Chapter 28: Pursuit for Knowledge

Hours prior to the clash with the corrupted Sivreth and Elika, Sivreth had failed to resist the temptation of Apocrypha.

He was drawn to the knowledge that dwelt in this Realm, as such his mind slowly was corrupted by the temptation and lust for more.

Without adequate mental defences he was unable to resist the lust for knowledge and slowly Apocrypha took hold of him, changing and morphing his body to become one of it's Daedric Seekers.

Moments before Elika reached the [Black Book: Lazarus Rune-Song], Sivreth had found many volumes of lost knowledge which he crazily read and absorbed into his mind, only further hastening the process at which his body morphed into that of an Daedra.

The last book he was reading was something he had jealousy coverted upon it's discovery.

His body and magical powers were further enhanced by the partial Daedric form he had, allowing him to kill numerous Seeker and Lurker Daedra throughout the realm with minimal effort.

The book which he had attached to his waist was the personal journal of the Dragon Priest Ahzidaal himself.

The journal was the best find in all of Apocrypha for Sivreth as it contained knowledge of the Dwemer's seven secrat Metallurgy techniques, Ancient Falmer Magic, Dawn Magic, Ayleid Magic, Ancient Altmer Magic, Bosmer's druidic Magic, Ancient Mysticism and even the Magic of the Dragons along with Ahzidaal's private magical notes on various Schools as well as his specialty of Enchanting.

At that point, upon reading from the journal, Sivreth's mind was fully gone, now it was only a matter of time for his body to become that of a Seeker.

Upon feeling the change caused about by Elika in the surrounding environment, he had followed the disturbance to its source.

The Daedric mind of Sivreth viewed Elika as nothing more than a thief wanting to steal "his" Black Book and "his" journal, which had previously belonged to Ahzidaal.

The two clashed with one another but Elika had sent the duo plummeting to the region below the Black Book's level.

While Elika had managed to land relatively fine with only a few bruises, Sivreth had crashed onto a stone table, his spine breaking upon impact.

Elika miscalculated as she had thought the Half-Daedric body of his would allow him to be unscathed.

She was right and wrong, the Daedric Regeneration Sivreth now had, allowed his spine to repair itself within a few minutes.

Long enough for Elika to recover from the fall herself.

As for Elika, she hurriedly went to his position and found him slowly getting up from of the table he had crashed onto.

Not wasting the opportunity, she encased his entire body within a cocoon of ice to immobilise him for some time.

"T-this has to be a trick! How can he become a Daedra?! Why is there no records of something like this happening!" She yelled in frustration and anger caused about the influx of emotions she was experiencing.

Cautiously approaching the encased Elf, she inspected it and sighed in relief that he wasn't conscious yet to be able to break free.

"There has to be a way to help him return to normal?"

Elika felt a chill run down her spine as she frantically looked all around her, the power that weighed down on her, the fear she felt.

Out of thin air, numerous portals of an inky substance, a mass of writhing tentacles and dozens of monstrous eyes formed all around her in space.

"Oh...there is...child." a echoing voice slowly answered my unasked question as it was solely for myself.

"Who are y-you?" I accidently stuttered out due to the fear I felt.

"I am Hermaeus Mora, the Gardener of Men, knower of the unknown, master of fates. You stand in my realm, mortal."

"What do you want from me from?"

"I've been watching you Mortal. Very interesting...for one of your age to resist the temptations of Apocrypha. I have heard your pleas and come with an offer."

"What offer?" I asked cautiously.

If there is anyway to save Sivreth and return him to normal, only a God would be able to do so. And I have no choice left, this is my only chance to save him.

"You see, I saved his life in exchange for something of equal worth. Something he has yet to deliver upon me. Until he has repaid me, he will never be allowed to leave Apocrypha. But, if you were to take on what should have been his to repay onto me; not only will I revert him to his Mortal form, but I will allow the two of you to leave Apocrypha. What say you?"

"I don't understand, how would I be able to mantle his deal with you, and what could I possibly give to you that is of equal value to his life."

"I'm sure you can think of something. Or why don't you ask him yourself. While there are things I do desire, one of which you could easily abtain for me upon your return to Nirn, but that is of minimal interest. No, I want a pact to be made. One that will bind your soul to it, until either you or him fulfils it, I will hold dominion over your soul and can claim it should the contract ever is violated."

I was left speechless for a while as I thought over it.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"My word is as true as fate, as inevitable as destiny. Bring me what I want, and I will give you what you desire."

Hmm...

"I accept but on a few conditions to ensure their are no loopholes."

"Of course..."

"One, until the contract is fulfilled you cannot make me a slave of yours by having control of my soul. Two, you cannot claim my soul until both the contract is directly expressed verbally by him or myself and until 10 years have passed from this moment. Three, you have to cure him now and guarantee that we can leave Apocrypha. In exchange...."

I thought long and hard on what I could offer him, I needed to give him something he wants to convince him to leave us be.

Come on! Think!

Siv's always daydreaming about his damn books!

There has to be something he said about Hermaeous Mora!

...

...

...

!!!

I got it!

**********

*flashback, 2 months ago*

"Aaaahhh! Come on! Why can't we just go and meet up with the others! Why are you obsessed with learning about the North anyway?"

I was frustrated!

All he does is stare at the maps of Tamriel all day while writing notes in a weird language I've never seen before.

I tried researching what it could be but it wasn't in any tongue native to Tamriel that's for sure. Not a single Man or Mer alphabet matches what he wrote.

Unbeknownst to Elika, Sivreth had written in English. Once he showed her some written words which said "I am dumb, I can't read English". Somehow, Elika sensed she was being offended and burned one of the maps he had gotten. Of course he got a replacement but it did cause him trouble to reobtain and then on he promised never to do that again.

I stopped dangling my legs and got to my feet from off the table I was on and walked over to the map he was making notes on.

There was a symbol of a village with lots, and I mean lots, of notes attached to it.

"What's this map show? I don't recognise it?"

"Oh this. Its Solstheim, North of Windhelm city and on the borders of both Skyrim and Vvardenfell. It once was part of Skyrim but was seperated from the mainland after a great battle between two powerful individuals."

"And what's all this say?"

I pointed to the notes beside the village on the map.

He seemed to ponder something for a few moments before coming to decision and spoke.

"This is the village of the Skaal people. They are a hidden clan of Nord settlers on the island. They worship a singular deity called the All-Maker. The Skaal have been the enimies of the Daedric Prince Hermaeous Mora, whom they mock by calling Herma Mora, for a very long time."

"Why are they enimies? What did they do to each other?"

"Basically nothing. The Skaal have kept their secrats safe for many years, and Hermaeous Mora has long since developed a great obsession to learn the secrats they have kept from him. He wishes to bring all knowledge into his Realm of Oblivion. The easiest way to make the best deal imaginable with the Daedric Prince is to retrieve the Secrats of the Skaal for him. It's not even that hard, there are barely any warriors. The chief/shaman has the secrat volume inside his hut and his daughter is the only real threat as she is a strong warrior. How strong? I don't know."

"How do you know all this?!"

"It's a secrat...ow ow ow! stop it! My ear! It's sensitive!"

"You are coming with me right now and getting out of this damn place!"

*********

"Yes, in exchange I will promise to one day bring you the secrats of the Skaal!"

"! How would one of your age know of such things?"

"That's not part of the deal? Unless you want to know, for taking the price of the pact?"

"...very well Mortal. I accept the terms, but first. You must prove yourself capable enough to carry out the contract. Use this dagger, pierce his chest with it and his body will be restored to its Mortal state. The dagger will not deliver a Lethal blow."

Out of thin air, a black dagger with black tendrils wrapping around the hilt and guard, dropped into my hand.

At the same time, Sivreth broke free from his confinement as the sound of the ice shattering was proof enough.

"Do well to put on a good display for me, young Seeker."

With the Daedric Prince's final words, he vanished from sight and what replaced the space where Mora's eyes and tendrils once resided was the face of Sivreth leaping at me!

He raised his fist, readyvto strike at me, but I crouched down and outstretched my leg.

Dodging both the attack while counter attacking with a kick of my own, it struck home, and he groaned in pain before growling at me.

I conjoured a Bound Sword, while Siv never had the desire to learn Conjuration for some reason, I didn't hold the same drawback.

With the Bound Sword in my hand, I intend to use it to cut at his calves and any point that would allow me to get close enough, in order to plunge the dagger Mora gave me into his chest, hopefully curing him of this curse that plagues him.

I rushed forward swinging my the sword in a horizontal arc at his left arm, it cut deep as much blood poured out of the wound.

I backed away to give myself se distance from the single attack. I can't get greedy just cause I landed a single strike.

Just as I was going to follow up with another attack I was frozen with shock as the woumd on his arm began to heal on its own without any aid of Magic!

Sivreth decided to go on the offensive and created a blizzard of ice that completely engulfed the surrounding area.

Retreating behind what cover i could find, I found one of those magic scorns on the wall not far from me.

Having thought of a plan, I channeled all the Magicka I could muster and used it to create many Fire Runes that littered all across the ground.

Each Fire Rune held even greater power within them thanks to the condensed Magicka I had used to enhance its power.

Having drained all my Magicka; I quickly made my way to the Magicka Scorn on the wall.

Sivreth saw this and tried to pursue me only to have suffered greatly for his error as he stepped on one of the Fire Runes.

If this was the real Siv fighting such a trick would never had worked on him, thankfully it seems his mind is not entirely sane enough to formulate rational thought to such a degree.

Having felt my Magicka returned to my body I sent a Fireball in his direction, even if it hits, that freakish Daedric regeneration will help him.

My Fireball was met with an identical, yet opposite, attack as my spell collided with an Iceball he had casted.

Raising his hands he sent out a vortex of green spirals, exactly like the Seeker's I had fought.

My Ward blocked the Daedric paralysis spell.

His body began to blur and in the next instant, multiple illusionary clones stood beside him.

"Not this again!"

Yelling in frustration I sent out multiple near-invisible blades of wind, a spell Siv had crated and taught to me.

The Illusions were very weak as they were destroyed with a single hit, unlike the green mist I was expecting when I destroyed the Illusions, the dispersed in a gold mist tainted with some blackness to it.

One of the wind blades that hit the real Sivreth caused a deep wound on his chest causing him to momentarily stagger.

I created a field of electricity to surround me, it was something I could only do for a short time.

His body was struck by my electricity as his flesh sizzled.

He was far too close to me thus I immediately began to sprint away from him to get enough distance to wittle down his strength bit by bit.

*tick*

?!

"Shit!"

I muttered as I realised I had just stepped on a magical Rune of some kind from the sound I heard.

A great pain assaulted my body as I felt myself being electrocuted from the detonated Lighting Rune.

'When did he cast it?!'

I thought as I fell to my knees, barely keeping myself from hitting the ground.

Realising I had remained still for too long I turned back while raising my left arm to block whatever attack he might send at me, while grasping Mora's dagger with my right.

Fortunately, it wasn't a spell as he pounced on me like a Khajiit and tried to bite my face off yet again.

We both stood frozen, neither making a move, that is until his eyes widened in shock.

I had pierced his chest with Mora's dagger, using the momentum of his body to impale himself upon it as he pushed me to the ground.

He let out a shriek of pain as he clutched his chest screaming and yelling.

The dagger in his chest turned into green glowing particles before they rapidly multiplied and engulfed his entire body.

I was nervous as this all transpired waiting to know the outcome.

After a few seconds, the cloud that had engulfed him vanished along with all signs of the Half-Daedric appearance he had once possessed!

He's back!

"Siv!" I yelled with glee as ran towards him and took him in my embrace.

"I-I-I'm sorry...I don't know...I didn't...I-I couldn't control myself, I swear I would never ha-"

*sob*

He paused his words as he heard my quiet sobs as my hug tightened.

"Shut up! Just don't say anything! I'm just relieved your back!"

I soon felt his arms take me in a hug.

We stayed like this for a minute before I felt him twitch and shiver slightly.

"We need to leave this place! Now!" His voice was filled with panic and fear painted across his face.

"What? Is someth-"

That was when I heard it...

The echoing roars of a dragon in the distance. If I, a Human could hear it, then it must be here soon, or at least close by.

I was caught of guard as Siv tightly grasped my shoulders and stared into my eyes with a serious glare.

"Eilka! Listen to me! You must remeber these words! You must say them when he asks you!" He shouted at me, which made me scared and try to pull away from him.

"I don-"

"YOU MUST REMEMBER THE WORDS OR WE'RE BOTH GOING TO DIE! 'Latta'a Angua Adonai' REMEMBER IT! 'Latta'a Angua Adonai' GOT IT!"

"L-Latta'a Angua Adonai, ye-yes I got it!"

"Quickly! We need to find a Black Book to escape Apocrypha!"

"Wait! I saw one on the level above us, over there!"

I pointed to where my clash with his corrupted self had begun.

"Quickly! Before he finds us!"

I didn't nod but instead took of in a sprint alongside him as we hurriedly made our way back to the Black Book in hopes of escaping Apocrypha.

******************

spoiler alert for ESO: Necrom DLC

continuing from last chaotet author note.

it turns out that in Necrom DLC it is revealed that Mora had used a spell of his own design to literally erase the memory of a Daedric Prince called Ithelia, known as the Prince of Paths, the Mistress of the Untraveled Road, the Unseen, the Fate-Changer is the Daedric Prince of Paths. She supposedly had the ability to shape destiny, alter fate and rearrange its strands to her whims. Considering this power a threat to reality, Hermaeus Mora erased the memory of the Prince from existence in order to preserve reality. Ithelia left behind her loyal servant, Torvesard, as a contingency plan in her absence.

what does this mean?

it means that every protagonist of the games is literally her doing.

Heroes aka the Prisoner and the Doom Driven Hero or cursed Heroes are individuals heavily tied to the path of Fate.

they have the ability to seize control of their own Fate and Destiny thus, they end up becoming more powerful than many individuals in the universe.

the Dragonborn and the Nerevarine are two good examples. also Cyrus the Redguard is believed to be a reincarnation of a God that can never lose and would always succeed or some shit like that.

anyway, point being, Ithelia was erased from memory of all the other Gods and even all of the Aurbis itself. it is never said that she died, only she was erased from memory.

it is also revealed that Vaermina and Peryite met with Mora to discuss this at his request but the two disagreed cause they viewed this as going too far to desecrate their memory and another Prince.

however, Mora did erase their memory against their will, however he did say some other Daedra had agreed with him on this. he sealed his own memories away inside 3 Glyphics, devices of his own making.

Vaermina and Peryite both attacked Mora but with ESO protagonist help, Mora was able to defeat them both and absolutely shit on Vaermina, like Holy Shit that was epic.

now one last thing, Ithelia is so powerful cause of her ability, and cause of her effecting the Hero/Prisoner protagonists of the games, it is possible that one protagonist in the future will become strong enough to succeed The Godhead and escaped the Godhead's Dream and create a new Reality.

because of Ithelia's broken power of Fate and Destiny, it is possible for this to eventually happen.