Preparations

A/n: Sorry for the sudden break… a Heatwave started a few days ago and actually caused a malfunction to the old Telephone box which feeds the modems in my neighborhood. You are free to imagine the heat.

And big thanks to @shadow_phang... 🤑💋💕

~~~~~~~~~~

Almost four months ago, Jon left this house and those people to attend a meeting in Solitude. A lot has happened ever since.

He was confronted by Thane Erikur in a debate that he splendidly won yet it ended up with Erikur going overboard announcing his evildoings of going after Jon's brother, Wulfur. Jon had to travel through space to Markarth and fight a horde of Forsworn to save his brother only to end up getting captured for two months and facing a massive dilemma. Even though it was a predicament, the experience Jon's gained was massive and he got a huge insight into his power serving as a period of training his body and reaching a high level of understanding. As Jon started to heal up and get back on his enemies, he was captured once again by vampires and got dragged to Coldharbour only to put his effort in creating one crazy artifact to escape the place.

Now, he was sitting on his bed surrounded by all his family and friends in a heated reunion.

Hilda cried too much as she looked at his sorry state. Jon didn't hide his injuries anymore and told what happened to him, how his Labours started and how he is handling them. Nurina would have whacked him with her staff in a fit of anger but she was silent as a stone.

Jon knew why.

She had a traumatic experience with the Daedra when she was young. Something that she can never forget or forgive the Daedra and would never get them involved in her family. Knowing that Jon was on good and bad terms with some Daedra made her just stay silent.

He had a troublesome fate and she already saw this one coming. She also knew that he possessed the [Skull of Corruption] and always wanted him to abandon the damn staff but she trusted him to do the right thing on his own.

Anyway, Jonrad had to comfort his son and welcome him home after the long absence. Some tears were shed and some laughs sounded and the mood finally reached a point of stillness. Jon was surrounded by Alina and Aela as he sat beside Jullanar and caressed her hair.

Jullanar has fallen ill when Jon's power was cut. She got better with time but was still sickly and weak. Being her Spirit Guardian, Jon knew the reasons behind her case and had already decided to heal her with all his power but he had to heal first.

Unfortunately, [Pride] wasn't the answer. [Pride] is part of Jon so it can be only as powerful as Jon in best cases, healing such injuries and Jullanar's case at the same time will require an extreme solution.

"I hope my actions just now with the whole message thing didn't do you any problems with your plans." Jon said.

"Not at all, the morale of the people are on the rise after your appearance. We had some chaotic situations with people abandoning their jobs and people actually leaving Winterhold but now things are calmer even with an enemy on the door." Alina said.

"Seriously?"

"Yes, the locals didn't forget that day when you came of Flame Atronach Hawks and defeated the pirates from two years ago."

"Ah! I see."

Jon smiled and turned to Jullanar who was lying beside him.

"And how are you doing?"

"I am fine. They just don't want to let me get out of this bed." She replied.

"Lair! You are the one who doesn't want to get up and cry all night… oh…" Aela retorted.

Her reply was blunt and she realized that Jon's face changed once he heard it. He became silent for a while before kissing Jull's forehead and whispering something to her. She smiled widely afterward.

"What about you, troublemaker?" Jon asked Aela with a warm smile.

"Me? Good. I hit the road between Winterhold and Whiterun more than often nowadays and to keep track of the chaos. Kodlak keeps the contracts up north all for me now."

"Good to hear."

Jon patted her head and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Jull asked.

"Keep resting, there is a lot of things need to be done." He said as he turned around, "There is a lot of things that need to be done, I am sorry to involve you in this shit show but we are going to end it."

The ones he spoke two were Jonrad, Hilda, Nurina, Sigurd, Tormund, Jenna and Wulfur.

"What do you have in mind?" Wulfur asked.

"Hm? My plans are mostly regarding my own. I gave total control to Alina." Jon nonchalantly said.

"Wait! What do you mean?" Alina asked.

"I am pretty much not experienced with rallying men and making a strategy unless it is a street fight or ordering around my undead. Armies are not my cup of tea so I'll leave it to you and I will act as the mascot." Jon patted Alina's shoulder.

"What about the men… everyone is now expecting you to come out and drive away the enemies with a big spell or some shout."

"A big spell? You already have the 'Tower of Music' functioning, right?"

"Yeah."

"Its basic function is amazing on its own but the function we need to activate will need this, here you go."

"""""WOAH!"""""

Jon took something and put it in Alina's hand. Literally, everyone in the room jumped away when they saw it.

"What?" Jon tilted his head innocently.

"..." Alina's eyes went blank the moment she was handed that thing casually.

"That is… that is…"

"Yeah."

"Why is it… here?"

"I took it with me."

"Boy, you escaped the vampires with that?" Nurina jumped behind Alina.

"Yes. I didn't mention it?"

"You didn't!"

"That is?" Hilda wondered.

"My God!" Wulfur went rather pale.

"You ugly bastard!" Jonrad cussed at Jon.

"Say that again, old bastard." Jon was aggroed.

"Leave him alone now. What is that?" Hilda went between them.

"An Elder Scroll." Jon casually replied.

"Ah… damn! An Elder Scroll!" Hilda realized the identity of the strange looking cylinder object.

"I… Why do I have an Elder Scroll in my hands?" Alina asked.

"I brought it."

"Oh… right. Now, what did you want me to do with it?"

"As I said, the 'Tower of Music' has a basic function and a function that needs an Elder Scroll. Here you go."

"I see, so those extra files that I didn't understand were about this function… Are you really serious?" She asked.

"I am sure that you will manage." Jon patted her shoulder back with a smile.

"Is there anything we need to worry about?" Tormund asked

"Nah, grandfather. Jon's plan will work with this." Alina comforted the people around her then took a large sheet and warped the Elder Scroll with it. "We should safekeep it and not let it get scratched."

Alina's earnest action made Jon laugh.

"What's wrong?" Alina asked.

"Elder Scrolls are objects that exist out of space and time. They are basically invulnerable."

"Oh… oh! Okay." Alina felt embarrassed for not realizing that, "At least, let's keep it out of sight."

The heavy atmosphere was lifted by the light situation and a state of calmness took over.

"Damn, it is good to be back." Jon exclaimed.

"You must be hungry. Should I fix you something?" Hilda said.

"Thank you, mother. I am starving." Jon replied.

As the room started to get emptier, Jon spoke to Alina.

"You seem happy."

"Yes, you returned." She replied.

"Oh, okay! And why do you keep smiling like that?"

"I…" She was about to brush it off but someone interrupted.

"She is happy that you returned without some Vampire Girl with you. Lady Alfe was teasing her with that joke." Jullanar said.

"Oh, right. There was that Vampire Girl whose name is Serana. Sadly, her father is the boss of the vampires that took me and she couldn't simply come."

"..." "..." "..."

Alina, Jullanar and Aela were all silent

"WAHAHAHAHA!" Jullanar held her belly and burst into laughter.

"GODDAMMIT!" Alina cussed out loud.

"Damn vampires! One can't sniff them out." Aela became depressed.

"Oi, what's going on?" Jon sensed the off situation.

Alina didn't reply and walked out.

"Hey, where are you going?" Jon called.

"Humph!" Alina didn't seem she want to reply.

"Just… I see! Okay, I'll give you some time to cool off. Can you tell me where is the thing I asked you to bring? The dagger [Keening]." Jon followed her out.

"I don't know! Why don't you go ask that bitch Alexa?" Alina broke away and left Jon dumbfounded.

[A/n: Fanservice here.]

"... Hey, what happened while I was gone?" Jon looked back but there was nothing they could tell.

"The dagger is kept in the vault." Jullanar said.

"Mhm! Thanks." Jon nodded and went on his own.

The house felt so much more beautiful after almost four months of absence. Jon took his way down to the basement to find Wulfur standing there working on something that looked like a large saddle.

"Hey, what are you up to?" Jon asked.

"Alina has some plans of her own for the coming fight. I am just making sure everything is us according to the sketches." Wulfur said.

"And that is?"

"A new toy for the… Council of the cousins, Haha! Hafthor begged me for it. You will see it when the time comes."

"Haha! Looking forward to it then. Are we all set with the battle preparations?" Jon asked.

"Yes, it's all covered."

"Cannons, ballistas, Tesla towers and all?"

"Yep."

"Fine, keep up the good work."

Jon left Wulfur headed directly to the vault, he opened the brass door and walked in to find a few mounds of gold and gems in the small room.

"Sigh! Looks like I am not beating Scrooge McDuck anytime soon."

(I agree.)

"Shadow?! Motherfucker! Where were you?"

(What are you talking about, motherfucker? Where were you?)

"The hell! You took your tail and disappeared before I got dragged by the Vampires."

(Vampires?! What exactly did I miss? You were going to fight the Forsworn last time I saw you. After that, I couldn't find you anywhere.)

"What the fuck do you mean? Shouldn't you be in my head?"

(Do I look like a fucking imaginary friend to you? I was out there doing my business?)

"The hell? Fine… good! Very good! The Dawnguard DLC was about to start 2 years earlier."

(... The fuck!)

"I even got an Elder Scroll."

(... Okay, start from the beginning.)

And Jon started from the beginning.

"... Now, mind telling me where on Nirn did you disappear?"

(I'd call it Earth rather than Nirn.) Shadow murmured quietly.

"Wait! What?"

(What? Nothing.)

"What are you talking about? You just said Earth."

(Did I? You must be imagining things.)

"Hey, don't fuck with me! You just said Earth!"

(No, I didn't say that.)

"Damn you… You are on Earth!"

(No, stop it. We'll talk later, bye.)

"Hey! Shadow! You fucker… dammit!"

Jon was absolutely baffled by what happened just now.

He thought he understood the mystery of Shadow as a High Ranking Spirit bound to his reincarnation but things seemed rather more than just that.

Shadow messed when he was using telepathy with Jon and his thoughts slipped. Something about Earth.

Jon sat on some mound of gold coins and wracked his brain around the matter. It can be anything at this point judging by how flustered Shadow was.

He knew there was more to this than just what he thinks but this is his first time finding a lead about Earth. Just to what extent is Shadow involved with Earth?

Jon thought and thought for almost an hour but nothing came to mind. He couldn't tell from where should he start solving this puzzle.

"Ah, fuck it!"

Whether it is Shadow's origin or the connection between this world and the past one, Jon had no basis to work on other than some theories and speculations. It held no meaning towards the truth behind everything of course but he can only hope for the bits and pieces he gets from Shadow. Of course Jon has no intention of returning to Earth, 15 years have passed and he already stopped grieving for his old life and of course the people there have already buried his corpse and moved on.

Now that the mood was ruined by stupid Shadow, Jon gave a hearty sigh and stood up looking around.

"Alexa, what's up?"

<Good morning, Jon.>

"Oh! You got an update? Your voice sounds a bit… less feminine now… your tone is also mechanical rather than harmonious! Who changed the settings?"

<Second Admin Alina.>

"... I… I see… that's what you get for giving your girl the password. Sigh! Fine, restore the old settings and set their access to First Admin only."

<Confirmation Required! Also, Second Admin has left a message in case you have done this Action.>

"... Really? Check."

<*Smiling Emoji*>

"... Fuck! Cancel Action." Jon broke in a cold sweat. "Alina is scary!"

"Alexa, where is the thing?"

<The shelf behind you.>

Jon turned around and saw a neatly decorated box. He opened it and saw [Keening] encased in its Dwemer metal handle and blue crystal blade covered in layers of protective enchanted sheets. Of course they have done so because touching [Keening] without proper protection is lethal.

[Keening] is an item of a set called the [Tools of Kagrenac], the three artifacts that were the core part of the secret behind the Dwemer disappearance from the world and the rise of the Three Living Gods (Demigods) that ruled Morrowind, the Tribunal.

The dagger [Keening], the hammer [Sunder] and the gauntlet [Wraithgaurd].

[Sunder] was designed to produce a certain power of Tonal Magic that can strike the [Heart of Lorkhan] to make it produce an amount of pure primordial godly energy that can be flayed by [Keening]. [Sunder]'s produced energy and [Keening]'s absorbed energy are lethal to the wielder, here when comes [Wraithgaurd] with its enchantment that can nullify the lethal effect.

All in all, [Sunder] produce a high quality Magic attacks, [Keening] absorbs the Essence Energy, and [Wraithgaurd] protects from all manners of Magic Energies.

Jon sneered and removed the protecting sheets from [Keening] then held it with his bare hands. He wasn't worried the slightest.

"Now, what is left was acquiring [Sunder] and [Wraithgaurd]." Jon murmured to himself, "Who could have told that they are just around the corner?!" Jon's plan was going smoother than ever.

"And people wonder why I chose Winterhold to be my home. It is simply the best, hahaha!"