2.3

To read up to 15 chapters ahead: https://www.patréon.com/SlyOW

-------------

It seemed I wasn't the only one looking over the city as Ralof, mistaking our gazes, or mine at least, as an intrigued one, said, "This Helgen. I used to sweet on a girl from here. Wonder if Vilod is still making that mead with juniper berries mixed in."

I looked at the other players, and felt a little disappointed by what I saw. None of them looked alarmed by the discovery. Those who recognized the city was bigger couldn't understand a problem, and those who would have didn't know the game well enough.

Well, no one's perfect.

Meanwhile, Ralof sighed, "Funny, when I was a boy, Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so safe."

Behind me, Anthony suddenly blurted out, "Not safe enough to protect from a dragon!"

I, along with everyone in our team, looked at him with wide eyes. And seeing his guilty face, he had probably lost 10 Points. Fucking moron.

Ralof only laughed at that though, "Walls don't protect you from legends indeed, only a strong man."

I looked back at him, smiling outwardly while scathing inwardly, "Don't worry about him, he is a moron. He had a dream about a dragon last night and he won't shut up about it."

I tried to speak through it, but I still felt the impulse of smashing Anthony's head apart. While it may have only cost him 10 Points, speaking of a dragon now was bad for the future.

After all, when the dragon comes down, won't they immediately think of what Anthony said? That would make us look like we either had something to do with it, or knew something they didn't, which wasn't the best way to make friendships.

Because I didn't know about my teammates, but I fully intended on exploiting this world by returning once our mission was done.

Skyrim was dangerous, that's for sure, but it was also filled with countless opportunities. Be it to learn magic or simply to pick up weapons, or even to simply train, I was coming back here for sure, and forming relationships would help.

Sowing doubts wouldn't.

Now I could only hope they would accept my excuse and think nothing of it.

While I cursed the dead weight in my mind, I felt someone hit my leg. Turning back to my teammates, I saw Erik, staring at me. Now that he had my attention, he whispered, "Do you have a plan?"

As he asked his question, which was just loud enough so that only our carriage would hear it, all of them were staring at me, expecting me to come up with something.

I merely shrugged, replying, "If you can, follow Ulfric or the silent one behind. But if you can't follow either, try your best to get underground, to the dungeon. There will be a cave connected to it, leading outside."

They nodded, and Sarah asked, "What about you?"

I snorted in response, "I may be stronger than most people in this city, I am nothing next to Alduin. Don't look at the secondary objective, it's only a bait for fools. I will be doing exactly what I told you."

That did not seem to make them feel better, but I couldn't really do much else. Alduin was an absolute monster, one that I doubt even Hunter stood a chance against.

I figured Ulfric and the Dragonborn would live because they were such important characters, even with the changed city, so following them should be the safest path.

That included me too, and that's why I will try to follow them. I don't see why I would do otherwise.

Despite how much bigger the city was compared to the game, eventually, we still arrived at the execution grounds, where an entire unit of Imperials were waiting for us, alongside a priestess and an executioner.

As our carriage stopped, the thief paled, asking, "Why are we stopping?"

I exchanged a glance with Ralof, who snorted, "Why do you think? End of the line."

The thief's face turned even paler, while Ralof looked at me, saying, "Let's go. Shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us."

Interestingly enough, he said this to me, instead of the silent Dragonborn. Well, I guess I was a better talker than the brooding Nord.

Although I hadn't yet seen his face, now that I was next to him, instead of playing him, the Dragonborn being so silent felt a little weird.

Meanwhile, the thief was still trying to talk his way out of this, "No! Wait! We're not rebels!"

He was completely ignored by the Imperials as we all got up, getting down the carriages. Inwardly though, I couldn't help but get a little excited.

Despite the danger of death… scratch that, the danger of death made the experience even more exciting!

Ralof apparently felt some pity for the thief as he continued speaking to him, "Face your death with some courage, thief."

Harsh words, but you don't console a Nord. That would just be rude.

The thief was not the bravest of Nords, however.

"You've got to tell them! We weren't with you! This is a mistake!"

We were surrounded by Imperials, all dressed in heavy armors while a few archers stood in the back, ready to shoot them.

And in front of us were two more of them, an officer and a regular soldier, the second one holding a list.

The officer, a woman, ordered coldly, "Step towards the block when we call your name. One at a time."

As I stepped down from the carriage, Ralof nudged me with his elbow, and said, "Empire loves their damn lists."

I chuckled, "What did you expect, they're the Thalmor's bitch. They probably got a list to be good dogs… wait, that's the White-Gold Concordat!"

There was a second of silence, before Ralof, alongside every Stormcloak, burst into laughter. Lokir and my teammates looked at me strangely, but I ignored them as I laughed alongside them.

"Silence maggots!"

The Imperial officer clearly did not like my joke very much however, judging by the way she was staring daggers at me.

Next to her, the man with the list, Hadvar, looked a little uncomfortable, but he still spoke with a reserved tone, "Ulfric Stormcloak. Jarl of Windhelm."

Ulfric did not make a sound, and walked to the block with dignity.

"It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric!" Ralof said.

Hadvar sent a glance at him, calling out, "Ralof of Riverwood."

The two exchanged a stare as Ralof walked up to the block. The two actually had quite the interesting story, as they were of the same age and came from the same village, Riverwood. Not only that, but they were childhood friends.

However, as the Civil War struck Skyrim and her people, the two chose different sides, resulting in them becoming enemies.

"Lokir of Rorikstead."

The thief, Lokir, had his eyes darting around, looking like a madman as he pleaded, "No, I'm not a rebel. You can't do this!"

Knowing what was about to happen, I prepared myself, and sure enough, that fool Lokir actually started running.

"Halt!"

While the officer screamed at Lokir, I took off with a burst of speed, reaching Lokir in an instant thanks to my strong body, and grabbed him by the shoulder.

He tried to continue running, but I firmly held him down, stopping him in place.

"What are you doing?! Let me go!"

I ignored Lokir, pressing down a little harder on his shoulder as I turned to look at the officer. I was about to apologize when she screamed, "Archers!"

The fuck?