Stay Vigilant

The group was back on the road for the Nth time... Michael was starting to wonder if he'd become more comfortable on the road than settled somewhere. The amount of time he'd spent travelling since he got ROB'd truly surprised him when he thought back on it.

Regardless, the group left Whiterun and set out North, Michael following the map that'd lead them to the Hall of the Vigilant, where they'd find the most prominent Shrine of Stendarr in Skyrim.

During this time, Michael took the opportunity to check his progress in the Book of Heroes... The amount of Frost Trolls he'd killed should've given a good amount...

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Name : Michael Tahlin

Rank : Hero

Stats :

Strength : 26 > 28

Agility : 45 > 47.2

Intelligence : 29 > 32

Birthsign : The Mage

Abilities :

[The Mage] : Enables user to learn all magic-based skills 20% faster.

[Gandalfr] : Enables user to utilise any weapon at two ranks above their current proficiency while granting them the knowledge necessary to use them. While wielding a weapon, temporarily gain +100% in all stats.

[Language Comprehension] : Enables user to understand all spoken tongues, and increase the rate of which they learn reading and writing.

[Basic Mana Manipulation] : Allows user more control over his magic, spells, and some abilities. Mana efficiency and control of power is increased.

[Pain Tolerence] : Allows user to endure great amounts of pain with little to no negative effects as a result.

[Apprentice basic Swordsmanship(Two handed swords/One handed swords)] : Determines how skilful the user is when handling swords.

[Apprentice basic Dagger techniques(Single edge, curved, straight, double edge.)] : Determines how skilful the user is when handling daggers.

Affinities :

[Lesser Water Affinity], [Fire Affinity], [Lesser Lightning Afffinity], [Lesser Darkness Affinity]

Spirits :

Commoner Tier :

Shadow Shaman : MAX

Slark : Lvl MAX

Riki : Lvl MAX

Hero Tier :

Anti-Mage : MAX

Lina : Lvl 6 > 10

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Spirit : Lina

Level : 6 > 10

Abilities :

Convection (Rank 1) : Allows user to float half a meter in the air by channelling a small continuous amount of mana. The height the user can levitate can be increased by using a substantially higher amount of mana. The highest speed the user can reach while using this is half of their regular movement speed.

Dragon Slave (Rank 4) : User fires a wave of scorching flames that mimic the shape of a dragon.

Light Strike Array (Rank 1) : User channels the sun's energies into a focal point that blasts an area with solar fire. Stuns, damages, and blinds enemies caught in it, vampires also take double damage. Cannot be used without sunlight or another energy source.

Fiery Soul (Rank 3) : Flames enhance user after every spell cast, granting them extra movement speed and attack speed. This bonus stacks with every spell cast, once enough stacks have been gathered, enemies in an area around user will take continuous fire damage. Can be turned off.

Laguna Blade (Rank 1) : User fires a powerful bolt of lightning at a single enemy. No cooldown but expends a large amount of mana.

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Needless to say, he'd gotten a boost. Though, he was strong enough at this point to where the small gain in strength couldn't really be felt. It was no longer a huge change, just small increments that continue to add up.

He was feeling far more confident than usual though, he had a weapon(Derflinge), he had armour, he had magic, and he had allies. He'd essentially filled the adventurer's bucket list. All that's left to do now is defeat the demon lord, get a harem, and ride off into the sunset... Only to come back in the sequel as another dark lord or something.

He shakes his head and turns to Illococoo who was making her first attempts to actually use the Thu'um. She'd tried to learn magic from Farengar, but it seems like her body was ill-suited to this world's use of magic. Michael suspected she'd be able to use some magic in her dragon form, as it was a common trope for dragons in human form to be far, far weaker than they would otherwise be.

"Fus." the dragon girl intones in the direction of some nearby trees. It doesn't accomplish anything however.

Michael had recommended that she start with 'Fus Ro Dah', as it was the one shout he actually remembered. He remembered the Greybeard's words about it along with Paarthurnax's own thoughts.

Still, even with a talent like Illococoo, learning without a teacher and on slapdash knowledge was still incredibly difficult. He doubted she'd be able to muster a single proper shout by the time canon starte-

"FUS!" Illococoo's cute voice suddenly shouts, and a small breeze blows through the area, ruffling a few leaves as it does so.

...

The group just stare at the dragon girl with surprise written on their faces, no one had expected her to actually make progress, not so quickly at least.

Illococoo turns with a bright smile and goes to cheer and seek praise... Only for no words to come from her throat. Her eyes widen as she grimaces in pain, her hand going up to rub her larynx. Clearly, the single weak shout had damaged her vocal cords...

"Illu, are you already?" Michael asks, leaning over from the coachman's seat and retrieving a couple potions from his inventory.

The dragon girl shakes he head and quickly downs one, she attempts to speak but still isn't able to, forcing her to drink another...

After two lesser healing potions and one potion of regeneration, the girl was finally able to speak in a harsh, almost gargling tone. "H-urts..."

Michael nods, "Yeah, it's best that you don't speak until you fully heal. And definitely don't try the Thu'um until we visit the Greybeards... You might just permanently injure yourself and become unable to talk." he states, glancing at the girls "Have either of you learned any healing spells yet?"

Both Tiffania and Charlotte shakes their heads, looking a little disappointed in themselves. Sure, they could now shoot fire, ice, and lightning from their hands, create weak wards and conjure lights, but none of that was helpful at this moment...

"Sorry-" Tiffania starts but Michael stops her, "Don't apologize, you were taught what you were taught. If you really feel bad about it you'll rectify it in the future." he says, not wanting the girl to turn into the stuttering unconfident mess he remembered when they first met.

With that, the rest of the journey is relatively quiet. It takes the group around two days to finally reach their destination. They drive the cart around Fort Dunstad which had many Vigilants of Stendarr guarding and patrolling, and up the hill to reach the Hall of the Vigilant.

The group was greeted by a small group of people who to Michael looked more like paladins than anything else. They wore the typical robes used by priests of Stendarr, but had visible armour under it, from steel chainmail to their steel boots and gauntlets. Some had shields and maces while others had greatswords.

Either way, the group seemed on edge for some reason...

"Halt! What is your purpose for coming here!?" a helmeted man commands as he approaches while equipped with a two-handed Warhammer.

"We're here to receive Stendarr's blessing... If that's possible?" Michael says in a calm tone.

"Recieve a blessing, eh? You seek to join the Vigilants?" the man says, raising his hand casting a green spell on his face through his helmet, confusing Michael to some degree.

"No... My friend here needs help, our prayers to Mara were ignored, so we're going from temple to temple to seek aid. Her illness isn't something simple magic can heal, so we hoped the Gods could..."

...

The man thinks for a moment before eventually nodding, "Fine. Leave your cart here, we'll guard it as you enter the hall... I'm Garrick, I hope you can find what you're looking for."

Michael and the others nod, Illococoo staying behind with the cart to make sure nothing untoward occurs. They follow Garrick to the hall while other Vigilants give them a wide birth. Tiffania musters up the courage to ask them why they are so wary, but the answer only confuses them further.

"It's not you folk are wary of, it's Garrick... They call him the Glare, the man hates it and we all know he's a good guy but, it's unnerving to be around him..."