Just in case if you were wondering why I let Jon get captured, this chapter will explain everything!
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*Winterhold*
Alina was still in a dazed state of what happened yesterday. She met someone (or something) that she never ever dreamt of meeting before. That was obviously Gleam. A part of the Cult of Kyne, that is known as [Guardians of the Grove] and resided in Kynesgrove, had tales about a Legendary God-like being that lives in the Eldergleam Sanctuary who shown herself in history barely once or twice but the tales are still there.
Known to have some God-like powers, that being was always associated with Kyne and the sanctuary was always treated as a sacred place. The origin of the name 'Eldergleam' was unknown but to think that the spirit of the tree itself was called Gleam.
Well, Alina was petrified when she met Gleam. She fainted and woke up while being tended to by Gleam herself.
Gleam was a very beautiful being with wide green eyes and brown hair surrounded by a mystic aura that can't belong to a mortal. Her petite appearance and curious wide eyes didn't reflect her true age of being the oldest known being on Tamriel.
It was a traumatic experience in many ways. Alina was always a fangirl of the Spirits of Nirn and dreamt that she can one day meet with one of those Faeries. Still, the idea that the most ancient tree in the land was actually a Faerie made Alina question the existence of the universe and the meaning of life.
Still, the meeting wasn't all that bad. Alina benefited a lot by simply talking with Gleam.
Out of all things in the world, Gleam knew about Jon and assured Alina that he is alive. More so, she explained Jullanar's situation to Alina and told her that the 'Twilight Rose' is watching over both Jon and Jullanar. The 'Twilight Rose' is of course the Daedric Prince Azura.
Alina couldn't wait to fly back on Lokthur and spread the news in Winterhold but she regained her sanity and started to think of how to decisively retrieve both Jon and Jullanar. Sadly, Gleam couldn't interfere with Jon's Labour and started to explain the meaning of the Labours to Alina.
She was rather shocked when she learned that Jon bore such a burden alone without telling anyone. She knew about Jon facing a problem with some Daedric Prince and he said that he will resolve it but for that to be Azura of all the Daedra! It was shocking. Azura can be argued to be one of the top dogs in Oblivion despite her benevolent image and offending such a Daedra can worsen the relationship between Winterhold and the large population of Dark Elves that worship Azura.
No wonder Jon kept the matter under the rugs.
"Worrying about him is pointless. He is already recovering his power and planning to get back at his enemies. If you want to go to him, I'll aid you." That was what Gleam said.
Apparently, Gleam has taken a liking on both Jon and Alina and she mentioned something about Nefertiti too being a similar race to hers. Alina couldn't make heads and tails of the way Gleam spoke in but she couldn't help but worry about Jon and miss him. She wanted to be with him no matter the cost.
"You do not need to worry, Elder Gleam. I know Jon alright and will find a way to reach him." Alina said.
"Not with those eyes of yours. Don't you feel like losing control over the power you have?" Gleam dropped a bomb on Alina's head.
Alina was shocked and couldn't muster a word to reply with. Contrary to her expectation, Gleam offered help.
"The trinket that the boy made for you is quite useful but you are getting more powerful. I can help."
"Please!"
Alina was desperate for help. It was true, her eyes got stronger and the [Fire Keeper Mask] was barely suppressing her eye powers. Her eye may out of control and accidentally kill someone, that was how strong her eyes were.
"Very well."
Gleam floated in the air and flew to her body which is the tree then took a leaf and a branch.
"Careful!" Alina was flustered as she saw someone break their own body.
"Here you go. Eat this." Gleam offered the leaf to Alina.
[A/n: Why am I thinking of 'All Might'?]
"What is that?"
"What do you think it is, silly? A leaf!"
"Isn't this… awkward? Getting your hair… I mean leaf eaten?"
"Why is that? It happens all the time?"
"Oh! Yes… I see you are… a tree after all! Haha! A person and a tree… why does that sound awkward all of a sudden?"
It was too much for Alina's brain, stress then shock and now confusion! It was exhausting.
"What will this leaf do?" She asked.
"You will be carrying my presence on you and that will be enough to make you powerful enough to stop the 'Blessing of the Dreamweaver'."
"TRULY?"
Alina couldn't believe she is ridding herself from the curse on her eyes even though Gleam just called it a blessing. It was true, if a blessing is too powerful then it is a curse.
"It is true. You can finally free yourself from the blindfold."
Alina was thrilled to hear the news and agreed immediately.
Once she ate the leaf, changes started to happen. She felt a strong surge of energy in her Energy Center she sat down and started circulating her energy to consume it. Her pupils that were fixed in a vertical slit shape turned back to normal round pupils
Gleam kept watching what Alina was doing in wonder and could tell that the leaf that she gave to Alina was being consumed at a rapid rate.
While doing so, Alina's skin turned red and normal a few times in the span of a few hours until she opened her eyes again.
She was mystified by the feeling. One leaf of the Eldergleam shot her level to 'Level 7, Jade Skin stage'.
This was really some unexpected harvest. She was not sure about her eyes but jumping up a few levels in one day is something rare.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she had to endure one hour of Gleam talking about various stuff. In the end, Gleam offered the branch she took with the leaf.
It was a straight and big branch enough to craft a cane but it is a branch from Eldergleam herself. This was no ordinary branch. If Alina's guess is correct, this branch can break Wulfur's best swords. The Eldergleam is an existence older than any metal on Nirn after all, it was impossible to harm it by normal means.
"What is this branch for?" Alina asked.
"It is a branch? What do you mortals do with branches?" Gleam asked.
"No idea. I think a bow can be a good choice."
"Oh! I see, you are not the creative one. Fine, take it to the boy and he will have an idea what to do with it. Tell him it is a gift."
"To Jon… fine."
Alina thanked Gleam a thousand time and headed off the sanctuary holding the branch and the [Fire Keeper Mask] in her hands like a kid going out of a toy store. Once Lokthur saw her, he landed but kept looking at her with hesitation.
It was the first time he sees his owner in the eye so the gryphon was still trying to rope its bird brain around the situation. Alina decided to turn the [Fire Keeper Mask] into the [Storm Rage Crown]. It still can amplify her magic and eye powers greatly.
Hopping on Lokthur's back, she flew back to Winterhold.
This all happened yesterday and she can accept it with an open mind. She arrived at Winterhold late and went to bed as no one was up when she came home but when she woke up, why on Nirn was there a tiny Gleam sleeping next to her?
***
*Between the Reach and Falkreath Holds - Black Bone Clan Hidden Cave*
Screams and wails echoed as blood and guts spilled on the ground. Many men were holding their shields up trying to protect the others behind them who controlled the undead. The Black Bone clan was being invaded and its men were being slaughtered.
None in the Black Bone clan could ever think that their family that held on for thousands of years and thrived in the late 200 years would face annihilation on this day. Their defenses crumbled and their ancestral cave was besieged.
The women and children managed to sneak away from the back of the cave and the men had to buy enough time for them to escape.
Ever since that chaos started in the Reach 3 months ago, those bloody Firemanes were bound to appear to look for their relative, Jon Dare. Still, not in anyone's wildest dreams could they imagine the most infamous Firemane to come knocking on their door without even asking questions.
It was her. The worst living killer among the clans, the [Bloody Hilda].
'What brought that nightmare here?'
Hilda was infamous with her bloodthirst. She killed many people following the events of the chase that Skyrim's clans cooperated with the Thalmor after her. Her vengeance was bloody and she dyed the sea with blood for five years until the Firemanes themselves had to put an end to it. Following these events, she was said that she has put down her axe and settled somewhere at the end of the world yet here she is, as bloody as twelve years ago and with her battleaxe at hand and her infamous crew that has sworn a blood oath to serve her and her family at her back.
She was that famous.
The only reason why they can think she would come for them was because of the attack they initiated at the Firemanes with Bloodsails more than a year ago. It was Jon Dare who managed to sabotage their plans back then so it was natural that they wanted vengeance and so they were visited by the Firemanes.
"Hrolf Black Bone! You know why I am here."
Hilda spoke and her voice echoed.
An elderly man wearing armor stepped forwards from the ranks of the defenders and the skirmish was halted.
"Bloody Hilda! I know why you are here. We don't have the Firemane boy. Leave us, damn you!" The man replied.
"If you don't have him then you know where he is. Why on Nirn did you mobilize your clansmen the day he disappeared. You are into that plot! Who's after it, you pile of old bones?" Hilda had her own scenario into her head.
"We didn't ambush they boy. We don't even have business with him. Ask the Forsworn, we only moved because they moved." Hrolf Black Bone was desperate. He knew the result of the fight.
"Don't make me get you, Black Bone. Say it or I am sending you all here to Oblivion."
"Lord Molag Bal as my witness, I didn't even know anything." Hrolf swore in his God's name.
The Black Bone clan was a Daedra worshipping hidden clan after all. Much like cults but less harmful because of the blood bonds that tie them.
"I don't care about your Daedra. Swear to me on your son's life." As she said so, Hilda's crew dragged a warrior in his thirties right beside Hilda.
It was Hrolf's son, Hjor. He was accompanying the women and children who escaped the siege.
"... No!" Hrolf's face turned ashen pale not trying to think of what happened to his clansmen that escaped.
"... Sorr… sorry, father. I got captured… the rest escaped."
"YOU FILTHY FIREMANES!"
Raising his sword, Hrolf didn't care anymore and ran towards Hilda.
She clicked her tongue and threw Hjor away to face Hrolf. Only three exchanges were enough to kill the old fool.
Hilda was depressed as she found no clue from the Black Bones.
"Last chance, whoever knows anything will save your doomed clan." Hilda said looking at the Black Bones.
The Black Bones' blood was boiling once their patriarch died. They didn't withstand the shame and raised their weapons one.
"For the patriarch!" "Save Hjor!" "Kill that bloody woman!"
They all charged at Hilda and her crew at once.
"Damn you!"
Hilda knew that she is now fighting a cornered beast and readied herself for a hard fight but suddenly, a fire stream came from behind them and landed on the Black Bones burning them in one go.
Screams and cries filled the place as they the men were burned to ash and the ones who survived ran for their lives.
Hilda looked behind her to see a large man in black cloak and hood with a flaming sword standing behind her crew.
"Leave us."
With one word from that man, Hilda's crow dispersed in a few seconds.
"Hilda, go home. You are just killing people." The man spoke.
"..." Hilda's face hardened and she shook her head.
"You can't stay here. You just gave birth a few months ago. Thor and Idun need you."
"I am not…" She wanted to say something but she stopped.
Her heart finally found happiness and she can't give it up that easily.
"Jonrad, I can't." The bloody beast from a while ago turned into a meek woman in front of her husband.
Jonrad shook his head with a sigh.
"You can't do anything like that. You are just starting fights, not looking for clues. Let Tyr and I handle that. We already have a lead."
"... Re-Really."
"Yeah. Merchants gave us a tip. A large man was seen jumping from a summit inhabited by Forsworn into a river. They say he flew for a bit before landing in the river then forcing one of them off a horse and taking it deep in the Reach. You know who loves to jump from high places so much, don't you? It's Jonhild, Hilda. Our son is okay and jumping off mountains."
Jonrad smiled as he pulled Hilda to his embrace and kissed her head.
She was tearful for a bit but she listened to him and walked with him out of the Black Bone cave.
Still, they made a single mistake. A very big one.
They didn't check for survivors and sure as hell, there was one.
Hjor son of Hrolf Black Bone was hiding under the rubble behind some corpses.
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