Sundas, the 7th of Evening Star, 4E201
Truth be told, Serana did not remember what it felt like, being inside of that casket. She did not remember how she ended up there - only that she did, and that her head felt like rotted fruit smashed against a wall when she opened her eyes again. It was a stark contrast with how sleep normally felt for her. Sleep was quiet and calm, but also cold and alert. The smallest noise could break a vampire's slumber - she didn't even think of it as 'rest' after the first couple of years. It felt like she was awake even when she wasn't, and the moment she acknowledged it - any semblance of relaxation vanished from her mind immediately.
It doesn't feel like sleeping anymore, not truly, she thought. If one were to ask her now, she would still claim that, though she had long since forgotten what it really feels like to sleep the way mortals do.
Those were the kinds of thoughts that were on her mind when she came to, mostly because this time felt… different. The feeling that enveloped her body provoked an odd sense of nostalgia. It was comforting. Warm. Cozy. Even awake, she didn't want to open her eyes. Her eyelids felt heavy, her breath felt light, and her mind was cloudy in such a mellow way that she would probably give anything to just stay like this for a while longer.
Drowsiness. She never thought she'd miss drowsiness.
But eventually, her eyes had to open. Not because she wanted to, but because it was becoming unbearable to keep them closed any longer. Her eyelashes fluttered in a series of blinks, her hazy vision focusing as she reached to rub her eyes. That same moment, Serana felt that something weird was afoot, because her hand brushed against some piece of cloth that she did not expect to be there. She stopped mid-motion, and slowly opened her eyes again. Indeed, the first thing she saw was the simple, light-brown colored cotton of Saya's undershirt. And in that moment, all memories of yesterday night that were hitherto locked away in the morning haze began flooding back in.
It took all of Serana's restraint not to scream. She bolted upright, sitting up in the bedroll with an expression that was a mixture of shock, embarrassment, and abject horror at the situation she found herself in. And indeed, as the events of last night sprung up in her memory, she suddenly became aware of her surroundings. More specifically, of the Dunmer that now lay right next to her, eyes closed and snoring ever so quietly while her arm still lay on Serana's shoulder.
The vampire slowly realized why it was that she felt so warm.
She took a deep breath to calm herself, carefully picking up Saya's arm and carefully setting it down onto the soft furs. Then, with as much care as she could muster, Serana crawled out of the oh-so-terribly alluring warmth of her sleeping spot. She cast one more glance at the sleeping Dunmer and her lips tightened while an odd stabbing feeling spread through her chest. She felt like a mess. She was a mess. How else could she allow herself to break down like that? Saya had to deal with all of it just because she couldn't keep her mouth shut, and what did she do? Take advantage of that kindness for her own comfort?
Scum. She felt like scum.
Saya let out a heavy sigh in her sleep, and the vampire flinched. She hadn't woken her up, had she? But the alarm was false, thankfully, as the sleeping girl only moved her arm a little, placing it on the pillow to be more comfortable. Serana let out a quiet sigh of relief, laughing under her breath. Gods, she needed some air. If not for her un-living lungs, then at least to clear her head. So, after a brief moment to find her dagger and strap it to her hip again, the vampire beelined it straight for the exit door. And of course, she made sure to close it as sneakily as possible.
Not a full minute later, the Dragonborn opened one eye and gave the room a quick scan. When the coast was clear, she sat up and stretched, groaning as her joints popped just the right way when she did. Then, as if nothing happened, she stood up and continued with her morning routine.
She never would've thought that pretending to be asleep would be so difficult.
I was halfway through making breakfast when Serana came back. From her reactions, I figured it might be best not to mention anything from yesterday. Not like it's an urgent topic for discussion. But I have to admit that it was pretty funny watching her sputter when I asked her if she slept well.
While I was finishing up with breakfast, I got some mail. Kura was scratching the shit out of that door. Can't help but wonder if it could actually get through, given enough time.
The letter was from Mjoll. From her words, the routine she worked out with Fortunata was working well for her. She didn't stay anywhere longer than necessary, but had more than enough time to dedicate to both herself and the job she was assigned.
She was writing from Riften! Apparently, we just missed her. She was investigating rumors of a dragon looming around the hot springs, swooping down on unsuspecting travelers heading from city to city along Prophet's Path (still proud of that name). The patrol guards told her that they saw something resembling a dragon come to and from Bonestrewn Crest, a relatively small mountain just north of Ysgramor's Teeth. So, she gathered a couple volunteers and went to take care of it, which she did with flying colors. If no scavengers got to it, she said that the corpse should be exactly where they left it, ripe for the picking.
Well, unless another dragon got to it first.
Mortals are very numerous and varied creatures, each of them similar and unique in their own regard. A quality all of them share to some extent is their ego. If left unchecked, it can corrupt them as people and leave their morals scattered to the wind. In healthy doses - it is a defense mechanism unlike any other, grounding but eye-opening to everything around them through the lens of their own consciousness. The problem with having such a lens, though, is that eventually you get a little too used to that perspective, too comfortable. And so, whenever something emerges in your life that makes you realize just how limited and absolutely miniscule your entire being is, it comes like thunder amidst a clear sky.
For Serana, witnessing the dragon corpse before her was that moment. Even now, as she stood right in front of the colossal cadaver, she could not quite get over the dissonance ringing in her mind. It didn't feel real. How could it be real? And yet here it was, equally magnificent and disgraced by the wounds it carried, by the absent shine of its crimson scales, by the curdled blood that pooled beneath its mangled flesh. She stood only a few steps away, but she dared not approach any closer. Even if her brain knew it was only a corpse, her instincts screamed at her to not disturb it.
So when Saya walked up from behind her and touched its scales with the same casual ease with which one would grab a door handle, the vampire felt like her stomach just flipped. The Dragonborn, none the wiser to her companion's reactions, silently continued her inspection of the corpse, looking for any pieces of hide that would be easy enough to remove while also being sturdy enough to be worth removing. She looked a bit comical, standing next to a creature so gargantuan that its head - which lay flat on the ground - towered at almost twice her height.
Serana swallowed nervously and finally approached the dragon. Now, the vampire was a good amount taller than Saya, but the sensation of feeling small seemed to only be more intense for her. She lifted a hand and let her fingers wander, skin brushing against the thick, smooth scales that lined the creature's body like a suit of armor. The way they caught the light and shimmered mesmerized her, a stark contrast with the ugly cuts and torn muscle in the places of injury.
"Admiring the view?" The voice came from above Serana, and she lifted her head. When she did, she saw the Dragonborn standing on top of the dragon's head - or rather, hanging from it, both feet placed on the creature's snout while one arm was holding onto a spike protruding from the creature's skull like a pillar. Her hand couldn't quite wrap around it in full, she noticed. "The big blokes can be quite something to behold, aren't they."
"S-So they are," Serana responded, laughing sheepishly. Indeed, it was difficult to do much other than stare from a distance upon witnessing something like this. Which, upon some further thought, only made Serana more confused at Saya's reaction - or rather, lack thereof. "You do not seem very…"
"Awestruck? Shocked? Hypnotized?" Saya offered, snickering at the vampire's puzzled expression.
Serana frowned. "All of the above?" She wasn't sure what to expect, but she expected something she could relate to. Complete indifference was not on that list. "I mean, this is a dragon. A creature of legend, in the flesh."
"Legends don't usually have a body count." Saya pulled herself up by the nose spike and then promptly let go of it, jumping down onto the ground. Serana stepped aside, giving the Dragonborn some space to dust herself off and flap her cloak. Incidentally, the gesture ended up raising more dust than it cleared. She made no comment on it. "My friend already salvaged what she could, so it's all meat back there. You want to grab any tidbits before I clean up?"
"Tidbits? N-No, nothing really comes to mind..." She gave the dragon a look over. She didn't particularly want any kind of souvenir or anything, and most of the blood on the ground looked to be muddled up and unusable. Then the vampire's train of thought came to a halt as she caught up with what Saya said. "Wait, hold a moment. What do you mean by cleaning-"
The Dragonborn wasn't really listening after she heard the 'no' she was looking for. Serana saw her put her hand on the dragon's jaw, the smile gradually vanishing from Saya's face. Instead, her expression grew a little more… serene, while her gaze became distant, as though she wasn't looking at the dragon but somewhere far, far beyond it. A brief flash of concern came over the vampire and she took a hesitant step towards the Dunmer when she suddenly noticed a scrap of pure white fly up in the corner of her vision, like a piece of paper burning up inside a crackling flame.
Serana turned to see what it was and her eyes went wide, then immediately narrowed again as the proximity to such blinding radiance stabbed her vision. Squinting, she backed away slowly as the dragon's flesh dissolved into pure light, wisps of all forms and colors dancing around the core of stark white. Then, just as her vision seemed to adjust to the level of brightness, it began rapidly sapping away as the wind picked up around her. First, her hair began falling into her eyes. Then, her cloak began to flutter. Before she knew it, it felt like a vortex of energy formed around the Dragonborn and she was struggling against the pull, almost falling over.
Saya stood unmoving, her hand still reaching out and touching the luminous entity that the corpse became. The light began to warp from that same pull that Serana was experiencing, the amorphous energy glow stretching in the Dragonborn's direction. Then, the energy suddenly came free, violently tearing itself from the bones and pouring directly into Saya's body like water down a drain.
Once the final strand of light disappeared, the Dragonborn let out a heavy sigh she didn't realize she was holding while the outstretched arm fell limp by her side. Her eyes opened and she looked upon the still-glowing skeleton before her. Her expression was vacant, almost apathetic as she beheld the lifeless corpse. "Well, guess that's settled," she mumbled, shaking her head and turning around.
It was then that she noticed Serana, standing there with an expression that could be described as a mixture of shocked, stupefied, and positively disturbed.
"Um. What was that?" The vampire croaked, shakily lifting one arm to point at the bare bones which now lay before them.
"Hm? What was what?"
Serana's eye twitched. Saya blinked. The two of them remained quiet for a few moments as the latter stood with her head tilted, puzzled at best, while the former opened and closed her mouth in a futile attempt to force out a coherent sentence.
"The- The burning? And all the light? And everything disappearing?" Serana's voice grew higher and more exasperated with each word, sounding almost like a broken whistle by the time she finished talking - or rather, until her speech devolved into unintelligible sputtering.
One could practically hear the gears turning in Saya's head as she watched her companion's bewildered flailing. She didn't do anything out of the ordinary as far as she was concerned. They'd been traveling for a while, so Saya figured she'd be used to it by now. Although she did seem very shaken by the dragon earlier... The Dragonborn's face slowly twisted into a puzzled frown. The more she kept thinking about it, the less she understood. After so many months, why would Lydia be-
...oh.
Serana's inordinate stream of words came to a gradual halt when she noticed the glassy stare Saya was giving her. The Dragonborn's shoulders sagged and her expression was unreadable, like not even she knew what she was feeling at that moment. The frustration in the vampire's mind quickly vanished and she took a step forward, concern seeping into her features. She hesitantly reached out for the shorter girl's shoulder, though never quite touching it.
The silence was broken by Saya shaking her head and pinching the bridge of her nose, laughing quietly under her breath. "Gods, I'm an idiot," she muttered, inhaling shakily in an attempt to calm her nerves and steady her voice, which threatened to crack and break the moment she opened her mouth. This was not the time. Not now. Not here. "Sorry, I just realized that I… forgot to mention something very important to you." She finally lifted her eyes, putting up her best sheepish smile while scratching the back of her head.
Serana waited a moment before responding. "Which is?" She asked, pushing aside her concern. Inexperienced or not, even she could tell that the mood shift was too sudden. The urge to ask her about it was mounting but she wasn't sure if it was in her place to ask. Saya would probably evade the question anyway.
The Dragonborn opened her mouth to speak and-
You're not like her. You are Dragonborn.
-remained silent. The word echoed in her ears. Dragonborn. Every time she ran it through her mind, it sounded less like a title and more like a curse or an insult. She bit her lip. Goddamnit, why was she getting cold feet now of all times?
Serana's look of worry only made her feel worse. "Saya?" The way she said it made her stomach flip. She was going to be sick. They didn't even sound anything alike. They didn't even look alike. Serana's touch on her shoulder made the Dunmer want to fall through the earth and bury herself deep underneath. "...we do not have to talk about this if you don't want to."
Using my own words against me. Saya chuckled, rubbing her eyes. "No, it's… it's okay. Just give me a moment," she said quietly, taking one last deep breath. Just think of it as introducing yourself. As natural as breathing. Come on. She lifted her head and opened her eyes. She saw a woman looking at her patiently, reserved in her expression but with a curious look peeking out from underneath her black hair which cupped her pale face. She blinked, and it vanished. Now she saw a younger-looking woman, one whose curiosity was far less restrained and far more innocent, childish, anxious. Her hair was just as dark, a pure black rather than a dark brown, and the eyes that watched her were no longer evergreen, but an iridescent brown that flashed red every time it caught the light just the right way.
She wasn't here anymore.
"I'm… Dragonborn." The moment those words left Saya's lips, it felt like the weight of a mountain just fell from her shoulders. A wave of exhaustion that felt like relief washed over her and made every nerve in her body tingle in a way that made her dizzy. After a moment passed, she couldn't help but laugh. It felt so easy now that she felt like an idiot for holding it off for so long. Even more so for not telling her earlier. And yet… here she was.
"...Dragonborn? As in, the Dragonborn?" Serana said, barely audible. She seemed… shocked, to say the least. A hundred and one things emerged in her head all at once and what's worse, they all made sense.
"Yeah… yeah. Like those Dragonborn." She chuckled as a half-hearted attempt to lighten the mood. But Serana did not return the laugh. Instead, an awkward silence hung over the two of them, one that crept under the Dunmer's skin and made her really regret opening her mouth. "Yeah, I… Well, now you know. It's a thing." She laughed again, much more quiet and much less confident this time around. Somehow that just made it worse. Saya pivoted around on one leg and turned towards the trail they followed to come here, starting to trudge over in that direction. "...anyway, I think we should go now. Kynesgrove isn't far off but I don't like this weather, and I was hoping we could catch a carriage when we get to Windhelm-"
"Can you breathe fire?"
Saya stopped where she stood, slowly turning her head to look at Serana. She could not for the life of her figure out what the vampire's expression was supposed to be, but her question seemed devoid of anything but genuine curiosity, so… "I mean- yeah, I can. Why do you ask?"
"Could…" Serana spoke quietly, her hands clasped together over her chest. She was avoiding eye contact again. "Could you do it now?"
Now it was Saya's turn for weird stares. "Now as in, right now?" The vampire nodded. Saya shrugged and turned to the side, careful that nothing important would get caught in the area, and inhaled. "Yol," she said, and the breath left her lips as a fiery surge that flew off aimlessly, leaving a flaming trail towards a nearby rock. Upon hitting the unfortunate target, the flaming ball ruptured and exploded in a burst of heat, scorching the stone black and disappearing as quickly as it was created. "Huh. It's usually a bit bigger," she half-joked. The rasp was back in her voice.
The Dragonborn turned to look at Serana, and then just barely managed to hold back a laugh when she saw the vampire standing there, positively star-struck and mumbling under her breath. "It... it really is just like the stories…" She then turned sharply to Saya. "What about the other things, like splitting mountains? Is it true that you can break down a city wall with just a whisper? Can you fly? Wait- can you swallow a thundercloud?!"
"That- that last one is a bit of a stretch…" The Dragonborn remarked, leaning back a bit as her rather enthusiastic companion was mere inches away from her face at that point, staring her down with excitement not unlike that of a child who just met their icon. She put a hand on Serana's chest, gently pushing her away to give herself some breathing room.
The touch seems to have dragged her back to reality. "Ah, s-sorry!" She sputtered, backing off. There was an attempt to put up the usual mask of friendly indifference, clearing her throat to regain that regal composure of hers, but it was hardly successful. Saya still noticed the quick glances in her direction as the vampire looked out into the sky, pretending to be interested in the clouds. "Y-Yes, you are correct. The weather is getting worse. Shall we go then?"
Saya snickered slightly and waved her over. The vampire looked hesitant for a moment before running up to the Dragonborn, walking quietly by her side. The sound of their footsteps was the only thing breaking the silence for a while before the Dragonborn mentioned, as an aside: "I guess I can fly. Only for a couple seconds though."
The noise that Serana made in that moment made any Thu'um known to Saya pale in comparison.
I think… I might have learned more about the Dragonborn of old in one conversation with Serana than I have in the entire three and a half months that I've actually been one. I'm not entirely sure if even half of these stories are still around in modern libraries. With how much dragon slaying they've done it's a bloody wonder there are any still left.
Actually, how many dragons are there, even? Would I ever run out? Now that's a weird thought. "Running out" of living things to kill.
The sun was already setting by the time we got a ride from Windhelm. Granted, we had to wait a little bit, but it was still really fast. It's only like, four in the afternoon - if that. And I don't like the look of those clouds. It might start snowing soon.
I'm considering buying a cloak for Serana. Being a little pale doesn't draw much attention in Skyrim considering how Nords usually are, but walking around with an open cleavage in a snowstorm is definitely going to raise a few eyebrows. I'll have to ask her when there's time to shop.
Blessed Veloth's shiniest of shits, it's freezing here. I'm actually a little afraid to fall asleep, I've heard of people not waking up after bedding down somewhere cold enough and I'm not eager to find out how truthful it is. I'm taking off the armor but I am sleeping fully clothed tonight, the innkeeper can yell at me all he wants that I'm dirtying the bed with my boots.
I don't really know what I expected of Winterhold but it's… damn barren. I knew it's a shithole but this is even worse than I expected. There's maybe five or six functional houses here. And to think, this was once the capital of Skyrim. Granted, not for long, but still. The Collapse really did a number on it. The College is still very much standing, though, and I think I saw a gatekeeper in front of it. That's gonna be fun to deal with in the morning.
Morndas, the 8th of Evening Star, 4E201
Those who knew Savos Aren usually had a very different image of the man depending on the nature of their relationship. To those who saw him as merely an Archmage, he was a figure of enigma, a non-intrusive headmaster who rarely showed his face, and barely spoke even when he did. To his fellow colleagues, he was a mage of great talent and mastery, who deserved all the respect and calm he had earned in his long - and no doubt difficult - life of research and study. Few remained who knew him since his own apprentice days, and fewer still who would speak of that young elf, whose smile was full of kindness and his mind - of ambition. Of the sleepless nights and risky experiments that heralded every little spell, every small step he took towards becoming his current self. Of all the losses… the many, many losses that steeled his character and darkened his features, turning that naive spark in his eye into a cold glint of observation, and covered the warmth within his heart in scales of stone.
Saya didn't know any of that. But she bowed the moment she entered the Archmage's chambers, knowing full well that such a title isn't earned easily. "Archmage Aren."
The man lifted his gaze from his book. He was no stranger to interruptions, but he did not exactly enjoy them either. His crimson eyes looked over Saya for a few seconds, inspecting her curiously before he noticed a familiar figure standing next to her - a pale Breton woman with short brown hair swept to the right, dressed in enchanted robes with the College insignia sewn onto the chest. The master wizard, Mirabelle Ervine. He leaned back in his seat, his posture relaxing. "Good day. Is something in the matter, Mirabelle?"
The mage bowed slightly in greeting. "This woman came into the College today requesting your audience. She passed Faralda's test and I've taken the liberty of providing her and her companion with rooms at the Hall of Attainment. She said it's an important matter." Mirabelle's tone was even and diplomatic, something she practiced over many years of her work. Even if she was at all inconvenienced or displeased because of the situation, she didn't show it.
The Archmage gave Saya another once-over, raising an eyebrow. A matter important enough to bother him directly? He had his doubts, but nonetheless raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Is it now?" Savos said, getting up from his chair to properly greet his guest. "Let's hear it, then."
The Breton nodded, turning to Saya and gesturing for her to start talking. The Dunmer stepped forward, clearing her throat. "Hello, and pardon the interruption. My name is Saya, though I don't expect you to recognize that name. You may have heard of me as 'the Dragonborn'."
Savos' eyes narrowed suspiciously. He knew of those legends, and it's true that there have been rumors of such a person traveling around, though the descriptions have been… unhelpful to say the least. He glanced over to Mirabelle, who shrugged in return. It seems she was as doubtful as he was. "I see. Well… Saya, was it?" She nodded. "Saya, I assume you understand that you just made a very bold claim. Before you ask me whatever it is you want to know, how can I be sure you were truthful?"
"Of course." The girl sighed, smiling slightly. Should've expected this. She took a slightly deeper breath than normal and spoke. "I wield the power of the Voice, taught to me by the Greybeards when I was summoned to High Hrothgar. This is my proof." With every word that dropped from her lips came a low rumble, and her own speech was echoed by a low, inhuman roar that mimicked every syllable. It was as though she spoke with multiple voices, with her own leading the dissonant, otherworldly chorus that shook the floor they stood upon. Mirabelle almost immediately dropped into a combat-ready stance, while the Archmage looked like he was just barely caught off guard. His only concern seemed to be the various bits and baubles around his chambers that began to clink and jangle from the vibrations. No illusion, then. That, or a very convincing one. When Saya finished talking she took another, shallower breath, and spoke again - this time in a normal tone. "I hope that's sufficient."
"Quite," Savos said, hiding a small chuckle. This one has some nerve. But if she really is the Dragonborn, it could be tolerated for the time being. He dismissed Mirabelle with a wave and then gestured over to a small table at the side of his chamber. The Dragonborn politely accepted the offer, sitting down on a comfortable, if slightly small chair. "Mirabelle mentioned you had an important matter to discuss. Tell me, what brings you to my College?"
"Right, about that." Saya got a little more comfortable in her seat, tenting her fingers. "I'm here to make… a deal, of sorts. I need information that is difficult to get, and I understand that even if I were to join the College, I'd be unlikely to gain access to it. The reason why I came to you specifically is because I don't know who else I could turn to, and I am on a very uncertain time limit."
"Interesting." The Archmage crossed his arms. She was beating around the bush, so the only options are either she wants information that is illegal, or something she doesn't want other people looking for, College or otherwise. "It is true, though our Arcaneum is open to all students, some sections of it are forbidden for the layman to view. But I trust you already know we're not interested in money." He leaned forward, his tone becoming lower, more warning. "So, what can you offer us in exchange for access?"
Saya put her elbow on the table, using it to support her chin. "Well… I do have a whole library of knowledge about a long-lost ancient language right here." She tapped her head as she spoke. "I also have some information on a rather intriguing vampire ruin in the Pale, if you're at all curious about that. No need for excavation, either…" She paused. The memories of very angry gargoyles smashing the place up as the walls collapsed came to mind. "...okay, maybe a little excavation." She chuckled, once again leaning back in her chair. "And of course, I also know a couple of interesting things about the dragons as a whole, some of which I am quite confident you do not know."
Savos squinted. "...such as?"
Saya's friendly smile dropped immediately, and she looked at him very seriously. Without moving her head she looked left, then right, as if making sure nobody could be listening in. Then she beckoned him to lean closer, waiting for the older man to comply before she conspiratively covered her mouth and whispered: "They taste like turkey."
There was a moment's pause.
"...a valuable addition." The Archmage sat back in his chair, pursing his lips. If one paid attention, they'd notice the slightest hint of a smile obstinately tugging at the corner of his mouth. Well played, Dragonborn. "Very well, your offer is accepted. What knowledge do you seek?"
Saya clapped. "Everything you have on the Elder Scrolls." The room immediately plunged into heavy silence. Savos looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to reveal it to be another joke, but her expression remained unmoving. She was dead serious. "And I do mean everything. What they are, how they work, how to read one. But most importantly, I'm interested in finding one."
Savos opened and closed his mouth a few times, not quite sure what to say. Frankly, there isn't anything he could've said. There is no way to respond to such a statement politely, and it's not like he hasn't heard of - or personally participated in - wilder goose-chases, as students are wont to do. So instead he only nodded sagely, and responded: "Alright. I will see to it that you are provided the materials you require. As for the exchange, we can discuss that a bit later, when you've settled in." He stood up as he spoke, brushing off his rather impressive mantle. "Let us go. Urag will no doubt want to see me personally for something like this."
"Alright, sounds good to me." The Dragonborn's smile grew just a bit wider as she hopped off her seat. "And Urag is…?"
"The librarian," he replied.
"Ah." Saya took a moment to process that information before it clicked. "Your librarian is an Orc?" There was no malice in her question, mostly just genuine surprise. She honestly would've expected a mannish race or an Altmer for this position.
Savos laughed as he opened the door. "He is, and you'd do well to give him his due respect. He's been here even longer than I have."
The Dragonborn's only response was a long, thoughtful hum.
I'm not entirely sure what I expected of the College, but so far I'm pretty impressed. We were greeted by a woman named Faralda, a guard of some sort who tested myself and Serana for our abilities in magic before she let us through. Already better recruiting than Shad Astula, may that thing rest in pieces. The gates to the College itself were, predictably, magically locked, and we were told that if we decide to join the College then we'll get marked for the gates to recognize us and let us in next time.
Faralda was a nice enough tour guide, but she quickly retreated to her post after she introduced us to Master Wizard Mirabelle Ervine - the Archmage's right hand. Among other things, she manages all the new apprentices and was rather surprised to hear that more people joined. Apparently they've had something of an influx of recruits in the past year. She mentioned something about a recent expedition attracting a lot of unwanted attention, but then caught herself rambling and finally answered some of the questions I've been having.
The structure of the College itself is simple enough, though the monotonous architecture doesn't lend itself well to recognizing what's where. The whole thing stands on a narrow cliff and the edges of it are bordered off with a stone wall, creating a sort of ringed shape that is the courtyard. To the left of the entrance is the Hall of Attainment, also known as the dorms. They consist of four floors - the bottom two being personal quarters (bottom for seniors, top for juniors), the third floor was a public area where people could eat and lounge, and the top floor was the laboratory where they kept all their equipment. To the right was the Hall of Countenance, which more or less contained the same things as the other one. The bottommost floor was where the professor wizards live, the second floor was the public area, while the other two floors were dedicated to research and supply storage.
The main building directly in front of the entrance had three main levels. The main one is at the base, being the Hall of Elements. This is effectively the lecture hall, the practice hall, the all-purpose hall as it was explained to me. This is where you train and learn practical knowledge. The second floor is the Arcaneum, which is the library we came here for. And the topmost floor is the Archmage's quarters, where I went with Mirabelle for a much-needed discussion.
So, Urag the Orc librarian. The College librarian. An Orc. He opened with a threat that if I fuck up any of the books, he'll have his atronachs tear me apart. Absolute charmer. I like him already.
Archmage Aren was a massive help with getting the materials. I was given a small stack of books on the Elder Scrolls in general, which are supposed to get me better acquainted with the Scrolls as a whole so that I don't dive right in when I find one and die. A small comfort, but appreciated nonetheless.
I did ask Urag directly if the College had any information on potential Elder Scrolls locations in Skyrim. He told me that even if they did, he wouldn't tell me. Which is understandable, but I still wanted to tell him to piss off. I didn't, because of the aforementioned hypothetical atronachs.
Also because the Archmage who told me to respect the librarian was there, but mostly the atronachs.
Serana didn't come to the library with me, she stayed back at the dorms with our stuff. Didn't want to lug around a whole-ass travel pack with me for a bookstore visit. I grabbed her some materials for later, get her caught up on things. Seht knows I'm no teacher.
The moment Saya entered the Hall of Attainment, she felt a pleasant shiver pass through her body. The temperature shift was a lot more drastic than anything regular isolation could provide, so she mentally gave herself a pat on the back for calling it - the elemental protection glyphs, no doubt, lined the entirety of the College. Awkwardly shifting the books she was holding onto one arm, she quickly closed the door before continuing her little journey. From Mirabelle's guide, she remembered that her room and Serana's neighbored one another, both of them located on the second floor. And so it was that the Dragonborn faced her most fearsome enemy yet - the stairs. Specifically, stairs which were definitely built by a Nord, with someone close to a Nord in height and stature in mind.
It took her a little longer than she'd like to admit to get up, especially considering she couldn't see anything from behind the stack of books she had been carrying, but she found some comfort in the situation by calling it 'an impromptu leg workout'.
Now that she had time to look at it, the rooms didn't feel all that impressive. It was a somewhat cramped little chamber, with only the basic furniture: a bed, a couple closets, a chair with a desk, some shelves - basically anything that a mage might need that would not threaten to explode everything in their immediate vicinity. Her pack was already carefully placed on the chair, prompting a little smile from the Dunmer. She picked it up and tossed it onto the bed before she sat down and allowed herself a moment to relax, taking in the warmth and a vague pleasant aroma that was permeating through the interior. It seems someone was cooking.
But, as enticing as dinner sounded, she had a job to do, and so she cracked her knuckles and got straight to sorting. The books relating to the Elder Scrolls went into a separate stack immediately - rather small, but still enough to keep her occupied for the next few days. Once that warmup was done, she got to the real challenge. Saya spent the better part of an hour mulling over all the literature she half-mindlessly picked out, wondering which subjects deserved more attention and which ones Serana might be more interested in. Her desk seemed to become less and less organized the more she tried to organize it, piled with guidebooks, timelines, biographies, historical fiction…
...on second thought, there might be too much after all.
The Dragonborn sighed, leaning back in her chair and silently glaring at the books in front of herself. Then, she briskly grabbed an abridged chronicle of the Second Era, and scurried out of her room to go look for her friend.
She found her on the third floor. She'd be lying if she said it was a display of skill or deductive ability, all she really did was follow the noise - and oh boy, was there a lot of noise. The aroma of cooking from before had become unrecognizable, instead replaced by the distinct smell of something that was badly burnt. The moment she set foot on the common floor, a very colorful scene unfolded before her: two folks were running all around the storey, circling the massive table while shouting back and forth while a third one struggled to get a word in. On the opposite side of the stairs was, as predicted, a dedicated kitchen area, where a woman was laboring over a small variety of ingredients in an attempt to salvage whatever affront to the gods was smoking inside the pot.
And right there beside her, the Dragonborn spotted Serana, leaning on the wall and watching the scene unfold with the smile of someone who was both worried and amused by the events observed. Their eyes met and she gave a small wave, which Saya returned with a smile before taking the long way around, careful not to disrupt the… whatever in Oblivion was happening in the center of the room.
"The no-spell rule exists for a reason, you carpet with legs!" The elf in the middle of the room shrieked. Saya needed only a passing look to recognize another Dunmer, especially considering she was wearing Morrowind clothing. She squinted and… yep, there it was - ferrofungus, the sigil of House Telvanni. Wonderful.
The Khajiit who leapt over the table hissed at the insult hurled his way. "J'zargo will take no blame for this! His spell was perfectly crafted, it is not his fault that the pot was too weak to withstand his might!" He straightened his back, proudly lifting his chin up for all of two seconds before he had to dodge a spoon hurled straight at him. As it fell onto the floor with a resounding clang, he gasped overdramatically and glared at the Dunmer. "Why you- you could have injured J'zargo! Bruised his majestic fur!"
"Oh don't worry kitty, I aimed for the head. Nothing important to damage there." She spat, this time grabbing onto a knife instead. She was partway through the throwing motion when a hand much bigger than hers grabbed her by the wrist. Her red eyes shot over to the person responsible as she hissed: "Let. Go."
The black-haired man - a Nord, judging by height and complexion - pulled her hand back, but did not let go. "Both of you need to stop this. You're not helping the situation at all with your arguing!"
"And setting our fetching dinner ablaze was somehow much more helpful?!"
The argument continued with seemingly ceaseless vigor, but Saya sort of tuned it out by the time she walked to the other side of the room. The three rowdy ones didn't really notice her, while the one helming the kitchen was too preoccupied with mincing what looked to be some sort of spice to pay attention. The only one to acknowledge her presence was Serana, who noticed the book in the Dragonborn's hand when she got close. "What's that?"
"It was supposed to be entertainment but uh," Saya nodded to the side, where the argument was quickly becoming three-sided, "I think you already have that one covered." With those words, she handed Serana the chronicle she had picked out and then joined her in leaning against the wall and watching the show. "Has this been going on for long?"
The vampire put a hand on her chin, thinking. "About ten minutes, I believe. It has stayed like this throughout, I'm not entirely sure they are intent on stopping." She snickered quietly. It was like watching birds fight.
Saya hummed. She had to admit, it was a little amusing from the side. "Do you think we should intervene?"
"No." The woman beside them interjected. Both Saya and Serana turned towards her, though she did not do the same - her gaze remained affixed to her work, her curly hair partially obscuring her face. "You would just be another participant. Let them bicker, for now."
The pair exchanged a glance. "And you are?" Saya asked, moving a little closer to get a better look at her features. The woman was not very cooperative.
"Elra," she replied, once again without so much as lifting her eyes. She lifted the cutting board and used the flat of the knife to sweep the cut spices off straight into the pot before grabbing a wooden spoon and beginning to stir. Elra nodded to the side, speaking again: "There are dishes here, lay the table."
Saya tilted her head quizzically, while Serana's eyes followed the nod to the cupboard. She opened it and indeed, there were a couple stacks of soup bowls inside. The vampire carefully took out six - one for every person in the room - and went to set them in place. Saya, who was still lagging behind a bit due to Elra's blunt command, just stood there in bewilderment and watched as the woman lifted the pot and met the Dragonborn's gaze, saying in the same level tone: "Come. And bring the spoons."
The Dunmer blinked, her brain taking a moment to process what was said just now before she began digging through the drawers, finding the right one quickly enough and counting off the right number of utensils. When she turned around, she saw the pot on a small circular stand in the middle of the table, Elra following Serana and filling the dishes as they were placed down. Saya joined them, putting down the spoons beside every bowl until everything was done. Then she looked over at Elra again, who gave the two of them a satisfied look and nodded with a slight smile.
The three of them sat down on one side of the table, and Saya immediately reached for her spoon and had a taste. Immediately, her eyes widened in surprise - not only was the burnt taste not gone, but it was… transformed, almost. Even pleasant, in a way? She looked over to Serana, who had more or less the same reaction as she did. And then, of course, her gaze drifted to the other person sitting.
Elra, too, picked up her spoon as if to follow suit, but rather than dip it into the stew, she smacked it on the pot. Immediately, an obnoxious metallic ring stabbed the ears of everyone in the room, Serana in particular visibly cringing at the noise. The three other students, who were still arguing, all sharply turned to look at the source of the sound, only to see Elra calmly lower her hand and look them all over before saying, in the same calm, monotone voice: "Dinner's getting cold. Last one to finish, cleans."
Not a second later, they all sat down without a word.
J'zargo ended up doing the dishes. The madman was trying to add sugar to horker stew. I admire the audacity. I think it was moon sugar, too.
Once we've all had our fill, I tried getting some small talk going and we got our introductions out.
The first one to go was Onmund, the big Nord guy. He said that he comes from a family where they don't like magic much, and he's still trying to get the hang of it, but he mostly came here to study history and artifacts. "Magic is part of our culture too," he says. More power to him, honestly. He definitely needs it too, I don't know if he can even cast much of anything. Wonder how he managed to get in.
Don't have to wonder with Brelyna though, or as she introduced herself: "Brelyna Maryon, proud retainer of House Telvanni". Came here from Solstheim, sent to study and improve her own skills at the behest of her family who, as far as she knows, might as well have reserved her a spot before she was even born. Her uncle is supposedly a big shot - a Magister, she says, though I find that a bit hard to believe. She certainly has the arrogance of one though, the cheeky little shit. She's barely into her twenties, too.
Speaking of cheeky, J'zargo. Oh boy, J'zargo. If Brelyna is the person that needs two chairs - one for herself and one for her manservant, then J'zargo needs a whole couch for his ego alone. He could probably give a Thalmor run for their money in how highly he thinks of himself. Literally the first thing he asked me is if I had mastered expert-level Destruction spells yet, and I don't really know what the hell that entails since I'm not familiar with the College curriculum, so I said 'no'. His gloating went on so long I forgot what I even wanted to know. Fuck, I don't think I even WANT to know anything about him at this point. I liked him more when he was silently washing the dishes in the corner.
And the last one was Elra. She basically said nothing. She's from the Reach, she was taught to be a mage since she was little, and she came to the College because she needed a place to stay and learn more. I swear, talking to her is like trying to get blood from a stone. I tried to make some small talk so I asked her if her tattoos mean anything. She just said "they do" and not another word.
How do I respond to that? Ugh.
At least Serana is here to keep me sane. Speaking of which, now that the initial troubles of moving in are over with, I have a new problem on my hands - or rather, Serana does. There are nowhere near as many people in Winterhold as I thought there would be, and she needs blood. I'd rather not tell anyone in the College about her if I can help it, and her illusions have been holding up nicely so far. At least on the students' side. The teachers might have seen through them, but if they did - they're not telling.
I've already notified the Archmage of her condition ahead of time, and he's given her strenuous permission to remain on College grounds as long as I take full responsibility for her actions and keep her from harming any of the other students. I didn't expect much acceptance, so I'll take what I can get at this point.
I'll just put the blood thing on the to-do list. There's bound to be SOME shady fuck I could get it from. Can't be the weirdest thing a college student would ask someone to procure.
A very long time ago, Saya heard the saying that fire and water are two things that anyone can stare at for eternity. Now, some clever folks always tried to add something else to the list, and it varied from person to person, but the general consensus was pretty unwavering on the first two. Now, as she stared at the tiny dancing flame atop her candle, the Dunmer found herself agreeing. It was almost hypnotizing to watch, bringing an ever-so-subtle smile to her face every time she let her mind wander and her eyes were completely lost within that miniscule wisp of warmth that flickered with her every breath.
She sighed. The flame flickered again. She snorted, this time a little more carefully.
"Getting distracted again?" A voice said from the doorway. Saya slid a little in her chair, bending her neck to look behind herself without turning. Even upside-down, she could recognize the sight of a giggling Serana. "What in the world are you doing?"
"Procrastinating," Saya replied before returning to her proper sitting position once more. She had been trying to chew through this… b'set, what even is this, a treatise? An essay? Whatever it was, it was supposed to be an easy enough explanation of the Elder Scrolls, yet to her it seemed that the more she read the less she understood about them. She sighed heavily yet again, then turned around. "What about you? Done reading for the night?"
"Mhm. I got about a quarter of the way through before I had to call for a break. There is quite a lot to digest." She glanced around the room, looking for a place to sit. Her eyes drifted over the Dragonborn who waved dismissively in the direction of the bed. Serana stared at it for a few seconds before sitting down, a little surprised by how soft the cushioning felt. "This 'Interregnum' was… quite eventful, wasn't it?"
Saya hummed, rubbing her chin. She felt like she had to agree, but… "My brain is a little scrambled at the moment. Anything stuck out to you in particular?" She asked, completely turning the chair around. It seems she had given up on the tome on her table for the time being.
"Hmm…" Now it was Serana's turn to think. "The Daedric invasions seemed peculiar. There were quite a lot, and in such a short timespan. I would imagine that the Princes would compete amongst themselves for the right to invade, not…" She gestured wildly, frowning. "...do whatever that was."
"Guess the logic of gods is truly beyond mortal comprehension." Saya shrugged. "Or maybe they're all just bloody idiots and are really good at pretending."
"That would be quite the twist, wouldn't it." Serana laughed, clasping her hands together. Her gaze began to drift again, looking around the room curiously. She had already had the chance to clean up in her own space, but it didn't seem like Saya cared to do the same. "You did not decorate your room much," she said, and then immediately wanted to catch the words and throw them out the window. Of course there are no decorations, they've been here for less than a day. A genius you are, Serana. A genius you are.
"You think? I've got myself quite the stack of 'decorations' right here." The Dunmer patted the books on her desk with a sardonic smirk, which immediately vanished into a tired scowl. Her eyes were beginning to sting. She rubbed them. They started stinging more, and then they stopped. Funny how that works. "Maybe I need a break…"
"I see no reason not to take one, then," the vampire said, scooching over a bit on the bed to make some room for Saya. The Dunmer smiled slightly at her expectant look and stepped over before plopping herself down onto the soft cushions. She tried to look disinterested, as though it was the vampire's persuasiveness that won her over, but the delighted groan that left Saya's lips the moment she lay down on the soft mattress and let her back stretch out was a dead giveaway. Serana giggled. "See? You're better already."
"Yeah, yeah." The Dragonborn closed her eyes, putting her hands behind her head, where her brain was beginning to feel too heavy for her own skull. The muscles in her neck tingled as the tension sapped from her body and she took a deep, content breath. This is good. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure? I doubt you just wanted to watch me read and occasionally scribble something incoherent for a number of hours."
There was a slight pause before Serana answered, the question evidently catching her off guard. "Well, I simply wanted to check on you. I only had books to occupy me in my room, and I wanted to see what you were doing." She turned away from Saya as she spoke, placing both hands in her lap and twiddling her thumbs. "...I am sorry if I distracted you." She laughed quietly.
"Well you say that-" The Dragonborn immediately cut in, pinching the cloth of her sleeve. The vampire turned sharply at the contact. She was met with a pair of red eyes staring right at her face, a knowing smile on their owner's face. "-but I thought we both agreed that I needed a break, right?"
Serana's mouth hung open for a moment before she smiled as well. "Yes, I suppose we have." She shifted around slightly, half-turning where she sat to be facing Saya. Her red hair looked a bit messier today than usual, she noticed. Must be all the snow. "So… anything you would like to share?"
Saya hummed. There was a lot that she could share, but none of it seemed very interesting now that she got put on the spot. "I found out that the Elder Scrolls make absolutely no sense, for one. Or too much sense… I haven't decided yet."
"How so?" Serana cocked her head. Now she's done it.
"So… you know how we're trying to find an Elder Scroll in this entire province?" She nodded. "Yeah, well, apparently the Elder Scrolls have a habit of disappearing or reappearing in random places. All the known ones were stored in a vault at the Imperial City, inside the White-Gold Tower. Then, after the Great War, the entire vault was suddenly found barren, and rumors of scrolls surfacing in other provinces started cropping up everywhere."
"...oh," the vampire said, and then a moment later the gears clicked in her head. "Wait, is that not where the Moth Priests were? Is that why Father was trying to lure one here?"
"Most likely, yeah. Though I wouldn't get too worked up over it. There are only so many Moth Priests, and the Scrolls themselves are fickle bastards." The Dunmer confirmed, closing her eyes and relaxing. "Apparently, there was once a scholar who tried to do an accounting of all the Elder Scrolls. Yet no matter how many times he counted, he ended up with a different number every time. When he asked a Moth Priest why this was, he was just told that Scrolls don't exist in countable form."
Serana's brows furrowed. "Meaning…?"
"Meaning the damn things phase in and out of existence whenever they bloody please," she finished with a huff. The more she learned about the Scrolls, the less possible it seemed to actually find one. If it could just disappear right from under their noses… ugh. She didn't want to even imagine that. "There are lots of different explanations for it. Anywhere from 'it's the gods' design' to 'we don't know'. I even saw one theory that someone proposed that maybe, there's actually only a single Elder Scroll, and all the others are just small excerpts from it, manifesting in separate forms."
"That's… an interesting way to look at it. Who was it?"
"Don't remember. Some guy named after a tree, I think." She shrugged. With that comment, the room plunged into silence. Serana only gave another incoherent murmur of acknowledgement, though no questions followed. As a result, they simply remained as they were for a good minute before the Dragonborn quietly opened one eye, looking at Serana, who was staring at her hands with an unfocused gaze. It was as though her mind was elsewhere, somewhere far away, and her eyes just so happened to come to rest where they were. "A drake for your thoughts?" She said, suddenly sitting up.
Serana was slightly startled, moving aside to give her companion a bit more space and turning away. "Oh, it's… nothing." The non-answer came quietly, and the silence hung heavy once more. The vampire opened her mouth soundlessly a few times after that, as though she wanted to say something but decided against it each time. When she finally spoke, it was a stunted mess of words, forced out almost against her will. "So um… what do you think of the College?"
Saya's eyes narrowed as she gave Serana a look over. Like a good, long look over. "...I mean, we've not even been here for a day. I haven't really formed an opinion yet."
Serana blinked. "Oh. Right. Pardon." She cleared her throat awkwardly, and lowered her eyes to her hands again, twiddling her thumbs like it was the most interesting thing in the universe at the moment. Idiot, she thought, how could you have forgotten something so important? She sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead. She was starting to get a headache.
"You know, you suck at this small talk thing."
"Huh?" Serana turned sharply, surprised at suddenly being addressed. It shouldn't have come as something unexpected, and yet the words still zapped her uncomfortably, like her own thoughts were being barged in on.
Saya's expression was unamused. "This… thing you're trying to do. I'm not sure what it is, but you're not very good at it," she stated flatly. The vampire just stared at her with wide eyes, unsure how to respond. In fact, she was beginning to think it might be better if she just didn't respond at all, and she turned away. Upon seeing that hesitation, Saya's expression softened slightly. "You know you can just tell me if something is bothering you. You don't have to make excuses to talk to me." She spoke in a hushed tone, moving a bit closer to Serana. There was no response. Saya leaned forward, trying to make eye contact again. "Tell me, why'd you really come?"
The reply was not immediate, and it came quietly. Her voice was almost quiet enough to be called a whisper. "...I didn't want to stay in my room."
Saya cocked her head. "Why not? It's… not a bad room, is it?" She asked, confused. As far as she knew, all the rooms in here were identical, so the room itself bothering her seemed peculiar.
"No," she replied. Both of her hands were in her lap now, fingers grasping the edges of her cloak. She never seemed to take the thing off. Saya caught herself wondering if she even had any other clothes to wear. "It's just that…" She paused. Took a breath. Continued. "I've already finished all my reading for today. So I just… sat there, in my room, thinking about everything that's happened. I've been to more places in the past two weeks than I have in my entire life, and now I was in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strangers…" Another shaky breath. "I don't know anyone here, except for you, and I didn't want to be alone." She lifted her head and turned to Saya, smiling wryly. "I… heh. This is the second time I've poured my heart out to you out of the blue in the past few days. And I haven't even apologized for the previous occurrence yet, have I?"
Saya's expression grew more sympathetic, though her brows furrowed slightly. She lifted her arm, lightly putting her hand on Serana's back, careful to keep the touch light and gentle so as to not spook her. The vampire didn't flinch but her eyes followed Saya's motions, as if wary of what she would do. There was something hurtful about that realization. "You don't have anything to apologize for, you know?"
"Don't I?" Serana's voice cracked with a dry laugh. Her eyes looked strained, and Saya could swear that they were beginning to water. "I dragged you into this mess with my father, dumped all of my problems on you not once but twice now, and every time you've just… listened to it and comforted me." She rubbed her eye, laughing quietly to try and mask an unwilling sniffle.
Saya waited for a while before responding. She was beginning to feel fidgety again, that creeping sense of discomfort stitching her lips together and drying out her throat. The sheets crumpled under her hand as it involuntarily curled into a fist. "Hey, Serana?" The vampire lifted her eyes wordlessly, glancing at the Dunmer beside her. "Can I hug you?"
Serana blinked, dumbfounded. "I…" She began, but never finished. She turned to the side, lowering her gaze again as she moved away from Saya. "...I can't ask that of you," she said, almost in a whisper. Her shoulders were shaking.
"But you're not." Saya's voice came from behind her, and her words gave Serana pause. A dry chuckle escaped her in-between the sniffles she struggled to suppress so much. She was making no sense. "Serana, you're not making me do a thing. I'm doing this because I want to." She spoke softly, carefully. She was closer than she was just a moment ago. Serana turned her head to the right - and true enough, there she was, looking at her with those worried red eyes of hers, with that concerned expression of hers. It made her want to run somewhere far, far away, and hide from the world. "I'm sorry."
"What for?" The vampire asked, confused.
"For not asking for permission." At first Serana quietly laughed at that statement, but Saya didn't so much as smile. When she noticed that, her laughter got stuck in her throat. The Dunmer continued in the same hushed tone, staring at her own clasped fingers as she spoke. "Last time, I… I'm not very good with words. I acted without thinking, and I did the first thing that came to mind. Even though I noticed that… you're not very comfortable with other people touching you." She turned to look at the vampire once more. "I'm sorry for doing it without your permission."
Serana just stared at her, dumbfounded. It was as though her own brain had just shut down from an error it could not compute. Was she apologizing for… comforting her? Without asking for permission? Even though she was the one who put her in a situation like that to begin with? Serana's chest tightened and she couldn't even tell if she was sniffling or laughing anymore. All that left her mouth were shaky, panicked breaths as she put a hand over her mouth and closed her eyes. She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to do anything. She-
She felt Saya's fingers brush against her hand and opened her eyes, meeting Saya's gaze. She was smiling now. Just a small, warm, comforting smile that made her feel absolutely hollow on the inside.
"So I'll ask you this time. Serana, do you want me to hug you?"
The vampire didn't respond. Instead, she shut her eyes tight again, cursing them for aching as they did now. And then, she nodded without a single word. Within the same instant, a pair of arms wrapped around Serana's shoulders, and she felt the burning sensation in her eyes become soothed as two wet streaks ran down her cheeks before vanishing into a single dark spot on the Dragonborn's shirt. She felt like a failure. She failed at the one thing she came in here to do, and here she was, making the exact same mistake she wanted to atone for, bawling like a fool and whispering broken, gibbering apologies as she clutched the back of Saya's shirt and at once hoped to vanish off the face of the world while wishing with her very soul to never let go. And Saya never did. She just sat there, not speaking another word, gently holding the girl in her arms and rubbing her back in slow circles.
Then, a few minutes later the shaking stopped, and Saya heard a long, heavy sigh - the kind that feels like it leaves your chest light and empty, and drains the last droplets of tension from your body. And she heard a hushed voice call out to her: "...Saya?"
"Hmm?" She hummed, pausing her motions for a moment.
"Could we… stay like this for a little longer?"
The Dragonborn smiled. "Of course."