A/n: I am not sure if it the Spirit of Ramadan or what but yesterday it was J.G. and today HIRAK BARUA , many thanks to both ... now my workload is getting scary, people.
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"Things would have been easier if you told me that time."
"I am sorry but… the girl, she has long since become a guest in this temple. I hope that you understand that I was worried. Things didn't look that good for you back then."
"... Sigh! I understand."
I looked down at Nefertiti who was sleeping on my lap. She was holding on to me as if she would never let go.
"Thank you for taking care of her. I will never forget that favor." I talked to the old woman in front of me.
She was the person who watched for Nefertiti for the past three months, the Sybil of Dibella.
Once Nefertiti found me earlier tonight, I was beaten to a pulp by har in the middle of the inn but luckily a priestess came and cleared the misunderstanding of the people around. The priestess tried to take Nefertiti with her but she was already holding on my neck.
That's my little girl.
I tried to calm her but she was frustrated and angry at me until she fell asleep. I then could follow the priestess to the Temple of Dibella where I met the old Sybil.
"So, do you understand the girl's nature?" She asked me.
I didn't respond for a few seconds then spoke.
"A simple bond is not all we share. Without that curses vine around me, we could have shared our thoughts, emotions, location, senses and many things."
"I guessed as much." The Sybil nodded. "It is unusual to see something like that."
"First it was my Bloodline power that forged a connection between us, then the Stag Prince came in and made the connection stronger. Many things have happened to her that made her stronger and caused her to change until this point. I don't understand what she has become but I already know that she has broken through the limits of being a normal being since the day she followed me. I am not sure if I should regret making such an innocent one go through all that?"
"You need to thank Dibella that she didn't read those thoughts or it wouldn't have just ended up as some normal beating."
"Haha! Right."
True, if Nefertiti read those thoughts, it wouldn't go away lightly.
The Sybil had a nostalgic look on her face and then she looked at me.
"You have been through thick and thin, I am sure Dibella wouldn't have spoken just on a whim." She said something that brought me back to our first meeting.
I don't know what to think about that meeting. I mean… Dibella speaking? It was weird. The Aedra do not interfere or speak as much as the Daedra.
"The Goddess speaks to me sometimes. It is not that unusual in my case."
"Really?"
"Hehe! The Gods always speak, child. You just need to learn how to listen."
"... Thank you… for the advice. I think we should go now." I said as I carried Nefertiti and stood.
"Hold on a second, there is something you need." The Sybil stood up and walked to the center of the temple. "Come." She pointed.
I walked after her.
"Do you know how to pray?" She asked.
"I know how to meditate." I replied.
"Same thing. Sit here and try it." She pointed at the stairs leading to the fountain in the middle of the temple.
I nodded and sat then closed my eyes and heightened my senses to focus on my inner self. I could tell that there is a feeling I don't understand about this place, something mysterious just came into contact with me the moment I started meditating.
The feeling around me changed as if I was teleported someplace else. I hurriedly opened my eyes for a second…
Just for a second or even less…
I saw… I don't understand what I saw…
How can such a place exist in this world?
The second wasn't enough but it was all I had. I opened my eyes to see what was around me.
I was back at the temple… or maybe I didn't leave.
"You saw it? Didn't you? You saw it too?" The Sybil of Dibella spoke with a shocked face.
She knew something.
"That place…" I tried to talk but I was too dizzy.
She nodded as if she understood.
"For years… I have been wasting my energy for years to see it… one more time before I pass." She spoke frantically at first but her tone turned sorrowful.
"... I see."
Things are not as simple.
The view from the above… the dance atop… the endless yellow field of flowers and pink sky.
"Where was that?" I asked the Sybil.
"... Dibella!" The Sybil only knelt to the shrine and started to cry.
***
Too many answers lead at too many questions. I was shown a place that explained things and made things more mysterious.
Was it someplace I will go to? Somewhere I am destined to arrive at?
Too many questions that I had to put at the back of my head.
It was all a test in the end. This whole ordeal we walk. To pass it is to walk and to walk is to perfect every step else one will be pushed back.
I was pushed back because I didn't walk right. Now I get it.
There is guidance in the predicament and every issue needs a decisive solution.
In my current case, I need to quit dallying and step on the gas. The enemy is waiting.
"Nefertiti, where is the Cube?"
She pulled up her sleeve and showed it to me on her arm.
"Come then, we can't go to war on empty stomachs, can we now?"
Her mood was still sour and she would stare at me for some time to express her displeasure.
She was weakened as much as I was weakened too. We are connected after all. She said that she lost the sensation of her left foot and to of her fingers at some point but she is healing herself on a daily basis. I think I am to blame here.
"Here, you favorite smoked salmon."
She only takes food and nips on it.
*nom* *nom* *nom*
And she did it as cute as ever. It was hard to take her seriously but her feeling didn't need some magic bond to be felt, I can already tell how upset she was.
I am as upset as her too but it is a good thing that we follow the same creed of 'don't be upset on an empty stomach'.
According to what I know now, she can barely go into the Shadow World but she can use my shadow as easier access. This is for the good, I need her to stay like that now that her magic is unstable. She can also take the Cube with her and everything shall be safe this way.
Also, now that I got the Cube back, I can finally have better meals, a warm bed, a hot bath and my mobile arsenal back.
Some preparations were needed for the next move I am making and thankfully, I got all that I need.
I laid on the bed thinking again of what I experienced in the Temple now that my thoughts were all back together and could calm my mind.
Something is strange, the place I saw had a strange law to it. I even tried to ask Shadow many times and he didn't respond.
It wasn't important at the moment but I felt like I got a hint once I returned to the Cube. It gave a feeling very similar to that place, not like the same kind but the same law was applying to both of them.
Mysterious yet mystical! Even Nurina won't be of help regarding the subject. It seems like I need to pay a visit to the old monsters someday.
"Let's just sleep."
***
The next day came and I dressed myself in my usual ragged armor that I used around Markarth. I exited the Cube with Nefertiti and gave it to her and then she sank in my shadow.
It felt better that way knowing that she got my back.
The conversation we had was brief as she was still angry at me but she was still the usual her. I promised that I will avenge both of us very soon.
Today was the first step in doing so, I walked through Markarth with the Mace being covered by an old cloth. Once I arrived at a particular house, I knocked on the door.
"Coming…" A voice of a woman replied at me.
The door opened and a young woman appeared behind it, she looked like a Breton but that was the face of a Reach native.
Once she noticed who I am, she hurriedly tried to shut the door but I put the mace in to stop her from doing so.
"How do you do? My name is Jon Dare and I am really pissed off. Lucky for you, I have got this offer from my company, a sale on our latest product. Are you interested?"
The young woman looked at me with hostility and I guess that she reached out to a weapon behind her.
"Well, the offer was two lives for the price of one… that's you. Just thought if it may pique your interest and you just let me in quietly but… sigh! Let's go with the Forsworn special. A mace to the head, and get Soul Shriven for eternity. Just show me to old man Nepos?"
I punched the girl's face before she could react and barged in. Sure as hell, there was a party waiting for me.
"Xikil, come out."
Just as I asked him, the link between me and Xikil summoned him right away.
"Mortal?"
"Guard the door and keep counting, this party will be lit!"
