Last day of finals is today! I'm excited, over break I am dedicating 100% of my time and effort to this story before classes start back up in the spring. Between work and nothing else to do, I don't know how else I would spend my time.
The OC I have set for Vilkas is introduced in this chapter. Now that I am not as rushed to get ideas down and edited and out, I may go back and edit these chapters before continuing, or as I continue. Farkas isn't as soft natured as he seems, then again everything is kind of a shock to him right now. I don't know yet. If I edit, I will leave a note if anything major gets changed.
For now, enjoy this rather long chapter! Review, Follow, Favorite, all that fun stuff
UPDATE
Nothing has really changed in this chapter besides a few minor edits. Not lines added or anything worth noting besides grammar and spelling errors.
Enjoy!
Jade sat before the fireplace with Farkas. Hours had passed since she had explained what she could the best she could to the warrior. She blew out a sigh and hugged her knees to her chest as he sat cross legged, still wrapped in nothing but a towel, starring silently into the crackling fire.
She wasn't sure what else to say, she had shown his clips from quests, and the troubled him deeply mainly because the quests were in the talks among his shield brothers and sisters. But it answered some questions he had, like why she had called him wolfman. She knew of their secret before she had even been exposed to it.
Jade stood slowly, muttered something about needing to get him some real clothes and some food before speaking softly "Just…. Don't leave here okay? I'll be back as soon as possible. I'll answer any other questions as best as I can…"
Farkas nodded, and sat still as he listened to her shuffle about, before she finally left the small place she apparently called home.
Farkas looked into the fireplace, the one thing she seemed to have in her small place that made some sort of sense. Fire was old as time, something they had in Skyrim.
They didn't have these things she called cellphones, laptops, 'videogames' or whatever it was that allowed her to seemingly see into the future of the world there. Whatever this thing she described as 'electricity' that provided her home with light at night bothered him, objects that seemed as bright as the sun powered by spells he didn't understand.
Though she told him they weren't spells. She said everything here was explained by science, not by magic. She lived in a realm that magic didn't exist! She lived in a realm where life wasn't much different from Skyrim's, however. She showed him videos explaining how even though most people saw everyone as one simple thing, as "human", things like color, eye shape, and religious beliefs separated people, and divided people, much like it did with the races in the lands of Skyrim.
He also couldn't get over how she left without any armor. Or how she didn't own any. Or any weapons for that matter. He stood and went back to her room, and went through the dressers, pulling out soft fabrics of clothing with a frown and tossing them to the floor.
Woman who got to dress in such a way normally lived behind city gates, and never ventured out. But if there was one thing he could sense about her, she didn't have the heart of someone who just lurked in one place her whole life. The woman did have the heart of a warrior and the spirit of someone who always sought out adventure.
"It's kind of why I played games like Skyrim… They let me escape. I get to be things I can't be here, do things I can't do."
He let the memory of her words wash over him as he shut the dresser with a heavy sigh, adjusting the towel around his waist.
He had questions she couldn't really answer considering he had never been exposed let along raised in such a world like the one he had found himself in with her.
Through his anger about the sudden situation, his curiosity, and his frustration, he noticed something. Jade was kind and patient in spite of his temperament. He was very aggressive towards her earlier, yet she remained calm, even in her own shock of his presence. She let him feel what he was feeling about the situation, not stopping him when he broke one of her glasses she gave him which she had caringly filled with water for him only for him to smash on her floor moments later.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair and began to look around her room, rummaging through her clothes some more, before his fingertips found something soft, lurking at the bottom of one of the drawers. He pulled the fabric out holding it out before him.
It was a black silk dress, that seemed two sizes too small for Jade, and…. Sheer. He held the thing out in confusion before realizing what it was. Skyrim women normally just had special made dressed that huge their curves to get a man's attention, this was something women here must wear in order to do the same. His face turned a light shade of red, for a brief moment he dared to imagine her in it.
Then he noticed the tags, another thing that was familiar enough to him that he knew the garment was new, and unworn. He felt a wave of excitement he couldn't explain, but also began to wonder why it would have remained in such a state if she had bought it to impress a male counterpart.
Jade had been gone for a while, trying to clear her mind, and assessing if she was actually going crazy or if her new reality was just as simply insane as it seemed to be. She entered the apartment silently, noticing the fire was still cracking softly in her living room due to Farkas tending to it she presumed. She noticed her bedroom light was turned on, and that it was eerily quiet.
She walked towards her room, wondering if she would find a sleeping Farkas, who might have finally passed out from the sheer intake of this new information. Rather she found her clothes all over the floor, and him holding up an item she forgot she even had.
She dropped the sack of clothes she had bought for the man to the floor, grabbing the silk dress from his fingertips in a swift motion and placing the item back into the abyss of the dresser. Farkas was startled at her presence, the slamming of the dresser causing him to flinch. Jade stood there for a moment before turning and handing him one of the bags with clothes as she offered him a soft, but sad smile.
"These clothes shouldn't be rocket science… If they don't fit just go a size up. I kind of had to guess what you would fit into…"
She dismissed herself as she carefully placed the items she bought on the bed, leaving Farkas alone to change. She heard him shuffling about as she made herself a glass of tea, knowing she probably should have explained sizing to him a bit more. She tried not to think about him going through her dresser, brushed it off as his curiosity about the new world he was thrust in to. But she thanked the gods he had only found that, and made a mental note to hide any other…. Personal items the man may be able to inquire her about and quiz her on. She briefly thanked her lucky stars he hadn't gone through her night stand.
She couldn't help a small blush that stained her cheeks at the thought of even explaining to Farkas some of the items this world held that Skyrim didn't. She already felt like the silk nighty he managed to find explained her loneliness more than enough. The last thing she needed was to explain how she took care of any other needs she had.
Farkas, on the other hand, let the insults of his shield brothers and sisters wash over him as he tried to figure out how to fucking put on the simple clothing she had purchased him. Maybe he was an ice brain after all. In fact, Vilkas might be more understanding of this whole situation than he was currently.
Farkas, so far, had embarrassingly only figured out the underwear. He let out a frustrated growl, and then heard a soft knock on the door.
Jade peeked in and spoke softly "Need help I presume?"
Farkas crossed his arms over his chest and grumbled something incoherent. He covered his lap with a towel as Jade pushed her way into her bedroom, and went through the clothes she had purchased him. Some he had obviously tried on, or tried to try on, and she pushed those items aside before handing him a simple cotton T-Shirt as she spoke "Try the two extra-large, should fit you through the arms and shoulders better. Pants…. Put these on for now. They are more comfortable than the jeans anyways… and I can measure you and figure out your size without it being embarrassing for either of us." She tossed a part of sweatpants in his lap and dismissed herself, Farkas watching her as she gently shut the door behind her, as she returned to her spot at her kitchen table.
Farkas joined her moments later, trying to ignore how odd it felt to be wearing items so light and comfortable. He sat next to her, and the silence that engulfed them earlier engulfed the two once again. Jade aimlessly stirred her tea before speaking "I reckon we will be back in Skyrim once we go to sleep here."
He nodded and leaned forward, watching her as she stirred her tea before speaking "I bet Vilkas wo-"
"Farkas, I think its best if we keep this between us… I am not sure anyone would believe us. I wasn't sure anyone would believe me, that's why I just did my best to go along with everything that happened… I was just lucky to be… exposed to your world in some way. I am sorry it wasn't the same for you. And that I suck at even explaining how things work here…"
He watched as she looked down at her tea and spoke softly "I am exhausted. Plus, I think the first way for us to test my sleeping theory would be for us to go to bed…"
Farkas nodded. He mumbled an agreement and Jade continued "Also, I think it would be better if we only talked about how we jumped from realm to realm here…. I don't want either of us thrown in a cellar or jail or something in Skyrim for people thinking we are insane." She spoke with a soft chuckle, feeling awkward and tense as she spoke.
She wondered if that feeling would ever go away for a moment. Her shoulders slumped in defeat, which Farkas only dully noted before replying "Alright. Seems reasonable. So, once we get back to Skyrim we act like things are normal there and discuss anything we figure out or discover when we wake up here?"
"Exactly."
"Let's test it then."
Farkas stood and then placed a hand on the back of his neck before speaking softly "Err…. Where do I sleep?"
Farkas had returned to his kindhearted, and rather doofy nature. She didn't peg him as slow as much as she pegged him for someone who took things much too seriously.
"My bed. I wouldn't make you sleep on my excuse of a couch even if my life depended on it."
They awkwardly conversed a bit longer, settling where each of them would sleep. Eventually Jade found herself on her couch, staring into the now dying fire, her mind flooded with thoughts, and as much as the internal chatter seemed like it would keep her awake, she found herself asleep in a matter of moments.
Farkas on the other hand, tossed and turned. Sleep wouldn't come to his now troubled mind as quickly as it came to her, he stared at the ceiling. Along with the serious questions that crowded his thoughts, like why he had been the one jerked into her life, and her world, and not someone else…. Silly things bothered him. Like the tags on her nightgown, and how even though she was calm, centered, and sweet to him… He felt like there was a certain sadness to the woman as well. It bothered him, was she heartbroken? Was it something else?... He couldn't tell. He thought about it for a long time, before sleep finally claimed the warrior as well.
oOo
Jade was surprised that her idea was in fact, what occurred. She honestly hoped she wouldn't wake up in the hellishly cold domain, but she found the bed of furs beneath her, and a sword being tossed beside her on the bed. She rolled over, to be greeted by Farkas, who was already dressed and in his armor as he spoke. "Get some armor from Eorlund up at the Skyforge and then meet me in the courtyard for some training. I'd like to see how you swing a weapon before Kodlak has Vilkas embarrass you later."
"What makes you think he would embarrass me?"
"Judging by what I know of you now, I doubt you have ever swung an actual sword. Trust me, Vilkas would embarrass you. Plus, Kodlak ordered me to train you. So, that's what I plan on doing."
Jade nodded and sat up, grabbing the steel weapon as Farkas left the room, and she followed him, for the most part. He sat at a table in the courtyard as she made her way up to the Skyforge, where Eorlund was already working, though the sun hadn't even begun to rise.
"Eorlund?..."
The old man turned and smiled some as he stood "Ahh, so you must be the whelp Farkas spoke of. Come, let's get you fitted into some armor and send you on your way." He had a set of wolf armor ready, and was quick to kindly help her into the gear and make sure it fit properly. Before turning away as she rolled her shoulders, getting used to the feeling of the armor.
Eorlund was before her again as she slipped the wolf gauntlets over her hands, praising the warmth they gave her numb fingers from Skyrims frigged air. He chuckled and presented her with a sword "Normally I don't do this until after a whelp had been inducted into the companion's, but Farkas and Kodlak both told me it seems like you are a special and peculiar case. After you become a companion and if you figure out another weapon suites you better, just come visit me and I will have you fixed up."
He gave her a pat on the shoulder and turned back to his work, not even acknowledging the soft thank you she gave, merely giving her a dismissive wave as she walked away, strapping the sword to her side.
Armor was both complicated and simple to her all at once, it seemed like something she would have to grow accustomed to more than anything else, time would make the gear easier to get used to than anything else.
She felt clunky, but ignored the feeling as she walked out into the courtyard where Farkas stood waiting in his own armor, his arms folded across his chest as he waited for Jade to show up. He turned to face her, a small grin on his lips as she stood before him, placing her hands on her hips with a small playful frown "Like what you see or something Farkas?"
"Maybe. Or the thought of kicking your ass is just entertaining."
She let out a small growl in reply to that and drew her sword, Much to Farkas's surprise, she held it with a steady grip. She was in a slight crouch, and overall was well balanced. He looked her over examining this before he spoke "Sheath your weapon and draw it again."
She stood and sheathed the sword, watching as Farkas seemed deep in thought as if trying to figure out where to begin with their training as she drew her sword again.
"Humph. Balance is good, beginning stance is good. Most whelps that have no sword training that come through here can't even hold a weapon steady."
"Just because I am new doesn't mean I am weak. I do work out."
Farkas chuckled softly, and then gave her a swift kick in the back of the knee, causing her to buckle and fall forward. Jade caught herself before falling forward on her face, and let out a whelp in surprise. She Let out a growl and stood and faced him, lunging in attack.
Farkas had to try his best not to let out a roar of laughter, dodging the attack, and without even drawing his weapon, slamming her back into the ground. He found her ferocity amusing, he had to say, but such a thing could get her killed if she didn't know how to channel her anger where it needed to go.
Her sword clattered and skid across the ground away from her, and she rolled over looking at Farkas as he stared down at her, his hands on his waist as he spoke "Not as much work as I thought you would need, but you definitely need work. A lot of work. Collect you weapon, and lets begin."
oOo
Heather sat at her computer desk with a sigh, humming softly as she scrolled through her social media page idly, doing her best to just kill some time.
She was waiting for a phone call from a man named Jason. They had been working rather hard on a current project and concept of allowing people to be a physical part of video games. Not virtual reality, but an alternate reality all together. However, she had yet to receive a phone call of the experiments success or failure. They had the idea copywrite, but it was a matter of getting it to work, and to work (somewhat) fluidly, before trying to get potential investors.
She fidgeted for hours before blowing out a sigh and picking up her phone, punching in his number and sighing softly. No rings.
This is Jason, drop a message and I will call back ASAP.
"What the fuck Jason…."
Heather sat her phone back down and leaned back in her chair in thought, before resuming her social media browse for god knows how long.
Eventually she grabbed her things and headed out the door. If he wasn't going to call, she was going to go find him and find out what happened. She threw on her leather jacket and punched his number in again, waiting for his voicemail message to end before speaking in a worried and frustrated voice. "Dude, seriously? I haven't heard back from you in a day and a half, did it work or are we fucked? You said you would keep me informed. Call me back. I'm on my way over."
She arrived at his house sometime shortly after that phone call. She walked up to the steps and her blood ran cold. The door was open slightly to his home. It could only mean something bad. For once in her life, she wished she was armed with something more than just switchblades, but she had never been able to afford a gun.
She liked how she learned to craft her own weapons however, pulling out some relatively cheap switch blades she bought and then made her own; crafting a new metal handle that doubled as brass knuckles on the two devices and uses the internal components of the old handles to make the blades an even more efficient self-defense item.
She slowly entered the home, on high alert. She crept along the entryway wall, listening for a sound or sounds that might indicate the presence of another human. She thoroughly checked the house, and did so cautiously.
Eventually she made her way to the basement of Jason's apartment, unlocking it with the one of the two keys they each had, only to have to turn and do a combination lock. She slipped down into the tight little room, turning on a flashlight.
Everything remained untouched besides one glowing computer tower. No notes, nothing to indicate her friend's presence of life or death, or a struggle, and nothing from there experiment gone to indicate theft.
She sighed and walked over looked at the tower of the computer that was on. She wiggled the mouse of the monitor that it was attached too and was greeted by a white screen.
White screen and black letters that read Continue?
She frowned and stepped away looking around the room further, examining all the electronics closely, servers, storage components, looking for any damage, any that might be on that shouldn't be besides the one lone computer.
"Fantastic, isn't it?"
Heather turned and looked towards the sound of the voice, greeted by a figure that either followed her without doing as much as breathing, or just entered the room and remained in the shadows. She could only make out a thin male in the corner who continue to speak "It's a shame that once you are gone like Jason, all this will have to be destroyed. Can't have people like you can Jason fucking with time and space. When will humanity learn to leave that to professionals?"
"I don't know who you are, but I don't think you know who you are talking to."
"I know exactly who I am talking to. Heather Evelyn, for years you were a rather skilled thief till Jason offered you another way of life. You would have been better off in prison for a few years, honestly. Because now like Jason, you get to die."
She clicked the blades as the man moved at almost inhuman speeds, she was still unable to get a good look at him, only knowing she was fast enough to block some of his hits and tough enough to take others. She swiped and punched, attempting to cut and punch the stranger, letting out growls as she did, what she wasn't expecting was some unknown force slamming into her chest, knocking all air from her body as she felt back onto the floor.
She gasped for air and felt a heavy foot on her chest as she looked up. A sinister grin was plastered on the strange man's face as he pressed a finger to an earpiece in his ear. "Target two is about to be elimi-"
Heather grabbed his leg and twisted with a growl, causing the man to topple to the ground. No way was she going to die and let this man and whoever he was associated with get a hold of all these servers. She scurried to the computer and clicked the mouse without thinking, hoping it would get her in the system long enough to wipe everything.
"No!"
The man was on her tail now as her vision started fading. What the fuck was happening? She went for plan B, holding on as long as she could as she reached into a drawer and chuckled, clicking a small button on the inside that would start the program to wipe everything if she couldn't get in to do it manually.
She was tackled then, and felt hands around her neck, before her world abruptly went black.
oOo
Heather slowly regained consciousness, her cheek pressed against cool grass. Cold ground rested beneath her and the wind blew, sending more chills down her spine. Never had she felt so cold. She sat up slowly and held her head, which throbbed as she looked around her. Nothing but grass and flat land.
Where the fuck was she?
Then, the roar from the sky, and the thump of a body being tossed on the ground before her. It took her only a moment to realize where she was.
She cursed. The timeline for this was all wrong! If this was the game she was meant to be thwarted into, shouldn't she be a prisoner in the back of some shitty carriage?
She had no time to think of such things. She immediately took to removing the Whiterun guards armor, growling in frustration as she did.
She didn't know much about what Jason did, but this was no alternate reality, he had made an alternate way of life for people. She had her attack from earlier on her mind, and she couldn't even begin to process that due to the fucking dragon overhead.
She already hated this. She was glad she never agreed to be a lab rat in the early trials of this, but cursed herself for getting involved in any way at all. She put the Whiterun guards gear on, gathered his bow, arrows, and sword, and with a quick count to ten, bolted from the safety of one rock to the next.
She needed to find out who was trapped here, who the dragonborn was. Needed to find the full effects of being in game so far from their experience. Heather stopped at the next rock, listening the dragons cries overhead. She watched through the helmet, noticing the beast had become preoccupied with bandits.
A sigh of relief fell from her lips she continued to move, a steady face paced jog, making her way to Whiterun.
Gut told her that Dragon was set to attack the western watchtower. It was a matter of seeing who absorbed the soul that she needed to stay sheltered and wait to see. She found a place, not too far in the distance, and sat, waiting for the dragonborn to show themselves.
