"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides." - David Viscott.

Chapter One: Sand and Memories

"Have you got everything?" asked my mother from the kitchen, looking over her shoulder as she stirred a pot hanging above the fire.
I closed my pack after having triple-checked that I had everything at her request. "Yes, Mother. Stop fussing already."
She giggled before sighing. "I can't help it. I'm your mother, it's my job to fuss over you."
"No, your job is tending to the library," I said, my voice's intonation rising with every word.
"Ha. You know, your father may put up with that attitude, but I won't. The sooner you're married and out of my hair, the sooner you can enjoy not having me around to nag you."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, Mara's mercy. Not this again."
"I'm just saying," she said, laughing and turning back to the stove. "Make sure you bring an extra spare set of clothes just in case… maybe some undergarments too, while you're at it."
"It's a fourteen-night trip on the other side of the Iliac Bay, Mother. One would think I was packing for a year-long journey to Akavir with all this."
"Better over-prepared than under, my dear."

I met up with the other student mages at the Daggerfall Mages Guild chapter early the next morning. Everyone was bubbling with excitement, keen to begin our journey to Hammerfell. We were heading there to study an excavation site discovered deep beneath the sands of the Alik'r. The ruins were part of an ancient city, Nedic in origin, and contained remains, artifacts, and likely a treasure of some sort belonging to a long-dead king. To stop tomb raiders, guards had been stationed both in and outside, allowing us to study the ruins in totality with minimal disturbance. Although, seeing as it was in Hammerfell, they were more likely to be hired mercenaries than town guards. I'd never been invited to anything like this before, and I was very happy to be among those selected. Our findings would be very illuminating and pivotal in understanding how the mysterious original men of Tamriel lived their lives. They would form the basis of further study.

"Oh, there you are, Charlotte," said the snide, unmistakable voice of Xandier Rolaine. "We were placing bets on whether you were to arrive via coach or horseback today. But you surprised us all by arriving on foot like the rest of us peasants."
"Can it, Rolaine. It's far too early to listen to you talking about placing bets with the voices in your head." I placed my bag on the steps and sat down next to it.
He smiled, crossing his arms. "Good one, you dork. I'd like to see how you handle seafaring since you look queasy just levitating a few feet above the ground."
"Don't listen to him, Lottie," said Giselle, my closest friend. "He can't help but let his jealousy be evident to all those around him."
Xandier rolled his eyes and went to walk away. "Ah, Giselle. I'm in no mood for you this morning, so, if you'd excuse me."
"Yes, be gone," she said, waving him away as she sat down next to me. "Now that he's made himself scarce, we can relax and look forward to today. I've never sailed before, but I'm sure it'll be quite fun!"

I smiled at Giselle, her familiar freckled face and pretty brown eyes glowing with an inner vibrance as the morning sun bathed her in light.
"I'm still in shock that I was selected to come," I said. "I thought there was no way…"
Giselle pulled a face. "Char, you need to stop it with the negative inner dialogue. You've just as much right to be here as any of us, and don't let that buffoon Xandier tell you any different."
I pursed my lips and nodded. "Yeah… but he is right, in a way. My mother is the librarian of the guildhall and my father is… well, my father. Maybe my family's wealth does have something to do with it."
"I won't hear it. We're Bretons, the magicka in our blood is more than enough to allow us any form of career in the magical arts. The only ones who'd disagree are the High Elves, but they're so tall that they're unable to see reality for what it is from all the way up there."

We arrived at Sentinel by the end of the next day. Tired from the voyage, we stayed at a local inn overnight before heading to the excavation site. Camels, much hardier beasts than horses when it came to the heat, pulled the caravans we hitched a ride with. Our camel was named Jemima, and I took much pleasure in fawning over her and patting her fluffy head.
"She's not going to talk back, you know," Xandier said dryly from the carriage in front. "So why don't you give it a rest?"
I sighed, leaning away from Jemima and sinking back into my seat sadly.
Giselle sat up next to me and nodded in Xandier's direction. "She's just enjoying herself, Xandy. You should try it sometime, might make you less of an arse."
Xandier threw his hand up at Giselle, pulled a face, and started saying something back to her, which she ignored as she turned to me.
"What?" I asked, shrugging.
"Why do you let him talk to you like that? He sees you as an easy target. You should start standing up for yourself, then he'll stop."

I shrugged again, staring out at the desert sand as it shifted and danced under the mid-morning sun. "It just doesn't seem worth it… I don't have the energy. He'll stop eventually, I guess."
Giselle opened her mouth wide, her pretty features scrunching up. "Oh, don't give me that. He's picked on you for years, since we were kids in chapel school. People like him don't change. Be like me, give him what he deserves."
"Now why would I do that when I have you here to do it for me?" I asked, smiling and looking at her, my face dropping after seeing her expression. "What is it?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. But you really should stick up for yourself, I might not be around forever."
"What does that mean?"
Giselle pushed her lips to one side. "Nothing, just… generally speaking, I guess."
I knew that wasn't the case, but I chose not to question her further.

The sun was bitingly hot by the time we reached the ruins, and we were thankful to be under shelter. The ruins had been unearthed by a particularly violent sandstorm, and had been pretty well-preserved through the millennia having been beneath the sand rather than exposed to the elements and the blinding sun. Some people from the Sentinel Mages Guild chapter, including an elderly Redguard woman called Margerie and her assistant, were already there. She showed us around, letting us know where the camp and facilities were.
"Such an exciting find, isn't it?" Her face was weathered, having deep wrinkles and age spots, but her eyes still had the unmistakable sparkle of youth. "I've studied the Alik'r Desert all my life, and I'd thought I'd learned all there was to know about this ancient place. But my old friend still surprises me, even in my advanced age. My hope is that others who come after me continue to revel in its mysteries as they lie waiting to be uncovered, just as I have. You young ones have so much life to live. I envy you, yet I do not, but be sure to dedicate the time you have to something you deem to be worthy. As to what that is, it's for only you to know and decide."

Margerie's assistant smiled and patted her on the shoulder. "Okay, I think we've kept them long enough."
"Oh, my word, you are right. My apologies, associates! I'll show you some of the excavation site as well as introduce you to the mercenaries we have guarding it." She led us through the winding tunnels, the breeze and quiet darkness providing relief from the seemingly sempiternal heat. "I know you're in quite a vulnerable position out here with the various beasts and bandits and what have you roaming the wastes under the cover of night. But, quite honestly, I've never felt safer. These men and women are very good at what they do."

We walked into a cavernous room at the bottom of the tunnels, the ceiling so far away that it was completely obscured by darkness. I squinted my eyes and gazed at the walls, gasping at the detail carved into them. They were reminiscent of Alduin's Wall in the Sky Haven Temple of Skyrim, a mural built by the ancient men of Akavir.
"Can I… can I touch it?" I breathed, captivated by the beauty of the stunning stonework.
Margerie approached me from behind, giggling at my reaction. "Sure, by Tu'whacca that was my first instinct as well. Just be gentle, though, which I'm sure you will. We want to preserve this awe-inspiring work."

I ran my hand over the mural, becoming more impressed with every passing second. "To think, primitive humans did this…"
Margerie scoffed. "Be careful who you call primitive! Your ancestors may be toted as primitive by the conquering mer and Redguards, but they shouldn't be regarded in such a way. In a less magical universe, maybe star worship would be looked down upon, but in this world, the forces of nature go hand-in-hand with magic and destiny. Nedes were no less advanced in intelligence as you and I are today."
I looked at the depictions of the cosmological phenomena carved into the stone, running my fingertips along them and tilting my head. They resemble very much how we understood them today. "Interesting," I mused.

"Margerie, there you are," said a masculine voice from behind me. "I'm just about to go on break. Abal and Enmon are standing guard outside the tomb, Makal and Nirulan are watching the excavators, while Dit, Corwin, and Zirumir are out on patrol. Tanyin is also on her break, she'll be in the camp area with me."
"Ah, Giran, perfect timing. Allow me to introduce you to the Daggerfall Mages Guild's most promising associates!"
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, all of you. You're definitely very lucky to have such an opportunity. I'm no mage, and definitely no scholar, but even I know this place is… well, quite something. I can certainly see that, ah, some of you are quite keen to begin studying it right away…"

Giran laughed as Giselle came over to me, kicking me out of my own head.
"What?" I complained from my crouched position, rubbing my side and shooting her an offended look.
Giselle jumped out of the way as I swiped at her. "What do you mean, what? You're being quite rude."
"I'm being rude? I'm not the one kicking crouched folk."
"You're both as oblivious as the dunes outside," said Xandier over his shoulder. "We're moving on. Do you want to see the tomb or not?"
I hastily got to my feet and we jogged to catch up to the group.

The tomb was seemingly even more extravagant than the murals I'd pored over just minutes before. The room had sky-high pillars of intricately carved limestone and granite. In the center stood a meticulously designed sarcophagus, and a huge gold door was behind it. My eyes opened wide as I stared at it, likely every bit as ineffable as the day it was made.
"Way more interesting than the other room, huh?" Xandier looked behind him and leaned into me to murmur into my ear. "What do you think is locked behind that door, hey? I wonder how much gold… Just think, if we take it, we'll be the richest people in Tamriel."
I frowned, turning to him and whispering back, "We're here to study this place, not raid it, you filcher. You can try if you like, then maybe those two will bring me your head." I nodded at the mercenaries. "That'll be worth more to me than all the gold in Tamriel."

Xandier winced and looked over at the men. One of them leaned against the wall near the gold door, the other was kneeling on the ground. He had one arm on his knee and the other standing up his frighteningly sharp blade and spinning it, the tip of it making a small indent in the sand as he glared menacingly at the entrance of the tomb.
"Wow, okay, dark. Suit yourself," said Xandier, putting his hands in his pockets and lazily walking away.

I smirked as I watched him join some of the other mages, Giselle appearing beside me.
"Can you believe him?" she mouthed, shaking her head in consternation.
I gritted my teeth and made a clicking sound with them. "Yeah, he's an idiot," I said in a strained voice.

Margerie clapped her hands to get out attention. "So! I'm sure you're all eager to begin studying this place, but please be patient. My colleague from Wayrest, the overseer of this project, is running late, as it happens. She'll be arriving either tonight or in the morning. You can get stuck in first thing tomorrow when the proper work begins. However, you may come back down here and begin taking notes after dinner. I know some of you are quite keen." She looked at me and smiled. "Before we go back to base camp, I'll let Giran introduce you to our security."
"Thanks, Margerie," said Giran. "We're mostly to keep out of each other's way, but if you see anything… untoward happening, or feel you're in danger, please don't hesitate to report it to one of us. We'll sort it out for you."

He whistled to get the two guards' attention. "Enmon, Abal," he said, causing the men to look over. "If any of these kids have a problem, see to it that you assist them."
The man who knelt on the ground stood up to reveal how startlingly tall he was. "I didn't think babysitting duty was part of the contract, Giran."
"Maybe not, but doing what I say sure as Ruptga is."
The man scoffed before saying something extremely fast in what must've been Yoku.
I didn't understand the words, but whatever he said made Margerie clutch her necklace in shock.
Giran shook his head, fuming. "Your tongue may be as quick as your blade, kid, a desirable trait in our line of work. However, what you're going through doesn't give you the right to talk to me like that. By the stars, you're on thin ice, Enmon."

"Ooh, okay, okay," said Margerie, who was getting rather flustered. "Let's not scare the associates off, hah."
Giran pursed his lips. "Apologies, of course not. Don't mind Enmon, he—"
Like always, my mouth had a habit of opening before my brain could stop it, my curiosity having a mind of its own as it oft did. "Enmon? That name… are you a Reachmen? I mean, that would explain your height. You're tall for a Redguard."
Everyone looked at me with identical wide-eyed expressions.
"Uhh… listen, I—" began Margerie.
Enmon glared at me before looking at Abal, and Giran cleared his throat. "Okay, I think we've lingered down here long enough. The students must be getting hungry by now."
"Quite right, quite right," said Margerie, rubbing her hands together. "Come on you guys, single file line to the entrance. Let's head out and leave them to their work."

Disappointed that Enmon didn't answer me, and more curious than ever about him, I waved meekly as he walked past with Abal. He barely even glanced my way.
"You're an idiot. Does someone have a little crush?" said Xandier from behind me, causing a few of the mages to laugh. "Don't worry, first loves are often unrequited. Might end up being a trend for you, though."
I pulled a face and crossed my arms, feeling my cheeks burn as everyone around me snickered at my expense.
Giselle turned around, her expression a mixture of different emotions. "What's up with you? Why would you ask him something like that, Lottie, given the context?"
"I don't know," I answered, feeling flustered and embarrassed, waving my hands animatedly.
Giselle raised an eyebrow. "Charlotte…"
"He just, he… he's tall for a Redguard." I threw my hand in his direction. "Is he not? And Enmon isn't a Redguard name."
"True, but was that really the best time to ask him about it?"
I sighed. "Perhaps not."
"Perhaps not."

The daylight had begun to wane by the time we'd finished dinner. I sat on a wooden crate at the edge of camp and watched the sunset over the distant sandy horizon. The breeze was pleasant, but it had sufficient force to blow sand against my bare leg hard enough to sting it, making me wish I'd worn pants instead of a skirt. Annoyed, I yanked my skirt down to cover my legs, even though I knew it would eventually ride up again.
"Enjoying the sunset, hmm?"
I turned my head to see Giran standing behind me.
"Uh—" I stuttered, looking straight ahead of me again. "Yeah… it's nice, I guess."
"I suppose you're used to having marvelous views in High Rock," he said, his voice straining as he sat down next to me. "I've been there once. Just along the south coast, mind you, High Rock's northern provinces are far too cold for the likes of me. But the views… those cliffs are closer to the gods than even the spires of Summerset could ever hope to be."

I turned to him, one eye closed against the sunlight, and grinned. Not really knowing what to say, I turned back to the sunset. The sun was now partially obscured by the horizon, causing the sky's colors to bleed together and form a spectacular vista of red, pink, and orange. It was a vision more glorious than even the most masterful of painters could produce.
"The coastal regions of Khefrem may not reach into Aetherius like much of High Rock, but watching the sunset over the western seas… well, it's a sight to remember. If you ever get the chance, do make the trip. Hammerfell is beautiful too, in its own way."
"I will. Thank you." I pulled my legs close to my chest, putting my arms around them and licking my lower lip before continuing. "I'm… I'm sorry. About before. I wasn't trying to upset Enmon with what I said."
Giran laughed, moving his grey hair out of his eyes. "Don't think nothing on it, darl. My sister and niece are the same way. No filter. They're not being mean, in fact, they're real good people once you get to know 'em, but they think a little differently from everyone else. If you ask me, that can only be a good thing."

I looked to the side before beaming and hanging my head, snorting softly. "I hear you. Thanks."
"As for Enmon… ah…" Giran leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and clasping his hands together. "He's a good kid. I've kept an eye on him since his… ah, no use going into the nitty-gritty, but the lad's had a tough life. His sister was killed about a year ago. He blames himself for not being there. Thought things were starting to get easier for him, but he recently found out from her husband that she was with child."
I lowered my gaze as I listened, my heart going out to him. It seemed we had something in common.
"Listen, though," continued Giran, clearing his throat. "Please don't mention I said any of this, and don't go trying to get involved with Enmon. Stay away from him. He'll only complicate your life."
I watched Giran get up and walk away, and caught Margerie giving me a concerned expression. I smiled at her weakly before turning to Giselle. She, too, gave me a strange look before staring into her bowl of soup, the surface of it rippling with the breeze and her gentle stirring.

As soon as we'd finished setting up our living spaces inside the grand tents, I grabbed my quills and notebook, wanting to take the chance to document some of the site. Buzzing with excitement, I set off for the ruins.
"What are you doing?"
Startled, I spun around to see Margerie standing there. "Um, well, you see… I…"
"If you're going down there, make sure you bring a friend. The guards can't be everywhere at once. For safety reasons, we must travel with at least one other person."
I stammered, nodding. "Of course, sorry, I'll go get Gis—."
Turning around, I almost ran into Giselle. "You summoned me, mistress? Way ahead of you, don't worry," she said.
Margerie crossed her arms, her eyes glinting in the lamplight. "Well… okay. But don't take too long. I don't want you sleeping in and missing the induction tomorrow morning when the overseer gets here."

Giselle grabbed my arm and dragged me along behind her. "Yes, thank you, we won't," I said, waving my arms at Margerie as she disappeared from sight after Giselle pulled me around the corner.
"Gods, they overthink everything, don't they?" Giselle laughed as she walked, stretching her arms toward the starry sky.
"What? You mean, about the dangers?"
"Exactly that. I mean, there's nothing out here."
I frowned, shifting my eyes from side to side. "Margerie mentioned the bandits and the beasts and the—"
"Yes, yes, that she did." Giselle waved her arms dismissively. "But who'd be interested enough in some dusty old murals to brave this heat, other than us nerds?"
I smiled and rolled my eyes, a burst of laughter escaping my vocal cords. "Ah... tomb raiders? Even Xandier has caught onto the fact that the king's tomb holds great value."
"Yes, well. By the time the rumor mill has turned far enough to pique the interest of the common folk, this site would be fully excavated. Nothing left but sand and memories." Giselle shrugged as we turned the corner and started down the tunnels to the ruins. "I'm already sick of this rabbit warren. It's gonna be a long two weeks."

After about half an hour of us sketching and taking notes of the murals, a few of the other mages joined us. One of the original excavators of the ruin, who I hadn't been formally introduced to yet, was working in the king's tomb. He was a rather affable Altmer whose face always seemed to be glistening with sweat, no matter how many times he wiped his forehead. He told us to call him Ollie, and mentioned continuously how he expected to unearth something about the Dwemer, maybe even shedding some light on their disappearance.
"Altmer," said Giselle, smirking and looking toward the ceiling. "Either sane but stuck up beyond belief, or kind and stark raving mad."
I shook my head and grinned. "Stop, he'll hear," I whispered to her, and she shrugged in response.

I looked over my shoulder every so often, hoping to catch a glimpse of Enmon. I was disappointed that I hadn't seen him since that afternoon. Giselle eventually noticed me doing so and shot me a look that was decidedly unreadable.
"What are you doing? Afraid a bandit or beast of the Alik'r might come around that corner once you let your guard down?" she asked, her expression and voice dripping with dramatics.
"No," I groaned, frowning and pushing my lips out as I looked down at my notes, scribbling out a mistake.
Giselle sat on the ground. "Xandier then? Don't worry, I saw him conked out on a cot before we even came down here. He won't be bothering us tonight."
"Oh, well, at least there's that."
I continued writing notes as I moved along the wall before looking over my shoulder once again.
"Oh, come on!" exclaimed Giselle, causing me to jump and everyone within earshot to glance over at us. "You're distracted, Charlotte. It's so obvious."

I dropped my notebook, flailing as I bent down to pick it up. "Okay, okay! Just please, please, be quiet. Lest the gods hear of my troubles, too."
"Out with it, then. You've been acting weird ever since…" Her eyebrows flew up as realization dawned on her. "The mercenary."
"Shh," I complained.
"What? I'm barely whispering." She looked behind her before facing me again, her cute nose crinkling in amusement. "You've never had a crush before. Never thought I'd agree with Xandy, but here we are."
"I don't," I said through gritted teeth, getting up to move to another part of the mural. "Now please stop."
Giselle parted her knees and wrapped her arms around them, rocking back and forth. "Fine. But I'm onto you."

After a few minutes, several mages went to leave, and Giselle got up, too. "Well, I'm tired, so I'll head back with them. Remember Margerie's dumb rule to not travel alone. So don't forget to ask one of our charming chaperones to accompany you to your chambers," she said in a fake posh accent.
"As you say," I said, only half listening.
After Giselle left, I ran my hand over the mural. The ancient secrets of our long-dead ancestors were right there, hidden in the stone, reaching out to me from beyond Aetherius. The stars seemed to dance and move as I stared at them, causing me to blink a few times and tilt my head. It had been many hours since the fatigue had set in, but I knew I'd never be able to sleep with all the thoughts swirling around in my head. The stars vibrated and suddenly turned into light. I gasped as I watched, unable to look away, the beauty of it enthralling me.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, making me gasp and look around. "Huh?"
An unfamiliar Redguard was beside me, his face riddled with confusion and alarm. "Are you okay?" he asked, genuine concern in his voice.
"Ah, um, yeah. I'm fine," I said in a rather high-pitched voice, looking around. Abal stood in the far corner, and Enmon was near the other mural across the room from me. They all looked at least mildly concerned. All the other students had left.
I looked at each of them. "What?" I asked.
"You seemed to be in… I don't know, some kind of trance. What were you seeing in the stone?"
I closed my mouth and swallowed, looking back at the mural. "It… I don't know, the stars here, they… seemed to move, to light up."

The men stayed silent as they looked at each other, causing me to get nervous.
"Uh, yeah. I'm probably just tired," I said, scratching the back of my head.
The Redguard sniffed, bringing his face up to the part of the mural I'd pointed out, being careful not to touch it. "What we don't understand about this place… It worries me. These ruins give me the creeps. How do we know if the Nedes interred their dead properly? Their bones have long since turned to dust, but angry spirits walking these halls may very well be the least of our problems. Who knows what we're going to find buried in the sand? You know, my father told me stories of the Yokudans conquering these lands, and the type of ancient magic used by the Nedes is enough to—"
"Okay, Dit, no need to frighten the poor girl," said Abal as he came toward us.
"What? She should know," he growled. "They should all know. Respecting the dead shouldn't be exclusive to us and those wretched, gods-cursed Dunmer."
"Yes, yes, the dead. They deserve respect."
"Come on, we better get back to the tomb," Enmon said to Abal. "Giran would throw a fit if he knew none of us were in there."
"Dit and I will go, don't worry." Abal looked at me. "Enmon or Ollie will walk you back to camp when you're ready."
Enmon pulled a face at his words.

As Abal and Dit walked together, with Dit continuing to rant about the dead, Ollie appeared through the tunnel leading to the tomb. He shook his head and began sprinting, muttering something about the Dwemer. Without moving his head, Enmon's eyes followed Ollie as he ran across the room, flicking to me once the mer had disappeared into another tunnel. I grinned at him and gave him a thumbs up before leaning too far back, losing my balance, and falling onto the sandy floor.
"I think the oxygen's running low down here or something," he said, letting his crossed arms fall to his side as he kicked off the wall and started walking away.
A stab of fear pierced my chest as I realized he was leaving. I quickly got to my feet, suddenly afraid of being by myself, even though I must've been for at least a while as I studied the mural. "Wait!" I called out breathlessly.
He turned around, annoyed. "What?"
I stopped, panic making my breath come more quickly. "I, um, ah, I… I don't wanna be alone. Margerie said… Dit, he said that—"
"Dit's superstitious, even for a Redguard, so pay him no heed. I've spent many hours down here alone, and nothing's ever happened to me. No creeping shadows, no ancient curse raining fire down upon me, no angry spirits riding Daedra, nothing."

I stood before him, my mouth opening and closing as I gazed around the room nervously.
He sighed. "Look, do you want me to take you back or not?"
"Well… I was sort of hoping to get to the end of the mural, so—"
"Good, then maybe Ollie can walk you back."
"No!"
"Listen, Miss…"
I pouted my lips and looked at the ground sadly. "Charlotte."
"Charlotte… my job here is to act as vigil to the ruins, not you. I don't know what it is, but you seem determined to bother me."
I looked up at him, shaking my head rapidly from side to side in small movements. "Not so! I don't mean to come across as such… believe me… I know I'm difficult to understand, but please trust me when I say my curiosity isn't antagonistic."
"Curiosity is it? Hmph."
I looked at him earnestly, biting my lip.
Enmon crossed his arms and regarded me coldly. "My mother had the blood of the Reach running through her veins. Her father, my grandfather, was a tribal chief and bigger than most Nords. My father, the good-for-nothing outlaw she fell in love with, was a Redguard." He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head. "There, I hope that satiates your curiosity."

"I'm sorry," I said in a small voice.
Enmon stopped walking and looked over his shoulder at me. "Why?" he asked, his voice almost accusatory.
I looked at him properly for the first time. His hair was black, thick, and wavy, locks of it touching his shoulders and gently curling upward. His eyes were dark and almond-shaped, and, even though I've never stood close to him, I could still tell his eyelashes were longer than most women's. Enmon's features were strong and well-shaped, if somewhat boyish, indicating youth. He wore a type of red light armor, dressed much like the other mercenaries, the only distinction being the longer length of his sleeves and the jewelry on his hands and around his neck. I realized then that he had a tattoo on his arm, partially obscured by his sleeve. He noticed me craning my neck to get a better look at it, and he pulled his sleeve down and half-turned away from me.
"What the fuck is your problem, huh?"
I put my hands over my mouth. "Oh my gods, I'm so sorry, I don't mean to…"
Not knowing what to do, I started walking toward him. His eyes opened wide and he shook his head in disbelief, taking a step back as I approached him. "Stop. Stop!"

Ollie suddenly appeared from the tunnels, a book in his hand, saying something to himself about Daedric mischief. He looked up from his book at us in surprise, the warm light from nearby lamps reflecting off his spectacles. "Something the matter? If it's about the scamp, I can explain."
"The what?" asked Enmon, before shaking his head and putting his hands on his hips. "Nevermind. Look, can you take this… girl back to the others? I can't deal with her."
"Uh-uh, no can do." Ollie waved his hands dismissively. "I'm in the middle of something here, I can't break my concentration. I'm on a roll, you see, I'm sure you understand."
I watched Ollie wander across the room and back through the hall to the tomb, turning the corner without even looking up from the tome he was reading.
Enmon, who refused to look at me, began following Ollie.
"Wait! I called. "Should I—"
"Do what you want," he said. "But don't even think about coming anywhere near me again."
I watched him helplessly before sitting on the ground, wishing I'd gone with Giselle when she left. I listened to the sounds of the wind moving through the tunnels and considered what to do. When no one else came in, I decided to walk back to the camp by myself.

The tunnels were much creepier at night, the areas of darkness between lamps seemingly stretched time and made my strides feel shorter. Once finally out, I hugged my notebook and looked around. The night was dark and moonsless, but bright compared to the pitch-blackness of the tunnels. I walked quickly toward the camp, trying to remember the way back as I navigated the path between the ruined walls and stacks of supplies.
"Giselle's right," I whispered to myself. "There's nothing out here. Who would brave the heat for some old murals other than us nerds?"
Starting to feel a bit better, I relaxed and opened my notebook as I walked. I looked at a sketch I did of the mural. I smiled, admiring my handiwork, but narrowing my eyes as I realized something didn't look quite right. The part in the center, where the depiction of the Serpent constellation should be, was strangely blank. In its place was a runic symbol.
"Huh? I didn't draw that."
I looked more closely. I knew the symbol; I recognized it as the symbol of…
Mephala.

The breeze picked up as the page seemed to whisper to me, unnerving me.
"Do you want my help?" a voice, sounding as though someone was standing right next to me, asked.
"What?"
"Seems you have a quandary. I see your problems, your wishes, your desires. Hmm… I could help you."
"Who is this?" The cold wind seemed to permeate my chest, freezing my heart and slowing its rhythm, causing my lungs to turn to ice. I tried to breathe but I couldn't. I wrapped my hand around my throat and coughed.
"Yes or no?" asked the voice.
Still unable to breathe, I nodded. My notebook suddenly became hot in my hand as Mephala's symbol glowed red, causing me to drop it. Gasping for breath, I bent down to pick it up, but fell to the ground and passed out.

When I eventually came to, it was still dark. My notebook lay next to my head, its pages blowing gently in the wind. I groaned and pushed myself up. I looked around groggily, unsure whether hearing that voice was a dream or reality. I flicked back a few pages in my notebook and looked at the sketch of the mural. The Serpent constellation was in its place, and Mephala's symbol was nowhere to be found. I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking I must've merely passed out from exhaustion. I smiled and went to get up, but stopped when I heard movement nearby. I froze, my eyes darting around.
"Who's… who's there?" I asked in a trembling voice.
The only response was silence, followed by something that sounded like a boot stepping on broken glass.
I whimpered. I knew I was too far away from the camp to run to safety, so if this was a bandit, they could easily kill me. I wasn't a fast runner by any means, but I couldn't just sit here and wait to die.

I stood up slowly and stared in the direction the noise was coming from, beyond one of the barrel racks. Suddenly, a barrel came loose, and I heard the sounds of a man grunting and a struggle. I turned around, tripping over my skirt and falling over. I whimpered again, too scared to look behind me as I got back to my feet and ran as fast as I could back to camp.