This chapter has been edited due to content. If you want to see the unedited version GO HERE.
JASH
Lydia put bowls of tomato soup in front of myself and J’zargo. The tomatoes had been grown on a local farm that I had recently saved from a dragon. I never expected anything but the joy of a successful hunt when I killed one of my cousins. Yet some people still gave me what amounted to offerings.
Or maybe it was them giving an offering not to a Dragonborn but to a Daedric Prince. A Daedric Prince that still lived on Mundus.
Lydia sat down opposite me with her own bowl in front of her. She didn’t start to eat until I did. It was unnerving to see her look at me like I was a hatchling. Alex Casey, Alan Wake, and Saga Anderson had gone a few days ago so she was worried about my emotional state. Yet she remained silent on the matter since she felt it too impolite to ask questions when I hadn’t started a conversation about them.
“This one likes your tomato soup, Lydia.” J’zargo said as he made a show of enjoying it.
“You’re just saying that because there aren’t any potatoes in it.” Lydia replied with a smirk. “I haven’t known you to ever enjoy tomatoes that much.”
“They are a good fruit. Or vegetable?”
“What a wise mage you are, my friend.” I replied with a smirk.
J’zargo put down his spoon and I saw a subtle shift in his expression. He must have been thinking about this for days as he remained so calm. We had been through countless adventures or else I wouldn’t have noticed the change in him.
“This one wonders how you plan to return to Alex Casey.” J’zargo said. “So far you haven’t told us that.”
“It’s a simple solution.” I replied with a shrug. “It will be slightly unpleasant for me and so I have been silent on the matter.”
“A simple solution? Last time you used your original dryskin body. But you no longer have access to it anymore.”
I took some bread and gingerly dipped it into my soup. It took only a moment for the soup to seep deep into the bread. I then took a small bite from it and savored the taste. Then I turned my attention back to J’zargo as I ate the rest of the bred.
“The first thing you need to remember is that I’m not connected to any particular loop.” I began. “I am instead connected to Alex Casey. You must also remember I’m a Daedric Prince, something I have trouble remembering, which means I have more power than a mere mortal.”
Lydia looked at me as if I had said nothing. Her gaze then looked at the Khajiit sitting beside me as if he would have the answer.
“This one doesn’t know how that will making Jash reuniting with Alex any easier.” J’zargo admitted. “All Khajiit can guess is that it won’t be pleasant.”
“All I have to do is follow Alex’s death to his echo in the latest loop.” I replied with a shrug and suppressed a shudder.
“This one knew it.” J’zargo groaned.
“So will you…recreate his death?” Lydia asked.
“I will.” I replied. “I won’t put Solitude in danger from a Thalmor attack, but I will recreate enough that it will call out to Alex.”
I could just go to him and return. But there were dark events that might follow him here. That was not something I could ever allow as Tamriel did not deserve the same horrors as Bright Falls.
“I will return with Alex only after the events of Bright Falls.” I said. “The Dark Presence is attracted to Alex because of Alan Wake. I need to make sure that attraction is gone so it won’t follow us back to Skyrim.”
“This could destroy you.” J’zargo said.
It still surprised me how much care could be in his eyes. He was more wise than even I gave him credit for. Underneath his bravado and jokes was a friend that would always stand beside you. He knew exactly how much my plan would hurt me.
And he couldn’t bear the fact that I would experience such pain.
“If it is ours to go mad then I will gladly suffer that fate.” I said and turned to look him in the eyes. “It is ours to have Alex beside me. Nothing else matters.”
“Will Alex want that?” J’zargo asked.
“There is no other way to have Alex back by my side and so I accept the consequences.”
J’zargo turned away from me and his ears flattened against his head. He was angry but due to caring and not loathing. He didn’t want to see me risk my life and I could only agree with his emotions. I looked to Lydia for help but she was suddenly consumed with interest in her soup.
“If you do not want to participate in this plan, I’ll send you back to the College of Winterhold.” I said. “J’zargo, if I do go mad then you will rise to the rank of Arch-Mage.”
“This one thinks you need to shut your mouth, Jash.” J’zargo hissed. “I will not leave your side. Especially when you are likely to die or go mad.”
No comments:
Post a Comment