Chapter 17: A Time Limit and a New Contract
After an arduous journey, the group finally make it to Winterhold, and beeline it straight for the College, where they see Faralda standing guard.
The Altmer immediately took notice of the familiar faces. "Ah, Miss Emilia's companions. Are you here to visit her?"
Subaru tilted his head to the side. "Technically speaking, yes."
"I'm afraid this is an urgent matter, so we must speak with her as soon as possible." Aela spoke up.
"How urgent do you mean?"
"Let's just say this ties into Emilia being the Dragonborn," was all Subaru said before Faralda got the picture.
"You know, top secret stuff," Patches added.
Faralda nodded in understanding. "Very well, I shall retrieve her at once. Please wait here."
"So… what's this Emilia girl like?" Sieglinde asked.
"She's a sweetheart and very friendly, but... well, she's a silver-haired Half-Elf, and I'm sure you can imagine that a lot of people are gonna have sticks up their asses about it." Subaru explained, allowing Seiglinde to understand.
"My father is an Undead, I can relate to people being unkind," the female onion knight said.
Meanwhile, Emilia was training with J'zargo and the Conjuration teacher of Winterhold, Phinis Gestor. The Half-Elf was currently attempting to use the "Bound Sword" spell.
"Remember, Emilia, you need to imagine that you are holding the sword in your hand, and it will appear." Phinis instructed.
The Half-Elf huffed, as she extended her hand. Concentrating on what she learned, Emilia successfully manifested a violet, ethereal Daedric sword.
Emilia sighed in relief. "Good. Another spell down."
"Excellent job, you've made considerable progress," Phinis complimented the young Dragonborn. "You learned most novice level Destruction, Restoration, and Conjuration spells after only a few days of learning Universal Magic. Certainly no small feat."
Emilia bowed to her. "Thank you, Phinis-san."
It wasn't long until Faralda walked into the room and addressed the half-elf. "Miss Emilia, my apologies for interrupting, but it appears your companions have come for you."
Upon hearing that, the half-elf perked up immediately. "They have? Oh, I have to go!"
Phinis nodded in response. "That's quite alright. Come back when you're ready to continue with your training."
"Thank you!" she said, before running off.
So, Faralda and Emilia headed back to the College's gate, where the group was waiting.
Emilia almost runs up to them, nearly falling down in the process. Not that she let it stop or discourage her. "Subaru! Everyone! Hiii!"
Patches huffed at the obvious favoritism. "Oh, sure, he gets named…"
"Hey, Emilia," Subaru greeted her with a small smile and wave. "How's training going?"
Emilia began to explain. "It's been going well! I had a bit of trouble with Universal Magic at first, but I was able to get a handle on thanks to –!"
"Me."
Emilia screamed, startled by J'zargo, who was right behind her.
Erik squinted at the demi-human. "A Khajiit?"
"J'zargo!? What are you doing?!" Emilia asked in exasperation.
J'zargo merely raised an eyebrow. "Cat? Curiosity? A bit obvious, no?"
Emilia groaned, but rolled with it. "Ugh... Guys, this is J'zargo. He's been my tutor at Winterhold, and helped me with Universal Magic."
"Nice to meet you, strange cat man," Solaire greeted the cat-like demi-human.
"J'zargo is starting to wonder if any of you have seen Khajiits before," he wondered.
Subaru scratched his head at the awkwardness. "I have, but I might have given Erik the wrong impression of demi-humans."
"Hi, you must be Emilia. I'm Sieglinde. It's nice to meet you." The female Onion Knight introduced herself.
Emilia did a double-take at what she was seeing. "Oh, a second Onion Knight…?"
Seigmeyer introduced his daughter. "Seiglinde here is my daughter, she came looking for me and we ran into each other before we came here."
"Oh, nice to meet you too!" Emilia said as they shook hands.
"Sorry to cut the meeting short, but we're kinda in a hurry," the black-haired Undead said.
Emilia just looked confused. "Is there something going on?"
"You could say that, yeah. We'll explain on the way, but we need to get to High Hrothgar ASAP."
"High Hrothgar? Why?"
"For now, let's just say we might know why you're a Dragonborn," the sun-loving knight said.
Emilia was starting to get nervous that no one was giving her a straight answer. "Okaaay…?"
"Like I said, we'll explain on the way, but we need to go, like, right now."
J'zargo smirked as he heard this. "In that case, J'zargo shall come along as well."
"You sure about that, Whiskers?" Patches asked.
"What's happening here must be far more interesting than merely training in the College, and nothing excites J'zargo more than a challenge. Also, Emilia-san still needs a tutor." J'zargo explained his reasoning.
Faralda nodded in agreement. "It's not a bad idea. J'zargo is one of the most talented students in the College's history, he's incredibly skilled in Universal and Primal Magic."
Subaru sighed. "Okay, fine, we'll adopt the cat."
J'zargo merely gave a theatrical bow. "A decision you shall not regret, J'zargo assures."
"Does he always speak like that?" Siegmeyer asked.
Emilia smiled wryly. "You get used to it…"
So, the Group leave Winterhold with J'zargo in tow, and cram into the carriage to Ivarstead.
"Are we there yet?" Patched asked with a grin.
"Do I need to rip your jaw off?" Aela growled in annoyance.
"Is this an inside joke?" J'zargo asked.
Erik laughed at that. "Oh yeah."
J'zargo's eye gave a mischievous glint. "Oh, I see! Are we there yet?"
Emilia cleared her throat. "Um... Subaru, you said you were going to explain what was going on, right?"
"Okay, so, long story short, we met a Dragon that knows what's going on, and it kinda involves the end of the world," Subaru said quickly.
Emilia's confusion increased exponentially. "Um... what?"
Subaru sighed as he tried his best to find the words he needed.
Subaru sighed. "You... remember that Dragon that attacked Helgen?"
"Mr. Big, Black and Scary?" Emilia asked.
"That's the one."
"What about him?" the Half-Elf asked.
Subaru thought about how to word it. "Does... the name "Alduin" mean anything to you?"
Emilia's eyes slowly widened at that name.
"Oh... I don't like that look," Patches commented.
"You and everyone else here," Siegmeyer said.
Emilia began to explain. "Paarthurnax, my adopted father, he... told me stories about Alduin... that he would... bring about the end of everything…"
Emilia had slowly begun to realize what Subaru was implying. "The Dragon that attacked Helgen... that... was him...?"
Subaru nodded. "Well, that's the working theory."
"Just... tell me what happened."
"Summary or play-by-play?" Patches asked.
"I already know the story about Alduin. That he once ruled Gusteko, and that he was banished somehow after a war, but that's about it." Emilia explained, before continuing, "Give me the details I don't know."
"To paraphrase, Alduin is the greatest and most powerful of all Dragons," Erik explained. "It is his duty to bring about the end of all that is so that a new world may take its place. However, four hundred years ago, during the Dragon War and after the Great Calamity occurred, Alduin abandoned his duty, in his pride and power, he wished to rule the world instead of destroying it like he was supposed to and he waged war on the world. He was soon defeated, and the humans used an Elder Scroll to send him forward in time, hoping he would return when the World neared its end, and he would fulfill his duty, but…"
Emilia began to understand. "Helgen... He must have emerged near there…"
"So, yeah, world-ending Dragon that has been sent to our era, and you're probably gonna have to be the one to vanquish him, since you're the Dragonborn," the bald Undead said.
Emilia didn't know how to process all this, and had begun to hyperventilate, but she stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up to see Subaru smiling at her.
"Emilia, you don't need to worry. We're gonna have your back. You don't have to face him alone," Subaru reassured her.
"That's right, we'll be with you!" Siegmeyer said.
"We'll be with you, every step of the way!" Erik whooped, with his fists in the air.
"A world destroying, egomaniac Dragon? No need to threaten J'zargo with a good fight," J'zargo said with a grin.
"You helped me in my time of need, Emilia, and I wish to do the same," Solaire said.
Aela nodded. "It's my duty to help you, so I shall."
"I may be new here, but if Father's helping, then I will too." Seiglinde said, giving a thumbs up.
Patches thought it over a bit. "Ehhh… pass."
Subaru suddenly smacked Patches up the side of the head with a strained smile.
"Uhh... Pass on missing out on this!"
"That's better, badly," Subaru sighed at his old friend's antics.
"Give me a break, I'm not used to this."
"What? Doing good for a change?" Aela asked.
Emilia couldn't help but smile and tear up at everyone's willingness to help her, and shedding a few tears at all of this. "Thank you... all of you."
"Great!" Subaru clapped. "Now that that's taken care of, how long till we reach the mountain?"
"We're almost there."
"Good. Time to get some answers…"
Once they arrive in Ivarstead, the group make their way up to High Hrothgar, where Arngeir was waiting by the entrance.
"Welcome back, young Dragonborn," Arngeir bowed to the Dragonborn. "We've been expecting you."
"That's what everyone's telling me," Emilia said.
"Come, we have much to discuss," Arngeir said.
Arngeir leads the group out back to the Courtyard, where the other Greybeards were waiting alongside Odahviing.
Emilia was taken aback by the Dragon's presence. "Oh. I guess that's the Dragon."
Odahviing sniffed the air, sensing the presence of the Dragonborn. "Ah, Dovahkiin. I have been anxious to meet you."
"Well, you have now," Emilia merely waved a bit.. "So… hi?"
"I am Odahviing, and I assume you are already aware of what is to come, Dovahkiin."
The silver-haired Half-Elf nodded. "I was given the summary, yes."
"I wanted to see if you were capable of standing against Alduin, however…" Odahviing paused as he sniffed Emilia and groaned. "Krosis. I can sense the potential you have, you have not gained enough to do battle with the World Eater."
Emilia didn't let that discourage her. "Then I'll get stronger!"
"Do we even have that kind of time?" Erik asked. "How long do we have before Alduin decides to end everything?"
"Three years." Odahviing answered, gaining the attention of the others. "In three years time, Alduin will be forced to fulfill his duty."
Subaru suddenly realized what Odahviing was talking about. "Ah shit…"
Everyone turned to Subaru with Siegmeyer asking, "What is it, Subaru?"
"It's the First Flame, isn't it?" Subaru asked the Dragon, who merely nodded in response.
Patches growled, "Oh, son of a…"
Erik just looked confused. "Wait, what does the First Flame have to do with this?"
"When the First Flame finally burns out, only then will Alduin be forced by the Divines to end the world, so that the cycle of the world can begin again." Odahviing explained.
"But this time, it'll stop for good." Subaru gained everyone's attention.
Solaire looked confused. "Huh? But wasn't Gwyn able to link the Flame?"
"Yeah, for a thousand years, but now it's weighing again," Subaru said. "It has to be linked again, otherwise, it's game over for everyone."
"So, Gwyn has to link it again?" Erik asked for confirmation.
Subaru shook his head. "He can't. The pain from linking it has probably driven him Hollow, if he's even still alive. It's gotta be someone new."
"The First Flame was never meant to be linked. It prolongs the current age, and it cannot allow the world to praan, to rest."
"Yeah, well, we can't exactly sit around and let Alduin make things worse, even if it's a change, now can we?" the nasty-eyed Undead said.
"Wait, so even if we manage to stop Alduin, we still need to find someone to link the First Flame?" Erik asked.
Subaru nodded at that. "Unfortunately, yes."
"How... strong do they need to be linked to the Flame?" the Dragonborn Half-Elf asked.
"Legendary," Subaru simply said. "On par with the old Sword Demon, at the very least."
"So, we can't just throw in some random schmuck on deaths row and call it a day," Patches said.
"Nope. They gotta be good quality."
"What about one of the Sin Archbishops from the Witch Cult?" Sieglinde asked. "They seem pretty strong, and no one's gonna miss them."
Subaru shrugged. "Eh, I give it a fifty-fifty."
"Especially since their power comes from their Authorities. If the Archbishop dies, the power jumps ship," the thieving Undead said.
"Any other candidates?" Erik asked.
Emilia shook her head. "I have nothing."
Subaru merely looked to the side but didn't say anything.
"Don't worry, we'll think of something," Aela reassured the amethyst-eyed half-elf.
Arngeir walked up to the group. "There is more to it. Emilia still must learn all the shouts she can if you all hope to stand a chance against Alduin."
Subaru sighed. "Well, then. I guess we know what we need to do for now. Train up in hopes of beating Alduin. We should focus on that."
"Well, I think I know how to train my Magic, but I still need to learn the words for Shouts, and absorb Dragon Souls, don't I?" Emilia asked.
"More Shrine hunting?" Patches asked.
Erik groaned at that, "But that's gonna be so time consuming…"
Suddenly, an idea came to Odahviing's mind. "Actually, perhaps I can be of assistance."
"Oh?" That caught J'zargo's curiosity. "Do tell."
Odahviing began to explain. "To Dov, the Thu'um is second nature. It is as natural as breathing and moving to us. As a Dovahkiin, you are able to learn shouts much faster than any mortal or immortal, by gaining the knowledge directly from a Dovah's soul."
Emilia began to realize what the Dragon was implying. "Are you… offering to teach me?"
"I can. Are you, by chance, familiar with a contract?" Odahviing asked.
"Like the thing Spirit Art users form?"
"Indeed. Dov are capable of performing a similar method with a mortal. A Shout that allows a Dovah to give a piece of our soul to the recipient, and allows a mortal to understand the way of the Thu'um directly from us."
Subaru squinted at what the Dragon said. "Why do I feel like there's a catch?"
"If I use this Shout, our bond will be mahfaeraak. Permanent. It cannot be undone, and when you meet the time of your death, my soul will be forever incomplete until my return to Akatosh." Odahviing explained the catch.
Subaru cringed at that. "Mmmmm… I see…"
Odahviing continued his explanation. "This contract will also allow you to call my name as you would a Shout, allowing you to summon me across Ali'rasi to fight alongside you."
"Interesting pros and cons…" Erik said.
Emilia processed everything that she was told, and asked, "So, this will allow me to learn Shouts directly from you?"
"In a way, yes. However, this will make your Shouts weaker than they could be, but since you are a Dovahkiin, then by devouring more souls of Dovs, it will allow you to increase the power of your Thu'um."
"Well, that's one way to offset the price," Aela grimly said.
"You're okay with this, Odah?" Sieglinde asked her friend. "Giving up a piece of your soul?"
Odahviing nodded. "I am at peace with it. Ultimately, however, that is for the Dovahkiin to decide."
After a minute of thinking over it, Emilia made her decision. "Alright, Odahviing. I accept your contract."
Odahviing nodded, and backed up a bit.
"SIL GRIN KALYUL!" Odahviing shouted, and suddenly, an ethereal energy began to transfer from Odahviing to Emilia, similar to how Emilia absorbed Dragon Souls.
Once it was done, Odahviing took a few deep breaths. "It is done."
Emilia looked at herself in confusion. "Really? I don't… feel any different. Not like when I absorb other Dragon souls."
"Think of it as a small gateway between our minds. I am capable of directly sharing my knowledge of Shouts with you through this skuld."
Emilia nodded as she understood. "When do we begin training?"
"Now." That was all the Dragon said.
Authors' Notes: So, J'zargo's officially joined the party. Cool.
Also, we've got lore. And by lore, I mean the fact that Alduin has been revealed as one of the big bad evil guys, the First Flame is gonna go out in three years (unless someone Links it again) and Odahviing is gonna be tutoring Emilia. (For those of you wondering what the Shout that Odahviing used is, that is an original shout we came up with to allow Emilia to learn Shouts directly from him. The translation to the Shout should be "Soul Bond Contract".) Anyways, let's move on to the comments now, shall we?
5queso: Nobody here is getting a sad ending, not Sieglinde, not Siegmeyer, no one! (EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOREVER! - Michael J. Caboose)
SenSlice: I mean, it would make sense for Subaru to learn the Dragon language, but the reason we didn't do it was to give Emilia an edge over the guy who's been around for literally hundreds of years. And as for Patrasche… were not sure what we're gonna do with Patrache… yet.
Kifhjooff: (That is a bit tricky to answer. I'd definitely say that Alduin is the strongest Dragon in the world, surpassing even Volcanica. I'm not sure how he stacks to Reinhard or Satella at his normal level of power, but if he consumed enough souls, he'd definitely be stronger than them.) I'm not even gonna try to answer that.
And now, for the last bit of shilling…
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