Chapter 22: Rifton
In the middle of a forest, west of Rifton.
Strange sounds could be heard.
Sounds of arrows penetrating the air.
Sounds of daggers slashing.
Three ghost-like figures could be seen 'fighting'.
One of the ghost-like figures was an archer.
With exquisite movements, it dashed and danced on the trees while firing arrow after arrow to one of the ghosts.
As the ghost evaded the arrows, the third figure was dashing as it prepared to slashed the daggers in its hand.
The unlucky travelers became more and more afraid of the forest.
Like a cursed forest, the sounds continued and it terrified the local population and the unlucky travelers.
They were Miraak, Asa and Iphislia.
After they destroyed Lysanthir and 'killed' Nakiasha, they continued their journey as Miraak started to not only train Iphislia but train Asa together.
Through almost real battles, Asa and Iphislia started to grow stronger and stronger.
Wanting to not waste time, Miraak started to train as he trained them.
While they attacked him, two versus one, he started casting alteration spells on himself.
Ironflesh.
The spell created a layer of magic around his body as hard as iron.
It wasn't perfect, but it was enough.
As arrows came to him and daggers slashed at him from behind, Miraak just sighed.
They still needed training.
He needed to improve their teamwork.
Finally, he twisted his arms as he grabbed the incoming daggers with his bare hands while masterfully evading the arrows.
With explosive strength, Miraak took out the daggers from Iphislia's hands and threw them at Asa.
The daggers not only deflected the other incoming arrows, but it penetrated the tree behind Asa.
After all this time training with Miraak, they just shrugged their shoulders, accepting that they didn't know how powerful he was.
Magic.
Swordsmanship.
Archery.
Assassination.
It was like he was a walking library as he trained them.
He wasn't training them on only their main field.
But, he was teaching them Magic as well.
For Asa, Miraak chose to teach her Weapon Conjuration ( Conjuration ) and Illusion spells.
With Weapon Conjuration, she wouldn't need to worry about the number of arrows she had or shot.
And with Illusion spells, she would use it as 'Trump Card' or as an 'Escape Card'.
It combined perfectly with her Archery ability.
While for Iphislia, Miraak saw genius-like talent in Illusion Magic.
It was like it was made for her.
Whatever he threw at her, she almost immediately knew 'What', 'How', etc...
Just with her Dagger's ability, she is already powerful enough to kill a camp of bandits.
With Illusion Magic, she would be quite a pain in the ass for Expert and Master level enemies.
Finishing the training, the trio continued their journey.
...
1 day before the start of the Frozencaller Tournament, on a road toward Rifton, a Snow Elven city built on the shores of the lake, southeast of Skyrim.
Three people could be seen riding horses as they slowly advanced to the city.
They were Miraak, Asa and Iphislia.
As they left the forest, they finally could see their destination.
Rifton.
As sunlight shone in its white walls, it seemed as if the city was made of glass, reflecting its majesty to the world.
Coming near the gate, a guard stopped them.
"... 2 gold for each... or an 'Invitation'." The guard said to Miraak calmly.
Although the sunlight shone on the trio, the guard couldn't see their complete face.
He could only see their mouth.
As Miraak took out Aumriel's invitation from his cloak, he stared at the guard as he threw the invitation.
Although the guard was suspicious, he opened the invitation.
Seeing a Royal Family's Seal, he immediately bowed at the trio and said while opening the gate for them, "My apologies, please, enter."
...
Finally entering the two, they saw the city beauty up close.
As Asa and Iphislia were entranced with its beauty, Miraak was searching for something
Tilting his head, Miraak could see Rifton's main method of profit and the reason people were coming in mass.
The Arena.
An Arena was located in the middle of the city.
And the Arena was especially popular that week.
As their horses slowly walked forward, they encountered more and more people.
They could see Snow Elves, Ayleids, and even Chimers.
Some of them were young, others were old.
Every single of them were an Experts or Masters of Ice Magic.
Every single of them was there for a single reason.
The Frozencaller Tournament!
...
At the best Inn the city, there were Snow Elves, Ayleids, and even Chimers drinking and eating relaxed.
Suddenly the bar's door opened.
There stood three children covered in a thick cloak.
Even though they were children, everyone present knew that they were already 'Warriors'.
Veterans could see if someone was a fake 'Warrior' or a true 'Warrior' by just looking.
They were just astonished because they were children.
How did they become fully-fledged warriors so young,? Every Veteran questioned it as they saw the trio.
Miraak, the one leading, walked over to the innkeeper placed a bag full of gold.
"... One room. Three beds." He said seriously.
Although the innkeeper was suspicious, money is money, so he nodded and took out a key.
"Room 69." He said to Miraak placing the key in his hand.
As the trio left for the room, a group of Snow Elves in the corner of the Inn were staring at Miraak's back.
...
Entering the room, Asa and Iphislia sat on a table while Miraak kept staring outside the window, toward the city.
"... I saw many powerful mages in the city... Miraak..." Asa said to Miraak, uncertainly if to continue or not.
As the sunlight shone on the room, the wind blew his pure black mage robe and his golden hair danced on the air, Miraak glanced at the distant Arena.
"... I know." Miraak responded relaxed and soon continued, "... You don't need to worry... If I say I'm gonna win, it's a matter of fact."
After staying with him for so long, Asa and Iphislia started to believe in him.
Their trust.
Their life.
Absolute loyalty.
Seeing Miraak's back, a new goal started to shine in their heart.
Protect his back.
Prevent such person from falling, from failing.
...
In the middle of the night.
A group of assassins was entering a room.
Some through the window.
Some through the door.
Slowly and silently going over the beds, the assassins took out their daggers.
Nodding to each other, they thrust their dagger on the seeming people sleeping.
But, the impact they expected didn't come.
It was as if the people sleeping were made of the air itself.
"... What is a bunch of nobodies doing here?" Miraak's voice sounded behind them.
Turning around, they saw him sitting on the table with crossed arms.
No Asa and Iphislia nearby.
Trying to run away, they opened the window and the door.
But, they only found blackness.
Nothingness.
It was as if they were in the middle of nothing.
As they turned around again toward Miraak, they saw nothing.
He was nowhere!
"... Ugh..." A groan sounded from one of the assassins.
When they turned toward him, they saw him again.
Miraak was holding one of them from the neck with his left hand.
Looking at them with boredom in his eyes, he broke the assassin's neck.
"... Breaking into someone's home is illegal, you know?" He said sarcastically.
Like a ghost, he was already in front of two others.
Before they could register what is going on, Miraak's arms fully penetrated their chest.
Holding two hearts in his hand, he glared at the remaining Assassins.
Seeing them wanting to use magic, he clicked his tongue in amusement.
Taking out his arms, he smirked and threw the still pulsating heart in his right hand toward the foolish Assassin.
As the Heart was about to impact the assassin's head, the assassin wanted to evade it.
But, his eyes widened in surprise.
A kick was coming right behind the heart.
As the kick impacted on the mid-air heart, it exploded.
But, it didn't stop.
Going forward, the kick exploded the assassin's head along with the heart.
Seeing such an unbelievable scene, the last assassin was about to commit suicide for no information leak.
But, before he could do so, a hand was already holding him up from his neck.
"... Let's star-" Miraak said but stopped mid-way.
Because he saw who the assassin was.
No! Not 'Who'.
But 'What'.
A Mimic Spider Daedra.
One of the many minions of the Daedric Prince of Obfuscation and Secrecy.
Taking out the chest piece of clothes of the assassin, he saw a necklace with a gem-like thing on it.
On the gem-like thing was a female staring at him while sitting on a strange throne.
Seeing the female, Miraak sighed in disappointment.
With strange spider's legs behind her back and a black vest, the only feature that could be considered 'Human' would be her beautiful face.
"... So you decided to go against me, huh... Mephala." Miraak said staring at Mephala.
Smiling, as if she found an amusing toy, Mephala slowly raised her right hand.
Just as she did so, the necklace on Miraak's hands started to disintegrate.
As the necklace disintegrated, the blood, the dead assassins, all of them started to disintegrate too.
Just like a dream, all of the evidence disappeared like magic.
As his illusion Spell started to finish, cracks started to appear around the blackness.
With a sound just like when glass break, the Illusion spell finished.
Glancing toward the beds, he saw Asa and Iphislia sleeping as if nothing happened.
Sighing, Miraak walked to the window.
As moonlight shone on him and the cold wind of the night blew on his black robes, Miraak stared at the distant Arena.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
AppleLover
AppleLover Hello.
I'm officially starting some new plots that I will explore in the future.
Thank you for reading.
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