Getting into some proper chapter length from this point on as well as getting some of the other LS characters involved soon, look forward to their introductions!
Volunteers Wanted
-o-o-o-o-o-
Weynon Priory was as picturesque as ever Kagami thought. It had been almost a year since she last viewed the great dorm, the lamb stock with road passing through and the stone chapel made serene set in the surrounding forest.
"Can I help you child?" asked a monk emerging from the chapel.
"Would you happen to know if Father Jauffre is in?" Kagami asked politely.
"He should be up in the den. Shall I call for him?"
"That is alright, I'll go on up – a blade guards him." She added. The man nodded in acknowledgement of the Blade code.
It was homely inside the priory dorm, sparse dinning hearth open above to a communal sleeping area and study. At the widow backed desk sat an aged yet spry monk. Few had seen him in anything but the simple brown robe, much less a set of armor – but this was the same man who was grandmaster of the Blades order, and it was he who had taught and raised Kagami in the way of the Blades since her coming to Cyrodil. To her, this was the man she considered her second father.
Jauffre looked up and smiled in surprise "Thank the heavens, the mirror returns!" His shoulders noticeably sagged in relief also, numerous reports upon his desk a glimpse of the stress in gathering what had happened.
"Good to see you again sir, though not in the best of times." Kagami tried returning the smile best she could, but circumstances were priority over a cheerful get together. "I take it you've heard the bad news."
His face became more somber. "Yes word reached us early this morning. Most troubling, and the princes taken the week previous…"
"What are they really after though, the Mythic Dawn?"
"We've gathered that they are followers of Mehrunes Dagon, daedra Prince of Destruction-"
"-who was involved in Jagar Tharn's plot against the Empire many years ago – we know all that." Kagami grumbled "Haven't we learned anything else yet!"
"I understand – and share your frustration in this. The Dawn always seems a step ahead of us, their plans deeper than we took for mere cultist. On a grander scale, with no emperor or heirs it seems they wish to interrupt the lighting of the Dragonfires of Akatosh, which is done with each coronation of a new emperor. This will be the first time in centuries that the Temple of the One will be dark…"
"…'Close shut the jaws of Oblivion'…that was something the emperor mentioned. What effect would the Dragonfires remaining unlit for a time have with Dagon's Oblivion?"
Jauffre looked puzzled. "That would, escape me as well. Though it has been known that the Amulet of Kings does pass down cryptic visions, I cannot be but more troubled by it. Did Uriel pass onto you specifically this alone or anything else?"
"…that's another thing sir…" She hung her head slightly, "I was there to hear this from him, because I was assigned to protect the emperor last night, when he…was slain. R-right before me and I couldn't do anything! I…I failed us all." Clenching her eyes closed, she awaited the reprimand to be discharged from service.
Instead the fatherly monk rose from behind the desk and clasped her gently by the shoulders.
"No Kagami – you have carried out your duty to the best ability any of your brothers and sisters could hope to claim. You have carried it here with you and may rest that burden here – it gave us further fright when our agent found Barius with the body, but you not in sight all across the city. Aside from the amulet, we feared we may have lost you as well"
She allowed herself a moment of relief and the touching words to grip, before recovering and continuing as befit a member of the order.
"Sorry about that, I couldn't stand being in the city another moment after what happened in the sewers." She dug into the cloak's inside pocket, withdrawing the amulet. "He also said to give this to you, and something about there being another heir."
Jauffre tilted his head with a raised eyebrow. "Ahh, he let you in on that… Then I can say that indeed there is still hope. An illegitimate son was born to him a time between the passing of his first wife and remarrying. We have been keeping tabs on him, Uriel often wondering on his whereabouts."
"Shouldn't we retrieve him as soon as possible then before the enemy finds him?" Kagami wondered, surely the Blades were on such a thing as soon as the original princes were assassinated.
"We are stretched rather thin at the moment, agents have plenty to watch for and most of them are not fighters but wish to only remain our eyes and ears. Other Blade members as well are still returning from previous assignments, they won't be here for some time yet, unless…"
The grandmaster looked over her critically. "There is that… You were able to slip by all our agents watching the city and the Mythic Dawn's after all, securing the amulet reached our hands safely. Experienced as an active guard yet able to evade detection. Kagami, you may be the right person for the retrival, do you perhaps fell ready take on this mission of utmost importance?"
She blinked at the responsibility entrusted to her again so soon. Catching red reflections of herself glinting upon the amulet's surface, her heart stirred with an underlying feeling of failure. It would now be much safer in Jauffre's hands. Even if Jauffre saw no fault on her part to begin with, Kagami wanted to earn back that trust worthy of such a task. She had to redeem herself, lest this pain forever haunt her.
"I'll do it!"
-o-o-o-o-o-
"Well that was a waste…" The thick wooden door slammed close behind Konata as she left the stone ruin.
Pulling out several found items, she then began to sort through what was even profitable to bother with now that she had proper daylight to see by. A few flawed gemstones and non-practical potions were still worth a couple handfuls of gold – enough to pay for a night at the Oaken Crossure and a good meal. Though of course she already had a good amount on her for the trip, a little extra never hurt. The rest was quickly tossed aside, scrap iron mistaken for steel not even worth its weight in gold, and that wasn't considering the half market price she'd get or its terrible condition.
"Why don't skeletons have any reasonable drops!" The elf groaned and laid back, resting while starting at tree tops visible above the fort's structure. "Maybe I should've tried convincing Kagami to let me come along after all…"
There wasn't much else to it, collecting up the more valuable trinkets and heading up the path. She'd just have to wait out the next few hours in town to meet Kagami later. In the mean time trade in some loot, get a blacksmith to check over her sword – skeletons had to be bashed apart rather than sliced so the edge was looking a little scratched; perhaps poke fun of som-
Movement suddenly caught her attention around some of the trees ahead. Hunched little humanoid forms almost blending in with the green vegetation. Goblins. Three groups of about four each, it was a frickin war party. "Another fight between goblin clans…tenacious little guys."
Konata watched them curiously. Partially making sure she didn't get caught between their skirmish, yet noticing the oddity that they were circling around the hill toward a farm not far from the path she was on. Usually they went strait from point A, to point B when fighting. And come to think of it, there were relatively few caves or mines around this area to be home for a rival clan. Which meant this was a raid.
'Super Wandering Adventurer Hero powers – activate!'
No real special abilities were granted to Konata through the 'power up mode', but she did cast a Chameleon effect over herself. Though only a partial invisibility, the lower Illusion spell was effective letting one fight and cast without it dispelling. Enshrouded like this, excitement filled her as she sneaked up behind one of the groups flanking around the field. She would have to take out this group separately while having the chance, even an adventurer as herself couldn't take on a dozen goblins all at once.
The first goblin was silenced as the others ahead rounded a large boulder, unable to gurgle a last breath with the tip of Konata's sword imbedded in its throat. In a fluid movement she twirled from the creature also flinging the blood from the blade. Quick as a khajiit then hopped up onto the boulder to cut the rest off, dropping a head-sized rock onto one and landing feet first on another. The last one easy pickings with a quick swipe across its stretched and exposed neck, the head tilted up searching the ledge of the boulder where she had been. Just in time too for her spell dissipated soon afterward. For the two unconscious she gave an extra kick making sure they kept out of the way. No reason to exterminate all of them if it could be helped.
That was one group down, hopefully she could pull off a similar result before having to face them in the open field. However a shout was heard nearby, a human's alert of the approaching creatures. "So much for that plan."
Coming to the edge Konata could already see the goblins rushing onto the field, intent to bash in the skulls of the two men there to defend it. In that case there was little time for a new plan and so she too charged into the fray, taking several by surprise as she danced into their flank. Her elven blade swinging low, taking one goblin right off its feet, then upwards for a block disarming another. Before long she had three of them out of action.
However the goblins must have realized who their true threat was already, for several turned their attentions away from the struggling men and onto her. Konata could only sweat drop at being surrounded by three more together brandishing their spiked clubs. A block, a dodge, twirl - and slash, repeat! She could barely manage from being hit by their rapid strikes. 'One of them's got to be a berserker type! Aw man, what did I get myself into…?'
With a roll, she got out from between them but that barely helped matters. Two brought down their weapons together forcing her to block overhead with both hands along the length of her sword to make up for the difference in strength. That left her wide open to the third. Even armor wouldn't do much good if an opponent had such an easy target.
Time slowed, Konata's eyes widening as she traced the weapon's path—
Th-wack!
An arrow now stuck out the back side of the goblin's skull. Its momentum suddenly thrown off, the on coming strike served only to snap Konata to her senses. One goblin looked back and she took the advantage to slip out of the block with the second by swinging wide, then circling the weapons back around into the creature's chest.
Now given some breathing room, the wood elf followed the goblin's gaze who had turned from her and found two more humans had shown up. One was an older man who was probably the father of the two men finishing off the last few goblins. While the other was…
"Heh heh, I know that pink hair and bust!"
-o-o-o-o-o-
The next hour for Kagami was spent as anything but idle.
Some of it spent restocking some of her gear from what Jauffre had on hand. The simple leathers and single spare iron greaves were of no use when she was already adorned with the Blades preferred set. However a number of healing potions were eagerly taken up and would be of great help, her own skill in alchemy a far cry unless one wanted poisoning. Some rest probably would've been best all things considered, it seemed though Kagami was trying to distract herself from any and all thoughts that threatened to tug away at her if she relaxed too much. More evident when her visit to the chapel on the grounds was too swift for a proper prayer.
On the other hand it was getting late now to go out and start the next assignment without proper rest. One wouldn't get much of a head start like that. Yet she also didn't feel comfortable enough as to retire at the priory either. Chorrol was just up the road, Konata said she would meet her at the Oaken Crossure…
She could easily be rid of that elf brat. Besides, no telling whether she was even trustworthy. Especially on a mission of this importance, there could be no room for distractions such as second guessing who was friend and foe. That was why she usually preferred operating on her own. Then again Konata was surprising quick of wit, both in planning and conversation which was a breath of fresh air for companionship if Kagami were to be honest with herself. For the time being the elf could be helpful on the way if nothing else, at least Konata caught onto things she herself was slipping on lately. It was almost worth the tradeoff, almost. Because viewed another way, some of those misfortunes could be also attributed to Konata's presence since she had shown up…whether planned or occurrence of chance.
It was probably bad enough she hadn't mentioned the Bosmer's involved role to Jauffre.
Pondering on this, Kagami had come to a standstill at the tee in the road with the priory to her back. At this point she was well decided on staying in Chorrol for the night, but now whether to meet up with the elf or hide out at the sub-standard inn Grey Mare?
She hadn't been standing there lost in thought for too long, when 'fate' decided for her.
"Legendary Item!" Came a delighted squeal to Kagami's left somewhere off down in the wood. Sure enough she caught sight of the blue headed bosmer elf rounding a bend in the road. Accompanying her was also a fair pink haired woman and it was she surprisingly enough who was carrying a larger bounty, vegetables by the look of it. As well as also being loaded with a staff and bow on her back Apparently Konata hadn't been able to find any good loot herself, if not for what looked like a sword she was affectionately rubbing her cheek to.
The Blade would just have to see how luck played things out on the way, and ditch the elf another time if she proved too troublesome.
-o-o-o-o-o-
"Too bad there isn't three of you, such great craftsmanship! But mama Hiyori will take good care of you, yes she will~ And pay me top coin!"
"Uhg…I'd say something about you being weird, but I've given up just on the trip up here…" Kagami interjected joining them from the tee.
"Oh! Hiya Kagamin~ Looki looki! I was rewarded with a great treasure this time. And these-" Konata circled around the pink haired girl and gave a squeeze to her breasts "-are my friends Mi and Yuki!"
Kagami couldn't help the sweat-drop. "…If that's how you treat friends, yeah don't let me become a friend and leave it at that…" 'At least she hasn't tried doing something that embarrassing like that to me…yet another reason to keep my gear on' "Anyway to give a proper example of how to introduce someone, I'm Hiiragi Kagami, nice to meet you Miyuki."
The Imperial woman had a glowing like nature befitting of a maiden yet noble qualities of that of a lady, and almost unsurprising a soft pleasant voice. "A pleasure, do not mind Miss Izumi's actions. S-She tends to be her child like self time to time – eep!"
"Can't help it. It's not like you're using them even with such an awesome moe figure. Totally not fair!" Konata pouted while cupping her 'friend' from behind.
"You hush. I see you carry a staff Miyuki, do you happen to be a mage?"
"Yes actually. I specialize in several schools of magic and favor the art of Alchemy."
"Alchemy, but how does a staff help in that field?" Kagami wondered.
The mage held a hand to her cheek in some form of embarrassment. "Yes there is little a staff can aid in that, it is more a formality than anything. Normally I use my bow for more practical defense, not to say it is without its own uses! I once found myself awakening in a dark place of unknown surroundings and bonded the first spell to my staff with a powerful illumination spell. It turned out I had fallen asleep in the university library and it was after hours… However it has served faithfully in several similar circumstances for I easily get disoriented in poor light."
"Gah, more moe points!" The elf threw her hands up in mock despair.
"Say, you do any enchanting?" Kagami continued ignoring the interruption, not often getting the chance to satisfy some magical insights by a professional of the art. A mage who didn't swamp their speech with nonsense babble or ego was rare to come by.
"Sorry to say I am not quite proficient in that area, but I know the theorems well and have practiced using simpler items like this ring for a boost in agility as I tend to be clumsy. Are you familiar with enchanting Miss Hiiragi?"
As Kagami dug in her cloak for something, Konata butted in "Okay you two are ignoring me aren't you-ACK!" But almost choked in gawking at the item placed in Miyuki's hands.
"W-Would this be, is this an Akaviri dagger?" Just as Kagami had thought, the well to do Imperial was even familiar with such studies as ancient artifacts.
"ULTRA-RARE-ITEM! Hiyori would KILL you to just get her hands on something like this… Well more like put a over charged paralysis on you so she could take the whole day stripping and searching you but still…" The elf seemed to enter a thinking pose, which the Blade didn't like. Even in the short time they had been traveling together she already knew bad things tended to happen after such an expression.
"Don't get any weird ideas. This was my father's dagger, so keep your pudgy little thief hands where I can see them."
"Ohh~ Kagami likes my cute wittle hands?" Kagami's eyebrow twitched. The few hours they were apart hadn't helped the annoyance factor.
"Am I correct in sensing a dark taint in the gem resonance, is this even safe to carry around?" Miyuki asked, looking up from her examination.
Kagami scratched at her cheek thinking back. "Well, along with the dagger I found a black grand soul gem in the things he left behind. Black gems can be dangerous on their own, but actually once they're bound to an object its darker attributes can only be directed to what the object its bonded to can cast."
"I see. There have been relatively very few examples for me to understand that so clearly before. Thank you Hiiragi for the lesson."
"Um…there is some truth to the rumors of them being able to curse bearers of items enchanted with them and that in gem state they do tend to leech off of a carrier's soul. When directing its energy it's best to work with the ill intent it has and put it to use in something that reciprocates that offensive energy like a weapon. The ones you might hear about cursing or backfiring were forced to do something opposite what they're capable of. Like a healing amulet, it would probably slowly poison and become more potent with each use-OW!" She turned around to the midget pinching her butt. "Hey, what is your problem!"
"You're being too brainy Kagami, get back to your tsundere role!" pouted Konata.
"A wha-nevermind. You're just upset you couldn't understand all that and make strange comments."
"Can too! I reciprocate your ill feelings Kagami, so enchant me baby. You can backfire on me anytime~. Kagamin, wanna practice enchanting my pink gem?"
The short jaunt to the Chorrol gates consisted of an enraged dragon chasing a blue fairy amongst boulders lining the path, as Miyuki cheerfully watched the antics. Little did their new travel companion know, but that day she could have witnessed a murder. Lucky for Konata that the Blade didn't have anything to attack with at a distance.
"I said I was sorry! I went too far on that last one!"
"And the others!"
"No! Those were proof I was listening. I'll never take those words back – never!"
And so on until they reached the gates where the elf was safe from assault and murder with the guards about. From there instead of heading for the noisy bar, Miyuki offered them to stay the night, to which they agreed. Kagami felt out of shape with how easily that little brat had evaded all her blows, not to mention tired with all that had happened since the night before. Thus the comforts of Arborwatch were well due and appreciated, Miyuki's family manor on the town's main courtyard, complete with separate guest rooms for the two.
The rest of the evening spent retelling how a farm was saved from goblins by 'yours truly' as they dined on the additional spoils from the quest, specially prepared by Miyuki's mother Yukari Takara. An even gentler soul than the mage, if that was possible, who took one look at Kagami and drew a nice warm bath for her. Fed, scrubbed, and put at ease, the Blade fainted almost blissfully as soon as her body found just how super comfy the guest bed was that night.
A/N: And there it is - Miyuki! A mage should be useful, even a clumsy one bursting at the seams with moe. Right? Let's hope...
Edit - changed Miyuki's polite 'san' to 'miss' to better fit this universe as some thought the japanese endearments detracted from it...not sure if can replace 'chan' though, that will be difficult for me to let go. Konata's references however are going to stay to touch the fourth wall, and I could see a medival Cyrodil having some form of adventure comics for the youth. (edit: anything japanese in terms I'm going to make a Bosmer/Wood Elf trait in this universe. So Konata will still be using them here and there with few knowing what they mean, even herself at times)