C61 Robots vs. Oranges

After it stopped spinning, the head raised up, opening the passage for us to enter Sky Haven Temple, the place of sharp edges that cut and stone story books...

—

After we made it up the stairs and into the main hall of Sky Haven, Esbern went straight to the stone relief, Alduin's Wall, and started deciphering it—mumbling away the whole while, "Amazing—I see—perhaps, no—maybe this, but how—that can't be—no, it must—"

"Esbern," Delphine reminded after a few minutes.

"Ah, yes. My apologies for ignoring you, but this is absolutely amazing!" he turns around, beaming like a child—an old, wrinkly child. Then—he looked back while pointing to the left side of the wall, "Now look here. This is the..."

While he told us what it said, I was just trying to figure out how I could get it from here all the way to my condo, as artwork is one of the things it lacks. Fortunately, figuring out a way didn't take long, but then I realized the condo wasn't big enough... so... I'm still taking it!

"A shout is needed to defeat Alduin?" Delphine said while turning to me, which was enough to drag me out from my dimensional conundrum and pay attention, "Have you ever heard of a shout that can be used against a dragon as powerful as Alduin?"

After a second of refocusing, I say, "The Thu'um, or a Shout, is simply the language of dragons taught in such a way that—thanks to Kyne—mortals can understand its true meaning, and thus, use the inherent power they possess. A shout that can bring down a dragon isn't a rarity, as it only takes a strong enough wielder, which is normally another dragon," I let her digest what I've said but can see that Esbern is nodding along just fine.

"But for a group of mortals to take down Alduin, the most powerful of dragons, as described in the relief, would require a shout that weakens dragons to their own level, that of a mortal," I take a breath, "That's not something I know how to do, or I would've used it many times by now."

There was silence until Delphine broke it with an irritated sigh, "I guess we're left with no other choice but to go to the Greybeards for help. As much as I dislike it." I asked her why, which she responded by telling me how they're afraid of power and would rather make me meditate all day if it were up to them. She even drew reference to Tiber Septim, "Do you think he would've founded the Empire if he listened to the Greybeards?"

I had to force myself not to laugh, as it was the Greybeards who told him that was his destiny some time after they summoned him. Regardless, I didn't say anything, as it wasn't time yet, so, I just bid them farewell after a few more words and left though the mountaintop exit.

I took the fast way down...

— —

After leaving those two, I quickly disposed of—destroyed—my armor and only wore my cloak. If someone had good enough eyes, they might've caught a glimpse of a giant cloaked werewolf speeding down the mountains and across half of Skyrim. And by giant werewolf, I mean over ten feet and still increasing.

At this rate, my beast form will be the same size as a werewolf behemoth in a few days...

With the added speed now afforded to me by my larger size and increased strength, I made it to High Hrothgar in a fraction of the time it took for the three of us to find the temple. Once there, it was pretty easy to meet Paarthurnax. I only had to tell Arngeir about Alduin, the Blade's plan to stop him, and that I had a 'feeling' this is what I'm supposed to do, even if I didn't want to.

After that, I was shown the path to the peak and the shout to clear it.

—

"What brings you to my strunmah, my mountain?" He was the same lonely dragon that I remembered from the game.

"I've come to..." what followed was the best talk I've had in this world. While I wasn't as candid as I would've liked, it was still enjoyable. The only other person I've been able to jibe so well with is Doom, and he's a bit... out of reach for the moment.

"You've indulged my desire for tinvaak, conversation, far enough. What is it you truly seek, Dovahkiin?" eventually, as with all things—except me—it came to an end, and I told him I needed the shout that had been used against Alduin in the past.

As I remembered, he first tested my Thu'um, as tradition dictated, and then told me what I wanted to know. After that, he said the shout could only be learned with the same Elder Scroll that had originally sent him through time.

"Erei mu grind, (Until we meet.)" Once I had all the information I needed, I bid him farewell and descended the mountain, to the monastery, as I still had to play along and ask where I could find leads about the scroll...

—

After getting the information I still 'needed,' I promptly ran off the mountain and transformed—the growing pains were still bugging me. Once I reached the bottom, I realized that my eye level was already a few inches higher than before.

"Huff," shaking my evergrowing head, I start running to the north. My destination was the College of Winterhold and my purpose was to find the scroll, but, that certainly wasn't my only goal...

— —

"Rrr, {creak}," my arms tense and claws dig into flesh.

"{Snap}, grr—{riiip}—ROAR!" my roar intensified as I slowly separated a dragon's head from its body with pure, unadulterated strength.

{Boom-rumble}, the head and body fell to the ground.

"HOWL!" I let my dominance be known—to the snow—as I absorbed the rather weak dragon soul.

—

On my way to Winterhold, I ran into a fairly weak dragon and thought it would be a good test. It turns out that I can outright abuse weaker dragons, as a werewolf, while staying well within my body's 'durability' threshold for empowerment. Hell, at only half my limit, I've the strength of a low-level dragon but in a smaller, more agile body...

Not long after dealing with the dragon, I made it to Winterhold. I had already arrived nearby some time ago, but waited for my growth spurt to be over, as I didn't want it to cause any troubles.

I eventually capped out at twelve foot as a werewolf, and—whatever I want in my humanoid form. I found that I have a higher amount of control over my physical form now, so I just made myself stop at seven feet, and let my features be however they wanted, as my cloak hides everything from view—most of the time...

"Not just anyone is allowed inside. Those who wish to enter, must show at least some level of sk—"

I raised my hand, revealing itself to be clawed and furry after the sleeve slid down. {Vwoom}, hovering but a few inches above my palm, a ball of fire sprung to life. As if a miniature sun, it spread waves of heat so hot that all the snow in our vicinity skipped melting and went straight to evaporating, and yet, neither I nor her felt any discomfort, just a warm breeze.

"Hmm, perhaps this isn't enough?" I asked, as this was just an overpowered flames spell.

Snapping from her daze, she said, "You can do more!? How much Magicka do—ah—I mean, yes! Yes, this is enough to join the college as a scholar, let alone a student! Please, follow me, I'll make sure you're..."

I followed her up the stone bridge, but the whole time I was wondering what I did to make her so excited. All I did was make the same ball of fire I used to melt down my—oh. I suppose a fire spell hot enough to melt ebony while not effecting friendlies would be eye catching... oh well.

—

What followed was a very hectic couple of weeks spent in constant study, I wasn't even practicing spells, just absorbing knowledge. The spell books I found out in the 'wild' were nothing compared to what's in the library here. Sure, I could've learned things from them, but what I need is high level information and theory, which, aside from a scant few, none I found had.

I wasn't so much learning, as I was just figuring out how a new operating system worked. Like switching from Robot to Orange or from Mac—aroni to Glass, it takes time and effort to learn how to do all the same things. Of course, what I'm doing is actually way more complicated, but it's a close enough analogy...

The good news is that I'm moving along quickly, and soon I'll be able to start—{knock-knock}—I look up and see Tolfdir, who just knocked on my table, "We're going on an expedition to the ruins of Saarthal. Are you coming along?"

I blink, then remember what's there, "Ah—yes! I'll be ready in a few minutes."

"Haha, no need to hurry," he pats my shoulder, "We'll be heading out in a half hour, so just be ready by then," saying so, he turned around and announced it to the rest of the student within the library, or the Arcanaeum as they call it, and then left.

After watching him leave, I stood up and returned my books to the perpetually intense orc librarian, Urag gro-Shub, and then made my way to the exit, so I could ready everything I might need for the 'expedition.' Though, just before I left, Ancano, the Thalmor asshat, entered and attracted all the—now mirth filled—eyes of the students. Even Urag had a hint of a smirk.

Why?

After my first few days here, people were skeptical of me being an actual mage, since I just kept reading—extremely fast—without ever using any spells. Because of this, I was eventually put on the spot and forced to show my ability. It just so happened that Ancano was passing by at the time, so I used him as a—guinea pig, of sorts.

First, I proved my illusion skills by making him think he was a chicken. Then my alteration by actually turning him into a chicken. Destruction by turning him into a giant chicken that could spit—{cough} I'll stop there, and just say that he doesn't remember anything, and my ability is no longer doubted.

"Puk puk, {cough}, pukaaak! {Cough-cough} Ugh, this damnable cold, making my throat dry." Though, he may still have a few side effects that—only he—can't notice, "What are you all looking at!? Don't you all have something better to do than to look at me cough!?"

—

After reaching my room, I loaded my pack with the supplies any 'normal' person would need when going into an old ruin, then—I ignored it, as it was only for show. My real supplies were now stored within a bracelet. Yes, after far too long of going around with a pack, like some school kid, I could now bring along my stuff like any self-respecting protagonist.

{Gurgle}

Though, I'm pretty sure whatever dimension I linked it to is having intestinal troubles—somehow...

—

"Alright, half hour's up. Time to head out, everyone!" Tolfdir said to all those gathered in the main hall, "It won't take more than a few hours to reach Saarthal, but, we are in Northern Skyrim, so be sure to keep yourselves warm, I don't want to bring any of you back as icicles!"

And off we went. A nice field trip to a musty old ruin with an immensely powerful artifact just—floating there, waiting to be taken by any poor schlub who happens across it...

—

//Note//

Brain fog. Ever have that? I did.

This chapter was a bitch...

— —

Reading other novels:

I haven't read any other web novels, not because I don't want to, but because writing just makes my urge to go away.

It's weird, actually.

I guess it's sorta like watching someone play a video game vs playing it for yourself. You may not be as good as the person you watched, but, nonetheless, it's usually more fun.

— —