Chapter 5

「Alert: Overall Level Increased」

「Level 1 -> 4」

「Reward: 3 perk points」

「Advice: Invest your perk points as soon as possible」

Athias couldn't help but grin as he read the windows floating over him. Could there be a better sight to wake up to?

The smell of cooking meat wafted into his tent alongside Auri's hums which mingled with crackles of their campfire. It didn't smell as bland as he expected, an almost floral scent in the air. Honey maybe? There weren't many types of flavoring and seasoning Auri was likely to use.

Setting that thought aside he navigated to his proficiency trees with a few taps and begin to swipe about to what he wanted.

[Perk: Fleet of Foot]

[Description: You aren't one to be cornered. When outnumbered, you make every breath, every dodge, and every block count. To do less is to invite death.]

[Effects: When outnumbered, your actions consume 10% less stamina and your stamina regeneration is increased by 10%]

The skill laid beneath the light-armor constellation. As it turned out he didn't need to take the skills in any specific order and could skip those which didn't interest him, though those higher up in the constellation required him to reach a certain level in the specific skill.

Straight forward and useful; if he and Auri ever went their separate ways it would increase his chances of escaping overwhelming odds. Together, he'd be able to keep pace with their enemies while Auri lined up her shots. A bit useless in a one on one fight but how often did those come along in these brutal lands? It's not like he was looking to win tavern brawls or something.

He dropped a point into the skill and backed out to move to the next constellation, frowning as he passed the destruction constellation, drawn once more to the skill he had seen last night.

[Perk: Flame-licked Soul]

[Description: You've started to embrace the path of pyromancy and, it in turn, has embraced you. Your souls now burns hotter than others.]

[Effects: Your flame orientated spells do 10% more damage. 5% percent of all fire damage you suffer is converted to magicka. You now take 10% more damage from cryomancy.]

A doubled edged sword of a perk he couldn't get if he wanted. The proficiency tree looked like any other but when he tried to drop a point in the skill, it was rejected with no explanation.

He took a risk on wasting a point on other things and was met with similar results. Heavy armor, two handed, illusion, lock-picking, etc. The one commonality between all of the skills were the distinct lack of progress in the bars. Destruction's bar held a smidge of light from his general magic practice but it wasn't enough. 

No or too little experience meant no access to that constellations perks. It was the obvious conclusion, one he intended to test just to be sure.

For now he swiped over to the one handed tree and found the perk he wanted.

[Perk: The Ebb and Flow]

[Description: You're still a novice but you're becoming accustomed to the rhythm of combat. You waste little momentum between attacks and know how to apply that knowledge to defense.]

[Effects: Continuous attacks consume 5% less stamina. Vice versa, back to back blocks consume 5% less stamina. This bonus does not stack on itself.]

On its own, not the most useful thing. His first attack or block would be normal then every one after that less strenuous. It was the effects' wording that caught his interest; it made it clear that the 5% change wouldn't build with each attack or block and allow him to eventually do either with no loss in stamina.

But did it stack with other perks? 

If he was outnumbered and focused solely on defense that would come on to a 15% decrease in stamina use combined with that perk's 10% increase in its regeneration. Tiring out enemies stronger than him then striking them down while they we're out of breath sounded like a tempting way to fight.

Another thing he'd be trying to figure out.

He dropped a point into the perk and after putting on his armor, Athias emerged from his tent, sword in hand.

"Good morning." Auri chirped from her spot on the grass beside the carefully set up campfire.

"Morning." He said. He would've used one of the tall trees that surrounded their camp but a last minute realization about how that might blow over with Auri stopped him. Settling for an open spot near the camp's edge, he swung his sheathed sword with both hands.

His stamina bar decreased by a small amount, significantly less than how much it actually did against the draugr. He wasn't dealing with the recoil of his blows among other countless factors in battle. He went for another and as expected, his bar didn't go down as much.

It was amazing.

And not in the sense that his body magically lightened itself or some burst of unknown energy gave him a subtle boost. He, without so much as a thought, made subtle adjustments to his arm and the arc of his slash to get the same results with less effort. It was as if something changed about him on a instinctual level.

Interesting. What exactly were these windows doing in order to grant him these perks? He continued to swing his sword, contemplating the question. As long it benefitted him, it couldn't be anything bad right?

"Wow, you have a lot of energy don't you?" Auri commented, watching him with clear interest.

"I guess so." Athias said with another swing, this one used the normal amount of stamina. Intentional on his part. It took conscious effort but he could ignore the gut feeling directing him to take a more optimal slice. Good to know his freewill remained firmly in his hands.

"Were you a soldier before you became an adventurer?"

"No." Athias tried to recall his previous life but like always, only surface details answered the call. School, getting a job, enjoying hobbies where he could. Ultimately nothing important or noteworthy. Nothing that made him feel anything. "I was just another nobody doing whatever was expected of him, I guess. Most of those days are just a blur of the same old stuff day in and day out."

He recalled the mix of panic and excitement he's felt since appearing here. Fighting the cold, narrowly escaping the wrathful claws of spriggans, and tense darkness of that nordic ruin. It was all so invigorating. A thrill unlike anything he's ever known.

His few days here felt so much more fulfilling and, most importantly, far more fun than anything in that lifetime he distantly recalled. If he ended up dead in a cave somewhere, so be it. The thought didn't bother him.

He swung again, this time following the newly ingrained instincts.

"Was becoming an adventurer something you always wanted to do then?" Auri asked.

"Maybe, maybe not." He stopped his swings to look towards her, smiling apologetically. "I'm not really the philosophical type so I've never really given it that much thought. I'm enjoying myself and as long as things stay that way, I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing. Sorry if that answer is a bit disappointing."

"I think its nice. You remind me of some of my family back home. I don't think there was much going on in their heads but they always seemed to be the happiest."

"Somehow, that felt like more of an insult than a compliment."

Auri titled her head, a playful look in her eyes. "Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. I'm sure you're smart enough to figure it out." She said. She set aside the bone she'd been sharpening and pulled two skewered pieces of meat from the fire. "It's just about ready. Let's eat."

Athias laid his sword beside his tent and joined her, biting into the meat.

It was different than he expected. There was a subtle sweetness to the outside the blended well the salty yet juicy interior. 

It was good, great even.

"That's a different face then usual." Auri commented, having held off on her own bite to watch him. "I take it you actually like it this time?"

"I…have no idea what you're talking about?"

"You don't think I noticed your face when we ate? You looked like you were chewing on rocks."

"A rock would've had more flavor." Athias muttered. Auri pursed her lips, unimpressed. "Hey, I'm just being honest." He took another bite, savoring the taste instead of just eating as fast as possible like usual. His mouth felt a little tingly. Not necessarily a bad tingle but something worth noting. "This is really good though. What did you do?"

"Its some venison I had sitting in rotmeth during my watch. I layered on a good bit of honey I had stored and cooked it. It was a simple process for something that tastes so good." Auri explained.

"Rotmeth?"

"It's a sort of alcohol made by my people from fermented meat. There's some other things thrown in, but don't worry, there wasn't anything that'd bother you involved."

So the tingle in his mouth came from the alcohol. "And how strong is this rotmeth?"

"I can't compare it to anything you've drunk but it shouldn't matter. The little in the food shouldn't be enough to affect anyone." Auri assured him, preparing to take a bite out with her sharpened teeth. She stopped and pull away, pensive. "Although, I'm not sure how well that applies to other races. How do you feel?"

"The inside of my mouth feels a bit weird."

"Really?" Auri looked surprised by his admission. "If that's all, you're probably fine but maybe we should wait out the morning and see?"

That was fine with him. They were only a few hours out from Falkreath and it'd give him the chance to test something out.

"Then I have a favor to ask, if you don't mind. Can you teach me archery?"

"Of course. We can start now." Auri readily agreed. "Well after we finish up eating." She tacked on, somehow managing to completely forget about the food in front of her. Auri's long hair shifted as she dug into her meal with renewed gusto.

Athias raised a brow.

Were her ears wiggling?

=============================

"You two made it out of those ruins alive? Must be tougher than you look." The owner of Gray Pine Goods greeted them with a nod, Athias making his way to the counter while Auri -hood tugged overhead- hovered near the door, careful to not touch the wooden building anymore than necessary.

"Word must travel fast around here." Athias said.

"We don't get outsiders often. Two people asking around about old ruins were going to be the talk of the town." The nord rose up from the chair he kept behind the counter, expectant. His gaze fell to Athias's shoulder where his leather armor had been cut into. "I expect you have something you want to sell."

"A few things."

Athias laid some pouches on the counters. One full of the different gems they came across and the other bulging with the old coins.

"I can't give you much for these coins, thirty gold maybe. Those interested in them rarely come around these parts." The nord brushed off the coins quickly and picked up a few of the gems, examining each one. "These will sell far better. I can give you 400 gold for them."

"400? Those are two sapphires, I'm sure you can make far more than that selling those two things off to some noble family. The garnets mixed make it all worth 500, maybe 600 if the Jarl had any gatherings planned."

"Hmmm, but he doesn't. From what I've heard Jarl Dengeir is falling out of favor. Could be, Falkreath will have a new Jarl soon." The nord seemed to fight a bit of a mental debate before he finally set the gems back in the bag. "420 and I'll throw in that other book you looked at."

"Deal." Athias agreed immediately.

The heavy bag of septims slipped into his bag was great and all but picking up the book on pyromancy brought a grin to his face.

One step closer to shooting those fireballs.

"I haven't seen anyone in Falkreath look that excited in a long time. I guess holding onto those old books wasn't a bad idea." The nord said with a laugh. He extended a hand. "You can call me Solaf."

"Athias." He introduced himself, tucking the tome under one arm and taking the hand. As a expected of any nord, especially one with Solaf's bulkier build, the handshake was firm.

"Well met. If you plan on staying in the area, drop by whenever you have anything. I'll give you a fair deal." Athias nodded, turning to leave. "Pay Lod, the local blacksmith, a visit. He'll do you right."

With that bit of parting advice Solaf sat back in his chair, admiring the pouch of gems while they left.

"He is right, you know. You looked like a child getting a treat."

"I'm going to be shooting fireballs." Athias emphasized the last word. It took all of his willpower to resist opening up the tome on the spot and instead hiding in away in his bag as they stepped outside. Solaf might not be bothered by it, but that didn't mean other nords wouldn't take offense to his interest in magic. The last thing he needed was some drunk or overzealous bastard starting something.

"Uh-huh, you still looked like a child." Auri teased, grinning.

"Right, I'm the child. How's the weather down there?"

Auri's grin dropped in instant and she crossed her arms. "And, just what is that suppose to mean?"

He shot her a grin. "I think you know what it means."

The pair managed to keep up their impromptu staring contest for precious moments before sharing a laugh.

"I'm sorry." Athias apologized, still grinning. "That was a bit of a low blow."

Auri's laughter whined down to an amused giggle as she bumped shoulders with him. Scratch down. She bumped her shoulder to somewhere a little above his elbow. "I'll give you that one. Just make sure your careful with those spells of yours when you learn them."

He nodded. Auri was probably worried about him burning down the forest or something. He was sure things wouldn't get that out of hand.

Together, they took off to take care of whatever other business they had in the dreary city before setting out on their next adventure, wherever that led them.

============================

Should I use my stones on my own story? Its a question I've been asking myself. Throw me some so I don't have to think about it anymore.

If you want to help me write full time consider checking out my patron. It is now five chapters ahead along with my og stuff though I might be putting that on hold to focus on this. Been enjoying making a story out of my adventures through Skyrim.

patreon .com/TheExpGarden

Hope to see ya in the comments.