"I am actually surprised that my father even thought about me once."

I take a seat beside the minute, curly haired ghost-woman. A seat that faces a deep fall into frigid waters below.

"It was just a remark that the Folium Discognitum recorded." I drawl out, kicking my legs a bit as I settle back.

In the privacy of the roof of the College, and away from prying eyes, I finally allowed myself to relax enough so to have a proper conversation with this woman whose existence has not been recorded anywhere.

There are mentions of the second Archmage of the College… But nothing that goes too deep into things. Not what she did for the College, what she taught, what her main Magic was- Nothing.

Then I gained the information through Aurelia's letters some time back, about this 'Lah' and about Kara. It left me with more questions than answers, honestly.

"Oh?" Kara perks up at my words, freckled nose scrunching up in distaste as she turns to gaze at me, "That is one too many for him."

I chuckle at that, "It was merely him making a statement about his wife leaving with his daughter. That's it." A cold bark of laughter leaves the minute freckled woman.

"The mere fact he even thought about that for a fraction of a second just baffles me." She snorts coldly, but soon shakes her head and sighs out deeply, "He cared more about losing that fucking island of his to the Mad One than my own birth."

Yeah, the lore never failed to show that Shalidor was… A shit man, to say the least. Forgot about his wife all to just focus on his Magicka studies, and now I can even add deadbeat father to the mix.

"It must suck for you, having to see many mages bow before the statue in the courtyard." Kara shrugs.

"When I presided over the College, I blew that bitch up." I cackle at that, and her own lips quirk up in amusement at the memory, "I don't know who the fuck put it back, but I'm shoving a meteor up their asshole."

Gods, I adore this woman already. "So then, what's up with this situation of yours?" I questions, mainly nodding towards her form.

Kara blinks, then looks down at herself, and I see the very moment that the 'little shit' energy enters her form. So she sighs deeply and sags her shoulders, "I know, being born beautiful and perfect is hard."

I just stare at her, "Your father's genetics, I presume?" The indignant squawk that comes out of her is pure music to my ears.

"I'll kick your fuckin' bony ass over the railing, don't tempt me!"

"I won't even get hurt."

"I just want to inconvenience you by making you swim back." She bares and snaps her teeth at me, reminding me so much of Gretel. These two would become best friends with just a glance.

"But to answer your question…" Straightening herself, Kara… Shrugs? "I kinda don't fuckin' know?"

Okay, what? "Magical fuck-up?"

"Eh… Maybe?"

I sigh and palm my masked face, "What exactly happened?"

Jumping up, Kara gets off the railing and starts walking. On air, right above the big drop with the ocean below. "For one, I am not a ghost." She states, a smirk on her lips, "This is actually an Astral Projection."

I tilt my head at that, "Then you are alive?"

Another shrug, "Eh… Maybe?" Again with that? What the fuck, woman...

"What exactly happened?"

"That's the thing; I don't remember." Kara huffs, pacing back and forth in the air, "Leaving my body to become an Astral Projection was easy for me. Hell, I made the Spell!"

"The last memory I had when I woke up stuck like this was me becoming an Astral Projection to…" She coughs, and suddenly her cheeks flush, "Well, do things to my husband, but we don't talk about that-"

"No no, go ahead." I cross my legs and steeple my hands above them as I straighten myself, now very interested, "I really want to know how a human woman shows a Dragon a good time. I am very interested."

Kara gives me a flat stare, "Them are the same fuckin' words Sanguine told me one time, ya know?" I couldn't help the surprised burst of laughter that erupts out of me at that reveal, "Had the guy outright grovel at my feet, wanting to know how to fuck a Dragon, 'cause he never fucked or got fucked by one before."

As expected of Sanguine, the God who sees a hole, and will fuck it without a second thought. Or he will become the hole, he is wild like that.

Still, I decide not to pry further. I don't want to make Kara uncomfortable, "So then, you became an Astral Projection, then… What?"

"Then… Darkness." Kara shrugs, looking confused and miffed, "I woke up around one-hundred years later, still as an Astral Projection, in the middle of the courtyard down there."

"No one could see me, and I had to restrain myself lest I fade away." She sighs deeply at that, looking thoroughly depressed, "I went through entire Eras with the only magic studies I could do being Theory. I am very displeased."

Yup, an adorable nerd. I like that. "Will you fade away if you use Magicka?" I probe, and she nods seriously.

"Our Magicka reserves recover fast, especially in such a Magicka rich area like the College, but as an Astral Projection?" She bites her lower lip, gaze distant for a short second before she speaks up once more, "The amount of Magicka I'd use to throw a fireball will be fully recovered in roughly three decades."

Jesus fuckin' Christ… "What about Lah? Shouldn't he be around?" At that, her gaze grows sad, and her eyes instantly redden.

"He should be…" She sighs deeply and walks back to sit beside me, "I've felt his presence throughout the years, all across Tamriel. With the limited amount of Magick at my disposal, even with my absurd reserves, I… I cannot contact him, lest I fade away in the process."

And she'll probably die for sure if her Astral Projection fades away, so it is better not to risk that.

I lean back with a hum, "What if I could help?" I ask, making her perk up, "Is there a way I could reach him for you? Or help you reach him, somehow?"

Kara's eyes sparkle with delight and happiness at that, and with the overflowing love of a wife that craves the presence of her husband, "By the Eight, I would be truly grateful."

I just chuckle and wave off her thanks, "Honestly, this also helps me. I… Kinda need some allies, if you will." Kara pauses at that, then gives me a thoroughly confused look.

"You feel so insanely strong to my senses. What might you need allies for?"

"The World-Eater." Kara's face pales, and she takes in a sharp intake of air.

"Fuck… He got out of its prison?" I nod, and she curses again under her breath, "When, exactly?"

"Roughly three months or so ago." I answer, then tilt my head when Kara sighs in relief and sags back, "Why?"

"The last time I felt my husband was four months ago." She states, and I get why she was afraid now, "I felt his Magicka surge for but a few moments before it went quiet again."

I hum at that, "Do you know what he is doing?"

She shakes her head, "He spent the entirety of the Second Era going around our research laboratories, then I felt him tear his way into Oblivion during the Third Era-" Did she just say 'Tear his way into Oblivion'?- "-and I've only felt his presence twice during this Era."

"So… No. I don't really know what exactly he is doing?" She then shrugs, "But that's basically Lah. That goofball was unable to focus on one thing for more than five damn seconds, yet he could also hyper-focus like no one else. Smart, handsome scaly son of a bitch-"

I tune out the gushing over her husband to just think about the possibility of there being a Dragon with ADHD out there.

A Dragon wielding the power of Autism… I hope to Akatosh there ain't one out there.

"Anyway… How do we contact him?"

At my question, Kara becomes a bit sheepish, "We can draw him back here, but… It might just be very, very dangerous."

It takes me just a second to realize what she plans to do, "I'm gonna be put into a lot of danger, aren't I?"

Kara chuckles nervously, "You'll very likely face a very, very furious Lah." Facing a furious Dragon literally called 'Magicka'. Yeah, how bad can that shit be?

"What exactly is the plan?"

With a hum, Kara points down to the waters below, "One of our labs is deep underground. I can feel that my body is there, sealed away. That seal is stopping me from getting it back."

I lean back in surprise, "Wait- Sealed? Did-" I pause, but I can see Kara's lips go thin as she realizes what my next words are going to be, "Did Lah seal you away…?"

The minute woman remains quiet, her gaze distant and lost, "...I think so." Gods, I have so many damn questions…

But I shake them all away, "So then, I break you out of your seal-"

"-Lah will feel it, and will come running back, ready to erase Skyrim off the map." She pauses, then tilts her head, "Maybe Tamriel too." Just how fuckin' powerful is this guy…?

"I presume it'll take time for you to wake up once out of the seal?" Kara nods, a very heavy frown on her face.

"I've been out of my body for a long time, hence regaining motor functions and carefully controlling my brain to make it so that the income of memories of nearly four entire Eras doesn't fry it completely… So yeah, I'll need time."

"Time I gotta buy by throwing hands against a very pissed off Dragon called 'Magicka'." I sight out, just a bit miffed.

Kara laughs and pats me on the shoulder, "Oh, silly boy." She shakes her head and gives me a gentle, kind look, "There is no 'fighting' when facing Lah. Just 'surviving'."

Yep, totally eager to face this guy.

"What if…" I start, and jab a thumb towards Deinmaar's 'prison'. "I were to recruit that guy?" Kara blinks, her eyes widening in realization.

"Deinmaar, huh?" She muses softly, gaze gentle, telling me that she managed to visit him too during her time, "Is he still being quiet and avoiding conversation?" I nod, and she sighs deeply, "Lah spoke highly and fondly of him."

Now, that is something I want to know about, "Can you tell me more about Deinmaar? I kinda want to try and help the guy out, but I can't if he won't let me."

A small hand cups her chin, "From what Lah told me… Deinmaar is loyal. Once he makes a promise, he'll stick to it no matter what. He has a strong sense of justice, and loves helping people."

"What about his Dragon?"

"Jill." Kara corrects me, surprising me a lot. "His Dragon was a Jill." Oh.

Oh damn. A Jill, female Dragon, usually known as the… Well, the better children of Akatosh.

Off the top of my head, I can remember that they have gone to war with the Hist, and that they usually fix the shit that Dragons cause.

"Thanks for the information…" I shake my head with a sigh. Gods, our conversation jumped from one topic to another very quickly.

"Okay, so… The course of action is to prepare before we try to draw Lah back." I start, turning around so to get off the railing, and Kara swiftly follows suit, "I presume you cannot approach your seal?"

Kara shakes her head, hopping forward before twirling around to face me, "I am bound to the College, and the laboratory is just a bit out of its bounds." I nod at that, and she puts her small hands on her hips, "Drawing my husband back shouldn't be a priority…"

Slowly, she turns her head to stare towards the mountain I froze, the one containing an army of Falmers within, ready to ravage the city as a whole. "But considering that Vulthuryol is showing his ugly mug again, bringing Lah back would be the right choice."

Vulthuryol… That's the name of the Dragon in Blackreach. My guess was right, then.

The mountain is indeed connected to Blackreach.

"Is he powerful?" I question Kara as I stop beside her, my gaze never leaving the frozen mountain in the distance.

Kara hums, as if mulling over my words, "Less powerful, more… Annoying." She clicks her tongue, obvious distaste on her face, "He found a way to weaponize his Immortality. It doesn't matter how you destroy him, his flesh body just reforms and grows back."

I hum at that, "So it heals fast, and now has an army of Falmers at its back and call."

"He is a powerful Necromancer." The minute freckled woman points out, "So make sure you destroy the bodies of the Falmers when they are slain, lest he just brings them back."

That's a good warning, and I am grateful for it. Terra Santa should be more than enough to handle that, though. "I presume you and this guy have history?"

Kara grunts at my question, "The fucker nearly killed me in the past. It is how me and Lah met." Turning around, the Astral woman lets out a dreamy sigh, "Vulthuryol hates Lah deeply, and we had to repel him several times throughout our relationship."

I turn to give the Archmage a look, "How did you get him to back off for so long then?"

Kara shrugs, "Me and Lah just stopped sandbagging." She then winches after saying that, "Ended up punching a hole all the way down to Blackreach during our scuffle… A hole I kinda hid by putting a mountain over it."

Slowly, I turn towards the frozen mountain. Then I turn back to Kara, who is just grinning at me, "No shit we are having a cockroach leak then if you left a big ass hole open, you dumb woman!"

A foot stomps on the ground as the Archmage screeches at me, "Listen, I did not want to lose access to Blackreach, okay?! That fuckin' place is so damn interesting and so damn rich in resources!" She throws her hands in the air at that, "No shit those dumb Dwemer got so mad at me for punching a hole down to their would-be home… Ain't seen one of 'em ugly fucks around in a long while though…"

"Probably because they deleted themselves from existence."

Kara blinks at me, then nods, "Yeah, that checks out." She shrugs, "I told 'em not to fuck with certain things, but oh well…"

I chuckle at that, "How rich in resources are we talking about?" My question earns me a very, very serious look from the minute woman.

"Enough to feed all of Tamriel for Eras." I freeze at that, "The Dwemer barely tapped into the resources Blackreach offered, and I am not talking about just minerals and ores. The very soil there helps Alchemy ingredients just grow so fast, and with such purity…"

Now that… That could help the preparations for the incoming invasion.

Alright, Vulthur-whatever, you gotta go. Get ready for a very painful anal experience, my boy.

"Alright, we need to make a list of things to do in order." Kara jumps, then nods in agreement as she floats up and around me, "First, I need to start preparing for Vulthuryol. But it is the same issue as preparing for Lah. I need things that will give me an edge, and that will further help me down the line."

Floating and twirling in the air, Kara hums softly as she cups her chin, "Good thing you have one of the best mages in history here to help you out then!" She grins down at me, but honestly? Having her as a teacher is a blessing that I am grateful for.

Between her and the Folium Discognitum, I can start learning things incredibly quickly and finally have more stuff to my arsenal.

Mainly, Enchanting and Scroll-Making.

"Speaking of good mages…" Kara turns to send a glance down towards the courtyard below, now mostly empty since lessons are over for the day, "I've watched each new generations of mages just grow worse and worse through the years…"

I tilt my head at her cruel but rather honest observation, "Does it anger?"

Her head turns towards me, and the look in her eyes surprises me, "It worries me." She stresses, face heavy, and eyes full of worry, "This is… It is not natural. Back in my day, even a new Mage would sometimes achieve a breakthrough once a year, or discover something grand… Yet these new recruits struggle to even put up a basic Ward."

The only thing I could do was shrug lightly, "Maybe everything has already been discovered, and the new mages just aren't as talented…" I honestly don't know what else to say, for I am a cheat among this group of people.

I get by easily, and even learning something that isn't through the use of the System and the Spell Slots is easy for me. Which… Weird, but alright.

"That's bullshit, and you know it." Kara flares her nostrils and floats closer, "There is no 'Everything' when it comes to Magic. The more we discover about it, the more doors become available to us. It is a path with infinite possibilities and branching paths that will have no end."

"Existence as a whole will come to an end before a Mage discovers everything about Magic."

I lean back and stare quietly at the floating, distressed freckled woman, "You think this is not natural?"

"If this is truly natural, I'll stop thinking about Magic for a week straight." Now that is a harsh punishment for a Magic geek such as her.

Still, I sigh lightly, "No use pondering on something that will yield no answer, but let us keep it in mind." But still… What could possibly affect the literal growth and intelligence of Mages throughout the years?

Clearly, the Merethic Era and First Era were the Golden Age of Magic, but then things started getting worse after then.

So what exactly happened during the First Era, or at the very end of it, that started the downhill progression of Magic discipline as a whole?

And what could affect it like so? The works of a Daedric Prince? But who would dare do something that could earn the ire of Prince of Knowledge? Hermaeus would absolutely loathe such a thing.

I shake away those thoughts for now, but I'll make sure to write such a thing in my notes. Honestly, this… It excites me. I've spent so long basically memorizing the lore of this world, yet now that I find myself in it and come to discover so much more that I did not know about… It delights me.

"Okay…" I start and breathe in while putting my hands on my hips, "I think I'm going to need a lot of paper and ink."

Kara merely grins eagerly, clearly happy to finally teach magic once more.

~~XXX~~

"So each symbol is its own element?"

"Yes." Kara nods, floating over my shoulder and tapping down on my notebook, "Daedric Runes are used to enhance an Enchantment. By adding a Fire Rune to a Fire Enchantment, its power will increase by a certain margin."

"And adding more makes it even stronger?"

"Yes, but consumption of Magicka also goes up. And the more Magicka it consumes, the more the Enchantment deteriorates."

I hum and lean back on my chair, "Are there no permanent Enchantments?" Kara nods, and I perk up at that.

Her small fingers jumps up to point at my face. Mainly, my mask. "Dragon Enchantments. They weave Reality itself into a weapon or tool, and it is permanent."

Huh… I guess there is a type of Enchanting that uses Dragon Words the same way with how there is the normal Chanting, and my Draconic Chant.

I write it down with a hum, but in another notebook. The one I am currently writing in is going to be sent to Farengar, so to hopefully have him better arm Whiterun due to all the gear it has recently started to pump out thanks to Aurelia's dragon-killing spree.

I'm sure he has many students he trusts and that are deeply loyal to Whiterun, so creating a group of Mages that follow the Enchanting teachings and tips of a Mage on par if not greater than Shalidor should do us very well.

"What about making Scrolls? How does that work?"

Kara floats down and sits on the other side of my desk, "That works on different principles than Enchanting. You see, Magic is all about weaving Reality, writing to it what you want to make and do. It is like a simple step to step guide."

"The Dragon Language is different, for it outright tells and orders Reality to this and that, skipping the many steps Magic carefully has to take and plan out."

With a hum, I consider her words for a short few seconds, "Then each Spell has its own Word, or Rune." Kara grins and snaps her fingers my way, basically telling me that I got it right. "How does one go about finding this Rune, then?"

The freckled woman sighs and leans back, "Now that's the difficult part for many." She states heavily, "You must… Well, for a lack of better word. You must look within."

Raising her hand, I watch her weave her Magicka in dozens of different Runes of all kinds of colors and elements. Fire, Ice, Electricity, Wind, Earth, Water- Each one a different Rune for a different Spell in her immense arsenal.

I tear my gaze away and lift my own gloved hand. A Draconian Howl rumbles to life in my palm, sparkling like a star and causing the air around it to quiver.

I cannot close my eyes and look within, as she said, but… I focus. I put all my focus on my Spell, and the way my Magicka flows towards it.

A follow the flow to the cent of my palm, where it weaves in millions of different ways. But it all follows a pattern, given tracks like circuits, as if Magic is just a big computer.

But it also isn't, for it is alive. Somewhat sentient.

I follow those patterns and circuits, creating a mental map of it all, and using my free hand to scribble it down over and over again. Until, finally, the Rune is written down, and I replicate it through letting my Magicka flow into that shape.

A glowing white symbol that I cannot even come close to describe or understands blooms into existence in the same spot where my Draconian Howl used to be.

It radiated incredible power, even greater that the Spell it came from. It felt more… Original, more pure. As if it didn't go through the many different steps that would have turned it into a Spell.

Still, I am thoroughly transfixed with the Rune, so many ideas flowing through my mind at the sight of it.

A Draconian Howl rumbles to life above the Rune, then several more Runes follow, creating a pattern around the Draconian Howl, a string of Magicka attaching each of them to the glittering Spell.

I feel the formation take shape, and whatever I've done causes the Draconian Howl to become a thousand times brighter and shake with enough force to make the whole room- No, this whole side of the College shake.

It woke me up from my trance, and I swiftly dispel the Spell and formation that granted it immense power.

Kara is watching me with great fascination, a smile slowly spreading across her face when I look back at her, "Now that is a Spell I've never seen before." She hums, her eyes glittering with a hunger for knowledge that could make other Mages wet their pants, "How did you manage to weave a Dragon Word into your Spell, I wonder?"

This goes to show just how bullshit smart and how great of a Mage she is. She saw right through my Draconian Howl with but a glance and could tell everything about it like I wrote it down for her. "Never did something like that in your life?"

Kara shakes her head, a glint of fascination in her eyes, "I created a Chanting that required Dragon Words, but never did I think about weaving them directly into the structure of a Spell." She cups her chin, gaze growing distant as she mulls over the Spell, "Lah would adore you. He was an even bigger Magic geek than me."

I chuckle at that, "He does sound like a wonderful Dragon to know. It is a refreshing change." Kara puffs up her chest in pride at that, even though I am complimenting her husband, not her.

"Either way…" Conjuring that Original Rune back in my hand, I study it for a short second before looking at Kara, "Is it possible to Enchant this into equipment?"

Much to my disappointment, Kara shakes her head, "Original Runes can only be woven into Magicka Crystals that go on top of a Magic Staff." I write that down too, but it is not a profitable route to follow for now.

Magicka Crystals are still incredibly rare, especially those of higher quality and purity. The better, the more rare, and the more they cost when sold through an auction.

"So I guess only elements and other esoteric Enchantments can be placed on equipment." I hum and lean back, then pause and if could, I'd blink in realization.

"What's wrong?" Kara questions when she notices me still.

"Just remembered something…" Moving my head to check my desk, I move through the many papers and books strewn around until I find the slip of paper I was looking for.

A drawing, to be exact. One sent to me by Farengar after I requested it. Finally, it'll finally become useful.

"Say, Kara…" I slap down the slip of paper showing a suit of spiky armor and weapons made out of Dragon bones and scales. The very gear that is now being given to the guards in Whiterun. "How would you like to make the best Enchantments possible for this gear?"

The Second Archmage of the College leans forward, eyes widening as she realizes what the gear is made out off, before an enormous grin spreads across her face, "Do you realize how good Dragon materials are when it comes to Enchanting them?"

I tilt my head at her question, a crazed light within her eyes, "They are so overflowing with Magicka even when dead, that any Enchantment placed on it becomes at least ten times stronger." Her grin gets downright feral, "You want the best Enchantments for this? Fine! Let's make some immortal sons of bitches, shall we?!"

I lift my hand and offer it to her, and she cackles as she gives me a very eager high-five, "What do you suggest?"

"Vampiric and Strength Enhancing Enchantments." Reaching over, she taps the weapons section, "The Vampiric Enchantments works best if placed on a weapon, as even a simple graze will sap away one's vitality."

I cross my arms with a hum, "Strength enhances work best if placed on the chest-place, I presume." Kara nods with a grin, "What about the helmet?"

"Fortify Impact." I tilt my head at the name of the Enchantment she just mentioned, "It is an Enchantment that dispels the majority of the force behind a blow, be it from a sharp weapon or blunt impact."

"The gauntlets – both of them – should have Fortify Stamina. Dragon Gear is naturally heavy, so mixing with with a Fortify Carry Weight makes one feel nimble and full of energy despite wearing incredibly heavy gear."

I nod, "So they'll hit hard, move fast, can get hit, and if they get hurt, they can heal… Holy shit."

Kara cackles, "My guy, this is just the first layer of Enchantments!" Oh right, the Double Enchantments, kinda forgot about them.

This world doesn't follow the game mechanics, as any Enchantment can be placed on any piece of gear, no matter what.

Placing a second one is more difficult of course, but thanks to the incredible guide I'll help Kara write out, Farengar will have no issues making such things.

"Then what do you have in mind?" My questions earns me another peal of crazed giggles from the nerdy Mage sitting on my desk.

"Fortify Speed on the boots, Fortify Stamina Regeneration on the chest-plate, Fortify Health Regeneration on the gauntlets, and finally, my Magnus Opus-"

"Chaos Resistance for the Helmet, and Chaos Damage on the weapons."

Okay, holy fuck, I can already envision how bullshit each soldier is going to be. They'll need to be careful who they hand this gear to, because they'll basically become one-man army soldiers.

But… This is needed. I am willing to put my trust in the Nords if they can be honorable and make the right choice just this once.

Though, I also do have a question, "Does it matter how big the Elemental Rune is?" Kara shakes her head, "So just how many times it is placed." Of course, it cannot be placed randomly around.

It all has to be connected a string of Magicka, and if one of these strings crosses another, then it'll all come undone. Sometimes in a rather explosive way.

But Original Runes, which come from the essence of the Spell, can magnify the power of said Spell by so many times that it baffles me. At least now I have a new trump card up my sleeve.

A 'Fuck everything in that general direction!' Spell. How lovely.

"Can I just use any type of paper to place the Original Rune on?" It kinda sounds like bullshit, because how can a simple slip of paper hold so much raw Magicka… But Kara nods with a shrug. "That makes no damn sense."

"I know right? Lah went crazy over that shit in the past. It got worse when he placed a Master Class Original Rune Spell on a feather… And it worked. My hubby started slamming his skull into a mountain right after." Yeah, I'm with Lah on this.

Magic is so weird that it makes me want to tear my hair out. Good thing I ain't got any!

"I'm gonna need a lot of paper…" But first, I better find the Original Rune about Terra Santa. That is the main Spell that I want to send back to Whiterun.

Before I could write down everything, I am interrupted by the door to my room opening. Hildr's striking figure steps in, stretching her back as she does so, making her curves stand out quite a bit.

She blinks when she notices me, but then smiles warmly, "So that's where you disappeared off to." The red-haired woman drawls out as she steps close, with Kara floating around her with a pout, clearly a bit sad that Hildr can't see her. "What are you up to, hm?"

I shrug, "Writing stuff down about Enchanting and Original Runes." Grabbing my notebook, I offer it to her, "You'll find this stuff about Original Runes quite lovely, and something that you'll find easy to master and weaponize."

With her insane control over Magicka, Hildr can surely use Original Runes even better than I ever could. Another tool in her arsenal that will massively boost her strength.

The more protected she is, the more at ease I will be.

"Original Runes?" Hildr parrots, raising a curious but interested brow, "Never heard of those, but they sound interesting." She grabs the offered notebook, but then scrunches up her nose. "I'll read it later. First, I want a warm bath."

I chuckle as she whirls around, tossing the notebook on her bed together with her shirt- I do a double take as I see the shape of her large, bare breast bounce around as she walks towards the bathroom, her thumbs hooking into her pants and-

I turn around to face the wall as Kara laughs and kicks her legs in the air, nearly wheezing and crying as I sigh deeply, only relaxing when I hear the door of the bathroom close shut.

"Damn woman…" She is doing this on purpose, I swear. I'm gonna drop ice cubes down her shirt when she least expects it.

"Oh, that girl wants you~!" Kara purrs in amusement, clearly having enjoyed that interaction, "You should use the Mind's Eye real quick. Trust me!" I give the floating woman a look, but she just winks at me with a thumbs up.

In the end, my dumbass does go through with it, and I use my Mind's Eye enough to peek into the bathroom.

Hildr's form takes shape in my mind, crouched on the ground right behind the closed door, and covering her face with her hands in clear embarrassment.

I sigh and palm my face, but if I could smile, I would.

Damn women and playing with my feelings...

~~XXX~~

The eyes of Jarl Balgruuf remain locked on his city, still thriving and brimming with life and activity even late in the afternoon.

And it would keep remaining active even at night. His people, wonderful and loyal to a fault, pushed themselves to help the city and him in turn.

Productivity was at a high never seen before, and the Merchant Guild was unwilling to lose access to Skyrim and what it has to offer, so he had received a great deal of help from them in turn.

It allowed him to stock up enough food to last them many years, worthy enough for a long siege in case the Dragons try to play a long game to tire them out.

As for the weapons, all of the best blacksmiths in Whiterun were working together, putting aside their differences to work at the Skyforge day and night to release masterwork after masterwork.

Weapons forged with blood, sweat and tears, and through the pure hardwork of people using materials that come from Dragons.

Materials that were coming from the Dragonborn, who was working harder than all of his people combined.

He could hear her battles even from Whiterun. The dying throes of countless Dragons being slain upon the Throat of the World, the sky being sundered and scorched by their battles at least a few times a week.

And then, each corpse would be delivered to his doorstep by a colossal Dragon that seemed to be working with the Dragonborn for some reason.

But it mattered little to him. That woman, new to Skyrim, was working hard and thinking of his city. Of his people.

And there was nothing he could do to repay all of her hard work. Her, and her friend, Leonidas.

He had recently received news of his Stalhrim shipment having arrived during the morning, and that the Blacksmiths had made it a priority, wishing to use it together with materials from slain Dragons to forge the best possible gear for the man.

All he could do now was watch over everything. Guide his people, but also rely on them. Many of them held better knowledge in a lot of fields he knew nothing about, and he cared not about the costs.

If he had to empty his treasury to ensure his city and people could stand and survive, then he'd do it without second thought.

"My Jarl." Irileth's voice reaches his ears, and Balgruuf allows himself to straighten his shoulders and back, "The General is here."

Balgruuf nods and turns around, leaving the balcony that faced the back of his city and the mountains that led to Dawnstar so to walk through the large halls of Dragonsreach.

Irileth stood behind him, relaxed yet ready, but also visibly tired. She had been teaching his new recruits, as his army had grown in size by a great deal due to many young men and women joining to protect their Hold and families.

Balgruuf was proud to have so many proper Nord brothers and sisters.

As his father used to say; "A Nord only has lived a fulfilling life when they die with a bloodied weapon in hand, a smile on their face, and a belly filled with proper Nord mead."

And then the old fart went and keeled over during a bathroom break. What a way to go.

Stepping within his throne room with a smile on his bearded face, Balgruuf did not head towards his throne, but instead towards the tall aged man boasting the thick embroidered Imperial Armor.

For this once, he was not meeting the man as a Jarl, but as a fellow brother in arms, for he and Tullius had shared many battlefields during the Great War. "Tullius, old friend." The Nord greeted his old friend by clasping his hand in a tight and strong grip, warm smiles on both of their faces. "I hope everything has been well in Solitude?"

"It could be better, but the Hold is working as hard as possible to reinforce itself." The old general muses, then grins when he nods back towards the entrance doors to Dragonsreach, "Not as hard as your people, though."

Balgruuf sighs deeply at that and moves, leading the way to enjoy a walk around his home with his old friend, "I've tried to make them take some rest days, but…"

"Let me guess, they told you to fuck off?"

"One drunk Nord walked in, called me a bitch, told me to fuck off, took a swig of his mead and then passed out right then and there." Tullius barks out a loud peal of laughter as Balgruuf shakes his head with a smile, "Irileth didn't know whether she should have been amused, or mad."

"Bah, that woman has to relax a bit!" Neither men had the guts to turn around and face said woman, of course. They could feel her eyes burn holes through their backs.

"Are you sure you wish to hold the Moot here, Balgruuf?" The General suddenly asks, and the Jarl nods without wasting time about thinking over such a thing.

"It is time we put a stop to this needless carnage between brothers and sisters of the Empire. Ulfric will be stopped, one way or the other." Of that, Balgruuf was sure off. "I am surprised you don't have a Thalmor tailing you, by the way."

At that, a strange expression crosses Tullius' face as he comes to a stop, "Say, old friend…" The General starts, brows furrowed, "Have you had any problems with Vampires, recently?"

Balgruuf furrows his brows at the strange question, and he swiftly turns his head to Irileth. The woman shakes her head in the negative, "None that I have been made aware of. Why do you ask?"

Tullius mulls over his words, then sighs deeply, "The Thalmor Embassy… Every Thalmor there was slaughtered, drained of their blood. The corpses were discovered in the morning of last Turdas. Elenwen and all the other High-Ranking Thalmor officials were dead."

Balgruuf sighs and rubs his temples, already feeling the wrath of the Thalmor that would soon descend upon Skyrim to find these Vampires and exterminate them.

Just with how Ulfric brought the damn Elves to Skyrim back with his fuck-up in Markarth, now the damn Vampires will make a literal army descend upon their land.

"The mountains near Solitude are soon going to be swarmed with Thalmor Agents…" Tullius sighs, then shrugs, "Hopefully, they slaughter each other as much as possible. It is time they are the ones that suffer a bit."

On that Balgruuf could agree, "What else do you need to tell me, my friend?" The Jarl asks, knowing that this was not a visit just for the two friends to enjoy a chat like in the past.

Tullius nods and comes to a halt in his steps once more, "The Moot will be held at the end of this month… And someone else will preside over it, due to Skyrim currently lacking a High King."

Balgruuf furrows his brows. His first thought was a possible ploy from Elisif to try and enrage Ulfric during the Moot, but Tullius looks… Worried. Anxious, even.

"Who will preside over the Moot?"

Tullius gulps, breathes in, then answers.

"The Emperor."

A.N. Time to suplex the Emperor and get a measly 20k gold- I mean, what?

Anyway, short chapter to show the kind of bullshit stuff Leo will learn from Kara.

Hope y'all enjoyed it!

If you want to read FIVE CHAPTERS ahead, then hop on over to my ! Or not, ya ain't being forced!

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Toodles!