At least she wasn’t a loli.
That was the first thought running through my head as I sat across from the elven woman dressed in some rather…
unusual robes.
I’d expected the Archbishop of Auri-El to be a bit…
brighter, I suppose.
“So…” I began with a slow exhale, receiving the faintest nod from the woman opposite me.
“As you’ve probably guessed, I have a lot of questions.
And since you’ve agreed to answer them…
who exactly is the First Sword of Auri-El?”
“As the title suggests, the First Sword is our God’s greatest warrior,” Fiftiviel Auriel replied in a soft, measured voice, her hands still clasped in prayer.
“A warrior capable of wielding an aspect of Auri-El the Lightbringer—His sacred dominion over the very flow of time.”
“So that’s what that was…” I blurted out, recalling my encounter with the frost giant.
“I imagine you have already felt your newfound abilities,” the Archbishop observed, studying me from beneath the deep hood of her robes.
“They are the truest reflection of your new status—the one granted to the Snow Elf who completes the pilgrimage once the previous First Sword has departed to Auri-El.”
“Hmm.” I nodded thoughtfully before continuing.
“A rather obvious question.
Why was I chosen?
There are plenty of Knight-Paladins who are far more experienced and far more skilled than I am.”
“A sensible question.
Few First Swords have ever asked it of me…” the elven woman replied, a faint smile playing beneath the deep hood of her robes.
“Whenever the position of First Sword stands vacant, the Council of Bishops and I, as its head, carefully evaluate every applicant seeking to become a Knight-Paladin.
The one we deem to be the finest candidate begins the pilgrimage first.
“From that point onward, Auri-El Himself decides whether our choice meets His standards.
Should it not…
we wait for the next intake of Knight-Paladins.
“Since the pilgrimage cannot be undertaken twice, choosing from among active Knight-Paladins is impossible… Besides, First Swords are trained quite differently from Knight-Paladins.
Those who have already completed their training can never become worthy First Swords.
Have I answered your question?”
“So I happened to meet His standards…” I murmured, receiving another confirming nod.
“Yes, you have.
Thank you.
And…
a somewhat impertinent question, if I may.
Do you know what Auri-El’s criteria actually are?”
“Only if you wish to hear the conclusions I have drawn from my own observations.” The woman’s barely visible smile appeared again.
“I do.” I leaned forward with genuine interest.
“Our God has no need of either the perfect hero or the ordinary mediocrity.
What He seeks is perseverance, talent, and pragmatism…
the three qualities required for success.” Noticing the slightly dumbfounded look on my face, Fiftiviel let out a quiet chuckle before adding, “A strange thing to hear from the highest servant of our God, is it not?
Then allow me to offer one Revelation: Auri-El does not demand that we believe in Him.
He exists and will continue to exist regardless of whether we do.
The desire to honor His existence through temples and pilgrimage is an expression of our own free will.
Have you ever seen us force anyone to worship Him?”
“No,” I admitted.
That had always been one of the reasons I’d never felt any hostility toward the faith of Akatosh…
or Auri-El.
As for everything else…
By elven standards, I really was exceptionally persistent.
Maybe even talented.
And no one could accuse me of lacking pragmatism.
Yeah…
it all added up.
“Then I imagine you’ll want to hear about your future,” she said, tilting her head slightly to one side.
“…You’re remarkably perceptive.” I sighed.
“I do.”
I didn’t bother asking whether refusing the position of First Sword was an option.
I mean, obviously it was.
But it was also obviously something they wouldn’t be thrilled about… and honestly, what kind of idiot would turn down what was, for all practical purposes, the in-game Slow Time Shout?
I certainly wasn’t one of them.
If this had been a Daedric Prince making the offer, I’d have thought it over a hundred times—and almost certainly refused… But Auri-El had never given me any reason, at least in the game’s lore, to suspect him of pulling something nasty.
No vows of fasting?
No praying twenty-four seven?
No giving up something as basic as sex?
Then why not?
Especially since Akatosh was still my prime suspect for being the one who’d carried my soul from Earth to Nirn.
“The differences from a Knight-Paladin’s duties are not nearly as great as you imagine,” my companion began in a reassuring tone after several seconds of silence.
“In practice, only two things truly distinguish the position: the training lasts considerably longer, and afterward, a First Sword can never go on to become a bishop.
Alas.”
She spread her hands in a gesture of mild regret, the dark fabric covering them embroidered with pale gold ornamentation.
“I see…” I shrugged, finally slipping back into my normal manner of speaking instead of that overly respectful tone.
“My next question is really more for my father’s sake than my own, but…
it’s about my family’s inheritance.”
“As the First Sword, you are not bound by the restrictions placed upon ordinary paladins.
You will inherit your family’s estate, Feator,” she answered immediately.
“So many upsides…” I muttered under my breath.
Yeah, it was rude… but my paranoia was starting to kick in!
“And were you hoping there had to be drawbacks?” the Archbishop asked indulgently.
“Your pragmatic outlook certainly pleases our God, for it will help keep you from falling into the embrace of the Daedric Princes, whose very nature is deception.
However, if you insist on looking at it that way, then one likely disadvantage is that everyone will take an interest in you.
Not only the Snow Elves, but our southern kin as well…
not to mention the Daedra I just spoke of.
And, of course, you will fight on the front lines, defending the Temple and our entire people.”
“Well…” I shrugged lightly.
“That makes things a little clearer.
Thank you.
Oh, and one last question…
Do you replenish all those creatures for every group of initiates?
Otherwise, I don’t really understand the point of some of the trials…”
“Oh…” She lightly covered her mouth with one hand.
“Let’s just call that one of my little secrets.
After all, both God and His representative upon Nirn are entitled to have their own…
ways of amusing themselves.”
My eye twitched.
I stared at the utterly unruffled woman for a few seconds before finally waving the matter away.
Whatever.
It wasn’t that important.
“Don’t trouble yourself over it,” the woman said gently as she rose to her feet.
“Perhaps, in time, that secret will be revealed to you as well.
Come with me, First Sword.
I shall show you our greatest temple—the greatest sanctuary we have ever raised in honor of our God…”