Another week, another fun filled chapter. Thus tension and fun times ensue, which of course doesn't end there.
**Quick notes on all the different races are at the bottom**
Annoyance of Companionship
-o-o-o-o-o-
"Hey, the bridge is up this way!" Kagami called over her shoulder. To best avoid the crowded city streets, she and the elf girl were making their way along a seldom used path skirting the outer city walls. However she had noticed her 'guide' was skipping from stone to stone to a lower route that led to the water's edge.
"Silly Kagami, we're not going across the bridge. We're going skinny-dippin!"
Kagami blinked at the statement. "Huh?"
"Face it, if you have hordes of evil agents scouring the streets and gates for someone likely cloaked to hide away a highly recognizable set of arms, we need to do something crazy. Now you won't take it off, or stow it away in a safe place like I offered-"
"Because I don't trust you-"
"-which hurts by the way" Here Konata gave a fake sniffle "But I figure what the hey, might as well find a sure fire way to get the damsel in distress naked one way or another. Or so I'd like to say if it really wasn't our only option, ~but it is~!" Her tone was far too upbeat to be honest there at the end.
However Kagami had to resign to that. Crossing the bridge would have been foolish, a bottleneck that was the one and only real means of transportation in and out of the island city. She must still have been out of it from the blundered assignment to not think of it. And looking for even a simple row boat now would take precious time, Konata's 'S.O.S' being outright too much for two alone to handle. Though that didn't mean she was going to give into whatever weird thoughts the wood elf may have been scheming completely.
"Well you can swim nude to your heart's content, I'll be fine as is."
It was Konata's turn to blink at her travel companion as she looked her up and down. Gauging the weight and bulk of the equipment, she either completely filled that armor with hidden muscle or, "…don't tell me you can work Alteration magic and can walk on water… that's hardly fair when I worked so hard on this plan.." she groaned.
"I…wish I could…" Kagami felt like slapping her forehead. Before the latest assignment, she could have requested a scroll for that from the quartermaster – for free too! She was no alchemist either to whip up a quick potion, what were the ingrediants for such a thing anyway?
The quirky smile the elf used was returning as she noticed the Blade looking about for a means out of an unavoidable predicament. To be merciful, she would nudge how hopeless it was. "You might want to take a look at where we're crossing too."
Kagami did so. "Lake Rumare?" Konata nodded happily at the expression dawning across the other's face. In all of the channel circling the Imperial City, the segment known as Lake Rumare was the widest, deepest, and fed by the coolest streams strait from the northern mountains. Slowly swimming across in metal armor would be stressing the body more than enough just factoring in the endurance required. The cold temperature and no chance of rest on top of it would drown even the most athletic of the Legion's best.
Little miss blue fairy shook a bag of her own gear in front of Kagami, the material looked water proof. "Start strippin~ Kagamin~! All your pudgy pounds will be safe in here."
"I. Hate. You." Kagami stewed for a moment before turning away to undo the bindings. Konata wasn't going to get whatever twisted wants she was after though, oh no. While the elf wadded nude in the shallows watching her, she kept mind of the line of sight and only left her backside to be ogled at. Over and done with Kagami slipped in still adorned of her undergarments. Her gear wrapped up in the cloak worn earlier, which luckily also happened to be well rated against the elements. It would keep most things dry even if submersed for a time and maybe even keep some of the weight buoyant like the elf's would.
Konata graciously enough took the defeat without complaint. Though a faint redness was present on her cheeks when the other had turned back around after undressing. She knew Kagami was considerably slimmer than the armor adorned made her look, but… Grabbing her own stuff she suddenly charged into the lake. "Last one across serves lunch!"
The Blade agent shook her head at the elf's antics, but thankful that the embarrassment had been diffused and set off after the girl.
-o-o-o-o-o-
A change of scenery was found to be very much needed. The drab Imperial City walls of grey had given way to colorful lake shore meadows easing into forest spilling forth from the rolling hills. It was in this beautiful setting of nature that the two young maidens enter, freely exchanging words amongst themselves.
"For a guide, and a Bosmer at that, you sure make a poor scout."
"Oy. That's racism."
However, only a couple additional hours for the two companions was already testing the boundaries of friendly wit and outright annoyance. Apart from the elf's insistence on swimming across the lake, it had been a continuation of a series of similar little mishaps one after another grinding away at the Blade's patience. That and the steep continuous climb up the hills probably didn't help, few associated the central Great Forest region being so mountainous.
"Noo, I meant it as an insult to you compared with other elves. You almost didn't see that bandit watching us leave the lake – what a pervert, both of you! Making him think we were…ahg! Then wasting an hour walking the winding side path, and for the record you have a horrible sense of blending in."
"Kagami, you gotta take things like that in stride. A wise man once said 'side roads lead to great side adventures!" Here the elf brought up a finger to bear as if a great philosopher. "That khajiit was complimenting us sitting back enjoying the show, kinda cute too and chivalrous not trying to rob us. Of course that's probably because the experience was worth more than gold…I don't blame ya chasing him off for the 'adventurous maidens' comment either."
"And don't you like my awesome armor!" Konata did a twirl showing off her custom fit elven plating, the golden sheen proving both their points.
"Gaudy, and isn't that a man's fitting?" Kagami was referring to the lack of a molded 'breast' plate. Not that it needed to be after seeing how flat the brat really was during their swim. Oh, and to tick her off only more, it was comparatively…less damp. The cloak still proved able to do only so much after all.
"…Imperial pig"
"What was that? I'm a Breton I'll have you know-" Kagami was sensing another wave of insults.
Konata waved her correction aside "Breton, Cyrodil, same thing really when you're living the Empire life."
"Breton ancestry is half-elven is what I was getting at. Should I then consider your kind the same as Dunmer and Altmer?" Kagami bit back rhetorically.
"Nnggg" the elf groaned, "Can't stand those snobby high elves, good for nothing… Anyway my point was that I can see the pudgy pounds, you try to hide it with that dull cloak but the armor gives it away. Must have enjoyed my apple ca~ake"
"Shut up. There was too much sugar in that thing to be considered a lunch."
"But you still ate it."
"Enough, you can just shut up now." The Blade rested a hand on her sword as emphasis how annoyed she was getting.
"Okay you're getting testy, here is fine then." Konata shrugged and looked about the old stone ruin their path was passing through. Simple forts of worn circular towers and walls from kingdoms ages past, on the surface rubble heaps nearly reclaimed by nature, below labyrinthine tombs often resided by nefarious entities. "Town's up ahead and I'm sure your meeting is private. So I'm going to go raid this ruin for treasure and we can meet up in town tonight at the Oaken Crossure. Later!"
"Hey I didn't agr-!" But the door leading down to the ruins banged close.
-o-o-o-o-o-
A/N: Any guesses who from Lucky Star will be introduced next time? Consider also what race each of the characters will be and where along the path we will encounter them.
**Otherwise here are the notes on the different races featured and mentioned. More in-depth descriptions can be found at the Elder Scrolls site. First ten mentions are playable in the game, last three are impacted lore and not actually encountered**
Orc – These 'beast' people of the Dragontail mountains have proven that their barbarian age has long passed through trial and service to the empire as fearless shock troopers and superior crafters of armor. Though some are still in good humor to rip a few limbs if one were to tick them off. (yes, I was somewhat tempted to make Kagami an orc based on the joke featured in the series, but then there's Tsukasa and we couldn't do that to her ^_^)
Argonian – The lizard/scaled people of Black Marsh are probably one of the most unique of the sentient races of Tamriel. Natural to swimming as they are to land, they boast ability to breath underwater and resistance to disease.
Kajiit – Feline people of Elsweyr more resembling lions. They may seem simple beings by their speech and lifestyle, but are actually clever having great instinct and tactics when in natural terrain, their eyesight lending great advantage able to see in the dark. Sorry, no cute cat-girls here unless someone is into furry.
Bosmer - Valenwood 'wood elves' are mixed descendants of ancient elf races including Ayleids who fled their slave rebellion. Are heavily nature oriented compared to their cousins, familiar with living and traveling among the trees which has given them natural high agility, dexterity with bows, and stealth.
Dunmer – Proud 'dark elves' of Morrowind, though a bit grouchy and morbid to others not of their people, even the friendlier ones can make one edgy with their red eyes. Well balanced in the arts of blade combat and destruction magic, dunmer make for fine warriors still mindful of agility and tact.
Altmer – Summerset Isle's tall golden-skinned high elves are known for being aloof, but do boast a superior prowess for magic as a race. Their refined sense of living and being direct descendants of the original ancient elven race has also lent to deem themselves as 'high' among the other mer, not to mention all other mortal beings.
Nord– Northern 'Viking-like' people of Skyrim. Naturally resistant to the cold, it isn't rare to find one shirtless even in a blizzard, but mixed with their barbaric style can be rather frightening in battle. Otherwise are a people of excellent stock, fine craftsmanship, and far-reaching sails on any coast.
Redguard – The dark-skinned humans of Hammerfell, a fierce warrior society known for their mastery of many combat arts and hearty independent spirit.
Breton– Hailing from High Rock, a result of mixed human/elf interbreeding long ago, yet well established as a people renown for their natural magical prowess as well as resistance, and conceptional thought producing many great mages.
Imperial/Cyrodil – Cyrodils descendant of imported slaves of the Ayleids. Though still less imposing compared to other races, are a shrewd and organized people based on trade, education, and legion military might.
Ayleid – old tribal elves of Cyrodil. They were very oriented to the arcane magics and brought humans to Cyrodil as slaves until they were overthrown by revolt. Many great architectural ruins of their ancient cities and relics still dot the land, including what is now the Imperial City and it's central White Gold Tower.
Akaviri – the old races of the far side of the world, a 'Chinese'/serpent race. Though not impacting on Tamriel since first age, their weapons of katana/wakizi are still employed by some and largely by the Blades.
Dwemer - A large faction of elves that settled in the northern parts of Skyrim and Morrowind to pursue their endeavors into knowledge and even technology in their underground cities. They became so proficient they tried creating their own god... but mysteriously vanished without a trace, leaving behind ancient cities that to this day still tick with still operational machinery and guarded by automatons.
