Chapter 41: Laelaps and Teumessian 2: The Pursuit

Author note: sorry for delay, brother trying to kick me out of home, trying to get new job, multiple appointments and such, you know life issues. But I finally got the chance to return now. I really wanted to be at Chapter 60ish by now, so I will do a Chapter each day until I reach that goal. Hope you enjoy!

BTW if u forgot, Rael is the mount of Sivreth he created under specific conditions by manipulating the 4th moon positioning.

Rael is a white Senche Kahjiit, which are the mounts of Elsweyr

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The ground quaked and rumbled as the impact of Rael's large paws struck the ground as he raced across the grassy terrain of Cyrodil, with Sivreth atop his back.

However, not far behind them were a platoon of Imperial Knights and Thalmor riders Chasing after him.

At the front of the group only two individuals stood out which the young Snow Elf boy was worried of.

General Servius Tullius, one of the most dangerous beings that Sivreth has thusfar encounted barring God-like entities such as the Deadric Prince's, Umaril the Unfeathered and the First Dragonborn Miraak. The only other Mortal being he had encountered that was an actual danger to him was Ancano, whom he still didn't know what had happened to him.

And then there Commander Rella Ashenclaw, Elika's mother and the one that killed his own mother Faireth if the report he read was correct, which it has to be since he read about it while he was trapped in Apocrypha.

Sivreth was panicking, there was too many chasing him and Rael's speed sint enough to outrun their horses for long as they were slowly catching up to him.

Rael was primarily made to be a intelligent and sentient combat mount/companion, not one that focused on speed.

As Sivreth desperately tried to think of a solution to help him make it out of this predicament alive, he and Rael had already reached the road near the base of the Temple of the Moth Priests.

Looking behind him, he could see that the Imperials and Thalmor was closing in behind him.

"Shit! This isn't what I wanted, but I don't have a choice."

I reached into my satchel, grabbing a few bottles that I had concocted.

While I did have my Storage Ring, I had my satchel filled with the items I might need in case of an emergency as sorting through the items in my storage ring would take too long, and this was a life or death moment.

Multiple bottles filled with different colors and liquids were held in my hand.

Removing the corks off them I swallowed their contents, my eyes dilating and a great pain shooting through my body, a massive adrenaline boost rushed through me body.

Each one of these potions could enhance my magical capabilities by what I approximate to be about a +60% boost across all schools of magic, in addition to my magicka regeneration being boosted.

Lastly there was the density of my magic, the last potion made it so that all my magical offensive abilities would be about two or three times stronger than what it would normally deal.

I had wanted to save all these potions until I got to Morrowind but given my circumstances I had no choice but to use them here. I just need to hope I can find an alternative plan or even find the rare ingredients used to create them as I travel.

Feeling the effects of the potion throughout my body, I hoped onto Rael's back as I stood on it turning around to face my pursuers.

I trusted Rael to not move suddenly and through me off as he continued onward to the destination I told him to go to.

Channeling magic into both my hands I first casted 13 Magic Runes of varying elements in front of their horses' path.

"Runes! Scatter!" The Thalmor commander in the lead shouted to the ground upon seeing Sivreth's first action.

"Watch out!" Rella yelled as she saw Sivreth's follow up response.

Sivreth had immediately casted a new spell he had been working on. Multiple multicolored circular formations hovered in the air around him before innumerable bolts of barring attacks shot out.

Spikes of ice, balls of fire, bolts of shock and blades of wind and javelins made of earth, rays of light and tendrils of darkness all shot out from those circular formations and steuck the unfortunate unprepared soilders.

Tendrils of darkness wrapped around the legs of the horses, rays of light blinded them causing them to unconsciously pull their reins causing the horse to tumble and fall.

Bolts of electricity strick some of them and their horses, causing them to twitch and spasm while the horses themselves kicked their riders off their backs from the electrical shock.

The javelins of earth was considered an organic substance and also an offensive attack, and as such Sivreth had purposely aimed these earth javelins at the magical Runes he had placed on the field, of which the spoilders foolishly thought they had evaded.

The Runes lit up and released the pent up magical energy within causing a chain reaction of explosions to occur.

The ice spikes and fire balls were blocked and repelled by some of the Imperial and Thalmor mages that had came along with the group.

Meanwhile, Sivreth wasn't doing good, even with all the potions he had taken, and one of which was to massively reduce the Mana consumption of his spells, this singular spell was casted on a scale even he wouldn't be able to handle.

The total consumption of magicka, if casted without the Mana reducing potion he had drank, would have been of an amount of around 9000, 10000 if be included the cost of magicka for the Runes as well.

Meanwhile his total magicka capacity as of now could be estimated to around 2,100.

With the magivka reducing potion, he had used up 2,300 magicka, thankfully the other potions he had taken were quickly regenerating his magicka before he passed out, but regardless he had used a spell that in his future, even he would struggle to use normally, especially to this scale.

Feeling the pain and exhaustion take hold of his body, he slumped down and rested on Rael's back as he held onto the saddle, barely able to hold on as his mind was about to fall into unconsciousness.

Seeing his weakened state, General Tullius didn't give his target the chance to recover and rest.

"Mages, focus your fire ahead of them, archers target the Elf and the mount!" He issued orders to those of the platoon he was with that remained.

Rael's ears twitched as he heard the words of the Human behind him.

Rael was a Senche, but a unique one born of the 4th moon, his intelligence was on par with any sentient being, one day he might even be capable of speech, but right jow he understood what the Human had said.

Rael swiftly took action and maneuvered in erratic patterns so that they mages couldn't bombard him with spells since they wouldn't know where he was going to be next, while the archers missed their mark thanks to his agile movements and dodges ahead of time.

Whenever Rael felt Sivreth slipping off his back he would jerk his body, causing his master to be forcefully repositioned in the saddle.

This game of cat and mouse/hound and fox continued for a while until Rael felt his master moving on his back.

"Thank you Rael."

Sivreth turned around and saw that his pursuers were not far behind him.

Rael's constant dodging had caused him to move in a not so straight way, allowing the enemy to catch up to the two of them.

Sivreth sat up straight in the saddle as he summoned his Spear with its custom ring.

He channeled his magicka into the spear before aiming it at the group behind him, a vortex of icy energy shot out from the tip of the spear at tge group behind them.

The attack was so unexpected, due to the fact magic could and would normally be casted from a staff or catalyst or by bare hands, not from a Spear like Sivreth did.

Thus, it was too late for them to dodge the attack as they were all frozen by the Ice Ray.

Although, moments later the ice surrounding all the soilders had cracked and crumbled away, unfreezing and releasing them.

Due to Sivreth's low magicka reserves as of that moment, the effect of the ice Ray wasn't potent enough to freeze them completely solid.

However, it did cause frostbite to many of the soilders, but the horses were mostly unaffected, and to his expected dismay, Rella and General Tullius were also unaffected.

They were veterans of war and very powerful individuals, naturally this wouldn't hold them.

Rella and Tullius quickly recovered and continued the chase.

Reaching into his pocket, he took out a few throwing bombs of various effects.

Dropping them in the path of his last two pursuers they exploded outwards causing their mounts to sway to the sides in shock, unfortunately, a piece of shrapnel from one of the bombs had struck Rael's hind leg.

"Dammit! Hang in there Rael! We're almost to the border!"

Rael roared aloud in understanding as he continued to press onwards.

Sivreth looked around him and saw General Tullius was next to him ready to swing his sword down at his head.

Barely reacting in time he raised the shift of the spear to block Tullius's weapon.

"Aahhh!" Sivreth roared in pain as he blocked the attack but felt like his soul was being harmed.

It was then that he had remembered that in the game, Tullius always gave the player a leveled sword at the end of the civil war quest line to kill Ulfric.

A sword that always had the Drain Health enchantment!

'This psychopath! He couldn't help but curse in his mind at his misfortune.

Rael heard Sivreth's cry of pain and tackled his body into the body of Tullius' horse.

The horse couldn't handle the impact of a Senche-Tiger and was pushed away as it fell to the ground over itself, as for Tullius, he had been able to jump off the horse and onto Rael's large back.

Raising his sword again, this time to pierce Sivreth's heart, the Elf summoned a shield like he had done for his spear using a custom ring, being able to block Tullius's attack.

Unlike last time, the shield was able to Negate the effects of Tullius weapon to drain the health and vitality of its victim when struck due to the Shield's enchantment to Negate magical attacks, including but not limited to Enchantments of weapons.

Tullius used one of his legs to kick Sivreth's shield aside so he could attack Sivreth with a finishing and decisive blow.

But when it came time to swing his weapon he found that he couldn't move his arm holding the sword.

Looking behind he saw that the Senche-Tiger's tail had wrapped itself around his arm.

Tullius looked back at the Elf and saw him raising one of his arms as mechanical sounds were heard.

Within an instant, Sivreth had let out a punch with his dwemer arm that dealt a blow so strong it left a crack in Tullius' armour as it sent him flying off Rael's back and crashing into the ground.

"A-after him!" Tullius shouted to Rella before she stopped to tend to him.

Listening to his orders, she galloped past General Tullius and caused after Sivreth.

As for Tullius, he had been able to withstand the blow albeit with a single injury that left substantial damage as it had directly struck him. But his strength and surprising vitality of one of his age had proved itself more than enough times in the past, even now.

Rella chased behind Sivreth and Rael, as the Elf didn't attack anymore, it seems to her that he has reached his limit.

The chase continued all the way until the border of southern Skyrim.

Rael had slowed down more and more as time went on allowing Rella to catch up to him.

Sivreth had frantically looked around at his surroundings the whole time and it was then that a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.

He casted an Illusion spell to refortify the disguise necklace he had been given by Cirilla.

"HELP! HELP! AN IMPERIAL IS CHASING ME! PLEASE HELP!"

Rella was shocked by his outburst but a moment later she sensed a danger and swiftly dodged an steel tipped arrow.

Sivreth had fallen off of Rael's back out of a moment of carelessness.

He frantically stumbled backwards on the ground as he saw Rella close in on her horse before she jumped iff and landed in front of him.

She pressed her foot hard on his chest holding him in place as she was going to kill him!

Surprisingly the attack didn't come as Rael had roared and leapt at Rella forcing her to defend herself.

Rella growing more and more agitated by the annoyance, clenched her fist and gave a single blow to Rael's jaw, causing him to stagger backwards and fall to the ground unconscious!

'She's a Demon!' Was all Sivreth thought looking at the display of strength needed to lock out a Senche in a single hit!

"That's quite enough dog of the Empire!"

Sivreth turned to face the unknown speaker and was relieved to see that it was a Nord soilder aiming theory bow at Rella, not just one but multiple.

Rella turned to face Sivreth and only then did she take the time to notice why the Nords weren't attacking him.

His appearance had changed to look like that of a Nord.

She let out a sigh of defeat, knowing full well that even if she tried convincing them that he was actually Falmer, a Snow Elf, he had already prepared for it.

He might have a way to hide from any mage's attempts to Divine his true identity and dispel his illusionary magic, but also the fact that Nords hate magic and wouldn't even think to humour an Imperial Commander's words.

"Stormcloak soilders! I will leave in peace and return to the Empire if you would lower your weapons." Rella declared.

"Why should we trust you Imperial scum, you only want to conqour us and hand us over to the Thalmor like the slaves you are to them!" A soilder retaliated.

"I give my word as a daughter of Clan Stormclaw!"

'Stormclaw?' Sivreth never heard of this name as he was researching and preparing for his eventual journey to Skyrim, but made sure to make a mental note of it and remeber it for later so he could investigate it thoroughly.

At this, the soilders around hadn't spoken a word, the silence was defining. They had all lowered their weapons and approached Sivreth.

"Boy, come with us. Well take you to Riften, it isn't safe in these woods."

"What about Rael?"

"Rael?" The soilder cooked his head in a questioning tone.

"My mom's pet! She said he will always be with me and keep me safe!"

When the soilder turned his head to look at where I had pointed my hand, his eyes had widened in shock and awe.

"Uhh..."

"Please sir! He kept me safe when bad lady there was chasing me! He's all the family I have left!"

Unbeknownst to him, Rella's eyes twitched at the mention of his mother and family, especially with his acting skills to deceive the Nords, the enemy race to the Falmer.

'He will definitely survive in Skyrim. More so then he would've in Cyrodil.'

Rella thought.

"Uhm...yes! We will help you with...Rael...but he can't come into the city if he will hurt people."

"Don't worry sir! He lived with me in many towns and villages as we travelled before running from bad lady there!

Knowing she was defeated, Rella sheathed her sword and left under the gaze of a few soilders.

She mounted her horse and began her return to meet with General Tullius.

Curiously, she felt something odd, reaching to youth the spot of the odd feeling she grabbed a note.

Opening it she read its contents.

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'Rella Ashenclaw

I know what you did. I know it was you that killed my mother. I read the report.

I do not blame you, you were following orders, or it could be because of the bad reputation my race has gained over the years. But it doesn't represent us.

My mother and I were the last, those twisted creatures the world now knows us by are corrupted abominations driven by pure animalistic instinct akin to a savage.

I say this in ernest to you.

I forgive you for what you did.

For killing my mother.

We cannot change the past, but we can change the future.

I heard the Elder Scroll Prophecies your husband spoke of, dark times are coming.

I intend to survive what is to come, and should we cross paths again. Know that I will be strong enough unlike I am now. I will carve a new path in history, in time itself.

This world has been in a constant state of war, death and sadness. I do not want that for anyone. Especially for Elika.

She is the first person I felt...open to. I felt happy, joy. My first and possibly only real friend I might have ever had.

But given my Bloodline, it was inevitable this day would come.

Don't tell her the truth.

She would surely hate you for it, she is young and her relationship to her mother, her family shouldn't be destroyed because of this.

Tell her I left for my own reasons, that you let me escape and give her the other letter I also left with you.

In short, it says how I am travelling, and because of my race being a Falmer and the Prophecy surrounding me, she would be in danger and I would've eventually left Cyrodil and her regardless. It was only a matter of time.

Maybe one day I will meet her again, maybe not.

Tell her goodbye.

And to you, if the next time we meet is as enemies, only one of us will walk away...alive.

Until then...

The Snow Prince

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The title of the last two chapters is called Laelaps and Teumessian for a specific reason.

Laelaps is the Hunting Hound of the God Zeus.

One day the people of Thebes begged Zeus to lend them Laelaps, a hound that is said to catch any and all of its prey it hunts, to catch the magical fox that terrorised Thebes.

Teumessian, the fox that cannot be caught.

Thus Laelaps and Teumessian was stuck in an eternal chase, a endless Paradox, Zeus seeing this used his power and turned both of them into the star constellations in the night sky called after their names, and so they continue their paradoxical chase for all eternity amongst the stars.

I named the Chapter as such because it fits well, considering Rella's own tragic past and encounter with the corrupted Falmer in skyrim, she relished the opportunity to do the Empire a service to kill Faireth and Sivreth at the story's first Chapter. Meanwhile, Sivreth runs away from her and escaped for now, but their paths are bound to cross again. However, Rella is dealing with her own inner turmoil of weather she should view Sivreth in the same light as the corrupted Falmer or as the friend of her daughter Elika