Skyrim: A Sorcerer's Tale

Chapter 178: Chapter XLI: Journey To The Labyrinth

Chapter 178: Chapter XLI: Journey To The Labyrinth



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"Reyvin I... I can't go back there." Savos says pitifully as I go through my large selection of automatons and select the most potent among them to bring with us "I cannot face that place again." My apparent failure of a grandfather mutters.

"You are going whether you like it or not." I say tersely as I check my stock of gatecrasher- grade ammunition.

Savos chuckles ruefully "And how do you plan to make me?"

I turn to him with a raised eyebrow "Oh so you have enough of a spine to talk shit to me but not to face your past, eh?" I question mockingly and then nod "As I have expected."

And just like that any strong front he tried to present crumbled like the morality of an Altmer in modern times, his shoulders slumped and he said nothing.

"Look" I turn deathly serious "You can either mope here while the last of your family goes and potentially dies against what I can only presume is a Dragon Priest and his retinue..." I trail off for dramatic purposes, it is super effective "Or, you can grow a fucking spine, face your failures and emerge the greater Mer from the experience."

He remains silent as I finish my preparations, nearly an hour later I finally turn back to him only to see him stuck in an internal debate with himself, his expression shifting continuously. Finally, he seems to sense my gaze and his eyes snap to mine, aglow with fresh determination.

I say nothing but merely smirk proudly and signal for him to follow.

We leave Winterhold in the morning, a small commotion inevitably happening whenever the Archmage moved about but nothing that wasn't quickly put under control. Savos' mount was of the usual rugged Skyrim variety, though his horse was a simple traveling beast, unlike my massive warhorse.

Then again maybe I was misjudging it and Glitterhoof was just this massive due to being raised in the royal stables, I was not all that informed about horses unfortunately.

The first two days of travel passed in relative silence as the two of us went over our spells and summons, making sure that everything was prepared and that we could react with sufficient speed. Savos even deigned to start instructing me on merging all three destructive elements into what he called chaos magic.

It wasn't conceptual chaos or anything but it sure did do a lot of damage, as evidenced by an unfortunate pack of trolls migrating across the more remote roads of western Windhelm.

On the third day, as we finally descended onto the plains of Whiterun I finally decided to ask "So, care to tell me more about the family history? All I know you as is 'The Archmage'"'

The mood I've worked hard to build over the past few days plummets considerably but not enough for Savos to return to depression, he sighs and says "I began my career by joining the Camonna Tong believe it or not" The old Mer smiles unconsciously as he remembers his early days "Met my wife there and even got something of a reputation for being sly and cunning." "They must have been blind and deaf to call you anything but annoying." I quip.

Savos ignores my great wisdom in favor of continuing his story "Unfortunately, I decided to start my rise to prominence just when Saint Nerevar returned from the dead and slay your... other grandfather." The way he tries to hide his utter disgust with a wince would have been cute if it wasn't so insulting.

"And then the Red Year happened" I finish for him.

"Yes" He nods with sadness "My daughter had just been born and I was luckily able to save her from the eruption... My wife was not as fortunate." He visibly forces himself to continue "I entered Skyrim with a bunch of other refugees and tried to settle in Winterhold, I thought I was going to become just another thug but the ever-looming college started giving me ideas."

"I don't think I like where this is going." I state cautiously.

"Patience." He huffs "Anyway, as I was saying I started getting ideas. I grew up on stories of Telvanni elder mages doing whatever they wished and slowly the idea of bringing my wife back to life became my obsession."

"My disappointment with you grows with every time you open your mouth." I sigh.

He gives me an unamused glare but continues "And so I joined the college and discovered I was rather talented in conjuration, my entire bloodline was apparently, my ability to connect with oblivion was nearly as ridiculous as your perception."

"Quite potent then" I muse aloud.

We were just about to get to the runic matrix for the basic spell when I lazily pushed the extra tankard of ale to the edge of the table, just in time for a massive Orc to sit down without any

preamble.

"Durrak" I greet him with a smile "You've grown even bigger I see."

The complete unit smirks "Indeed my friend! Nothing can stop me, not even my bloodline!"

His eyes flicker toward Savos and he inclines his head respectfully "Good day to you sir."

"Oh?" Savos raises an eyebrow "You know who I am?"

Durrak shakes his head "No, but my instincts tell me I should be respectful."

"Some instincts then" Aren quips and offers his hand "Savos Aren, Archmage of Winterhold."

Without a hint of hesitation the orc clasps his hand and smirks "Durrak Gro-Barg, Circle

Companion."

"That would explain it" I interrupt their little meet and greet, causing both pairs of eyes to snap to me "You accepted their foolishness, didn't you?"

He looks away, just a tad sheepish, but then refocuses at me with determination in his eyes "I

swore I would become the greatest warrior in the land, no reason to deny strength and

brotherhood."

I snort "Let us hope you will not regret that decision..."

The awkward atmosphere forms as expected, yet following the same expectation Durrak

smashes it with the grace of a warhammer "So where are you going this time?"

Hmmmm.... Why not? "You ever hear of Labyrinthian?" I ask him challengingly.

The violent glint in his eyes is all the answer I need.

Throw me a bone and give me a stone!

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