FVN Chapter 169: Chapter XXXII: Upgrades People, Upgrades!
Chapter 169: Chapter XXXII: Upgrades People, Upgrades!
Chapter 169: Chapter XXXII: Upgrades People, Upgrades!
We spent the following three days just relaxing within the sanctuary. There was no training, no research on the residual magic in the air, just... chilling.
The peaceful atmosphere did wonders for my mind and I finally managed to deal with the constant tension created by my lifestyle. Say what you will about standing defiantly before the very gods of this world but doing so repeatedly was going to chafe on any mortal, no matter how arrogant or protected from their influences.
I was not the only one to benefit from our short stay there, most of those who followed me seemed far more relaxed and motivated than before but the one who probably needed this more than even myself was Minthara.
The young demi-god was growing more and more frantic in her rush to prepare for the coming dragon crisis that she sometimes even decided to forgo sleeping in its entirety. Something I put a stop to the moment I returned from my Daedric trip but the damage had already been done and the young woman spent most of her days in a daze, unless she was chasing goblins, apparently.
The presence of Kyne seemed to have a profound effect on those with the soul of a dragon, shifting their usually aggressive and dominating instincts into a more contemplative state. I guess that explained how Paarthurnax mastered his nature, as sitting down atop the mountain where 'Kyne breathed life onto the world' was most assuredly a drug of a whole another level when compared to the sanctuary.
Our return to Winterhold was for once not a rushed one, and we managed to reach the city about a week before the college started accepting new students, just enough time for me to get back into the rhythm of my projects as I prepared to take on my own teaching position. That is correct! I was indeed offered to help some of the masters with their own classes! Mostly Sergius and Faralda as I was already a master enchanter and I felt it in my very bones that mastery over the elements was not far off.
I would, of course, usually not waste my time on something as boring as teaching a new batch of students if not for one little fact: The excavation of Saarthal had begun a couple of months ago and with a small army of automaton spiders I once more rented to the college it would take a far shorter amount of time to unearth the entrance to the first Nord city of this continent, and I sure as hell wasn't about to give that Thalmor twat Ancano even the slightest of chances of touching the Eye of Magnus.
Preparations would have to be made of course, something to mask the eye's presence and dampen its energies while I searched for the Staff of Magnus and I would have to make sure the college's defenses were running properly just in case the Thalmor decided to do something funny like say, an all-out attack on the college by Thalmor agents while he usurped the eye or something equally disgusting.
I would also have to find some way to fuck with the Psijiks, they might be well intentioned but
I had no way to confirm that, besides they were a mostly Altmer organization, and my very blood boiled at the idea of letting them get something like the conduit to the very sun.
And then there was convincing Savos not to let himself get offed...
Gods damn it all, not even a week after I left the sanctuary and I am already tense as all hell! I sigh tiredly as I slump into my armchair, before taking a deep breath and getting up "Well then, moping sure as hell isn't going to solve my problems so I might as well get to work."
My first destination was, surprisingly, Shalazar's tower. The insane mystic was probably aware of more than I could fathom at this point so asking him would at the very least not be a bad idea.
Though I did make sure to temper my expectations.
Just as I was about to knock on the door to his office I heard his squeaky voice from within as he yelled at someone "Flee you poor boy! Begone!" There was some rustling within before I felt the space twist and the doors open on their own.
The tiny Argonian looked at me with excitement in his eyes "The legendary lockpicker graces me with his presence" He spreads his arms in greeting "This little one is honored by the presence one so bold."
I chuckle at his jape, completely unsurprised "And it is my utmost pleasure to see you once more as well, Master Shalazar" I look around the room and notice a pair of chairs positioned in such a way as to imply a guest was here recently, I go to ask who it was out of curiosity but a large piece of cheese on the table quickly dissuades me from my quest.
Focusing back to my original goal I bluntly ask Shalazar "Is there any advice you could give me for what is to come?"
The Argonian squints at me before barking out "Zap!"
"...Zap?" I ask dumbly.
Shalazar the Mystic nods rapidly "Indeed my most glorious of students" He raises his hand and snaps his finger causing the smallest bit of lightning to dance between his fingers "Zap!"
Understandable "My thanks for your brilliant guidance, great Shalazar." I give him a respectful bow and turn to leave.
Not before he gives me one additional piece of advice "To save the great man from his great sin he must face it himself yet by the side of others." The lizard wizard's expression turns soft, almost as if he doesn't believe his own words but he returns to his cheerful self within the same instant.
I still, my mind a whirl, before slowly nodding "Understood." And leaving the tower, the plan within my mind evolving ever so slowly.
I did my rounds around the college, giving vague warnings to my fellow Masters whom I knew were powerful combatants. They did not need much further explanation as I was trusted and my clairvoyance was already a known factor among the great mages so my warnings were easily attributed to that burgeoning talent.
Tolfdir specifically had to be held back from simply pasting the Thalmor 'Advisor' across the walls but I decided the slimy little shit could be used in better ways so I advised him against such rash actions.
Speaking of slime, I was currently approaching said Altmer with a letter folded into a scroll held firmly in my right hand.
[Hag Bane: A weapon much changed, yet the blood of fallen foes still clings to its form out of sight. All spells intended to harm are 25% more powerful when channeled through this staff. The blade erupts with disintegrating fire and lightning when striking a foe.]
And finally my new set of robes. I decided to forgo the Telvanni inspiration for this one as it had proven a bit too cumbersome for my stile of combat so instead I focused on a more armored yet maneuverable form.
The robe itself was simple yet elegant with swirling arcane runes glowing in light purple yet
not so much to be jarring to look at, with some more in Dunmeri and Dovahzul sprinkled in between for good measure.
On the robe's back stood proudly the emblem of the sixth house. I no longer cared about concealing my station and any who recognized the emblem would also recognize the fact that they could not do a thing against me.
The Star of Azura lazily hanging from my hip at all times ensured that. Under the robe was an ebony chestplate emblazoned with yet more runes and with my sash permanently attached to it. An entire set of high quality leather covered by segmented plates of ebony was made in such a way to be completely unnoticeable under my robes with only a simple yet elegant set of bracers and boots remaining visible.
It's power was nothing to scoff at either.
[Grand Regalia of Dagoth: A suit of robe and armor fit for a demi-god, it shall protect the heir
of Dagoth better than any army ever could.
Lightened ebony plate
Self-cleaning, self-repairing, heat-regulating
Obscures clairvoyance or other methods of scrying
Magicka regeneration: 500%
Magicka absorption: 250
All bolstering spells are thrice as effective
Emergency effect: Uses up all of the robe's energy to force the wearer to turn ethereal for a
single second when their life is threatened, renders the robe powerless for a day] Habitually, I snap my fingers and find myself clothed in an instant. My new set of regalia fit
snugly around my body, almost as if I was wearing nothing yet still enveloping me with a sense of security no set of full plate armor would ever give me.
I place my old, more imposing, set on a mannequin within my treasury. A fine addition to my
hoard of wealth if I do say so myself.
I stand before a mirror and nod in satisfaction. Instead of merely looking like an imposing lord of destruction, my new robes, coupled with my recently bolstered appearance and height, carried a sense of elegance as well as danger, my crown still fitting with the robe's
aesthetics perfectly.
Now if only I could waste my entire day being a narcissist instead of listening to a damn lecture...
Gib me ein stein!
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