A few days later.
Vaysiniel “Vaysi.” The girl, truth be told, had expected big changes after she accepted Feator’s proposal.
An old acquaintance, a friend, a student…
And now — a man.
But in reality…
Their relationship had hardly changed.
It was just that the already not-so-modest guy had become even less modest, expressing his feelings for her.
Those utterly shameless “precious ones,” “adorables,” “sweethearts,” and the like…
How could he…
How could he be so open…
It wasn’t right, it wasn’t proper, but…
Why, by the Daedra, did she like it so much?!
Especially in contrast to the other elves she knew who had feelings for her.
One look — and they’d instantly evaporate, losing any desire to confess anything.
A huge difference from her distant relative, who was never afraid to say what he thought.
Maybe that’s why Auri-El himself chose him as his First Sword?..
For his courage and boldness, not only in battle, but also in everyday life?..
And while she was plagued by doubts on many matters, Vaysiniel was sure of one thing — regarding his intentions toward her, Feator was completely serious.
For once, he had reined in his frivolity.
“Feator, do you still remember court etiquette?” she asked her…
her man.
“My dear, even His Majesty probably doesn’t remember all of it…
But the part related to our business at the palace — yes, I remember.
Stop worrying, we’re just going to see the king.
You’ve asked six times…
In the last two hours,” he snorted, making the girl gasp indignantly.
Oh no, now that their relationship had moved to…
as Feator put it — a new level, she was obligated to keep an eye on him.
“This isn’t just anyone, not even the archbishop, whom you talk to as if you’re old friends…” Vaysiniel started again, once more wanting to drill a little seriousness into the elf who had grown slightly taller than her.
“Fifty is a very nice old lady,” he blurted out, stunning the captain of the Knight-Paladins.
“O-old lady?..” the elf’s eyes widened, seeing the smug smirk on Feator’s foxy face.
“Y-you…” “Don’t sweat it so much, for god’s sake.
She doesn’t get offended by that, trust me,” the First Sword continued to shock his future wife, forced to stop because Vaysi had frozen like an ice statue.
“Eh…
Looks like I overdid it a bit with revealing the true state of affairs…
I should have eased into it…” “D-don’t,” the girl suddenly said clearly, blinking.
“Don’t need anything.
Don’t ease into it, don’t reveal anything…” “Sorry, sorry,” he softened, quickly moving close.
And it seemed he even used Auri-El’s blessing to do it.
But before Vaysi could give him an earful for such blasphemy, the elf found herself in his arms.
“Shh, shh.
I promise, no more shocking revelations.” “Honestly?” she said quietly.
“Honestly,” he nodded, and releasing the embrace, said: “Well, for a month at least…” “Feator!” the elf finally lost it.
“Forty-nine winters already…” Never having achieved a serious attitude toward the situation, they reached the palace gates.
A palace that embodied all the architectural refinements the best designers of the entire Snow Elf race were capable of.
The source of the little greenery and warmth in all the snowy lands of the north.
Naturally, the alerted guards didn’t even think of stopping them, opening the entrance inside.
She had been in the palace many times, but for some reason, right now her fingers were trembling slightly.
Was it the sight of the capital, hastily recovering from noticeable damage?
Or the fact that the palace was also slightly damaged?
Who knows…
She certainly didn’t know the answers to those questions.
The path led them to the throne room, where the monarch himself was already seated on his White Throne.
However…
King Elivias IX of the Interwinterlis dynasty was old.
Too old for long dialogues and conversations, so the eldest prince and heir to the throne, commonly called simply the Snow Prince, spoke on his behalf.
On his head was the Hereditary Crown, which was also an artifact-helmet, providing unprecedented protection to the designated heir.
But only in the capital itself, and the crown princes rarely left it…
Since time immemorial.
Even the Snow Elves’ chronicles were finite, and no one remembered when this artifact was created, or why it hadn’t been improved.
Her people should have enough masters.
And while Vaysiniel dropped to one knee at the sight of the monarch, as a proper subject should, Feator merely bowed, standing upright before the representatives of the royal family.
But before them, the girl dared not voice her displeasure, keeping a focused and respectful expression on her face.
The royal family was recognized by Auri-El, and therefore even paladins were obliged to respect them.
And Feator…
Feator stood at full height and had again put on that expression of an extremely suspicious elf, just begging to be suspected of something bad!
“We greet you, First Sword of Our God,” the eldest prince took the floor after a short nod from the infirm monarch.
“We are glad that you responded to our proposal.
The presence of the God’s finest warrior will be a great boon to us.” “Likewise, Your Highness, Your Majesty,” the young elf replied in an interested tone, clasping his hands behind his back.
“The wayward sons of our God decided to show their insolent nature, and dared to spew their treachery and hatred upon our great cities.
Auri-El the Lightbringer continues to support his First Sword even in battle against his own sons, from which I dare to assume that our God has placed upon us the great role of punishment for his winged children.” …At this point, Vaysi apparently couldn’t keep her face straight, not expecting such grandiloquence from the usually straightforward-as-a-stick Feator.
Well…
At least when he wasn’t making a sly face, and showing either his true nature or just fooling around.
“Well said,” the monarch creaked, rising slightly from his throne, in which he had been literally sunk a moment earlier.
“My son…” “Yes, father…” the prince bowed his head, returning his gaze to Feator, fortunately avoiding Vaysiniel herself.
“The situation requires an immediate response and the elimination of such a great threat to every Snow Elf.
Therefore, I apologize for simplifying several traditional rituals…
I propose you proceed directly to meeting your comrades, who will become your reliable friends in the matter of being the punishment for the disobedient and wayward children of Auri-El.” “I have no objection, Your Highness,” Feator inclined his head slightly, being unusually serious for himself.
“Then allow me to escort you,” the crown prince clapped his hands lightly, and on either side of his father, two silent guards appeared, who helped the monarch to his feet and calmly led him away in another direction.
Coming down to them, the future king led the small procession, not shying away from walking next to the First Sword.
After all, Feator’s status was comparable to the prince’s, only in a religious sense…
If you considered the archbishop as the monarch.
…Eh, a few years ago, she wouldn’t have had such blasphemy in her.
But after communicating with this highly atypical elf…
Just think, making such comparisons.
Ignoring the smirk of the guy mentioned in her thoughts, she continued walking with a serious face on the left side of the future Elivias X.
“Gentlemen,” the latter’s voice rang out, distracting several men and women from their conversations and other business in the vast hall, clearly created for the training of royal family members.
“Allow me to introduce my companions, who will join the Dragon Slayer unit — First Sword Feator of the Kaslana clan, and his companion, Captain of the Knight-Paladins, Vaysiniel.” Hearing her own name from the lips of the future monarch was an incredibly inspiring moment…
And Feator, as always, wore his constant smirk-smile, which lately hadn’t left his face at all.
And only Vaysi knew that behind it lurked some dark emotions, the reason for which her man wasn’t about to touch.
“I’ve heard of you,” a level voice spread like honey through the room, instantly drawing attention to the inner strength contained within its owner.
Undeniably the strongest warrior of the Snow Elves, and possibly the strongest warrior among all the elves of Tamriel.
Fingolfin Virballis stood before them in all his icy-imperturbable figure.
While the girl stared with wide eyes at the idol of many warriors, including herself, an elf of incredible valor and martial skill, Feator had already begun to speak: “Likewise.
I heard you killed six dragons during their attack on the capital?” and to the girl’s further surprise, genuine respect, almost for the first time, slipped into her man’s voice.
He didn’t even address the archbishop like that!
“Five.
I dare not count the sixth, as I only landed a single finishing blow,” Mr.
Fingolfin corrected indifferently.
“Hey, First Sword, who killed two of the winged ones, you’re not as modest as our lord commander of the royal guard, are you?” some person, whose character was extremely similar to Feator’s, stared at them with interest.
That intonation…
If Vaysi didn’t know for sure that the First Sword didn’t have a twin sister, she would have taken this person for one.
“And I’m glad to see you, Madam Grand Huntsman,” Feator didn’t react, slightly opening his slit-like eyes, staring intently at…
as it turned out, Zilvana Taustis herself.
“Meh-eh-eh…
Usually the young ones have a more interesting reaction.
What do they teach you at the Temple…” she shook her head, falling silent under the pressure of two gazes at once — the prince’s and the guard commander’s.
“I’m quiet, I’m quiet…” “And the two remaining members of the Dragon Slayers…” the crown prince himself waved toward those mentioned, who reacted very weakly.
The first out of indifference, the second out of embarrassment and shyness.
“Archmage Eregion Trand…” “And Lady Earwen…
The Archer of God.” The last words instantly drew the gazes of both Vaysi and Feator to the current bearer of the Bow of Auri-El, the greatest artifact of the Snow Elves, the presence of which allowed the Chantry of Auri-El to claim it was the most orthodox among all the others.
In her time, Vaysi had often wondered where the Chosen of the Bow would reappear…
And she, it turns out, had been hiding among the gardens of the capital.
However, the Bow was not controlled by the Temple and chose its bearer itself, appearing before them in a flash of light.
Moreover, this always happened completely randomly, and selecting candidates for the role of the Archer of God, like the First Sword, was impossible.
“Since we’re done with the introductions, I won’t interfere with the beginning of the team-building for the unit of the greatest warriors and mages of our people,” the prince hastened to leave, much to Vaysiniel’s relief.
It was one thing to have all these great personalities gathered here, and quite another to have a person of royal blood.
But…
How would things go with these great personalities?..
* * * Feator again.
And why is the realization pounding in my head like a drum that we look like a Hero Party going to save the World from the Demon King?
Especially considering that Alduin’s appearance really resembles that same Demon King…
This is a bad sign.
We’re not in a Japanese-made children’s fairy tale.
We don’t have an isekai protagonist.
Just the harsh universe of the Elder Scrolls.
But the team we have is certainly something…
Team spirit is just oozing out.
An Archmage who, with one look, says how much he doesn’t give a damn about everything.
An Archer with a superweapon, who nervously shifts from foot to foot, avoiding eye contact.
A Huntsman who holds everyone around her in contempt.
A great warrior who considers everyone around him to be p-puppies not yet grown up enough for battle, even though he is truly skilled.
And then there’s us with Vaysi…
Yeah, this is going to be quite an enterprise.
How long before we kill each other, instead of the dragons?..
“And what kind of test is this supposed to be?” I raised my eyebrows as the blade of my sword met the blades of the Grand Huntsman’s daggers with a ring.
I barely managed to pull it from the scabbard, and even then, look at that notch.
This isn’t my best blade, just one taken from the city’s reserves that I was saving.
Good thing it’s a flamberge, and not an ordinary leaf-bladed one-hander, the kind the elves here love so much.
“I had to make sure you weren’t some weakling who’d die from a single blow, didn’t I?” she snorted, leaping back.
“I killed two dragons,” I had to remind her of the already well-known fact, getting into a stance, constantly turning to face the huntress circling me.
A rogue build with daggers, huh?
Too bad for her.
Because its main advantage — speed — I have something to counter it with, unlike raw physical strength.
I need to teach her a lesson.
“Suppose so,” I said in a level tone, not intending to reveal my intention to attack.
Which is why I was able to launch a surprise attack.
If I didn’t have Auri-El’s blessing, she would have dodged, but with it…
The world slowed down.
I sped up.
My booted foot, at full speed, slammed into the huntress’s stomach, and even though she turned slightly at the last moment, it didn’t save her.
Given the difference in our weight, and her not-so-stable stance, designed for a quick burst of speed rather than holding her ground, it played a cruel trick on Zilvana.
“You have, without a doubt, killed a dragon.
But I’m a tougher nut to crack than that,” I stated, without any playfulness, as the normal flow of time returned.
“Cough-cough…” the huntress, who had flown several meters into the nearest weapon rack, coughed.
“I’ll keep that in mind…” “So that’s the famous blessing of Auri-El…” the Archmage said thoughtfully, examining me with a downright vivisectionist gaze from his gray eyes.
Ugh…
Now I understand why the mages from the Tower are treated that way.
The way they stare, like they want to dissect you for organs…
Though why ‘like’?
They definitely do!
“Impressive speed,” a more calmly interested reaction appeared in the movements of the warrior, who slowly drew his bastard sword and shield…
Oh, so that’s Auriel’s Shield?..
“First Sword, would you be opposed to a sparring match?..” “I have a feeling I’m going to get tossed around the floor, but…
Why not?” I smirked, getting into a stance more suitable for a prolonged confrontation.
“Then we’ll begin ten seconds after the end of my last word,” Fingolfin continued calmly, moving into his own stance with fluid motions.
Oh, I’ve memorized all of them by heart — I had the time.
But the very fact that he chose the best stance against a Knight-Paladin with a sword and magic, and even modified it somehow…
That already said a lot.
But this kind of valuable combat experience will come in very handy!
The countdown ended.
And so…
The world slowed down.
I sped up.
A lunge forward, a wave of fire straight at the enemy.
The attempt to obscure his vision predictably didn’t help, and he dodged half of it, spinning in place with some kind of movement I didn’t know, and blocked the other half with his shield.
He caught my blade on his own, and at the moment our weapons disengaged, he delivered a counter-thrust.
Damn it!
He barely slowed down!
I relied too much on the River of Time.
The ring of blades echoed through the hall as we began leaping around it like madmen.
We were fully exploiting our advantages — Fingolfin his skill, shield, and physical strength…
I, my magic and a slight edge in speed.
Only running around and distracting him with magic saved me from immediate defeat.
Even a great warrior wouldn’t fare well if a fireball came flying at his face.
The best healers were literally right next door, and either of us could be healed instantly…
But losing a fight to some youngster, namely me, would hardly please him.
So we circled each other, unable to land a blow.
…Or so I thought, until with some particularly intricate series of strikes he managed to catch my weapon with the crossguard of his own, sending me flying with a powerful kick.
“Kh…” I grunted as, after I got to my feet, the blade of the warrior’s hand-and-a-half sword was at my throat.
“I yield.” “An impressive combination of sword and magic,” the warrior praised me, sheathing his weapon.
“I apologize for my doubts about you, First Sword.” The elf inclined his head slightly.
“I was informed that you killed one dragon with a sword and another with magic.
Now I see firsthand that the reports did not exaggerate.” “And now I understand how you cut down three dragons at once in direct combat,” I nodded in return, recalling the rumors circulating the capital.
Yes, someone like that could go out alone and beat the snouts off those scaly screamers.
“Lord Virballis, Lord Feator,” Vaysi approached us, switching into official lady mode.
“Since you’ve finished getting acquainted…” she continued with some barely contained sarcasm, though the man and I couldn’t care less.
“Then, I suppose, we should discuss tactics and coordination among all squad members?” “A wise decision, insightful young lady,” Fingolfin said, closing his eyes in agreement.
“We are all strong individually, but we have never fought together.
It’s worth spending time on coordination, as His Highness mentioned earlier.
Let’s start now, beginning with paired duels…” Watching the guard commander organize everyone and get to work, a faint hope flickered in me that maybe things weren’t so bad after all.