Lamentation

Lucius slowly untangled himself from a softly snoring Elenwen. Still hating himself in his thoughts, he put his robes back on and began writing a short note.

'Ele,

It was a fun night. It was lovely seeing you again and how far you've come in life...Even if it's as a celebrated racist, heh.

We both know it won't work, we're too different. Too headstrong. I wish you nothing but the best, except i'm afraid it cannot be with me.

We chose our paths, so let us live them.

Watch the skies,

Naganwè x '

He finished his hastily scribbled letter and placed it by the bedside table, leaving a conjured black rose behind with slightly glossed eyes.

He slowly made his way to the door, taking one last glance at the sleeping Altmer, and with a sorrowful sigh he opened the door to leave.

Slow rhythmic taps bounced of the echoey walls with each stride, as Lucius made his way back to the entrance.

"Rulindil, was it?" Lucius tapped on the man's desk.

"Yes~ How may i help you?" The elf replied, looking up to Lucius's eyes.

"Where's the torture chamber?" He asked, with his eyes glowing green.

Rulindil listlessly swayed before answering "Through that doorway. Down the stairs. Need the key." He replied in a monotone voice.

"And where is the investigations information?" Lucius asked again, picking up a set of keys on the desk.

"Behind you. Chest." He responded lifelessly.

Lucius, having got the needed information, placed his ringed hand in the mans forehead and watched him turn into a husk. His skin turning a rotted grey, as he slumped onto the desk.

Moving to the chest he opened it to reveal two small journals regarding dragons and a missing man named Esbern.

'So they know nothing about the dragons, and blame the blades. Two sides of the same deluded coin...' He thought while reading through the dossier and making his way down the stairs.

"You! you're not meant to be down here." A guard in elven plate bellowed as he opened the door to the execution chamber.

"Oh? I thought this was the door to the execution chamber?" Lucius displayed mock confusion. "You see, i needed to get some...toys." He whispered to the guard, hiding a grin.

"O-oh, go ahead." The guard stuttered.

'Idiot.' Lucius thought, conjuring a dagger he used to slit the guards throat as he turned away.

The gurgling of blood resounded, a long stride over the fallen guard and Lucius advanced into the chamber spotting one man locked to a wall.

"Enough. No more. I told you all i know." The man whimpered.

"How about you tell me once more." Lucius demanded in a fake voice.

"I don't even know anything...There's an old man...he lives in Riften. He could be this Esbern you're looking for. I don't know. He's old and seemed kind of crazy. That's all I know." He pleaded.

"Thank you. Now, why don't i get you out of those binds." Lucius chirped and began to unlock his handcuffs.

"Wha- Why didn't you just ask me after you released me!" He angrily whispered.

"What guarantee would i have you would tell me?" Lucius replied, casting a healing spell on the mans back.

"Argh! Fine, there's a trapdoor over there. It might lead to a way out. Are you done here or should i wait by the door." The man asked, eyeing the area for any movement.

"I'm done. We can g-" Lucius was cut off.

"Halt! We have your informant, spy! Surrender and we won't cut him down." Two guards shouted down to Lucius and the man, holding Malborn hostage.

"Uh, go ahead. Why would i care?" Lucius looked at them confused and walked to the trapdoor.

The sound of a body hitting the floor followed and the two guards rushed to Lucius, who was hiding behind a wall two spells in each hand.

He spun past the first guard who ran past and blasted his face with black fire, before lunging and piercing the eyes of the second guard with his lightning infused fingers.

"You don't fuck around, do you?" The tortured man muttered with fear.

"No, now hurry up. I don't want to deal with a pissed off lightning maiden." He replied opening the trap door.

"Is there a story behind that." The man replied jumping down the hole.

"Not for you to hear." Lucius followed bluntly.

A cave layered in bodies, blood and snow. The stench of rotting flesh assaulted his nose as he lit his left hand up in bright flames, illuminating the cave.

"Be careful, i doubt such a smell wouldn't attract beasts." Lucius said to the man beside him, staring at a peculiar gemstone next to an alchemists satchel. "I call mine on that stone." He pointed, while informing the man.

"You can have everything in here, i owe you my life. If you're ever in riften and need help, find me in the Ratway and i'll help in anyway i can." The man expressed his gratitude.

"A lovely name..." Lucius disinterestedly commented, picking up the bright pink gem in its case.

"Shh, there's a troll." The man whispered and tried dragging Lucius to cover.

"Hiding won't help, he can smell us even in this cesspit of shit and blood." Lucius announced, walking up to the huffing troll. "Don't hurt it, i'll calm the beast and he can cover our exit." He said casting a small green ball into the trolls hide.

"Look, i know we just met and i don't know you...But, are you okay? You seem blunt, uncaring..." The man cautiously asked.

"I'm just reflecting on how much of a bastard i truly am. Don't worry, you'll get out safely." Lucius mumbled a reply, calculating if his calm spell worked or not.

"Can we go? I think i see light." The man asked Lucius.

"Mhm." He nodded and walked past the troll. "I might take up that offer for help when i search for this..Esbern." Lucius declared, looking at the man. "What's your name?" He asked.

"Etienne Rarnis. Thieves guild member." He replied before running off.

"Huh~ Great job, Lucius. You became a scumbag and an accomplice to theft all in one day." He berated himself.

'Let's just go back before i fuck anything else up.' He decided.

.

.

.

In small empty tavern, lit only by the fire and dotted torches, a girl with ashen blond hair stared down in a bowl of red and green sludge. The fumes and residue of the process evident on her button nose that cutely wrinkled up at the smell.

She gently moved the brew into an awaiting glass bottle. Filling it with the twirling mixture and capping with a cork, before turning to see Lucius entering the inn.

"Lucius!" Ciri gently put the potion aside and wrapped him up in a friendly hug. One that Lucius clung to. "Lucius? What's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing, how are you?" He asked, avoiding the subject.

"Im good. Just finished brewing a potion i thought of for vampires...Are you really okay?" She asked again breaking the hug to look him in the eye.

Heavy bags shadowed his pale blue eyes and a tired half smile was painted on his face. "Yes, i'm just tired. Really, there's nothing to fret over, Ciri... Is Delphine here?" He asked after assuring the girl.

"She's in the room with your gear. Find anything useful?" She asked, leading him to Delphine.

"Some interesting information from a prisoner and two documents. One on the dragons and another on a man called Esbern." He responded.

"You made it out alive, at least." Delphine voiced seeing Lucius enter with Ciri. "So? Was i right?" She probed.

"No, the Thalmor know nothing about the dragons coming back." He informed her, taking a seat on the table.

"Really? That seems hard to believe. You're sure about that?" She replied dryly.

"You really want to do this?" He sighed. "Why send me in the first place if you're going to question my every word." He said, looking up to the ceiling.

"We're talking later, Lucius." Ciri bluntly said before she walked out.

'Great~' He thought.

"You're right, i'm sorry. I was just so sure it was them...I guess my hate of them clouded my judgment." She apologised.

"I did find out they were looking for a man named Esbern in Riften." He said looking back to Delphine.

"Esbern? He's alive... I thought the Thalmor must have got him years ago. That crazy old man... Figures the Thalmor would be on his trail, though, if they were trying to find out what's going on with the dragons." She spoke with a hand on her chin.

"I'll throw a wild guess and say he's a expert on dragon lore from your reaction..." Lucius smiled.

"Heh, that's playing it down...More like an obsession, but his heart is in the right place." She laughed a little. "We need to find him dragonborn. His help could prove useful."

"I was thinking the same. Me and Ciri will go after she bites my ear off." Lucius agreed.

"Good luck with that. She wouldn't sit still while you were away." Delphine subtly teased.

"Any advice for a fellow dragon hunter?" He pleaded to her.

"Distract her?" Was the half-assed response.

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I guess the peace meeting later on is gonna be awkward, huh?

I still have trouble writing dungeon progression it seems...

Have a good one.

Your "patently evil" Author ;)