The journey towards dayspring canyon took me two weeks. I managed to stay away from danger up until now. A few days back I asked some travellers for directions towards dayspring canyon. They told me to move past Stendar's beacon and move down the mountain.
I was making my way up the mountain towards Stendar's beacon when snow started falling. I adjusted my hood to cover me from the cold.
" Damn Skyrim is cold and unforgiving!" I said to myself as I moved up the mountain.
I could see the vague outline of a tower on a few hundred meters ahead. But then my ears picked up the sound of swords clashing and screaming.
I picked up my pace as the vigilant's I was told reside,there knew the rest of the way towards the cave entrance.
" Fuck fuck just my luck! The whole journey has been peaceful.." I scoffed.
As my picked up pace turned into a sprint up the mountain.
'Thank god for my lasting endurance!' I thought to myself.
What I saw when I got to the top shocked me to the core. Atleast twenty vigilant's were fighting a horde of vampires. And they were losing being pushed back into the tower by their vampire attackers.
" Fuck! Well here goes nothing!" I said to myself as I sprinted towards the closest vampire in sight.
The vampire was utterly caught by surprise, as I swung Nightbane at its head cutting it clean of. Two vampires then took noticed of me and shot lighting bolts at me. I rolled to the side and sprinted towards the closest one. Sliding under a swing of its sword whilst I sliced his heel with a knife. Grabbing its other leg to not let me slide to far away. The vampire fell face down in the snow. And shaked violently as I crawled on top of it. Planting my knife in its skull.
The other vampire hissed at me as he jumped on top of me, as the two of us rolled a few meters away from the body.
It tried to bite me but I stuck Nightbane's hilt between its hungry jaws. Sadly I was too late to notice that the vile thing had a knife.
He stuck it in my leg. " Arghh! You vile scum!" I yelled as i pushed Nightbane's hilt further in its mouth, breaking its jaw.
The vile thing screamed in pain, before I stuck the knife sticking in my leg in its throat. A bloody gurgle left its mouth before it died.
I slowly got up as I saw that I now got the attention of two Vampires and their thrall's.
" Fuck! I ain't gonna make it..." I said as the thralls sprinted towards me weapons drawn.
The vigilant's did get the upper hand against the other vampires and their thrall's. But they couldn't save me from this.
I readied Nightbane for the impact, but then I heard a familiar voice yelling at me.
" Duck down!"
I let myself fall down just in time as bolts flew over my head. Killing the thralls just before they could swing at me. I turned around to see Durak and about thirty heavy armored soldiers. Armed with crossbows charging the vampires and their thrall's.
" Kill them all! " Durak commanded his soldiers.
Some of the vampires attacking the vigilant's turned around to face the incoming force. And the vampire commander sounded their retreat as they sprinted of with superhuman speed.
Their thrall's weren't so lucky as they were caught between very angry vigilant's and the soldiers.
Durak approached me as he gave me his hand pulling me up.
" So changed your mind have you?" The orc said as he patted my back.
I limped up as I scratched the back of my head.
" Well I was in the area and thought I would say hi haha" I jokingly laughed.
Durak looked at the vampire bodies laying in the snow, and then back at me. And began to laugh very loud.
" You are one strange fellow Dracar! hahaha." After that he turned serious as he spoke up again.
" Those were ancient vampires Dracar very powerful beings. You would be a good asset to have!" He said serious.
I smirked as I looked him in the eyes.
" Why the hell do you think I came all this way? I am ready to kill some vampires!" I said confident.
He smirked at me.
" Well lets get you to fort dawnguard then, and fix that leg of yours! We have capable healers. And get you out of the god awfull attire, and you set up with some armor." He said as he slapped my back, almost making me fall over.
" HEY! still injured here!" I mockingly yelled.
As he supported me towards the tower, the last of the wounded vampires and thrall's were killed. The dawnguard soldiers tended to the injured vigilant's. Durak sat me down on a chair in the tower as he went to talk with the leader of the vigilant's.
I felt bad for the vigilant's on my travels I heard they were slaughtered in their hall. And now their last remnants were being hunted down. I could only count about fifteen souls left.
" You all should come with us, towards fort dawnguard! We could use the manpower and we are safer in there. The pass is narrow so the vampires can't get an army through easily!" Durak said.
The vigilant's all looked at each other and nodded.
" Lets move out then take only what you need." Durak commanded as he came to get me. The vigilant commander approached him.
He was a bald man with huge sideburns, probably in his late forty's he wore the standard robes of the vigilant's. And wielded a big ornate axe.
" Durak.. I have to talk to Isran.. The vampires have taken interested in a particular dungeon. Dimhollow Crypt, I think it's in our best interest to send somebody there!" The man said.
Durak looked at him with interest.
" Okay Brother Tolan, we will bring the subject under Isran's attention." Durak said as he supported me up.
The whole party was now about forty people strong. And we made our way down the mountain, towards the mountain pass. The journey was quite uneventful and I decided to inspect the dawnguard's armor and weapons. Each and every weapon had glowing runes engraved on it. Probably some enchantment to help battle the vampires better.
Their armor was a whole other story heavy plated, strong and durable. The armor covered every exposed part of skin. The only weak spot was in the sight of the helmets.
' Impressive.' I thought to myself as I looked up I could see the entrance of the pass.
Moving through the pass was a bit difficult because it was so narrow only one person could fit through. I limped all the way supporting myself on the rock wall.
After a while I could see light shining through,and the pass opened up in a beautiful valley with a small lake and a waterfall. There was a path leading up to a huge castle.
My mouth fell open as we moved closer.
' How the fuck did they build that here!' I thought to myself. As we moved closer to the castle.
We made our way up a ramp towards the main gate, where a few soldiers stood guard.
Entering the large castle we came into a large round hall where a bright light was shining in the middle. All forty people stood in the middle of it.
Then suddenly one of the vigilant's began to scream in agony as he caught flame.
The a bouldering laugh was heard and my attention went from the burning man towards a upper floor. A single man was standing there he was bald and had a toned skin with a nice big beard.
" Stupid vampire always trying to sneak and scheme!" The hoarse authoritarian voice of the man boulderd across the room.
After the vampire burned up the rest of the soldiers went their own way within the castle. Now me Durak and Tolan were left in the hall.
The bald man came down the stairs to greet us. He wore a leather version of the dawnguard armor. And a huge war axe rested on his back also inscribed with the same runes.
" Welcome back Durak! Did you kill those vile creatures?" The man said proud.
Durak bowed and spoke up. " Yes Isran! The bastards didn't know what hit them." Durak said proud.
Then Isran turned towards Tolan his pertruding green eyes seemed to judge the man.
" You should have listened to me Tolan... You wouldn't have so much casualties if you did." Isran said spiteful.
The man looked at the ground in defeat.
Isran turned his attention towards me, I felt quite uncomfortable under his stern stare.
" And who might you be? I have never seen you before." The man said curious.
Then Durak spoke up.
" This is Dracar, I met him in Riverwood at the sleeping giant inn. I told you about this one.. He killed two ancient vampires at Stendar's beacon, with only a knife stabbed in his leg." Durak said as he patted my back.
Isran seemed to inspect me, and after that he smirked.
" Hahaha, just what we needed a capable soldier! Welcome Dracar!" The man yelled happy.
Then Tolan spoke up.
" Isran the vampires are showing great interest in a dungeon called Dimhollow Crypt. Whatever is in there might be of great importance to our cause..." The man said.
Isran seemed to ponder as he paced around for a while, then he spoke up.
" We are spread thin as is Tolan... I don't know if I can spare the manpower to investigate something on a hunch." Isran said as he sat down in a chair. A serious look on his face.
I decided to volunteer as I cleared my throat to speak as confident as I could.
" I could go and investigate it sir, if there is something worth getting I will get it done. I have seen my fair share of dungeons and crypts back in Cyrodill! And I cleared Bleak falls Barrow." I said confident looking at the man for confirmation.
He laughed as he pointed to my leg.
" You wounded as you are now ha dont make me laugh boy! They will rip you to shreds! I don't care how tough you think you are." Isran said mocking my pride.
My eyes turned dark as I took a step towards the man. I looked at the man with confidence and hatred in my eyes.
" I have to... I hate those vile creatures, give me a day to recover. And I will clear that crypt and prove you wrong!" I said never breaking eye contact.
The man seemed impressed at my resolve but didn't answer me. Then Tolan spoke up.
" I will accompany the Imperial!"
Isran raised an eyebrow and nodded.
" Fine. But if you get killed don't blame me."
" I don't plan to die." I just said stoic.
Isran looked at me and smirked.
" I am beginning to like you boy." Then he turned towards Durak. " Bring him to our best healer, he will need it!"
" Yes, sir." Durak said.
Durak escorted me towards their healers, as we made our way towards them. I noticed just how big the castle was. We were walking past a dinning hall, a forge, and then finally in an alchemy lab where their healers were.
Durak looked at me and spoke up. " You are either very brave or very stupid Dracar. I just can't decide which." He said as he lay me down on their table.
The healer immediately began putting ointments on the wound. And casted a healing spell on the wound. My eyes went wide as the pain immediately faded and the wound closed. Durak seemed surprised as well, as was the healer.
" I have never seen somebody heal so quick!" He said.
I just laughed it off but I was just as surprised as them. I got up from the table and did some stretching exercises. " All healed up! Thank you." I thanked the healer.
Durak smiled at me and slapped my back.
" Haha you are as tough as a cave troll! Now lets get you some proper armor and weapons." The orc excitingly said.
We made our way towards the armorer, and I chose the heavy armor. The armorer tried giving me a runic axe but I declined.
" I have enough on this fine baby right here!" I said as I patted Nightbane. " But I will be taking one of those crossbows."
After that we made our way towards the sleeping quarters, Durak showed me to my bed.
I took of my gear and inspected the scar on my leg. And then it hit me the wound in my side didn't hurt anymore. Since that fight with the dragon.
I looked at it as my fingers ran across the lighting like scar, it really didn't hurt anymore.
' strange.. But a welcome surprise. Maybe there is some truth in that dragonborn thing.' I thought to myself, as I collapsed on the bed.
The next morning I woke up from my first night good sleep in a few months. Without any night terrors. I felt refreshed as I put on my new dawnguard gear. It really fit like a glove.
I saw Tolan approaching me as I turned around.
" So are you ready to go Dracar?" The man asked me.
I smiled behind my helmet.
" Never been more ready!" I said as we made our way towards the kitchen. Grabbing some supplies for the journey towards Dimhollow Crypt.
Isran told us that two horses were waiting on us outside of the pass, and if we rode steady and fast we could get there in two days.
And so we began our journey towards the dungeon. The trip there was quite uneventful. And on the second day we arrived at the cave entrance leading towards the crypt.
We got of our horses and tied them to a tree. Tolan looked at me and spoke up.
" Are you ready?"
" Yes."
After that we made our way into the cave the entrance was filled with slippery rocks. And the stench of blood filled the air.
" Definantly a vampire hideout." I scoffed.
The narrow cave entrance openend up in a huge cavern, I stopped Tolan from walking further pointing toward four figures patrolling a gate.
I readied my crossbow and aimed for the head of on of them.
The bolt connected with the creatures face, it instantly fell down. The others were now alarmed and fired up their spells. I readied another bolt and shot it at another one.
This one connected with its chest it fell down and screamed in agony.
" Now!" I yelled as me and Tolan charged the remaining two vampires. I drew Nightbane and slashed at the closest one. While Tolan attacked the other guy.
We broke out in a fierce fight with them, as I jumped out the way of a lightning spell. I then slashed at the vampire it made a deep wound in its side as it screamed out pain. Then I thrusted Nightbane in its chest, after that I looked at Tolan. He was swinging his war axe in the limp body of his guy.
" I think its dead Tolan." I remarked.
" Just making sure!" The man said angry.
Then I took a look at the gate there was no way of opening it from here. As I looked around I saw a tower in the far corner of the cavern.
I made my way towards it and up the tower's stairs. On the top floor I saw a lever I pulled it and saw the gate opening.
As I reunited with Tolan we made our way further into the dungeon. We found ourselves in a maze like structure. Finding our way through it we only had to deal with a few thrall's and a few spiders.
The maze opened up in another cavern with a small lake in it. Tombstones were scattered across the room. And five skeletons patrolled the shallow waters. We made guick work of them. And a vampire who attacked us after hearing the commotion,was also killed quickly.
" Damn this cave is huge!" I complained as we came across another gate. I saw a vampire fighting with a huge spider. Just across from it.
I saw the lever for the gate and pulled on it alarming the vampire which just disposed of the spider. He charged us, and I connected blades with it. As Tolan circled around him swinging his axe in the skull of the vampire.
Tolan smiled at me as he pulled his axe out of the skull of the vampire. But my eyes went wide as I saw a huge black hound with large teeth and blood glowing red eyes sprint towards Tolan.
"WATCH OUT TOLAN!" I yelled,but it was to late the hound already got Tolan by the leg pulling him down. As the beast pounched on top op Tolan ripping into him with its huge teeth.
I shot it right between the eyes, but sadly it was to late for the vigile. Tolan was gurgling up blood as I made my way towards him.
He grabbed my arm looking me in the eyes.
" K...kill them all p..please." he begged me as he spoke his last words.
I got filled with rage as I got up. " Another victim of those vile creatures!" I promised myself to come back for his body to give him a proper burial. After I was done here.
There was a door infront of me and I kicked it open. It led to a room with arches all over it. And windows showing a huge cavern bigger than I have ever seen before.
I overheard some voices in the distance.
" Tell us vigile! Where is the artifact!" The voice of a man was heard.
" I will never tell you vile creature, stendar protects me!" Another voice of a man was heard.
As I made my way to an overlook I looked down to see four figures. Two vampires a thrall and a vigile bound and on his knees.
The vampire that was talking grabbed the vigile's head and twisted it. Breaking the poor mans neck.
" Here for you! Feed on him!" The vampire commanded the other one.
I got filled with anger as I clenched Nightbane.
" Hey scum! Why don't you try that with me!" I yelled, the vampires looked up at me and hissed.
" Get him!" The leader yelled.
The other vampire and the thrall made their way up the stairs leading towards the overlook. I sprinted towards the stairs to beat them there. I jumped on top of the handrails and slid down them slashing the vampires head off. And connected with the thrall making his way up kicking him down. Into the ravine next to the stairs. I was filled with hatred and charged down the stairs towards their leader.
As I ran towards the leader which was down the stairs. I readied Nightbane and connected with his sword pushing him back.
" Who are you? You aren't a typical dawnguard soldier. They aren't so strong!" The vampire said angry. Swinging his which I countered with mine.
" I am revenge!" I yelled as I felt the same power coming up from the fight with the dragon.
**Fus**
The shout connected with the vampire which stumbled down a small flight of stairs leading towards a bridge over the ravine.
We kept swinging at eachother as we fought on the bridge.
Making our way across it I forced the vampire on the defense as he had to give way to my onslaught of powerful swings.
After a while we were fighting inside of a ring surrounded by arches. I swung my sword again and it hit his sword out of his hands.
The vampire readied a lightning spell and shot it at me.
I sliced it with Nightbane which stopped the lightning.
" Arghh DIE!" The vampire yelled, as he charged me.
He grabbed my sword with his bare hands and yanked it out my hands throwing it away.
I retaliated by swinging my gauntlet in his face. The vampire fell down by the sheer force. As he got up he hit my helmet which flew of, and after that he fired a lightning bolt at my side.
" Argh bastard!" I yelled, as I grabbed the vampires head. And began slamming him on top of a pedestal. It took three slams to crack its skull. But I didn't stop, I was filled with hatred. After a few more slams I fell down to the floor panting heavily.
I held my side feeling the burn from the lighting bolt. I slowly pulled myself up on the pedestal. A spike came out of it and impaled my hand.
" Argh, what the fuck!" I yelled. After that i looked around.
And looked at the carnage before me.
" I won't go down without a fight..." I said heavily panting.
I took a look around and saw a few more pedestals, one was now lit up with a purple flame and a purple light went to another point. But there wasn't a pedestals standing on that spot.
It didn't take me long to figure out what I had to do. After half an hour I had connected all the pedestals. And a rumbling sound was heard. As the whole platform went down. And the pedestal in the middle came out of a purple like portal.
I walked towards it and one side of it opened up. Revealing a woman she fell down in my arms. As she slowly began to wake up she spoke up.
" W..where am I?" She said softly, as I helped her to her feet.
Then my eyes went wide, she was beautiful.
She wore a tight leather armor with a cape and a necklace chain around her neck. The corset like armor showed of her ample curves. She had wavy black hair and a beautiful oval face with nice cheekbones. Her lips were pouty which made her look cute and beautiful at the same time.
Then I met her eyes and all my wonder from before was gone. She had glowing orange eyes and after that I saw her fangs.
I took two steps back and readied my knife.
" Wow wow wow, easy there soldier." She said stoic.
I glared at her.
" You are a vampire! You can't blame me.." I said angry.
A small sign of hurt came across her face but that left her facial feature quick. As she folded her arms.
" Why don't you put down your weapon and we talk first, before you kill me." She said just as stoic as her last remark.
" After all I haven't attacked you yet and judging by the state you are in. You are easy prey."
She was right in that fact as I felt my legs giving up on me.
" Fine." I sighed in defeat.
She spoke up first.
" Tell me who are you? And who send you here ?" She asked me.
I was reluctant to speak to her, my heart was beating harder and harder. Every fiber in my body wanted to fight or run. But in my current condition neither was a good plan.
She looked at me with a confused expression.
" Are you going to answer? Or did I take your breath away." She said, as she winked seductive.
I felt my face heat up for just a second.
' No don't respond she could be trying to charm me.. Just like back then...' I thought as I began to shake my head.
" I...I am sorry, I can't trust you..." I whispered under my breath.
She came closer to me and before I knew it my body acted. All the hatred for vampires came up and exploded in a shout.
**Fus**
The shockwave came close to her, but she just managed to jump out of the way. She began to glare at me.
" Fine... You want to do it like this? Lets play!" She yelled fiercely, as she charged me with her knife.
As she came close to slash me I rolled out of the way. And kicked her in the side, her body smashed into a pedestal. I ran towards her and tried hitting her but before I could she kicked me over her.
As I fell on my back the air left my body,and the pain from the previous fights hurt as hell.
She jumped on top of and straddled me with her legs. Her knife planted on my neck.
"GET THE FUCK OF ME!" I yelled.
She just glared at me.
" I don't know what you have been through! But I have no intention to kill you.. you get that!?" She said angry. " I just want some answers!"
I began to calm down as her words made sense. 'If she wanted to kill me she could have done it already. Maybe I should give her a chance.'
" Are you ready to talk now?" She asked me as she stood up.
I sighed and got up in a seating position.
" Yes, ask away." I said in defeat.
She folded her arms over eachother as she leaned on the pillar.
" What's your name?" She asked, I was surprised that, that was her first question.
" Dracar."
" Nice to formally meet you Dracar, now tell me who send you?" She said just as stoic as her first question.
I felt ashamed that I attacked her she seemed to have no intention to do me any harm. Then that little voice in the back of my head spoke up.
* You can't trust vampires, what are you doing! Don't let your guard down! Are you stupid... Don't tell her!*
I sighed before I spoke up.
" The dawnguard send me. They thought there was an artifact in here to help them defeat the vampire menace plaguing Skyrim."
She looked surprised as she sighed.
" My father... That's who they are fighting against is my best bet. Thanks for being so open I can tell you carry a heavy burden on your heart." She said as she smiled faintly.
I was struck by that comment as I could tell she was genuine, still a little voice in my head told me she was not. But I decided to let that slip.
" Why are you so nice? Vampires are cruel manipulative evil beings... Why didn't you kill me?" I asked her.
She narrowed her eyes at that remark.
" That I am a vampire doesn't mean I am some feral beast you know... And I haven't decided what I should do with you yet."
" Well what do you propose?" I asked as I tried getting up, gritting my teeth because of the pain.
I limped towards Nightbane, and saw her narrow her eyes. But her look faded as i sheathed the sword.
" Don't worry I dont plan on getting myself killed." I remarked.
" Good, cause I don't feel like killing you." She said as she approached me. She grabbed my arm and I flinched, nearly falling down to get away from her.
" Will you just relax... I am trying to help you!" She said angry.
" I don't need your help.." I said as I grabbed a potion with red fluid in it from my belt. And chugged it down in a swift gulp.
Red swirls of energy surrounded my body and I could feel my wounds healing. After a while I could atleast walk.
I looked at her and was once again taken back by how beautiful she looked. And then I noticed it she had a fucking elder scroll on her back.
" Is that a fucking elder scroll?!" I yelled.
She began to laugh. Strangely her laugh sounded like a soft melody to my ears.
" Haha, did you really just noticed that huh?" She said guite amused.
I narrowed my eyes.
" What's so funny about that huh?"
" Owh nothing, just find it funny you just noticed it after talking and fighting with me haha."
I scoffed before I decided to ask her what we were going to do.
" So what's the plan?"
She glanced over at me and smiled a little.
" I want to go home to confirm my suspicions."
"And where might your home be?" I said as I collected my knife the from the ground.
" Its to the east of solitude on a island." She said stoic. Her arms folded again as she looked at me.
'I really should bring her to fort dawnguard. But I don't think I can force her.'
" Okay fine." I sighed in defeat.
She smiled as she approached me getting real close. I flinched a little as i could feel her cold breath on my skin.
" Ggggoodboy." She purred in my ear.
My face went as red as a tomato, and she began to giggle like a little girl.
" Hihihi, I really like that expression of yours ohh great vampire slayer." She said teasing me.
" Yeah yeah enough." I said embarrassed.
We proceeded towards the other side of the cavern. I spotted a stair leading towards a gate. Two weird statues caught my attention they looked like huge deformed bats as I got closer to inspect the weird things. The stone began to crack and I was deafend by the shrieking sound of the huge beasts,that now emerged from the stone.
" Fuck!" I yelled in shock as I evaded a claw attack from the one closest to me. It was just my luck that I dived straight into a punch from the second one.
I had pulled Nightbane up just in time to soften the blow. Still I was launched a few meters back. I looked around for the woman which I realized still hasn't told me her name.
All I could see was a burst of dust from where she just stood. In an instant she was at the first beast in her hand a glowing ball of lightning.
She thrusted it right into the center of the beast blowing a hole straight through it. The second one went in for a sweep, but she evaded that just as fast. Ending up behind the beast with another glowing ball of lightning blowing the second beasts head straight of. The shockwave from the blast made her wavy hair flow in the wind as dust swirled around her. But then she glanced at me and smirked.
" Are you just going to stand there, I thought you were a mighty soldier. There goes my dream of being saved by a white knight." She said as she winked at me.
'Damn she is that strong... I couldn't even get in one hit on them!' I thought as I just stood there gawking.
" You coming white knight?" She said as she proceeded to walk up the stairs. And I could swear she swayed her hips intentional.
I followed behind her as we got through the door. It led into another winding mace of ancient nord corridors. Before long a big gate was in front of us.
"So Dracar... Do you even know where we are going ?" She sighed.
I rolled my eyes as I opened the gate with a big push.
" Don't ask me why but these dungeons always loop around, trust me I have been in a few." I said bored.
" If you say so, wwwhite knight." I popped a nerve and began to glare as she was teasing me again with that awfull nickname.
'I am gonna kill her!' I thought to myself.
I was about to make a remark, but was interrupted by all the braziers and torches lighting uo magically as we entered the room.
" More of your witchcraft huh?" I remarked with a scowl on my face.
"What me? I wouldn't dare wwhite knight.."
' She is enjoying herself a little to much on my expense.' I thought to myself but was pulled out of my thoughts by an arrow flying past my face.
I scanned the room looking for the source and sighed as I saw about twenty druagr charge us. I unsheathed Nightbane and charged right in slicing the weak corpses left and right. Untill one caught my sword it looked stronger than the others.
My eyes widened as it began to shout.
**Fus ro dah**
I was blasted away from it, and lucky for me I managed to land on my feet sliding a little bit.
" I am so fucking done with today! Curse you divines!" I yelled as I charged back in. Dodging a sword slash from the Draugr. I ended up behind it and managed to slash its head clean of.
I panted heavy as I leaned on Nightbane. The vampire walked past me smiling.
" That's my white knight!" She purred.
After that nothing special happened and we could get out of the dungeon safely. The daylight blinded me a little as I took a deep breath. The fresh air was welcome compared to the stale air in the dungeon.
The woman pulled up her hood and walked up to me.
" Ah its been a long time since I felt the sun hit my skin." She said as I could see that she was smiling.
I quirked my eyebrow at her.
" What?" She said confused as she caught me staring.
" Nothing much never seen a vampire smile in sunlight, and I introduced myself to you but what is your name?" I asked her.
She smiled again.
" My name is Serana, nice to meet you..."
" Well guys this is it I introduced Serana. Tell me what you think about it. I really had problems portraying her maybe i will tweak this chapter a little later. But before that make sure you give your suggestions or criticism i highly appreciate it."