Getting to Darklight Tower consisted of a long talk about exhaustion. Canary got sick of my dungeon crawling. So she asked if she could just take the carriage and head to riften ahead of me and Viree. I suppose I couldn't blame her, she saw my detours and decided to just go ahead of us.
Havjarr and Ulfr joined her as after the dragon they were less eager about following me around. From where we are currently I estimate they will arrive in a day. For me and Viree we would arrive in two to three days if things go poorly.
Viree looked back at me since the carriage had completely disappeared in the distance. "So what are we killing now?"
I shrugged as I walked up the steps of Darklight Tower. "More witches mostly."
Pulling open the door I wasn't surprised. A witch laid dead on the floor while another woman was curled up in the corner. She was pressed to a locked door while someone was banging on it. Illia eyes widened when she saw us.
"Th-This isn't what it looks like!" Illia tried to defend herself. "This is a witch coven and I... I can't handle it anymore! The sacrifices! The kidnapping random merchants! The bloody rituals for who the hell knows what for."
I smiled, "Well, good news. We can help you! For a price."
She looked at me and she shook her head. "I don't have any money. You can take whatever you want from the tower though."
I nodded, "We will most certainly do that, but I'm more referring to a recruitment offer. You see having mages on hand can be useful when doing business."
Viree rolled her eyes, as Illia nodded. "I can do work with that. I'd rather not stay here once this is all done anyway."
With smile I held out a hand to pull her up. Someone continued to bang on the door behind Illia. When she moved away from it, the door swung open and a rather young woman stumbled in. I stabbed Sable Wave into her chest as she fell forward.
Illia winced, "I'll lead the way."
Viree whispered, "She fucking better..."
Viree's response made me curious, however I followed Illia up the stairs of Darklight Tower. Illia stopped us, "Some spiders up ahead. If we step on th-"
Viree pushed forward and as soon as the spiders saw her they lunged. Viree slammed her mace into the one crushing it against the floor. While I sliced through the second, I gave Viree a look and she gave a slight shrug. "I knew you had my back."
Illia looked at the both of us and moved forward. "Let's move on."
The tower was smaller than I thought it would be. We reached a supply closet and before Illia could take out the key. Viree slammed a fist through the rotten wood. Illia frowned as the key lingered in her hand. I grabbed it and pocketed it, I smiled at Illia. "Don't worry about her, She's a good girl most of the time. I think she is just jealous."
Viree frowned at me, "Sometimes I want to punch you."
I patted her fluffy hair and she slapped my hand away. Illia looked at us like we were crazy. She would get used to it though, I let my hand glow with magic. Everything that I could harvest in the room vanished into my inventory.
Illia's eyes went wide, but this time I interrupted her. "Your mom is trying to become a hagraven?"
The little witch nodded, "How did you know."
The answer was obvious, and Viree gave me a side eye. "I didn't, I just made a guess. How does the ritual work."
Illia looked away, "A hagraven is up ahead."
I nodded, and tested out one of my newer spells. Casting delusion on the Hagraven she suddenly freaked out. I backed out of the hallway and closed the door to the room. After several explosions and screaming the noise stopped.
Illia's eyes were as wide as marbles, "W-what did you do?"
Viree picked at her teeth, "Feel like it is pretty obvious." Viree pushed the door open and revealed the scene. The hagraven had attacked randomly at the hallucinations I created and that lead to it killing it's coven members and itself. Viree smirked at the little witch, "He killed them."
I looked at Viree, "I didn't technically killed them, They killed themselves."
Viree shook her head, "I don't really care about the how."
Illia looked at the two of us with a little concern. "Are you two... Okay?"
I shrugged, "At this point this is becoming our norm."
As we walked further up the tower, I continued to talk to Illia. "So you didn't answer my question. How does the ritual work? Many contribute Hagravens to Nocturnal. Even several notable Hagravens claimed they were of direct relation to the daedric prince. Not to mention the crow and raven symbology. Would you describe the transformation like that one of a werewolf or perhaps a vampire. Or is it closer to an affliction like the one give out by Peryite."
Illia was clearly stunned by my questions. However I still had even more, "Do you know a cure for the Hagraven affliction? I assume you don't since you wish to kill your mother rather than have her turn into a hagraven."
Illia rubbed the cloth of her robe. "W-Well... I don't know how to answer all that. I tried to avoid all the rituals."
I stared at the Illia and pointed behind us, "Was that Hagraven your grandmother?"
Illia eyes went wide and I could see that she hadn't expected that question at all. I was in fact correct though. "She was the first Matriarch until my mother took over. I was expected to take over once she completes her transformation. I don't want anything to do with leading a coven I never liked." She stopped at a door and looked back at me and Viree.
"This door leads out to the ritual site. If you want we can trick my mother into thinking you are the sacrifice and we jump her." I put a hand on Viree's shoulder, "You heard her, act entranced."
Viree frowned at me and sighed. I prodded her side, "Stand straighter, and slack your arms a little."
Viree followed my advice and the two women stepped outside. I waited behind the door listening to Illia lie to her mother. Illia's mother seemed overjoyed that Illia was finally done with her tantrum. Even calling Viree a beautiful subject to use for the ritual. Illia seemed to shutter at her mother's words.
I slipped out the door and listened in. "Illia, my darling! You really out done yourself. A womanly lycanthrope like this will be perfect for quickening my transformation. I might even be able to obtain some of its power."
I twisted Sable Wave in my hand. Viree followed Illia's mother to a chair and sat down. Illia's mother turned and reached her hand forward. She reached out toward a staff on the table. Instead however she found me, and I drove Sable Wave into her chest.
Her eyes went wide, "Wh-Who? I-Illia?"
She fell backwards and Viree stood up from the chair. Illia put her face into her palms while she let out a whimper. Viree looked at her rolled her eyes and my eyes went wide as Viree stomped down on Illia's mother. Her head popped like a watermelon and I nodded.
"Good thinking to double tap. You never know with mages." I grabbed the Hag's Wraith. A boney staff covered in feathers and thorny branches. I tossed it to Viree, "It creates a wall of fire. You don't have a ranged attack. It would be useful to use if you need to bottle neck enemies. I doubt anything intelligent would fall for it though."
Viree looked at the creepy staff and then at me. "You just don't want this ugly thing don't you."
I shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not."
Illia took a deep breath, "Thank you, this was for the best. I'm willing to do whatever you need me to do."
I grabbed the books of the table as she spoke. Once I took all the skill books I turned back to her. "The job is relatively simple, you will work as a bartender, bodyguard, and guild official. We operate out of an Inn called the winking skeever. It's all legal, with minor hints of other business dealings."
That wasn't totally truthful, but telling her the complete truth would make her a little uncomfortable. So I would keep her in the dark about us skirting around the more morally questionable dealings.
Illia breathed out a sigh. "That sounds perfect."
Viree looked at me, "Is she coming along? or going alone."
I turned to Illia, "Do you want to head to Riften alone or with us? If you go alone, you can wait there until we arrive and I can pay for your carriage to Solitude where you can meet my friends at the winking skeever. or you can stay in Riften for a little while "
Illia gave a slight nod, "I'll come with. I've never travelled far from the tower, it might be fun to explore the city."
I nodded, "Just don't explore the city too hard since it is the skyrim capital of thieves. If we leave now we will get there before tomorrow."
Illia nodded, "Understood."
I noticed Viree shift her eyes. I think she whispered something to Illia, but I wasn't sure. Specially since the two women went ahead of me. I shrugged and left the tower. I would need to ask a lot of questions at Riften. It would be best to organize my thoughts.