Chapter 19: A Day In the Imperial City

The two had reached up to the Plaza as fast as Ruigus had told Alduin they would.

Ruigus pointed to a guard who wore the armor of the heartland state army who was much unlike the hauntingly and gloriously armored Imperial Soldiers as they were.

The man's helm a nasal one, his armor was rather lacking the plate of his Imperial comrades, he wore a protective jacket not unlike the one which Ruigus suspected Lucis Caesar had actually worn to the assembly. Chain and cloth were revealed in the separation of the jacket. What it was quite similar to the style that the Bretons of High Rock had quite popularized when they had first designed and forged their armors, however the Heartland state soldier was a man who had both a decent cost as well as decent protection among him, he was not meant to travel beyond the borders of Cyrodil but nonetheless he was one of the many that kept it safe. As Alduin would later figure for herself.

"Hello sir do you know where I can find the Sanctus household? I'm a cousin of the owner." Said Ruigus.

"Sanctus you say? I think I know which block, come with me." He said, motioning to follow along.

"Thank you, like I said I'm just a cousin of his that's come to visit after about…...a half year? Whenever the 17th of the Last Seed was and since." He stated.

"Damn! You were there right when it all happened." The guard mentioned as they walked through a block.

"Haha yeah. It wasn't a good time at the start." Ruigus simply replied with a grin.

"Even now I bet. Sanctus's mansion should be around here somewhere..." Said the Guard as he kept leading them through some more housing blocks.

Eventually, the guard stopped at a humbly sized mansion that had a sign that said "Sanctus" on the front of it's 'yard'.

"Here you go, sirs." The Heartland guard said.

Ruigus's eyes had a bright light to them.

"Thank you! Thank you!" He said as he ran up to the front door.

The heartlander laughed.

"Haven't seen someone that happy in months." He stated to Alduin before he turned around and walked away, adjusting his collar.

"He is one….." She trailed off and then shook her head.

She moved to join him by the door as he knocked on it.

"Maybe they're not here." Said Ruigus, his heart sank.

"We must give them a few more minutes." Alduin replied as confided him.

"Yeah….I should calm down." He stated as he straightened himself out.

"I would not think it would be bad to be excited." She replied.

"I know but I don't want to seem like I've gone crazy in front of my cousins." Defended Ruigus.

"Cousins? You said just a cousin earlier." She questioned.

"Oh yeah, the thing is that I have a cousin and a cousin-in-l" He was cut off by the door opening and a gasp from a woman.

"Ruigus!" She exclaimed. A rather modestly heighted colovian girl looked with wide eyes. She was a rather cute woman with a noticeable golden hair to her.

"Seraphine!" Exclaimed the dragonborn as she went to embrace him, the two hugged tightly.

Alduin felt a strange pang in her heart.

"By the gods Ruigus, look at you!" She exclaimed once more as she let go.

"Look at you!" Ruigus retorted happily.

She then laughed.

"What have you gotten yourself into!? Come in!" She questioned.

"A lot, Seraphine, meet Alavia." Ruigus introduced Alduin.

Seraphine looked at her curiously but smiled and went and offered her hand to her.

"Nice to meet you Alavia!" She said. A kind smile was across her lips.

Alduin felt her tightly shaking her hand.

"Nice to meet you too Seraphine, it seems that Ruigus forgot to mention you to me earlier." She said, pointing out at Ruigus, with a surprised Seraphine turning around.

"Did you!?" She exclaimed, rather betrayed.

"Wha wha what!? I just forgot Seraphine I swear!" He threw his arms up into the air.

"Ruigus!" She growled lightly.

"I know, I'm sorry." Apologized Ruigus with a near sad expression.

"Silly." Said Seraphine who spun back around to Alduin.

"Make sure he doesn't forget us next time." She said with a wink and smile. Alduin smiled back amusedly.

"I shall." She replied.

Seraphine Sanctus spun back around to face Ruigus, there were some steps that sounded like they were coming down.

"You had Isidorus so worried." She pouted at him. Ruigus scratched his head.

"Oh gods that's right." Said Ruigus, remembering that his cousin had wanted him to write back after he relatively settled in at Skyrim.

"But then you just had to pull what you usually do!" Seraphine pouted even harder, but not with any sort of scolding.
"Uhh what's that again? Was it the thing where I do something wild or something wild happens to me?" Trailed Ruigus.

"Yes! Mr. Dragonborn you!" She said as she pulled on his cheek.

"Cousin. What. Are. You. Do-" Ruigus was cut off by a call from inside the mansion.

"Seraphine are you alri-" A man appeared, he stood a couple inches taller than that of Seraphine, more closer to Ruigus's held a shocked expression.

"Ruigus." He stated. A man with a next to stubbled, light beard approached.

"Isidorus." Smiled Ruigus as Seraphine let go of him.

"You….Please come in." He stated, he held a smile.

A bewildered Alduin stepped in last as the two welcomed her in, there was a small dining room that they went to take seats at. Sitting down Isidorus spoke up.

"By Stendarr what did you go through Ruigus?" He asked lightly, he looked happy and concerned.

"A lot cousin! Too much." Ruigus replied, with no understatement or exaggeration.

"I can see that by the look in your eyes. I am glad to see you are still safe Cousin." Said Isidorus, he turned to face Alduin.

"I believe you kept him safe all that time? My name is Isidorus Sanctus. An honor to meet you." He stated.

"I'm Alavia, I take Ruigus's last name." She said bowing.

"I see! You are a good woman, I thank you for being with him thus far." He said, holding a warm demeanor.

"I suppose so." She replied neutrally.
Isidorus blinked for a moment.

"It is good to meet you nonetheless." She replied.

"I'm honored to meet a warrior as yourself, such as what my Cousin has become." He bowed his head.

"Now I'll ask you both Cousin and Alavia, what exactly happened?" The question Ruigus's Cousin-in-law asked what a most complicated one, and was a rather long explanation that had to cut out some key parts to it, for the sake of Alduin's anonymity.

Ruigus looked winded, and then began to explain as he went through, the only things he and Alduin omitted when she joined is the Blades, and the truth of her. There was also the matter of Mede, as how he was now.

However at the end Ruigus wished to inform his cousins of something, but was stopped when Isidorus asked something.

"Ruigus, oh god you killed the leader of the Forsworn!? And you didn't tell anyone of your feat, not even Tullius!?" He exclaimed, confused and even somewhat impressed at both his Cousin's feat in a terrible spot, and his total ignorance to have let anyone know.

"Er that woman, Margaret told me that she was one of Tullius's agents I think I remember it right, I think she might have followed it up with him, now that I look at it, it makes sense now." He said.

"Yeah yet he did not say anything to you about it! It does explain why he was so quick to promote you and Alavia so quickly." Mused Isidorus. Ruigus paled a little.

"Er, I think he just needs talent really." Ruigus replied as he scratched his head.

"Agreed, all I merely did was clear out a fortress." Said Alduin.

"That is quite a legendary feat." Spoke up Seraphine, who was rather impressed.

"Just bandits." Alduin shrugged.

Isidorus laughed.

"Just bandits, by god and Thalmor, by god not them." Isidorus shook his head.

"We must never speak of that incident with the Thalmor anytime soon cousin, I do not think we are in particular danger but they may try something again, if they haven't learned yet." He said, with a contemplative look.

"It's scary to think that they could get away with burning a village like that." He remarked, in some part horrified.

"That was a place they could blame on Forsworn, I had nearly thought it was until that one admitted it to me for whatever reason aside from what I can only think of as honor." Replied Ruigus as he thought about it.

He remembered, perhaps he should not have really gotten into that Embassy of theirs but in the end he had proof that the Thalmor were trying to keep the war going on as long as they could find ways too. He was honestly worried at what they could try now.
"And how was that council meeting?" Isidorus.

"I don't know what to think, I hated the council before but now." Ruigus shook his head.

"Petty blabbering and pointless bickering in a time we should act and stick together eh Cousin?" Isidorus smiled.

"Yeah, you don't have to say that twice." Flinched Ruigus.

"In any case, I think you have learned much Ruigus….I no longer see you as young before." Isidorus stated.

"Eh? I'm still only twenty. And I won't be twenty-one until Sun's Height, 19th." Reminded Ruigus.

"I didn't mean it in that sense Ruigus." Isidorus said amusedly.

"Even now you talk more seriously and maturely than you did just before you left. You are still forgetful, in my case at least but you have taken the greatest responsibilities in life and have done well with them." He stated.

"I er…...I can see what you mean." Nodded Ruigus.

"You got into it with a rough start and are smoothing out over time cousin. Don't be hard on yourself. Nobody wants you to be, aside from those who desire what you have, and those who are outright opposed against you, nothing can be done about that, you are moving along in your life Ruigus." He stated. Seraphine nodded fiercely in agreement.

"They have all have a loving relationship with one another." Alduin thought, she felt that strange pang in her heart once more, it made her feel saddened.

"And you may think I pull this out of a barrel but I know how you feel about your Father and finally visiting him, you have become strong enough to Ruigus, and it is not because of how thick your arm is getting, nor how the arms and armor you carry may be what it is. I could hardly even compare to you my Cousin." Comforted Isidorus.

"I-I want to ask something from Tullius first, and then I'll go after I save Skyrim from whatever there is." Ruigus replied with a troubled breath.

"Good Cousin, you keep me and Seraphine, your mother, and everyone at home safe." Isidorus stated.

"I can hardly have the heart to tell you one thing, Ruigus." He thought, but he did not betray his sadness from it.

"And I will find a way to support you from home, starting from here me and Seraphine will do whatever it is to make your name wide here and allow the people to know of who you are as a person." He said with all seriousness in his countenance.

"Godsdamnit Cousin, you don't have to." Said Ruigus.
"I owe you it." He replied.

"And I owe you the gold that I wasted before I even got to Skyrim proper!" He retorted.

"Losing what I paid for to help you to soldiers and a dragon is nothing." Isidorus said.

Ruigus was silent.

"I missed you Cousins, I didn't mean to forget." Said Ruigus.

"It matters that you came to us Ruigus." Seraphine finally spoke up.

Ruigus suddenly felt very tired.

"We er, came her to get some rest as well." Ruigus said suddenly.

"There's a marked guest bedroom that you both can sleep in." Said Seraphine.

"Thank you, I'm sorry but I'm really tired, I want to talk in the morning again for a bit before me and Alavia head out to get some things done before our time is up." Stated the dragonborn.

Isidorus smiled once more.

"Don't worry one bit about anything, it's the least we can do for you right now."
Alduin looked up at Ruigus as he began to go up the stairs.

"I want to talk for them for a bit." She said, Ruigus shot up a little in response.

"Oh, okay. I'll see you in soon." He yawned with a happy expression. Alduin giggled.

A door was heard shutting before Alduin spoke.

"I...I have never seen a family likes yours before, you're mere cousins and you act like siblings." She said.

"There is nobody else left for us both." Said Isidorus.

"I have family on my side but Sera and Ruigus….." He said with pain.

"I and Ruigus are the only Kessels left aside from his own mother." Said Sera. Looking down at the ground.

"What happened?" Alduin asked, she knew somewhat from what Ruigus said but the perspective from them was a step in the right direction.

"I figure Ruigus has been troubled in some form or another to tell you. The Great War took them all." Said Sera, she shook.

"In battle our whole family was just wiped down to a few members. I…..cannot say much myself actually, my youth clouds my memory on it." She cried.

"My father, my mother….." She shook her head.

Alduin felt the girl's sadness radiating to her own heart.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't ask anymore." Said Alduin, realizing it too was very sensitive for the girl.

"I stayed with Ruigus's mom when they were gone. Stayed with her until school came along." She said.

"And Isidorus." She said as she brightened up, Isidorus gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. And suddenly Alduin felt somewhat unwelcome in this situation.

Alduin suddenly felt a desire to sleep with Ruigus but nonetheless had more questions, one more immediate.

"I guess I'll have to ask Tullius about their family he was there wasn't he?" She mentally sighed, it all had to come to him, a man far away to answer her curiosities.

"Seraphine, you know Ruigus's mom well?" Alduin asked. To which Seraphine beamed.

"She's a wonderful woman! It's just that with her husband dead she's….Depressed." Said Seraphine ending sadly.

"She'll be as happy as new harvest's festival when she sees you both! I know she'll like you especially!" Said Seraphine with full confidence causing Alduin to blush.

"Ah, you truly think so?" Alduin said.

"Yes! After all, you've kept him safe this entire time and for Mara's sake you two are together right?" Seraphine asked in a redundant tone.

"Y-Yes." It felt strange for Alduin to say it aloud like that to some of his family.

"Nothing to worry about." Said Sera.

"I wasn't though!" Thought Alduin.

"She's a sweet and loving woman, I think Ruigus gets that from her." Said Sera.

"Loving without a doubt." Alduin thought once more, feeling some strong lust for him once again. Shaking it off inwardly she pressed onto something else.

"Do you know if there's anything I can read on the history of Cyrodil itself?" She asked.

"There's the Imperial Library which is actually located here, er it's on one of those map posts but I can lead you to it tomorrow if you want." Said Isidorus.

"Hmm I may have to separate with Ruigus for that tomorrow." She said.

"We can work out a small plan in the morning, we'll make breakfast for you both two, you've both come a long way." Said Seraphine. Alduin managed to laugh.

"In more ways than one, and yet it grows longer still." She said.

Isidorus looked contemplative for a moment, then spoke again.

"The burden Ruigus carries will only grow from here and I imagine yours as well, I do not want to imagine having the entire weight of the world on my shoulders, and I say that as someone who is an official in this city, it is something I do not want to wish on someone else, all of it." Said Isidorus with a pitying look in his face.

"Perhaps. Ruigus's burden grows while mine is no longer heavy as it once was all those years ago, perhaps one day again yet." She blinked, and decided that was enough for now.

"I will go join Ruigus and leave you be, good night to you both." She smiled and walked up to find the guest room.

"Sera." Isidorus said.

"Yes love?" Asked Sear.

"We must prepare for the one day those two will rule the nation, I suppose it is inevitable." Isidorus decided.

Seraphine nodded, and thought of that Alavia.

"I cannot help but think, there's something different about her." She thought before shrugging it and joining her husband for sleep.

The next morning Ruigus and Alduin awoke to the smell of some good breakfast as they awoke. Joining them at the table they began a quick prayer to the gods before they ate, it was a heartlander tradition, as Alduin learned from Isidorus as they ate.
When it was done Ruigus quickly declared that he would go to visit the Imperial Arena, or the Imperial Legion Training Center as it had been converted into after the Great War to try out his new weapon, which he pulled out on Isidorus, leading to some confused yelling that created no harm.

There was some curiosity from all four into it.

"I wonder how it works?" Ruigus asked.

"Read the book?" Suggested Isidorus.

"Huh, that sounds like a great start" Said Ruigus was terrible sarcasm as he pulled it out to inspect it. And put it back away.

"I'll just check it out when I get there." He stated.

"Oh on that matter, Alavia said to last night that she wanted to go to the Imperial Library!" Said Sera as she let Ruigus know.

"Oh." Ruigus faced Alduin. "Do you wanna go there as I check this thing out or do you think you can come with me?" He asked.

"Oh I'll go with you, I just thought you wanted to save time." Said Alduin.

"Wait then, oh that's right we gotta visit the Oculatus Commander to receive our awards too! Oh by the heavens..." Ruigus rubbed his temples.

"Why not that you two visit the Oculatus or whoever among that field of spooky that you must talk to and and Sera can get Alavia some books and I will set out and retrieve your horses. You come back after you go to the Arena to check that weapon of yours out and then come back here, I have something important that you forgot when you do." Said Isidorus.

"I wonder what next it will be that I forgot? That is perfect Isidorus." Replied Ruigus.

Alduin and Sera didn't have any complaint.

With that, Ruigus and Alduin quickly thanked the two as they walked to go see Commander Maro while Sera and Isidorus went to go do their favors.

"That was fun." Said Ruigus as they walked.

"They really love you." She said.

"You probably notice we're more like siblings, as close as I know how siblings are anyways." He replied.

He then recalled something about Alduin.

"Say isn't Paarthunax your brother?" He asked. Alduin's demeanor shifted to discomfort.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"No Ruigus, you don't have to be sorry, not you it's him rather." She stated.

"I…...I truly haven't forgiven him, I just do not feel the desire to kill him, that is all."
"Things were good once. When he ignored my….faults."

"I do believe he has his own issues, but I say that out of my anger." She stated.

"But...all dragons are my brothers and sisters." She finished.

"You mean, by blood?" He asked incredulously.

"By my standing as a god, my connection with father and mother. But you could say they are not in the same way mortals have it." She informed.

"How so?" Questioned Ruigus.

"We fought with each other a lot, sometimes even killed the other, life is different as I can resurrect but it lacks the…..Peaceful intimacy of what you have." Stated Alduin.

"I don't think it's that much different, everyone on Tamriel has had a Brother-Sister war at least by ten times by now. Family also isn't always….Family." Replied Ruigus. He thought of various families that killed one another, he thought of the Silver-Bloods in Markarth.

He figured he might as well make a report to Maro about it since he had the chance, if it even mattered anymore to Ruigus as he grew cynical about the matter.

"How could I have been so stupid!?" He thought, enraged at a younger self.

"You have genuine love." Said Alduin.

"Huh?" Replied Ruigus, shaken out of his thoughts.

"That is the difference." She said as they reached the Palace once again.

Alduin had the closest thing she had to a family, her four loyals and Paarthunax, but simultaneously their relationships had been largely built on that of a master-suboridinate one that was focused through task, never out of one tied together as something resembling friends and by extension, siblings. Ruigus knew that.

"Hello, we're here to see Commander Maro. Ruigus and Alavia Kessel here." Greeted Ruigus to a rather stalwart Oculatus man who regarded them lightly.

The man nodded.
"We've been expecting you, proceed in and I will let him know." The man said professionally.

Opening the door to the Palace the two followed him in.

The man went upstairs and moments later Commander Maro came out to speak to them.

"Good to see you two. Good rest I hope?" He asked lightly.

"Yeah, it was good. Got to see some family." Replied Ruigus.

"That is good to hear. I just saw my son earlier today as well, he'll be sent down to Skyrim soon even with all this." Stated Commander Maro.

"You are being exceptionally trusting." Said Ruigus. Maro laughed loudly.

"Aha! You've no idea how it is we work aside from the reputation of us. I tell you to keep yourself out of trouble." Said Maro.

"I'll keep that in mind." Replied a nervous Ruigus.

"However I will say that you have earned trust. I am here to privately congratulate you on taking out the Reachmen extremist King, Madanach." He complimented.

Ruigus was rather surprised.

"Ah what a coincidence….." He said.

"Er, it's good hear that Margaret managed to make a report and is still alive. Didn't think she'd come back to check up on it." Said Ruigus.

"It's not her real name but I will put the message. We had a couple agents investigate the matter, you would make a poor Dark Brotherhood assassin on that note Ruigus, you left quite a blood trail." He replied.

"Among the one the Silver-Bloods and the extremists caused?" Asked Ruigus.

"Oh no, I congratulate you for a reason Ruigus, we will now monitor the Silver-Bloods, I would ask more of your capture but your entry and release date is solid enough." Said Mario. He then cleared his throat and began a question.

"Now, I've taken the liberty of writing up the bonus to go into accounts under your name in the Imperial Treasury if you want to retrieve it, I believe that at the current moment it would be too much for you to carry, however. I do have your 5,000 out of the 8,000 available as well as the proper paperwork for both your Oculatus association and your bank statements." He informed.

"Thank you for that, but what about that other 3,000?" Asked Ruigus.

"You didn't pay taxes." Maro replied simply.
"Oh, crap." Stated Ruigus as his expression revealed lower spirits.

"It is not like we will not have a lot of money anyways, Ruigus." Alduin confided.

"Yeah, and I intend to find some way to use it." Ruigus replied.

"At any rate, I'll go get some men to go get you your rewards. Take care until next time, and I do ask next time that you pull off another Madanach, you give evidence and information to us." Stated Maro as he exited.

"If there is anything." Ruigus replied tersely only to Alduin as Maro made a quick exit.

After receiving their rewards as handed to them by the Oculatus the two travelled to the Imperial Arena.

The Imperial Arena lived up to it's name until the end of the Great War, for a while it was an effective suppression method utilized by the Thalmor until families began recognizing their loved ones fighting to the death. A great culture shock and widespread horror was shared among the populace that did not end, the amount of loved ones that were all prisoners of war that managed to get sent there all died from the forced fighting devised by one prominent, and infamous Thalmor lord, one who was hated even by them, and much regrettably to most of Tamriel, still alive.

Ruigus had heard the name of Lord Naarifin in the past, he had a bounty posted by the Thalmor listing his deeds. It was ingrained early on in his life that whilst they wished to hunt him down, it was nothing compared to the civilians cut down by the forces by the commanders under his temporary directorate.

There was one Dominion lord that stood in contrast to him, the proclaimed 'Aspect of Trinimac' who was only really known as 'The Phoenix'.
In any case, the Imperial Arena had now become a public viewing training ground for soldiers, some practices were made private, as generally they had their best preform under the watch of civilians.

The pair got through and were directed to a very special shooting range meant for 'firearms' as they were. They earned some strange looks as they went. Mede was right when he had mentioned it being an obscure, rare weapon.

Coming into a range he heard a loud crack and some smoke in the air, there was a sole woman standing there, an Imperial Praetorian by the looks of it, she had her helm wrapped to her side, she looked and them and approached.

"You have a firearm as well? And here I thought in the land of the Alessia I was the only one." She stated.

Ruigus flinched inwardly at the mention of Alessia's name.

The woman in front of him was an Alessian, a monotheist.

"Yes, I just got it and I have rather little idea how to use it." He replied neutrally as he held it.

"That's refreshing, despite how many look down upon it I believe it is quite useful for close combat, this short 'pistol' version anyways." She remarked as showcased hers.

"Yours is of the same craft, if it's not used already you'll get a good hundred or so shots if you ignore maintenance, the one issue with these things." She sighed.

"Maintenance is an issue?" Asked Ruigus. She nodded furiously.

"Indeed! Funnily in the same vein as the Crossbow although that's popular as of now, anyways this thing shoots through something called a barrel, it's that little hole you see at the front of it. When you shoot it enough times the barrel just blows up so to speak because of the powders and materials we use to make these." She informed.

"It sounds like what it fires is very powerful!" Said Ruigus, most curious by that.

"Indeed, this one has a short range. I think that is somewhat the issue with this thing, we or I guess the Redguards as they were the ones who originally made these had it so that what they fired something effectively more powerful than their base, as to say that the ball that is fired also destroys the firearm slowly." She explained.

"Shouldn't the ball or powder be downscaled in potency perhaps just require less even? Or the barrel made tougher?" Questioned Alduin.

"Those could probably change things for all I know, but time has cursed them. Redguard doctrine uses these as 'fire and ditch then charge' weapons and nobody else has found a real use for them aside from the occasion that they happened to be lying around when they had quite nothing else left to use." She stated.

"They're not good for most situations?" Asked Ruigus.

"Sort of, unlike regular bows and crossbows these things are direct fire weapons, you need to at least be able to see the target to hit, not always the case but you can understand the concept can't you? The other issue is that they are slower to reload, but it's funnily easier to reload them as the others require a prowess of their own." She stated.

"Do you wish to see? Aim at the metal targets out there and pull the trigger." She added.

Ruigus held it out and pulled one of those tiny black balls out.
"All of these guns as they are use something called a 'snaplock', you must cock it once you are ready."

"Just one thing, how do I do this step by step, can you show me?" Asked Ruigus.

The praetorian approached.
"Sure." She said as she stood next to him and took the gun.

The Praetorian demonstrated the reloading mecahnisms, powder had to be placed down into a special component on it among the other method Ruigus thought of.

The process was rather confusing at first but by the end he felt as though he understood.

"Ah that'll take some getting used to." He stated.

"It may. You have a book to refer to from here on out." She replied.

"Right." Said Ruigus as he faced the target down the short range there was, there were five targets, each at different distances. Ruigus aimed for the third, the mid distance one.

"Here, that's good posture of you but try putting your right arm over your left arm when you fire, aim down using those little sticks in the center." She showed using her own pistol.

Ruigus followed her movement, he noticed how light the weapon felt when he put it over his left arm and how little it now moved.

"There may some deviation to your sights however, you will notice it when you have fully stabilized the weapon that it will stop. Fire when you are sure." She said as she observed, Alduin too was listening intently.

Ruigus held his breath as he aimed the chest of the target and fired.

Ruigus saw the smoke before he heard the crack, a pang sound was heard. He looked at the gun as the smoke stopped coming out.

"It felt powerful!" He said aloud.

"Ha! You hit it in the guts!" Sneered the Praetorian as she pointed it out.
Ruigus looked away and saw what she meant.

"No kids for it then I guess." He said with a chuckle as he looked back to the gun and back to the target as he noticed the hole among the armor it wore.

"Er, what armor was it using?" He asked as he looked out in confusion, whatever it was it seemed to have completely warped and caved in at the spot.

"Steel plate." Said the Praetorian.
"By Stendarr!" He exclaimed.

"Hehe just imagine if you shot anyone else wearing heavier armor or a monster even, though though keep in mind there are some it wouldn't do anything to." She stated.

"And the best part is you can really use any weapon with it too, just hold a heavy greatsword in one hand for a second and then grab a loaded pistol and fire, put it away, then charge them. It does great work, just make sure if you shoot someone at the same distance again you aim a bit higher yes? The shot drops." She told Ruigus and then fired her own shot and hit the same one in the neck.

"Thank you, your name is?" Asked Ruigus.

"Praetorian Veturia." She said simply.

"Thanks again, I will make great use of it in the days to come." He said.

"Heh, have fun with it." She said as she focused on her own thing, having taught him she now seemed to ignore the two next to her.

"I'll definitely get a chance to use it again, let's go." Said Ruigus to Alduin.

Exiting the range Alduin spoke up.

"What a most unique weapon...Those Yokudans had something truly in the works before I..." She shook her head.

"Destroyed their world?" Asked Ruigus.

"Yes, and I still do not know to this day how they escaped." She said.

"It's in their myths." Said Ruigus, shrugging.

"Figured that might happened, were they the only humans?" He asked.

"One other, monkey people, they are here too, in the far east." She said.

"Oh." Replied Ruigus as he held out the pistol again.

"I have a really decent ranged weapon, I need a new weapon for getting up close." He said.

"Hmm. We've seen that there are a lot of them and with those abnormal vampires I doubt they will fight you the same as any Human will, their creatures are far freakier as well, not that the Stormcloaks had much of them in the first place but keep it in mind." Alduin reminded.

"A…...Spear or something similar, that will do it." Said Ruigus.

"You know how to use one?" She asked.

"A while ago, before I whined and thought it was useless." Said Ruigus.

"What changed?" She asked.

"I saw how Hans used that Halberd and I thought to myself, I think I am good at defending myself as is, I have tools in the form of Shouts to. I think it might go well with me now and I think I can find a good teacher out of him aside from just putting it to use straight away or need of a book." He stated.

"It's really funny, I used to actually think I was too weak to wield one, what a joke now that was." He stated as he stared a good mile through Alduin. With a thoughtful expression.

"I should visit a blacksmith at home I guess, I know someone I want to visit who should have a high quality one, that I trust." Stated Ruigus.

"Who would that be that possesses one?" She asked.

"Tullius's wife. Eleonora von Drach." He said.

"She…..Helped me, like my Cousin. I want to see how she's doing to let her know I and Tullius are okay. Tullius might have written to her by now for all I know." He sighed.

"You worry about her." Alduin detected.

"Yeah, she's had a hard life, each time I see someone suffer I think of her story, no matter how incomparable their life may be the suffering is not." He stated.

"What did she go through Ruigus?" Questioned Alduin as they walked through the streets.

"She like me, and Serafine lost all her family in the war. You see, her father was the old warlord before Tullius. She did not take what happened to him and the rest of her family well…..I and others still haven't as well." Tears were forming in the young colovian.

He suppressed them.

"I don't get, how in a single battle all of our families were almost entirely wiped out." He stated as he stared past Alduin once more.

"I look on at what you can do and I'm scared how it is if there were multiples you's firing and endless stream of magic, shouts, powers, whatever terrifying power it is." He commented.

"I think even you would melt to a whole company of mages like they did to us." He choked.

"I-I, I ramble too much again. Sorry Alduin." He said.

Alduin quickly grabbed him and kissed him on the lips gently. He returned it.

"Please stop." She said softly.

"Yeah."

"I love you."

The two walked through the streets until they made it to Isidorus and Serafine's mansion. They saw both of their horses tied in the front porch, they turned their heads and looked at them.

"Guess they finished too." Said Alduin.

Serafine had gotten six books for Alduin as she proudly displayed for her.

"Two for each of the cultures, one's a guide and the other is a popular story!" She said.

Alduin looked at one, it was an Nibenean one.

"That one is about a Nibenean jungle hunter on a journey to take an artifact in the deep jungles after a curse of peryite starts in his village." She explained.

"A jungle hunter huh?" She remarked without need for a response as she grabbed the next.

"That heartlander book is about a lawyer in the Imperial City who gets caught up in a property scheme." Said Serafine as Alduin looked at another.

She could hear Ruigus and Isidorus talking just out on the front porch.

Alduin pulled out another book, the colovian one.

"Oh this one, this one was too bloody for me to like but I think you might like it if you want to know more about my and Ruigus's home! It's about a warrior who goes on to fight a warlord!" She informed happily.

"Hm an interesting book it must be." She said. And then looked at the name.

"The Steel Dragon!?" Exclaimed Alduin with a good laugh.

"Quite a name isn't it." Agreed Seraphine as she laughed at it too.

"It's a very funny name given the days we live in now. I do think you may like it, I daresay it reminds me a bit of Ruigus considering." Said Serafine with a sigh.

"I guess that was meant to happen, aside from that. You'll find those three history books decent, they're made by locals just like these other books so you'll see that they all have somewhat of a bias to themselves whilst insulting the other cultures. Colovian, our books are the most guilty of this but at the same time it is reasoned within as good or bad as you see it. You're very smart and I think you'll make some great conclusions from these!" Serafine stated with a rather quick speed.

"These books have bias in them?" Asked Alduin innocently.

"Oh, she's not aware of what that is." Serafine both wondered and mentally sighed simultaneously as she went to explain.

Serafine and Alduin found the other rather pleasant to talk to.

And some time down the line, they assuredly would.

"Cousin. You may be at home but be careful when you head to Kvatch." Stated Isidorus as the two sat together.

"You know, the Warlord." Pointed Isidorus.

"Detlev. Tullius warned me stay wary of him." Agreed Ruigus as he recounted what his Uncle-mentor had said to him years ago.

"If he summons me, I will come." Said Ruigus.
"But I will be wary, the last time I was dragged out like that was not pleasant as you know. I know the word of…...Marukh is not something he will follow but you know, the finger cutting." He added.

"Of course Cousin, I doubt that he will be doing anything of that sort however. Colovians have always opposed the rules laid by Marukh, he will not jail you before having any arbitrary reason to. And I very much doubt he even dislikes you, what reason is there from him? It seems that the council may have their inclinations towards a Colovian upstart, but his only concern should be Tullius, Ruigus." Said Isidorus, he held a sad, sympathetic smile.

"Yeah, but neither care for each other Isidorus." Replied Ruigus before he opened his mouth to speak once more.

"I just wish to see Mom and Lady Drach, that's all." He sighed.

"And then it's off to join Lucis. There are two things I want to give you before you go Ruigus. I regret to tell you the last but first I must remind you of this." Said Isidorus as he reached into a pocket of his and pulled out what looked like an amulet of a moon.

"Masser." Choked Ruigus as he looked at it and then he growled.

"Damn it, how could I have left without it!" Exclaimed Ruigus. Isidorus put his hand on Ruigus's shoulder.

"Think of it this way, you lost everything when you were captured and it was all destroyed by that Alduin. This is something too precious and too rare to lose." Said Isidorus as he thrust it into Ruigus's hands as held out the amulet of the moon 'Secunda' and wore it on his neck.

Ruigus decided to wear it as well, alongside his locket.

"The protection ward that protected the Kessels for generations." Mused Isidorus.

"And in the end, it's just us." Said Ruigus as he looked out into the sky, before turning his gaze back to his Cousin-in-law.

"I'm not of your blood still." The man replied, Ruigus gave an audible disapproval.

"You are my brother whether you are or not, cousin or not." He said.

"So undeniably shaking in your beliefs when it comes down to it Cousin. Next you need to work on that warrior stoicism of yours." Laughed and conceded Isidorus to his cousin who merely smiled.

Isidorus's face then turned sad.

"Ruigus, before you go today and get to Kvatch. I want you to know, Florian is dead." Stated Isidorus.

Ruigus's heart sank.

Many years ago, the heartland-colovian boy attended the same school in the Imperial city as Ruigus and Isidorus. They were more innocent times, yet they led to what today was.
"Florian…." He shook his head and sighed deeply, he cupped his face with his hands and turned to look at Isidorus. There was a steely, sorrowful look in his eyes.

"How did he die?" Demanded Ruigus softly with tears forming.

"He died in an ambush in Skyrim as I heard. Ruigus, I'm sorry." He stated calmly.

Ruigus was silent for a minute. Staring at his own hands.

Alduin and Serafine emerged out the door, Isidorus quickly motioned them to stop.

"I…." He trailed.

"I will not cry, not now until I see you my friend." Thought Ruigus hardheartedly.

"Where is he buried?" He asked.

"In where he was born, Kvatch." Replied Isidorus calmly.

Ruigus stood up. There was a most confusing inexpressive look upon his face and a fierce look in his eyes.

"I thank you, cousins. But I must go home now. Take care of yourselves until I see you next" He said calmly and he began to walk to his horse.

Serafine watched him with a recollection of long past. How long ago his father adopted the same look as he marched out of the house she lived in with Hildeguard as he rejoined the Colovian army to never return once more.

She was most worried.

"Stay safe Cousin!" She yelled as Ruigus mounted his horse.

Alduin regarded them both before she left.
"I hope to see you both again soon." She said as she went to join Ruigus.

"You too Alavia." Said Isidorus.

"Goodbye!" Serafine waved to Alduin. Causing her to smile lightly.

As the two rode off, Isidorus grasped at the amulet of Secunda around his neck.

"Until I write to you Ruigus, stay in the good hands of the gods and the ones you love and protect." He thought to himself.

Serafine looked down at the sitting Isidorus.

"You told him didn't you?" She asked softly.

"I did, he had to know." He stated.

Serafine sighed lightly.

"He seems so tough now, I've never seen him look like that before since his father….." She said.

"He will be fine. I know at the very least for now he will not bare himself to appear sad in front of his mother or lady Drach." Assured Isidorus. He then thought of something to take off the edge of what he had revealed.

"Come, didn't you want to go out to the waterfront today like how we used to as children?" He asked kindly.

Serafine nodded.

"Yes, I want to remember the times we didn't have to worry." She said. She approached Isidorus, and fell into his arms.

He stared and looked out into the clear sky.

Across the city, the Arboretum District

Lucis Caesar and Rosario Vinceti were talking a walk through the streets as the two discussed further help that they were receiving from the Colovian Estates and some Nibenean lords.

"That brings us to 5,000 volunteers Lucis. We are going to have to work with the Order to build another fort below where they say they are situated." Explained Rosario.

"That also gives us more of these mouths to feed. Rosario, let us write up a request to the Nibeneans, we'll use the aid given by the Estates to cover it." Stated Lucis as he walked in a pace like manner as he contemplated.

"We have earned quite a generous amount for our first foray." Mused Rosario as he cupped his chin through his clothed face.

"Indeed, I do wish this is not a worthless experience. I intend to get something done, and I have you and other good figures in this. I will see if all that I have learned about Skyrim is not just misconceptions and that our rule has been fair." Sated Lucis with some open wonder.

"A rebellion does not happen inexplicably, you and I both must remember the letter of grievances written against us as reported to us by that Legate." Reminded Rosario as he ever did.

"Yes. But we must keep that as a side note as we move forwards, in a week we shall depart with the Dragonborn and our newest Upstart commander favored by the old hero of the empire. And with them as our swords we shall show the undead the meaning of peace." Said Lucis as he orated to his best friend.

"We shall. We must be patient with the rest of those with us and not let impetuousness blind us." Stated Rosario as he warned his old friend of his own impulses.

"If they remain fair, and are not too annoying." Lucis replied simply.

"You may have this experience teach you to keep your composure, Lucis." Thought Rosario as he walked along silently.

They saw a young woman run towards them in a suit of armor and a sheathed sword.

The two stood still and remained calm, curious.

The woman ran up and huffed and puffed as she caught her breath in front of them.

"You two are leading the expedition to Skyrim?" She asked.
Lucis crossed his arms and regarded her neutrally.

"Yes. What of it?" He asked coldly.

"I-I wish to join you!" She declared loudly as she looked up with an earnest and youthful face.

"You hardly look over seventeen." Observed Lucis. The girl froze and fell to her knees.

"Please I beg of you! I can be of help despite my age, I want to join you to help the Nords!" She stated as her face was hidden and only the letters on this strange helm of hers with a word only known in their language as 'Love' stuck out on her helm.

She seemed to have customized her armor to fit in with the civilian army, a great amount of effort she had put into and may have sacrificed for as Rosario observed.

"….What can you bring to the table to our expedition?" Questioned Lucis inquisitively as he looked down at her with a piercing stare.

"I am a spellsword, I know how to use destruction and illusion magic in battle!" She declared.

Lucis said nothing as he stared.

She almost seemed to cry as she begged once more.

"I can take of myself and I you will not need to spend any money on me! Please allow me to come along and I will do the best that I can do and I have the skills to do so! I promise! Please have the mercy of Stendarr on me." She stated.

Lucis did not reply and Rosario went up to say something to him until Lucis kneeled to near face level with the girl.

"Fine then. You may come with us, we shall be heading to the training center and I will have you officially join as a bodyguard. However you will not be used as such until I see and hear for myself of your skills and you must ask me and Rosario for permission to head out on assignments when we reach the Order. What is your name?" Lucis then asked as the girl beamed and wiped away her very real tears.

"My name is Maelia, Maelia Bestia." She stated happily as she stood at full height, equal to Lucis.
Lucis nodded, and then turned away.

"Welcome then, Maelia. I shall put my trust in you." He said as he began to walk.

Maelia's smile at him was among the widest Rosario had seen, and her eyes filled with a youthful, naive hope.

He then followed behind as the young girl ran up to Lucis and began to annoy him.

Rosario Vinceti smiled kindly at her under his inexpressive mask.

End of Chapter 19.

Hello again! I want to say now that there will be two more chapters like this that take place in Cyrodil before things start picking up again with the true beginning of the Dawnguard storyline. A new Vahlok's Tale chapter will be coming with the next chapter to the main story, as well as a new hint at another plan in the next two chapters as well.

Until next time friends, stay safe and have fun until then!