Chapter XXXV: Freedom And Chains

As I was whooshing about on my newfound... spiritual extension? Limbs? I had no bloody idea! Anyway, as I was doing that I failed to notice myself cackling like a complete madman and soon ascending higher and higher up into the skies following the impulse of just how quick I could go.

I do not know how how long it took me but as I burst through the clouds covering the skies, exactly at the moment the distant sun was setting I couldn't help but just float in the spot there and gawk at the beauty of it all.

Then I burned it into my mind and promised myself I was going to immortalize the sight properly for once whether it was the last bloody thing I did.

Still, I could only appreciate a good view for so long and soon my mind drifted to that ephemeral feeling of absolute freedom people usually mentioned came with the act of flying, or at least depicted it as such. Honestly I thought it to be drivel initially, the usual metaphorical representation of something one would never have in truth, even if they could emulate it with machines and whatnot...

But as I floated there, enjoying the thin air that thickened just as I thought it to be such, Kyne really was such a nice god creature, I had to admit I held a bit of envy toward Scorch's burned ass...

'Oi pot!' He calls out with a grin 'Finally realized my inherent superiority over you featherless n'wahs?'

'Fuck off, kettle.' I roll my eyes and focus back on the present.

What Shalazar had given me was not an immediate force multiplier like one might initially imagine, but it had the potential to be such as it was an entirely new skillset I could dive into. Essentially beside Magicka I was now capable of manipulating my own essence to an extent, not changing it for that would be ridiculous and ridiculously dangerous, but focusing my inherent affinities into actionable effects should not be that hard to achieve, if the wings were any indication.

And after that... well who knew what I would be able to achieve?

Lazily, I skimmed the usually slumbering system to see if it had anything to add, I generally avoided staring at it too often as I quite frankly didn't truly need it to get a feel for my power in a precise manner anymore, but seeing numbers go brrr was fun from time to time.

First came the usual stat growth, the only real push to which came from my escapade in Dawnstar.

[STR: 43 => 46]

[DEX: 48 => 50]

[VIT: 67 => 70]

[Mind: 69 => 71]

[MAG: 1500 => 1560(4060)]

The increase wasn't exponential this time but I guessed that is what came with being so strong already, still made me grumble a bit but it made sense, I was already ridiculously powerful for a Dunmer barely into his adult life and was honestly more than satisfied by that.

After the statistics came the true treat and the reason I even bothered looking at this.

[Mysticism Expert => Mysticism Master]

[Trait gained: A Free Animus => Shrouded Animus: Forever freed from the weakness of the flesh, your soul is now capable of acting on its own, its potence dependent only on your will and the metaphysical weight of your person while your affinities shape its form.

Your animus in particular is guarded by the mighty shroud wrapped around it, and is thus almost impossible to damage and destroy without tools of immense potency]

Not a particularly exact description, I noted with mild exasperation, but at this point I was glad for it not taking away my fun. Fucking about with my soul and literally whacking people with it was something I was eager to discover on my own, and what with the ideas floating through my head I wouldn't be surprised if people considered this thing a school of magic in its own right.

Also, the little fact I had in practice advanced the vaunted Psijik Endeavor, as ordained by the Good Daedra, had an effect as well.

[Dunmer Paragon => Greater Dunmer Paragon]

While I was stuck in my musings, and playing around with the shadowy sheen barely hidden around my body, the sun had long since set and left me in the light of the stars. Realizing that playtime was over I sighed in contentment and simply let myself start falling, only drifting slightly so I could hit the college and not fall into the sea like an idiot.

Thank fuck for familiars being able to transfer their instincts.

Still, as I descended toward one of the gardens of the college an idea struck me. A goofy grin spread on my face as I asked my self 'Why shouldn't I?'

Scorch facepalmed.

(General POV)

An ancient Nord, a Lizard Wizard, and a cheerful Dunmer walked out of the Hall of Refinement and toward the college's northern garden after they just finished hoisting the new duo of necromancers onto Phineas' grumbling self so that he could evaluate their skills.

"Thoughts?" Savos asked.

Shalazar shrugged and squeaked "You should trust your grandson more, mighty Archmage!"

"I quite agree." Tolfdir spoke softly "He would not have sent them here had he believed them to be wicked, and having more people to keep Phineas company is always a good thing, even if they are a pair of blushing lovers that will bring him no end of annoyance." He chuckled.

Savos stopped walking for a moment, blinked, and then continued moving while shaking his head "Something tells me he orchestrated their survival and presence just for that reason, and I can't help but be proud."

Tolfdir lets out an amused huff while Shalazar outright giggles at this, but none of the duo comment.

"Anyway, why did you wish for us to come here Shalazar?" Savos asks as they walk out onto the people-free garden.

"Why to get the final helper we needed for our most glorious of spells!" The Lizard Wizard pointed up imperiously, his movement going ignored as his usual shenanigans by the other duo.

"That much I can understand." Savos nods "But why here?"

The hand of Shalazar which was pointing upwards slowly started folding its fingers inwards, as if counting down from five to one. Once the last finger was closed all of them whirled as their senses blared, just in time to notice the figure of Reyvin slamming into the ground in an odd, and rather unhealthy, pose.

(Reyvin's POV)

I hold back a groan of pain as I do the superhero landing and force myself to get up as quickly as possible once I realize I had three archmagi staring right at me. And just as I did so I could feel my bones creak in discomfort at the act.

'Damn, even if it didn't do any damage that was murder on my knees.' I hiss internally.

'What did you think was going to happen?!' Scorch looks at me like I was an idiot.

'Superhero landing.' I point out as if that explained everything.

He remains silent for a moment before nodding along 'Yeah, yeah, can't really blame you there.'

"Done regretting your decisions yes, grandson?" I hear Savos titter as he watches me groan and suffer.

"Fuck you gramps, I know for a fact you tried something similar the moment you got the ability to!" I flip him off and finally manage to get up, quickly noticing the others present and offering a respectful bow to Tolfdir who merely smiled in greeting.

Savos chuckles at my retort "You aren't wrong there, I admit."

I huff and give them all another quick questioning look "So, what's with the gathering?"

Tolfdir is the one to answer "I have finally managed to connect the dots, so to say, with our dragon hunting spell and we thought your... friend may be willing to help us test it."

I tilt my head and blink "You want to test a potentially deadly spell on my dragon?"

Toldfir shakes his head "Oh I assure you it isn't deadly, in fact..." He looks to his side and summons a magic circle of reddish gold, a massive barbed chain carved with runes of mortality and debilitation blasts out of it and completely surrounds a nearby statue.

The spell made the structure extremely vulnerable, to the point I could see the stone itself aging as it came into direct contact with the chain. I let out an appreciative whistle "Damn, I was expecting some kind of anti-resistance blast but this is also pretty damn terrifying."

The ancient Nord chuckles "Yes, while we attempted to create a 'blast' as you call it initially, that just ended up being an overcharged disintegration ray with mortality curse runes added on top of it." He creates another circle and fires off a blast of cyan blue into the distance, pointedly taking a good ten seconds to charge it "I am afraid that while powerful, the spell is inefficient to the extreme and thus unusable in combat."

"Disappointing but understandable." I shrug and focus back on something that interested me for a while, if only for the ridiculous potential it held "By the way, Master Tolfdir, did try using the voice like I recommended? It would be pretty damn useful against the dragons and someone of your power would be able to learn it very quickly."

He looks at me for a long moment before chuckling "You do realize, young Reyvin, that once upon a time I too was a curious young man?"

And then it clicks, the amused expression he always held whenever I brought the topic up, barely hiding the fact that he had long since delved into such knowledge. I palm my face and groan "Yeah, and now I feel like an idiot.

The trio of archmagi just start chuckling.

I shake my head with a smile and focus back on Tolfdir "So, you want me to summon Krein to help us test this?"

Tolfdir nods again.

I close my eyes and breathe out slowly "Fine, worst he can do is say no." I breathe back in and call out "KREIN AAR VOKUN!" My voice echoing all across the building, likely to great confusion of the residents.

Now one may question why they didn't ask me to call my dragon friend earlier as I was simply calling for his name. Well, they would be rather wrong in their assessment as Krein was not bound to me merely by vassalage but by a massive shadowbinding ritual.

And so as I called out his name, my mightiest servant heard me immediately and my shadow shifted and contracted before expanding massively, turning into a full blown coiling mass of black scales and muscles as Krein rose up from within.

"Thuri." He hummed in his powerful voice in greeting before offering the same to the archmagi "Little immortals." He looked back to me "Why have you summoned me?"

Instead of answering him directly I looked to Tolfidr "Since it was your bright idea to call him, why don't you explain?"

The old man pretends to grumble in annoyance, though it isn't like he was trying all that hard what with his eyes twinkling in amusement, as he turns to Krein and starts patiently and factually explaining what he wanted to try down to the minute details. He repeatedly promised no true harm upon the dragon and that he only wished to test the temporary debilitating effects of the spell itself.

"You wish for me to aid you in creating a tool to slay my kin?" Krein asks, his voice wasn't angry but there was a tension there anyone would notice if they were paying attention.

"Only to defend my people from the predations of those who lack discipline." Tolfdir answers immediately "The spell will not leave our little cabal of archmages, of that I can assure you, and none of us wish to hunt you for trophies." He smirks "Besides, how can we offer you a good fight if we lack the weapons to do so? Why should only you have potent claws and scales?"

After a good minute of staring at the ancient man in contemplation Krein slowly looks to Shalazar and to my surprise asks him "You agree with his claims?"

The Lizard Wizard nodded his head rapidly "Never doubt Tolfdir, oh mighty friend of mine, for his honor is beyond his mortal kin!"

Golden eyes twitched in my direction for confirmation and once he had my hesitation-free nod, he himself allowed a slight bob in his head "Very well, cast your spell then." He extends his right 'hand' to the side, just in the path of Tolfdir.

Tolfdir doesn't hesitate and casts the chain immediately, enveloping the hand in binds of red and gold, immediately going for a tug on sheer instinct but quickly stopping himself so as to not do too much damage.

Krein hisses at the sensation of it and flexes his claw as if to test it, he half hums and half growls in approval "I can see how my kin would fall to this" He looks to me "It is almost as if getting struck with the rending curse but on a small surface instead of in my entirety and to a lesser degree." His head swivels back to Tolfdir "You have succeeded, little immortal, I feel myself growing weaker by the moment."

The old Nord nods in satisfaction and immediately deactivates the spell, pulling the chains back and allowing them to dissolve into Magicka, making the air brighten slightly due to the sheer amount of energy dissipating.

Before he can comment any further, my greedy ass blurts "Can I get a copy of that please?"

The amused looks the trio gave me at that was at the same time endearing as it was irritating.

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