The Pink Haired Pirate: An Old Norse Saying
Rated: M for language, future mature themes, violence, gore
Warnings: Spoiler alert for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
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Chihiro sat down in a hidden corner of the roof on the Keep, right next to Sakura. It was a little shadowy, away from the prying eyes of the guards and archers. But even if they caught the glimpse of pink hair, they just shrugged it off. Actually...one of the guards waved their hand for a moment before getting back to their post.
And truth to be told, she was pretty ecstatic. She was talking rapidly in her own mother language, with her cat companion which seemed to cackle and reply back. Sakura dug her hand into the basket and pulled out a few particular things. Her own journal, the bottle of tightly sealed ink, her own quill and the piece of paper she has been given by the Jarl. The iron blade, which was glowing a warm reddish-orange from time to time, was sheathed and leaned against the taller wall of the roof.
Sakura flipped through the leather-bound journal. Many more drawings have been added to the sketch of Boethiah's statue on the first page. She has also written down the date when she has drawn it too: 2nd of Hearthfire. Soon the drawing of the Dwarven Occulory was sketched on the opposite page. Four names were scratched down, indicating the state of the blood extractor given by Septimus Signus. Afterward, she has sketched down the Amulet of Talos, along with Vol's story, as detailed as she could remember. The pendant which currently rested in the valley between her breasts was emitting a gentle, pleasant pulse. But all of the talismans blessed by the divinity seemed to have a life of their own.
Chihiro tapped on a few drawings as well. Like the Amulet of Mara, and the sketch of the star-crossed lovers who were slowly departing from the world of the living, right to Sovngarde. The sketches of Nirn's moons, Masser and Secunda were displayed on the opposite page. She has drawn each of the Guild's shadowmarks, with a brief description, along with the guild's armor, and a detailed guide on how a switchblade could be attached to the sleeves, from the inside. Right above the new, clean page, Sakura scribbled down: '10th of Hearthfire' or today's date. She has written down all of the Jarl's tasks in the order which should be the most appealing manner to execute.
"Okay, so you can mark with an asterisk the collecting and delivery missions which we're unable to do at once. I mean...we could do them meanwhile hopping from place to place." The furred cat commented. Sakura cleaned the dry ink off the tip of the quill and dipped it in the fresh ink of the bottle, after unscrewing it carefully.
"Alright, so mister Balimund the Blacksmith needs ten bowls of Fire Salts." She chewed lightly on the feather of the quill. "Miss Marise needs five Ice Wraith teeth. I wonder what would she need them for."
Chihiro would smirk if she could. "Oh, I know. The Ice Wraiths are those frozen flying snakes, right? Well, the fish and treats she gives to me all have this icy crunchy texture on the surface. Maybe it's a measure for preservation, but what can I know."
"Oh?"
"Mhm. But I have noticed her telling other merchants that the manner she keeps the meat so fresh is a secret." Sakura scratched her ears gently, as a praise. Chihiro felt pretty proud of her little discovery. "There are also rumors that Bolli's wife isn't so faithful either. But neither is Bolli...now I'm wondering who is cheating on who."
Sakura sweatdropped. "You're enjoying the townsfolk gossip, aren't you?"
"Talen-Jei is looking for three flawless amethysts, while Madesi wants a flawless sapphire, a mammoth tusk and a piece of gold ore. Does it matter what the gemstone is cut like? He's a jeweler, he could do that himself." Chihiro quickly changed the subject.
"If that's what he needs, that's what he'll get. Also..." Her eyebrows furrowed. "Ingun Black-Briar is looking for ninroots, nightshades, and deathbells; twenty samples of each. The hell's she playing at? Poisoning the well?"
"Hm. You could keep a closer eye on her."
And Sakura couldn't help but strongly agree.
"So I can start the list off by bringing the Jarl's son's sword from mister Balimund. Then talk to Sapphire about a man named Shadr..."
"Don't forget about the wizard's trinkets she has lost...and the ore sample for the old potion couple." Chihiro dipped her paw in a bit of ink and left a paw print. Sakura nodded in approval. Her eyes scanned the list a little more, and suddenly a smile climbed its way onto her face.
"Oh! Mister Klimmek and Mrs. Boti need help too! I'm happy to see them again, I have too little time for social visits. Alright, I can't waste time! Chihiro!"
"Yes?"
Sakura sat and thought for a bit. "Stay around and spy on the townsfolk. Gather dirt if you want, but I just want to know what happens and how can I help. Alright? "
"Aye aye." Chihiro stretched her body lazily and yawned. She watched Sakura get up, pack her basket and tie the sheathed sword to her hip. Sakura walked to the edge of the roof and hopped off.
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"Came to see Balimund perform miracles with steel?" Balimund commented as he noticed with barely the corner of his eye a customer approaching the forgery. It was that pellicular lady who has arrived in the city a few days ago. She's been oddly friendly for an outsider, especially when half the town was far less from hospitable. But that seemed to bother no one, not even her, save for a few more suspicious citizens. And the evil eye Maven Black-Briar seemed to throw in her direction when she thought no one else was looking. Like she knew something nobody else did.
"Miracles...with steel?" Sakura asked a little puzzled. She watched him polish a steel sword, at the grinding stone. And Sakura actually dragged a small, three-legged stool to sit down and watch him. Truth to be told, she has never sat through the full process of a sword being forged. And the process was mildly fascinating.
Balimund didn't miss the few sparks of interest in the young woman's eyes. As soon as the surface of the blade was smooth enough, he sat up and sheathed the sword in a stray sheath from the ground. He leaned it against the wall.
"You could try if you want." He offered, expecting an answer.
"I...I suppose. I have never held a hammer in my whole life though." Sakura admitted a little embarrassed. But she was not sure why should she feel as such, though. It was not like everybody had a preset destiny as a blacksmith. Sakura sat down her basket in a safe spot of the courtyard, so sparks won't jump in the basket and burn it down.
"I can see it. But there's always a first for everything, now is it?" The blonde blacksmith chuckled, motioning towards her soft, dainty hands, and handed her a hammer and a few leather strips. "Try to make a dagger. I have freshly cooled down some melted iron, it should be enough to make a dagger.
Sakura took the hammer and walked over the anvil. Sakura had an idea about how should the dagger look like. Yet it seemed to be hard to give it the shape it was supposed to have, specific to Skyrim's weaponry. The blade was oddly catching the form of a kunai, but thicker and flatter. It was also a bit longer as well. Her wrists and shoulders started to ache through the whole process of lifting the heavy tool as well.
Balimund inspected closely the work and raised an eyebrow.
"I must admit...it looks nothing like I've ever seen, but it looks better. The daggers back home look like this?" And Sakura supposed it's pretty normal for the weapon designs to vary from country to country. Or even regions.
"Yes..., it looks a bit like this." She admitted, placing down the hammer. Balimund then proceeded to wrap the handle of the freshly forged dagger with a bunch of leather strips. And the smell seemed very appealing to her nostrils. She liked it a lot, more than she'd admit.
"It looks alright for your first time. Now sharp it up and it will be ready for usage." Sakura took the dagger from Balimund's calloused hands and sat down at the grinding wheel. She pressed on the pedal and it started spinning fast enough for her to smooth and sharpen the blade. She stayed away from the sparks, even if they fazed her too little to care. The blade of the weird kunai was soon starting to shine. She faceted and flattened it, sharpening the edges and polishing the surface. Balimund watched her work and examined the finished product soon after.
"I think it's done." Sakura waited expectantly, holding her hands in front of her. She was anxious to hear how her dagger has been performed, despite its odd shape.
Balimund handed her back the dagger.
"Well done. It looks pretty good, and deadly, too. I must admit, I've never seen a shape like this on a blade." He commented. "Keep this to yourself, maybe it will remind you of me and this place if you'll keep up your good work." Sakura blushed lightly, overwhelmed by the subtileness of the hidden compliments.
"Now, what can I do for you?" He grabbed a rag from the table and started to wipe clean his hands.
A flash of recognition crossed her face. "Oh! I almost forgot." Sakura picked up her basket and placed it inside the dagger.
"I've been tasked to lift an order for the son of the Jarl. Something about a steel sword."
Balimund snorted. "Lazy good-for-nothing, isn't he? Sending you down here while I'm but a stone's throw away."
"Not at all, mister Balimund!" Sakura shook her head embarrassed. "I promised to help, so I don't really mind."
The blacksmith merely shrugged and handed her the steel sword he's been working on.
"Here you go. And tell him to stop slaying walls if he wants the sword to stay in a good condition." Sakura actually chuckled lightly. It was a good one, she had to admit.
"Alright. I will bring the fire salts as soon as I can. Thank you, mister Balimund!" She called out and started making a beeline towards the keep, to find Laila's son. But something has caught her eye. The the rhombus symbol which encased a square divided multiple times. The shadowmark of 'Loot'. But could she rob Balimund blind when he has been so kind with his forgery lesson?
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From what she has heard, Harrald, Laila's eldest son, liked practicing in the backyard. He was a hot-headed Nord, bearing striking resemblances to his mother. According to the guards and the servants around the Keep, he held his position of the next-in-line pretty proud. And like his mother, he was an avid Stormcloak supporter. And if she was to pay attention to the gossip, he had a younger sibling as well, which has been exiled or at least punished for declaring his love for the Imperials out loud in public. What an odd family. She pumped chakra into her feet and leaped on the wall of the courtyard silently. She snickered and looked down.
A man armored with leather and steel was hitting and slashing, with something looking like a mere dagger, the dummies of the courtyard. The ginger-haired man didn't seem to notice Sakura standing on top of the wall either. His breathing turned into soft inhales and exhales, the fatigue of the training starting to get the best out of him. He wasn't bad looking. He seemed a few years older.
'Well...normally...I should show respect to my elders. But if he's such a serious wall slayer as Mr. Balimund said...could I take him seriously...?'
Sakura jumped off the wall, blocking his path towards the entrance of the castle and waited, crossing her arms, leaned against the wall.
"Out of my way. The son of the Jarl has no time for idle conversations." His blue eyes narrowed as he brushed past her, sheathing his dagger.
Sakura smirked lightly. "Only a dagger for the son of the Jarl? What kind of enemies are you training to slay? Made of butter?" If Harrald's eyebrow has twitched in utter annoyance as he stopped, it was not something she could have seen with his back turned at her. He glared daggers.
"If you must know, I was practicing in the yard when the guard I was sparring with feinted when I specifically told him to duck! My blade bit right into the stonework next to the keep and needed serious repairs. Thankfully our smith Balimund works wonders."
Sakura shrugged, chuckling, infuriating him even more. "Sure sure. Blame the guard for your inability to swing right. But you might want to have this." Sakura untied Harrald's steel sword from her hip and tossed it to him.
Harrald caught it with apparent ease. "What the hell would you know about swordsmanship anyway." He snorted. He spotted the second blade sheathed at her hip, however, which was her own. But he made no comments. "If you think you're so good, we should spar. Not now. I have better stuff to do than meddle with mere peasants."
Sakura's chuckle turned into full-blown laughter and walked past him. "Ja ja, whatever you say. Come and find me when you'll stop harassing the walls." Sakura's hand shot up to catch two small gems thrown in her direction. And to his dismay, he didn't have to see her fumble to catch and find the tiny stones as her payment. The color of his face soon matched the hair and the tips of his burning ears.
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'Well...the first task is done. Let's see, what are these stones...?' Sakura thought, holding them a little in the sunlight before pocketing them. A reddish garnet and...a flawless sapphire. Now that was useful. She grinned a little to herself and took out the list from her basket, and walked downstairs the keep, passing the guards. She bid them goodbye.
Chihiro jumped off the roof and landed right next to Sakura.
"I have overheard something about the debt. You know, the stable guy. And that lady thief, Sapphire. Apparently, Shadr's shipment was robbed blind. But by the look on the lady's face, she might have been involved as well. Haven't you joined a guild of thieves?"
Sakura hummed and nodded. She grabbed Chihiro and body-flickered back on the roof.
"Alright. It'd be easier if I made clones. So I could get more tasks done at once."
"That sounds like a good idea."
Sakura grinned and made a hand seal. "Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu." About three perfect copies of Sakura sat down cross-legged in front of their creator and her cat companion.
"Okay so." The Original went through the list once again. She grabbed the first clone's wrist and wrote an inked kanji for number 1. The clone flinched a little. "Steward Anuriel needs us - you to take care of the Giant in the Steamcrag Camp. Grab any loot and make sure to retrieve a mammoth tusk."
"Are you really sending me to things thrice my size!?" The clone yelled almost hysterically. Sakura rubbed the temple. She grabbed the second wrist to doddle the second kanji.
"You will go to Shor's Stone. Collect the gemstones, help the Orc there and don't forget to bring any kind of ore. ."
"Aye aye captain."
"What do you need me to do?"
Sakura eyed the third clone. "You'll have farming work. Help the Snow-Shod, Sarethi farms and the Heartwood Mill. I will get myself busy with the rest."
The three clones saluted. "Aye aye captain!" Sakura put away the ink and quill and the clones vanished before Sakura did the same.
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Keevara hurried to clean a mug as soon as she watched her favorite customer walk inside Bee and Barb. She poured the mead, the drink Sakura has started liking a little too much. Said pink-haired woman placed the basket down next to her and took the mug.
"People are seeing you hopping from place to place like a rabbit. What are you up to?" She chuckled a little, in her typical rough Argonian voice. Sakura ran a hand through her hair, to keep the bangs off her face. She locked them better with her blue hairpin.
"It's relaxing, I'll admit. And rewarding too. I'm helping around and earning some coin. I get to visit more places too. I enjoy making myself busy."
Well...more coin earned meant more income for Bee and Barb..right?
"That sounds tiring. But I'm glad people are starting to warm up to you if they trust you with their struggles..." she sighed. "The war changes people. They're becoming less and less welcoming towards newcomers. But you'll fit in just fine." Sakura took out a few coins to put on the counter for the finished drink. And just before she got the chance to walk outside the inn and go back to her business, Sapphire brushed past her. Sakura raised an eyebrow at the silent greeting, so she followed and met her in the graveyard. Right beside the guild's mausoleum.
"I heard you've become the Jarl's errand dog." The woman crossed her arms. She took in Sakura's apparent irritation with a slight smirk. "Which also means you have taken the stable guy's 'plead'. He's afraid I'll gut him alive."
"All I know is that he owes you some gold. And that his shipment was robbed. But you would have taken no part in it...right?"
Sapphire snorted. "And what if I did? Tell you what. You keep your mouth shut, and I'll share the loot with you. Tell him whatever you want."
"You know I can't do that. I may be an initiate but I have to keep appearances up without the armor. You got your gold, so you'd better leave him alone." Sakura crossed her arms. And the slightly red glint of her iris was enough to run a few flashbacks. Sapphire's hard face slipped, sighing.
"Fine. Tell him he can forget about it. But I'm sharing no loot."
Sakura smiled a little, triumphantly. "Oh, keep your gold. But I need a little favor. Something involving a bow stolen by thieves. You could find it for me; the Ratway should be no trouble for a seasoned thief of your caliber. If you know what's good for you, that's it." Sapphire rubbed her forehead, as a response to Sakura's sugary smile. It grew even wider.
"I...I'll get it."
And that afternoon, Shadr decided to pay a visit to the temple. He was not a religious man, neither was he found frequenting Mara's temple, so Maramal was a little surprised to see him kneeling, worshipping the Goddess for taking care of him. A huge boulder was lifted off his heart and back, after all.
Chihiro was watching her summoner's result of smooth speech as well. She has jumped off Diniya's lap, stretching her long body. She looked up at the Dunmer woman and yawned.
"You don't think you could help me with something, don't you?" The priestess bent a little to stroke the ears of the Ragdoll cat, receiving a purr.
'If it will keep getting me ear massages...anything for you.' She wanted to reply. The woman grabbed a small stack of papers. She shuffled a little through the contents.
"Do you think you can deliver these around? I have forgotten to tell her I needed these scattered...but you seem so smart and understanding...a steaming cooked fish will wait for you when you get back.
Her big blue eyes widened, and she let out a meow and took the stack of papers in her muzzle immediately. Diniya chuckled and tied a small, rust-colored ribbon around her neck, right next to her collar. The ribbon had a few jade-colored beads strapped along with a smaller, tinier version of Mara's amulet carved in wood. But both pendants were easily hidden in the thick, dense fur.
"Good girl."
And as Chihiro hopped outside and left several flyers titled 'Warmth of Mara' around. Not many were pleased to receive such a thing. But people like Bolli pocketed it happily. The white-furred cat hopped from roof to roof, leaving a few flyers at each house, inn, shop and even climbed the walls of the Guards' tower and right into the Keep.
But she has gathered a lot of information doing the little errand for the temple. She was walking on the edge of the railing, which kept the people from falling in the water beneath. She moved elegantly, her right side legs before the left, and sat down. Maven Black-Briar was arguing with a blonde woman; Haelga. Her dark-colored eyes narrowed for a second, taking in the appearance of the feline spy, before continuing her less pleasant conversation.
"Of course he wasn't you stupid whore, he's a man. Now I'm not going to warn you again. Are we clear?"
And Chihiro didn't miss the flash of fear ...or at least uneasiness either. Chihiro followed with her head the older woman walk away and disappear inside a building. Whether it was her house or not, she was not sure. But she sat down to clean her paws, before hopping off the railing.
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"Forget about the debt. We got what we wanted anyways." Sapphire snorted at Shadr's face contorted in disbelief. He was ready to drink that white vial of invisibility potion and make a dash outside when she confronted him. But he was too frozen in place to even move his feet, take a horse and gallop the hell out of The Rift. Maybe he could find another stable to work at. Or hide in the mountains and become a hermit. Who knew what life would prepare for him.
"W-what? H-how? Why?" He shamefully stammered, his arms dropping to his side, the tight on the potion in his pocket loosening gradually.
"Thank that Sakura woman. Not me." Sakura? But who was that woman? That newcomer with an exotic name and ..appearance. And that same woman was walking past the gates, humming a soft tune, as Sapphire walked away , looking to get away as fast as possible. It seemed like she was looking for something. Or looked to get to a certain place at a certain time as quickly as possible.
"Hey! Stop! Please!" Shadr ran in the direction of the woman who walked past him, grabbing her wrists.
"Oh? Can I help you?" The woman tilted her head in disbelief and blinked a few times.
"Help me? You've saved my life!" Shadr took her hands and handed her the invisibility potion. "Please, have this. Sapphire came and told me you sorted my problem out. Take it, I won't need it anymore."
The woman forced a smile and bowed her head.
"Happy to be of assistance, sir. " she gently removed his hands off hers and walked away, resuming her old piracy tune hum. Shadr meanwhile was unconsciously trying to wipe the ink off his hands.
The clone quickened her pace, heading towards the place marked with ink, in the Eastmarch Hold. She set her foot in the snow, grinning widely, eyeing the Giant which looked down on her, gripping the club. And as much as like an ant she looked in comparison...
"You're the smallest giant I've ever seen! Let's see if you'll put up a challenge...Long Live Jarl Laila!" She cried and leaped, coating her fist in chakra.
But unknown to her, someone was watching her through the snow.
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Meanwhile, with Original Sakura...if she was to guess, it would be at least 11 in the morning. And the quiet town of Ivarstead was up and running. She had more than a few errands to run, and finding Mrs Boti was the first of the first. And the old man in a yellow dress smiled happy, greeting with a hug.
"Sakura dear, how are you? Come on, sit down. What brings you here?" Sakura took her seat on a tree stump.
"I'm afraid this visit is not so social...the Jarl has handed me a list of tasks...so I'm here to help. How's your daughter and Mr. Klimmek?" She asked, concerned and happy.
"Oh, Fastred is doing just fine! That's why we're so happy...she stayed here and married Kilmmek shortly after you left. They're taking a walk right now. But if you're here to help us with our struggles..." Boti shook her head. "Oh, you poor thing. Breaking your back for our problems." The older woman got up and tapped her cheeks.
"I won't hold you long then. Help me gather the crops in baskets and I'll leave you alone. You sweet child..."
But gathering crops was not a hard task. Neither chopping the wood for Temba Wide-Arm. She was a rather abrasive woman, bearing a strong hatred for bears, hence why a clone shall bring her about ten pelts to suffice her thirst for killed bears. But from the Fellstar Farm, she has found a satchel belonging to the air-headed court wizard of Riften. A brilliant one...but a little forgetful.
"That woman could forget her own head if it wasn't attached to her neck." Boti shook her head. "Do you think you're ready to climb the stairs up to The Throat of the World? It's freezing up there...and slippery, and dangerous..."
"Mr. Klimmek shall enjoy the married life with Fastred for now. I can take on his task this time." Boti handed her the satchel of supplies.
"He told me to tell anyone who would come and replace him to place the supplies in the chest outside the keep. That's all you have to do. Good luck dear." Boti smiled and rubbed Sakura's hands, before leaving her.
Sakura placed everything inside her basket and walked past the guards of Ivarstad, crossed the stone bridge and looked up. With a sigh, she called chakra into her feet and started leaping from step to step, skipping a few from time to time. The wind was becoming harsher and harsher, biting onto her cheeks. Her chakra flow kept her body as warm as it should too. But Sakura put down the basket in the snow and waited. Sakura unsheathed her sword and took a stance over the basket. It held a lot of important things. Her money, her books and her journal, whatever she has managed to gather for Ingun Black-Briar and Talen-Jei, the supplies she had to leave at the monastery on top of the mountain, and the wizard's satchel. And right now, her prize was getting near.
Sakura smiled and sidestepped, her blade piercing through the icy body of a serpentine wraith. A few more attacked. She has felt the bite of the wraith, feeling it cold against her skin. But the wound disappeared faster than it pierced her flesh. She slashed through the creatures who fell down on the floor like shattered glass. Sakura bent down and picked up a tooth made of ice.
'Bingo...'
The tall walls of the monastery, High Hrothgar rested intimidating and imposing. No path was cleared out for the residents, who seemed they never walked outside the fort. Sakura could swear she caught the glimpse of a critical eye on one of the shadowy windows, as she opened the carved chest outside. She placed the supplies inside, before closing the chest carefully, and making her way down the steps back in Ivarstead. And as entertaining but old-growing battles with several more frost spiders, trolls, wolves and wraiths, the feeling couldn't be shaken off. Something was happening at that monastery, and something was telling her it won't be too late when she'd find out.
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The clones were entering and exiting the inn room discreetly. Chihiro has finished delivering the flyers meanwhile as well. And she was eating the cooked fish in a corner, watching the copies of her summoner store the payment in the end table. She has peeked inside the drawer a little too. The sum was growing nicely, and she could count a few thousand. Maybe two or three. Now that was a trick she should have tried as a genin. It would have saved her a lot of time.
The first clone stretched, coming home from delivering the sapphire gemstone and the mammoth tusk to Madesi, and also the three amethyst stones for Talen-Jei's wedding band he was ready to forge for his sweetheart. The Nords customs implied Mara and her amulet. If one wanted to marry or showed they were available for courting and marriage, they had to display the Amulet of Mara proudly on their chests. But the Argonians from the Black Marsh and all of them which followed the traditions forged a ring for their betrothed. It wasn't much different from the customs back home and the engagement ring. Talen-Jei has already had a gold band forged. All he needed was three flawless amethysts: two of them represented the bride and groom, and the one in the middle symbolized the deity they worshipped so much. It was truly heartwarming; and as Maramal would say, it was wonderful to hear of love during these tough times.
The second clone contributed with the gemstones and ores as well. She has cleared a mine, and the owner let her keep a few samples as well. Why wouldn't he? Sakura has made their life easier by killing dozens of gigantic spiders, which may trigger up powerful arachnophobia if she was not careful.
And the third, while busy gathering crops and chopping wood, has been tasked to find the alchemist ingredients. And she has managed to snatch just enough Fire Salts from alchemists. Sakura had yet to discover the source of the forging miracles.
Sapphire has delivered the bow to Sakura's room in the inn. Everything was taken care of until now, maybe save for a few more objectives which the original Sakura was taking care of. She was returning from Ivarstead rather late, but she was as energetic as the second she has jumped off the bed. If anything, she was more emotionally tired and confused, than anything. The last few tasks in Ivarstead were a piece of cake. Skin a few bears... help with the wood and take care of the package delivery. But the more and more she went in-depth with the people of Skyrim and their stories, more deaths were discovered, and fewer clues they had about what happened. And like always, she took her time to fish out the remains, bring them home and let them bury their own. The spirits were more ...alive here. A spirit without a proper burial would become restless.
But there was one thing which echoed in her head. Ivarstead was built around a barrow. But inside the barrow, where citizens have claimed to have heard weird noises and believed to be haunted, but turned out to be claimed by a Dunmer wizard bandit who concocted an invisibility potion. She has found an interesting illusion book called 'Before the Ages of Man' and something which looked like a claw, made of solid sapphires. She has also found a spell tome called Oakflesh and a gold ingot in one of the deeper chambers of the barrow. But the inhabitants were nothing like she had seen before. Until now, Sakura has encountered bandits, horkers, necromancers, and crazy mages, spiders, wraiths and wolves, bears but nothing like the creatures clad in worn leather armors and cold blue eyes. The skin was stretched and decaying on the bones, speaking in a language recognized as the ancient Norse...whose only goal was to eliminate the intruder which defiled their grave. And right in the heart of the tomb, she felt an energy pulling her closer. Like a powerful chakra magnet that drew her body right on the stone wall.
Sakura remembered each detail of the wall. And in her daze, she put the basket down, and even with her Magenkyo; her vision wasn't lighting up. It wasn't clearing; it darkened and darkened, focusing entirely on the scribbled words. If you could call them like that. They appeared as scratched lines and dots carved in the stone wall. But it was radiating a chakra field, focused entirely on a single object, which clouded her own pathways as soon as she made contact with it.
The vision became clear again, and for at least an hour, she has sat down in front of the carved wall, muttering the same word over and over. "Kaan...Kaan...Kaan..." But what did 'Kaan' mean? And when Boti noticed the shaken look on her face, she frenetically brought a bucket of water to splash and refresh her face. And when Boti squeezed her cheeks, until they became red and a little swollen, Sakura has finally snapped from her daze. She recognized the characters. But she didn't know what they meant.
"You shouldn't have gone down the barrow! Look what it has done to you! Poor little thing..."
And the old woman stormed in the inn, ready to strangle the barkeep, while Sakura walked hot on her heels to prevent Boti from committing murder. It has been her choice, after all.
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Sakura has returned to Bee and Barb. And before asking Keevara if there was a possibility to have a bath ready; she has ordered a strong drink as well. A 'Cliff Racer', more exactly. Talen-Jei, who has thanked her a million times before offering the drink on the house, has claimed it was the strongest beverage he had in store. She wasn't sure if it was as strong as sake, but the combination of the Cyrodillic Brandy, Firebrand Wine, and the Sujamma, was much tastier. And she felt her veins instantly heat up like a campfire burning up kindle and twigs. The hell was Sujamma anyways?
But she wasn't sitting alone at the table. She hasn't noticed it either until a voice spoke from across her.
"You reek of death, you know that?" To which Sakura replied with a snort. Her red, heated up cheeks were covered with a thin layer of dirt, and the cobweb in her hair was blending in with her pink hair.
"Oh, I know. I was ready to file in a complaint to the Jarl, on how poorly are the tombs cleaned. We should be able to eat straight from the floor, don't you think?" She replied grumpily.
"A funny one, aren't you? What the hell were you looking for in a tomb anyways?"
Sakura tried to ignore him for once. The man, sitting across her, sipped his ale snorted as well.
"Fine. Don't answer."
"Oh, believe me, I won't."
"You just did." He smirked and called for another drink. Sakura's eyebrow visibly twitched. Strike one.
"Curiosity killed the cat."
"But the satisfaction brought it back." Strike two. How much she hated when somebody used her own replies against her? A lot. Was she that annoying?
"Look. I have my own problems, my own tasks. So unless you have any advice on Dwarven cities or weird wall carvings, shut up. So just leave me to my thoughts." The next destination was the ruins where Mjoll the Lioness has lost her sword. The Grimsever. She had yet to meet up with the blonde vigilante, who kept pushing the buttons of the Black-Briars, or in Maven's own words, 'rattling their cage'. She was ...a little impressed maybe. But she thought it was pretty stupid as well; she could be thrown in jail, executed and all her efforts would have come to get wasted.
The man poked her head from across the table.
"I'm a mage for hire. And nobody knows more about Dwarven ruins than me. Maybe other than Master Calcelmo, but nobody can really compare to him." Calcelmo. Of course. That old crazy dinosaur must have been the best in what he did. His rubbled lab was full of artifacts. But who knows how long could have passed until she got a letter back if she wrote him to help her out. The Imperial man with slightly tanned skin seemed like the next best thing. If they were to climb down the ruins and come back alive, he'd prove to be worthy and worth paying the fee. But if he died, she'd just loot back the paid gold and retrieve the Grimsever herself. There was literally nothing else to lose. And meanwhile, she'd loot and look around, she could collect a few artifacts and who knows what else she'd find there. And maybe sharing them with Calcelmo would help her grow in his eyes. And give her an autograph on at least ONE of his books.
Sakura eyed the mage and reached inside the basket, which one would mostly carry around flowers and alchemy ingredients with it. She pulled out three coin purses.
"300 septims?"
The man smirked lightly and pocketed them.
"Marcurio. It's a pleasure." She shook his hand firmly and smiled.
"Sakura. Likewise." They sat in a rather comfortable silence as Sakura drank her 'cliff racer'. Well...the drink lived up to its name. It made you run up a cliff and hopefully, made you run back down instead of pushing you off the edge. But she kept her head clear. She cheated, letting the chakra networks work on the alcohol levels of her blood, burning just enough not to lose conscience. She wanted to get hammered. She wanted to get drunk. But she couldn't, so the least she could do was have a strong drink and at least experience a few of the symptoms. Sakura picked up the empty mug to hand it to the barmaid to clean it up.
"We leave tomorrow at sunrise. We shouldn't waste time while traveling...and I suppose in the ruins it doesn't matter how high up in the sky the sun is. And please don't keep me waiting; we meet at the gates."
Marcurio simply got up, setting down his tankard.
"With a master of the arcane arts, you have nothing to be afraid of."
Sakura rolled her eyes and shook her head, despite feeling rather amused.
She walked inside her room, where the bath was waiting for her in the corner of the room. Her mood instantly lifted as she locked the door behind her and undressed, pulling the screen side and stepping in. Chihiro jumped from the window sill and walked over, in the direction of her head.
"You look like you have seen a ghost. What happened?" The white cat purred with concern and sat down on the thicker side of the wooden bathtub.
"You're nor far from the truth. I have a few more delivery missions left. I'm heading out to find Grimsever tomorrow. I will take care of the rest later...I will be called in for the heist anytime after I get back. Could you give me the journal and quill?" The cat complied.
Sakura stuck out her still-dry hands and started to scribble down.
'HET NOK KOPRaaN DO HELA
FahDON Wah Pah SIVaaS
aaR DO KaaN aaL REK SiiV UNahZaaL
PRaaN KO FeyKRO DO HahNU'
"I found these in the Barrow. For some reason, I understood what the sounds were. I could transcribe them in Norse characters. But I don't know what do they mean exactly. This is NOT Norse."
Chihiro inspected the page and sniffed her nose.
"Who knows over what kind of ancient language you have stumbled on."
Sakura sighed. "I felt them, Chihiro-chan. It was calling out for me. This specific word, see?" She encircled the word 'KaaN' with the tip of her quill. "I couldn't see anything but that word until I touched the chakra it emitted. Maybe I'll find someone who can help me out. You know I hate it when I'm unable to understand something."
"So you're heading out with that wizard to find the blade?"
"Yes. And hopefully, I'll find enough Falmer blood to approximate the mixture for Mr. Signus. It's been a while since I left...and frankly, I'm as curious as him to find what's held inside the Occulory."
"And do you trust that man to come with you?"
"He's a mercenary of sorts, right? That's how he makes a living." Sakura stretched inside the bathtub, leaving her long tail flop, hanging out from the edge. She washed herself, polishing her scales.
"I hope you're right. So you have to retrieve the Grimsever, find something related to Brand-Shei's origins, a few journals for Vekel the Man...and Black-Briar's ex-fiancée."
Sakura snorted. "I have forgotten about that snake. He can wait until I'm done with everyone else. As weird as his sister is, at least she's not an asshole."
As soon as the clone who delivered the twenty ninroots, nightshades and deathbells dispersed, Sakura was instantly flooded by everything that happened during its journey. Ingun Black-Briar was an aspiring alchemist, under the apprenticeship of the potion couple which ran the apothecary together. And while she wasn't the kindest or the nicest, she lived under the fear of getting thrown out by her mother for not pursuing the family business. And her mother happened to be powerful enough to afford to call for the Dark Brotherhood or the Thieves Guild at a snap for her fingers.
"Everything bites, Chihiro-chan. If I manage to climb ranks in the Thieves Guild, I could grasp them out of her grip."
"And what will you do with the Dark Brotherhood? They're certified assassins."
Sakura chuckled. "Oh, Chihiro-chan. Compared to the Akatsuki...they're Chuunin in fancy costumes."
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A/N: Finally...the chapter is finally done. The Thieves Guild storyline will be continued after one more chapter. I know I"m a little inconsistent with the story arcs...but I don't want to write everything in one go either, you know? It feels a little boring. I kind of want to have her bond with certain characters meanwhile too. And solve some problems in her own way, while immersing the game elements. It's a little troublesome, I admit. But I won't be able to move on with my life until I'm done with this fic. Only to stumble across another maddening game and be unable to sleep at night. It shucks...it shucks a lot.
I know I also haven't fully described all scenes. I didn't want to risk the chapter being too long and boring. But she'll have more contacts with the Word Walls. No worries. Well...here are the stats.
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Balance: 5439 septims.
Apparel: Clothes, Boots, Amulet of Mara, Amulet of Talos, Amulet of Zenithar, Thieves Guild Armor, Thieves Guild Boots, Thieves Guild Hood, Thieves Guild Gloves
Weapons: Iron Sword of Fire
Potions: Draught of Light Feet, Poison, Invisibility Potion
Scrolls (spells): N/A
Food: N/A
Ingredients: N/A
Books: 2920, vol V - Second Seed (Speech Skill Book), Advances in Lockpicking (Skill - R), Aedra and Daedra (Lore - R), Ages of Man (Illusion Skill Book), Boethiah's Proving (Lore - R), Cats of Skyrim (Lore), Enchanter's Primer (Enchanting Skill Book), Oakflesh (Spell Tome), Proper Lock Design (Skill - R), Shadowmarks (Lore - R), The Exodus (Restoration Skill Book), The Wolf Queen Book I (Lockpicking Skill Book), Walking the World - Volume XI: Solitude (Lore - R).
Journals: Sakura's Journal
Letters: N/A
Keys: Riften Warehouse;
Misc: Summoning scroll, Storage scrolls, Quill, Inkwell, Lockpicks (8), Black Soul Gem (1), Gold Ingot, Sapphire Dragon Claw, Garnet
Passive Effects: Agent of Mara (15% Resist Magic.)
Spells: N/A
Shouts: Kyne's Peace ( KaaN - To be unlocked)
Perks: N/A
Quest Log (Started): Discerning the Transmundane, Join the Stormcloaks, Loud and Clear
Quest Log (Completed): A Chance Arrangement, Book of Love, Drowned Sorrows, Helping Hand, Supply and Demand, Taking Care of Business, The Raid
Bounties Collected: N/A
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