Atlantica - Dream of Illusion

    There were images in my head. Images stuck inside. There were screaming and blacked up images of human sized people running away from something. The monument that was toppling on top of me suddenly rose out of its roots, the statues' hands reached out to the sky and away from me. I felt a surge of air whistling around my ears, and my body weightless. I was falling. I was waiting for the hard earth to hit my back and break every single piece of my bones.

    Then I woke up. My eyes darted here and there, searching, wondering what happened. The monument was gone, the sensation of falling was gone and somehow I don't even know what's actually me. I tried to move my fingers, one by one. As I tried to get up, my head shot a pain throughout my skull. I clutched it, massaging my temples. Then I realized the lights that I was seeing before this aren't from a sun. There were from the crystals around me.

     Pushing my legs up, trying not to feel the spell on my head, I looked around. Tattered clothes hang on my back, and the lower thigh of my leather pants are gone, as if ripped. I massaged my neck, trying to remember what happened. But the pain of dizziness was in the way. My throat longs for water but my stomach swirled at the mention of food. I can't remember my name.

    There was nothing else but to look around this place. It looked like a cave, filled with big crystals that emit light. It hurts to look at them directly. My legs move on their own as I tried to remember a single piece of memory of my life. Not even a single trickle remains in it. There was a gaping hole that is used to be filled with life. I can't remember my name.

    There was no other way but to go forward. If this is a cave, then there must be an exit somewhere. It's just hard to find the real light from the sun when there's so much light from the crystals. The spell shot another hard pain throughout my head and I stumbled, caught my hand on one of the crystals. They felt like glass. Shining glass that fills my hand. It wasn't warm or cold, it felt unreal. Then I looked up and saw the big arch.

    It's a portal. I don't know how I know but in my heart I realize I am looking at a portal. We used to have that everywhere in... We used to travel around in... The portal was the one method we used to travel in... I can't remember. We? Who are we? I shook my head a little, shaking off sweat eminating from my forehead. I realize that I was actually cold. A pleasant cool around my skin. But that too felt so wrapped up. There was no other way to explain it. It was as if the cool was transplant into my brain directly and not through my skin.

    I walk up to the portal. Every portal has a lock. Like a door, every portal needs a key to open it. Usually, there was someone who's in charge of the key but not now. I looked around the big arch, searching for the little key. I couldn't find it. The owner of this portal must've have it with him. I don't know. I looked up the big arch, leaned on it, hoping there was a way out of this. At that moment, the arch move away from each other. I gasped and walked away. This isn't an ordinary portal.

    A swirling smoke came out of the middle of the arch, small at first but soon it was as big as the arches could hold it. I expected something more. In my head, I knew there had to be more. There were supposed to be an image, a clear path that shows where the portal goes. Like a door that opens up to somewhere, a portal does the same. But the swirling went on and on. I sighed and that's when another surprise hit me.

    The portals emitted light that combined themselves into words. Words that I know and yet not know at the same time. I could read it but I do not recognize the smooth edges of the words nor the pointy vertices of them. The message was direct, surprisingly. It was as if someone left it there for me. And he knew someone would come read it and made it simple. I don't know.

To you I send this message,

For I am the owner,

The key lies with the beast,

that flows with wings of dark.

Find three of them,

Kill three of them,

And the light shall be shown.

     There was only one creature that can fly in a cave. The bats. But with this much light around, I could not tell if any bats live here. Besides, how am I going to catch these bats? I do not even have a weapon. And why does this person torment me so? If he wanted to help, he would've just left the key where it is. No. There must be a way. But I need a weapon.

    My eyes caught a glint behind the arches. I walked up to see what it was. The owner did think of everything through. There was a sword, a sizeable one, with the point plunged into the ground. I took hold of it and pulled it out. Instantly, the cave went dark as night. I backed up against the wall, shocked, and ready my stance. I do not even know how to use this weapon. Or do I?

    Suddenly, there was chittering. I could feel the flow of air around my skin, and this is real as it can be. Light suddenly emitted from the crystals around me but only enough for me to see. Enough for them to see as well. The bats the message was about? They were the size of eagles. I gulped as I saw them swooped around, luring me out of the corner. I kept my hands above my head as shields but soon realize that it was futile. They were scratching my arms with gashes. I could feel blood flow out. If this keeps up, I would have no way but to fight them head on. And that's the only way I could think of. 

    It was easy enough. They came at me one by one and all I had to do was time my slashes and soon feel the rip of flesh against the edge of my sword. I slashed out three times and each of them hits a target. I readied my stance again for more but the air was quiet. I held my guard up until I realized the crystals are glowing up again. Slowly, making my eyes adjusted to them. When I wanted to see the carcass of the bats, there was nothing but pieces of glowing crystals on the ground. These must be the key.

    I picked them up and went to the portal. Now what? With one hand gripping my sword and the other holds the glittering pieces, all I could think of was to offer them to portal. The messages blurred themselves and the arches move even further apart I would think the pressure was enough to blast this cave and bring the roof down. But it held. And the pieces in my hand moved by themselves. They swirled like the portal above me and combined into a single key. It was made out of the crystals around me, for sure. It emits the same light but duller and looked more solid. I held it up to the swirling portal and touch it.

    It was not a portal. I was wrong.

    All I could feel at the end was the leather padded hilt of the sword and the sensation of falling. Again. I think I lost consciousness at this point. I realize I was waiting for the earth to meet my back and crash every single piece of my bones.

Ain't it fun?

I'm just going to leave this here.

Because Persona. That's why.

Did I mention that she looks like Lilith from BD2? Just... a lot less hotter. And she's not shooting bandits in the face.

And she also looks like that girl... in that movie where the hero from Die Hard shoots alien and stuff and the black guy from Rush Hour sounds like he lost his balls. Also in space.

Dragonsreach

    I am in the inn, in Whiterun. The innkeeper, I forgot her name, got me and Sofia a bed in the upper stairs. There are sounds of merriment downstairs, while inside me I feel a very heavy storm about to strike lightning to my body. I thought my problem with the dragons are vanished after I made the report to Jarl Balgruff, but he seemed to take an interest into the dragons, where it come from and why. Soon after I begged the Jarl to send troops to Whiterun, not to mention I was assaulted by his housecarl Irileth, I thought I was quickly disposed of but the Jarl praised me before taking me to his wizard. I have no grudges against magic users but I am not one to touch anything that has been touched by the arcane.

    He asked me to help Farengar, the Wizard, for his dragon project. Farengar seems to be the kind of person that I usually avoid, with that burning smell and signs of insomnia in his eyes, magic users are always deprived of sleep and always smell like burning coal mixed with flesh. However, I had no choice because it was the Jarl. If I have said no, he would've chopped my head off on that instance! He has the power and nobody would've said a thing against it. After a very brief introduction, I was shoved forward by the Jarl to face the Wizard.

    It is worth mentioning here that I have no interest in Nords and their ruins. More like, I have heard stories about the dead being not so dead, and them walking around guarding the tombs. Now that bloody Wizard has charged me to go to this Bleak Falls Barrow to get some stone tablet! He explained it is a map of ancient dragon burial sites and will prove useful to discover why the dragons are coming back and why now.The ruin is near Riverwood, thank goodness it is close, and a local there should know where it is. From those words alone, I started to shake my head. Of course, the Jarl was looking at me with those stern eyes, sterner than Gerdur or Ralof gave me, so I could not do anything but nod.

    Farengar was quite happy that he has a pawn to go to that dangerous place, his face seemed distracted but nevertheless, I am sure he himself wouldn't set a foot in that place. Much less someone like me. I guess Sofia is quite useful now. She seemed to be the sort that doesn't give an inch about the undead. She looks handy with a sword too. Sofia waited outside of Dragonsreach, something about not meeting the Jarl face to face with a blush. I couldn't care less. Now I wish I had someone I knew inside there.

    Right now, she's busy having drinks with the men downstairs, however vulgar that sounds. I try not to drown myself into alcohol but I warned her the same. I told her about the job I have to do and she doesn't seemed perturbed by it. She still think I am an adventurer and I am going to go do chores for everyone I meet! I am not in a very good mood right now. I am tired, a little wet from the rain and I do not know how to survive this life any longer. Truth be told, I am depressed about current matters. Rebellion sparking everywhere, rumors of a murderer roaming around, and I found out that the Winterhold mages have discovered a ruin near the college. And a dragon sighted after hundreds of years of myth. Wizards and now dragons. I am telling you, Wizards and ruins in the same place is not a place that I would like to be.

    Right now, all I need is some bread, cheese and a meat loaf. I couldn't resist the smell coming from the cookpot. Right now, all I want is some sleeping hours without any sorts of dream. My sword, the sword given by Gerdur, was a pitiful Iron Sword with the edges rugged and looked dull. I know little about the caring of a sword but maybe I should get a newer one, with sharper looking edges. But then, I would have a lot less gold. I should buy a better sword if I want to go and survive this barrow.  Maybe Sofia can point out what weapon I should get. Maybe I should decide myself. I should train with it.

    I need sleep. I am writing gibberish. Farewell world. May I survive tomorrow.
   

Whiterun - part 2

    Nothing much happened during half the day. Except of course, for the rain that was too heavy and forced me to take shelter inside a log for a while. Well, as they say, the wolves can't really hunt in the rain because of their loss of sense of smell, but I wouldn't know that.  As I sat there in the log, I always thought my life is going to be simple. A farmer with a piece of land, maybe a spouse that I will be able to finish my life with. Hopefully, I have children or maybe even a small inn. Well, one thing happened after another and I'm stuck here, taking shelter from rain and feeling like the Eight Divines are still not satisfied with toying me around.
    I don't know how long I took shelter, though when the rain finally calmed down, the sun was falling down. The trail I took from Riverwood was getting clearer and there were hints of roads half built. People tend to mark their trails and I saw some clearing here and there. It looks like a road frequently used. Although, I was the only one around. Thank goodness there weren't any wolves, or worse things. I took one look at the sky, scanned the ceiling of the blue sky and bolted.
    The first signs of civilization, the city, were the guards. I took a corner and suddenly Whiterun loomed ahead of me.  It looked big enough at that distance that I thought it must still be bigger when I get there. There were guards patrolling the area. I gulped down and walked slowly, afraid of attracting attention. But a loner passing through the woods? Not a chance.
    There was one guard posted near the sign post. He saw me first. I didn't see him at first because of the camouflage uniform of the Whiterun guards, a brown leather armor and a steel helm. He was also wearing a cloak and a sword peeked through it. He called out to me, called me "Traveler" and asked me where I came from. I answered and the guard looked surprised. He advanced onto me and asked something about strange happenings near there. I didn't know what he was talking about, so I shook my head. He seemed relief, I guess. Whiterun was just around a bend, there was a big river on the left, and Whiterun is on the other side.
    The guard showed me the way, I thanked him and was on my way. I passed what looked like a meadery and that was when I heard shouts. There were guards running from around the bend, coming out before me. I gripped my sword, afraid to sheath it out but the guards ran towards one of the farms nearby. I quickly ran towards it too, wanting to see what's happening. I felt it inside me even before I saw it. The earth shook and it vibrated my insides. That's when I saw the Giant, smashing at the ground. I was gaping my mouth but then I realized the guards were just standing there, looking at the fight between the Giant and 3 people.
    They were seasoned veterans, I'm sure of it. And to my surprise, two of them were women. One of them have flowing hair, shooting arrows from her bow, the other was holding a sword and a shield, facing the giant, cleaving it's thighs and legs. The other one was a man, and his big greatsword swinging in great blows. I was truly at awe, watching them fight the giant. It didn't stand a chance against those three. It went down after the bow-man shot an arrow right through the Giant's eyes. The guards cheered as it fell down, and died on the spot. After that, the guards quickly gathered around the Giant and began to drag it off. Probably to be left rotten on some cave or something. I wouldn't know because those three warriors were coming after me.
    The one with the bow, Aela, greeted me. She saw my sword and asked me why I didn't join in the fight. I shook my head off, saying that I'm no warrior such as them and it didn't look as if they needed the help. She snorted, quite loudly, and said that any warrior would relish the chance to fell down a Giant. She introduced her Shield Brothers. The man was named Falkaar. I asked her what Shield Brothers are and answered that's the name given to her greatest friends and allies. She said that they're the Companions, a group of warriors doing dangerous jobs for gold. She said I have a good sword arm, although I thoroughly disagree with her, and said that I should take a chance with Kodlak Whitemane, their advisor.  She wished me luck and went ahead into Whiterun.
    I breathed out. I was offered a chance to join The Companions, and offered by such a beautiful warrior such as her. But that was not why I came to Whiterun. I took a look around, and walked towards the great city. There was a stable outside of it, the stablemen were brushing the horses. I wish I can own one of those, but the cheapest I can get was a whopping 1000 gold. I don't even have a place to sit down and call it my own. Wishes can come later.
    Then, I saw this leg peeking out from behind the stables. Shocked, I went to see what it was. What I saw sent me reeling back. It was a woman, naked to her underwear and she stink of booze. A lot of alcohol was poured down her throat at some time before. The stableman saw me and said that I don't have to care about her. She was a stranger, a drunk that had too much last night. He also said something about scaring the horses. Also said something that she's not worth the thought. I shook my head and was about to go my way when the woman grunted.
    That's when I met Sofia. Although she was quite rude with me at first, and also reeked of ale and sweat, and she was also naked, and she was also dirty, I helped her a little bit. She said something about last night, had too much to drink, and her memory was fuzzy from then on. I asked her where her clothes are, and she was shocked. Apparently, drunk people do not realize that their clothes were stolen too. I gave her a drink from my waterskin and was about to go away when she grabbed my hand, it was a very firm grip, and asked if I needed a follower. Someone to guard my back. She didn't have anything to do or anywhere to go, or rather any gold to spend, and she was willing to follow me on my adventures. I shook my head, said that I was no adventurer but she pointed out that I really look like one right then. Her persuasion skills were expert, so I had to give in. Besides, the sun was going to set in a couple of hours and I have no time to waste.
    As I gave her some clothes, a dagger, she washed her face from the river, I asked if the divines are still playing with me. She followed behind me, and I saw her clean face. She was quite beautiful but I think a guy would've had too much drink to accept her kind of personality. We walked to the gates, and I was hoping there would be no more complications after this and this Sofia will be on her way after I'm done telling the Jarl about what happened at Helgen.
    When the guardsman at the front gate stopped me, Sofia hid behind a wall. I couldn't care much why. The guard said that the gates were closed because of the dragon. Apparently the news had already reached here. I explained I was from Helgen and I bring news to the Jarl about Riverwood being in danger. He believed me and opened up the gates for me. Sofia quickly hid behind my back while we made our way to the city beyond it.
    When I said the Divines were done playing with me, I was hoping it would be true. I was truly wrong. Helgen didn't even compare to what I was about to do when I set foot inside that great, big trading city that was the center of Skyrim.

--To be continued.

Whiterun

    Gerdur wanted me to go up to Whiterun and tell the Jarl about what happened at Helgen.  She said something about Riverwood being in danger if that bloody dragon was still in the mountains nearby. I woke up today and this happened. Looks like the Eight didn't hear out my wishes after all. The sun yet rose, it was still dark but right then, I would've sworn I could say that my future is indeed darker than the weather it is right now. Far from that, as I sat there in the haystack and my torn armor, the weather look a lot brighter than what I heard next.
    I thought Ralof was going to join me. All I got back was a stern stare and a saying that went, "You do not put put a shield above your head, if the dagger is aiming at your belly." I respected Ralof because he looked like someone I could trust my life with but this seems to be the only thing I could not trust him with. Apparently, Ralof was a Stormcloak and the Imperials are searching all over for him. So, he couldn't get out and walk around a city. Besides, he said, Jarl Balgruuf the Greater is said to be on the Imperial's side in the rebellion. After that, he was gone. I never see him again.
    Gerdur handed me some supplies; food, some spare clothes and a good luck ring. She gave me a general direction to Whiterun, a city that was in the middle of Skyrim that is known throughout Tamriel as the middle point, a trading center for Skyrim.  All sorts of people went and gone there. There were also rumored to hold the rare Khajiits caravan, who travel all over Tamriel to trade goods. As much as I want to discover the truth of this, I was still reminded of what happened at Helgen. My nerves has not quite settle yet.
    As I got out of the house, I looked up to the sky and yes, my nose did not dissapoint me. It told me that rain was coming and indeed, hours later on the journey, rain began. But that was not the only downside of the journey. But first, I shall tell about the Riverwood trader incident.
    I got out of Gerdur's house, apologizing for the stay and gratitude for taking me in for the night. She didn't smile but gave me that stern stare, almost the same as Ralof gave me, and repeated what she said to tell the Jarl. Riverwood is defenseless, and needed some guardsmen. I nodded solemnly, tried my best to look motivated. She closed the door behind me as I get out of the premise. I passed the Sleeping Giant Inn, the largest building in Riverwood. Inns usually are. The village drunkard was sleeping on the wooden floor. Not once do I like being drunk.
    I saw an elf right then going into the building on my other side. He saw me but said nothing. He was holding some red flowers as he entered the place. I did not think long for that one but someone cursed silently, or trying to be silent, right behind me. My adrenaline shot up as I took out my sword and nearly stabbed the Nord behind me. But he took my sword hand and said his name and that he lives here. He also said that I ought not to swing something if I don't know how to use it. But that was beside the point. The Nord, Sven, was looking at the building the Elf entered, with squinted eyes and a grimace.
    He told me that he and Faendal, the Elf, favored for Camilla Valerius' hand in marriage. He saw the Elf sneaking into the Riverwood Trader, the building, trying to woo Camilla. He also said something about a rat but I didn't catch it. Right then, Faendal got out with a big smile and glittering eyes. Sven grabbed me out of sight. He cursed into my ears. When Faendal turned the corner to work the mill, Sven stood me up and handed me a parchment. Written in neat words, the letter was a trap for Faendal. At first, I refused to do it but he urged me enough with the tongue that Nords seem to have and I was persuaded to agree. All I had to do was to lie to Camilla that the letter was from the Elf.
    I entered the Riverwood trader, expecting the usual welcome merchants usually use but this time there were shoutings behind the door. I stood there like a dumb fool while a man and a woman argued about something. When the man suddenly noticed me, he excused himself and the woman, and welcomed me in. The woman, Camilla I presume, went by with a high nose. I went up to the man, who introduced himself as Lucan Valerius, Camilla's brother, and he apologized for the incident. I asked what happened and I wished I didn't. He told me that he was robbed but the robbers were only after one thing. An ornament, solid gold, in the shape of a dragon's claw. By that name alone, my nerves hit the ceiling and decided I was not going to investigate further. I excused myself from Lucan's persuasion of trading and spoke to Camilla.
    I admit I have lied before in my life but this time, I decided not to. Perhaps by some divine intervention or perhaps maybe I didn't want to. I said to Camilla that the letter was actually from Sven and it was a trap for Faendal. She took the letter and read it. Her eyes got bigger with every line. I presume the content was harsh and decided not to ask. She calmly put the letter down and thanked for telling the truth and I should meet up with Faendal to let him know what happened. I told her I would but truthfully, I didn't want to meet up with anymore people. At the mention of the thing's name, my whole body was too tensed for casual conversations. I made my salutations and excused myself from the Riverwood Trader, with the usual "Come back again!", and I left the village altogether.
    As I pull my cloak up to cover my face from the incoming rain, I wished again for the Eight Divines to hold off more obstacles in my life before I got here, to Whiterun. Of course, the only answer I got were thunders up high. I sighed and made my way to the city.

"--to be continued"