Yaaay! This chapter makes Calibur not such a blank slate, run-of-the-mill, everyday, ordinary, boring, depthless soldier! Still gotta give him some chapters later on to reminisce his early days. We also get to meet Vio's daddy!
"But what happens when her father meets her master?"
"Possibly... blood, lots of it! HA! I jest!"
Chapter XI: Afraid
"Who's this?" Calibur asked Ember, carefully watching the stranger.
Ember began to open his mouth, but Leo cut him off.
"Just a bard passing through town."
The blonde looked down at the table, all manner of treats spread upon the furniture.
"H-how…"
"Courtesy of our 'good' friend Leo here."
Calibur rubbed the back of his head, "Wow, thanks…"
Leo gave a cheesy thumbs up, "It was nothing!"
"Master!" a familiar voice chirped, causing the three at the table to turn around.
Ember waved to the girl, his hand slowing down as he saw the strange redheaded man walking towards them, in tandem with her.
Saadia almost gasped, "I-Isgar! What are you doing here? Don't tell me you're another friend of that stranger's…"
Calibur's ears twitched when he heard the name Isgar.
"W-w-w-wait! You don't mean that he's THE Isgar, Harbinger of the Companions!?"
He immediately ran over to the muscled warrior, kneeling down to the floor, earning him a few stares.
"It's an honor to meet you sir! You're… a legend amongst the Imperial ranks!"
Isgar smiled, letting out a hearty laugh, "So, you're with the Legion, eh?"
"Yes, I'm a captain!" Calibur gleefully replied.
"Huh, already a Tribune! That's quite a feat for someone so young!"
The blonde's eyes twinkled, "Thank you sir!"
Isgar finally started to notice all the onlookers watching the poor boy prostrate himself on the tavern floor.
"There's no need to grovel like that! Come, stand up."
The boy did so without hesitation, watching his Idol's every gesture.
The warrior proceeded over to the table with Vio, who introduced them all.
"This is Calibur, and-" she stopped as her gaze was directed at the raven headed stranger.
"I'm Leonhardt!"
"-and this is my master, Ember."
Isgar gave the noble a good long stare, before disengaging.
"Everyone, this is Isgar, my father…"
Calibur was kicked out of his dream world, his face contorting with astonishment. The other two sat there, quietly watching the harbinger.
The harbinger turned back to Ember, "My daughter has told me much about how her life has gone over the years, ever since she was abducted from our village by those slavers… and she's told me even more about you, boy…"
Silence reigned for the next few seconds at the table, everyone calmly still, save for Calibur, who was practically chewing his lips off.
"…and I have to say this." The warrior kneeled down before the sitting brunet, a few spectator's eyes popping at the bizarre sight.
"I thank you, for everything you've done for my girl. In the few hours that I've talked to her, I can see that she's grown into a fine young woman, almost as strong as me it appears. And I've also seen that she holds you in the highest regard, not in blind obedience or respect, but in idolism. And so, I will hold you in the highest regard as well, my friend."
The teen sat quietly, before standing up, Isgar following suit.
"You've got it all wrong, it is I, who owes her a great deal. She's changed me, in many ways for the better."
Vio slightly blushed at the statement, Isgar sporting a wild smile, "Well, now that we've all met, let us begin the festivities!"
The group was quite deep in their cups, some hanging on to their sanity better than others. Calibur, Leo, and Isgar had a collective red tint to their faces, while the remaining two were still self-aware of their actions… somewhat…
The two redheads sat next to each other on the bench, while the brunet sat next to the blonde, leaving the raven headed bard sitting on his chair in between the two benches at the table.
"And sho dis dragon comes ouwt frum tuh mowntane, and wuz all, 'Rawwr', and it waz soooooooo scarwee, and fire came down frum dah sky, and Ember burnt down a door!" Calibur spoke in between his frequent hiccups.
Isgar laughed wildly, "That sounds like a great story! You know, I once fought in single combat against a giant sea monster that plagued the Hammerfell coasts! It was one of the toughest battles I'd ever been in…" he trailed off, not realizing that his daughter was the only one listening attentively.
Ember noticed Leo whispering into Calibur's ear, both of them watching the brunet like hawks.
The two snickered, Calibur mumbling out loud, "He would look good in that…"
Ember's face turned demon-like, "What are you two laughing about over there!?"
Leo chuckled, "Nothing, nothing for you to worry your little head about, short stack."
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" the brunet's golden aura began leaking out.
But he let off, as he noticed Saadia standing next to the table.
"S-sorry to bother you all but, we only have one room available, and it can only fit two people…"
Isgar stopped his tale, interjecting into the new conversation, "Don't fret, my daughter can stay over at Jorrvaskr with me tonight."
"And I've already got a room here, over on that side… in case anyone cared." Leo pointed towards the kitchen before sighing sadly.
"So that just leaves…" Vio paused, the group all staring at a shocked Ember and a giggling Calibur.
"I… have to share a bed?" Dread filled his being.
"I'm sorry master, but that's all we can manage it seems…"
Calibur wrapped his right arm around Ember, "C'mon! It'll be fuuunnn! Just lyke when I was uh wittle boy, havnnn to share my bed wit my lil' sis!"
Veins popped out on the brunet's forehead, "I'm not your little sister! I never dreamed of the day I'd have to share my bed with another guy…"
"Weee cud stae up and tell scarwee storwees undur teh blanket!"
Ember then decided that the opportune moment was nigh, "If that's the case, I'll be turning in early, so I can forgo the embarrassment…"
He then excused himself, before sneaking over to the stairs leading to Leo's room.
The boy attempted to open the door, only to find that it was locked. He raised his hand to the keyhole, his aura emanating from his palm, fiddling with the lock mechanism until it opened.
Closing the door gently behind him, he began shuffling through the satchel on the bed, only to find that it was empty.
A loud thud startled the brunet caused him to wheel around, Leo standing there, a grin plastered on his face.
"You know, it isn't polite to go through other people's stuff."
Ember narrowed his eyebrows, giving the taller teen a glare, "Who are you?"
"Jeez, lighten up… why don't you let me show you…" a blue light began to surge from the raven head's left hand.
The brunet took a defensive stance, before lunging at his opponent with merciless speed. He unfurled upon the bard, his attacks swift and powerful, the sheer wind force from his swipes could bruise flesh. But the taller teen kept up, using only his right hand.
Leo then flicked the boy square in the forehead, causing Ember to kneel down from the excruciating pain.
"Are you done, because I don't have time for this."
The brunet's aura began to pulsate, its brilliant golden light swirling around him.
The raven headed teen sighed, "Don't say I didn't warn you…"
The next thing Ember knew, he was shackled to the bed, squirming at the metal wrapped around his limbs.
'What!? How did I end up in shackles!?'
A deep, buried instinct began clawing its way out of him, and for the first time in years, he was utterly afraid.
Leo put his glowing hand on the boy's forehead, ruffling through memories, until he found a distinct set, hidden in the recesses of his mind. The brunet began to visibly shake, his senses going wild in a mad frenzy.
Images of horrors long past in his life began scorching themselves upon his eyes.
'No…no, no, no, no, no… NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! NO MORE, I CAN'T!'
He tried to open his mouth to yell, but no sound came out. Tears began flowing down his cheeks, his face stuck in a fearful expression, his eyes as big as saucers.
'NOT AGAIN, I CAN'T GO BACK! STOP IT… STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!'
But before he knew it, the shackles were but an old memory, and he was enveloped in the arms of the bard as they sat on the edge of the bed.
"Shhhhh… it's alright, you're okay, you're okay…"
Ember wasn't sure what was going on, if he should push away the other boy or not. But he couldn't move his limbs, and figured that he didn't have the energy to fight back, after that. His attacker mentally shook him, and then took to consoling him afterwards? This was turning out to be a strange day…
"…I had to prove a point, I'm sorry…"
The brunet griped his teeth, '…I was no match for him. I'm an able fighter, but I don't consider myself completely human. Most enemies I've encountered couldn't lay a finger on me, but him? He's on an entirely different level. His reaction time was superhuman, and his eerie ability to show me my past is not of this world…'
The other teen noticed, tightening his grip around the noble.
He could feel the boy's ragged and labored breathes on his chest, his constant shaking slowly receding.
"S-so, what are you?"
The raven headed boy let go of the brunet, his eye watching the wooden floor.
"That's… complicated…"
"…Then try to answer my questions."
Leo nodded, before turning his gaze to Ember.
"First off, what is your intention?"
"… My intention is to guide you on your path."
"And what is that path?"
"…I cannot answer…"
"Is it only you who seeks this endeavor?"
"No…"
"Who sent you?"
"…It's not a question of who, but a question of what…"
The brunet paused at his reply, "And what might that be?"
"An entity, unknown to this world… I am an aspect of this entity, its representative, per say."
"…What is this entity's goal?"
"…I cannot answer in regard to the long term goal, but for now… to readjust your course."
Ember sat quietly, pondering the predicament before him.
'An entity unknown to this world?'
"You and Vio plan to head out on your journey for Winterhold tomorrow, correct?"
"…Yes…"
"Your friend Calibur is planning a trip to Bleak Falls Barrow tomorrow as well. Calibur is a talented soldier… but…"
Leo hesitated, the noble peering into the silver abyss that was his left eye.
"But?"
"…But he will die there…"
Ember's eyes widened at the revelation.
"…It is pivotal that you save him… many lives depend on it, hell, the future of Tamriel depends on it."
"So the future of Tamriel rests upon him?"
The raven headed teen sighed, "You misunderstand, saving him is of top priority, but it's what happens after that is so important…"
The unclear messages were driving the brunet insane, 'Leo, a mysterious entity, the future of Tamriel…'
"Look, I'll tell you something a little extra…" Leo whispered.
Ember leaned in, but the aspect only sat quietly, causing the noble to shout irritably.
"Well!?"
"Sorry, just been notified that I can't tell you that… too bad!"
The brunet growled, the bard grinning.
"You'll find out soon enough… what's important is that you stick together, okay?"
"…What makes you think that I'll-"
Leo cut him off, "I've already said enough… I know you have more questions, and in time they'll be answered, I can promise you that. But you'll have to wait for now."
The noble gave a fatigued sigh as Leo stood up from the bed.
"You better turn in, you'll need to rest for what's ahead, ciao!"
And just like that, the aspect faded away in a bright haze.
Bleh!
I'm thinking about having some interactions with the daedric lords, outside of their side quests.
Anyways, I didn't want to torture poor Ember, even if it was brief! :(