Chereads / The Dragonking of Nirn / Chapter 55 - Soul Cairn

Chapter 55 - Soul Cairn

After preparing the ritual the entrance to the Soul Cairn opened and Serana says, "I hope your father is right about this or I won't forgive him for putting you through this. Losing part of your soul can be quite painful and you could lose some of your emotions too or even memories."

"Don't worry he would say something if it could harm me. But let's enter and search for your mother and you heard him no touching until we are back," says Vincent as he let go of Serana as he walked to the entrance as he was suddenly surrounded by a golden aura.

Once on the other side, they find themselves in a dark place where almost no light entered making Vincent be like a candle in pure darkness. Everyone could see him as he walked Serana didn't approach him since the aura was dangerous to her as the walked trying not to touch each other passing some of the souls until some black skeletons attacked them.

They fought them off when a Soul helps them. After the fight, the soul asks, "Have you seen my loyal steed? It must be in this realm as it followed me here."

"We can keep an eye out maybe we can find it," says Vincent as the Soul nods before disappearing again to keep searching for his horse.

"You shouldn't have given him hope," says Serana as they continue walking further in.

"It's better than to say straight no and maybe we find it on our way to your mother. Also," says Vincent as he looks around and asks, "Do you know where your mother is?"

"We should have asked the soul for direction before accepting his request," says Serana as they continue walking finding a merchant that was selling stuff for plants called Soul Husks.

They asked for direction and the merchant told them that information cost them 5 Soul Husks. They went to collect them when a horse appeared in front of them and suddenly run away in a direction like telling them to follow him.

"This could be a trap," says Serana as she was suspicious since after some meters the horse just disappeared as fast as it appeared.

"We should go maybe something is happening the horse and it's needing help," says Vincent as he ran in the direction the horse ran off while Serana only sighs and follows him.

They arrive near a little pavilion with the horse skull on an altar while four ghosts were performing some ritual. They intervened in the ritual as they killed the four ghosts and their followers that appeared when they intervened in the ritual.

Serana took the skull from the altar and suddenly the soul they met before appeared out of nowhere and says, "Arvak, it seems you were saved."

The soul takes the skull as the whole horse appeared from behind the skull as the horse shows his gratitude to both. Vincent wanted to pet him but didn't do so out of fear that he could harm the horse because of the protective aura.

"How about you take Arvak with you. He shouldn't be imprisoned here with me just because of my mistake," says the soul as the horse seemed to agree with his former master and the Soul offered to show them how to summon it.

"Serana, you might need a mount in the future. You should learn how to summon him. I will meditate until you finished," says Vincent as he kneels and begins to meditate on words that he has already learned to reinforce its strength.

After an hour Serana mastered the spell to perfection and was informed by the soul that there was a woman living on top of the hill in an arena named the Boneyard. The whole place was under a barrier making it impossible to enter or leave the place.

"The only way to enter would be to defeat the Keepers," says the soul as he pointed at the light pillars and continues, "They are where the pillars are. Be warned they are really strong as the guardians of this realm."

"Thank you for the information," says Vincent as the soul just shakes his hands in denial.

"I have to thank you for saving Arvak. I should leave then. Take good care of Arvak for me now," says the soul as it takes some steps before disappearing again.

"We should go to that Boneyard he mentioned," says Serana as she mounted Arvak.

"Right. Let's make it fast," says Vincent as he changes into his Drachen set armor and runs beside Arvak up the hill.

They arrive in front of the steps and Serana dismounts Arvak. She walks towards the barrier as Vincent following her.

Once at the barrier, they see a woman inside it that looked like an older version of Serana and she shouts "Mother!" to take the attention of the woman inside the barrier.

The woman turns around once she heard Serana and walks to the barrier and says, "You can't be here I hide you away so no one could find you."

"Too bad that that hiding place wasn't really hidden as you thought. Vampires and Vampire Hunters entered the place. She can call it luck that her future husband found her before one of the other two could," says Vincent as both women were looking at them.

One with a face saying "You seriously talking about our private life now." while the others face was saying "If you want to lie make it believable."

"Whatever, what are you doing here Serana?" asks Valerica as she looked back at Serana.

"Mother, we are here to bring you back. Father is-," says Serana as her mother interrupts her.

"I won't return to your father's side. He is crazy a maniac if he thinks that by making the sun disappear all our worries would disappear. That would only make more people our enemies and try to hunt us down until no one is standing," says Valerica as she was furious because of Harkon.

"Harkon is no longer a problem. He is dead," says Vincent as Valerica looked at Vincent in disbelief again.

"He is right, father is dead. The Dawnguard and the High King stormed Castle Volkihar and killed every Vampire in it. Only one is still alive because the High King has use for her," says Serana as her mother was looking in disbelief again.

"And why should the High King leave one Vampire alive?" asks Valerica not believing what Serana and Vincent just said.

"Because the High King is standing in front of you," says Vincent as Valerica looked again in disbelief wanting to say something when Vincent says, "I know that I'm not a Nord you don't have to tell me. But before that, I would rather take care of those Keepers first and talk afterward."

Vincent turns away as Serana wanted to follow him when he says, "Stay with your mother I will take care of it the fastest way possible."

He then shouts and suddenly a giant golden Dragon was standing in Vincent's places as he took flight towards the first pillar. The fights against the Keeper was quite easy as he destroyed some ruins and a floating crystal by accident not knowing what he did he continued on his way to the next one that was on a tower.

He killed the next one by grabbing it and sending it flying towards the earth making gravity do the job for him as the second pillar disappeared and he flew towards the last pillar.

On his way, he sees a shadow and says, {You must be Durnehviir. Father asked me to help you. But before I do I need to know if you can follow my orders. I'm the Dragonking, ruler of all Dragons and victor over Alduin. Will you follow me or will you fight against me?}

Vincent stopped flying as he was gliding down to approach his destiny. Once on the ground he sees Durnehviir and says, {They must have put you through a hard time. Your contract will soon be over. Valerica will leave Soul Cairn. It should fulfill your mission and set you free.}

{And what if they don't do?} asks Durnehviir all of a sudden.

{They aren't the first and aren't the last to feel my ire. Maybe I break more of those shining crystals that are floating around the Cairn,} says Vincent as Durnehviir opened his eyes wide for a moment.

{You destroyed a Crystal? How did you do that?} asks Durnehviir as he tried it before but he didn't succeed in doing it.

{It was my weight and the blessing from Stendarr. Or at least that's what I'm thinking that's what made it break. Why are they important?} asks Vincent as Durnehviir explained what those crystals were making Vincent plan something and says, {If they don't free you after we took Valerica away I might return to destroy all of their physical forms around the Cairn. They will have to let you go then.}

He then faced the last Keeper as he began to fly back to the Boneyard followed by Durnehviir. They landed inside the Boneyard as Valerica and Serana entered and Valerica was ready to fight while Serana was holding her back. Vincent then turned back to his human form and Durnehviir says, {I didn't know you where a Dragonborn with the ability to transform into a real Dragon.}

{My race has Dragon blood in their veins making us Humanoid Dragons. Once I gained the soul of a Dragon thanks to father I could transform into a Dragon. My Dragon is different because the Dragons I know have four limbs instead of two. But for now, stay here and don't make a fuse while I deal with my mother-in-law,} says Vincent as Durnehviir nods and just stands there doing nothing as Vincent approached the duo.

"Is everything alright?" asks Vincent as Serana nods and Valerica looked again in disbelief that her Nemesis was just sitting there as a dog would after receiving an order.

"How did you do that?" asks Valerica as Vincent looked at Serana who was looking away making Vincent realize she didn't tell her mother who Vincent was.

"I'm not only the High King of Skyrim but also King of all Dragons, the Dragonking. I had a little talk with my brother over there and he told me that he was tricked into killing you. Ge wants to leave as much as you so here is the deal once you leave Soul Cairn the deal is off and he is free to do as he wishes again. He won't do anything to you. So back your things mother we are leaving here immediately," says Vincent as Serana was now giggling behind her mother after seeing her stunned face.