Chapter 20: Chapter 19
"So....Tolfdir, can you give me an idea of what I can expect?"
We were quietly riding along in the small caravan that departed from the College. Only the necessities had been completed over at the excavation sight. Basically, setting up some stairways, reinforcing the immediate paths to stop cave ins. They had to stop when they somehow triggered a bunch of the mummified remains in the place to start rising.
There were actually a few people from Winterhold coming along. A couple guards and a few of the Jarl's people. This whole thing was conducted with the support of the Jarl, surprisingly, considering the strained relationship. But I guess gold can mend all kinds of bridges.
Yeah, they agreed to a 60-40 split with the Jarl, as in the College getting the 40% for all gold and items of immediate monetary value. The terms were more specific than that, but I didn't really bother to listen to all of that.
Basically, we would get the historical artifacts, a decent sum, and the blessing from the Jarl since this thing was still on his land.
I recognized the guards coming along, not really knowing their names, but hey, we shared a drink and that was something important in this place. They were happy enough that I was coming along to clear the place of undead. They were more so just to make sure everything goes smoothly and what-not.
There were probably another dozen people of various backgrounds. Scholars, mages, or people who were just academically interesting in the ancient ruins.
So, yeah, several carts carrying supplies and everything braving these blizzards-like winds. Thankfully the ruins were only about an hour out of the city.
"Draugr." He said idly, producing a flame in his hand for warmth. "They seemed to be the basic variety, but there are quite a few of them."
"I ran into some of them on my job. Actually I'd been meaning to ask a question about that, one of the undead that the Necromancer used was a bit stronger than the rest he even did this 'magic' where he shouted and blew me away....."
"You faced a Draugr that could use the Thu'um?" Tolfdir looked at me in surprise.
"No idea what that is."
"Oh yes, I forgot you are new to Skyrim, I suppose this knowledge isn't as widespread outside. The Thu'um at its basic, is the language of Dragons." He said, molding his hands around his small flame, keeping it contained and radiating heat. "The Thu'um isn't like magic as you would probably know it, when a dragon speaks, the world listens."
"Oh, that makes sense. They aren't 'casting' spells, they are forcing their will onto reality." I mused. It sounded more like Divine Words from back home. Actually, that's also quite similar to how Primordial Runes work as well.
"That is exactly correctly." He blinked giving a smile. "Even the fires that spout from their mouths, it is merely a few words for a dragon, yet not much a mortal can do to match it. I have heard legends that when two dragons do battle, it is actually them having an argument."
[Hoh, that sounds interesting, I wonder...]
I think me and Ddraig shared a similar thought there. "Is there a way to learn the Thu'um?"
"There is, though it takes decades of intense study to even master a single word. There is actually an order of monks on the Throat of the World that devote themselves entirely to do so."
Interesting....very, very interesting.
"Well, I don't believe you should have to worry about such things here. In my research, I haven't been able to pinpoint this place as anywhere of great importance." Tolfdir reassured. "Not to say that the ruins hold no academic purpose. We can only guess at what history is underground here."
"ROOOOAARRR" a voice boomed out over the snow.
"...is that at troll?" I questioned, seeing the outline of an ape-like creature smashing its hands into the ground.
"So, It appears." Tolfdir nodded.
"Huh, I haven't actually seen one before. Ugly things, aren't they?"
He hummed in agreement. "And they serve no true purpose, if it were a bear or some sort of animal, I may have just deemed it appropriate to scare them away. But a troll just burdens whatever region it decides to settle down in."
"You want this one?" I eyed him; I wouldn't mind taking care of it but....
He gave a small chuckle. "I wouldn't mind stretching these old bones for a moment." The flame in his hand danced around his fingers, and with a flick of his wrist it shot towards the Troll who was still trying to intimidate the caravan.
I was expecting a fireball of some sorts, maybe even something that would disintegrate the creature, but no, the ball erupted into a pillar that shot a good twenty feet into the air and consumed everything in that small area.
I guess the title of 'master' isn't just for show, even if it is for a different school of magic.
"That should do it." He smiled lightly.
Not even a mild roadblock, but then again, the College really does have some monsters in it.
***
"Here we are." Tolfdir exclaimed, as the excavation site came into view.
It wasn't particularly large, about what you would imagine. The people all around me started to unload their carts, several began setting up tents and making a camp that was livable.
The weather hadn't let up, even now, the snowstorm made it hard to see more than fifty yards infront of yourself.
"Is there even a name to go along with this place?" I looked down into the dug out pit that revealed just a single door and some stone structures protruding out of the ground. Clearly It had been swallowed by the ravages of time.
"We didn't have time to research anything inside yet. The Draugr came onto us rather quickly and I was more concerned about evacuating my students and the non-mages that had accompanied us on the project." Tolfdir stated.
Ah, that's why he didn't just deal with them all by himself. I'm probably not even needed here, but this is my 'punishment', I guess I'll do the grunt work.
And I don't mind helping out Tolfdir, he probably needs to oversee the camp as well.
"I guess I'll get started then."
"Make sure you're probably prepared. Even if you have full confidence, you should always have the basics with you." Tolfdir lightly chastised me, almost in a grandfatherly way.
"I have potions, food and a lot of other supplies for emergencies."
He just nodded, smiling. "It's just an old man's worries. If you don't feel like you can handle it, just come back out." He gave me a small pat on the back.
"I can handle this." I waved him off.
"Alright, off you go then." He gestured me away, letting out a small laugh.
What a nice guy. Definitely my favorite teacher at the College so far.
Well, here we go.
I walked down and opened the doors, leading to a half-caved entrance way. It looked like it had been reinforced already, allowing for people to come and go.
There were a few light sources everywhere, some magical-looking candles, a few lanterns here or there with what looked like fireflies inside. I think there was some light coming from the ceiling as well? I couldn't quite see how it was working, but I think it was magical.
Well, when in doubt assume its magic.
The first true 'room' was a bit odd, like a huge stone pillar with a winding staircase and a bunch of doors everywhere. The staircase looked very weather, practically falling apart at the seams. I think this room was about as far as the previous expedition got before being chased away.
There were a couple scaffoldings around, keeping the walls nice and sturdy. I did admire their precautions, it wasn't like this in the olden days of my old home. They were more concerned about finding treasure than securing something for historical significance.
Well, it would suck...for people without wings.
The refreshing feeling of my wings being exposed to air was always nice after not using them for some time.
I did make a mental note to give them some more exercise every now and then. They were technically a 'body part' even if they were magical in nature.
A simple glide down to the bottom and I was met with the immediate attention of a dozen or so entities.
They were already up and about, skulking out from the corners of the room. Their armor clanking with each step, metal weapons being drawn from weathered sheaths.
I did make sure to put my wings away, don't want a luck hit to nip them. It seems like something that would be excruciatingly painful.
Well...show time.
My body circuits flared, Reinforcement covered my body and I drew Dawnbreaker from my ring. It's warm flame was very reassuring, even if I wasn't at all intimidated by the situation, it was soothing to hold in my hand.
"Hey, Meridia, are you watching?" I whispered lightly.
The light at the center of my sword pulsed with a faintly ethereal glow.
"Well the, I offer these to you." Does this count as being romantic if she hated undead with a burning passion?
The first Draugr ran up to me, hand fully extended back in a swinging motion. I barely paid it any mind as my sword swung out before it could finish.
Its body was cleaved in two, and practically disintegrated into ash on contact. I had barely felt any resistance, even with its metal armor in the way. I realized just now how powerful this sword truly was in the correct circumstances.
The nature to be Anti-Undead, to be conceptually stronger when facing opponents that meet those criteria. Even if the steel armor wasn't anyway 'necrotic' it was still but paper infront of my weapon. Meridia loathed undead with a passion, I could practically feel her jubilation transfer from the sword.
"If this really makes you so happy, we should make a date of it." I laughed as they clamored towards me.
My sword pierced through another undead, bursting it into flames. This was the bare minimum of what the weapon could do, yet it was such an overwhelming weapon for its fated enemy.
There were further enchantments on it though, ones I couldn't even begin to unravel without years of research. It was a weapon created by a goddess, intended to be wielded by mortal hands. Perhaps not a divine construct, but it was something that could trade blows with a Noble Phantasm and not lose.
I moved through the mob of undead creatures, their swinging not much more than childish flailing. Every swing of my sword, and another walking-corpse was released from the prison of un-life and whatever powers bound were free.
It was exhilarating, wielding such a powerful weapon, and it was all mine.
With a few short moves, the group of zombies had disappeared from the world, and my sword sung with happiness, light filling the room and removing any stain of corruption.
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