On the moment when the storm atronach landed on the soul gem platform facing the ash guardian, and Ciel’nn dashes toward the ash spawn while Teldryn turned to fight against the closest one.
Brooding, Ciel’nn faced the ash spawn and dodged its first fire spell, then slashed his sword at it. He could handle one of the creatures by himself. It wasn’t a problem. The young mer grunted as he felt a fire spell on arm. It burned but a little. Ciel’nn brought his sword up and back down with speed. The ash spawn backed away as if it was trying to flee from him. “No, you don’t!” He leaped after it and slashed savagely on its back. The ash spawn crumbled down.
Ciel’nn glanced at the platform where the two conjured beings were locked in a fight. Either of them giving a quarter. Finish it! He frowned and looked to his partner, who was hurrying toward him.
“How many scrolls of those you exactly have?” The older mer asked as he glanced at the platform.
“I should have three left.” Ciel’nn frowned. “Maybe I should use one more to that?” He didn’t know how strong ash guardians were. I should ask Talvas about it, if we get out alive from here. Azura!” I should ask him to teach me to make more scrolls!” He thought aloud, and noticed his partner flashing him a grin.
“That’d be useful.” Teldryn said in a low tone, and they witnessed the storm atronach zapped the ash guardian, destroying it. “I’d guess it’d be charging again. Let’s leave a playmate for it.”
Ciel’nn took another scroll, opening it and looking at the platform. “Storm, appear! A new storm atronach arrived rumbling, next to the first one that vanished. “Destroy the next one that appears!”
They left the atronach and moved on the wooden ramps. More ash spawns made their way to stop them. Ciel’nn and Teldryn dealt with them in a fashionable speed and received a few bruises. Once the ash spawn out of the way, the two mer moved on the ramps.
It took some time before they reached a room with pillars and a large chandelier on the ceiling. Ciel’nn frowned at the soul gem device on the far wall edge. So that’s where she’s hiding from us. First so might, then scared? He peeked around the corner and saw a way up. “Mind if I go up first?” He whispered as he glanced at Teldryn.
“Be careful. We don’t know what spells she’ll use.” Teldryn whispered back and patted his partner’s shoulder. “I’ll follow you once you’re in the corridor.”
With a single nod, Ciel’nn sneaked toward the first pillar. He heard the soul gem device sending a lightning at the pillar as he hid behind it.
“I know you’re out there!” A female Dunmer voice saying loud, followed nervous shifting of feet.
A loud hiss from a flame atronach came when the older mer caught the woman’s attention.
It was sign for Ciel’nn to hurry on. He dashed along the shadows and turned around in the corner. The stairs weren’t long as he approached the final raise and stopped for a moment. Azura guard my soul. Ciel’nn took a deep breath and made his grip on his sword tighter. Boethiah guide my sword. With those prayers in his mind, the young mer leap from the corner and onto the small stone bridge.
Startled and scared, Ildari turned her attention to the sound of a low hiss that came from around the corner, and she cast a sparks spell, putting all her mage potency for it, at the young mer in time. She back away as the mer collapsed on the bridge, screaming in pain. “You will not have me! I’ll have my vengeance!” Ildari growled and casted her sparks again on the mer.
Teldryn rushed the stairs up when he heard his partner’s scream. He feared the worst as he came to the opening, he called out for his flame atronach once more. Distract her! He stepped on the bridge and grabbed Ciel’nn by his arms, shifting him away from the bridge. He’s out cold, but still breathing. The older mer left his partner close to fire the place and marched toward Ildari as the flame atronach vanished out of sight.
“Azura curse you, s’wit!” Teldryn bellowed and slashed at the woman, who cast more sparks at the angered mer. They struggled a long moment before Ildari finally became weaker and Teldryn stunned her with the hilt of his sword. Azura curse you, woman. He glanced at Ciel’nn, who still was lying unconscious. Guess it leaves me to take the heart stone out…
The dizziness faded from Ildari’s mind and she became aware of the situation. She opened her eyes, only to see Teldryn’s hand going for her chest. She let out a groan when the heart stone was ripped out and into darkness she fell.
Fucking heart stones… Teldryn nearly growled at the cursed stone as he looked at it before putting into a leather pouch. It was then, when he noticed the soul gem device that shot him with flames. The older mer marched toward it and removed the soul gem, tossing it into lower floor.
The last thing he remembered was being hit a sparks spell of great magnitude that it had sent him into darkness. His every muscle screamed for healing when he let out a cry as he opened his eyes. Ciel’nn found out that he was in Teldryn’s arms on the floor, and that he couldn’t move much. Every movement hurt. “Easy, Ciel’nn. I know it hurt.” He heard his partner saying and holding him close. “I can’t move. N’chow, that witch!” Ciel’nn chocked, but he tried to relax. “Did you get the heart stone?”
“Here, take this health potion.” Teldryn said in a softer tone. “Yes, I got it. She gave a quite trashing before it.” He thought a moment while Ciel’nn drunk the potion. “We can stay here until you’ve recovered. There is no rush.” He brushed the mer’s hair, soothing. “You gave me a quite scare, screaming like that.” To see the younger mer more relaxed now, a wave of relief swept across Teldryn.
“I thought died. It hurt thrice like Oblivion.” Ciel’nn whispered, looking at the potion in his hands. “Fucking mages…” He was certain that if his partner weren’t there, he’d be dead by now and turned into some horrifying ash abomination. Ciel’nn snarled at the thought. At least the witch was dead now. His partner took his hand into his own. “I wouldn’t let you die.” He heard Teldryn whispering gently into his ear.
They spent the night at the depths of Highpoint Tower and Teldryn mended his own injuries when Ciel’nn had fallen asleep on the bedroll next to him. The lavender tea a good sleep medicine, especially after a shock or a trauma experience. The older mer drunk a health potion while leaned against the wall. The fire place warned nicely as it was chilly below the ground level. He looked to his sleeping partner. I wonder what did you had to say, but it can wait for now.
The Wizard of Tel Mithryn paced forth and back while waiting the two mer coming back with good news. He hoped his cursed and former apprentice was dealt with for good. “If they didn’t…” Neloth muttered as he stopped for a moment. “Where is my tea, Drovas?”
“I’m sure they’ll be here soon, Master.” Talvas shifted his gaze from the book to the Wizard. His master had been pacing around the tower since the morning. He never had seen him like that before. I hope Drovas brings the tea soon.
The lift hissed softly as Ciel’nn hopped down, followed by his partner. The young mer didn’t look too happy when Neloth almost spun around to see them. Teldryn gave a hard look for the Wizard.
“Well, do you have it?” Neloth almost bloated himself with expectation. He needed to know if the threat was over or not. “Were you able to rip the cursed heart stone from her chest?” He crossed his arms.
“Catch!” Teldryn threw the pouch to the Wizard. “I hope you have something for all the trouble.” He snarled.
“I have a powerful staff for you.” Neloth grunted as he grabbed the pouch with use of Telekinesis spell and moved it on the table. He would not touch it by himself.
“I don’t want a fucking staff! We need money, and some scrolls.” Ciel’nn snapped. ”Nothing else will suffice.” His darker tone slipped in as he started at the Wizard. Better deliver, Wizard!
Neloth eyed him sternly for a moment. He couldn’t believe what he just heard. The staff was powerful and they did not want it. Irritating as it was, he gestured for Talvas to get the coin pouch. “Give them a few scrolls, so they’ll be quiet.” He was annoyed, but relieved for Ildari wasn’t a trouble anymore.
The mage nodded to his master, and went to a study room.
And then, the lift hissed again, and Drovas hopped down with a tea cup. He brought it to the Wizard, who took it swiftly, but without splashing it. The Steward hoped the tea was alright as he nervously waited for Neloth taking a sip.
Ciel’nn walked to a chair and sat down. His partner took a place near him while they waited for Talvas to give their rightful reward. If he have time, I’ll ask him about the runes and scroll making. “We found another Ildari’s journal. You can have it, too.” He dug it out of his backpack and put it on the nearby table.
Talvas returned from the study room and walked toward the young mer. “I hope this will suffice. If you stay over, I can teach about the runes tomorrow.” He handed the coin pouch to Ciel’nn, and added in a whisper. “You gotta tell me what Ildari was like, too.”
“We can stay over the night if the Wizard of Tel Mithryn can offer us a meal tonight.” Teldryn looked to Neloth as if challenging the powerful mer. By Azura, it’s high time he’d offer it, but he’s a Telvanni… “We helped you to get rid of your crazed apprentice. It’s only fair you let us dine here tonight.”
The suggestions or persuasions flew past Drovas as he still waited for Neloth’s comment on the tea. It felt like an eternity with the mer talking in the tower.
The Wizard sighed after tasting the tea. It had tested better than before. Maybe it yet surpassed Varona’s tea making. Neloth frowned as he wasn’t sure, but there was a leap for improvement. He gave the smallest nod of approval for Drovas, who then smiled in visible relief. Thank you, Azura, thank you!
Neloth looked to the bladesman next to the young mer. They wanted a meal under his mushroom roof. It was going to be such bothersome to have guests, but he suspected they were going to stay anyway, as his apprentice had promised to teach the runes for the young mer. “As long as you won’t bother me with insignificant questions.”
“Like, where this mushroom came from?” Ciel’nn asked with a smirk, making his partner chuckle. He stood up.
Neloth groaned in annoyance. The nerve of the young people. He drunk the last bits of tea before handing it back to Drovas, and then he marched to his study room. “Let the cook know, we have guests tonight.”
“Yes, Master Neloth.” Drovas replied, still beaming in joy. He gestured the two mer to follow him. “I guess you two can settle in the Steward’s house, then.”
Ciel’nn nodded to the Mage. “Tomorrow then. See you at the dinner.” With that he and Teldryn followed the Steward outside the tower. “I can’t believe you managed him to let us dine with him. It will be precious!” He whispered to his partner as if he was afraid the Wizard would hear them.
“At least we’ll get a real meal this time.” Teldryn grinned. “Not that you cook poorly, Ciel’nn.”
“I can’t cook properly without proper ingredients!” the young mer shot back. “I miss the high quality food of Blacklight!” And, he began to dream of those nice luscious scaly crabs and First Council ice cream.
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Comments
And ha! See? Neloth does cheer up with good tea! Good te... more
and bread with honey, then first council ice cream. I'm curious what
Albee might think of him?
More like a Dunme... more