242 Chapter XLVI: Moving Forward
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With a lazy flick of my staff, the barrage of blinding lightning bolts redirects away from me and gouges the stone of the cave behind me "Is that it?" I ask with feigned disappointment, intending to rile her up "All of that bluster and this is all you offer?"
The Thalmor mage scoffs "Petty mockery? Is that all the great Master Reyvin can do?" More runic circles form in front of her as her conjured bodyguards create a loose shield wall.
"Archmage actually." I smirk and swing my staff forward, summoning a great fireball and directing it at the Altmer while multiple spikes emerge from the ground, impaling some of the Aurorans and aiming to impale her as well.
Her eyes narrow as she forces the earth spikes away and summons some kind of rapidly revolving ward around herself, disrupting the fireball and making it harmlessly blow over the Aurorans "Petty titles of even pettier peoples." Another, far more focused lightning bolt blasts for my head.
Instead of blocking it I simply tilt my head a split second before the spell is complete, letting it pass by harmlessly while only barely touching my robes' defenses. As I do so I point the Staff of Magnus at her chest and direct its destructive powers into a beam of pure Magicka capable of ignoring all magical defenses.
Two Aurorans immediately form a line in front of her, getting banished for their efforts and earning Naerys just enough time to step out of the way and respond with another barrage of spells, this time launching curved firebolts to attack me from every direction.
Taking a single step forward and lurching toward the shadow of one of Meridia's Dremora I appear behind the gold armored figure and immediately lash out with Blasphemy, the barest touch making the creature scream out in pain and banish itself voluntarily, the same thing happens two more times before the Thalmor starts to predict me and I am forced to focus back on her spells while Scorch harasses what little Aurorans were left.
The cave shudders as we continue our clash of magic, the indiscriminate detonations caused by lightning and fire all around us no doubt ending more than a few of the numerous Volkihar forces and their pets.
Beams of pure Magicka shear through the natural pillars of the cave, collapsing it on my enemies while flames block off approaches to my allies even as I still battle my opponent.
With each blast of magic the near manic grin on my face becomes wider, the pleasant bubbling in my veins finally coming back after so many instances of being forced into a pure melee fight, to the point of discarding my sword as the last Auroran falls and I start throwing more and more outlandish combinations of the elements at my opponent.
And to my great delight, she responds in kind as her wards become more and more complex and her attacks more unpredictable, the simple standoff turning into a rapid series of blinks, shadow walks and attacks, the intensity of our spells increasing with each and every moment.
It gets so wild and destructive that we are both forced to use terramancy to rise supports just so we don't get buried alive, and all that while still attempting to defeat each other.
Soon the entire chamber heats up to the point of being painful to anyone who wasn't Dunmer and I notice the bloodied but intact Serana jump away, her interference better suited to helping the dwindling Dawnguard than adding even more destruction to our duel.
As I shatter yet another lance of ice I take a step back, my opponent seemingly also taking the opportunity to restrategize "You are stronger than I expected" I say, my tone genuinely jovial.
"And you are far more powerful than the reports said." There is a hint of frustration in her tone but it is overshadowed by begrudging respect.
"Good old Elenwen playing with the paperwork, eh?" I grin "No doubt to hide her incompetence. How is the good Ambassador these days by the way?"
There is vindictive amusement in Naerys' eyes "Stressed by her duties."
"A shame" I drawl "Though one has to wonder, why would they send just you?"
"Just me?" Her eyes narrow slightly "I assure you, I am more than enough."
"So you say, but hear me out here: counterpoint" I raise a hand and snap my fingers causing every single automaton still standing and as one they aim at every possible point of teleportation and fire.
Naerys immediately starts attempting to dodge the bolts but her actions quickly prove futile and she is forced to use telekinesis to hold a couple of them back.
The split second pause in her movements gives Scorch just enough time to emerge from the nearby ceiling and land on her head, cutting her up and causing her to screech in panic, a blast of lightning exploding all around her and sending the bird boi flying away.
Completely ignoring the unfocused attack and tanking it with my robes I dash through the magical explosion and swing my staff, the glaive instead of the stick, and deliver an ebonflesh enhanced strike to her own staff, shattering it in the process and sending her tumbling to the ground, the artifact's detonation only making me skid back slightly.
Before she can get up or gather her focus I place my foot on her stomach eliciting a pained squawk and point the tip of my glaive at her throat "Since you've been such a good sport I am going to be generous despite your earlier insult and offer you the chance to surrender."
It takes her a bit to refocus but the moment she does her eyes actually glow with indignation, her uninjured hand moving about in an attempt to cast a spell, and I allow her to do so.
The expression of dumbfounded surprise on her face when she realizes that she cannot teleport away made me let out a snicker of amusement "You really should have red your reports better, my lady Naerys" I mock "For all my prowess in combat, I am and always will be first and foremost an enchanter."
She takes a moment to look around but the further she looks the more her despair grows as she realizes that each and every spot I had every stood on now held a rune meant to stop spatial disturbances, something which funnily enough didn't work on shadow movement.
With a resigned exhale she lifts her unmangled hand in surrender... and I immediately slap an enchanted bracelet on it, causing all the magic within the Altmer to still completely and an expression of pure despair to appear on said elf's face.
That will teach you to be cheeky and summon Meridia's little shits.
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Those vampires not yet cut down or turned into dusty pincushions quickly found themselves on a one way trip to visit their patron as both Serana and I fell upon them with all our might, Scorch took particular delight in chasing down the couple of the wiser bloodsuckers when they tried to escape.
He was in fact still playing around with an old man vampire and taunting him into throwing himself into the slaughterfish infested marshlands.
'What an asshole' I snort and turn back to the rest "Are you well, Moth Priest?" I ask the pale Dexion.
"I am, my thanks for your prompt intervention Court Mage." He winces slightly "And my apologies for my earlier crassness, my internment has not been kind."
"A perfectly understandable reaction" I assure him "You were here for rumors of an Elder Scroll I believe?"
He nods eagerly "Do you mean to say you know of their location?"
"I am in the direct possession of one and indirect of another" I answer lazily "I trust that you will not mind reading them for us when we are ready?"
He takes a moment to consider the specifics of my words but still eagerly agrees "Of course, Court Mage. It is my life's purpose!"
"Excellent." I clap my hands, and then grimace slightly "Your guards?"
All the joviality leaves Dexion as looks away and says nothing.
I nod and look to Isran "Casualties?"
"Five slain and two dismembered but alive." The now helmetless Redguard grunts harshly but I sense his sorrow at the fact.
"Those who can be healed will be" I promise immediately, much to the man's hidden relief "We did not expect such numbers, your men surviving it at all is an achievement in and of itself." I praise genuinely.
"It is their job" Isran grinds out "But I am sure they will appreciate it."
"Now that you have patted yourselves on the back, can we get moving?" Mephys interjects playfully "Our newest guest is getting uppity." She taps the head of the gagged Altmer, now dressed in plain robes, sitting to her side and attempting to glare a hole in her face.
Isran just grunts and grabs the potions I summoned from my inventory before going to heal his men.
Serana tilts her head slightly "Are you sure you should leave her alive?"
The deadpan casualness of the question makes Naerys' eyes widen in fear.
I shrug "Eh, we will find some use to her. She is obviously not one of the brainwashed fools in her order so she should have some valuable information at the very least."
"If you think so" Serana hums uncaringly "Considering they sent her alone with my father's dog I don't think she is all that important."
Cue indignant gagged grunts and hisses.
"Or maybe it was just youthful overconfidence" I quip, Naerys did look very young for a mage of her power, even if she was Altmer.
Serana raises an amused eyebrow as said Altmer looks down in shame "You might be right."
A sudden flash of information enters my mind and I straighten up "Scorch is done with the cleanup. We can get moving, and hopefully get done with dealing with Morthal today." My lips twist into something approaching disgust "Their resilience is impressive but I could do without the smell and fumes."
Even the Thalmor joined in the disgusted sniffs that followed.
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We wasted no time in dealing with Idgrod's household. I walked in, told them the vampires were done and the priest rescued, and left them to deal with the ensuing celebration without waiting for any kind of response.
The poor Steward forgot to breathe for the whole minute I was there.
Was it rude?
Indubitably.
Could Hjaalmarch afford to get pissy with me because I hightailed it out of their swamp?
No.
And so it was that after telling Isran to prepare for an increase of vampiric activity across the board that I teleported my entire group back to Winterhold, and into the pleasant chill of my home.
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"Excellent job as always Karsus." I nod and dismiss my Steward.
As he leaves my study I start playing with tiny sparks of lightning and fire between my fingers. Today's confrontation, while not incredibly dangerous in and of itself, reminded me of what I actually enjoyed since coming to Tamriel.
It would seem that in my worry for the future I have allowed the Court Mage to replace the simple mage and more importantly the adventurer, the whole source behind my power and motivation.
It was a minor reminder, something that I would have no doubt overlooked without prior experience, but the signs were there and I would not ignore them or dismiss them just so I could descend into ruinous routine again.
I came here to have a fulfilling life, and not even the damn apocalypse would stop me!
"Very dramatic pops" Scorch drawls, his eyes burning with feigned mockery.
"Fuck right off" I flip him the bird "You know damn well we have been drudging along ever since the kingsmoot." Ironically I can't even allow myself to mention the actual event aloud.
"We have" Scorch, for once in his life, nods seriously "But you also know we needed to go through it step by step."
"Moving on never gets easier" I sigh and recline back into my seat, staring at the ceiling contemplatively "Fucking Meridia." I mutter and feel a slight tug of support from another creature of oblivion .
'Manipulative as ever' I grouse, though I make sure the thought doesn't reach her.
A long silent moment passes before Scorch speaks again "So, what now?" He asks the truly important question.
"Now" I mutter, allowing my emotions to settle as I look at the picture hanging off my wall, both a gift and a reminder "Now we finally move forward."
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You too should move forward by donating your worldly possessions to the needy
Like your stones to me, for example.
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