*At Night - Winterhold's Gwent Casino*
"I can't believe you're leaving me in this cold Skyrim and going to fool off somewhere, Jon." The Imperial woman beside Jon said as she stuck her body to his.
"I owe you a lot, Vittoria. Your help kept Winterhold not only afloat but it rose to the top in a blink of an eye."
"It is the least I can do."
"Also, about [Keening], your help was really pivotal in this victory. In the future, I know just the way to pay you for your kindness."
"Oh! I hope I like the surprise. By the way, I wanted to give you this?"
"That is?"
"An Imperial Diplomatic Messenger Pass that will make you go through any Imperial Camp and or Patrol or even ask for aid. Of course, you should use it only on borders and put up the air of a secret agent kind of guy."
"I'll treasurer it then."
"If you ever find yourself near Colovia next Fall or Winter, you are welcome in my Vici Estate."
"Oh! Is it that easy?"
"Just use the Pass you have."
"Goodness me! It was quite the shock when I discovered you're the daughter of the Duke of Colovia."
"Was it that unimaginable? I am a hard working independent young lady and I have a lot of Old Siblings so I can just acquire my own title somewhere else."
"And you're doing a good job at it."
"Indeed."
"And what about you Elishka? You're awfully silent." Jon turned to the curvy women on the other side.
"Ah! Boss, things are going to get too dull without you here. I enjoy my job but I always enjoy your company more."
"Look at that shameless woman, leave a married man to his own business."
"You won't spend any time with me before you leave?"
"My wives drained me this morning. I still need my legs walking, you know."
"Humph! I am the first woman you've been with and you should give me some benefits."
"Other than managing a scary amount of the company's assets and training the girls who work as the core management of our company. I'm sure you are now being called Dame Elishka among our partners."
"My current status is only thanks to a certain young man who looks after his people."
"Yes, fix that attitude."
Jon was surrounded by the two beauties as he joined them for one last game of Gwent. He had to make sure that his people are well pleased before he leaves for the Labours.
The ones he needed to worry about were his biggest trade partner and one of the major members of the company. Thankfully, the two women are his.
He entertained them until it was time for him to meet another. This was his brother, Wulfur.
The two met at the entrance of the casino under the night sky in the empty street.
"I guess this is it." Wulfur sighed.
"Yeah. It was truly fun."
"Yep, a wild ride."
"We did good, you know. Two orphans from Riften, hitting the road to Solitude, winning a tournament, building a town, winning battles… damn! We need a movie about the two of us."
"Hahaha! I feel strange, man. Things happen around you… I don't understand how you keep a sane mind after all that?"
"Brother, you're offending me. You know I lost it before we know each other."
"Yeah… I don't think I'll get more surprised." Wulfur said as he looked up at the sky.
"I assure you, all that we do here is preparations for the real test. The enemies that we are going to face can flip Tamriel upside down." Jon said in a calm tone.
"That's why I always asked for a new course to Akavir in our fleet. I can leave this world and run with Jorna."
"HA! Good idea… I still need you though."
"Yeah, someone must tinker your stupid ideas into steel."
"I love it when you put it that way."
The two laughed real hard and had a brotherly hug.
Jon returned to his house to see his family waiting for him. Alina was the first to welcome him with a tight hug as she looked into his face meaningfully.
"You've been drinking."
"Gotta keep it warm. Also, I don't get drunk."
After her came Jull.
"You still won't take me with you?"
"..." Jon simply caressed her hair.
"You promised me that night that I'll be your shadow."
"Here is my home. I married Alina so that I tell everyone that this Jonhild Firemane is returning home sooner or later as this is only temporary. Once I return, I'll marry you too."
"Two wives! You're quite the capable man, son." (Jonrad)
"Thanks, dad."
"What are you teaching him?" (Hilda)
"The boy is achieving things I couldn't even…" (Jonrad)
"Choose the next words carefully." (Hilda)
Jon walked to the cradle in the center of the room and looked at the two sleeping babies sleeping peacefully in.
Jon got closer to Thor and Idun.
"Big brother is going to leave the place for you two. Make sure to have fun and break everything you want to break… also, play with cats a lot. Dogs are a bunch of idiots."
""Hey!"" Hilda and Aela felt offended.
Jon smiled widely as the last one in the room was Aela.
"Wolf girl."
"Red boy."
"Don't act so rough! Come on, a warm hug."
Jon pulled the stiff Aela closer. Her character was not compatible with warm emotional moments but she broke the tough attitude.
"I'll miss you. If you die out there, I'll kill you and be sad."
"Eh… good progress!"
Jon looked around before giving a sigh.
"Where is Nurina?"
"I'm here."
Nurina walked from inside the house, her face seemed a bit pale. Jon could tell her mood was ruined.
"I'm sorry. I wish I could have stayed but the choices we make sometimes force the path of life to take some weird curves."
She nodded.
"Be careful out there. I never liked the Daedra and I hope you sever ties with them one day." She said.
"I will, as for your grudge on the Daedra, I promise that I'll make them pay for the pain they caused you."
Jon and Nurina have a special bond and he knows her pain. She hated the Daedra ever since she was a child living with her family in the City of Vivec.
200 years ago when the Baar Dau (a large floating rock above Vivec city) was about to fall, the Dunmer built a device by the Daedra's help to keep it afloat. That device required Mortal Sacrifice and members of Nurina's family were among the randomly chosen sacrifices until the machine failed and the Baar Dau fell on the city obliterating it.
When young Nurina was rescued by the Fyr household, she held nothing but resentment to the Daedra even though she now is an Arch-Wizard with a wide understanding of things.
"Don't do anything reckless, brat."
"Can't promise you that."
He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. The one she sheltered all that time was now taking the first step into his true Fate. She felt very bitter not having any power to alter such a curse away.
A family hug was centered around Jon until the door to the house was knocked on.
"Who is it?"
Jonrad opened the door and a High Elf barged in.
"Thane Jon, Thane Jon… I've done it! Hahahaha! I have done it."
"Master, what are you doing here at this hour?" Jullanar asked.
"Oh, girl. You look lovely. Where is Thane Jon… Ah! Here he is! You are a genius! Haha! A Genius."
Master Nurelion, the Master Alchemist of the White Phial Shop that moved from Windhelm to Winterhold, seemed very excited about something on his own.
"Old pile of bones, we are having a moment here!" Nurina fired at him right away.
"A moment! What is that? Thane Jon, you've got to see this! Mixing Lorkhan's Tears and Kyne's Tears, that mixture that you created. It is so genius. It is poetic."
"Master Nurelion, I'm sure whatever the discovery is, it should be a business with the company, not me. I'm but the former Boss."
"Huh? Do I look like I care? Also, I know everything going on, you retiring and leaving. Don't worry, I didn't lose my mind yet even though I was on the verge to do so. Here, take this."
Master Nurelion took out a White Bottle and gave it to Jon.
"Whoa! That's the [White Phial]. Weren't you the one to keep it?" Jon said.
"I know, I thought a lot before coming but it is now clear that you need it more than me… or rather… you need the potion I prepared for you. Think of it as me lending you the Phial until you return."
Jon blinked a few times before taking the White Phial.
"What potion is it?" Jon asked.
"Come close."
Nurelion pulled Jon close and whispered something to him. Jon's eyes gradually widened and stated at the Phial with shaken eyes.
"You're saying… I have an infinite supply of 'That Potion'?"
"Yes, you can have it with you all the time you are on the run and… haha! It is the best thing I did to date. It is truly when Alchemy beats Magic."
"This is insane."
"Should I be worried?" Alina said.
""Eh? No."" Jon and Master Nurelion had the same mischievous smile on their faces for some reason.
"Haha! Thane Jon, if I live until you return, make sure to bring genius stuff with you home. This is going to be brilliant. I'll go now, I think I came up with three new potions on the way here alone."
"Take care, Master Nurelion."
Jon was affectionately looking at the [White Phial] in his hand. This is truly an amazing surprise.
He kept it in the [Cube] for now and turned around. He smiled at his family as a goodbye was to be said.