Turdas, the 8th of Morning Star, 4E202
The docks were busier than usual. Dock workers scurried back and forth, carrying cargo to and from the newly arrived ships. Captain Gjalund could not contain a smile as he watched his sailors chatting about. The last few months had been rough for the Northern Maiden and her crew, but somehow he got the feeling that things would turn around soon. Especially if that contract with the Eastern Empire Trading Company would go through…
"Captain Salt-Sage?" Gjalund turned around upon hearing his moniker. Before him stood… was it an elf? A very short one at that. The man's eyes narrowed suspiciously. He wasn't frequently approached by strangers, especially those that very clearly didn't belong in the docks.
"Aye. That's me," he said, crossing his arms. Though, the elf didn't appear to be very intimidated. "Why, who's asking?"
"The name is Saya," she said. She tried her best to keep her tone friendly, seeing that the captain seemed to be more than a little on edge. "A little bird told me you're the man to ask if I need passage to Solstheim. Is that right?"
Gjalund opened his mouth to respond, yet said nothing. The smile immediately vanished from Saya's features as for a moment, the captain simply stared at her with vacant, almost glassy eyes. Under her cloak, her hand hovered over her dagger. Then after a few seconds of silence, Gjalund blinked and said: "Solstheim? I… I'm not sure what you mean. We haven't been to Solstheim in months."
Saya flinched. "What?" At first, she thought that Malborn's contact might've lied, but that didn't explain the captain's reactions. Pushing past her discomfort, she decided to pry a bit further: "But I was told you deliver supplies there on the regular. You were there last week, no?"
"Last week?" Gjalund echoed, brows knitted in deep thought. His expression shifted between confusion and frustration, like he was trying to remember something but his brain refused to cooperate. "I… You must be mistaken. I do voyages to Solstheim sometimes, that is true, but…" He paused. Saya raised an eyebrow.
"...but?"
"Hm?" Gjalund lifted his eyes. "Oh, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment. Did you need something?" He asked her, as though she had just approached him.
Saya tried not to let the discomfort show on her face. By now, every alarm was ringing in her head. She squinted, looking the captain up and down. Nothing about his appearance stood out as odd. No injuries, no marks, nothing. He looked at her with confusion, like a person who just got forcefully woken up from a long, comfortable sleep.
"Yeah, I… I was just asking about your schedule. I heard you are available for hire?" Saya tested the waters, trying a more innocent topic to start out the conversation. Gjalund stroked his beard.
"Ah, right, right." There was a momentary hesitation before he spoke, as though he wasn't sure she was telling the truth. As he nodded in response to her question, he almost seemed a bit disoriented. "Well, that we are. So long as you're not going too far."
"Do you not do long voyages? Where do you go normally?" She asked, stepping a bit closer. Seeing the genuine interest, Gjalund allowed himself to relax somewhat. As he explained his ship's history and usual routes, Saya took a moment to scan her surroundings. There wasn't much crew to the Northern Maiden, as she was far from a large vessel. Still, with all the hustle and bustle of a dock at peak hours, it was easy enough to lose track of who was who.
"-and so, we usually just go between the different ports of Skyrim." She turned to Gjalund just as he was finishing his explanation. He obviously took pride in his craft, judging by his self-assured smile. "Of course, sometimes we sail to other provinces. Mostly to High Rock - we make stops at Farrun and Northpoint and then turn back for Solitude. We also used to sail to Blacklight, though the weather's piss-poor over there these days-"
"What about Raven Rock?" Saya suddenly asked and Gjalund looked at her, surprised at the sudden interruption.
"Raven Rock? The old mining town?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Hm. Aye, we go there every once in a while to deliver supplies. We have something of a deal with the local council. Why do you ask?"
Saya bit her lip. So mentioning Raven Rock didn't set him off. Maybe it's Solstheim specifically? She shifted her weight to one foot, leaning back. "I was hoping you could take me there. How much would that cost me?"
Gjalund hummed in thought. He was a rather easy man to read - offering payment upfront like this was equally interesting and troubling to him. "Two hundred and fifty gold," he finally said. A steep price, but one Saya could afford for the time being. "But it won't be today. My boys and I are just back from a big trip and they deserve a rest. We'll need a couple of days to stock up before we're ready to go."
Saya pursed her lips. "That's fine by me," she lied. Truth be told, she'd much rather be off sooner rather than later, but the captain's behavior left her more than a little wary. She didn't want to risk it. "So long as you take me to Solstheim, you'll have your money," she said. Immediately, she regretted her words as she saw Gjalund regard her with a thousand yard stare once again. Saya pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a heavy sigh.
Gjalund blinked, confused. "Hm? Sorry, I was distracted." Saya cursed internally. There it was again. That vacant, disoriented look of a man barely out of a haze. "Can I help-"
"Ah, no." Before he could say any more, Saya put a hand up. She wasn't doing this whole charade again. "I thought you were someone else, sorry. Have a good day," she said through a strained smile and turned around, stepping off the Northern Maiden with hasty steps. Gjalund watched her go with confusion until she disappeared out of sight. He couldn't help but shake off this weird sense of deja vu…
Oh, well. It's probably nothing.
Not to say that Scouts-Many-Marshes gave me a bad tip, but I was certainly hoping for that whole thing to go a bit more smoothly. I'd give Malborn shit about it but he left yesterday, probably half across the province by now. Still, what a damn disappointment. If this is going to be a trend, I'd rather take a hike and knock on Harkon's door or something.
Once I got back to the cornerclub, I decided to ask around if anyone knew this Gjalund and his crew. A few people piped up and confirmed that he does, indeed, regularly visit Solstheim. He used to be a fisherman there until the ash from Red Mountain contaminated the waters. Now he has some kind of deal with the Redorans that are in charge of Raven Rock. He buys up supplies from the Trading Company and delivers them to Solstheim, and they pay him with interest as one of their few regular visitors.
In other words, he's just about my only way to that damn island short of building a boat and trying to get there myself. Or trying to track down the one commercial ship EETC still has on that route and sneaking on board.
Hmm. Actually, that sounds like it would've been kind of cool. I'll keep that in mind for next time.
Serana got back a few hours later. I explained the situation to her and we more or less agreed that Gjalund is probably a safer bet than playing stowaway. Shame. The risk of drowning would've been almost worth the trip. To be honest, two hundred and fifty drakes is an alright price considering I'm not going to a particularly popular location, but I'm still feeling a bit stingy.
Ah, whatever. Maybe I'll think of something else tomorrow. Not like anyone will be leaving anytime soon. Since Malborn left, Ambarys was kind enough to let me shack up on the second floor, where Malborn himself stayed. At the very least I'm glad to have a bed under my ass tonight instead of a cold wooden floor.
The door to the New Gnisis Cornerclub opened with a quiet creak and Ambarys lifted his eyes. Immediately, he scowled. Nords rarely visited his establishment, and even that was too often for his liking. He made no effort to hide his disdain as he welcomed the patron with the least welcoming tone he could muster: "Come slumming to the Grey Quarter, have you? We've got no rooms for our own, let alone your kind."
Lygrleid snorted as he stepped up to the counter. The cornerclub was basically empty at this hour of the night, so he didn't have to worry about any of the other patrons giving him the side-eye. "Easy there, man. Last I heard, this place was a tavern. Or does gold smell different from a Nord's hand?"
Ambarys clicked his tongue. "Money first. Had enough of you bastards doing a runner on me before." The Nord shrugged and took the purse off his belt, placing the whole thing down on the counter. Ambarys looked at the money, then at the man. "...hmph. Your order?"
"The most expensive thing that'll buy me," Lygrleid said, pointing at the purse on the table. Ambarys raised an eyebrow and picked it up in his hand, weighing it. It was quite hefty, and the gold looked genuine. He'd have to count to be sure, but… well, he was running a relatively small establishment, and there were precious few drinks that were this expensive.
"As you wish," he grumbled, taking the coin with him. Lygrleid only flashed him a polite smile as the barkeep turned around and went to the back.
Once the door closed behind him, the Nord once again took a moment to scan his surroundings to confirm there was nobody else in the establishment. With that knowledge, he got up and stepped over to the staircase on the far end of the tavern. The stairs creaked unpleasantly in spite of his best efforts and he glanced back to make sure Ambarys didn't notice. If he were quick and quiet, this could be done in just a few moments.
The second floor was much less finely decorated than the main interior. It was obviously not meant for public use. The only furniture of note was a table standing by the window, a closet, and a couple of beds on the far end of the chamber, though only one of them was occupied. Lygrleid stepped closer and took the dagger off his belt with stiff motion. His eyes, once friendly and polite, were blank and unfocused, not a hint of emotion showing in his expression.
Then, that expression twisted into a pained grimace as Serana caught his wrist mid-swing.
"Go!" The vampire called out. The man heard the closet doors suddenly swing open behind him. Before he had the time to register what was happening, he felt the edge of Saya's sword press to his throat and his knees kicked out, forcing him to the ground. Serana squeezed his wrist with more force, making him drop the weapon to the floor as she stood up. "Should we interrogate him?"
"I wouldn't bother. Folks like him don't make a lick of sense, if they talk at all." Saya lifted her eyes up to Serana. "But if you think your thing is gonna work on him, he's all yours."
The vampire nodded and moved closer to the man's face. In spite of his situation, Lygrleid didn't appear particularly afraid - angered at being caught off guard, of course, but there wasn't even a hint of fear in his eyes. Serana attempted to make eye contact with him and he suddenly jerked his head away, growling. The vampire exchanged a brief look with Saya, who looked as surprised as she was.
It was only when Serana grabbed his head with both hands and forced him to look straight towards her that she managed to activate her magic and Lygrleid stopped fighting back. Slowly, Saya released her grasp on the Nord, allowing him to go slack and sit on the floor. Now that he was subdued, there was still the interrogation to take care of, but frankly she barely knew where to begin. His face did look vaguely familiar, but…
"What in Malacath's arse is going on here?!" The two women turned to the staircase and saw a very unhappy Ambarys staring at them with mad eyes. "I left for just a minute, what- what is he doing here?!" He pointed accusingly towards Lygrleid, who did not react in any discernible way. In fact, he didn't seem to acknowledge much of anything in his current state.
"Lucky for you, that's exactly what we were about to ask," Saya quipped. It did little to dispel the tension, but Ambarys did lower the bottle he was holding threateningly over his head. With him taken care of, Saya turned to Serana, who was kneeling in front of the pacified Nord. "Right?"
"I wouldn't be too certain about that," Serana muttered. Her expression was troubled to say the least, her hands tapping the man's face to see if he would respond in any way. "I have never seen a reaction like this before. Whatever compulsion this man was under, it must've been incredibly powerful…"
Hearing that, Ambarys decided to walk up and leaned over Serana's shoulder. Eyes glazed over, jaw slack, limbs hanging limply by his sides. The Dunmer's brows furrowed. "Is he…?"
"Dead?" Saya asked. "Shouldn't be. Unless…?" She looked towards Serana, who shook her head as she felt for his pulse.
"He is most certainly still alive. He does not appear to be asleep, either. He's simply… not there." Serana frowned, thinking. Not sure what else she could do, she asked: "What is your name? Where did you come from?"
Finally, there was a reaction. Lygrleid's body jerked and his eyes twitched, almost like they'd rolled back into his skull and he wasn't sure how to put them back properly. Serana felt a chill run down her back as he looked at her. His dry lips cracked as they turned into a smile just a smidge too wide to be possible. And then, he spoke:
"You ask too many questions."
Before she could react, she felt a sharp sensation at her side as he picked the dagger off the floor and plunged it into her torso. Ambarys recoiled in horror as Lygrleid turned towards him, that same hollow grin on his face as he pulled the knife back and rose to his feet. At that moment, Ambarys finally remembered the bottle in his hand and threw it in the Nord's general direction - only for him to swipe it out of the air with unnatural speed and toss it aside with an amused laugh.
"H-Help! Get him away from me!" Ambarys cried out as he backed up into a wall. Lygrleid almost seemed to enjoy it before he was distracted by the sound of heavy footsteps coming up behind him. He barely turned his head in time to catch a glimpse of Saya as she swung Stormblade with both hands. The next instant, his head and his body dropped to the floor as separate parts.
For a few seconds, nobody was willing to speak. Ambarys was still trying to steady his nerves when he suddenly remembered Serana, who was holding a hand over the wound in her side. Was it just his imagination, or did she look a bit paler now than she usually was?
"Bloody hell…" Saya cursed as she kicked the corpse. Blood was still squirting from the fresh cut, staining the wood. She looked at Ambarys with a questioning look. "Well, what are you standing around for? You want this shit to leak through the ceiling?"
Ambarys blinked, shaken out of his stupor by the sheer audacity of the question. Though at the same time, he couldn't deny that she had a point. He glanced back at the body, then at the two of them, then at the shattered remains of a perfectly good bottle of twenty year old flin, and sighed. "You have a lot of explaining to do, f'lah." He shook his head as he walked past her, heading downstairs.
Saya watched him leave until she was sure he was out of earshot and then turned to Serana. "You okay?" She asked. Serana lifted her hand, showing her perfectly healed side. Saya smiled. "Good. Now…" She turned towards the corpse. "What the hell was that? Wasn't he supposed to be completely pacified?"
Serana's smile faded. "Not… exactly." She walked up to the corpse, kneeling down next to the head. "This is the magic we use to make thralls. He was supposed to be charmed - that is, made very receptive to suggestion. But what I saw… It was like it did the opposite. Forget suggestion, he became unreceptive to… well, everything."
"Could he have broken out of the charm?" Saya crossed her arms and the vampire rubbed her chin, thinking for a moment.
"In theory, though few people are strong enough to overpower such magic. Especially if they are not mages, themselves." Serana rose to her feet, wiping the dirt off her hands. "But this was different. When a charm spell fails, the target usually visibly struggles to reconcile the illusion imposed on them with the reality their mind is familiar with. Then, the person returns to normal." She turned to Saya. "There was no struggle. Maybe for the first second or two, at most. But after that… I honestly don't know."
"Hmm…" Saya squinted, unsure of how to respond. The longer she looked at the man, the more she got the feeling that she had seen him somewhere before. Then, a flash of recognition. "I saw this guy today. The docks. He's one of Gjalund's crew."
"Are you sure?" Serana's eyes widened. If what she was saying was true, then that would mean Gjalund himself could be involved - if not directly complicit. On top of that, Saya's description of his odd behavior did little to ease her worries. "What should we do?"
Saya hummed as she picked up the head by the hair and looked at it more closely. Something about the Nord's expression left her feeling a bit uneasy even now, knowing that he was dead. "Well, step one would be getting rid of the body. Don't want the guards getting a run of this place," she grumbled. Then just as casually, she handed the severed head over to Serana. In response to her confused stare, she said: "Put this in a sack or something. Going to give Gjalund a show tomorrow." She then stepped away, heading for the stairs.
"And… where are you going?" Serana asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice. Saya paused and turned to the vampire, putting her sword on her shoulder.
"I'm gonna go help out our friend with his search downstairs. Maybe crack open a bottle, I'm sure he'd appreciate a drinking buddy right about now… and in the meantime, you can do- y'know." She mimed a biting motion, nodding towards the body. Serana raised an amused eyebrow. "What? Can't exactly go hunting in the middle of the city, can we?" She chuckled.
With those words, Saya disappeared downstairs and Serana was left alone, holding a severed head in her hands. She kept staring at it with a sort of morbid fascination before all but dropping it to the floor with a shudder. Her attention immediately turned to, as Saya advised, searching for a sack or a bag to put away the remains so she wouldn't have to look at that face for even a moment longer.
It would take her a few hours to realize that the thing making her so uncomfortable was not the face itself, but the expression frozen on it at the moment of death - the man looked barely inconvenienced.
Fredas, the 9th of Morning Star, 4E202
I was going to write this yesterday, but I desperately needed to sleep. B'vek, who sends assassins at four in the morning? I get the practical benefit, don't get me wrong, but at four in the morning? That's just insult to injury at that point. Now neither of us get any sleep.
Ugh. Anyway. We got rid of the body easy enough. I burnt it for good measure before we dumped it into the sewers somewhere. The bloodstains would've been the real trouble, but by the time we got back Serana already had the place squeaky clean. I say we were lucky that it was so late and Ambarys was too exhausted to question it. We went straight to sleep afterwards.
Note to aspiring adventurers: "it's magic" is apparently a valid excuse to get away with a lot of shit.
I got some breakfast in the morning, though I think Ambarys charged me more than last time. Can't blame him. We talked a little bit about what happened yesterday, about who that guy was and how he came in. He told me he walked in like any other patron and ordered a drink, then went for the kill the moment Ambarys was distracted.
That… struck me as a little odd. If he really wanted no witnesses, he could've just as easily killed Ambarys in the back of the store - but he was after me, specifically. And then after he started acting all Sheogorath-touched upstairs, it was like he forgot I was there at all. Just to make sure, I asked Ambarys if he noticed anything particularly strange about him when they were talking. He was almost offended at first, but after giving it a bit of thought, he told me that the guy seemed to talk differently when he first ordered his drink and when he was fighting us upstairs. Almost like it wasn't him talking.
I don't know what's worse at this point - the growing pile of questions I want to ask Gjalund or the fact that I know he can't answer any of them.
"Saya, are you sure this is a good idea?" Serana's eyes darted around nervously as she followed Saya around the docks. The Dragonborn was walking forward with quick, determined steps. In her arms, she held two small sacks - though one of them very obviously pulled more of Serana's attention than the other. "You are barely three days out of the dungeons, if the guards get involved…"
"Then Ulfric will get a piece of my mind," Saya finished the sentence curtly and Serana pursed her lips. The vampire knew already there was no talking her out of this once she made up her mind, but this kind of blackmail in broad daylight felt more than a little risky to attempt.
The risks, however, were the last thing on Saya's mind - Gjalund was her only ticket to Solstheim as far as she was concerned, and she'd be damned if she let this one chance go to waste. She stepped onto the ship with a heavy step, wearing full armor and equipment unlike yesterday's visit. A couple of the shipmates began to whisper among themselves, eyes turning to the peculiar elf walking around the ship like she owns the place.
Luckily, a ship of this size wasn't too hard to navigate, and soon enough she found the captain standing at the helm. "Ah, good day-" he tried to greet her. Saya cut him off with a gesture as she stepped up towards him.
"I'm here about what we discussed yesterday," she said in a low tone. In response to Gjalund's perplexed look, she passed him the first bag. Serana fidgeted nervously as the coin jingled within. "Payment for passage. Two hundred and fifty gold. You're taking me to Raven Rock, today."
By now, Gjalund Salt-Sea looked completely and utterly lost. Both Saya and Serana were staring him down intently, looking for any unnatural change in expression, regardless of how minute it was. Nothing. For now. "I- What? I don't…" He stammered as he took the bag from Saya's hand and opened it. His breath got stuck in his throat when he saw the coin inside. He quickly closed the sack, clearing his throat. "…look, I'm sorry but you must understand my position - my men and I just came back from a week at sea, they need rest and-"
"Oh, I know all about your men and how they 'rest'. Believe me." Serana swallowed a lump in her throat as Saya passed him the sack in her other hand. Gjalund looked at her with confusion before he placed the gold down onto the deck and took it and opened it. His eyes went wide with horror as he saw the contents and slowly looked up at Saya, whose expression was completely unchanged. "I got a friendly visit from one of them tonight… though I'm not sure if my companion here would agree, after ending up with a knife in her gut."
Gjalund went pale. "I- I don't know what you're talking about, I swear I wasn't-" Saya shook her head and wrapped one arm around his shoulder, pulling him close.
"Now-now, no need to cause a ruckus… Or do you want the whole city to hear you've been harboring an assassin on your ship?" Saya nudged the man and looked him in the eye with a knowing smile. Still no sign of that blankness from yesterday. Good. "Because let me tell you something: this is not the first one." Gjalund turned to her sharply. His expression was seeped with horrified disbelief. Saya nodded calmly. "Yep. Your little trips to Raven Rock, and your unexpected little passengers? They've been giving me a whole lot of headaches. I'm sure you weren't involved though, right?"
Gjalund shook his head frantically. "N-No, of course not! I had no idea that…" His voice was shaking, his eyes darting around to his crew, to the other people at the docks. Unfortunately, he could see precious little with Serana standing right before him, her attentive gaze set on him and him alone. "…l-look, I promise, I had nothing to do with this, just don't hurt me."
"Hurt you? I'm not gonna hurt you, why would I do that?" Saya chuckled and patted him on the back, perhaps with a little more force than warranted. She stepped back, giving him a little space to breathe, and took the bag with the severed head out of his hands. "I already told you exactly what I want - I want you to take me to Raven Rock. Today."
Gjalund looked at her for a few long seconds, not knowing how to respond. His hands were still shaking a bit, his eyes drifting to the burlap sack in her hands every few moments. Cold sweat was starting to appear on his forehead. "I… I'll have to ask my crew. If they're not ready, then…"
"Gjalund," Saya called out. He lifted his eyes and saw Saya looking him directly in the eye, the sweetest smile on her face. "I wasn't asking. You're a captain, and that means it's your job to make sure your men fall in line. Now if you'll excuse me…" She lifted the bag in her hand and shook it around a bit, both Serana and Gjalund watching her do so with terrified eyes. "I have some trash I need to take out before our trip. Whether it ends up in a ditch or in the evidence chest of the Windhelm guard is entirely up to you. Do you understand what I am saying?"
The man stared at her silently for another moment before he swallowed nervously and finally nodded. "I'll… I'll talk to the men. We'll be departing in two hours."
Saya smiled and turned around, slinging the bag over her shoulder. "That's a good man."
Ah, how I love it when people are nice and reasonable. Didn't even need to haggle. I guess I'd better go eat something, I doubt they have a cook on board. Hope the weather is good, wouldn't want to throw up overboard.
Smooth sailing. Ten fucking hours of it, but it was relatively smooth. The weather was fine, no accidents. We did run across a whale and had to make a small detour but otherwise, all went as well as it could given the circumstances.
It was… what, around nine in the evening that we got to Raven Rock? I honestly couldn't tell. With all the ash clouds in the sky, you can barely tell day from night. Now that reminds me of home. I wonder if it clears up more often here than in Blacklight - I would sure hope so. It's damn cold up here, and getting outfitted is probably going to cost me quite the pretty drake.
Anyway, Solstheim! Nice place. Definitely feels like a piece of home in a foreign land. Or I guess not foreign, since it technically belongs to House Redoran - though then again, what doesn't these days? We got shell houses, ash, bonemold guards, alcohol so bitter it makes your face implode, more ash, food grown in said ash, a weird stone just outside of town that I'm pretty sure was glowing, normal-sized insects instead of those creepy little ones, and… ash.
Did I mention there's ash? Because now I really regret not buying myself a scarf to replace the one I lost at Darkwater. Might have to start wearing one of those dragon priest masks just to keep that shit out of my mouth.
As for Raven Rock itself, there isn't much to say. It's a mining town, or used to be one. There's a decent amount of houses, one big tavern that doubles as a decently sized inn, a temple to the Saints and Reclamations, a bathhouse, a farm… oh, and there's the council and the guardhouse. Probably a few other things I missed on the way, but I wasn't looking particularly hard.
We pretty much made a straight line from the port to the inn - the Retching Netch, it's called. Bet there's a story about that one. The rent was decent. A little expensive, but apparently it also covers food, so it's up early for breakfast tomorrow. Fine by me, I suppose. The dinner was good, and I don't have a kitchen to borrow nor the mental energy to wrestle with ash yams until they're edible.
Besides, it looks like this place has a big old pot of forever stew brewing in the back, and that thing is different just about everywhere they make it. I'm kind of curious to see what that's gonna taste like.
Loredas, the 10th of Morning Star, 4E202
Saya sat down at the counter with all the grace of a newborn nix-hound that hadn't learned how to walk yet. To say she looked disheveled would be a mild understatement - her hair was an unbrushed mess, heavy bags sagged under her half-closed eyes, and her displeased grimace was only broken by the occasional tired yawn. In spite of the hearty supper, the warm bed, and the overwhelming exhaustion weighing her down ever since she got off that stupid ship, not a wink of sleep was had tonight.
"Rough night, eh?" The owner of the establishment, a fine Dunmer man in his middle years by the name of Geldis Sadri, turned to her with a sympathetic smile. Saya looked at him with tired eyes, earning a light chuckle from the innkeeper. "All the new arrivals on Solstheim get that way. You get used to it after a few days."
Saya hummed in acknowledgement. "I'll take your word for it," she mumbled, propping her head up against the counter. She woke up in cold sweat three times that night. The first time, she thought it was just the usual nightmares plaguing her, but she soon abandoned that notion. Even by her standards, they felt too vivid. Yet the moment she opened her eyes - all gone.
Saya's ear twitched as she heard a door creak open down the hallway. She lifted her eyes and saw Serana walk up to her and pull up a seat. Unlike her, the vampire actually took the time to get her appearance in order before stepping outside their room. There wasn't a hint of exhaustion on her face - although given her lack of need to sleep, that was a given - and her hair was tied back into a simple half-ponytail, leaving her bangs to hang around her pale face.
"Good morning," Serana said and gave a slight bow to Geldis, which he returned. Her courteous smile faded slightly when she turned to the Dragonborn, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you feeling alright? You don't look so well."
Saya grumbled incoherently in response and rested her head on Serana's shoulder. "Meh. 'm tired. And hungry." She opened one eye to look at the barkeep, who threw a glance around the rest of the establishment. It was still a little early, but the regulars would be showing up soon. As good a time as any to start serving breakfast. Drovas could take over later.
"Coming right up, sera." He stepped around the counter, grabbing an apron on the way. Saya followed him with a lazy look. Once he vanished out of sight, she closed her eyes again, now fully leaning onto Serana.
"I could fall asleep like this," she mumbled quietly. Serana smiled.
"Then your breakfast would get cold."
"Can't you just wake me up?"
"I could. Would you like me to eat it for you, as well?" Saya lifted her head slightly, once again opening one eye to glare at the vampire. She responded with a knowing smirk, lightly nudging the Dragonborn off herself until she finally sat straight.
"You're such a heartless shrew sometimes, you know that?" Saya grumbled as she stretched, popping her neck and back in a way that made her groan with satisfaction. Serana giggled and turned away, looking around the cornerclub while they waited. It gave off quite a different feeling from the one in Windhelm, though Serana couldn't decide which one she preferred yet.
A couple of minutes later, Geldis returned with two large bowls of a steaming hot orange-brown liquid and placed them down on the counter. Serana blinked, unsure of what to make of the dish. Its scent was almost overwhelming to her sensitive nose, the texture was thick enough for her spoon to stand up straight with no support - and what in the world was that meat swimming in there? Was that meat at all? It certainly didn't appear to be a vegetable, there were roots and yams swimming around next to it…
Serana looked to her left, where Saya was cheerfully devouring her portion. When she stopped to catch a small break, she licked her lips and grinned. "I say, serjo - if this is the stuff your netch is retching, you best give it a raise."
Both Serana and Geldis blinked, processing her words. Then the innkeeper burst out laughing as he got the joke. "I'll be sure to pass on the compliment. Though I don't know if Drovas will appreciate it as much as I do," he said, still chuckling.
Saya shrugged. "Tough crowd." Then she glanced over at the vampire, who still hasn't touched her stew. She smiled sympathetically. "I promise it tastes a lot better than it looks."
Serana looked at the contents of her bowl, then at Saya, then back at her bowl. She took a deep breath to steel her nerves and picked up her spoon. She was just about to try and come up with some witty comment about poisoning when she remembered she was immune to poisons - most of them, anyway. So instead, she simply put the spoonful of stew in her mouth and prepared for the worst… only for her expression to gradually lighten up as she actually processed the complex flavor. "Huh. This is… Hm."
"Different, right?" Saya chuckled at Serana's journey of expressions as she continued to deliberate, and then went for a second taste. Saya turned to the innkeeper. "How long has this one been going?"
Geldis stroked his beard, thinking. "Hmm… Around two or three months now, though I'd have to ask Drovas to be sure. There's no one getting sick around here, if that's what you're asking." He looked at her suspiciously and she lifted both arms apprehensively, shaking her head.
"Wouldn't dream of it." She leaned forward, picking at her stew with more measured spoonfuls now that she was done with the initial gorging. "Though on the topic of sickness - what's the story behind 'the Retching Netch'? Is there a story there or…?"
Serana could've sworn the man's eyes lit up when he heard the question. "You best believe there is, friend. The name is a somewhat recent change, actually. A few years ago we were called… ah, it doesn't matter. So, a few years ago I was walking down the docks and saw one of my regulars staggering along with a bottle of sujamma. He was a heavy drinker, that one, so I wasn't too surprised to see him like that. But then… he ran into a netch."
Saya was listening to the story with genuine interest, leaning against the counter with her elbow. Then, as the story was just about to get to the interesting part, Serana quickly interjected: "Um- excuse me?" Both Dunmer turned towards her. "What is a 'netch', exactly?"
It took them both a moment to process her words, at which point Saya remembered that Serana was perhaps the only person in the entire inn who wasn't raised in Morrowind. "Netches, netches… How do I even describe them- you know jellyfish?" Serana blinked slowly. "...okay, you don't know jellyfish. Shit, uhh…"
"Ever seen an octopus before?" Geldis asked. Serana made a face, rubbing her neck awkwardly.
"Only in books. Why, are they similar?" She glanced between the two of them. Saya put down her spoon and turned to her full-body.
"So imagine an octopus, right?" Serana paused for a moment, then nodded. "Right. Now imagine if that octopus was massive, like the size of an ox." Serana recoiled slightly but nodded again, this time slower. "Good. Now, imagine that its back… or top, I guess, is covered completely in these heavy bone plates, and the rest of it is made of translucent jelly that glows. Also, it can fly."
Serana stared at her unblinkingly for a few long, silent seconds. "You…" She paused, laughing awkwardly. She looked at Geldis, who nodded back, confirming her words with zero hesitation. "That's… That cannot be real, can it?"
Saya snorted, turning back to her stew. "Well, you'll just have to see for yourself if you don't believe me. I remember when I first saw one…" Then she suddenly remembered they were in the middle of something and turned to Geldis. "Oh right, sorry, you were saying?"
"Hm? Oh, yes." Geldis cleared his throat and recomposed himself, leaning on the counter for emphasis. "So as I said, this guy was a known drunk so seeing him straggling about was nothing unusual. But see, that day was his birthday, so he was as naked as a newborn and singing horribly at the top of his lungs. So this netch floated over from the Bulwark, and at that point I'm just watching the spectacle, I- I don't even know if I should call someone or anything."
At that point, Saya leaned over and whispered into Serana's ear: "Oh by the way, they're venomous." Serana stopped mid-chew and wordlessly stared at the Dragonborn with the most horrified look. Saya pretended not to notice, snickering behind her hand.
"So this man, he looks straight up at this netch- and this is a full-grown bull netch, this wasn't some calf that got lost, and it's just staring him down at this point. And he looks up at it, yells 'have a drink' and tosses the bottle… and it never hits the ground." He paused, looking at the pair's faces with a knowing smirk, their expressions cycling through a whole range of bafflement, terror, glee, and morbid curiosity. He chuckled. This one gets them every time.
Serana swallowed nervously. "So… what did the netch do? Was it angry?"
"Well. It probably would've been, if it were any other bottle he threw at it," he said scratching the back of his head. "But, that there was sujamma. And really strong sujamma. And he threw it really hard."
Saya raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
"Meaning the bottle shattered, and the netch must've swallowed most of the contents because it completely forgot about the fellow and started flying all tilted. I watched it float around for a while until it started glowing weird and making these… sounds, like it was belching. I've seen plenty of drunks in my day, and I'll tell you right now - that netch was drunk off its tits." Geldis chuckled, shaking his head. "Anyway, this whole thing ended when it finally stopped and began to quiver. Then a few moments later, the foulest-smelling liquid to ever assail your nostrils spewed from its maw. Some of the guards even came running to see what caused it and make it stop. And… that's where I got it." He clasped his hands together, looking at both of his patrons with a smile. "The retching netch. Seconds?"
It was at that point that Saya and Serana both suddenly remembered they were sitting at a bar counter, with bowls of food still in front of them. The vampire awkwardly reached for the stew and went back to eating, still processing the story. Saya on the other hand stared ahead blankly before sighing dramatically. "I wish my birthdays were that exciting."
Geldis laughed as he wiped down the counter and gave her some kind of witty reply, while Serana's spoon stopped midway through its journey to her mouth. Suddenly, a thought occurred - did she even know when Saya's birthday was? She continued eating the stew in silence while contemplating how to breach the topic. Would it be awkward to ask her directly? They've known each other for a couple of months now, this should've been common knowledge. Did she really never mention it before? What if she tried thinking really hard about it? What if-
"Sunshine?" Serana suddenly heard Saya's voice coming from right beside her as the Dragonborn leaned over and looked at her face. "Whatever that stew has done to you, I'm sure it doesn't deserve the death glare you're giving it right now. Everything alright?"
Serana flinched at the proximity, nearly dropping her spoon in the process. "A-Ah, no, I was just- thinking about something," she stammered and laughed awkwardly. Once the initial shock had passed, she said a bit more quietly: "It has just occurred to me that… I don't believe I know your birthday. When is it?"
"Oh." Saya blinked, chuckling. "Is that all? It's the 17th of Sun's Dusk. Like I said, already passed." She gave an awkward smile and shrugged like it was no big deal. Then, as she was about to try some more stew herself, she asked off-handedly: "When's yours?"
Serana had to actually stop and think for a moment about it. She hummed, rubbing her chin. By the gods, it has been a long time since she's actually celebrated it properly… "I believe it's not too far off. It's in Morning Star, on the… eleventh?"
Upon hearing her reply, Saya's brows knitted as she chewed on a piece of meat she fished out of her bowl. 11th of Morning Star… why does that sound familiar? She continued eating, trying to figure out what about that date tickled her brain so.
Just as she was about to swallow another spoonful, Geldis piped up. "Oh, tomorrow?"
She promptly spat out her stew all over the counter.
Tomorrow. TOMORROW.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck what do I do fuck I didn't expect this I don't even have anything planned! And there's still so much to do, I'm losing my bloody mind. Gods, there isn't even anywhere to take her to! I guess there's still the stupid gift I made ages ago, if the blasted thing is still in wearing condition. Blights spare me, this is the worst possible moment. I'm going to panic. I'm actually panicking. I don't even know what she likes or what she would want to do for her birthday, and I would probably sooner immolate than ask her directly.
Shit. Well, I guess I have the rest of the day to figure out something. Wonder if there's time for a breakdown in that busy schedule… Oh, wait, I already had one this week. Bloody shitshow.
It's been a few hours. Feeling better now.
We went to this Glover fellow first. I figured that if we're going out into the ashen wastes we might as well gear up accordingly. And it's still very much winter, so it won't be getting warmer anytime soon. It was a bit surprising to see a human here, though I guess I'm traveling with one so I'm not one to talk. Geldis talked about him with some respect. He's been on Solstheim for years and apparently he's been nothing if not reliable.
I admit, I don't exactly like the way his face changed when I gave him the sapphire. I explained the situation and he still seemed a bit apprehensive, but decided to help out. He asked me to leave my armor here and he would see what kind of additions it needs. There used to be a proper tailor around here who worked with fabrics and leathers, but he apparently disappeared some weeks ago to that big stone just outside the city.
So naturally, we decided to go there next.
It was a short walk, relatively speaking. Some ten minutes away from town, though a bit off the beaten path - or at least, if there used to be a road here then it's probably long buried in the ash. Anyway, on a small… I don't know if calling it a peninsula is fitting, it's pretty tiny, but on a small peninsula at the southwest edge of Solstheim there's this big fucking monolith. I noticed it from a distance as we were coming into port, but didn't quite realize how big it was. It's just this thick pillar of faintly glowing black stone that's… I don't know, some twenty meters tall?
More importantly, there's a shrine around the damn thing. I thought Raven Rock felt empty for a town of its size, but I didn't expect to find what looks like a good dozen people in various stages of exhaustion hammering away and chanting monotonously under their breaths. Serana and I tried talking to some of them, but they wouldn't even look in our direction. It's like there wasn't anything but work occupying their minds. Not even food or drink, or even rest. I saw a couple of corpses in the ground nearby, but not one of them had wounds. I think they were just… spent.
And perhaps the most unsettling part is that nobody knows a damn thing about it. We came back to town later and decided to ask around, but none of the denizens at Raven Rock had any recollection of the shrine, but it's definitely recent. It didn't look finished, not by a long shot, but nobody remembered who started the construction, or what the shrine is even for.
The only lead so far is that the stone at the center is something called the Earth Stone - some kind of ancient artifact of the Skaal, a secluded tribe of Nords that live in a village to the north of here. We'll have to pay them a visit whenever Glover is done tinkering with my stuff.
Hope their welcome is warmer than their southern friends.
Saya and Serana walked through Raven Rock in silence. There was much to talk about, and even more to think on, but no subject seemed more important to broach than the other. Saya's expression was grim. The comments of the locals stuck with her in a way that rubbed her wrong. If Gjalund and his crew were any indication, then the entirety of Raven Rock could be in danger - and that's to say nothing of the two of them, considering how their last night in Windhelm went.
And then there were the dreams…
Saya glanced at Serana. She hadn't really spoken to her about tonight, but she considered it more than a couple of times. There was something off about those nightmares she saw. She could say they 'felt too real', but after hours of musing she knew that didn't cut it. It was the fact that she realized they were real - that even before she awoke, she understood there was something wrong, and yet… There was nothing. No recollection of the dream itself remained. Only the faint echo of an invisible weight pressing down on her mind like an anchor, slowly sinking her deeper and deeper and…
"HELP! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"
Saya snapped out of her thoughts as a cry rang out from the front gates. No words were exchanged as both Saya and Serana took off towards the source, running past a few terrified onlookers who recognized the voice. Luckily, Saya hadn't left any of her weapons with the smith, so she held Stormblade at the ready by the time they reached the city entrance. There, they saw two Redoran guards fighting a losing battle, one of them pushing back a robed Dunmer who seemed positively terrified.
At a glance, one might've thought they were fighting people, but a closer look revealed an opponent much more unsettling. The creatures were barely humanoid, like awkward sculptures of an amateur artist with only a vague idea of what a person is supposed to be. Their bodies were solid ash, pale and featureless except for their screaming faces and their chests, from which a faint crimson glow pulsed with their each movement. In their misshapen hands they each held weapons from the same solidified substance that comprised their bodies, linked together by the very energy that animated them.
"Civilians? What are you-" the guard didn't finish his sentence as one of the ash spawn brought its jagged club down unto his shoulder, sending cracks through the armor. As the creature wound up for a second swing, Saya interrupted the wind-up by striking its arm - and was surprised to find it incredibly soft, her blade cleaving through like it were sand. The creature stumbled back, caught off-balance by the intrusion, but soon its head turned to face her instead. A low hiss emanated from its mouth as its eyes burned brighter, and Saya watched the severed arm reconnect with the shoulder in mere moments.
"Behind you!" Saya's ear twitched from Serana's voice at her back and she stepped aside. Immediately afterwards, a bolt of ice came hurling past where she just was, piercing the glowing center of the spawn's chest. The creature's hiss grew louder, almost like a voiceless roar. It reached out towards Serana and she pulled her hand back, recalling the ice spike into her grasp. In an instant, the light vanished from its eyes and the body dissolved into dust.
"Aim for the chest! Without their hearts, they crumble!" Captain Veleth called out from beside them. Saya turned and saw the man locked in a fight with three other spawn - two of them engaged in melee while another kept to the back and gathered clouds of smoldering ash at its fingertips.
Having acquired a new target, Serana released the spike at the one in the rear. The creature recoiled from the blow, its magic dissipating as it slowly turned to the vampire and attempted to shamble in her direction. With a snap of her fingers, Serana then detonated the projectile, blasting a frozen hole in the spawn's chest and leaving it to dissipate.
Veleth was about to comment on the kill when one of the ash spawn before him landed a strike with its hammer-like weapon, throwing him off balance. The other would've followed up if not for a quick cut from Saya, bisecting the creature. She carried the momentum into a downward slash aimed at its ally, yet suddenly found the not-flesh much more resistant now that its owner knew where the blow was coming from.
Without pulling back the blade, she turned around and kicked the bottom half from under the bisected ash spawn. Captain Veleth pressed the advantage and raised his axe high before bringing it down in a thundering blow that crushed whatever core was powering the creature.
Then Saya grabbed Stormblade and spun around, slamming its pommel in the ash spawn's skull. Predictably, it hardened in preparation for the blow - and so she immediately plunged her free hand into its chest, her fingers sinking into the ash with next to no resistance. The energy surged within her system, called to her fingertips by a thought.
And finally, it released in a point-blank blast, blowing out the creature's back as a fist-sized chunk of red rock fell down onto the ground, smoking and glowing. The last of the ash spawn had fallen.
"Everyone alright?" Saya called out, finally having a moment to assess the situation. Aside from herself and Serana there were four people present. She frowned, kneeling next to one of the guards. Well, three people and a corpse. The man's bonemold armor was chipped and discolored, like a bug carcass thrown into a crackling fire. The other two guards were in more passable states, though not entirely unharmed either.
"Yes, thank you." The first to respond was Captain Veleth, whom Saya recognized from when she first came to Raven Rock. He was a bald, somewhat gruff-looking Dunmer with a full beard and thick brows that made him look perpetually angry in spite of his actual character. "Though… I wish the same could be said for all of us." He tossed a glance to the corpse next to Saya and shook his head.
"We're lucky to have gotten away with that much," the robed young man spoke as he knelt next to the wounded, but still-living soldier. Through the crack in his armor, one could see the flesh sizzling and withering where the burning ashes landed. "He'll live. Though that burn needs a better look without the armor in the way." The guard nodded shakily, his breath heavy under his helmet. The robed Dunmer then turned around to face the new arrivals, introducing himself: "I am Talvas, of Tel Mithryn. You two seem quite capable, are you looking for work by any chance?"
Saya raised an eyebrow. Tel Mithryn. Telvanni, here? She exchanged a quick skeptical glance with Serana. "I'm Saya. Mind explaining what happened here, first?" She nodded to the sizable piles of half-formed ash, some of them still retaining a vaguely humanoid shape.
Captain Veleth responded before Talvas could. "They're ash spawn. Or at least that's what we've taken to calling them. They've been appearing on the island for as long as we've been here, maybe even longer," he explained as he walked up to join the conversation. He had a noticeable limp, but even with the injured leg he was still quite a lot taller than Saya. "In recent months, they've gotten more aggressive. Started attacking farms and homes outside the Bulwark. Councilor Morvayn asked House Telvanni for help with investigating the cause of this." He gestured to Talvas, who bowed politely.
"I'm the help. Fortunately, we- or rather, I've been able to find the source of the ash spawn fairly quickly." He gave a cocky smile at that. Saya and Serana remained unfazed. The smile faded and he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Unfortunately, I couldn't take care of the source on my own. I'm not exactly a fighter, and there were far too many of these things to take them on alone. I was going to deliver the information to Captain Veleth and hopefully recruit some of the Redoran Guard for help, but, well…" Talvas gestured generally at everything.
"You're not one of my men, outlander." Saya turned to Captain Veleth as he addressed her. "If you've got the mind to help, I can arrange for Councilor Morvayn to reward you. But with the situation being what it is, I can't just leave Raven Rock behind, and I'd hate to lose more Redoran Guard."
Saya deliberated for a few moments. More gold never hurt, but these ash spawn could very quickly become overwhelming. She turned to Serana, speaking in a hushed tone. "What do you think?"
Serana glanced back at the two men staring at them expectantly. "They seem reasonable. Though if we are to venture out, we might stumble into these ash spawn either way."
Saya nodded. "Better to get paid then not, I guess." She stepped back, and then said at a normal volume: "Alright, we're game. How pressing is this?"
Captain Veleth glanced at Talvas, who rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Uh… Well, the sooner we get going the better, obviously. I'm in no hurry, myself, but if more ash spawn show up then it'd be better to make the first move."
Saya nodded and pointed back in the direction of Raven Rock. "We're staying at the Retching Netch. Should be ready to go tomorrow. Either of you care for a drink?"
"As much as I'd like one," Veleth said, grimacing a bit as more guards finally showed up. "I think I have paperwork to take care of, and wounds to attend to. Well met." He nodded them both goodbye and quickly retreated. Saya turned to Talvas and he immediately raised his arms apprehensively.
"Ah- I'm afraid I don't drink." Saya raised a suspicious eyebrow. Talvas laughed nervously. "It's a rule, my apologies. My master wouldn't allow it. Speaking of which, I best report to him as soon as possible. He is not a very patient man." He said, slowly backing away before he turned around and said: "I'll come back tomorrow morning, I promise! Until then!" Serana mustered a polite, if very stunned wave while Saya simply watched the Dunmer disappear around the hill.
With that, just as suddenly as the pair ended up at the city entrance, they were left standing there alone. "I hate it here," Saya mumbled. Serana could only hum sympathetically.
And just like that, my entire schedule is suddenly loaded again. We have weird ash monsters, a Nord village Seht-knows-where, stones that enslave people around them, and… Telvanni mages, apparently. And that's not to mention the cultists that have been curiously absent so far - not that I want to jinx it. I need less things on my plate, not more.
I bought a map of the island and decided to start marking things off. Some of the important places are already printed - like Raven Rock, the Skaal village, and Tel Mithryn. I crossed off the Earth Stone as well. I'm also seeing some roads, though I doubt much is left of them with the ashes and whatnot. The map is dated… Ayem's mercy, twenty years back? Has nobody thought to go chart the damn place in two decades? Bloody hell.
Anyway, I think I'm going to get a drink and bed down for the night. I'm starting to get a headache from all this, I need some time to think. Maybe I'll chat with Geldis. He seems to have some stories to tell, and I could very much use the distraction. Hell, maybe he'll even tell me about any other interesting places on the island.
Oh. Wait a second.
I think I just got an idea.
Sundas, the 11th of Morning Star, 4E202
"...are we there yet?" Serana asked, trying not to let the exasperation show in her voice.
"Almost there, promise. Just a little further." Saya's reply was quick. It was a phrase she had heard numerous times in these past few minutes - and he had to admit, it was starting to wear on her patience. She continued to follow with shaky, unconfident steps, Saya's hand held tightly in her own. Her words were little comfort, but the excitement in her tone stifled any protests Serana might've had.
She recalled how Saya entered her room as she was just finishing up with her bedtime reading. How she whispered so conspiratorially, a thinly-veiled grin on her features as she invited Serana to follow. 'Just a quick walk', she told her. Then, as they reached the edge of town, she pulled out a strip of cloth and asked her to put it over her eyes. Serana almost regretted agreeing to it.
And here she was, blindfolded and stumbling, following her friend's sporadic footsteps as she led her gods-know-where. There was a hint of worry lurking in her mind. Not fear - she trusted Saya not to lead her anywhere dangerous - but worry. For example, worry that Saya got lost and they were wandering in circles. Worry that someone might go to their room while they're away. Pointless little anxieties, something the brain cooked up to occupy itself in the total darkness.
Finally, the two of them stopped. "Okay, we're here. You can look now," Saya said, her voice coming from just behind Serana. The vampire felt small deft hands undo the knot on her blindfold and seconds later, the cloth fell from her face. She opened her eyes and blinked, her vision readjusting and focusing once more. She drew breath to say something in response to Saya, a half-formed question she hadn't figured out yet.
That breath went still in her throat as she suddenly saw where they were. It was a clearing - no, a beach covered in grey ashes stretching as far as the eye could see. Waves splashed gently against the shore, pulling back before returning to meet the sands in a slow, tranquil rhythm. Snowy mists danced somewhere in the distance, swaying with the waves to the wind's tender song.
Serana's gaze naturally drifted upwards and she gasped. The night sky stretched above them, a boundless black littered with myriads of stars. Little pinprick lights of the most brilliant colors, all of them vibrant and warm and watchful in their own alien but familiar way, one that called to the heart in a way that the mind could not put into words. And in the middle of it all, a shimmering aurora stretched across the heavens like an emerald curtain between worlds, between the dark here and the luminous, ever-distant there.
"I… This is…" Serana stammered, a nervous laugh rising from her chest. She was at a loss for words. Her mind was blank yet overflowing with emotion. "I- I do not know what to say."
"I do."
She suddenly felt the warmth of Saya's fingertips touching her chest. Then, something cold - something she was holding. Serana took the object from her hand and lifted it to her face, looking at it under the starlight. It was a necklace: a choker of black leather, adorned with imagery of silver that Serana recognized immediately. Imagery of her favorite flower - a snow-white lily. She lifted her eyes and saw Saya standing before her. Even in the cold blue night, her hair burned red with the light of Masser lurking behind her silhouette.
She smiled. "Happy birthday, Serana."
Serana blinked. H-Huh? In a single moment, Serana felt her face grow hot. She lifted one hand to her face, a shocked gasp leaving her lips. A laugh? A sob? She couldn't tell. She looked down at the gift in her hands and she felt tears pooling at the corners of her eyes. She had no words. There were no words in existence that were enough to express what she felt in that single moment. She started crying.
"Oh, come on," Saya spoke softly as she wrapped her arms around the vampire, rubbing her back up and down in soothing motions. All Serana could think of at the moment was how warm she felt. "I know it might not be my best work, but it's not that bad, is it now?" Saya chuckled. Serana wanted to protest. Instead, she simply clung to her and cried, clutching the necklace in her hands.
"I… I don't have the words…" She stammered in-between breaths. Her chest ached. She didn't want it to stop. "I don't know how to…" The vampire sniffled, struggling to find the words.
Saya responded with a warm chuckle. "There, there." She continued patting Serana's back, letting the girl stay like that as long as she needed. That is, until she saw something out of the corner of her vision. "Oh, shit. It's happening, look!" Saya called out, pointing somewhere off into the distance. With great effort, Serana loosened her hold on the tiny elven frame in her arms and looked where she was pointing.
Are those… rocks? She squinted, looking at the sea as closely as her blurry vision allowed. When that proved too difficult, she finally caved and backed off from Saya just enough to reach up with her sleeve and wipe the tears from her face. Her vision clear, she tried again. And true enough, it looked like there were round, yellowish rocks in the water. Those were not here just a moment ago, were they? She glanced at Saya, completely perplexed at her excitement.
And then she saw them… glow.
One by one, the floating 'rocks' began to pulse with a faint light. One, two, four, eight - soon, there were dozens of them in the water, drifting along the waves and glowing vibrantly. Vibrant blue and emerald green, bright pink and soft indigo. Her eyes could barely keep track of all the colors undulating, pulsing under the waters within the bulbous bodies of these creatures and stretching down, into the depths, where their tendrils floated in the cold sea. It was almost like a second aurora to mirror the one above - one in the skies, the other in the boundless oceans below them.
"You asked before what netches looked like, right?" Saya said from beside her. "Geldis tipped me off where a local herd usually sleeps. Doesn't it look amazing?" She asked, grinning. It was a genuine, almost childlike grin that put a spark in her red eyes, an infectious happiness that Serana had seldom before seen in her. It made her chest feel a little warmer. It made her want to smile, too.
Serana nodded. "It's beautiful," she said. Saya giggled and looked to the sea again. To the gentle lights that drifted along the waves, to the glittering stars and moons above, to the magical aurora cutting through the darkness around them. And yet of all that, Serana chose to look at Saya instead. At the way the colors danced in her eyes, at the way her hair cupped her face, at the way she smiled so brightly that all of the stars seemed to dim.
She looked at the choker in her hand and smiled, her fingertips feeling its subtle texture. Then, she clasped it around her neck and lifted her eyes, looking off into the beautiful seascape before her. And as she looked out, she felt a feeling - a wish - that at last, she could put into words:
I hope this lasts forever.