章 13: Morvan's Goal

Victor held the vial of Sequence 8 - Clairvoyant in his hand, feeling its power pulse through his fingertips. The weight of his decision settled heavily on his shoulders, but there was no turning back now. He had chosen this path, and he would see it through.

"Very well," Morvan said, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction. "The journey ahead will be fraught with challenges, but you have the potential to overcome them. Keep this potion close. When you feel ready, drink it, and let the power of the Clairvoyant guide you."

Victor nodded, carefully placing the vial into his inventory. He could feel Sarah's gaze on him, a mix of concern and trust in her eyes. He knew that this path would not be easy, but it was necessary if they were to face the challenges ahead.

"Thank you, Morvan," Victor said, his voice steady despite the enormity of his decision. "I will use this power wisely."

Morvan inclined his head slightly, a dark and knowing smile playing on his lips. "I trust you will, Victor. But remember, power always comes with a price. Be prepared to pay it."

The atmosphere in the chamber grew tense as Victor and Sarah exchanged glances. Victor could sense there was more to Morvan's offer than he was revealing. He decided to probe further.

"What exactly do you want of me, Morvan?" Victor asked, his voice firm. "No one offers this kind of power without expecting something in return."

Morvan's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a dark amusement. "Ah, perceptive as ever, Victor. You are correct. I do have my own interests at heart. There is a place of great power, known as the Oracle's Sanctum, hidden deep within the mountains beyond Riverwood. It holds ancient knowledge and artifacts that could tip the balance of power in this world."

Victor narrowed his eyes. "And you want me to retrieve something from this Sanctum for you?"

"Indeed," Morvan replied smoothly. "There is an artifact there, the Eye of Divination. It is a crystal of immense power, capable of amplifying the abilities of anyone who possesses it. Bring it to me, and you will have my continued guidance and support."

"And if I don't?" Victor asked.

Morvan's expression hardened slightly, but he maintained his composed demeanor. "That would be... unwise. You have already accepted the path of the Seer. The Eye of Divination is integral to your advancement. Without it, your progress will be hindered, and you will not reach your full potential."

Victor weighed his options, feeling the gravity of the situation. Morvan's offer was enticing, but the hidden motives and potential consequences made him wary. He glanced at Sarah, who nodded subtly, indicating her support.

"Very well," Victor said finally. "I will retrieve the Eye of Divination for you."

Morvan's smile returned, a predatory glint in his eyes. "Of course, Victor. I would expect nothing less. Now, go. The path to the Oracle's Sanctum is long and perilous. You will need all your strength and wits to survive."

With a final nod, Victor and Sarah turned to leave the chamber. As they made their way back through the labyrinthine corridors of the Wellspring of Vitality, Victor couldn't shake the feeling that he had just made a deal with a devil.

As he processed the situation, he realized that this was no longer just a game. He remembered where the potion came from - he had read about it in the adventures of Klein Moretti. One of his advancements mentioned in the story was also called "The Seer", but he wasn't sure if it had anything to do with it or was completely different. It could be another alternate universe, similar to his experiences in Skyrim. After all, there was no mention of a character named "Victor" in the original story.

As they emerged from Bleak Falls Barrow, the cold mountain air was a stark contrast to the musty, oppressive atmosphere inside the ancient crypt. Victor took a deep breath, relishing the freshness while his mind raced with thoughts of their recent encounter with Morvan.

Sarah walked beside him, her face a mask of contemplation. Finally, she broke the silence. "Victor, what do you make of Morvan? He seemed... different."

Victor glanced at her, his expression serious. "I've been thinking about that too. Morvan is incredibly powerful—his aura alone speaks of a strength comparable to a Daedric Prince, if not more."

Sarah's eyes widened. "A Daedric Prince? That's... terrifying. Why would he help us?"

"That's what worries me," Victor admitted. "Morvan's power level and capabilities are beyond anything I've encountered. If he wanted something from us, he could have taken it by force. The fact that he didn't suggests he's playing a longer game."

Sarah frowned. "But what could he possibly want from us?"

Victor sighed, running a hand through his hair. "With my Mystic's Gaze, I could sense some of his true nature. Morvan is a clone, a fragment of a being from another world. He seeks to ascend through his magical pathway by consuming powerful souls. He might see us as food or potential tools for his own gain."

Sarah shuddered, not only because of the chill in the air. "It looks like we're trapped in his twisted game, How do we escape before it's too late?"

Victor gave her a reassuring smile. "We stay vigilant and prepare for anything. For now, we play along with his plans until we figure out what he is truly after. Meanwhile, we'll need to be ready to counter any move he makes."

Sarah nodded, though the worry didn't quite leave her eyes. "Alright," she said after a moment. "But Victor, promise me we won't let him manipulate us."

Victor's unwavering gaze met Sarah's. "I assure you, Sarah, C my Daedra Patron is on our team as well. He promised to keep us safe. We're in this together."

Their conversation was interrupted by the hoot of an owl, echoing through the chilled night air. Victor glanced up at the vast starlit sky, Morvan's ominous words echoed in Victor's mind – power always comes with a price. He knew not what prices he'd have to pay, to Morvan or possibly even to C , but he was prepared for it—if it meant keeping Sarah and himself safe.

As they continued down the mountain path, Victor recalled something he had overheard from the bandits in the mine. "Sarah, do you remember the bandits mentioning Anise the Witch?"

Sarah's expression darkened. "Yes, they said she was going to buy the kid. That's sickening."

Victor nodded. "Exactly. I think we can take a detour to hunt her down before heading to Riverwood. She doesn't stand a chance against us, and we could also use the extra loot."

Sarah's eyes sparkled with a mix of resolve and gratitude. "I agree. Let's put an end to her vile schemes."

With their new objective set, they quickened their pace, making their way towards Anise's Cabin. The journey through the dense forests and rocky paths was uneventful, giving Victor and Sarah time to mentally prepare for the confrontation ahead.

As they approached the clearing where Anise's Cabin was located, Victor held up a hand, signaling Sarah to stop. "We should be cautious. She might have wards or traps around her home."

Sarah nodded, her bow at the ready as they cautiously approached the cabin. The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or distant call of a bird. As they drew closer, Victor could sense the dark magic emanating from the cabin, a palpable malevolence that set his nerves on edge.

Suddenly, the door of the cabin creaked open, and a hunched figure emerged. Anise, the witch, looked every bit the part—wild hair, tattered robes, and eyes that glinted with a sinister light. She spotted Victor and Sarah instantly, a twisted smile spreading across her face.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Anise crooned, her voice dripping with mockery. "Two little adventurers come to visit old Anise. How delightful."

"We know what you're up to, Anise," Victor said, his voice steady and unwavering. "We won't let you harm any more children."

Anise cackled, the sound grating and filled with malice. "Oh, you think you can stop me? How amusing. But you have no idea what you're dealing with."

With a flick of her wrist, Anise attempted to summon a swirling vortex of dark energy, but Victor was faster. Before she could complete her spell, he used his telekinesis to snatch her staff from her hand and fling it far away. At the same time, Sarah released an arrow that struck the ground at Anise's feet, a clear warning.

"You're outmatched, Anise," Sarah said coldly, her bowstring still taut. "Surrender now, and we might let you live."

Anise's eyes darted between them, calculating her chances. Realizing she stood no chance against their combined might, she sneered but raised her hands in mock surrender. "Very well, you win this time. But know this, I am not the only one in these woods with dark intentions."

Victor approached Anise cautiously, keeping his staff ready. "Why were you buying children?" he demanded.

Anise's twisted smile returned. "For experiments, of course. The young are so full of untapped potential. But you'll never understand the depths of my research."

Disgusted, Victor turned to Sarah. "We cannot let her continue. We have to stop her for good."

Sarah nodded, anger flashing in her eyes. "We'll bring her to justice," she vowed, holding her bow steady and aimed at Anise. "And we'll make sure she can't hurt anyone else." But before they where able to do anything, a blinding light enveloped Anise.

Victor squinted against the glare, raising his arm to shield his eyes. The light faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind the figure of Morvan where Anise was supposed to be.

"Interesting," Morvan drawled, looking down at Anise who was now unconscious on the ground. "I must say, I didn't expect to find you two here."

He glanced at Victor and Sarah with an unreadable expression before turning his attention back to Anise. He crouched down, studying her with a thoughtful frown.

"I believe our interests align here," he said finally, standing up to face Victor and Sarah once more. "Anise may be useful for me."

Sarah exchanged a glance with Victor before meeting Morvan's gaze again. "You can't just materialize and snatch her away like that,"

Morvan's lips curved into a sardonic smirk. "I don't recall asking for your permission." Suddenly Morvan reached out, his fingers brushing against Anise's forehead.

Before either of them could react, Anise's body convulsed and then grew still. When Morvan pulled his hand away, her eyes were glassy, void of any signs of life.

"She... she's dead," Sarah uttered in disbelief.

Morvan shrugged indifferently. "She served her purpose. Now her sins have been paid."

Victor clenched his fists, his mind racing to process what had just occurred. "What did you do?"

"Simply extracted what information I needed before releasing her from the mortal coil," Morvan replied nonchalantly. "No need to worry, Victor, she won't be harming any more children."

Despite finding some solace in knowing that Anise's reign of terror was over, Victor couldn't help but question Morvan's methods. His gaze warily shifted between Morvan and the lifeless body of Anise.

"Morvan," Sarah chimed in a low voice, her blue eyes narrowed suspiciously at the man. "Why are you here exactly? We've just left you not long ago."

Morvan looked at them thoughtfully and then sighed dramatically as if painfully aware of some secret he could not share yet. "I don't expect you to understand or even trust me," he began, his usually cocky demeanor replaced with an intense seriousness. "But we're all pawns in a much bigger game here."

"But whose game is it?" Victor pressed.

"That would be telling," Morvan replied with a cryptic smile before his figure faded into the shadows.

Victor clenched his fists, his jaw set in frustration, his skill had actually failed this time, all he was able to get back from the body was that she was indeed dead. "Dammit," he muttered under his breath.

Sarah touched his arm gently. "We'll figure this out together." she assured him, her eyes hardened with resolve.

"I know," he replied, but as they turned back to the empty cabin, he couldn't shake off the menacing feeling that Morvan's actions where just a way of letting them know that he is watching.

Victor quickly searched the cabin, uncovering various alchemical ingredients and potions. In the basement, however, the sight that met their eyes was gruesome. Various magical artifacts and vials of unknown substances lay scattered about. The air carried an acrid stench, a mix of rotting vegetation and something far more sinister that made their stomachs churn.

Victor began rummaging through Anise's belongings, hoping to find some clue about her activities or where Morvan might have taken her. He came across several disturbing diaries detailing Anise's experiments on children; she seemed particularly interested in harnessing their inherent magical energies for her own vile purposes.

"She was definitely up to no good," Victor muttered as he examined a grimoire detailing rituals involving children's blood.

Sarah, meanwhile, had found a set of maps. One of them was marked with various locations - significant places where children had gone missing recently. Her worst fears were confirmed.

"She's been at this for a long time," she murmured disgustedly, tossing the maps aside.

Victor nodded grimly, tossing down one of Anise's journals with a grimace. "It's not just her," he said, his voice heavy with unease. "She mentioned others, remember? We may have stopped Anise, but there may be more like her out there."

Sarah picked up one of the maps she had discarded and stared at it, her brows furrowed in concentration. Her fingers trace over the marked locations, each a chilling reminder of the innocents lost to Anise's deranged experiments.

"We need to track them down," she stated firmly, her gaze meeting Victor's. "We can't allow this to continue."

Victor nodded, his fingers absently drumming against the worn leather cover of a journal. "We'll find them," he affirmed, his voice carrying a promise. "But we need to tread carefully. If Morvan is involved or watching us, we need to be one step ahead."

Victor said decisively, rising from his crouched position and dusting off his hands on his trousers.

They carefully packed away Anise's damning journals and maps into the inventory, leaving the gruesome basement behind them. The setting sun cast long shadows around them as they trudged through the ominous forest, a heavy silence enveloping them both.

With every step Victor took away from Anise's cabin, he couldn't shake off a chilling sense of unease, like a cold shiver running down his spine. He could only hope that they can respond in time before Morvan attempted something unthinkable.

Sarah walked alongside him, her face hardened into a determined mask; her bow never straying too far from her grasp. Despite the uncertainty they faced, she took comfort in knowing they were doing what's right.

They walked in silence until they reached the outskirts of the village, where the peaceful hush of evening belied the darkness they had stumbled upon. It was a stark contrast to the horror they'd discovered in Anise's cabin. Smoke rose from the chimneys in thin wisps, families gathered around their supper tables, children's laughter floated on the cool breeze - blissfully unaware of the danger that lurked in their midst.

Victor looked over to Sarah, who had been unusually quiet after leaving the cabin. He could see the toll their discovery had taken on her; her usually vibrant eyes now clouded with worry. "We should rest," he suggested gently, gesturing towards a small inn at the end of the dirt road.

Sarah nodded gratefully, exhaustion etched onto her features. As they made their way towards the inn, Victor couldn't help but glance back towards the forest, half-expecting Morvan to emerge from behind a tree or cloak himself in shadows. But there was only silence - a silence that felt all too oppressive.

They booked two rooms at the Inn. After a hearty meal and an hour or so of idle chatter with fellow patrons, Victor and Sarah retired to their respective rooms.

Victor remained awake, pouring over Anise's journals and maps. His eyes flickered over the inhuman sketches and detailed notes on magical rituals engraved into the pages, the sight sending chills down his spine.

As he read further into Anise's twisted experiments, a name repeatedly popped up - Malachi. A sense of dread filled Victor as he recalled their earlier encounter with Morvan; the enigmatic man had mentioned something about pawns and a game.

Could this Malachi be another player in this cruel game?

As dawn broke, Victor found himself staring at a pair of eyes sketched into one of Anise's journals. They were hauntingly familiar, so much so that it took him a while to place their origin. A cold, harsh realization washed over him. They were Morvan's eyes, portrayed with eerie accuracy by Anise.

"And so, the pieces fall into place," Victor murmured to himself, running his fingers over the chilling sketch. The implications were disturbingly clear: Morvan and Anise had been in contact with each other. Perhaps even allies.

Victor decided to try meditation as it was already to late for sleep, hoping it would help him connect with C and gain some clarity. He closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing and letting his mind slip into a meditative state. As he drifted deeper, the sounds of the inn faded away, and he found himself enveloped in darkness.

For a while, there was nothing. Just as he was about to give up, a familiar warmth spread through him, and a gentle light pierced the void.

"Victor," came the soft, reassuring voice of C.

Opening his eyes, Victor found himself in a serene, otherworldly garden. C stood before him, radiating calm and wisdom.

"You have questions," he said.

AU: Another chapter just for you, I hope you are enjoying the direction I have taken the story so far, I will definitely not fallow "canon" as it were, so I intend to change a lot more stuff in the future.

Just to mention, its only been around 3 days since Victor woke up in Skyrim and there is already so much to do, at this rate he will not be able to do all he needs with only 2 of them so I intend to make it possible to make a team that is loyal only to him, I am considering for his next reword he will receive a certain kind chess pieces from another Dragon related story, what do you think?

Ps. As always I would like it very much if you see any mistakes or inconsistencies you would let me know as that would help me create a much better story. Thank you very much.