Chapter sixteen - Shrine of Nocturnal

Turdas, First Seed 30, 4E 0 - Nightfall

Over the past two days, everytime I fall asleep, I've had nothing but bad dreams concerning Theranis. I struggled over and over to find a solution to why I have been having these dreams.

Today, I have taken a journey alone to the Shrine of Nocturnal, to seek answers for myself. I have read that her shrine is near Leyawiin, north on the yellow road.

At midday, I departed from the Guild Hall and have spent the entire day searching for the shrine's whereabouts. I have been wandering around the Blackwood forest for about two hours looking for it, but have had no luck.

It's getting dark and I cannot see where her shrine is, I don't have enough light to see where much of anything is. I felt lost, too. I have only read where to find it, not the exact location.

After another half hour wandering alone in the forest, I dropped to my knees, tired from so much walking, and prayed to her for an answer.

"Lady Nocturnal, where can I find your shrine? Where?"

No response.

'Should've expected that, she can't just talk to me like if she's here'.

I bent over and planted my forehead against the grass with my hands on my head, and stayed that way for a few minutes. I got up to my feet, started walking further, then I heard something.

Voices.

I heard voices. And not only that, as I go closer, I see lighting. Torches. And as I drew closer, there it was, the Shrine of Nocturnal.

Did she answer me? Or was I already nearby? Was I walking in circles? I didn't know, all I knew is I'm here finally and I needed to come here.

I approached closer, seen three people, all females, one was a breton, one was a redguard, and the last one was dressed in brown robes, was an Orc priestess.

I slowly went closer, afraid I'd be attacked, but once they all seen me, they bowed. All my caution had went away, I approached the priestess.

"Perhaps you have been summoned. Perhaps Nocturnal desires your service, and has guided you here. Approach." The Orc female said.

I nodded after being given permission, I was still wearing my gray cowl, and none of Nocturnal's followers seemed to be alarmed, so I just approached the shrine. The Shrine of Nocturnal appeared as a lady in robes and hood, with her arms extended from her body, and a crow on both arms, one who stood, and one about to fly.

"Greetings, Gray Fox." Nocturnal spoke.

I kneed one down to the ground and bowed.

"Dearest Lady Nocturnal, I come before you today in request of your assistance."

"What is this request you seek, Thieves Guildmaster?"

"As of lately, I have been plagued with unpleasant dreams. Recently, the Thieves Guild has developed an enemy, a threat, and we've been doing all we can to rid of it. I think he is dead, but I also think he may be alive, or his soul haunting me."

"Yes. A former thieves guild member, Theranis. I foresaw this moment how you will come to me for help, and help is what you will receive, Gray Fox."

"Why am I having these dreams of him torturing innocent people? Is he haunting me every time I sleep?" I asked.

"Theranis will prove to be the greatest challenge you will ever face. He is full of strength and anger, and everyday, his hate expands, grows to make him stronger. It is the reason he is still alive today, regardless if he is a vampire. These dreams you possess are not of nightmare, but of truth. Theranis still lives. You are not dreaming, but seeing what is reality. I have made sure you are aware of his actions."

"So you are the one showing me these images in my dreams?"

"Indeed, child. It is how I will reach out to you."

"How do I get rid of Theranis? How do I kill him?" I asked, but Nocturnal remained quiet a few moments as I waited for her response.

She did no respond, no matter how long I wait. "How do I kill him, Lady Nocturnal?"

"Night among strangers. Secrets in the dark. Nocturnal is here. But my Eye is blind and drowned, stolen from its shrine, and hid in dark waters. To steal from a God is most unwise. In Leyawiin, two Argonians think themselves secret, but the Eye has seen them. Find these thieves in the city that spans the waters. Learn where they hide my Eye. Retrieve the Eye of Nocturnal, child, and return it to me, and I shall look favorably upon you. Your wish will also be granted." She said.

"What are their names?

"Weebam-Na and Bejeen." She said.

"Yes, Lady Nocturnal. I will do as you say."

"Go child, bring back what is mine."

I stood up, turned around, and made my way to Leyawiin. I had to remember where her shrine is, how it wasn't far off from the yellow road.

I took my cowl off and backpacked it, then walked for half an hour to Leyawiin. Once I got there, a few people greeted me, I responded with a greeting, but continued on.

I didn't know where this Weebam-Na or Bejeen had lived, so I needed to speak to my eyes and ears, the beggars. Once I went inside the town, I found a beggar sleeping next to the town walls, and I bent over to give a couple small taps on her arm.

The woman had waken up right away, gotten up to her feet, then looked me in the eyes. She smiled as she had not cared that I woke her.

"Good evening." She said.

"Hello. I am here to ask you of Weebam-Na and Bejeen."

"Weebam-Na and Bejeen have been bragging about some big score they made recently. They claim it's a valuable jewel. Heh. Who knows with those two." She responded.

"Do you know where they live?"

"I might. For a price."

"How does 20 septims sound?" I asked.

"Sounds acceptable. Weeban-Na's house is on east side of Leyawiin, opposite of House for Sale."

"Thank you."

"Anytime now."

Immediately, I went to where the house for sale was, and across from it, Weebam-Na's house had been there. I opened it, it was unlocked, and went inside.

Inside, the walls and floors were all wood, the living room had chairs and tables, I walked forward and seen an Argonian male. I thought it would be nice to ask and see if he would kindly tell me where it is.

"Hello. Do you know where a jewel is, a jewel that belongs to the Shrine of Nocturnal?" I asked.

"Never heard of the thing. And neither has Bejeen. You ask too many questions." He said, he must have been Weebam-Na.

"It was just one question, thank you though." I walked away, and I opened the door and shut it, but I was still inside, waiting.

They must have thought I left already, but I was still there waiting till I heard them talking, I decided to listen in on them. Perhaps they would speak of where it was, I didn't want my leads to fall here.

"But what if the trolls eat it?" Bejeen asked, I knew this because it wasn't Weebam-Na's.

"Trolls don't like water. Trolls don't swim. The Eye is perfectly safe in Tidewater Cave. So relax."

Perfect.

That was the correct information I needed, Tidewater Cave, time to go speak to that beggar again of it's location.

I opened the door again, went outside and slammed it shut to make sure they were alarmed, and I walked away laughing. I went to the beggar right away.

After speaking her I hurried out of Leyawiin, Tidewater Cave had been south of Leyawiin next to Topal Bay.

I walked there an took nearly an hour, but I had found the cave overlooking the bay. I went inside slowly, not sure of what I would find.

I was sure to put on the gray cowl, and once inside, I had seen there were a few auras. I didn't have time for trouble so I had to sneak through.

I had passed a bear, and I had a choice of going two ways, straight, or left. I turned left and continued.

Another bear had been before the water. I went in the water, passed the bear, and went left again once reaching a point where I had to go two ways.

I continued on through the water slowly, but I approached a dead ends, I seen a chest and opened it.

The jewel is in it!

"Yes!" I said in a loud whisper.

Right there and then I made my way back to the shrine, hurrying to give Nocturnal what is hers. It took an hour, maybe more than that, but I eventually got back.

"My Eye is returned, and I once again see into the darkness that is your world. We mock the thieves, for bitter is their loss. Child, you may take this. It shall open the secrets of dark places for you."

"Thank you, Lady Nocturnal." I said. I looked at what her gift was, it was set before her shrine on the ground before I picked it up, it looked like lockpick, but was much bigger.

"Now, what about Theranis?" I asked.

"You have been as near as a doorstep away from him, he is near where you have found my Eye. Search upon the shores of the Topal Bay, you will find him, but do not be alone, for he is not. Theranis is a dangerous enemy against the Thieves Guild, he will not stop killing and feeding off the innocence, for everyday, his blood runs colder and colder. Do not rush to engage him, for upon the day you see him again, before the hour you two meet again, you will have a choice in whether to walk away and save yourself, or, fight for the Thieves Guild and kill him, which of that will only mean your death. You cannot win this war against an army of vampires he is building, but only you can save the Thieves Guild. Choose wisely child. You have time. You will know when it will be the right time to see him again." Nocturnal had been silent thereafter, and so was I.

I had been near the middle-age mark, but I had still been young, and I wasn't ready to die yet. What will I choose? To live and eventually retire, find a wife and have a family, or to die to save the Thieves Guild?

'I don't know... this is the hardest question I have ever faced.'