Answers to reviews:
Axccel: No, I'm not gonna drag it out. I've seen stories where the relationship is dragged out too long.
hellfire45: Thanks.
Perseus12: Thanks.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroinu: Kedakaki Seijo wa Hakudaku ni Somaru or Skyrim/The Elder Scrolls. All rights respectively go to Liquid, the studio who created Kuroinu, and Bethesda Studios, the gaming company who made The Elder Scrolls series.
The Kuroinu had finally made their way into the Badlands, where at the heart of it lied the Black Fort. As dark and foreboding as the land they expected was to be, they could see the fortress from the distance. It was a monumental spire that jut out of the ground like a massive spike. The fortress itself emitted a dark aura that sent chills down the spines of every single man, except Vult and Daemon.
There truly was no better name to describe the landscape that was the Badlands. The surrounding area around the Black Fort was extremely toxic, heavily induced with magic and other noxious fumes from the land itself. It not for Kin and his magic, the Kuroinu would not have gotten far. And the Badlands had the Legion patrolling around the area, orcs and imps surveying the land to look for any signs of an invading force. How they managed to miss the Kuroinu is beyond Daemon's mind.
After a long journey of traveling by foot to reach their destination, the Kuroinu finally arrive at a cliff overlooking the Dark Queen's castle.
"Phew, we finally made it to that damn Queen's realm," Hicks stated. "Just being around here is giving me the creeps!"
"Without the barrier I've put up, we'd likely have all died from the magic field erected around this area," Kin justified. "Even the land is starting to erode as a result of her magic…"
"We'll take care of this quickly," Vult reassured. "Just make sure you don't lower your guard until this is over."
The rest of the Kuroinu mercs were right behind Vult and his lieutenants. The former addresses everyone present.
"Alright men, spread out and set up a camp! The second we find a way into the castle, we're moving in."
As everyone gets settled onto camp, Daemon decides to stoke himself by the fire. Already he can see that some of the men are anxious. All except Vult who was looking out to the view of where the Black Fort was. Kin was busy looking over at some of the ancient ruins, hoping to find some clue as to how to get inside the Fort without going through the front door.
The Kuroinu had never ventured this far into the Badlands before, so the Dragonborn could understand some of the men's anxiety. But he didn't feel that way. He's been in worse climates and places, filled to the brim with many creatures that he killed when they got in his way.
"So, it's almost time to get started," Hicks said while sitting next to Daemon and snacking on some meat.
Daemon nods, "Indeed."
"Hey, Daemon, quick question for ya. Let's call it a survey."
"Oh?" asked Daemon. "What do you want to know?"
"Hypothetically, if you could have any woman you wanted, even any of those Princesses or that Goddess herself… which one would you want to have as your woman?"
"Can't have them all?" Daemon smirked, playing along.
Hicks laughs. "Ha! You'd wish. You'd make every single men in the world jealous. So that doesn't count. I'll ask again: who would you want as your woman?"
If Daemon didn't have his Daedric helmet on, Hicks would've seen a stoic expression on the Dragonborn's face. From day one, Daemon has never trusted Vult, or Hicks or Kin. Something about them turned his gut the wrong way. Having been around all sorts of men, especially the type that will do anything to get what they want, Daemon's instincts told him to be wary and not trust the Kuroinu.
Something was going to happen, and Daemon didn't know what but he had that feeling.
But to keep up the facade, at least until he didn't need to anymore, Daemon spoke. "Celestine."
This made Hicks laugh even louder. "Hahaha! So the dark and mysterious warrior has fallen for the beautiful High-Elf, huh?"
Daemon gave a quiet chuckle. "And you? There a woman on your mind?"
"Me? Nah. I'm not one for that kind o' shit. But who knows? Maybe someday they'll be available to guys like us. Wouldn't that be incredible!?"
"Paradise on earth, I'd say," Daemon responds.
"Man, the things I would do to them—" For a moment Hick's excitement boils over, but he quickly calms down and regains his normal demeanor. "Hehehe, sorry about that. Why don't you go see what Vult is doing? He's staring at the Fort like he knows something."
Daemon narrowed his eyes at him but gave a slight nod before standing and heading over to where Vult was standing. Daemon approaches Vult and comes to his side, looking out to the Black Fort in all of its unholy glory. From the look of it, Daemon wonders if the entire thing was constructed via blood magic. It was certainly ancient, but nothing in the form of ruins.
"Hmph, what's wrong? Feeling tense?" asked Vult.
"You could say that," Daemon said as he keeps his gaze on the Black Fort.
Vult laughs. "Ha! It's to be expected at the doorstep of the enemy I suppose."
Both Daemon and Vult stare at the castle, the air is rank with the scent of death – likely due to the barrier surrounding the area which had gradually sapped the land of life.
"You been in many battles back in Skyrim?" Vult asked curiously.
"Yes." Daemon nodded, memories of various battles crossing his mind. "This is nothing new to me. Although I do hope your plan isn't just a simple frontal assault on the Dark Queen's lair."
"Don't worry about the Dark Queen, we didn't come all the way out here without a plan," Vult reassures. "I'm not in the business of starting fights I can't win. And I sure as hell didn't come all the way out here just to turn around and go home empty-handed. We came to deal with this Dark Elf Queen, and that's what we're going to do."
"By dealing with the Dark Queen, you don't mean to kill her, do you?" asked Daemon without any voice of concern.
"I never intended to kill the Dark Queen to begin with," Vult answers. "I'll be counting on your help to capture her though, so don't get yourself killed. I promise you; we won't kill her. After all, that'd be no fun! Hahaha!"
Daemon gave the man a side-glance, narrowing his eyes underneath his helmet. That feeling something was going to happen was much stronger now, and he had a feeling it had something to do with Vult and the Kuroinu. However, he will complete the mission Celestine gave him; Capture Olga Discordia and bring her back alive.
"Hey, why don't you go check on what Kin's doing. He thought he might have a lead to get inside."
Daemon nods and takes his leave as he walks back towards the camp and past the ruins to meet up with the mage, who was adjusting his glasses like he was studying something up close.
Kin was looking intensely at the stone wall filled with strange elvish markings. To Daemon, these elvish ruins were not like the ones in Skyrim. These were more ancient; in a language he had never seen. Perhaps this was a language long forgotten. Except for perhaps Lady Olga herself.
"To think the mighty Dark Queen's failsafes would be so easy to crack," Kin said. "She must really have been underestimating us humans."
"Either that, or she needs to pay for an upgrade on her defenses," Daemon cracks a joke.
Kin chuckles at that remark. "Ah, Daemon. I didn't notice you were there."
"All good. You figured out where the entrance is?" asked Daemon.
"I have," Kin answered. "This old Elven doorway, usually used with magic to open. Without a magic practitioner, it would be possible to enter."
Kin places his hand upon the wall. "Allow me to elaborate. What we have here is our ticket inside. It's probably that the only path in and out of the castle is right here. With the drain field around the castle, even the enemy couldn't leave through the front gate. The Dark Queen probably converted an old exit for royalty into a secret passage for her army. I'm not sure what the development level of humans was during the war between the Dark Elves and High Elves, but for a mage like myself, opening this door is no issue."
"Clever plan for the Dark Queen, I admit, but not smart enough to leave it out in the open like this for mages of your caliber."
"Underestimating her enemy will prove to be the Dark Queen's undoing," Kin chuckles as he continues to run his hand over the wall. "Alright, let's get this door cracked open, shall we? The Queen's exit is about to become our entrance."
Kin pulls out a strange grimoire from beneath his robe and begins to chant.
"Terrdahhh shollnyra feles sei cormagg aldua setna Kasara blan kei tol!"
With those words spoken from the incantation, the runes on the door light up.
"Hehe, or Open Sesame as the human saying goes," Kin quips.
The mercenaries, including Vult and Hicks, all quickly gathered around to see what the light show was about.
Hicks calls out, "Kin, what the hell did you just—"
"I just found our way in," Kin said. "Take a look."
Hicks was surprised to see a series of stairs leading down underground. "Seriously!? Well, guess the mage is worth something after all!"
"Hmph…" Kin snorts.
"As expected this is absolutely perfect," Vult praises. "Excellent work, Kin."
"Thank you, Vult," Kin adjusts his glasses.
"Now then, as we have our entrance, let's get moving," Vult turns to Daemon. "Daemon will take point and we'll cover the rear. There's no guarantee some orcs or other sort of beasts won't follow behind us."
"Don't worry, we're right behind you," Hicks assures Daemon.
Daemon scoffed. "Worry? Me? I've faced too many creatures and enemies that i never worry anymore. In fact... it's you lot that should be thankful you're hiding behind me, that way there will be less casualties."
Daemon soon takes point, the rest of the Kuroinu following them into the secret passage of the dark fortress of the Dark Queen.
Daemon peers into the dark cave. For the moment it appears safe. Yet each knew that the deeper they go, the more dangerous it will be.
"Not exactly a lovely escape route for them," Vult said. "But it's a perfect entry point for us. C'mon Daemon, let's go end this war!"
They marched in with Vult and Daemon spearheading the attack. An eerie silence and the sound of their own footsteps was all the mercenaries heard. Then they heard groaning. Then teeth chattering. Then the clanking of metal.
In front of them were orc guards and imps patrolling the area, wearing only rustic leather and armor, and rusty and crude weapons.
"Intruders!" One orc yells.
With the alarm now sounded, the Kuroinu were in for one hell of a fight.
The orcs charge forward yet Vult takes the first blood by swinging his massive black blade and cutting down the orcs easily.
"Men, forward!" Vult commands as the Kuroinu press on.
Unsheathing his two swords, Daemon strode fourth and began to cut down any orcs in his path. Their rusty and crude weapons barely made a dent in Daemon's Daedric armour, but his swords easily pierced theirs and their flesh.
With Hicks and the men cutting down stragglers that got past Vult and Daemon, it was almost too easy. Hicks had his sword, cutting down the limbs to make it easier to finish off the orcs. Kin uses his spells staying in the back as rear support, healing whoever need it and supporting whoever needed it with his fire and lightning spells.
With the Kuroinu trudging through the caverns easily, they began to fight anything and everything in their way. Many of the orcs were overpowered despite the Kuroinu being outnumbered seven to one. All the imps, orcs, goblins, gargoyles, and other Legion soldiers were cut down, including some feral beasts that simply laid in the caverns.
Suddenly, the stone beneath them shifted. Both of their combat instincts screamed at them to move, and they dove away from each other. The spot they previously occupied was soon skewered with metal spikes. The spikes did not retract, closing off the corridor and separating the two men.
"Vult!" Daemon cried in alarm, though he could care less for the man, but he had to keep his act up.
"I'm fine!" The warrior yelled. Daemon could see the frustrated look on the captain's face. "Go on ahead to the throne room! I'll meet you there!"
The Dragonborn didn't argue, giving a slight grunt before doing just as ordered. He soon came upon a set of double doors, made of the same blacksteel as the Citadel's walls. He didn't dare waste any more time.
"FUS RO DAH!" He shouted and the doors came blowing right off their hinges, bouncing across the floor before sliding to a halt as Daemon entered.
"Impressive, warrior." A cool, yet sultry female voice said, drawing Daemon's attention to the other end of the room where a throne was situated... and a woman sat upon the throne. A very beautiful woman at that. He new who she was, just from the way she held herself like a ruler.
The Dark Queen herself, Olga Discordia.
She was just as, possibly more than, beautiful as Celestine. She stood at a surprising 5'10 long, glistening, black hair that fell to her high-heels, warm espresso skin, and piercing gold eyes that were leveled on the male. Both her knife length ears were pierced thrice by golden earrings. Atop her head was a silver crown adored in dark jewels that radiated power. Around her shoulders, she wore a black and gold multi-sectioned cape that matched well with her strapless purple corset that barely held back her large H-cup bust. Matching her corset were purple leggings and arm bands. Above the black thong, something that made the boy blush faintly, was an odd black tattoo right below her bellybutton. Finishing her look was a long black staff with a red jewel imbedded in the curved part of her staff with a golden hoop surrounding the base.
If Daemon were a lesser man with no experience with the opposite sex, he'd be stuttering and drooling at the sight of such a woman in revealing clothing. However, Daemon has been around attractive women enough to build up some kind of immunity to their beauty, which some women have used as a weapon against him, more specifically assassins that bed him, then try to kill him afterwards.
The Dark Queen looks down from her throne with disdain, unperturbed by the surprise attack upon her castle.
"Hm, after all the trouble to launch such a surprise attack they only send a single human?" She asked, her voice cold yet seductive, as she approaches down from her throne. "No matter, even if you all came at once it would make no difference to me. The bravado and arrogance you humans share is truly disgusting. I'll deal with you quickly before dispatching the others... even if I'm intrigued by that power you used to blow my doors open."
Daemon sheathed his swords, causing Olga to blink with surprise as she stopped. "I'm not here to fight you."
"Is that so?" Olga raised a brow. "And yet, here you are, your forces attacking my fortress. Forgive me if I do not believe you. All of humanity is my enemy, so your is guided attempts to make me drop my guard and slay me will not work."
"If I wanted you dead, I'd have used my power to kill you before you could even utter your next word." Daemon said seriously.
Olga narrowed her eyes at his words yet saw how serious he was, and something told her to not underestimate this human, that he was different than the others.
"Who are you, human? And why do you seek to speak with me rather than fight?" Olga asked as she approached.
"To ask that you settle for peace with Celestine rather than continue this war." Daemon said, watching her as she began to circle him slowly, feeling her eyes rake up and down his form as she ran a hand across his armour, feeling it for herself.
"And why would I do that?" Olga scoffed.
""This war has to end for the sake of all of us," Daemon replies. "You, most of all."
"You want this war to end?" Olga stopped in front of him, her eyes staring at him coldly. "Yet here's your chance. You could swing your sword and attempt to kill me."
"Celestine wants you brought back alive and unharmed. She tasked me with this." Daemon said.
Olga stared at him, sensing no lie in his words but she had her doubts. "Suppose I do as you say and surrender, what will happen once we arrive? Your queen and people would have me tried for crimes against humanity. I would meet my death and humiliation there."
"I promise you that is not the case. Queen Lucross merely wishes to make amends and discuss peace."
A look of incredulity crossed her visage. "Peace? After several hundred years of war, she wants peace!?" Olga shouted in rage. "She gave elven lands to the humans time and time again. Our sacred ancestral lands, desecrated by human filth! You humans are always so greedy, never satisfied with what you're given. That's why your kind always waged war, be it on the other races or yourselves: You keep asking for more, and when you don't get your way, you take it by force!"
"But don't you think this war has gone on long enough?" Daemon asked beseechingly.
Olga threw her head back in cruel laughter. "This war will continue until your species is wiped from existence."
His next words immediately drew their ire. "The Dark Elves are more likely to go extinct than humanity. This war... will merely result in your kind's extinction, at least in this land."
"What does that mean?" Olga narrowed her eyes.
"I come from the land of Skyrim, I'm sure you've heard of the Elves that live there as well." Daemon said.
Olga's eyes briefly widened. This man was from Skyrim? There has been no contact between that land and this one in a long time, so what brought this man to this land?
"From what I know, the Dark Elves here... are on the verge of extinction, you may very well be the last." Daemon said. "I don't know whether the Dark Elves of Skyrim are similar to the Dark Elves here, but do not let this land's Dark Elves go extinct when you had a chance to preserve them and end this war. Enough blood has been spilled."
Olga was silent as she stared at him before she turned away, contemplating his words. After a while of silence, Olga finally sighs before she turns to him.
"…Very well then," She said. "I shall consent your offering of peace. Do not make me regret this, human. If necessary I have no problem with continuing this conflict for as long as I deem it appropriate. I have only one question to ask you."
"Which is?" Daemon asked.
"That power you used... was it the power of the Dragonborn?"
Before Daemon could answer yes, they heard running footsteps and turned to see the Black Dogs run in. Vult stood at the fore, a dangerous grin on his face.
"Well, if it isn't the Dark Queen herself! Good work on disarming her Daemon." Vult gestured for his men to surround the Dark Elf. Before they could move, however, Daemon unsheathed one of his swords and stood in front of the woman protectively.
A look of confusion appeared on Vult's face. "Daemon?"
"There's no need for further violence. She's already surrendered to me." The Dragonborn said.
Vult paused before smiling at Daemon. "Ah, I see. In that case, I'll have the men take them to the dungeon."
"Them?" Daemon blinked.
Vult gave a signal and two of his men came in, dragging another Dark Elf in chains.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, but it was difficult to say considering the long lifespan of elves. She had a lithe figure, tan skin, red eyes, and blonde hair tied in a ponytail on the left side of her head. She wore a dark purple jacket that covered her shoulders and upper arms, with a black cape hung over her right shoulder. She wore a black corset that was similar to what Olga wore, which was connected to her thongs and leggings by red straps in a garter-belt like fashion. She even had the same tattoo underneath her naval.
This was the right hand woman of the Dark Queen herself. The Queen's Shadow named Chloe, who was notorious for her ruthlessness against humans on the battlefield. Perhaps the story of her skinning five humans alive and castrating twenty, all Kuroinu, was no exaggeration.
"C-Chloe!" Olga shouted in worry of her subordinate.
"Ngh! Forgive me, my Queen," Chloe apologized with tears in her eyes.
Vult's shadow lords over her as she fell to the ground. "I'll admit she's quite the fighter. Tougher than the orcs for sure, but if her skills were as sharp as her tongue then we wouldn't have stood a chance in hell!"
"You damn brutes!" Chloe yelled. "Let me go! I knew it was a mistake to try and enlist you foul human bastards!"
Vult is not one to take threats kindly and drags Chloe up by the root of her side-tail with one hand before he body blows Chloe in the stomach, her breathe leaving her lungs in the process.
"Guuh!" Chloe gasped.
"Chloe!" Olga screamed. "Release her now, Vult!"
"I don't take orders from anyone, not even you, Queen!" Vult threatened. "Now unless you don't want me to slit this little bitch's throat, you're gonna stay in line and do as I say!"
"Don't listen to him, my Queen!" Chloe pleaded. "I'm just your vassal. I would gladly give my life for you. Fight back!"
"Don't you ever shut up?" Vult growled as he pulls on her hair tighter.
Suddenly, a head from one of the Kuroinu mercenaries holding Chloe flies off swiftly.
Everyone is shocked to see that it was Daemon, who without hesitation decapitates one of the Kuroinu standing there. The dead merc's body slumps to the floor, twitching a little before it stops, its blood staining the ground in a giant puddle. Every single Kuroinu, Kin included, were now starting to shit in their pants upon seeing the brutality of one of their own men. Never did they expect this coming off from one of Vult's most trusted lieutenants.
Daemon was indeed a great fighter and valuable asset to them, but never did they think that asset would turn on them like this.
Daemon turns his dark gaze onto Vult, keeping his bitter expression hidden beneath his helmet.
"Release her, Vult…" Daemon warned in a dark tone. "Or the next head to fly will be Kin's."
To show he was not joking, he brings one of his swords over to Kin's neck, pressing his blade over the magician's neck. The sight of the dead mercenary's head flying off still shook everyone before they were snapped out to see Kin's life being threatened.
"Traitor!" One of the Kuroinu shouted.
The Kuroinu attempted to draw their swords, but Vult raises his hand to halt them.
"Tch… Fine," Vult acknowledged as he lets go of Chloe, making her fall to the floor. "But only because you managed to succeed against the Dark Queen."
Daemon soon takes his sword away from Kin's neck, having seen that Vult keeps his word for all of his brutality. His expression of annoyance soon turned back into his own arrogance, gloating at his victory.
"Now I know what you're thinking," Vult said. "You plan to turn me and my boys to ash with a hell of a magic show. But you see, 'Milady'…"
Vult soon draws his massive greatsword and places it along the back of Chloe's neck as an executioner would. Olga's face blanches as Vult seemingly prepares to decapitate the Dark Elf woman before her.
"You see, Dark Queen, I don't intend to lose. So I present you your options. You can cast your spell and kill us all. You can stand there and do nothing, and I'll introduce this girl's neck to my blade before long. Or you can read the writing on the wall and throw down your staff and surrender to me. Nobody has to die."
"D-Don't listen to him, my Queen!" Chloe pleaded. "As your retainer I would gladly die for your sake! Do it! Kill them all!"
Olga's expression was one of conflict, trying to decide which was the right course. Kill everyone here with her spell, Chloe included, or surrender to keep Chloe alive for her sake. It was not only a hard decision to make, but it was also of the fact that her pride was on the line on this one.
"Don't keep me waiting," Vult warned. "This sword is getting rather heavy, you know!"
Olga's face was pale and contorted in frustration. She was clearly searching for any method possible to eliminate everyone but her retainer. Whatever their relationship, this girl was not simply some tool Olga wished to discard when convenient. It was also clear that Olga did not want the blood of her own kind on her hands.
Daemon then ushers her quietly with a small shake of his head, "Don't do it. It's not worth it."
Olga knew then what to do, for her sake, for Chloe's and perhaps for the sake of making peace with Celestine given the chance.
To Chloe's shock and Vult's satisfaction, Olga casts her staff aside, admitting defeat.
"L-Lady Olga!?" Chloe gasped.
"Ha!" Vult laughed. "I knew you didn't have it in you. Kin, if you will…"
Kin soon takes Olga's staff into his hands. "So this is the royal scepter of the Dark Elves? I'll take it back to the armory for now. This should make an excellent research tool."
Kin takes off with the staff, marveling at its magnificence and power as he returns it to the armory.
"Take the women down to the dungeon," Vult ordered. "We'll keep them there until we're settled and ready."
The Kuroinu waste no time in restraining Olga and Chloe and bringing them out of the throne room and into the dungeon. Olga takes a brief glance back at Daemon, wondering what he is thinking right now. For a brief moment, she bore a look of worry over her own life and whether Daemon is truly different among the rest.
She can only hope and pray that his intentions for peace, and Celestine's are pure and for the good of the Alliance.
And that's it for this chapter. Sorry it took a while.