Chapter 35: Under the Moonlit Ruins
"You hussy" the annoyed and embarrassed voice of Aruzhan. who had her finger raised and pointed at me. Her face was so brightly red on her pale skinned face and her fingers trembled that I couldn't help but giggle.
"Oh come on, If you didn't like it why were you watching you little pervert." I couldn't help but tease as her face switched from being taken aback to angry.
"If you put your time on focusing on finding our people and curing them as you did on your perversions, we might have already made some progress."
"Right, so we can end up dead with arrows in our body, yeah no. you know they are fucked currently and unless you have a magical way of making them know we are their people, so they won't kill us. I think focusing on getting stronger for now, so we can look for a cure later doesn't hurt. " A tired breath left me as I looked over my other half. I rested my back against one of the large trees as I sat down.
" I won't abandon our people Aruzhan" I motioned for her to sit next to me. She had been like this as soon as she had learned of what had happened to the Falmer. Resting my head on hers as we sat there, " The dwemer will probably be our best chance at learning how to cure our people. If not them then a deadra or gods. And I don't feel safe doing those options given how much strength we lack." My hand pulled on her hip as I held her tightly. I could understand her impatience but it wouldn't help us right now.
"And being a pervert is pretty fun as long as you are safe and don't go doing it with everyone. Besides Arnovia isn't just anyone. Maybe I should help you understand how nice it feels?" I teased as she got up quickly blushing and shouting that I'd better make us stronger faster. As she walked into the woods in the mindscape her long silk silver see-through dress flowed being her. Damn, I looked good, but it was time for me to wake up.
Later that day
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the Fighters' Guild courtyard. I had removed my shoes and felt the soft grass beneath my bare feet as I approached Arnovia and Alawion, recently I just loved the feeling of being connected to the earth. It was time for a guild quest that would take me out of the city and I wanted their help. Both of them were hunched over a map, their expressions focused and determined.
"Arnovia, Alawion," I called out, drawing their attention. "I have a proposition for you both."
Arnovia looked up from the map, giving me a cute smile.
"Go on," Alawion encouraged, her voice melodic and soothing like the rustle of leaves in the wind.
"Word has it there's an Ayleid ruin nearby rumored to hold Welkynd Stones," I said, watching their reactions closely. I was tasked with bringing a few back and I would make sure to collect enough to have for myself. "I was hoping you two would join me."
Arnovia's eyes sparkled with interest, and she exchanged a glance with Alawion.
"Sounds like a plan," Arnovia agreed, grinning. "we were already tasked with clearing one of the ruins out of bandits."
"Alright then," Alawion chimed in. "But keep in mind, Ellehish, we could use this to continue your training."
"Of course," I replied, gazing at Alawion appreciatively. Guess it was time for me to summon my first Daedra.
As we exited the Fighters' Guild, the crisp air enveloped us like an icy embrace, sending shivers down my spine. The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. My thoughts raced with anticipation, my heart pounding heavily against my chest.
With that set, we gathered our supplies and set off towards the Ayleid ruin. Walking together through the city. I couldn't get used to how big the city was compared to how small the games made it. I guess it would take too much data to make them bigger in the game. Finally, we walked out of the city and passed the guards in their dark grey armor.
As we trekked through the wilds, my mind raced with thoughts of the Welkynd Stones and their potential power. These ancient artifacts held great potential. As the night sky was filled with the twin moons we crossed over the bridge and made our way towards Lindai. It had taken us a few hours to make it but it would be better for us if the bandits were asleep by the time we arrived.
The Ayleid ruin loomed before us, a testament to an ancient civilization long lost to time. Shadows clung to the stone facade. I'd have to ask Aruzhan. She was alive during their time so maybe there was something I could learn.
"Here it is," Arnovia announced, her voice laced with awe. "The entrance to the Ayleid ruin."
"Finally," I muttered under my breath, my gaze drifting over the imposing stone doors that stood as silent sentinels. Ancient runes danced across their surface, their meaning elusive but hinting at the ruin's historical significance. My fingers itched to touch them, Thanks to Aruzhan I could learn what it meant as she could read Falmer and Ayleid.
"Ellehish, what do you make of these runes?" Alawion asked, her melodic voice drawing me from my thoughts.
"Give me a moment," I replied, focusing my attention on the enigmatic symbols, my mind racing with possibilities. Grabbing a scroll and chac I rubbed a copy of it. " I'll need time to get through it, so it will have to wait until we get back home.
They nodded as I pushed the stone door, and opened it. We looked at each other as my eyes glowed a bright blue which allowed me to see better in the dark. As we stepped into the darkness of the Ayleid ruin, I could hear the sound of voice up ahead.
"Stay close," Arnovia whispered, nocking an arrow to her bow. "No telling what might be lurking in here."
"Agreed," Alawion replied, her fingers tracing patterns in the air, ready to summon her druidic magic at a moment's notice. Slowly I guided them through the dark and past some traps. Up ahead I could see light. And once we sneaked closer, a few bandits were sleeping. While two others were grunting up further ahead.
We looked at each other as Alawion pulled out her daggers and Arnovie held an arrow in her hand. Alawion moved silently towards the first sleeping bandit and covered his mouth. As he woke up she slit his throat and dug her fingers into the wound making him bleed out faster. Arnoive on the other hand stepped her arrow through another sleeping bandit's eye.
As I moved over to the last sleeping bandit I ripped out his throat with my claws. The grunting of the last two fucking up ahead had drowned out the dying others so they weren't aware. Their armor was a mix of old leather with a few iron pieces. Nothing that would have stopped up from killing them.
Lifting my hand as purple energy gathered and with a loud clang a portal opened and closed. From it walked out A wolf made of wood and vines. The sound of fucking stopped and I couldn't help but grin as I sent a mental command for it to attack. And plant wolf rushed forward and the sounds of screams rang out until they were silenced and it walked back covered in red blood around its mouth and paws.
Looking back at Alawion, she gave me a thumbs up. as she was looting the bodies of the bandits we had killed in here. There wasn't anything of value besides a few Welkynd Stones, and some gold but beyond that nothing really interesting, Mostly rusty Weapons.
"Well, that went well" Arnovia spoke happily as she looted their arrows and used her short sword to cut off their heads and place them in a bag.
"why are you doing that" I couldn't help but ask.
"We need to bring proof, or else we won't get paid," Alawion added. which made sense, how would anyone believe you did what you said without proof?
"Well we should continue forward and loot the ruins clean," I said as I put the bag of heads in my storage. The plant wolf trots around as its blood-covered paws leave prints on the stone floor.
"Sounds good" They agreed as we moved deeper into the ruin.
"Ellehish," Alawion whispered, her breath warm against my ear. "Do you feel that?"
"Feel what?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Something... unnatural. Be on your guard."
As if in response to her words, the very ground beneath our feet began to tremble. A low, guttural growl echoed through the cavernous chamber, and from the shadows emerged undead skeletons up further ahead.
"By the gods," Arnovia gasped. "What is that thing?"
"An abomination," Alawion replied, her voice hard and cold as steel. "And once we clear out of here."