*WARNING! THIS CHAPTER IS A BIT DISTURBING! (GORE, BLOOD, ETC...) READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

Chapter 22

Lielle stood next in front of the mummified corpse of the demigod Sotha Sil. She still had a hard time that such a thing even existed. Vivec stood beside her in silence, and they both admired the potential the corpse had.

"How did you know where it was?" She asked him.

Vivec ran his hands along the skull, tracing the facial features with a look that made Lielle flinch. He was like a sculptor, molding the clay.

"The dark elves – previously known as the Chimer, are a very resourceful race. Clues were left within history books. It just takes time and a shitload of theory to hypothesize a conclusion."

Lielle gave him a puzzled look, which Vivec didn't answer. Vivec then began pacing around the corpse, touching the tools that were laid next to it slowly. There were a variety of different tools, some were easily distinguishable as embalming tools, and others were a mystery.

"Are you sure this will work?" She asked.

Vivec stopped and smiled, but didn't answer. He then grabbed a hooked knife made of Dwemer metal and began cutting the bandages carefully off the corpse, while pouring a clear, hot liquid from a bottle over the skin.

Lielle crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.

This was going to take a while.

After the torso was fully stripped and covered in the fluid, Vivec finally spoke.

"I must say, still cannot believe I have achieved this."

Lielle smiled lightly. Vivec, without facing her, knew she had smiled.

"All those decades, literal billions of theory, millions of practice on lesser things… And now…" He flexed his arm, and cut a line around his shoulder, making a full circle around the arm.

"It's been that long? It didn't feel that long." She said.

"It was long enough."

Vivec began the removal of bandages again.

"I'm still worried." Lielle confessed.

Vivec glanced over his shoulder, while his hand went for the Nordic embalming saw.

"Why?" He asked.

"That was all just theory… No-one can truly predict actual magic… Who knows what kind of damage-"

She was interrupted by the violent scraping noise of the saw cutting through bones.

"It's a risk I'm willing to take. The dragon's soul was not meant for this use, you know that."

"Yes but-"

"Could you grab the bottle with the blue liquid for me?"

Lielle bit her lip. She wanted to protest, but she did as she was told.

As she brought the bottle in front of Vivec, she saw that the corpse was now completely naked; revealing a heavily rotten and disfigured face, with features that barely resembled an elf's.

She scrunched up her nose at the smell of the chemicals, and wondered how Vivec managed to stay focused under the influence.

"All done." Vivec stated, as he dropped the saw onto the table.

Lielle sighed, and rubbed her temples. It was her turn.

"Turn around please." She said.

Vivec turned around, with eyes full of anticipation and a slight but powerful smile. It wasn't a smile of joyful child however, but a smile of a tyrant whose victory has been ensured.

Vivec's body had now been carved with various runic symbols, with his chest faintly glowing red, still under the influence of the dragon's soul.

Lielle grabbed a towel and wrapped it around a wooden rod, and put it in Vivec's mouth.

"Bite hard. Try not to flinch as much."

Vivec mumbled something, and Lielle gave him a soft peck on the cheek, and then began cutting his arm off with a saw.

Immediately, Vivec began screaming, and his voice echoed inside his body through the gag in his mouth.

Lielle clenched her teeth as she began sawing faster, with tears in her eyes. She knew those screams would stay with her forever.

Three hours had passed, and Lielle was on the floor with vacant, teary eyes, and nose full of snot. Vivec was on the table in front of her, however, his right arm, half his torso, and his left leg were replaced with Sotha Sil's.

He sat upright, eyes closed, in a meditating position. There was a pool of blood underneath him, and the mixed smell of gore and the embalming chemicals stung their noses.

Lielle's finger twitched slightly and Vivec's head snapped to her direction.

Lielle's eyes gained focus as she looked at him.

"Are you alright?" asked Vivec.

Lielle tried to smile, but ended up crying again.

Vivec sighed in relief, and came down from the table and sat beside her, putting his arm around her. She leaned on his shoulder, resting her head on him.

"It's over. You don't need to suffer anymore." Vivec whispered softly.

Lielle closed her eyes slowly.

"I've already won." Vivec announced.

End of Chapter 22