After I got my new 'quest' from Savos I began frantically preparing myself for the journey to the capital of Skyrim, it would take me a good month to get there and that is counting all of my planned detours.
If my previous experience in these lands was anything to go by, the city would be massive and far more dangerous than anything shown in the game.
I decided I would travel the same way I arrived, mostly because I had no intention of slogging through the snow-covered coastlines and marshlands of northern Skyrim, but also because the locket of Mephala was giving me the feeling that I might find something, or someone very useful in Windhelm. There was also that one alchemist I wanted to visit, and if possible ste- *cough* justly earn his life's work from him.
Seeing as I now had an inventory-equivalent spell I decided to stock up on anything I could possibly need, scrolls, books, money, potions... I stuffed my storage space as tightly as possible, and even then there were many things I felt could be helpful that I had to leave behind.
When I built my spiders I was all kinds of giddy at using them for dungeoneering, but they took way too much space and would have to wait until I established a mark and recall circle in Solitude itself, if I could do it stealthily that is.
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The twins and Tiberius were also getting ready to leave, so we all decided to hold a small goodbye party in the Sea Ghost's Respite the night before we all left the city.
We gathered up in the evening, joined by Thorfinn, and took our seats in one of the lounges of my inn, no one really knew what to say at this point and the atmosphere turned a bit awkward.
Getting annoyed with the silence I roll my eyes "Why are you all acting like we are at a funeral? It's not like we won't see each other ever again, we are here to celebrate not to mope."
Everyone looks a bit embarrassed and Tiberius nods along with my words "Yes, we must be strong, for this is but one of the many challenges awaiting us!" He says with his usual gusto.
I roll my eyes at his words and wait as everyone disperses into groups and starts drinking and talking.
Firstly I join the twins who are as usual sitting next to each other "So you two plan on staying in Dawnstar long term or are you going to be returning here?"
"We are going to try and help out our clan as best as we can, but the moment we are done with that I am leaving that place" Brienne answers with a bit of heat.
I raise a single eyebrow and ask "Why such a visceral reaction?"
She takes a swig of mead and sighs "The moment we sent them the money we earned from the expedition, our clan started pestering us to solve all of their problems. It's almost like they completely forgot we are still gods damned kids!" After throwing her hands up in exasperation she slumps back into her chair.
I turn to Bor, who nods with an irritated expression "We barely started getting good at all of this and they want us to drop it all now that we have a tiny bit of power and rush back home to do the old fart's jobs for them"
I let out a derisive chuckle to both of their annoyance and say "Well if you both agree that they aren't worth the effort why go there? You two are your own people and have barely started with your lives, no need to tie yourself to the whims of elders."
Bor scoffs "If it were only that simple, like it or not this is our clan and we have to help them when they are in need. Otherwise, we would be no better than vagabonds, taking from them all our lives only to run off when we got lucky." Brienne nods along sadly.
Shrugging my shoulders I take a sip of my drink "Well it's your own funeral, from what I know about these things, the more you give the more they will ask for. If you cannot refuse to go back then go, but try and leave as soon as possible while making some excuse about being summoned or needed at the college. You have already helped them out more than necessary by sending them most of your money."
They seem to ponder my words and start whispering between each other, not wanting to intrude in their family business any more than I already did, I turn to Tiberius and ask with a bit of sarcasm "So, oh great hero of the Empire, what do you plan on doing in the future?"
He seems a bit embarrassed by the 'title' and scratches his cheek "Well, I am going to be joining the legions as an auxiliary mage, those are always needed and the pay is very good." Almost as if he completely forgot before now he adds "Ah yes, they also have some exclusive spells that they give out after a period of service"
I give him a curious look "How powerful could these spells be if they are making the effort to actually hide them?"
He shrugs "I have no idea, I just know that they are top-secret stuff"
I hum for a bit and get an idea "Well, ill just have to ask my father next year then."
Tiberius gives me a weird look "Umm, I don't want to be a dick Reyvin... but isn't your father like, dead?"
I laugh "Oh of course he is dead, I am going to summon his spirit for guidance as is Dunmer tradition"
He nods along, probably having forgotten that detail, and then stops and jerks his head back to me "Wait, why would your father know secret imperial spells?"
"Umm, my father was an imperial Legate for like a century or something... why wouldn't he know the secret spells?" I ask confused.
Tiberius seems to be struggling with some thought, almost as if he is trying to remember something. Finally, after a minute of silence, he raises his finger in realization "Ah! Your father was Legate Vyren right?"
"Lord Vyren Dagoth, yes." I nod.
He lets out a happy laugh "Oh what a small world, my own father was trained by him. Always told me stories about how he would drive recruits into the ground with a look of glee on his face, but when the going got tough he would always protect his men no matter what. Though him being a member of house Dagoth is surprising."
I snort "Yeah, it is funny he ended up actually liking the Empire, even if he did just join the legion out of his spite for my grandfather"
Tiberius seems a bit offended by my claim, making me laugh "You didn't think all of those stories about righteous knights, heroes, and the like are true, did you?" He winces a bit "Every one of them is a mortal being much like you and me and had their own reasons for doing things."
He sighs and says self-deprecatingly "Yeah, yeah... I know I am a bit naiive Reyvin no need to rub it in"
Letting out a chuckle I offer him a drink and ask "You are heading south right, towards Riften?"
He nods, taking the offered bottle.
"Want to head out together and split up near Windhelm?"
"Sure, ill see you in the morning"
I nod and leave him to his thoughts.
The last bunch of my friends are all talking with Thorfinn about something, the poor boy seems to be going from sick to terrified. Deciding to get in on the fun I ask "So are you all done hazing the poor junior?"
There is a hint of realization on Thorfinn's face while the rest start laughing at him.
"So what wild stories did they tell you about the college that had you shaking like a girl?" I ask mockingly.
He glares for a bit and says in a dead voice "Apparently, you feed the weakest apprentices to some kind of beasts and there are liches teaching at the college"
I hum "Well, I saw no beasts, but maybe only the weaklings do... as for the liches, he is pretty relaxed for a dead man, just don't annoy him" I say, completely serious.
Thorfinn seems to be waiting for the punchline, but my silence stretches and he seems to grow pale again, making all of us laugh. He gets up with a huff and goes to join Tiberius for a silent drink.
I shake my head and speak to the rest of my colleagues "Well since all of you are staying here, there is really no real need to say goodbye as we will likely see each other in a month or so."
They show mixed reactions, with Marwyn almost immediately realizing what I meant, Edrasa looking like someone just shot her nyx hound, and Morrigan just being confused.
Said confused witch soon asks me "What do you mean by that? Aren't you going to Solitude?"
I look at her like she was an idiot "Mark and recall Morrigan, it exists."
She gives me an astonished look "You already got it to work?"
"Yeah, like half a year ago" I shrug.
Morrigan pouts at my 'unfair magic-sight bullshit' and Edrasa just slumps deeper into her chair, I have been forcing her to actually put effort into her work for the past couple of months and the only thing that kept her going was the hope I would leave her alone soon.
Marwyn and I share a laugh at them and we all start talking about random less important things.
Just as we are all about done for the night and are about to disperse I get an idea and turn to Morrigan "Hey, I have a commission for you if you are interested."
She seems a bit dazed from all the drink but still asks "Sure Reyvin, what do you want?"
I scratch my chin "Could you prepare the most powerful destruction boosting potion possible during the next month? It doesn't need to boost ice however, just fire and lightning."
She seems to think it over for a bit and gives me a greedy look, before she can ask for something outrageous I say "I will make you an alchemist's ring"
That shuts her up and she merely nods, the greedy monster satisfied.... for now.
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The next morning I spent organizing my employees and giving out last minute tasks or goals for everyone, after I finished everything up and made sure to thoroughly explain to my guards the consequences of any fuck ups I left and met up with my Imperial friend.
Finally, almost exactly a year after I first arrived here, Tiberius and I head toward the southern gates of Winterhold. As we walk the streets most of the residents give us polite greetings and some of the guards on duty jokingly salute me. Surprisingly, even Tiberius developed something of a reputation around the hold with his conjuration obsession.
Thankfully the day we decided to leave was blessedly sunny and without the usual harsh winds, hopefully this would hold at least until I get to Windhelm... I just jinxed myself, didn't I?
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