23 Chapter 23

Alexia had thankfully gotten into her own carriage to take her to the school allowing me to round on Ereshkigal for this whole marriage stuff she agreed to.

"Why did you accept that marriage for me... I don't appreciate it honestly as I don't even know those girls much at all." I said looking at Ereshkigal's golden eyes as she nodded at my words.

"You are correct, you don't know them, and you may not in fact come to love them at all. But marrying into the royalty of the nation we are focused on keeping propped up with the coming Holy War is paramount." Eresh said bluntly and I was about to say something but she held up a hand. "Jake, Shadow Garden has not even a thousand members... The neighboring lands that will invade have armies in the millions not counting their semi-immortal demons and dragons that can give your Seven Shades trouble if not outright kill them." Ereshkigal said bluntly and Delta growled at the goddess.

"No! Delta won't lose after all her training with Herakles!" The wolf beastkin said fiercely but Ereshkigal just rolled her eyes.

"Sure you, in particular, won't lose to any amount of the chaff but against the likes of other demi-gods and actual gods like Miraak and Alduin?" Ereshkigal said rolling her eyes and I couldn't help but nod as I knew this wasn't going to be on the game logic or power level as people would be far more powerful and not limited to their standard three elemental spells for Destruction let alone how powerful Alduin the firstborn son of the head god of Nirn Akatosh was going to be.

"So what you wish to tie us to the royalty? But the king wont just hand over his armies to us?" I asked and Ereshkigal sighed looking out the window and shook her head.

"Yes, you are correct. That wily king who wishes to pit us against the Cult to wear it down for him to finish off won't wholeheartedly support and believe our claims." Then Eresh looked at me as she spoke softly. "Except for the fact the man's own death is coming ever closer and I can feel his soul slipping out of his body due to something affecting him."

Alpha then cut in speaking softly. "That's correct it felt like some kind of magical effect was on him... I felt like spiderwebs and a musky scent were filling the room." She said looking almost lost but as thoughts whirled inside my head about how such a thing was happening as it was supposed to be the Orianna king that was getting mind controlled and stuff Ereshkigal poked my side.

"Jake you are still thinking of within this universal box... Remember how I said the Deadra would likely get here first?" She pointed out and I facepalmed as I remembered how Alpha mentioned Spider webs and the musky scent was a clear indication that Mephala was probably seeping her power into the king... But due to this worlds powerful primal mana I had no doubt the king's body enhanced with the magic of this world would reject Nirn's stuff until it filtered into the world for a while.

Hence why Eresh said he will likely die within the nearby time. "So do you mean Mephala is already here?" I asked frowning as that Deadric Prince was troublesome with her domains of sex, lies, and other nasty things.

Tamamo chuckled as she shook her head. "No, not all my dear husband." She said cheerfully and I ignored the husband bit as she continued to speak. "It's just her domain seeking out the most important target like a blind child windmilling their arms in the dark as the realm of Oblivion has only slightly touched this world so far... Honestly, before Tameriel actually merges with the East coast of this continent we can look forward to demonic invasions due to all the hectic dimensional turmoil but your predecessor tried to limit it to happening in the oceans so the demon invasions will only be greater Dremora at worst." Tamamo explained helpfully and I nodded in understanding.

For the rest of the trip to the academy, I just talked about less serious topics with the girls with Zeta telling me some stories about how she, Gamma, and Beta went to the east coast of the continent to fish up some super giant fish.

"Ladies and gentlemen please follow me." A guard said as our carriage came to a stop in front of the school as I came out of the carriage, I took in the massive almost modern school that was the focus of the world as the preeminent school for all Dark knights of the world and where all Midgar nobility had to study if they wanted to keep their noble ranking.

"Your speech is scheduled in the next time minutes are you ready sir?" The male guard asked me respectfully and I nodded as my girls followed behind me except for Ereshkigal who decided she had enough walking around for the day and went back into my soul so she could face the music for deciding to take the honor of officiating my first wedding.

So I was then stuck in the back of the stage as I prepared for this ass pull of a speech and then as I came out past the curtains I stood in a large gym with magically reinforced flooring so the school could host tournaments within the small stadium.

"Hello Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is Jake Barris and I will be talking about Norse Runes and their usage. Before I begin does anyone have any questions." I asked into the mic and a girl with pink hair frantically threw her hands up in the air trying to get my attention past the few students who looked at the papers about my runes and their effects and wanted more information.

Seriously runes were interesting and all but they required a good bit of craftsmen practice to learn how to engrave them and a lot of these noble children didn't care for such learning.

"Yes Sage, Barris! My name is Sherry Barnett and I have seen people who managed to use some of your runic alphabet. but whenever I try to use it for my experiments it doesn't work at all why is that?" She asked and I recognized the cute pink-haired girl as the bookish girl who worked with artifacts and helped get rid of the magic-suppressing artifact that the church of Diabolos used on the school.

I nodded to her question as I then began to speak. "Yes Mrs. Barnnett, but you forgot the outlined principle of how the Norse Futharic runes are built and made by the Norse gods and powered by their domains and Pantheon," I said before swallowing. "If you know nothing of those beings and their domains you cannot use the runes like so," I said as I made my finger glow blue with mana and I traced a small rune in the air that send a small fireball into the air that fizzed out before it could go more than a few feet.

So then I began the lecture and I saw the student's eyes light up as I made practical examples of the runes I spoke of as I performed my lecture with Sherry writing frantically in her notebook.

"Today, I stand before you to share with you the wondrous power of magical Norse runes. These ancient symbols, steeped in mystery and folklore, have captivated the human imagination for centuries. As a practitioner of the mystical arts, I have delved deep into the secrets of these runes, and I am here to tell you that they are not just mere markings on stone or wood, but powerful tools that can unlock unimaginable realms of magic."

"The Norse runes, also known as the Futhark, are an alphabet of symbols that originated in the ancient Germanic and Scandinavian cultures. Each rune possesses its unique energy and meaning, making it a potent conduit for channeling magic. These runes are not to be taken lightly, for they are imbued with the very fabric of the universe itself, woven with the threads of fate and destiny."

"One of the most common uses of Norse runes is for divination. Just like casting lots or reading tarot cards, the runes can reveal glimpses of the past, present, and future. When properly cast, the runes can provide guidance and insight into one's life path, helping to navigate through challenges and make informed decisions. The runes are like a mirror, reflecting the hidden truths of the world and revealing the mysteries that lie beyond our ordinary perception."

"But the power of runes doesn't stop at divination. They can also be used for protection and healing. By inscribing runes on amulets, talismans, or even on one's own body, they can act as shields against negative energies or malevolent forces. Runes can also be used in healing rituals, as each rune carries its unique vibration that can harmonize and restore balance to the body, mind, and soul." I continued and took out some samples of a sword that could channel some lightning and an arrow that would explode like a missile.

I then took a drink as Sherry frantically raised her hand again. "Sir, so you are saying that our faith fuels these gods and in return, they refine the magical energy we put into the runes to fuel said runes? Or is it more along the lines of our faith acting as a key to allow us to use runes to begin with?" She questioned and I felt Scathach, Baldur, and Freya give me the answer to her question before I continued the lecture.

"Moreover, runes can be utilized in spellwork and manifestation. By combining specific runes in a particular order or arrangement, one can harness their energies to manifest desires, whether it be for love, prosperity, or success. The runes are like keys that unlock the doors of possibility, allowing us to shape our reality according to our will."

"But let me be clear," I said seriously as Scathach had told me what would happen if I fucked around with runes too much. "The use of Norse runes requires reverence and respect. They are not to be taken lightly or used for too selfish or malicious of purposes. The runes are a gift from the ancient gods and should be wielded with utmost responsibility and integrity. It is essential to understand the meaning and significance of each rune and to use them in alignment."

I then coughed as I rounded off the speech "In conclusion, the power of Norse runes is immense and awe-inspiring. They are not mere symbols on paper or stone, but conduits of ancient magic that can unlock hidden mysteries, reveal profound insights, and transform our lives. Let us embrace the wisdom of the Norse runes and honor the ancient traditions from which they originated. May the magic of the runes guide us on our mystical journey and awaken us to the limitless possibilities of the universe as we use the runes and more magic to conquer other lands."

"Thank you all for your time." I finished and the students started clapping unsurely as they heard my bit about conquering lands but hey when demons decided to play hopscotch with the entrails of their friends and family they would get some backbone either way.

Even as I exited through the back of the curtains I could already see Sherry take off with her massive book of notes and from the way she took a side exit I had no doubt she was going to attempt to waylay me somehow for more answers.