FVN Chapter 308: Chapter XXXIV: Soul's Light
Chapter 308: Chapter XXXIV: Soul's Light
Chapter 308: Chapter XXXIV: Soul's Light
The sudden shift took me by such surprise I didn't realize what was happening until it was already over. I tried blinking the searing white light away, only to realize I had nothing to blink with, nor did I have anything to see with in the first place.
The moment the thought came did the surroundings shift, yet remain all the same, the searing light was still there, its intensity still just as immense, and yet it seemed to matter less.
An idle experiment came to mind and I thought myself to like the searing light, and that I enjoy it. And just like that the searing heat which threatened to burn myself into bits covered me as a pleasant blanket, swiftly threatening to take me into oblivion as the comfort of it was not something I had ever experienced.
I... had... ever... experienced...
Who was I? More importantly what was I?
The questions came swiftly, and the answers even swifter, and I started to remember. Visions swam in front of my sight?eyes?receptors?perception? as the image of what and who started to come together. An old man, a father, a husband, a widower, a dead man, a young elf, an orphan, a traveler, a student, an adventurer, a friend, a teacher, a lover, a hawk, a hero, a monster, a lord, a savior, a butcher... the sun and the shadow as one. On and on the images/memories/truths went, seemingly flowing away into the vast bright light.
And as they did so too did a sense of dread and loss threaten to bubble up within me. Determination I did not have or had merely forgotten about surged and with an effort of will I knew was mine I pulled.
Every mote of light holding those precious things slammed itself back into me, once more disorienting me and blinding me as order was restored to my very being, and then I blinked.
Odd how I could do that now.
Before me was a familiar sight, the top of the Tower of Mysticism of the College of Winterhold, before me stood Shalazar a wide grin on his tiny face and a light I did not see before in his eyes.
But what truly drew my attention was not the master mystic nor his jubilation, but the body kneeling limply in front of him. For that body was without a shadow of a doubt my own, and I knew then what was done to me.
I looked back up to the Master and frowned "Was that really necessary?" I blinked in surprise at just how... ethereal my voice sounded, but swiftly focused back on the Lizard Wizard, demanding an answer.
Shalazar just nodded, his cheer not lessening for even a bit "It was indeed, student mine!" He spreads his arms as if to preach "For it would not be a test if you were not tested, no?" His eye bulges as he raises an inexistent eyebrow.
I frown "Right, what kind of test?"
"Quite simple really" He shrugs "The test was to see if you will was strong enough to gather yourself into one even as you were shoved outside of your body. Had you failed you would have died."
My incorporeal eye twitches at the relaxed way in which he delivers his words but I knew he waited until he thought me ready for this so I didn't really have much fuel to move my irritation "Can you explain what happened now?"
"Certainly!" He grins "I had done for you what my own master had done for me, and granted you the chance to ascend yourself from a mere mortal into a being far more spiritual in nature!"
He goes to explain further but I interrupt "So what, I moved my ego from my body to my soul?"
For the first time in a very long time I find Shalazar blinking in surprise, before his grin somehow widens even further "Why yes indeed, my most glorious of pupils!" He claps his hands merrily "I did not expect you to catch on so quickly, but an old soul such as yourself must have an advantage or four." He nods rapidly.
I pause for a moment at the revelation but simply shrug as he doesn't press, merely keeping his smile while giving me a knowing look. Instead I focus on the present "So, besides the obvious advantages of having my life tied to my will instead of my body, what else can this form do?"
"Maybe you should see the form first, hmmmm?" He raises his eye.
Blinking at that I allow my sight to spread and take a good look at myself.
The first thing I noticed was that I was fucking massive.
The second was that I was basically a massive shroud of shadows flowing onto each other with the only two other features of my body being three globes of light below my hood-covered crown of spikes, and a pair of equally massive wings resembling those of a certain hawk on my back, though colored in shadowy black.
As I observed myself, more details became apparent, almost as if my appearance was dictated by my will and thus attempted to connect itself to what I felt was missing. Soon I found a dagger sheathed in spider webs at my hip, joined by a sword sheathed in grey burning shadow on the other, a bow glowing with contained light appeared on my back, and a glaive in one of my hands, soon joined by a staff of gnarled wood carved with runes of the world's creation.
The thoughts went through my mind within less than a second, and by unsaid command I found my size slowly moving down to my usual height.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Shaking the astonishment of the transformation away, I looked back to Shalazar "So?"
"You know, you could sound a bit more excited." He pouts, which was admittedly incredibly
fucking cute "But I guess I can answer your questions now."
"Right." I nod and ask the first "What was the point of all this?"
"Your mastery." He fires off.
Huh... neat "Ok..." I trail off briefly and repeat "But what was the point of all this?"
"Uh huh." Lydia interjects with a deadpan nod "They totally weren't trying to drag you off
into the nearest barn and have their wicked ways with you."
The Altmer stiffens "I... am sure their intentions were pure!"
"Not even you believe that." Minthara sighs.
Their banter continues as they make their way to the compound of the Respite, but instead of
entering the inn itself, they circle around and soon find themselves seated on a pair of
benches which overlooked the distant seas.
Marco sighed in contentment as the harsh winds were blocked by the wards and turned into a pleasant breeze, his braided beard scratching his neck pleasantly as he did so.
His relaxation was interrupted however, as he felt his arm being pulled and soon found Lydia
pointing at something in the distance.
Marco's golden face turned completely white at the sight.
Even the legendary Dragonborn found herself stammering in sheer terror "Did... did I just see
Reyvin flying... with wings on his back?"
"I think so, my Thane." Lydia answers robotically.
"Divines no." Marco's shoulders slump in defeat.
"He is going to be incredibly insufferable about this, isn't he?" Minthara asks, her left eye
twitching.
"I am afraid so, my thane." The blank voice of her housecarl answers her.
(Savos' POV)
I dust off the orb Reyvin had requested for his demigod friend and prepare it for packaging,
only to suddenly stiffen as I feel a familiar aura buzz next to my windows and disappear as
fast as it came.
A moment later the aura buzzes again and I see a blur of black with hints of red and purple
flash by my window once more and I channel Magicka into my eyes, slowing down my perception to a great degree.
And then I stiffen as I realize Reyvin was flying about in broad daylight, with soul-projected wings which could only mean Shalazar had granted him his mastery.
"So fucking unfair." I curse "It took me two centuries for that!"
"Skill issue, I am afraid." Brightburn snickers from atop my shoulder.
He continues snickering even as I punt him out the window. 'Fucking monstrous children and their destruction of common sense.' I grumble with a smile.
Gib stone and I flashbang you too.
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