166 Chapter XXIX: Azura

For an instant, I felt like I was about to get completely erased, the near-direct stare of the Daedra was a terrifying thing no matter how experienced one was. So terrifying in fact that I felt just a tad angered at the unnecessary posturing. The light annoyance was enough for my inheritance to bubble to the surface and the Daedric influence was soon reduced to a mere trickle.

As the Daera's gaze left me something finally clicked, the feeling of being observed from time to time, notably at Bleak Falls and in Solitude... it was the same as I have felt now.

Time to get me some answers then.

I dusted off the snow covering my robes and ascended the stairs to the temple, my companion following behind with a cautious gait. As we approached the stone doors of the temple opened and I came face to face with the High Priestess Aranea, with two armed pilgrims to both her sides, likely guards of some kind.

She stares at me expectantly and I summon the star, all three Dunmer gasp in wonder before the priestess gets a better look at it and snaps her gaze toward me.

I merely shrug in response "The idiot that tried to possess it became more and more desperate as he realized he was going to fail, this is the result."

Her hands shake as he holds the star, a wave of panic and fury bubbling up behind the serene mask she wore.

Before she could go on a religious tantrum and try to burn a bitch I rose my hand to draw her attention "Please do not tell me you think the star is unfixable, a Daedra unable to fix its own artifact would not be one worthy of worship."

She stills for a moment before giving me a stern look "Such words may be considered blasphemy, especially from one chosen to champion the cause." The two pilgrims grasp their blades but do not draw.

I openly snort in derision "Am I blaspheming or do you merely lack faith, priestess?"

Whatever retort she might have prepared immediately died in her throat as her stare softened and she nodded "Indeed you are right, I was blinded by grief and forgot to have trust in our lady."

"That is sweet and all but I do not have all day so please let us ascend the altar so I may help cleanse the taint post haste." I urge her on with a lazy wave before turning to Nightshade "You should remain here and have a rest... that is unless you wish to experience some prime soul fuckery that is about to happen."

The Falmer looks contemplative for a moment before stepping forward and falling in behind me wordlessly.

"If that is what you wish." I say with a shrug, yet with a hint of pride hidden in my words.

Aranea waves for us to follow after her while telling her guards to remain within the temple. As we leave the main room she cannot help but comment "Must you be so openly impious? It will make your request harder to fulfill and will only serve to make you look lesser in the eyes of the devout."

I shake my head and snidely retort "Azura started it."

The High Priestess stills for a second, takes a deep breath and resumes walking as if she did not just hear me act like a petulant child toward her patron.

Very patient, this one.

We pass yet another hallway before the priestess opens the final door and to my great surprise, we are not immediately slammed into the harsh mountain wind of Skyrim we are welcomed by a serene and warm, maybe even motherly, embrace.

I let out an impressed whistle "You really went all out with the aura of the place, I admit I am impressed."

Instead of what I expected the priestess smiles humbly and explains with just a hint of smugness "It is our lady who blesses all pilgrims with her welcoming embrace, not a work of magic."

Huh "Surprising." I answer non-committedly.

"Is it?" Aranea questions almost arrogantly "Does your own patron not invest herself in her followers?"

I snort at her attempt and flick the Ebony Blade into my left hand "No, she just saddles me with her artifacts I did not ask for" I banish the knife before the gaping priestess and keep ascending the stairs like nothing happened "We can have a religious debate when my task has been completed, come."

And she does, after a bit more gaping of course. As we stand before the altar she sends a silent prayer to Azura and I feel a wave of power suffuse the star before retreating. Aranea then tries praying and channeling the power through herself which pushes deeper into the star but still ends up repulsed by what is within.

Finally, Aranea turns back to me with just a hint of defeat in her expression "Approach the altar, the Lady of Dusk and Dawn would give you your mandate."

I hold back another snide remark and place my hands on the altar as instructed.

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Moments later I stand in a resplendent garden, its beauty is so great I feel my eyes attempt to stop functioning to preserve my mind from imploding but the act of bringing me here specifically, the place said to literally blind all visitors with its beauty, infuriates me greatly and the colors of the garden soon dull under my own influence, allowing me to gaze fully at the projection of Azura's realm.

"You finally show yourself, child of false divinity." I hear a pleasant yet stern voice behind me and turn around, and there sits in all her glory the self-proclaimed 'mother' of the Dunmer. The aesthetic definitely fits, bluish-grey skin, piercing red eyes, and a white dress with a crown of flowers.

The Daedra practically radiated a motherly feeling, though currently, it was one of the more stern variety which somewhat detracted from the image.

I lightly incline my head, purposefully not bowing "Lady Azura, what an honor."

She gazes at me, evaluating something, before frowning ever so slightly "You do not sound honored my child."

I stop myself from rolling my eyes but even the barest intent is enough for my inner thoughts to be made known and the Daedra narrows its eyes. Deciding to ignore the whole song and dance I simply shrug "I am indeed not, your welcome was not indicative of a meeting in good faith and so I shall hold no faith for that is what was earned."

A hint of offense passes through the Daedra's eyes before it is replaced with amusement, she gives me a patient, motherly smile as she speaks "What a wily child you are, so very prideful even in the face of a god."

"Indeed" I drawl and then quickly add in my best impression of Dagoth Ur's voice "What a fool I am." And by all I find holy I swear I see her eyebrow twitch.

It appears good ole' gramps had done a bit more than merely sit in a volcano and spew his divine disease if her reaction is any indication...

Her demeanor shifts as he decides on a different approach, and she looks at me with curiosity "Why accept my request if you plan on following your ancestor's foolishness?"

It appeared that the patron was as patient as the priest... I raise an impressed eyebrow but then quickly lower it as my answer is given "And why would I follow his idiocy? Just because I may share his views on the Divine and Daedric doesn't mean I will pursue the same goals as he." She nods with some satisfaction at my answer, obviously unhappy at my 'defiance' but understanding enough.

"As for why accepted your task, why would I not?" I ask incredulously "Your star is literally one of the best things I could get and even your silent support would do wonders for my plans."

I can feel the atmosphere turn... pouty? What? As Azura summons a cup of tea, the heretic, and takes a calming sip "So it was pragmatism that brought you here in the end?"

"That it was" I answer easily "I do however have a question of my own."

"I shall indulge you after you complete my task." She denies just as easily.

Understandable... I nod "Very well, how do we proceed?"

She banishes the cup and stands up "You shall enter my star and do battle with the spirit of Melyn Varen, his soul shall be mine to punish and upon his defeat, I shall extract you safely and grant you the blessing of my star."

I nod a couple of times before smirking at her "In writing please."

My enhanced eyesight allows me to notice the slightest eye twitch before she speaks "Your mistrust does you no favors in my domain."

I openly scoff at the attempt at manipulation "And the fact you can blackmail me to do whatever you like when I am victorious does not fill me with trust and piety."

She sighs in disappointment, the feeling ramming itself into my mind but I easily dismantle it, the constant visits from Mephala had taught me to resist such things with ease, and waves her hand.

A prompt appears in my mind, it has a lot of flowery language, vague instructions, and vaguer promises. I look up at the Daedra and with a gleeful smile deny her offer.

This time her eye twitches openly "Do you find it entertaining to play with the divine? I have other ways to punish those who blaspheme against me, much like Malyn shall learn."

"I beg your forgiveness, Lady Azura" I decide to be a tad more polite "But as a diligent student I must listen to my teachers' lessons and employ utmost caution when dealing with those who have played this game for longer than my family line had existed."

This seems to placate her some and she sends me another offer, this one is far better but I notice a light inconsistency with just how 'defeated' the target should be.

I refuse again.

Azura's look turns completely blank, and before I can even open my mouth I get another offer.

[Beat the shit out of Malyn and kill him and I will immediately bring you out of the star.]

Once again I look up at the ancient Daedra, her expression is unreadable but I can practically taste her annoyance. That will teach you to pressure me...

This time I do accept.

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Without waiting for even a second Azura waves her hand and I find myself standing inside a crystalline cave. The view would have been beautiful if not for the distorted gravely voice of my current host blaring from all over the place "My students finally send more food I see."

I follow the magical signature and immediately zero in on the source, the moment I do so the voice grows panicked "What?! Who are you?!"

"You may refer to me as Lord Dagoth" The panic grows "And I have come to kick you out of my newest toy, you are cluttering the place and I have better things to do than waste it on an idiot."

"Wha-"

I do not wait for his response and immediately rush in his direction. The old Conjurer was no slouch mage however and half a dozen Dremora warriors alongside two mages appeared in my path, while an old and bony Dunmer stood behind them.

He looked like he wanted to monologue.

I had no such intentions.

The Dremora yelled out their battle cries and rushed toward me, carelessly pushing against each other in their desire for violence.

As they approached I suddenly felt the space around me more clearly, my honed instincts finally understanding the space I found myself in. I was practically drowning in soul energy, and I was a master of enchantment with a focus on soul control...

With a gleeful chuckle, I pulled at the surrounding energies and a massive amount of the crystals embedded around me suddenly jumped out of the ground surrounding me as if imitating the great armory of some ancient heroic King.

Mostly out of habit, I snapped my fingers and hell broke loose. The Dremora tried to fend off the massive amount of crystalline projectiles but that only served to prolong their suffering as where one failed two took its place.

Malyn did not do much better. The man tried to take command of the soul energy around him but he was no master, nor did he have my own inherent advantages and soon he ended up nearly crucified against a large pillar as his servants were promptly sent back to oblivion.

I approached the old Mer as he coughed in pain "How can someone so young..." He trails off as he stares at me in despair.

"And how can someone so old be so stupid to try and soul trap themselves in Azura's artifact?" I ask rhetorically "Not to mention you are a Dunmer you complete lackwit."

He stares at me derisively, no doubt blinded by his own delusions of superiority and 'the spirit of discovery' or however he justified this idiocy to himself. "Come then puppet of the Daedra, do your worst." He gives me a toothless smile.

I frown at his insinuation "I am going to beat you to death now."

His terrified gulp was very satisfying.

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Bippity boppity bop

Your stones in my lap shall drop

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