A/N: You may have noticed that I made Dragon Bridge quite a bit higher than it is in- game, and that was purely creative license. There have also been many falls in the last few chapters. I call it coincidence. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

7th of Sun's Dusk, 4E 204

Hjaalmarch, Skyrim

"Love can do much, but duty more." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Kaius

The pair made their way to the road and looked towards Dragon Bridge. The guards had dispatched the Malustarii and were now combing the river banks for the wagon riders. Kaius saw a pair of them lift Lux's body on their shields and bear him back towards the town.

He felt a sense of loss mingled with contentment. It was surely not the last casualty Apex would have to endure, but the rest of them had escaped Morden's trap and made it out. Now they could take the fight to him wherever his foul influence clouded the minds of beings in Skyrim.

He turned his back on Dragon Bridge and limped down the road in the early evening. For the better part of an hour, he and Serana enjoyed the freedom and liveliness of having made it out of another impossible situation.

A trail branched off from the cobblestone road. This was Mount Kilkreath, one of the many mountains in the range near Solitude. The only distinguishable landmark was a stone temple about halfway up that provided a great view over Hjaalmarch. From here, the Chief could see a large statue on the top of it, but couldn't make out what it was.

"There's no way I'm climbing up that," remarked Serana when the Chief brought up the prospect. The Chief agreed, not because he couldn't do it, but he knew the value of rest, especially when one was facing a "foul darkness" like the voice in his head had described.

He didn't know whether the voice was listening, but it didn't raise any objections as he and Serana got ready to bed down for the night. Serana unrolled her bedroll on a soft patch of ground while the Chief gathered sticks from just off the road.

Since Haafingar was one of the best defended territories, and they were halfway between Solitude and Dragon Bridge, Kaius thought it very safe to light a fire. He stepped back as Serana cast a stream of flames onto the pile of kindling. The Chief reached into his pack and removed some soggy food.

Serana watched in mild interest like she always did when someone was eating nearby. "So," said Kaius, removing his helmet at last, "Do you want to tell me what happened back there in Dragon Bridge?"

"I saved all your men's lives?"

"Not mine," replied Kaius, his tone blunt. "Come on, now. Why did you run us over a cliff?"

Serana sighed. "I thought we could clear that gap. I didn't count on the horse getting killed by the Malustarii before we were over. And I sure didn't mean for Apex's wagon to follow us, but I guess they couldn't stop."

"How did the others survive?" asked Kaius

"As I was falling, I used Telekinesis and ice spells to slow their fall. I didn't catch Lux because… Well, he was already dead."

"Why would ice spells slow their fall?" queried the Chief. "Last I checked, they only slow bodily functions." He took a long drink of Nord mead, the only drink they had with them. He grimaced at the terrible taste, but it was better than nothing.

"No, no, no. I cast it in midair to act as a sort of slide that stopped the momentum. It worked, at any rate."

"And me?"

"I assumed your armor would protect you."

As usual, Serana was right. She continued to watch him finish the mead and start on another one. It was strong stuff, and Kaius' mind already felt clouded. To break the silence, he asked the vampire, "Why don't you ever eat normal food?"

Serana gave a noncommittal shrug. "Truth is, I haven't had food in… Well, since before you rescued me. Something about it doesn't seem right. Blood has all the taste a girl could want."

"Like what?" said Kaius, tearing off a strip of dried beef with his teeth. He was intrigued by her habits, and though their previous ordeal had wearied him, adrenaline from the wagon chase had yet to subside in his blood. "Does all blood taste differently?"

"Of course!" exclaimed Serana like she was explaining something obvious to a child. "In general, all the races taste differently. Human blood is sweet, and there's not much difference between them except that Nords taste clear and raw like Skyrim herself. High elf blood is quite intoxicating, and many vampires attribute this to the Altmer's magicka. Dunmer are bitter to me, whether from Azura's curse or the ash that carpets Morrowind… I do not know. Wood elf blood has a musky, pungent taste to it."

"Hold on," interrupted Kaius. "You're basically describing their blood like their homelands. That's got to be a load of mammoth dung."

"I don't know why, it just does. I think that that is by far the least offensive stereotype. After all, the races' homelands influence most everything else about them. I guess blood flavor isn't an exception."

"Alright, go on," Kaius said, half amused. He wasn't sure if it was his wounds that were causing his sudden lack of inhibition or something else, but suddenly he felt good. Not just satisfied with a job well done, but legitimately joyful. He actually glanced down at his bottle of mead; half expecting to find an unmarked potion that he drank by mistake.

"Where was I?" mused Serana. "Orcs taste disgusting to me. It's like they're bitter, sour, and dry all at the same time. Kind of like a bad wine. Argonians taste fishy—" at this point Kaius let out a chuckle, and Serana grinned sheepishly. "Look, I can't control their biology! They are related to reptiles, I suppose, so it makes sense. What did I miss?"

"Khajiit." replied a smirking Kaius, "And I swear if you say they taste like skooma…!" he broke off in fits of laughter.

Serana giggled and came around the fire until she could lay a hand on Kaius' shoulder. "Are you alright? You seem drunk or something. Maybe we should give you a cure disease tonic just in case." She ran a hand over his shoulder pauldron. "My turn to ask a question: Why do you always wear this stuff?"

Kaius raised his eyebrows. "I told you that when we first met, Serana. It's because—"

"I know that," Serana said exasperatedly. "But what I meant was, is there a good reason you can't take it off?"

Kaius couldn't believe his ears. What in Oblivion? He felt a twinge of nervousness, hardly recognizing the foreign emotion. To delay what seemed was rushing towards him at a frightening pace, he told her, "You need a drink." And swung the bottle in front of him.

She took the bottle. "I would if you had left me any." She took a sip, orange eyes on him the whole while. Somehow, she still managed to smile while drinking. This of course made Kaius snicker, and soon Serana was rolling about on her bedroll, laughing and covered in spilled mead.

"Don't move!" called a voice from the near road. Kaius and Serana sat bolt upright, looking in alarm at dark figures that had managed to get close to their camp. The man had his sword out already, and two more people were backing him up on the road.

As the stranger came within the circle of firelight, Kaius let out a shaky breath. It was a Haafingar guard, and by the looks of the other figures' peaked helms, a whole patrol had happened upon them.

"Stay down," the guard ordered, looking all around the campsite. "Alright, who are you and what are you doing in this Hold?"

The Chief raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Relax, guardsman; I'm the Thane of Solitude. This is my companion, who you may have seen in the city."

The guard took a closer look at their faces. "By Akatosh, it is you! My apologies, Thane Kaius, I had no idea you were back in Haafingar."

Kaius shrugged. Glancing at Serana, he was relieved to see that her eyes were brilliantly green again. Must've cast the spell behind her back, he thought. "We only just got back. It was… Not the easiest of journeys. We were too tired to make it all the way back to Solitude, so we set up camp."

The guard seemed amazed. "Then it was you that crashed those wagons near Dragon Bridge?"

"Yes, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't spread that around. By the way, did you happen to see a group of travelers on the road? They'd be headed for Solitude."

The guard rubbed his helmet. "As a matter of fact, we did. Odd party. Had lots of styles of armor, but they all had the Imperial dragon on them. Claimed they were legionnaires. Do you know them?"

"Yes."

There was a moment of awkward silence in which the guard realized his sword was still out and put it away hastily.

"Thane Kaius, is there anything else you can tell me about those people that attacked you?"

The Chief hesitated, unsure of what to tell the guard. "They're called the Malustarii, a conglomerate force of Falmer, Forsworn, giants, trolls, and most other lowlifes. They're extremely dangerous, and I think you should spread the word within the guards that they should only be fought with backup."

The guard nodded. "I'll take my leave then. We'll hunt for those Malustrawy- things you said in the morning."

He walked back down to his comrades, and they continued their patrol along the roads, torches burning like a beacon of hope in the deepening night. Beacons… It reminded the Chief of their purpose here. He put his helmet back on. "That is why I keep the armor on," he told Serana.

She smirked. "It may not be a help in… Certain circumstances."

He cocked his head. "Like what?"

She waved him away. "Never mind."

After a pregnant pause, Kaius felt the urge to break the silence. "I guess we'd better get some rest," said Kaius. The tiniest of frowns creased Serana's brow, but she didn't disagree. Some feeling stirred in the Chief's chest. It was like… Sorrow that he had disappointed her, and the desire to make up for it. Guilt, whispered a voice in his head. He glanced down at her bedroll.

"Sorry that I made you spill that."

"It wasn't your fault."

"Even so."

"Don't worry about it," assured Serana. She rubbed her arms. "That fire's nice. I'm resistant to the cold, but this winter…"

Kaius glanced up at Masser and Secunda, the twin moons shining icily above them. Winter had indeed crept up on them, and a few flakes of snow were starting to drift down.

As Serana crawled into her bedroll, the Chief lay down right next to it, practically touching the heavy furs. His helmet was padded in exactly the right places, and soon he was dozing lightly until morning came to the world.

Consciousness returned to him leisurely, but when his eyes opened to look around, he couldn't see. What in Oblivion? He sat up and shook his helmet. Powder flew everywhere, and suddenly the Chief winced as his eyes adjusted to the white coating that had fallen in the night.

It looked as if several inches had fallen. The Chief glanced over at Serana, who was motionless in her bedroll. He extended a hand to wake her, but something stopped him. Instead, he got up, scattered the remains of their campfire under some trees, and secured his pack. Only then did he wake Serana.

Her orange eyes opened and she observed him lazily, displaying fangs in a massive yawn. "Morning, Chief."

"Morning, Serana."

"What's on the thrilling schedule today?" she asked.

"How much do you know about that temple up the hill?"

Two hours and half a mountain later, they were standing at the base of stone stairs that led up to the statue Kaius had glimpsed the night before. It was a woman in flowing robes who was lifting her hands above her head as if holding something in between them.

"Do you even know which Daedra you're serving?" asked Serana.

"Well... The name has slipped my mind. But I got the feeling she's one of the good ones."

"That depends on your point of view," said Serana with slight distaste. "That is Meridia, bringer of the light and hater of undead." She looked sideways at him. "Trust you to bring a girl somewhere where she's not wanted."

"It sounds like she's in trouble," retorted the Chief. "If we can get her help at all, she may be able to help us fight Morden. Remember that the Dragonborn told us that Labyrinthian was filled with hostile Draugr. Chances are they're under Morden's control as well."

"Alright, alright," grumbled Serana. "Just don't expect me to do the talking."

"It'll be a nice change," said the Chief without batting an eyelid. He walked up the stone stairs to stand in front of the statue, Serana following at a distance. Just as he opened his mouth to ask if Meridia was there, her voice sounded in his head.

"Look at my temple, lying in ruins. So much for the constancy of mortals, their crafts and their hearts. If they love me not, how can my love reach them?" The voice fell silent, and Kaius, not knowing what else to do, removed the beacon from his pack and set it in a receptacle at the statue's base.

For a moment nothing happened. Then a brilliant light shone from the beacon and into the sky. The Chief stepped back, shielding his eyes. The next thing he knew, his weight had left him and the statue was growing shorter. No, he was floating upwards past it, following the beam of light into the sky.

"Chief!" cried Serana, making a huge jump for him that was enhanced by her vampirism. The Chief's gauntlet grazed her small hand, but missed. He was floating upwards at an astounding pace, and soon he could see across most of Western Skyrim. He came to a stop at level with a dazzling orb of pure light similar to the ones mages cast.

Meridia spoke. "The necromancer Malkoran defiles my shrine with vile corruptions, trapping lost souls left in the wake of this war to do his bidding. Worse still, he uses the power stored in my artifact to fuel his foul deeds. I have brought you here, mortal, to be my champion. You will enter my temple, retrieve my artifact, and destroy the defiler. Guide my light through the temple to open the inner sanctum and destroy Malkoran."

It was a lot for the Chief to take in at once. Him? A Daedric champion? He had always tried to limit his contact with daedra, and here one had sought him out. What he did hear was the mention of an artifact, and he had always heard that Daedric relics were powerful indeed. Something, perhaps, to kill Morden with.

"What is this artifact you speak of, Meridia?"

Meridia sounded pleased at his interest. "Mortals call it Dawnbreaker, for it was forged in a holy light that breaks upon my foes, burning away corruption and false life. You will enter my shrine, destroy Malkoran, and retrieve this mighty blade."

The Chief didn't like the way she said that. "It sounds like I don't have much of a choice."

Meridia sounded positively smug now. "Ah, but a single candle can banish the darkness of the entire Void. If not you, then someone else. My beacon is sure to attract a worthy soul… But if you are wise, you will heed my bidding."

Of course. It would be unwise to refuse when Meridia was holding him high in the sky. Kaius didn't waste time deliberating. "I'll do it."

"Of course you will. I have commanded it!"

Then he fell away from the bright sphere that was Meridia. Had she changed her mind? The Chief had a flashback to the night before, but then the fall wasn't a fraction of the distance that this was. He truly wasn't sure if his armor would save him this time.

Some brightness increased in intensity around his eyes. He blinked, and he landed on the ground much lighter than he should have. It was still enough to make him go down in a crouch to dissipate the force and groan from the pain of his cracked leg bones, but at least it didn't kill him.

Serana was there. "Chief, are you alright? What happened?"

He gathered himself and rose to his full height. "We're killing a necromancer. Meridia says some guy named Malkoran is reanimating casualties of the Stormcloak Rebellion using the power of her artifact, Dawnbreaker."

"You think this Malkoran guy is a Malustarii?"

"If he isn't now, then Morden will recruit him. Besides that, it's despicable to think that he's resurrecting dead Imperials and Stormcloaks. They deserve undisturbed rest."

"Good enough for me," said Serana. "I just hope your Daedric girlfriend doesn't see me as just another undead."

They went to the doors of the temple, at which point Meridia's voice sounded to them again, reverberating inside their minds. If Kaius could identify her tone now, he'd have said she sounded excited. "Malkoran has closed the doors. But this is my temple, and it yields to my will!"

"Modest, too," muttered Serana.

A beam of pure light shot down over their heads and hit the doors. They fairly exploded inwards in piles of flaming wood and iron.

"Show off." said the vampire.

Kaius ignored her, but he agreed that Meridia's tactic was unnecessary. Not the low key infiltration I was hoping for, he thought. They swept through the rooms, finding them empty of residents, dead or otherwise. The Chief's crossbow was scanning every nook and cranny. In his adventures in the Soul Cairn, he had come to realize that undead could materialize from where you least expected it, and that was one of the things that made them formidable.

In the third room they entered, a pedestal held what looked like a miniature version of Meridia's beacon. What caught his attention was the smell of rotting flesh that emanated from a corpse in full Imperial armor at the base of the pedestal. As Serana watched his back, the Chief slung his crossbow, Abyssal Shard, and examined the body. There were no distinguishable features to it, save for the oddness that it wasn't in a coffin or other kind of tomb.

He shook his head in disgust. This man was a prime example of why he hated necromancers in general. The lack of respect they had for dead things was appalling. Some, like Serana or Phantom, merely reanimated corpses in battle to be used as distractions or expendable support. Their undead never stayed that way for very long. Others, like Malkoran, kept them as long term servants or performed grotesque experiments like Meridia had mentioned.

He stood up and examined the pedestal. The gem was recessed down in it, and it looked as though the beam of light pouring in from a window should be hitting the gem. The Chief seized it with both hands and lifted the thing up into the light. When Meridia's light hit the gem, it rumbled and a new beam appeared off the other side, arcing up to ricochet off the ceiling and into the next room.

When the Chief removed his hands from the pedestal, he realized they were steaming. Just another improvement of Dwemer armor: extreme heat resistance. Serana eyed the next chamber with boredom. "Shall we?"

They proceeded further into Meridia's crumbling temple, activating gem pedestals along the way. Then Serana stopped him at a wooden door. "You hear that?"

The Chief listened, and heard a sort of hissing like steam out of a dwarven machine. "What do you think that is?" he asked.

"Some form of undead, no doubt. C'mon, don't keep a girl in suspense." She stood to one side of the door.

Kaius raised a boot and kicked the door in. He stepped to the right to be out of Serana's way as she too ducked through, already charging up a spell for the creature that floated in front of them.

It looked like a mistman from the Soul Cairn; basically an upper body of ebony black bones that seemed slick with oil. Except the mistmen had been unarmed and fought using their oily black hands. This one had an Imperial helmet on and brandished a matching sword.

The steam sound was coming from the bottom of its torso, where the bones dissolved into a formless black cloud. It chattered its skeletal teeth and floated toward them. Serana hit it with a lightning bolt in the skull, and as it reeled back, Kaius lopped its head off.

The corrupted shade dissolved into a pile of ghostly remains before it hit the floor. "Well. That wasn't so hard." Commented Serana.

"Let's hope it stays that way." The Chief was already up at the pedestal, lifting the gem up into Meridia's light. They walked into a larger room with an overpass covered by a metal cage. There many more of the corrupted shades in here, and they bum rushed Serana and the Chief.

This batch proved quite a bit harder than the last ones. They attacked together and had the support of both Stormcloak and Imperial ghosts. One of the Stormcloak ghosts was particularly aggressive, and the Chief had to counter its blows several times before dispatching it with an uppercut from his mace. Kaius hacked and slashed his way through former allies and enemies, emerging on the other side without a scratch.

He turned around and witnessed Serana using magic to banish the undead. They would be inches away from doing her injury when they'd whirl apart as if scattered by a strong wind. "Think that'll earn me some points with Meridia?" she asked with a wry smile.

"I won't let her do anything to you." Kaius assured her, activating the gem pedestal and taking out his crossbow again. He passed the pile of ghostly remains of the aggressive shade on the floor and paused, looking down at it with interest. Perhaps it had been someone he killed in the Rebellion, and that was why it had been so keen to tear him apart? He shook his head. It didn't matter now. The man or woman was at rest, and they had to keep moving.

After a few more rooms, the Chief saw a familiar face. Though starting to decompose, he could see that it was one of his former comrades, a man called Pollux. Serana was at his elbow. "You know him?"

"Yes. He died taking a sword for me."

"I'm sorry, Chief..."

The Chief gave a small shrug. "We will set him free now. But this place… And these corpses. It brings up memories."

"Good or bad?" queried Serana.

"Both. But they're just fragments of the past. We should keep moving."

Soon they reached the door to the inner sanctum. Kaius eased it open and peered inside. There was one shade with its back to them, and beyond that was a small hallway.

"I think we're getting close," the Chief told his companion. He eased his crossbow through the gap in the door and shot the undead in the back of the helmet. They crept through the hallway and peeked into the final room of Meridia's temple.

A man in black mage robes was standing in front of something on a raised dais. Guarding him was a small legion of corrupted shades, so many that the steaming of their bodies was deafening.

Kaius tapped Serana's shoulder. "You take care of the shades. I'll kill Malkoran." She nodded in response, and the Chief held up three fingers. He put down one. She readied her spells and he reloaded Abyssal Shard. He put down another. They tensed. Kaius pumped his fist down and they exploded into the inner sanctum.

The Chief sent a quarrel straight for Malkoran, but one of his shades intercepted the bolt and exploded in a shower of ice. The Chief didn't bother to reload. He slapped Abyssal Shard to his back and sprinted at Malkoran. More shades blocked his way, but he bulled through them, scattering the undead like a brood of chickens.

Malkoran started to panic. He fairly dived off the dais and ran for it, casting lightning bolts at the Chief. The Chief winced and unsheathed his mace as he followed Malkoran around the room. One of the shades got in front of him, and without breaking stride, the Chief put his fist clear through its helmet.

Serana was busy banishing the majority of the shade army, but they were beginning to corner her against the wall. She ducked one's swing, and its sword threw sparks as it glanced across the wall.

The Chief hopped over a table and was able to seize the back of Malkoran's robes. As he yanked the necromancer toward him, Malkoran turned and slapped Kaius' helmet. Lightning exploded in front of his eyes.

The Chief shouted in pain and doubled over. Malkoran raised a steel dagger above his neck, face blotchy with rage. At that moment, Serana jumped up and cast an ice spike at him.

Malkoran threw up a ward, but it hadn't reached full power before her ice spike penetrated it and shattered against the necromancer's ribs. Malkoran staggered back, realizing he was outgunned. He turned tail and fled up the hallway.

As the Chief's vision faded back to normal, he tried to jog after Malkoran. As soon as he had taken a step inside the passageway, something bright caught his eye. It was there on the ceiling just inches above his head, a glowing outline. A rune…!

Kaius let himself fall. The fire rune brightened, triggered by his proximity. A ball of fire expanded above his helmet. The Chief's head felt like it was being torn apart by angry atronachs. He barely felt the floor, or the large chunks of stone that fell and buried him in rubble. Most of his upper body was still free, but right now he couldn't move a muscle.

Some amount of time passed. The Legate didn't really register it. All he knew was a small patch of the smoking ceiling. Unconsciousness threatened to engulf him, but he fought it off. All that mattered was the here and now, this fight that he had to win.

"Chief!"

Who was that yelling? The voice sounded again. Then it changed into something that came from inside his head, something that rang with righteous fervor.

"Get up, mortal. You may not rest now. The defiler has escaped, but will not evade my wrath forever."

Kaius groaned. Serana was crouched over him, her orange eyes dark with worry. "Are you alright?" She glanced at the rest of his armor buried in the rock fall. "Oh. Dumb question."

"I'll be fine."

"I hope that wasn't an attempt at humor, Chief. I can tell even through your armor that you're badly injured." She seized his wrist and tugged him free of the rubble.

The Chief slowly stood up. Limped over to the pedestal, forgotten in the battle. He gripped the handle of Dawnbreaker and pulled. The sword had a circular contour in place of a cross guard. A noble light shined forth from it, bathing the blade and his hand in Meridia's cleansing rays.

His vision brightened, then continued to do so until it was unbearable. Great, the Chief thought, more light. He took Serana's hand as Meridia transported them out of the temple and high above the land.

Serana winced beside him at the daylight, but otherwise she just held his hand and gazed out over Skyrim.

"Mortal, you have proven yourself worthy of being my champion."

"I didn't kill the necromancer!" objected Kaius, indignant at her heaping honors on him he didn't earn.

"Silence! I said you have proven yourself worthy, not that you were already. Malkoran would have fallen to you today were it not for his master. They both must be destroyed."

"His master?" asked the Chief. "Morden?"

"Yes, the one you call Morden is thrice as foul as Malkoran, but both have offended me, and so both shall perish. Take Dawnbreaker and use it against their dark powers, root out their undead and slay them."

"Yes, Lady Meridia."

"It has occurred to me that you may not be strong enough for this task… Therefore, I will bestow upon you other blessings than Dawnbreaker. Will you accept them?"

"What blessings?"

"I will make you faster, stronger, better in every way! Your reflexes will be enhanced, your senses sharper. This is a large boon, but I think you can use it like no one else. I ask again, do you accept?"

The Chief glanced at Serana, who was staring in amazement at him and the ball of light hovering in front of them.

"I accept your blessings and promise to carry out your will of destroying the undead… With exceptions."

"Exceptions?" Meridia screeched.

"I will not harm Serana," replied Kaius.

Meridia was silent a long time, apparently weighing her choices. "So be it. That particular abomination shall be spared. Go forth, mortal. Return my cleansing light to Tamriel."

With that, she released them. Serana's hair and cape flew above her head, but she kept a tight hold on the Chief.

Kaius shuddered. Something was wrong. His bones and muscles felt… Like they were bubbling, stretching, writhing around under his skin! It was pain as he had never felt it before. His whole body down to the very marrow felt like it was on fire.

He barely felt them touch back down to the ground, but then he sank to his knees, shaking uncontrollably. For the second time that day, Serana was standing over him, shaking him and calling his name.

Her face shimmered. It became as glaringly dazzling as the sun with accents of yellow. The hair got longer and was whipped around by a nonexistent wind. Her eyes were closed in apparent bliss. The world around her shimmered in Kaius' vision; at times it blurred out or changed to strange colors due to his haze of pain.

"My instrument…" Meridia whispered. "You will be a legend. Your songs will rival the Dragonborn's. Do not despair about your losses, mortal. After the storm comes a rainbow…"

Meridia's face winked out and was replaced by Serana, who looked increasingly alarmed at the Chief's shuddering body. The agony was beginning to fade away. Kaius immediately tried to sit up and was rewarded with a swooping sense of vertigo. He put a hand on Serana to steady himself.

"Chief, you… Your body…"

"What about it?" he croaked. "Divines, Serana… I need some water. Is there any in the waterskin?"

As Serana rummaged through their pack, Kaius looked himself over. It didn't come to him immediately, for the changes were obvious yet so subtle that it took him a minute to realize that his armor had gotten smaller. No. He had gotten bigger.

The Chief looked at his biceps, which were straining against the constraining metal that surrounded them. He shed his armor delicately, marveling at how sharper his eyes had become. He could almost see individual threads in the fabric and every bloodstain and scuff on the dark mail that lay under his chestplate.

"Here," said Serana, handing him the waterskin. Kaius took it and drained the thing with several long gulps. He cast it aside once he was done and stood up, swaying a bit as he grew accustomed to his new form. Serana stood up too, but if the Chief had been taller than her before, he towered over her now.

She put a tentative hand on his bare chest. "She didn't remove the scars," she remarked critically.

"That's alright. I want them to remind me."

"Remind you of what?"

"I want them to remind me that no one is untouchable. Especially now that Meridia's boon has changed me. No matter how excellent your armor is or how good you are at fencing, in the end it is luck that determines how many battles you survive."

He laid his hand over hers on his chest in the chill Skyrim air. "But we will survive them all. And after the storm passes, the world will be refreshed."