid released the bowstring.
The Daedric bow snapped forward with a sharp, muted twang. The Dwemer arrow cut through the dim air like a streak of metal light and buried itself straight through the Falmer mage's skull. The creature didn't even have time to cry out its body went limp and crumpled to the ground, the spell staff clattering uselessly beside it.
At the exact same instant, Alex thrust his palm forward.
"Chain Lightning!"
Crackling arcs of blue-white electricity erupted from his hand, branching violently through the air. The spell leapt from one shield-bearing Falmer to the next, then the next again, linking them together in a screaming web of lightning. Their bodies convulsed as the current tore through them, muscles locking, weapons falling from numb hands.
With heavy, smoking thuds, all three collapsed to the stone floor twitching briefly before going completely still, unconscious.
For half a second, the cavern was silent.
Then
The two Falmer archers shrieked in alarm.
Their heads snapped toward the fallen bodies, and in a panic, they raised their bows almost simultaneously. Clawed fingers fumbled with arrows before snapping them into place.
Thwip! Thwip!
Two arrows were released at once one streaking toward Astrid, the other toward Alex.
The arrow aimed at Astrid slammed into her torso with a dull clang. She staggered half a step but the Daedric armor absorbed the impact completely. The arrow shattered against the dark metal, skidding harmlessly to the ground without leaving even a scratch.
But when Astrid turned, she saw the second arrow flying straight toward Alex's head.
"Alex!!"
Her shout echoed through the cavern, sharp with fear.
She pushed off instinctively, starting toward him but she was too far away. There was no time.
Alex's eyes widened for a split second.
Then his body moved on pure instinct.
He snapped his hand up, fingers spreading wide as magicka surged violently through his arm.
And he with fast use telekinesis
The arrow stopped.
It hung in the air, trembling violently, its razor tip frozen just inches from Alex's face. The wind from its flight brushed his cheek, and he could see the crude barbs clearly, suspended in midair.
"Whew…" Alex exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing just a fraction. "Too close."
His expression hardened immediately after.
With a sharp flick of his wrist, Alex reversed the spell.
The arrow screamed back through the air, faster than it had come. It slammed straight into the Falmer archer's head with a sickening crunch, dropping the creature instantly.
At the same moment, Astrid had already drawn again.
Her movements were fluid, almost effortless. The bowstring snapped, and her arrow punched cleanly through the second Falmer archer's skull before it could even react. The body collapsed backward, lifeless, its bow clattering across the stone.
Silence fell once more.
Only the faint crackle of fading magicka and the distant drip of water echoed through the cavern.
Seeing the three Falmer still alive but unconscious, Astrid calmly drew her bow again and executed them one by one with precise headshots.
"Alright, now they're definitely dead."
Alteration 25 → 27
Astrid slowly turned toward Alex, the dim cavern light reflecting in her eyes. For a moment, she simply stared at him then a bright, unmistakable look of admiration surfaced on her face.
"Hey, Alex," she said, her voice lighter now that the danger had passed. She lifted one hand and gestured animatedly toward the spot where the arrow had been frozen midair. "That move just now was really cool, you know? Catching an arrow instantly with telekinesis like that seriously impressive."
Alex scratched the side of his nose and looked away, his shoulders relaxing as he gave an awkward little shrug.
"Ah… it was nothing, really."
But behind his calm exterior, his thoughts were racing at full speed.
(Telekinesis is absurdly useful in the real Skyrim world. If I enchant equipment with Fortify Alteration when I get back, how far can I push this spell? Could I pull a flying dragon straight out of the sky… or even slam it into the ground? Just imagining it is exciting. I can't wait to test it. But first, I need to properly learn how to enchant Fortify Alteration.)
His gaze unfocused, staring somewhere past the cavern walls.
"…Alex?"
No response.
Astrid frowned slightly, then waved a hand in front of his face before raising her voice.
"Hey, Alex! Alex!!"
He flinched as if waking from a dream. "Huh? What? Oh sorry." He blinked a few times and rubbed the back of his head. "I was thinking about something."
Astrid crossed her arms lightly and tilted her head, curiosity written plainly on her face. "Thinking about what?"
Alex broke into a wide grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He chuckled as he spoke.
"I've got a crazy idea one that could make me ridiculously strong and let me beat dragons way more easily."
Astrid's eyebrow twitched upward.
"But," Alex added quickly, lifting a finger, "before that, we need to retrieve the Elder Scroll first."
Astrid let out a soft hmph. She dragged the toe of her boot lightly across the stone floor, then leaned forward, bending slightly at the waist. With a mischievous smile, she brought her face dangerously close to his.
"Oooh," she teased, her voice low and playful. "I thought you were thinking about me."
Alex froze.
A faint flush crept across his cheeks. "H-Hey hey, naughty."
He raised his hand and lightly chopped the top of her head not hard at all.
"Ow~," Astrid exaggerated, pouting as she rubbed her head. "That hurts, darling."
Alex turned away, cleared his throat loudly, and straightened his posture, trying to look serious.
"Alright. Enough fooling around. We need to focus, okay?" He glanced back at her, his tone firm but warm. "The world is depending on us."
Astrid continued rubbing her head for a moment before smiling brightly.
"Uuugh… okay, okay."
She stood upright again, eyes filled with renewed determination as they prepared to move on together.
They approached a Dwemer iron-bar gate. Alex looked around carefully.
"Hm… there should be a lever or something. There's no keyhole."
Astrid struck the bars like she had done with previous doors, but this one didn't budge.
"Hey, Alex, this thing is really tough."
"Yeah," Alex replied. "It's probably still reinforced by magic. We'll need to open it properly."
Astrid looked impressed. "What? Even after being abandoned for decades, the magic is still active? That's incredible."
Alex glanced behind them and spotted a lever above. He climbed the steps and pulled it. Instantly, the iron bars slid open.
"That's Dwemer technology for you. Never underestimate it."
They advanced toward a massive Dwemer iron-bar gate embedded deep within the corridor. The bars were thick and ancient, their brass surfaces dulled by time yet still humming faintly with residual magicka. Frost clung to the metal, and the air around it felt heavier, almost resistant, as if the gate itself rejected being touched.
Alex slowed his steps and scanned the surroundings, his eyes moving from wall to wall, tracing the lines of Dwemer mechanisms hidden behind stone panels.
"Hm…" He raised a hand to his chin, narrowing his eyes. "There should be a lever or some kind of mechanism. There's no keyhole anywhere."
Astrid stepped forward without hesitation. Drawing back her arm, she slammed her fist into the iron bars, just as she had done with previous doors.
CLANG!
The impact rang loudly through the corridor, echoing far into the depths of the ruin. Astrid winced slightly and shook her hand, but the bars didn't so much as tremble.
She frowned and gave the gate a firm push. It didn't move an inch.
"Hey, Alex," she said, knocking her knuckles against the metal. "This thing is really tough."
Alex placed a hand on one of the bars, feeling a faint vibration run through his palm. A thin shimmer of magicka flickered briefly beneath the metal.
"Yeah," he replied calmly. "It's probably still reinforced by Dwemer enchantments. We'll need to open it properly."
Astrid's eyes widened slightly. She leaned closer, inspecting the bars with renewed interest.
"What? Even after being abandoned for decades, the magic is still active?" She let out a soft laugh in disbelief. "That's incredible."
Alex took a few steps back and glanced upward and there it was.
A lever, half-hidden above the gate, connected to a set of interlocking Dwemer gears.
"There," he said, pointing. "Figures."
He climbed the narrow stone steps beside the wall, each footstep echoing sharply in the confined space. Reaching the top, he grabbed the lever with both hands and pulled.
CHUNK.
With a deep, mechanical groan, the iron bars slid apart, metal grinding against metal as the gate slowly opened.
Alex stepped back down and exhaled lightly.
"That's Dwemer technology for you," he said. "Never underestimate it."
As Astrid moved forward, her gaze suddenly stopped.
Her eyes traveled upward along the walls and froze.
Two enormous statues were embedded on either side of the corridor. Their forms were bulky and humanoid, carved from dark Dwemer metal and stone, with thick limbs and expressionless faces. They loomed silently, like ancient guardians waiting for something.
She pointed. "Hey, Alex… what are those?"
Alex followed her line of sight.
His blood ran cold.
"Astrid, be careful those are "
Before he could finish
CLACK.
A low, grinding sound echoed through the chamber. The statues' eyes ignited with a dull amber glow. Joints cracked as ancient mechanisms awakened.
The golems moved.
Heavy metal limbs tore free from the walls as both constructs stepped forward, the floor trembling beneath their weight.
Astrid instinctively took a step back, raising her shield.
"Alex… I don't think arrows alone will be enough."
Alex's expression hardened. Magicka surged through his body as sparks of lightning danced around his fingers.
"Then we use magic."
He thrust both hands forward.
"Chain Lightning!"
BAM! BAM!
Crackling bolts of electricity tore through the air, slamming into both golems at once. The constructs jolted violently, metal plating sparking as the current raced through their bodies.
Alex clenched his teeth. "Of course electricity is the answer."
He glanced at Astrid.
"Astrid, you tank them and protect me. I'll handle them with lightning magic."
Astrid didn't hesitate.
She raised her Daedric shield, braced her stance, and charged forward, boots pounding against the stone. The golems turned toward her, massive fists lifting high.
Alex quickly adjusted his spell. Chain Lightning was too dangerous with Astrid so close.
He switched to Lightning Bolt.
One golem slammed its fist down onto Astrid's shield.
BOOM!
The impact sent a shockwave through her arm, forcing her to slide back half a step. The second golem followed up with another crushing blow.
Astrid gritted her teeth and shouted, "Alex, hurry up and finish them!"
Lightning bolts flew from Alex's hands in rapid succession, striking the golems again and again.
But then
One of the constructs adapted.
With a sudden burst of power, it crouched and leapt straight toward Alex.
"Damn it I have to dodge!"
Alex threw himself sideways, rolling across the floor as the golem crashed down where he had been standing, stone and metal shattering beneath its weight.
"Alex!!!" Astrid screamed.
"I'm fine!!" Alex shouted back without looking. "Focus on the other golem! Find its weakness every golem has one!"
Astrid forced herself to calm down. Her eyes darted across the golem's massive body and then she saw it.
The knees.
Complex joint mechanisms more exposed, more vulnerable.
She lunged forward and drove her blade into the joint.
The golem staggered.
With a grinding screech, it dropped to one knee.
"Now!" Astrid roared.
She raised her Daedric shield high and smashed it down onto the golem's head.
"Die!"
Again.
"Die!"
Again.
"Die!!"
Each blow dented and cracked the metal. Finally, Astrid leaned in close, planted her feet, and brought her mouth near the golem's shattered face.
"Fus Ro Dah!"
The Unrelenting Force Thu'um exploded outward. The golem's head and inner mechanisms were blasted apart, its remains hurled forward in a storm of shattered metal.
At the same time, Alex faced his own golem.
He moved cautiously, dodging its wild swings until one massive arm slammed into the ground and got stuck.
"That's my chance."
Alex sprinted forward, leapt, and landed on the golem's back. Flames roared into existence in his right hand as he grabbed the golem's head and released a Fireball at point-blank range.
The explosion engulfed them both.
Thanks to the enchanted ring on his finger, Alex felt only heat no pain.
The golem tried to strike him with its free arm.
Alex snarled and raised his left hand.
"Telekinesis!"
The arm froze mid-swing, trembling violently in the air.
Alex continued hurling Fireball after Fireball into the golem's head and torso.
Mana: 250 → 190 → 150 → 100
His breathing grew heavy.
This is draining too fast.
Alex released the spell and jumped off the golem's back, landing hard but steady. The construct staggered, sparks flying from cracked seams, its movements now slow and jerky.
Astrid was far enough away.
Alex raised both hands.
"Chain Lightning!"
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Electricity tore through the golem repeatedly. After a final violent shudder, the construct collapsed, its body crashing lifelessly to the floor.
"Phew…" Alex bent forward slightly, hands on his knees. "Finally… it's dead."
He looked up.
Astrid stood amid the scattered remains of the other golem, breathing hard but smiling.
Their eyes met.
They shared a quiet, satisfied smile.
A moment later, a heavy iron door above them creaked open, gears turning deep within the walls. The path forward was clear the golems had been the key all along.
Astrid walked over and patted Alex's shoulder firmly.
"Wow," she said warmly. "My darling has become so strong defeating a golem that big all by yourself."
Alex laughed softly. "You too, love."
He gestured toward the open gate.
"Let's continue our exploration."
Side by side, they moved toward the newly opened path, ready for whatever awaited them deeper within the Dwemer ruins.
Status
Alteration 27 → 28
Destruction 67 → 69
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