Part I : Young and Faithful


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Chapter 3 : Aftermath

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The old priestess, now fully awake, looked at Esril with inquisitive red eyes,

'' You better tell me what happened here, youngling, you seem very much well and alive, and this powerful undead, who resisted the strongest binding magic, seems very dead to me''

One of her white eyebrow raised, questionning, at the same time as she spoke. The dry tone in her raspy voice surely indicated she would not put up with any nonsense.

During a split second, Esril thought hard about lying and getting himself out of what could be a very sticky situation. After all, he had interfered with a sacred rite, probably handsomely paid for by the most influencial noble family of the Temple territory. He could very well end up jailed or worst.

But he was a Novice of the Temple, such lies would be deeply against his beliefs and the values he was taught and held most dear since childhood. Moreso, he knew he reacted as best as he could, and hoped the elder priestess would listen to reason.

His childhood lessons were deeply inscribed in him anyway : '' The Devotee knows to stay ever Truthfull, even when Truth would cost his own life, for he knows Truth is the way to Enlightment ''. He could almost hear the stern voice of the Monastery Elder, who used to lecture the novices during communal prayers.

He let escape a sight and started to tell her everything, begining with the weird feelings and sensations he had for two days. He carefully let aside his opinion on the use of a Scroll of Servitude to bind a high ranking Indoril, not wanting to question de old priestess decisions nor the Indorils commands.

As the story of the young novice went on, the old woman expression changed, starting with frown and suspicion, she quickly and clearly showed shocking surprise, as both her eyebrows raided high. She was almost in disbelief but the all account rung too true and she new the young one in front of her was not the type to spin yards of lies nor foolishness. He looked even more surprise than her, she could see it in his quite lost expression.

When he stopped, she staid in silence for a time, watching him thoughtfully.

'' I believe your words and you did well, Novice, given the cricumstances. I've never heard of someone so young being able to break a binding like that without the proper knowledge. Your somewhat improvised bond-breaking worked well. Of course the binding was faulty at the begining, for a reason I am yet to understand'', she said pensively, gazing in the distance.

She refocused on him and said '' You must have your fair share of questions, some I have answer for, but it is not my place to fill you with this knowledge. I must first consult with the higher ranks of the Temple.

What I can tell you is that you seem to possess a rare and precious gift, which could be a great asset to the Temple. It needs training and guidance, and be sure that the Temple will provide this, if you allow yourself to embrace significantly more implication and dedication to the Faith. She paused briefly before continuing : '' I can't say more. For now you will return to your Monastery without any delay and must not say a word to anyone about this most unusual and worrysom affair. You can't fatom the repercussions of what happened today, and it must be delt with first before anything else. I will sent a courrier to you with further instruction when I'll know more.

Will you obey the Temple Will through me, Novice ? ''

The young dunmer bowed his head at those words and said '' Of course Sera*, I will do as you say. But if I may ask, what will i say to my Elder when I come back to the Monastery ? He will not be please if I return without all my duties done''

She glanced at him then quicly grabded a piece of parchment and a quill on her desk, then neetly wrote some words unknown to him, before sealing it with wax and her signet ring.

She handed him the scroll and the paiment for the supplies he came deliver earlier, and said :

'' You will hand this letter to your Elder, it will tell him enough. You will be dismissed of all your mundane chores, except your enchanting duties. You will perform them in your quarters, without supervision. You will be left alone and in peace and will take your meals on your own, until I contact you again. They will have to find someone else to deliver anything you enchant though. If there is one sure thing, you wont be a delivery boy anymore, the Temple will have better use of you. Your Elder wont object to those orders because they come from me'' she added to conclude when he looked a bit doubtfull.

'' Now go and wait quietly for any messenger with further orders.'' she said in a way of goodbyes.

Esril didn't need anymore cues to take his leave, thanking gratefully the old priestess by bowing his head once more.

As soon as he was outside the building, back in the crowded streets of Necrom, he could see that things were not back to normal. He had no other choice than to believe now : he was able to see and feel what lies beyond the Veil between Life and Death, he had no other explanation on what was happening to him right now.

Indeed, he could, now more than before, hear the faint echoes of hundred and hundred of otherwordly voices, and if he stared too long above the sea of dunmers in the street, he could see translucent faces among ghoslty mists, some angry, some seemingly in pain.

Something else caught his eyes. At every corner were standing or patrolling the Mourning Ordinators, Necrom sacred city soldiers, all clad in their black robes and silver armor, watching over the crowd as usual. It was told they were the peacekeepers for the Dead, and the living in mourning. Now the words appeared in a different light to Esril.

His attention was drawn by some of them precisly. Around those, who curiously were not wearing their mendatory helmet like usual, he could see a faint white glow surrounding them. He had for sure not seen anything of the sort before. Those few Mourning Ordinators, face uncovered, were watching above the crowd, exactly were Esril could see the ghostly faces of the Dead if he looked for too long. All those few faith-soldiers were chanting with hands joined to shape a triangle, the universal symbol of the Tribunal Temple. They were praying understood Esril. Prayers supposed to appease the Dead, the young dunmer quick brain catched.

He thought so because he could see no spirit close to the praying soldiers, like the areas arround them were cleared, cleansed, maybe even, as their white auras were pulsing in waves some feets arround them.

Esril frowned as he saw that no one payed attention to those unordinary guards, and he understood that no one could apparently see the silver-white hallo arround them.

His frowned deepened more when one of those chanting guards watched Esril closesly when the young dunmer walked close to him, following the pace of the crowd. He felt the heavy gaze of the praying soldier that followed the young dunmer as long as it could.

He was walking with hundreds of dunmers, ' how could I stand out ' Esril asked himself, frowning even more.

Then he understood. The old priestess spoke of a gift useful to the Temple, like she knew the nature of it. Surely Esril was not alone in the world possessing it, and those helmet-less Ordinators could probabably also gaze across the Veil between the mundane and the spirit world. It was not a far strecth to think that Esril's gift would probably stand out to someone possessing the same ability.

He was not so sure he liked drawing attention to himself like that. He lowered his head, looked at the ground before him and as discreetly as possible went on his way to the Monastery. Along the way he tried to recite to himself every prayers he knew to keep his attention far from the ghastly noise of hundred of ghosts voices. The buzzing back-noise was starting to sear into his head and give him a sharp headache. Taking his mind away from it seemed to eased him a bit.

After a time he felt was hours, he finaly managed to get back to the Monastery of the Innocents.

He quickly gave the letter to his Elder when he questionned him, and with the old man agreement, he left as swiflty as possible to his cell. Closing the sturdy wood door behind him, he heavily let himself fall in his bedding without getting out of his Novice robes, not taking a glance at the spare and stern room.

Head burried in a not so comfy pillow, the weight of the day finaly catched him, and he slowly drifted to slumber.

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Three days went passing, painfuly slow if you asked Esril opinion about it. The young novice was glad orders were clear and asked him to stay by himself most of the time. Peace and Silence never were such sweet blessings before. As things were, he could still hear some spirits whispers and the more he tried to make the voices leave him, the more a headache would flare up. Appart from his enchanter duties and the meal times, he staid mostly in the dark, eyes closed, trying to empty his mind with prayer and meditation, and resign himself to endure the sharp daggers eager to pierce is brain from time to time.

In the few occasions he was seen in the common parts of the Monastery, he could very well see the other novices whisppers behind his back, when they thought he could not see or hear them. Even the priests in charge of them and the Elder attitudes had changed. It was clear they didn't know how to react with him. They were trying to be more cautious and treat him like he might be someone important, but not too much because he was still a low-born orphan raised by the Temple. If Esril was not so slightly irritated by the all Monastery behavior toward him, he might have seen it's elders struggles toward him as amusing. But realy he just wanted peace and answers, more than anything else.

The fourth day seemed to be the answer to his prayers, more or less.

As always, he was up at 6 in the morning, ready for the first communal daily prayers. After washing himself with a pitcher and a bucket of cold water, he left his cell and ate his breakfast in silence, some saltrice and guar milk porridge with white bread, by himself in a corner of the common room reserved for novices meals. Nothing out of his everyday life.

Like everyday he attended the communal sermon by the Elder, but skipped all the morning chores like the others, as he was exempt, and went back directly to his cell where he started his enchanter duties right away.

He carefuly identified several soulgems, created some commissioned healing amulets and some magical scrolls.

He was just ending the drawing of a runic circle and array in blue ink on a guar hide scroll when loud knocks banged on the door. He jumped at his desk and stained his almost done scroll with blue drops in the meantime. ' Perfect, it's ruined, I will have to replace this with my own money, Five gold lost ' he grumbled on his way to open the door.

In the dim lit corridor were standing a severe looking dunmer next to the Monastery wrinkly Elder. The other mer was clad in the traditionnal black robe and silver-white armor of Necrom Ordinators, here again was missing the mandatory helmet. The stern dunmer had probably passed his prime, he was over a hundred for sure. His hair were still black but some silver strands could already be seen. Those hair were tied up in a small knot on the top back of his head, and the sides of his skull were neatly shaved. Typical warrior cut, recognized Esril.

'' Young Novice Esril '' said the holy warrior '' You are to follow me without delay, you are expected in the Hall of Contemplation in the Temple High Offices, I am to escort you to my captain who will explain your new situation. Pack up quickly and only the bare minimum, I have other important duties to attend than this, we will send someone here later to pick up the rest ''

Esril was taken aback in astonishment. He was expected in The Temple High Offices. Him who was only a lowly orphan, a novice. He never thought he would set foot there for anything more than errand-boy chores. He had indeed never seen the inside of the most prominent white-stone building of the holy city. Usualy when he had a delivery there, he had to wait at the front door for a servant to pick up any package he carried.

Seeing the raised eyebrow of the warrior, Esril quickly gathered his thought and replied a brief'' Yes, Serjo* '' before looking for his trusty leather satchel. In the meantime he also took the crimson piece of fabric he used as a scarf. It was the only trace of his lost past he had in his possession. The priests told him it was the blanket he was wrapped in when the Ordinators found and saved him from those evil cultists. It was of course too small now to wrap him all, but folded several time it was a nice shawl or scarf. It was the only thing he was deeply attached to, other than the few enchanted baubles he made himseld and always carried on him.

He glanced quickly arround the small room, before deciding nothing else was important enough to take with him. Walking away and following the two elder dunmers to the front doors of the Monastery, he had the strange feeling it was the last time he was walking those familiar sandstone corridors. He had lived here all his young life. And now it was quickly ending, letting place for unknown change.

Arriving at the front doors, the Ordinator stopped and went in his black robes to pick up some sealed documents and a generous gold purse, probably several hundred, and put it in the hands of the Monastery Elder.

With a voice sounding very official, the Oridnator said :

'' Here are the official transfer documents of Novice Esril Nammu* for your records. Joined with is a letter from Captain Uvo Brin explaining the situation. You also receive, from the Temple High Offices, 300 gold pieces that will go to the Monastery funds as an act of gratitude for the Monastery excellent work for the care and upbringing of Novice Esril Nammu. Let it be known that the Grace of Generosity has been uphold between us, encouraged by the teaching of our Lord Vivec. Three Blessings to you and your Monastery, Elder Sadrys ''

It occured to Esril that it was the first time he heard his Elder name. Evryone just called him Elder here.

After the old dunmer read the letter explaining everything, he looked at Esril, at the same time worried and proud. '' You are now out of our care, Young one'' he said with his raspy voice. '' You will be given great opportunities to become more valuable for the Temple. Do your duties and remember your lessons, Always walk in Faith and in Truth and the light of ALAMSIVI will always shine on your Path. Three Blessing Novice Esrill Nammu.

With a bit of emotion in his voice, Esril answered :

'' Thank you Elder Sadrys, for everything you provided for me. You have been a home to me, and a father to all of us orphans. I will honour your many lessons and walk in Virtue. Be sure I will always remember the Generosity of the Temple trough you. Three Blessing to you Master Sadrys, and to the Monastery of Innocents''

At the end of his farewell and blessings, Esril bowed in front of the old dunmer, making sure to convey all the respect and appreciation he had for the short old elf. The gesture and the use of the Master title were not mandatory, the two of them knew it. Elder Sadrys was no noble and no master, but Esril knew how dedicated the old mer was, it was a small way of showing his gratefulness.

Elder Sadrys clasped Esril forearm with his wrinkly hand as a farewell gesture, a gesture done among equals, albeit a Novice and an Elder. Then he let go and watched one of his protegees turn arround and walk away to his own path.

A last glance at the Monastery and Esril was following the Ordinator. He had no idea what was waiting ahead now, but he started to feel a bout of anticipated pride. Maybe Fate had plans for him, maybe he would become someone after all.

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* Sera : term of respect used to adress a noble. I chose to use this one for women.

* Serjo : term of respect used to adress a noble. I chose to use this one for men.

* Esril Nammu : Nammu means ''No name'' or ''Clanless'' in dunmeri language. In my story it's the name given to all orphans who doesnt know their family/clan name. A bit like John Doe in US and UK.