Late Merethic Era.
Over 4500 years before the birth of the Last Dragonborn.
Falmeret/Skyrim.
Feator.
Several days later.
It took half an hour to get used to the local, um, magical atmosphere again.
Having somehow descended to the bottom of the huge valley, I immediately came across a pack of saber cats, located among the many local columns and arches, which were strangely empty now.
Apparently, they had driven out all the pilgrims before the paladins’ trial.
“Come on, come on.
Attack.” I muttered with a eager smile, starting to circle the trio of large saber cats.
They, too, were clearly in no hurry to attack me, their dim brains recognizing the danger of my sharpened blade.
Considering how many elves had passed through this place, their species should have developed a wariness of this type of sword, and cold weapons in general, at the genetic level.
Not hesitating, I took a step forward, provoking the beasts, and as soon as they flinched before the lunge, I released a stream of magical flame from my left hand in a semicircle.
As soon as the pitiful howl of the predators reached me and the fire began to dissipate, I lunged forward and delivered a precise strike to the left saber cat.
The expertly sharpened blade passed through hide, flesh, and bone like butter, cleanly splitting the beast’s brain in two.
My swing was practically textbook, as they say, so the brain was followed by part of the head.
Not focusing on the smell and sight of the spilled blood — I’d had to slaughter chickens in the village in Krasnodar — I immediately switched to the second beast.
Rolling on the frozen ground, it managed to shake off most of the fire, but also didn’t have time to react to me.
Being significantly faster than my human self, I was surprised myself at how easily I killed the second beast.
The last remaining one also shook off the fire and even managed to lunge in my direction, but its jump was sloppy due to the pain and smell of burnt flesh, so I…
Didn’t bother being clever, and simply jumped back, slamming a hefty ice spike into the flying beast.
It howled, receiving a full, heh-heh, penetration, and while it tried to recover from the sharp, freezing pain, it let me get close, and with a couple of swings, I finally finished off the creature.
“Heh…
Feator, Bane of Cats.” I chuckled, lightening the mood for myself.
My body was trained enough not to get winded after such a fight, so after a quick stretch to check muscle integrity and the absence of strains, I moved on.
They don’t issue us any food, so I need to move faster.
Otherwise I’ll have to suffer through roasting cat meat over a fire somehow.
And it’s not like I know what parts of them are edible or where.
Passing by majestic columns and arches, I moved northwest.
Toward where the magic pulled strongest, like a scent — except without the scent.
Hard to explain to someone who can’t sense magic.
Right before the second large arch, I turned right, further northeast, and after crossing a snowy little forest, I stood before the Monastery of Observation.
“Welcome, Initiate.” Another elf-prelate accompanied his words with a short greeting nod, clearly practiced hundreds of times.
“This is the Monastery of Observation.
The second of those you must pass, future Knight-Paladin.
Are you ready to honor Auri-El with the mantra and fill your vessel with His enlightenment?” “Undoubtedly.” I replied with the same inspired look on my face, already running the second mantra through my memory.
“Then gaze upon the gift of Auri-El, my child.
May it hasten your journey to the Inner Sanctuary.” His vacant stare — that of an extremely old elf, judging by the wrinkles and appearance matching a middle-aged human — made me shrug my shoulders again.
The faith of these people was so self-sacrificing it made me uneasy.
Spending centuries as Guardians of the Monasteries…
Hmph…
A new mantra, and a new batch of holy water.
But this time, no portal transition…
Because the magic hit me right on the spot.
“Uh-ho…” I let out a strange sound, completely unable to control my own throat — I was too busy trying not to fall on my ass, never mind my throat.
And my head started splitting!
Like I hadn’t slept in a whole day!
I had to force myself to think clearly through sheer willpower, instead of focusing on the pain and some…
detached fatigue.
Hmph, turns out Auri-El’s blessing is no joke!
Another hour went down the drain.
I sweated like a dog, but I managed!
I’m a Transmigrator, after all — how could I not manage, ye-e-es…
Inhale.
Exhale.
Turning back, I trudged southwest, toward where I sensed my new destination.
Climbing a hill that was more like a small mountain, I stopped at a gorge where a fair number of spiders the size of a full-grown tiger dwelled.
Oh no, I’m no Dragonborn to go around smashing them left and right.
I’m still tough and mighty, but risking it halfway through the journey for no reason…
Screw that!
So come on, Feator, sidle on out of here…
Speaking of which, I wonder…
How do they replenish the local wildlife for the next batch of pilgrims?
Do they deliberately bring them to the sites or something?
Going around, I reached a partially frozen river about ten minutes later, and walked along its bank for another twenty minutes before I finally saw the Monastery of Knowledge before me.
I don’t know what “knowledge” means in this context, and I don’t care.
If I made it, I passed this trial.
Or was it about me going around those spiders?
And Sheogorath…
No, better not mention him in vain…
In short, only the Daedra know!
“You have reached the Monastery of the Path of Knowledge, Initiate.
Are you ready to honor Auri-El with the mantra and fill your vessel with His enlightenment?” The voice of another elderly Snow Elf was measured and monotonous.
Talk about déjà vu, yes indeed.
“Without a doubt.” I declared with a respectfully inspired face.
Hope I’m not faking enthusiasm for nothing…
“Auri-El blesses you, child.
For you are one step closer to the Monastery and eternal wisdom…
But your path is not yet over.
Proceed further if you wish to complete it.” He spoke slowly in reply, seemingly losing all interest in me.
So…
Considering how it hit me the last times, I can conclude that this time it’s going to be even worse.
But what can you do?
I’ve survived worse.
I spent a few minutes figuring out how not to smash the jug if I suddenly got slammed to the ground.
Weighing options, trying to mimic the effect of Auri-El’s blessing, which had only worked after passing through the dark portal before…
I don’t know what the Knight-Paladin with the rank of prelate thought of me, but my humiliation paid off — when I nearly smacked my forehead on the floor, straining with all my might to stay at least in a kneeling position, the jug remained ten centimeters from the ground.
“What…
What the…” I muttered in bewilderment, raising my eyebrows.
The jug seemed to turn into a hot radiator, warmth spreading from it through my palms, my arms, and then my whole body.
But not even ten seconds passed before the pressure vanished abruptly, almost making me drop the jug.
“Tch…” I hissed in annoyance, feeling the radiator effect fade from the jug and a sharp cold searing me.
So…
What happened — unclear.
The prelate doesn’t care about anything — that’s clear.
So I move on and squeeze information directly out of the archbishop.
Casting one last glance at the monastery’s repository, I quickly walked back along the same riverbank with surprising lightness in my body.
Now my rather tedious path led northwest, accompanied by periodic attacks from large cats.
It was in fights with them that I felt the first changes.
My muscles worked better, were more flexible, and I moved noticeably faster.
And by vaguer sensations, spells drained less of my strength.
After a Fireball, I didn’t feel like I’d done fifty push-ups.
“Hmm…
So it’s a general buff?” I scratched the back of my head, puzzled but satisfied.
“Not bad…
But this is bad!” I jumped back sharply, wobbling on my feet.
A sizable snowball with sharp stones sticking out of it flew into the spot where I’d just been standing.
Spinning around, I saw a steep stepped path, and next to it stood…
Holy mother of…
Well, damn your giant mother!
What Daedra made me run into this bastard?!
An ice, fucking, giant.
Three and a half meters tall, with horns twice my size, tough hide, four eyes, and a monkey-like face.
A very angry face, glaring at me with ill intent.
He didn’t charge me for two reasons — he was picking up his sizable homemade axe, and the river still separated us.
It was quite deep — up to my neck — and would have slowed down my potential enemy nicely…
But this couldn’t go on, because I needed to get to that very staircase where he’d planted himself.
“Well, well…” I bit my lip a little, weighing options.
Charging head-on was the most obvious suicide — I wouldn’t risk taking his weapon on my shield, let alone my sword…
So time to remember what sets me apart from ordinary swordsmen.
Magic.
I need to organi…
What the hell, you four-eyed mother?!
What about a poor Snow Elf caught your interest so much you crossed the river?!
Realizing I clearly couldn’t run, flame flared in my left palm, which I directed straight into my weapon hand.
The sword blade became wreathed in magical flame, but I didn’t stop, and the remaining fire shot as a stream of flame straight into the giant’s weapon hand.
The brute who’d climbed onto the bank let out a sharp howl, and my nose caught the smell of burnt hide and hair.
Pushing off the ground with full force, I lunged straight at the disoriented monster.
It had the bright idea to shove its burning hand into its own mouth, which only made things easier for me.
Slipping past the giant’s free hand, I made a precise cut through the tendons on its leg, also setting its long hair on fire.
Finding myself behind the beast, I had to jump back sharply, because the creature managed to turn and try to take my head off with a massive fist.
“Take this!” I launched another Fireball at the monster, now staggering from its wound.
“And another!” Repeating the previous trick, I cut the tendons on its second leg too.
“Grrraaargh!” The nearly four-meter mass went berserk, somehow lunging toward me.
With burning legs and severed muscles…
What the hell…
Wait, wait, why is it so close to me?!
Stop!
Stop, I said!
…What the…
As if obeying my thoughts, the giant seemed to hit some thick jelly and began moving…
Quite slowly.
☼+Feel the river of time.
Dive into it headfirst.
And let it submit to you.+☼ I flinched slightly when a male voice sounded very close by.
But even after reflexively turning around, I saw nothing and no one, and cursing mentally, I jumped even further away from the still-approaching giant.
I don’t know what that was, only suspect…
But now is definitely not the time for extraneous thoughts!
Without hesitation, I launched a Fireball at the slowed-down monster, and immediately…
Caught an understanding, so to speak.
An understanding of what was happening.
This…
Yes…
It wasn’t the giant slowing down — it was me speeding up!
Otherwise the fireball wouldn’t have been flying so slowly.
Alright, while this state lasts, I need to act.
In a couple of moments I’m beside it, and with my burning sword I slice through the same deep gash on the enemy’s leg, this time severing its right limb completely.
At that moment, my sudden acceleration vanished, and the ice giant crashed to the ground with a pained roar, the earth frozen to a stone-like hardness.
And not losing my nerve, I took advantage of its helplessness, running straight up the monster’s back and, with considerable effort, driving the blade into the creature’s brain.
The remnants of the fire enchantment on the sword let it pierce through the thick hide and sturdy skull, but it jerked sharply at the last moment, and I had to tumble across the ground.
Tch, even more painful without clothes.
“Whew…” I exhaled in relief, feeling sweat stream down my face.
“So…
What the hell was that, anyway?” I corrected myself at the last moment, addressing the male voice I’d heard earlier.
It felt like the sound came from deeply inserted headphones, yes indeed.
But after standing there like an idiot for a whole minute, I got no answer.
Alright…
Okay.
I won’t get any new revelations from, apparently, Auri-El.
Still, what was that?
No, I do remember that Auri-El is Akatosh, who is called the Time Dragon, and this has something to do with time, but…
Neither Dad nor Vaysi told me about things like this.
Is it connected to my reincarnation?
Questions, questions, and no answers in sight…
Climbing the stepped path to the top, I saw the next Monastery on the other side of the river to the west of the Valley.
Following a rather dangerous mountain trail and then a natural stone bridge across another river, I spent about half an hour but finally reached the Monastery of Resolve.
And again déjà vu…
Again a single guard with a tired look, and again the familiar words.
“Your journey was long.
Perhaps difficult.
But fruitful.
And you have arrived at the Monastery of Resolve, Initiate.
Are you ready to honor Auri-El with the mantra and fill your vessel with His enlightenment?” He spoke, but unlike the previous prelates, I sensed something from this kinsman…
Unusual.
Like the taste of cold tea that had been sitting for two days on my tongue.
“Ready.” I replied with some hesitation, which apparently made the elf squint…
An interested squint.
“Then go, child, blessed by the River of Time.
And may Auri-El’s blessing strengthen your resolve on your journey to the Inner Sanctuary.” He spoke with a light sigh, clearly reciting a phrase practiced hundreds, if not thousands, of times.
“What does ‘blessed by the river of time’ mean?” I asked directly, sensing my interlocutor didn’t care about formalities.
“Exactly what it means.
Go.” He nodded toward the Monastery, and with a single look made it clear he wasn’t going to answer the question…
Tell me, Auri-El, Akatosh, Anu, Aka…
What’s your other name?
Why all this mystery and secrecy?
Do you have a restriction on straight talk, huh, Lord Aedra?
“O Auri-El, may your winter light sanctify my resolve…” I began reciting the mantra I’d memorized.
A minute of long prayer passed, then a second…
Finally the last words were spoken, and I again braced for how it would hit me.
This time it looked like the jug would hit the stone but not break.
So I filled the jug with holy water…
And instead of feeling a sharp drop to the ground, I again felt that hot-radiator-on-cold-body effect.
…Yes, now I understand what this is.
It’s Auri-El’s blessing.
In the game, as far as I remember, it cured diseases, like any other Aedra-god…
But here it seems to do something else.
I’m a hundred percent sure those time tricks and the pilgrimage are connected somehow.
“Interesting.” I muttered, but still turned westward.
That was where the tart sensation of antiquity and warm light on a cool day came from.