-The Rift-
They stand at the edge of the lake, Tyranius's arms are crossed as he watches Talshaza and Shade near the edge of the lapping water. "Not Argonian," Tyranius notes.
Talshaza stares into the lake. Deep and cold and baring the way forward. With a determined look, she sets a foot in the icy water and grips her staff as the runes on her body glow with fiery promise. Another step into the water and she slams her staff down and the water erupts into steam as she parts a way forward. Without looking back and without hesitation she strives toward the lake's center.
"Damn," Tyranius says as Shade follows. The Dunmer in some ways was as different as night to day as Iveryni, but in others… almost as if watching a ghost. And with that thought in mind, he starts forward but pauses and looks back at Zirasha who's made no move toward the lake. The vampire looks at him and shakes her head and he regards her before nodding. "We'll be back," he promises and turns to follow the path the Dunmer has blazed.
Talshaza pauses in the middle of the lake, walls of water to either side, and a glowing portal on the lake bed is revealed. "Go," she says, her concentration on keeping the water at bay. "I will follow." As soon as her companions are in she takes a breath and follows, the waves crashing down over the portal once more.
Zirasha watches as the water crashes down. She saw Tyranius enter safely but still a shiver crosses her body. Afraid to lose him. He is the only reason she clings to awareness, the only reason she does not let herself slip down into the oblivion of the monster, as she has done and lived in since that night.
"You cannot breathe, cannot live. And yet, you do."
She turns at the words to see Rufico in the shadow of a nearby tree and then nods. The assassin stares at her with eyes as dark as endless night, where hope may not dwell and she stares back. Once, they had been enemies, now they share a connection, one of loss and agony that shattered all they were with no hope of returning to the light. "It burns to be. Like agony waking," he continues. "No escape, sleep only brings memories as painful as shards of glass upon waking." his gaze turns to the lake. "I was nothing until I met Theo. I did not know it then, that he was my light. It took being in the dark to start to realize that. And now... knowing that light, I cannot bear the darkness alone. And yet until she is dead, I cannot, will not, rest."
Was that why she still was? For revenge, and nothing more? Her talons grip the ground. KILL HER. A thought, a vibration, a desire strong enough to blind. And the only way forward for she could not return to past days. Could not get back what she had lost. Could never follow... A feral growl echos from her throat.
"The day will come," he warns her. "A crossroad. Follow them in their hopeless cause, or vengeance in blood and void," he turns to stare at her again. "This is not the past war. Viperish Night never won. There was still hope. But this world," his eyes grow darker still. "The villains have won. And what is lost, cannot be brought back. You know this as well as I do, for all the pain it causes." A pause and then he continues, "I know he is your pack. But is that worth more than your claws and fangs around her throat?" a haunted look crosses his face. "My family is gone. My… pack is as well. Iveryni by her own hands before this nightmare ever started. Softly-Spoken-Crab by the Rabies Scourges creatures. All I have left is this," the black dagger appears in his hand and he starts to speak again but something in the scion's eyes stops him and he turns from her. "We are all lost," he rasps. "Remember that." with that, he slips back into the shadows leaving her alone once more.
Rufico's words hammer at her like physical blows. Shards of memory follow, filled with so much pain, and at last, it becomes too much to BE and she gives the monster the reigns once more. Knowing that Tyranius will find her again. But now she only craves oblivion, free from the memories that haunt her.
As the portal closes Shade glances around. Surrounded by rock with glowing green veins, the only sound droplets of water. "We… we are still on Nirn, are we not?" Shade whispers as she stares down the tunnel.
A hand upon the rock and Talshaza answers, "Yes. But it is close to Oblivion. At least… at least for now."
Tyranius starts down the tunnel and the two follow.
Soon the cave opens into a large room and in the center is a crystalline rock that shimmers green. For a moment as the Dunmer approaches it, it shows her reflection and then the reflection changes into a creature of flame and fire and rage and she startles back. Shade hisses at the reflection and it changes again into a Dro-m'Athra that is slowly being devoured by shadows causing her to back away. Tyranius moves toward it, battle-ax out as if to smash, and the reflection changes to decayed armor, tattered gray skin, and bone. And then, before the Imperial can smash the crystal, it fades to black, and from the ebony darkness tentacles and roving eyes appear and the heavy presence of a Prince of Oblivion fills the air.
"What WAS that?" Shade hisses, fur ruffled. Too soon after Summerset. Too soon after hearing the song that almost damned her.
~Reflections of what could be… possible fates in the thread of reality...different choices, possible futures~ the eerie voice of Hermaeus Mora rings out.
A small shudder runs across the Dunmer's skin and she pushes the thought away and turns to matters at hand, "How are you here?" Talshaza asks and then as she dares to place a hand on the crystal she answers her question, "You are not."
The vision of Hermaeus Mora shudders slightly. ~How and why matters not. Time...something that should be endless for one such as I, is not. This link is finite, one of the very few links to oblivion that still exists in Nirn. Once it is gone, Apocrypha and Nirn will be cleaved forevermore. At least...in this reality, this version of fate.~ The Prince's tone turns...if one could put a mortal tone to it, sad. ~No more will mortals discover Apocrypha's vast knowledge. No more will I gain new knowledge. It is an end with no beginning. An end, even I, Lord of Fate and Knowledge, did not see. Could not see.~
Tyranius moves closer, battle ax returned to its sheath, arms crossed. "Get to it then," he says.
Talshaza glances worried at his blunt tone, but the Prince just chuckles. ~You are right. Time is finite, so listen and listen well to the Prince of Fate, the Lord of Secrets, the Prince of Forbidden Knowledge, for it will be the last time mortals hear the knowledge of Hermaeus Mora~ A pause as the eyes gyrate and blink. ~I should know all there is to see about Kinlord Vasuki, once known as Kinlord Neran Athfhar, for he sought knowledge. And yet I do not, for he stole something. Something not meant for mortals' hands. It should have shattered his mind, eradicated him from existence for daring to claim such a thing, but he lives and breaths yet still.~
"What did he steal?" Talshaza asks.
A long pause. ~I do not know,~ the Prince admits, his tone vexing. ~All I know is it belonged to the forgotten Prince and another was taking care of it. Someplace far away from mortals hands. And yet, it was stolen still.~
The number of Prince's was static. To know there is another, or was. "Forgotten Prince?" she asks.
~They do not matter~ the Prince answers. ~If fate and destiny went down the path they should have...it would matter. But now, the paths have shattered and Oblivion is drifting further and further from Nirn. All you need to know about this is the forgotten Prince's title. Fate-Changer.~
Shocked silence echoes these words for long moments. The Dunmer pales. Remembering what Deimyite had told her and all they had learned. "He changed fate?" she whispers.
~Changed, altered… he may have very well destroyed it. I do not know. I cannot see.~
Shade stares at the crystal. "Who did he steal it from?" she asks.
A long pause and the eyes and tentacles writhe. ~The F...~ And then a vicious crack as the crystal shatters and the cave starts to shake. The voice of the Prince echos out, so much fainter now. ~GO. He seeks destruction for what I know, for all who hear it. I did not see this. I did not see much. But I do see you may have a chance to change this. RUN, before the cavern collapses, before the knowledge you have is gone!~
The three turn and charge down the tunnel, the shaking getting worse, cracks appearing and water pouring down the walls. The portal at last appears and Talshaza and Tyranius dive into it. Shade pauses and glances back and once more the echo of the Daedric Prince speaks to her and her eyes widen at the final words. And then with an earth-shattering snap, the last link between Apocrypha and Nirn shatters as she dives into the portal.