"That is enough." Paarthurnax instructs, and Aurelia does her best to not crumble down on her ass as she groans.
Her throat burned and ached in ways she could never have imagined.
Five times. That was the limit on how many times she can use the Shouts before her throat started hurting like hell and she'd end up losing her voice for the entire day.
Even Healing Magic doesn't work! It's like her Healing Spell is trying to fight against something and horribly losing the fight.
The pain doesn't last long, of course. From a few hours to a whole day, depending on the strength of the final Shouts used, but she still found it very vexatious to be so limited.
"I feel like I am doing something wrong." She grumbles aloud, voice hoarse, a palm casting a simple Healing Spell held and rubbing against her throat, just to bring her some minor comfort.
"You have just started your training, Dovahkiin." Paarthurnax chides gently, shooting her a gentle look with his massive eyes, "And currently we are simply searching and studying your limits. Do not be discouraged by that."
Aurelia grumbles, knowing that he is right. The Mini-Leo in her head was also throwing a fuss at how she kept trying to find an issue to bring herself down.
"But it still feels like I am bashing my head against a mountain and hoping to get through." She points out, nearly kicking her feet in a childish manner. She was not pouting.
"The way you use the Thu'um is wrong." The resurrected titanic Dragon speaks, his enormous form lounging down on the flat ground of the Throat of the World. "But that is natural, as you have not been taught how to properly wield it."
"And because of what you are." She furrows her brows at that.
"The Dragonborn?" The dragon shakes his head slowly, confusing her even more.
"You are a Dragon in Soul, but not in body." He points out, making her eyes widen, "The way a Dragon and a Race of Men use the Thu'um is fundamentally different."
Aurelia realizes that the Dragon is right. She doesn't have the body of a Dragon, even if devouring the Soul of one increases the strength of her body by massive levels that no amount of training can match.
"Tell me, what is the difference between your Fire Breath Shout, and the one wielded by a Dragon?" Paarthurnax questions, earning her narrowed gaze.
She mulls it over for a few seconds before tilting her head, "Mine is not a constant stream of flames." She points out, remembering how Yolosqah's Fire Breath was a constant stream of intense flames.
While hers is an enormous wide-spread blast with immense range, heat and literal firepower.
Paarthurnax nods, "You see, the constant stream is something a Dragon must achieve first. It is not something we do naturally."
"And sometimes, not all Fire Breath Shouts are the same, for not receives the same form of enlightenment when pondering upon a Word."
"Sometimes it can be a constant stream of flames. Other times, the Mastery can go as far as change our own forms, granting us flaming manes. So on and so forth."
"The Mastery of each Word makes a Dragon stronger, and more wise. Those who have mastered many are known as Sages, among our kind."
Aurelia bites at her lower lip in nervousness at that. She could tell that in the future, she'll have to fight some of these Dragon Sages, for there surely are some that sided with Alduin.
The thought sent a shudder down her spine… But then she relaxed, for she knew that she had a terrifying monster on her side too.
A silly undead monster ready to utterly humiliate those Sages with utter ease.
"Then what happens if I Master a Word?" She questions curiously. She still couldn't really wrap her head around what exactly 'Mastery' of a Word truly meant, as Paarthurnax's words were too vague.
Pondering and understanding the meaning of the Word… She'll have to think quite hard about this.
"For us Dragons, Mastery means greater Power." The titanic Dragon answers, eyes closed as his head rests on the flat stone surface, "For Humans? Mastery means Control."
Aurelia crosses her arms at that while her eyes blink. Control… What kind of control?
Like changing the shape of the Shout? The power put behind it? Its reach?
Or everything?
"So I'll have to Master each Word, then?" She asks with a groan, earning a chuckle from Paarthurnax.
"You will find it easier than you think, young one. You just need not over-complicate it yourself." This time Aurelia does pout at the ancient Dragon, throwing a mild glare his way.
Still, his words helped her relax a great deal.
"Still, I am surprised that you guys can release that single blast with a Shout too." Aurelia muses aloud, head tilted to the side, "All the Dragons I've faced have been able to use the constant stream." Especially Yolosqah.
His breath attack was still the strongest she ever faced. Mostly because Paarthurnax had interrupted the Dragon currently lounging on the cold and hard stone surface from using his own Shout.
The one still hadn't gotten to using or testing out.
"We can turn the blast into a constant stream as soon as we master a single Word." Paarthurnax states, moving so that his imposing and mighty form sat right beside her, his head held high and gaze locked on the ocean of clouds before him. "Mastering the next words will simply add greater power to it, and Mastering more may allow one to modify the Shout in unpredictable ways."
Aurelia hums and nods, understanding that Yolosqah held mastery over two words of the Fire Breath Shout due to how insanely powerful he was.
Plus, his form irradiated heat, and Paarthurnax did state that further Mastery may lead to changes to one's Dragon body.
"As a human, the constant breath attack might be out of your reach… But you will be able to do so much more." That earns her attention, her wide eyes flicking towards the ancient Dragon sitting beside her, his mouth pulled back in what looked like a fanged grin of sorts.
"What do you mean?"
Paarthurnax chuckles, "The Humans and other Races have something similar to the Thu'um, no?" Aurelia's eyes widen even more, then her brows furrow in thought.
Something similar to the Thu'um? To the powerful Reality Bending effects of the Dragon Tongue?
What could be similar to such powerful words-…
"You mean Chanting…?" She whisper that last word with pure shock lacing her voice.
After all, Leonidas had the idea of fusing the Dragon Words with Chanting, so to empower Spells to horrifying levels.
So much so that rarely did she see him employ that tool in his arsenal. Even Krosis didn't require him to abuse that power.
Paarthurnax nods, stunning her, "Think on how the Fire Breath Shout works, then on how Chanting works."
Aurelia does exactly that, and she finds her answer near instantly.
The Fire Breath Shout Words are exactly 'Fire, Inferno, Sun'. Each word a great form of the previous one, overlaying over the other to add greater and more formidable might to the Shout.
Chanting works the same way, though it has a risk of causing the Spell to overload and go out of control.
Like the Shouts, Chanting works in starting from a simple word that matches the Spell, then speaking another that is a stronger form of the previous one.
She doesn't know exactly how it works, but each Word added to the chant increases the Spell's power by a great deal. She had heard of some Archmages capable of using six or seven words in their chants, turning even a simple fireball into something akin to a meteorite.
With each word, the power grows, doubles and swells, demanding immense if not perfect control over one's Magicka and the conjured Spell lest the Spell overloads and explodes in the Mage's face.
She never thought that the two could be tied together…
"So someone created Chanting through by taking inspiration from the Dragon Language?"
Paarthurnax nods, "It was through the efforts of a Dragon and a Human woman, in fact." That surprises Aurelia, "I believe this woman was the Second Archmage of the College. Quite the wonderful and intelligent individual, I must say." Paarthurnax praises deeply, head bowed in respect.
The second Archmage of the College of Winterhold… She had never heard of her, but Aurelia never went out of her way to research history.
Still… "She befriended a Dragon? Or became their disciple?"
Paarthurnax chucles, much to her confusion, "Oh no. They were lovers." Aurelia blinks.
How would that even work?
She really wanted to ask that question, but she held herself back. After all, she kinda was in the same situation…
"Lah was always an eccentric one." The titanic Dragon speaks up from behind them, making Aurelia snap herself out of her thoughts as she suppresses the flush on her cheeks.
"Lah?"
"The name of the Dragon I just spoke of." Aurelia feels a shudder go down her spine as Paarthurnax states those words.
The Dragon's name literally meant 'Magicka'.
"He was known as the 'Great Sage' among our kind. Few dared question his might. None survived challenging him." Aurelia suppresses another shudder at that.
There truly were a lot of monsters among the Dragons, and that just made her more nervous as time went on. But it also made her determination burn brighter and stronger.
Biting on her lower lip, Aurelia finds her curiosity hard to hold back as some recent memories resurface back up. Some about things that she kind of needed to know.
And with an ancient Dragon like Paarthurnax close to her, well… "Say, Paarthurnax." She speaks up, drawing the Dragon's gaze towards her much smaller form, "Can I ask you a question? It's… about the Dragon Priests."
The Dragon nods without any sort of annoyance visible in his large eyes and on his scaly face, so Aurelia takes in a deep breath, and asks her question.
"Who are Dinok and Konahriik?" Paarthurnax stills.
Arulia feels even the titanic Dragon lock up from his spot on the ground, and she instantly grows very nervous.
"First…" Paarthurnax starts, voice flat but gentle, "Where did you learn or come across those names?"
Aurelia furrows her brows at that, but she gulps and gestures with her hand towards the general direction of Whiterun, "Well… Dinok is there, sealed beneath Whiterun." She refused to believe that monster was truly sealed.
Aurelia feels it deep within her bones. That thing can break out whenever it wants, but doesn't for… some reason she just cannot grasp.
"I see…" Paarthurnax mutters deeply, his own gaze narrowed, "I thought she had been slain… How did she survive that battle…?" Aurelia could tell that there was a big story there. One she probably wasn't yet ready to learn of.
"What about Konahriik?" Paarthurnax questions, and Aurelia clears her throat.
"Leonidas brought the name up against Krosis, and… The Dragon Priest instantly became terrified after hearing it." It had baffled her, at the time.
But it also made her wonder about this 'Warlord' Dragon Priest, and why Leonidas asked about them.
Paarthurnax sighs deeply at her answer, "What a peculiar young man… His existence is truly…" The Dragon sighs again and shakes his head, not finishing his words despite Aurelia's desire to hear them.
Leonidas's past was still a big mystery to her, like hers was to his.
She could never bring herself to ask him about his past, when their first ever meeting was him waking up for the first time after dying.
As for herself… She never really found the courage or desire to bring her own past up, especially to him. It was still something she found hard to face, or think about.
"To answer your question…" The Dragon starts, and Aurelia listens.
"Konahriik and Dinok were- are, sisters. Twins, to be exact." Paarthurnax reveals, gaze distant, lost in ancient memories, "They are blessed by the very Gods. As children, they held might greater than many Dragons."
"Dinok mastered the Thu'um with laughable ease, while Konahriik mastered Magicka and all the Elements before she was ten years old."
Paarthurnax sighs. A sound filled with pain and regret.
"Konahriik was… Is, my Dragon Priest. My prized student and beloved disciple."
Aurelia feels her stomach drop, and dread starts building up within her chest as her lips open.
"...And Dinok?"
She knew it was coming.
Yet it still terrified her to her very core.
"She was Alduin's."
~~XXX~~
"Okay so, let's write down everything we – and I mostly mean you – know and see where to go."
I start, slamming down an empty notebook on the large table in our new, massive, well-furnished room. Ancano truly is a kind man.
It's quite literally enormous, with a massive closet – which was filled with Thalmor clothes that swiftly got stuffed into the fireplace into the room and set on fire – a giant bed we had to split in half because Ancano really put two king sized beds side by side for some fucking reason.
There is an Enchanting Table similar to those in the game, an alchemy table with bookshelves and chests filled with ingredients and potions, and even some of Ancano's own notes and studies.
To not count the bookshelves filled with Spell Books mostly focused on Lightning Magic, which apparently is the rarest and obviously the most powerful due to its Anti-Magicka capabilities.
Aside from that, there's plenty of tables, couches, a bathroom with a literal magical bathtub because of fucking course the Thalmor must feel like a damn God even in a fuckin' College, and… That's it, yeah.
And now it has all been kindly donated to us!
I honestly expected the guy to put up a fight against Hildr, as he is obviously an experienced Battle Mage… But nope. He got folded and cooked by Hildr's Spirit within five seconds.
He probably underestimated her, probably didn't and he is just that weak, or it might be me overthinking things, but oh well. I've got my eyes on him, and he won't like that one bit.
Hildr yawns as she takes a seat in front of me, wrapped up in a thick and fluffy robe after having spent the better part of an hour taking a bath in the massive magical bathtub so to 'celebrate her victory'.
"Despite how long I've had my Spirit, I don't really have much of an understanding about him." Hildr states, dropping her chin on her palm as she leans against the table.
I hum and grab the colorful pencil given to children to draw – because I will not fucking use a goddamn ink and quill – and open the notebook.
"Let's start with the basics then?" I propose, and she raises a lone brow my way, her other destroyed eye visible now that she discarded her eyepatch, showing the closed eyelid and the nasty and wide scar cutting down on it from the middle. "For example; How much Magicka does it take to Conjure him, to keep him around, things like that."
Hildr makes an 'aah' sound and leans back against her chair, "I dare say… That Conjuring him always takes half of my reserves, give or take, but keeping him around instead requires no upkeep." I hum and write that down on the notebook, "He only draws on my Magicka when he fights, or when he needs to 'heal' himself."
Again, I write that down too, "Does he not absorb Magicka from the surroundings like we do?" I question, and Hildr's lips part open… Then they close as she frowns.
"I don't think he does?" I write it down with a question mark written beside it.
"Might be worth looking into. Maybe you can use the same principle of drawing in the oxygen like you did before." She nods and smiles as I write the idea down. "How hard was it, by the way? Going through with the technique but through your Spirit."
"Not that hard, but it does drain my Magicka reserves quickly." Hildr states, then tilts her head, "Though I noticed that I do not need to keep it up. Once my Spirit's flames went blue and I stopped the absorption of oxygen, he didn't instantly lose all that heat."
Huh… I write that down too and draw a star next to it, because it is indeed a very valuable discovery for her. "I guess one thing you need to do is raise your Magicka reserves, which comes with time." She nods, and I tap my pencil on the table in thought, "And also have your Spirit learn how to draw in the surrounding Magicka. That might effectively remove any Magicka cost he inflicts on you."
Like so she could assist in other ways, instead of being a passive participant in the battle.
"I also want to see if I can teach him some Spells." Hildr muses aloud, making me tilt my head her way, "I mean, aside from throwing fireballs and breathing fire. Something more complicated than that."
Ah, fair point. Perhaps less learning Spells and more learning how to weave and control his own flames, then.
I write it down and lean back with a hum, "Anything else?"
The redhead drops her chin back into the palm of her head in thought, "Chanting." She states after a few seconds, "It is something I want to focus on a great deal once I have some Spells I can call on. It's probably among the best tools a Mage has access to."
That is fair, hence why I made the Dragon Tongue version of it. I also really want to run into some unfortunate Dragon and power that up too. At least enough that I can use Three Chants.
"What about you?" Hildr asks, leaning forward on the table, and I flick my gaze away when the robe slips enough to show a bit too much cleavage. My momma raised no bad boy. Only a crazy lunatic ready to throw hands with God. "What Spells are you gonna focus on?"
"Both of my giant dome Spells. The Frost Spell is not what I am looking for, so I plan on changing it. Into what, I have no idea just yet." Hildr nods as I close the notebook and slide it towards her, so that she can keep those ideas on her at all times.
"What about that Healing Spell?"
I rap my fingers on the table in thought, "The range is fine. For now. I want to make the Healing and Buffing effects stronger. Much stronger." Battles like the one outside Whiterun will, unfortunately, surely become quite common soon enough.
So having a Spell that can give those on my side an enormous boost is a very welcome choice.
"I've also been thinking of creating a new Spell." I muse aloud, making Hildr raise a brow in interest, "One inspired by the Flesh Spells from the Alteration Magic School, just… constant. Kinda permanent."
"A sort of body reinforcement Spell. One that requires only a modicum of refined Magicka control to activate."
"Flesh type Spells unfortunately have the side-effect of being fragile. A few good hits and the protective layer disappears together with the boosting effect… But with this Spell, one only requires focus."
It is a Spell that could do wonders, and massively reinforce our odds against the incoming Dragon invasion.
So far they've only taken potshots at us. Measured our strength, our numbers, our unity. The Dragons are fools.
Arrogant, yes. But fools? Some, but not all.
And I fear that Dragons won't be the only thing that we'll end up facing. It is impossible that we'll take down all the major threats before they pop up, so Skyrim will soon be torn apart.
I fear that few Holds will remain standing by the end of the year…
I shake away those dark thoughts, much to my distaste. There is not much I can do, unfortunately.
I can give warnings, but few – if any – will bother heeding them, so why waste time?
I just have to do my best and help fix the damage and avenge those that fall. Simple as that.
"You always think about the bigger picture, huh?" Hildr muses softly, a beautiful warm smile on her face as she easily guesses my reason for wanting to create this new Spell.
I shrug, "When you know the things I know, you can't help but do just that." So many threats, so little time, such lacking strength and assurances and connections and everything else. The odds are stacked against me… But I guess I can thrive even in such conditions.
"You're not alone, you know?"
I nod with a light chuckle, "I know, but I wish I could just avoid dragging you all into this mess." If I could bear the burden for everything, then I'll gladly do it. Even if I'll snap under the pressure.
Aurelia does not deserve any of this.
Hildr doesn't deserve to be dragged into this.
And little Gretel deserves to grow up worry free, not in a nation about to be dragged into more war and danger.
"Well, I am glad I am here." I tilt my head at Hildr's words, her lone good eye closed and a relaxed smile on her face, "I got to meet two wonderful people and see my little sister smile oh so happily in such a long time."
"Ain't nothing better than that."
I look away from her bewitching smile and sigh deeply, "So now I'm a wonderful person, huh?"
Hildr chokes on air and nearly falls off her chair, "You have your moments, alright?!"
"'Tis the charm of being the most handsome follower of the grand Sheoggorath, of course!"
"...You're a walking bag of bones."
"Two-hundred and six, to be exact! Two-hundred and seven, when very happy!"
"...I'm going to put this table through your fuckin' skull, I swear to Lord Hircine."
I scoff and wave off her threat, "With that attitude, you'll never see that two-hundred and seventh bone of mine!"
Hildr scoffs, then smirks cruelly, "I'll make sure to mention that to Aurelia when I write her a letter."
I point a threatening finger her way, but she remains smug and lifts both of her middle fingers towards me.
Damnable woman. I have been defeated this time.
With a scoff, I stand up from the table and set down the colorful pencil, "Either way, grab some rest. Bet the big ass beds are comfy as hell." Hildr snorts and nods, then yawns cutely and stretches, forcing me to look away once again.
I think she may have forgotten she is wearing only a bathrobe.
"What about you?" She question as she stands, her voice now sounding audibly tired.
"Gonna take a trip into the city. There's something I want to check out." She hums, then nods and moves towards the bed.
"I'll leave you to it then." She states as she starts moving towards one of the now separated massive beds.
I chuckle softly and turn around, then make my way towards the doors as she slumps on her bed.
"Leo?" I stop and turn my head to look towards the bed, where she is resting on her side and with her cheek on her open palm.
Her smile was tired, but very, very warm and happy.
"I'm glad we met."
If I could blink, I'd be doing it over and over right now.
And if I could smile, my lips would be hurting.
"I think I am the one who should be glad here." I state softly before exiting the room.
A corpse unable to satisfy any of my human cravings I may be…
But life can still be good and satisfying.
….
"You a new one in town, ain't ya?" The innkeeper and bartender asks while polishing a large mug with a towel.
Tall, one eye looking in a completely different directions, thick beard and bald head that reflects the lights of the lantern, and with arms bigger than my skull.
What the fuck do mothers feed the Nords for them to grow up like this? The fucking milk of a Troll laced with steroids?
"Just arrived in town, yes." I nod as I take a seat and cross my arms above the counter.
It's not late in the afternoon, but there's still quite a few people inside the hall of the inn. Quite a few drunks too, with two of them throwing hands outside.
"So, what can I get ya, then?" The old Nord grunts, lone good eyes flicking up and down my form, "Big ol' mammoth steak? Ya fuckin' mages could do with puttin' some meat on yer fuckin' bones…"
Quite literally, in my case.
Also, what colorful language. "Does information have a cost?"
The old man snorts, "Everythin' does around here, boy." I fish a lone Septim out of my pouch and place it down on the counter, making the man smirk, "Watcha wanna know?"
"The island." I state flatly, "The big one. Far off the coast." The old man's smirk instantly disappears and his gaze grows serious.
"Curious about it, huh?" The man grunts out, "Many come from hearing rumors about that place." His gaze flicks down towards my robes, "Specially them Mages."
"Majority end up biting more than they can chew, of course." I tilt my head at that.
"Is the island dangerous?" Farengar told me a bit about it, mostly on how no one is able to approach it.
"Aye." The old man nods, "Whatever the fuck is on it terrifies everythin'. Whole fuckin' mile around the island is dead waters. No fishes, no horkers, no fuckin' nothing."
Fucking hell… Some sort of malicious aura? Like the one Dinok releases and that Aurelia and others can feel while I can't?
That means this Dragon Priest is powerful, then. Very powerful.
"Anyone tried to force their way over?" I ask, placing down another Septim as I do so, mostly out of courtesy.
The Merchant Guild acts like a bank too, so I have no problems in retrieving more funds from their quarters.
"Some have." The old man nods, "All ended foamin' at the mouths before reachin' the island. Some were scared so badly that they jumped off the boats and into the freezin' waters."
That's… actually even worse than Dinok?
Dinok caused immense fear, yes… But not to that point.
Is this Dragon Priest even stronger, or is there something else at play?
Another Septim lands on the counter, "But do you know anything of the island? Stories passed down by the ancestors, stuff like that."
The man's face frowns heavily, and for a second I worry that I may have pushed things a bit too much, but his form soon relaxes, "We got stories, alright. Of when Winterhold was bigger. Greater. Whole."
"Of the Guardian, who assisted the first settlers." I perk up at that.
"The Guardian?"
"Aye." The old man nods, gaze distant, "Said to be as tall as a giant, but bigger than 'em. Clad in the armor made from the scales and bones of Dragons themselves, and wielding a greatsword made from their fangs."
"A monster among Men, yet with a heart of gold." Then, the old man shrugs, "That's all I know. The story is old as hell, that I can assure."
So, this 'Guardian' might be my Dragon Priest?
But it doesn't sound like it. I'm so confused.
The story portrays them as someone kind and protective, yet the island releases such a malicious aura that keeps anyone away.
So perhaps this Guardian is just someone else. Someone wielding weaponry and armor made of Dragon materials, probably gained after the Dragon War.
I sigh softly, but nod my head, "You have my thanks, old man."
Said man snorts and grabs the money off the counter, "A Mage thankin' me? Feels as horrible as expected!"
Yeah, fuck you too, old man.
"Just give me a mug of mead before you keel over, yeah?"
"That I can do!"
One minute later, I step outside of the inn with pure chaos echoing behind me, my hands holding no mug of mead.
I hum a happy tune as a body is launched through the wall on my left and across the street before I start walking.
Said drunk man that got launched across the street shouts a slur and rushes back in. By smashing a hole into the wall right next to the hole he left behind when he got launched out.
Nords are so fuckin' excessive, man…
I shake my head and mull over what I gained from the old man at the inn, yet I only find myself with more questions than answers.
My gaze strays towards the horizon, where the massive island lay.
Just what the fuck is that place?
A.N. Aurelia happens upon some lore, and some big hints on what I am about to unleash upon y'all!
Plus, some big AU stuff cause I wanna be creative, of course.
The next several chapters will be quite short, so they'll be written quickly, but I also want to push out some snippets I have planned on QQ the next month!
Either way, quite a bit of stuff is incoming folks!
Buckle the fuck up, chucklebutts!
And remember, if you wish to read FIVE CHAPTERS ahead of this one, then hop on over to my !
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Toodles!