章 36: A Prophecy Unveiled: Pursuit of the Pale-skinned Mages

"Ready your weapons!" I shouted as the undead guardians and a grotesque abomination began their assault. The monstrous figure towered over us, its rotting flesh stitched together haphazardly, reeking of decay and death.

"Alawion, we need those vines now!" Arnovia called out, dodging an oncoming attacker but it still ended up hurting her. She countered with a swift kick to the guardian's knee, but it didn't do anything to it.

"Got it," Alawion replied. A surge of green energy erupted from her hands, and thick vines burst forth from the ground, wrapping themselves around the approaching undead.

As the plant wolf tackled one of the undead and bit into its rotten flesh, I lifted my hands and used frost to slow down the skeletons. Their bones slowly began to get covered with frost. As my summon tackled and shattered one of them.

"Ellehish, I see an opening! Go for the big one!" Alawion shouted, pointing at the monstrosity that loomed over the battlefield. The vines had successfully entangled most of the guardians, but the horrifying abomination remained unscathed. as it swiped at Arnovia, who barely dodged as its fist cracked the ground on which she had once stood.

"Right!" I replied, gritting my teeth as I fought my way through the chaotic melee. As Alawion tree summons were battling the undead The stench of rotting flesh and the sickening sounds of bones being crushed as I moved past them and charged the undead monstrosity.

Standing before me was a grotesque and terrifying undead creature, its flesh decaying and emitting a nauseating stench. Without a moment's hesitation, I used my powers to disappear in a flash of red vapor, reappearing behind the creature in an instant. I lifted my hands, one glowing with intense flames and the other radiating a frigid chill. With precise and focused aim, I unleashed both the fiery blast and icy torrent simultaneously, watching as they collided with the creature and caused it to let out a deafening roar of pain.

As the creature staggered forward, I continued fuiling my magic attack. As it turned while swinging its arm at me. slamming me back and towards a wall.

As I was being thrown against the ruined walls, I saw Arnovia take out an arrow and prepare to shoot. Her focus intensified as she searched for the proper target. She reminded me of a predator, stalking its prey - her eyes fixed on the guardians, her movements exact and precise. Eventually, she released the arrow and it flew through the air, piercing the neck of the monstrosity.

As the creature turned its head towards her. Alawion was creating a large spike on the ground behind it made of wood. and at that moment I reappeared in front of the undead monstrosity while shifted and dropped kicked it in the face pushing it backwards and causing it to impale itself on the large wooden spike.

My plant wolf jumps up and rips into the undead's throat, pulling out parts of its spine. Causing the monstrosity to stop moving its arms as it lay there dead.

"Gods, that thing is terrifying," Arnovia remarked, shuddering slightly. "But it's on our side, so... Go, Team Wolf!"

"Keep up the pressure, ladies!" I urged, my heart pounding in my chest. "We've got them on the ropes!"

"Ellehish, you're enjoying this too much," Alawion joked a hint of amusement in her voice despite the dire circumstances.

"Hey, I'm just trying to find the silver lining in this mess!" I shot back, grinning through the chaos as my brushed and bleeding body moved. "Now let's finish this!" But something caught my eye.

"Alawion, behind you!" I shouted, alerting him to a new danger emerging from the shadows. A dark, hooded figure appeared, raising its arms and unleashing a wave of energy across the battlefield. The undead we thought we had defeated were rising up once again.

"Damn it! We've got a necromancer on our hands!" Alawion growled, her eyes narrowing in anger. She cast an entangling spell at the approaching undead, buying us some time to regroup.

"Everyone, focus on that necromancer! We need to take them down before they overwhelm us!" I ordered.

"Agreed!" Arnovia shouted, already nocking another arrow in her bow and aiming for the cloaked figure. "The quicker we deal with them, the easier it'll be to mop up the rest!"

"Watch my back," I told them, charging towards the necromancer. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline coursing through me, As my red eyes locked on them. My claws ripped into the undead that got in my way. As I was hit with frost, it caused my movement to slow, thankfully because of my perks it didn't hurt that much.

"Ellehish," Aruzhan whispered inside my head, her gentle voice offering guidance. "Remember what Gersg taught us about fighting magic users. Get close and don't give them room to cast."

"Got it," I replied, gritting my teeth as I closed the distance between myself and the necromancer. As if sensing my approach, the figure raised a hand, attempting to unleash a wave of dark energy in my direction.

"Too slow!" I thought triumphantly, As I vanished in a vapor of red smoke as the magic struck where I once was. Appearing right behind the Necromance who seemed to think they had killed me.

"Ellehish, now!" Alawion shouted, unleashing a barrage of thorny vines toward our enemy. The vines wrapped around the necromancer, restraining their movements and providing an opening for us to strike.

"Take this!" Arnovia's arrow soared through the air, making contact with the necromancer's shoulder. They cried out in pain, their control over the undead guardians wavering. As the monstrosity they had been trying to reanimate stumbled back to the ground.

With a primal roar, I drove my spear deep into the necromancer's chest as I lifted their body off the ground. Their eyes widened in shock as they choked on their final breaths, desperately clawing at the spear sticking out of their chest.

"NO!" they screamed, their voice cracking and fading as the life drained from their body. The undead guardians surrounding us suddenly crumbled to dust, the dark magic that held them together dissipating with the necromancer's demise.

"Is everyone alright?" Alawion asked, panting heavily as she surveyed our small group. Her once flawless face was now marred by sweat, cuts, and bruises. but nothing seemed too severe.

"Never better," Arnovia replied with a grin, wiping the sweat from her brow. "But let's not stick around longer than necessary." As she held her broken bow while her fingertips were bleeding.

As we regrouped, I agreed and took a moment to catch my breath. Then, I approached them and gently touched their wounds. A warm golden light glowed from my palm, healing their injuries. I also pulled out three large mana potions and drank them to replenish my MP.

The necromancer's cold, lifeless body sprawled before us, his dark robes providing a stark contrast against the ancient Ayleid floor. I knelt down, my fingers tracing the intricately embroidered patterns on his attire. In the dim light, I could make out various symbols that hinted at his connection to the Worm King.

"Look at this," I murmured, indicating the tome clutched in his gnarled hand. Arnovia gingerly pried it free, careful not to disturb the corpse further.

"Dark magic," Alawion deduced, her eyes narrowing as she studied the pages. "This fiend was dabbling in things far beyond his understanding."

A Letter had dropped from inside the tome as i grabbed it and began to read.

==================================================

To the Unseen Executors,

May the veiled tendrils of the obscure weave through your every move as you answer the summons of Mannimarco, Sovereign of Secrets and Keeper of the Black Worm. A clandestine task awaits your elusive skills, and the destiny of Nirn teeters on the brink.

We have become aware of the presence of pale-skinned mages, their lineage hinting at Falmor origins. Certainty eludes us, but whispers of a newfound prophecy, divined by a Moth Priest of unmatched insight, speak of a white-skinned mage with Long elven ears destined to weave chaos or order upon Nirn. It is foretold that as the sons of Skyrim spill each other's blood and the dragons return, she shall emerge, as the great change.

Your duty is to intercept these mages before they embark on journeys that could alter the course of Nirn's fate. The destination they approach is the ancient Ayleid ruin. I have made sure my spies have given these types of quests to any pale-skinned woman they meet. This mission carries the weight of cosmic portent, for any pale-skinned mage may be intertwined with the prophecy of impending strife.

Bring an end to their mortal existence with the grace of the unseen, ensuring that the shadows envelop them before they can become instruments of change. Let silence be your companion, and secrecy your most potent instrument.

Upon the successful completion of this mission, your reward will be a trove of black soul gems, each pulsating with the essence of those who dared defy the dominion of Mannimarco.

Fail not in this endeavor, for the repercussions of this prophecy extend beyond the mortal realm, intertwining with the very threads of Nirn's fate.

In the shrouded realms,

Mannimarco

King of Worms

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Storing the letter quickly before the others could notice I hoped. As they were busy checking the body of the necromancer.

My fingertips brushed against the tattered cover, and a shiver of revulsion coursed through me. The sinuous lines beneath my touch seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, like the writhing tendrils of some venomous plant.

"Be careful, Ellehish," Arnovia warned, her gaze locked on mine. "There might be traps within those pages."

"Right," I agreed, swallowing hard.

"Who would've thought we'd stumble upon a bloody necromancer down here?" I mused aloud, shaking my head in disbelief and worry. "It's like every step we take is riddled with danger." As Stored their body in my storage.

Full Black soul gems: 8

"Welcome to the world of adventuring," Alawion remarked dryly. She glanced at me, her eyes filled with concern. "You're holding up well, considering everything we've encountered so far."

"Thanks," I replied, feeling a bit winded from the battle.

"Damn right," Arnovia interjected, nudging me playfully. "We make one hell of a team."

"Indeed," Alawion agreed, her voice softening.

Eyeing Alawion's torn clothing with a mischievous grin, "It looks like your outfit could use some repairs. You wouldn't want to leave too little to the imagination now, would you?"

"Ellehish!" Alawion scolded, blushing furiously as she hastily covered herself. "Now is hardly the time for such comments!"

"Sorry, sorry," I apologized, chuckling despite the gravity of the situation. "We just survived a necromancer"

"Without a doubt," Arnovia chimed in, smirking at my antics. "You two have come a long way."

"True," Alawion conceded, her expression softening once more. As I handed her a set of spare clothes from my inventory. And I watched her change her top.

"Then let's press on," I urged, feeling a renewed sense of determination.

"Let's go," Alawion said, nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, we got this," Arnovia added, offering a comforting smile.

After attending to our injuries and restoring our morale, we delved deeper into the Ayleid ruin, using torches to illuminate our path.

As my torch emitted a feeble light, it flickered along the ancient stone walls, casting eerie shadows that appeared to sway in sync with our careful steps. I couldn't shake the sensation that we were being watched, with danger lurking around every corner. Although we had defeated the necromancer, the stench of death and decay still lingered in the air. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Alawion whispered, "Stay sharp," as she scanned the surrounding area with the precision of a seasoned hunter. Arnovia nodded in agreement, her new bow at the ready as she trailed behind us. These Ayleid ruins held secrets, things I would learn.

"Alawion," I said softly, "do you sense anything else...unnatural?"

She closed her eyes briefly, seemingly reaching out with her innate druidic abilities. "There's...something. It's faint, but it's there. We must remain vigilant."

Arnovia shared a concerned glance with me before turning her attention back to our surroundings. "If there are more enemies ahead, we'll be ready for them."

As we continued through the labyrinthian corridors, we came across an ornate door adorned with intricate carvings. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it depicted the Ayleids harnessing some sort of magic – perhaps related to the Welkynd Stones we sought.

"Look at this," I murmured, tracing my fingers along the worn stone. "These carvings are remarkable."

"Indeed," Alawion agreed, her voice barely audible as she studied the artwork intently.

Arnovia gripping her bow tightly. "we should hurry up."

"Agreed," I said, feeling a renewed sense of urgency. Grabbing another chac rubbing of it all before storing it away. We pushed onward, each step taking us deeper into the unknown.

As we ventured further into the ruin, it became apparent that our battle against the necromancer had left its mark. My body ached from the constant tension, and I could tell that Arnovia and Alawion were similarly affected.

"Let's take a moment to rest and recover," I suggested, noting an alcove that offered some semblance of shelter. The others gratefully accepted my proposal, sinking against the cold stone walls with weary sighs. As they were far more tired than I was.

"Are you two holding up alright?" I asked, concerned.

Arnovia winced as she flexed her arm, the bruises from our recent skirmish. "Nothing I can't handle," she replied with a determined grin. "Just need a little time to catch my breath." Guess my low-level spell just wasn't enough to fix everything.

"Same here," Alawion chimed in, her eyes betraying her exhaustion despite her attempt to maintain composure. "We've come too far to let something like this slow us down."

"Right," I agreed "A quick break, then we move forward."

"sounds good," they echoed in unison.

As we delved deeper into the ruin, the tension in the air grew thicker, as if the very walls were closing in on us. Our footsteps echoed eerily in the vast chambers, mingling with the distant groans of what remained of the undead guardians.

"Stay vigilant," Alawion whispered her bow at the ready. "We can't afford any more surprises."

"Agreed," I muttered, my heart pounding in my chest. I had never felt so alive or so terrified in all my life. And yet, despite the fear, I couldn't help but relish the thrill of danger. It was a sort of pleasure, one that sent a shiver down my spine and set my pulse racing. Maybe I just like danger?

"Ellehish," Arnovia hissed, snapping me out of my reverie. "Focus."

"Sorry," I mumbled, flushing with embarrassment. "I'm on it."

We rounded a corner and found ourselves face-to-face with a trio of skeletal guardians, their hollow eye sockets burning with unholy light. Without hesitation, Alawion loosed an arrow, piercing the skull of the nearest foe with deadly accuracy. The other two charged at us, their bony limbs raised in a macabre parody of life.

I slammed my spear over its head and cracked its skull causing it to crumble to dust beneath the force of my strike. While the other one was crushed to death by vines. We looked at each other and kept moving forward.

"Over here!" Alawion called out, snapping me back to reality. She had found a cluster of Welkynd Stones nestled in an alcove, their azure glow casting eerie patterns on her face. "These should be what you are after."

"Nice find," Arnovia said, admiring the stones' otherworldly beauty. "We're one step closer to understanding this place."

"Right," I agreed, As we collected the stones, as I stored them in my inventory.

Welkynd Stones: 20

As we continued our search, we came across a hidden chamber filled with relics of the ancient Ayleid civilization. Intricate carvings lined the walls.

"Wow," Alawion breathed, her voice hushed with reverence. "These artifacts could provide crucial insight into the Ayleids' practices. We should document everything."

"Agreed," Arnovia murmured, her eyes wide with awe. "But let's be careful we don't know what other dangers might be lurking here."

"Of course,"

As we cataloged the ancient artifacts, I stored what I could. Making sure not to overweight myself.

"Look at this," Alawion said, pointing to a particularly intriguing carving. It depicted a ritualistic scene involving several Ayleid figures, each draped in flowing robes that left little to the imagination. "It seems they were no strangers to the pleasures of the flesh."

"Indeed," Arnovia replied, her voice tinged with fascination. "Perhaps we have more in common with them than we realized."

"Maybe," I mused, my mind already racing with possibilities. "For now, though, let's focus on the task at hand. We have a long road ahead of us and who knows what other mysteries await?" If I remember correctly in the realm of the prince of knowledge its foundations were built upon smut.

We left the room behind as I used my magic to grow vines and put moss on it to cover it up.

My heart pounded as we continued deeper into the eerie ruin, the chilling air nipping at my exposed skin. The flickering torchlight cast dancing shadows on the ancient walls, revealing more intricate carvings that hinted at the Ayleid civilization's practices and beliefs.

"Look at this," Alawion called out, drawing our attention to a parchment she'd discovered among the necromancer's belongings. "It seems he wasn't acting alone."

"Let me see," Arnovia said, striding over to inspect the document. As her eyes scanned the words, her expression changed from curiosity to concern.

Hearing their exchange, I couldn't help but feel a knot of dread forming in my stomach. "What's going on?" I asked, moving closer to examine the parchment myself.

"From what I can decipher," Arnovia began, her voice tight with apprehension, "it appears that the necromancer was part of a larger scheme, following someone called the King Of Worm."

Thankfully this letter i had missed didn't have any information like the last one did.

"Whoever this King of Worms is, they must be stopped," Alawion said fiercely, her eyes blazing with determination. "They're clearly a threat to us all."

"Agreed," I replied, my mind racing with the implications. The thought of facing an even greater enemy than the necromancer sent shivers up my spine, I was excited at the thought

"Then it's settled," Arnovia declared, her steely gaze reflecting her resolve. "We will inform the mage guild along with the fighters guild."

The knowledge of the necromancer's connection to a larger plot, just made things more complicated. As we continued through the dark passages, we encountered more remnants of the undead guardians. With every swing of my sword and every well-placed arrow from Arnovia, we gradually cleared our path.

"Almost there," Alawion whispered, as we approached what appeared to be the exit to the ruin. The air felt fresher, hinting at the world outside.

"Finally," I breathed, feeling a mixture of relief and exhaustion wash over me.

We emerged from the Ayleid ruin, battered but victorious, the sunlight warm on our faces. Our journey had been harrowing, but the knowledge and artifacts we'd gained would be invaluable in our future adventures.

I had managed to get two more char rubbings before we made it out and my Welkynd Stones collection had increased to over 50. Now it was time to head back to the imperial city.