Eclipse of Magick
Chapter 02
"That, however, I get tired of" Aronou grumbled as he pulled his head out of the stone pillar. Looking around, he saw Vivec levitating, meditating as always. Seeing several documents sitting on a wooden pedestal, Aronou snatched the sheaf of paper, and began to flick through it.
Nucio Tsarinth shook his head to clear the Cliff Racers that were clouding his vision. Looking around, he saw several citizens pointing and laughing at him. And the Ordinator that was running up, mace drawn. "First few minutes here, and already I have to fight someone" Nucio complained. Examining his options, Nucio could see a grate just under-water. Swivelling toward it, Nucio kept his blade drawn and eyes on the weaving Ordinator. Arriving at the edge, Nucio paused for a moment to take a deep breath. Then he flipped over backwards, into the water. Slamming into the water, Nucio propelled himself toward the grate. His lungs began to ache. Arriving at the grate, he yanked it open.
A foul, loathsome stream of water came billowing out, covering him completely. A foul stench began to invade his every pore. Hacking, Nucio quickly cast a Swift Swim spell. Shooting past the cloud of, aptly named crap, he found himself in the sewers of Vivec. Kicking lazily to the edge, he tried to pull himself out, but collapsed down into the water. Seeing a ramp leading out of the sludge, he swam toward the ramp, his spell fading quicker than usual. Crawling up the ramp, the combination of the events of the last few days, the billowing cloud of sludge combined to overwhelm his senses and forced him to lose consciousness.
Aronou had read through all the paper with boredom, tossing a few papers to the side. Then a shadow fell over him. Raising a lazy eye, Aronou gazed upon the false god, Vivec. "Who are you, and what is your business within a citadel of a god" Vivec asked, his imperious voice grating as ever. "Greetings, Lord Vivec, don't you recognize your kin" replied, before taking off his helm. "N, n...o, you died" Vivec gasped, falling backwards. "If I was dead, I certainly wouldn't be here, now would I" Aronou stated, standing. Then Vivec saw that God Slayer was not with Aronou. "I see you do not have your true blade. I however, do". "Technically, you only have a third of it, yet a third is still very powerful" Aronou stated. "Shut up" Vivec muttered, before raising another question. "Why are you here?". "I am here because my blade must be re-forged by my son, Nucio Tsarinth. And you must duel him". "And If I refuse?" Vivec asked, looking smug. "You don't even have God Slayer with you. You're nothing". Aronou's eyebrow twitched. "My power came not from God Slayer, but from my heart and myself". Shooting up, Aronou closed his ebony-clad hand around Vivec's throat. "Still as weak as ever, I see" Aronou sneered, before bodily lobbing him at the pillar. "Where's your whore Almalexia?" Aronou asked of Vivec, his eyes glittering with suppressed rage. "She died by the Nerevarine's hand. She was insane". A few tears hovered at the edge of Vivec's eyes. "Alls well that ends well, I guess" Aronou chuckled. "SHUT UP, YOU BASTARD" Vivec roared, before leaping at Aronou
Nucio's eyes cracked open at the sharp impact of a boot that came from his side. "Muthsera?" hissed a voice, clearly Argonian in origin. "Let me sleep" Nucio mumbled, turning onto his other side. And promptly felt water wash over his face. Hacking, Nucio sat bolt up-right and looked around. "The sewers are flooding, you must get out" the hidden voice whispered. Straining his eyes to catch sight of his rescuer, Nucio could only see the black infinity that was the sewers. Standing up, he looked quickly around, before splashing over to the ladder. Climbing it, Nucio reached the top and carefully cracked open the cover. Boots were just clopping over the top. Steeling himself, Nucio heaved against the cover, sending the Ordinator tumbling.
Speeding out of the hole, Nucio unsheathed Shrazer, before freezing. He had withdrawn it from a baldric on his back, where there hadn't been one. Looping it off both arms, he examined the fine silver and gold in-lays. And etched into the top, were the profiles of Boethiah, Mehrunes Dagon and Azura. That was why he almost missed the mace that smashed into his helm. Ducking sharply, the blow glanced off Nucio's helm, sending him reeling backwards. His vision clouded for a moment, before sharpening on the mace that was heading right for his helm. Tripping backwards over the grill, he fell downwards into the sewers. The Ordinator jumped down after him.
"Die, n'wah" the Ordinator confidently stated, and spread his legs for the killing blow. That was his final mistake. Seeing the opportunity, Nucio slammed the heel oh his boot right into the poor Ordinator's crotch. A whimper escaped the Ordinator's helm. Standing, Nucio drew back Shrazer for the final blow. Swinging it down hard, the blade sliced through Indoril armour, skin, flesh and bone. A gurgle escaped the Ordinator's throat, before it keeled forward into the water. Hacking up a gob of blood, Nucio spat at the Ordinator, before climbing the ladder again, and exiting into the waist-works.
Aronou slammed his knee into Vivec's stomach, feeling bone crunch. Vivec, bent in two glared insolently up at Aronou. Grabbing Vivec's arm, Aronou twisted it out straight and upside down, before slamming his elbow down on the exposed joint. Bone pierced the skin, and blood spattered the floor, and the white of the bone showed. Grabbing the bone, Aronou tore it upwards, rending the skin in two. Vivec roared in agony as he saw his arm being shredded. Releasing the bone, Aronou darted back, watching Vivec collapse to the floor and huddle around his shredded arm.
"My son nears" Aronou muttered, before striding over to Vivec. Extending his hands over the shredded arm, Aronou concentrated for a moment. Vivec gasped in astonishment. His entire arm was healed. "Now get up, you lousy fetcher. You must greet, and duel my son". Walking over to the door, Aronou melded into the shadows. A second later, the door shattered open, sending slivers of wood everywhere. In the door-way, stood a bloody and battered Nucio, his helm hanging from his hand, huis arm hanging disconnected by his side, and he was limping. Collapsing to his knees, Nucio gazed imploringly up at Vivec before keeling over, unconscious.
Instantaneously, Aronou dropped the Shadowmeld. Racing over to Nucio, Aronou checked his pulse. "Please, my brethren, give me strength to heal my son" Aronou implored of the air around him. The air shimmered, before seven people appeared. The seven Daedra lords. They all crowded around Aronou and placed their hands on his shoulders. Aronou glowed a soft golden light, illuminating the entire palatial room. Nucio's eyes began to flutter, and the Daedra Lords abruptly vanished. Aronou raised the shadow-meld again, just as Nucio woke up.
Looking around, Nucio saw that he had arrived at the Palace of Vivec. And his armour, body, sword and mind were all healed and repaired. Gazing around in wonder, Nucio thought that he should have died by now, with the injuries he had sustained. Looking around, Nucio's eyes focused on Vivec. "I have come to duel you for the second piece of God Slayer" Nucio said by way on introduction. Finding the hilt of Shrazer in his baldric, he withdrew it, again marvelling at the intricacy of the baldric. Holding it in two hands in front of him, Nucio watched Vivec. Vivec raised an eyebrow at the shadows, briefly, before taking a plain silver long-sword from the wall. Turning around, Vivec couldn't see Nucio standing anywhere. Then he looked up. Nucio had leaped into the air, blade pointed down-wards and a feral grin behind his helm. Vivec watched in astonishment as Nucio hurtled down towards him, blade pointed right at his head. Ducking away, Nucio shot over his shoulder and landed lithely on the floor, behind Vivec.
Raising his sword weakly, Vivec attempted to fend off the next strike. Shrazer impacted against the Silver Longsword, and shattered it entirely. Vivec gazed dumbly at the hilt, broken shards littering the floor. Throwing his sword away in disgust, Vivec raised his hands, and from them issued a magnificent magickal blast. Or what should have been. A singular fireball shot out, sputtering in the air, before it vanished with a pop. Running forward with victory in his eye, Nucio slammed Shrazer deep into Vivec's stomach. His eyes spread wide in shock, Vivec grasped futilely at the blade that had impaled him. Tearing it out, Nucio looked down upon the death of a god. Raising the sword for the final strike, Nucio stopped. Vivec was mumbling something.
"Please Aronou... help me". Nucio reeled back in shock. Here was a god, pleading for a legend to save him. Recovering his composure, Nucio strode forwards. Raising the blade above Vivec's head, Nucio made sure the point was aimed directly at Vivec's fore-head. Then he slammed it down. Vivec arched, the pain wracking his body like nothing could. Vivec's head then exploded, ending Vivec forever.
In Mournhold, Almalexia crowed in triumph. The power of Vivec entered her, making her more powerful. Around her, Her Hands power also increased. Their armour mutated until it became organic, and joined with their skin. But Almalexia could feel two iron wills opposing her. One was as old as time, and his strength was undiminished, but the other one had potential to become as great as Aronou
The second Vivec's head exploded, several things happened. The first was the Ministry of Truth, which had been held aloft by Vivec's power wavered for a moment, before it sped down, smashing deep into the Temple of Vivec. The amount of energy unleashed would scar the world forever. Aronou's shadow-meld dropped, and he strode forward. Nucio felt a being approaching him from behind. Grasping the hilt of Shrazer firmly, Nucio twirled around, bringing the blade to bear on the being.
Aronou smiled as his son attempted to kill him. "Freeze" Aronou muttered, and the blade stopped in mid-air. Nucio dropped the blade, his hand smarting from the cold that had engulfed his blade. "It is time you knew the truth about your heritage, Nucio Tsarinth Daedrakin"
Sorry for the short chapter, but I want to have the explanation in the next chapter and this is a good cliffie.
"That, however, I get tired of" Aronou grumbled as he pulled his head out of the stone pillar. Looking around, he saw Vivec levitating, meditating as always. Seeing several documents sitting on a wooden pedestal, Aronou snatched the sheaf of paper, and began to flick through it.
Nucio Tsarinth shook his head to clear the Cliff Racers that were clouding his vision. Looking around, he saw several citizens pointing and laughing at him. And the Ordinator that was running up, mace drawn. "First few minutes here, and already I have to fight someone" Nucio complained. Examining his options, Nucio could see a grate just under-water. Swivelling toward it, Nucio kept his blade drawn and eyes on the weaving Ordinator. Arriving at the edge, Nucio paused for a moment to take a deep breath. Then he flipped over backwards, into the water. Slamming into the water, Nucio propelled himself toward the grate. His lungs began to ache. Arriving at the grate, he yanked it open.
A foul, loathsome stream of water came billowing out, covering him completely. A foul stench began to invade his every pore. Hacking, Nucio quickly cast a Swift Swim spell. Shooting past the cloud of, aptly named crap, he found himself in the sewers of Vivec. Kicking lazily to the edge, he tried to pull himself out, but collapsed down into the water. Seeing a ramp leading out of the sludge, he swam toward the ramp, his spell fading quicker than usual. Crawling up the ramp, the combination of the events of the last few days, the billowing cloud of sludge combined to overwhelm his senses and forced him to lose consciousness.
Aronou had read through all the paper with boredom, tossing a few papers to the side. Then a shadow fell over him. Raising a lazy eye, Aronou gazed upon the false god, Vivec. "Who are you, and what is your business within a citadel of a god" Vivec asked, his imperious voice grating as ever. "Greetings, Lord Vivec, don't you recognize your kin" replied, before taking off his helm. "N, n...o, you died" Vivec gasped, falling backwards. "If I was dead, I certainly wouldn't be here, now would I" Aronou stated, standing. Then Vivec saw that God Slayer was not with Aronou. "I see you do not have your true blade. I however, do". "Technically, you only have a third of it, yet a third is still very powerful" Aronou stated. "Shut up" Vivec muttered, before raising another question. "Why are you here?". "I am here because my blade must be re-forged by my son, Nucio Tsarinth. And you must duel him". "And If I refuse?" Vivec asked, looking smug. "You don't even have God Slayer with you. You're nothing". Aronou's eyebrow twitched. "My power came not from God Slayer, but from my heart and myself". Shooting up, Aronou closed his ebony-clad hand around Vivec's throat. "Still as weak as ever, I see" Aronou sneered, before bodily lobbing him at the pillar. "Where's your whore Almalexia?" Aronou asked of Vivec, his eyes glittering with suppressed rage. "She died by the Nerevarine's hand. She was insane". A few tears hovered at the edge of Vivec's eyes. "Alls well that ends well, I guess" Aronou chuckled. "SHUT UP, YOU BASTARD" Vivec roared, before leaping at Aronou
Nucio's eyes cracked open at the sharp impact of a boot that came from his side. "Muthsera?" hissed a voice, clearly Argonian in origin. "Let me sleep" Nucio mumbled, turning onto his other side. And promptly felt water wash over his face. Hacking, Nucio sat bolt up-right and looked around. "The sewers are flooding, you must get out" the hidden voice whispered. Straining his eyes to catch sight of his rescuer, Nucio could only see the black infinity that was the sewers. Standing up, he looked quickly around, before splashing over to the ladder. Climbing it, Nucio reached the top and carefully cracked open the cover. Boots were just clopping over the top. Steeling himself, Nucio heaved against the cover, sending the Ordinator tumbling.
Speeding out of the hole, Nucio unsheathed Shrazer, before freezing. He had withdrawn it from a baldric on his back, where there hadn't been one. Looping it off both arms, he examined the fine silver and gold in-lays. And etched into the top, were the profiles of Boethiah, Mehrunes Dagon and Azura. That was why he almost missed the mace that smashed into his helm. Ducking sharply, the blow glanced off Nucio's helm, sending him reeling backwards. His vision clouded for a moment, before sharpening on the mace that was heading right for his helm. Tripping backwards over the grill, he fell downwards into the sewers. The Ordinator jumped down after him.
"Die, n'wah" the Ordinator confidently stated, and spread his legs for the killing blow. That was his final mistake. Seeing the opportunity, Nucio slammed the heel oh his boot right into the poor Ordinator's crotch. A whimper escaped the Ordinator's helm. Standing, Nucio drew back Shrazer for the final blow. Swinging it down hard, the blade sliced through Indoril armour, skin, flesh and bone. A gurgle escaped the Ordinator's throat, before it keeled forward into the water. Hacking up a gob of blood, Nucio spat at the Ordinator, before climbing the ladder again, and exiting into the waist-works.
Aronou slammed his knee into Vivec's stomach, feeling bone crunch. Vivec, bent in two glared insolently up at Aronou. Grabbing Vivec's arm, Aronou twisted it out straight and upside down, before slamming his elbow down on the exposed joint. Bone pierced the skin, and blood spattered the floor, and the white of the bone showed. Grabbing the bone, Aronou tore it upwards, rending the skin in two. Vivec roared in agony as he saw his arm being shredded. Releasing the bone, Aronou darted back, watching Vivec collapse to the floor and huddle around his shredded arm.
"My son nears" Aronou muttered, before striding over to Vivec. Extending his hands over the shredded arm, Aronou concentrated for a moment. Vivec gasped in astonishment. His entire arm was healed. "Now get up, you lousy fetcher. You must greet, and duel my son". Walking over to the door, Aronou melded into the shadows. A second later, the door shattered open, sending slivers of wood everywhere. In the door-way, stood a bloody and battered Nucio, his helm hanging from his hand, huis arm hanging disconnected by his side, and he was limping. Collapsing to his knees, Nucio gazed imploringly up at Vivec before keeling over, unconscious.
Instantaneously, Aronou dropped the Shadowmeld. Racing over to Nucio, Aronou checked his pulse. "Please, my brethren, give me strength to heal my son" Aronou implored of the air around him. The air shimmered, before seven people appeared. The seven Daedra lords. They all crowded around Aronou and placed their hands on his shoulders. Aronou glowed a soft golden light, illuminating the entire palatial room. Nucio's eyes began to flutter, and the Daedra Lords abruptly vanished. Aronou raised the shadow-meld again, just as Nucio woke up.
Looking around, Nucio saw that he had arrived at the Palace of Vivec. And his armour, body, sword and mind were all healed and repaired. Gazing around in wonder, Nucio thought that he should have died by now, with the injuries he had sustained. Looking around, Nucio's eyes focused on Vivec. "I have come to duel you for the second piece of God Slayer" Nucio said by way on introduction. Finding the hilt of Shrazer in his baldric, he withdrew it, again marvelling at the intricacy of the baldric. Holding it in two hands in front of him, Nucio watched Vivec. Vivec raised an eyebrow at the shadows, briefly, before taking a plain silver long-sword from the wall. Turning around, Vivec couldn't see Nucio standing anywhere. Then he looked up. Nucio had leaped into the air, blade pointed down-wards and a feral grin behind his helm. Vivec watched in astonishment as Nucio hurtled down towards him, blade pointed right at his head. Ducking away, Nucio shot over his shoulder and landed lithely on the floor, behind Vivec.
Raising his sword weakly, Vivec attempted to fend off the next strike. Shrazer impacted against the Silver Longsword, and shattered it entirely. Vivec gazed dumbly at the hilt, broken shards littering the floor. Throwing his sword away in disgust, Vivec raised his hands, and from them issued a magnificent magickal blast. Or what should have been. A singular fireball shot out, sputtering in the air, before it vanished with a pop. Running forward with victory in his eye, Nucio slammed Shrazer deep into Vivec's stomach. His eyes spread wide in shock, Vivec grasped futilely at the blade that had impaled him. Tearing it out, Nucio looked down upon the death of a god. Raising the sword for the final strike, Nucio stopped. Vivec was mumbling something.
"Please Aronou... help me". Nucio reeled back in shock. Here was a god, pleading for a legend to save him. Recovering his composure, Nucio strode forwards. Raising the blade above Vivec's head, Nucio made sure the point was aimed directly at Vivec's fore-head. Then he slammed it down. Vivec arched, the pain wracking his body like nothing could. Vivec's head then exploded, ending Vivec forever.
In Mournhold, Almalexia crowed in triumph. The power of Vivec entered her, making her more powerful. Around her, Her Hands power also increased. Their armour mutated until it became organic, and joined with their skin. But Almalexia could feel two iron wills opposing her. One was as old as time, and his strength was undiminished, but the other one had potential to become as great as Aronou
The second Vivec's head exploded, several things happened. The first was the Ministry of Truth, which had been held aloft by Vivec's power wavered for a moment, before it sped down, smashing deep into the Temple of Vivec. The amount of energy unleashed would scar the world forever. Aronou's shadow-meld dropped, and he strode forward. Nucio felt a being approaching him from behind. Grasping the hilt of Shrazer firmly, Nucio twirled around, bringing the blade to bear on the being.
Aronou smiled as his son attempted to kill him. "Freeze" Aronou muttered, and the blade stopped in mid-air. Nucio dropped the blade, his hand smarting from the cold that had engulfed his blade. "It is time you knew the truth about your heritage, Nucio Tsarinth Daedrakin"
Sorry for the short chapter, but I want to have the explanation in the next chapter and this is a good cliffie.