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[PR: Ash]

The towering keep of Dragonsreach basked under the golden sunshine of the morning.

“So Sherry’s soul has been transferred into this sword? Unbelievable. I’ve read countless books on enchantments, and more than twenty of them claim that the injecting of souls into a weapon is irreversible. Transferring a soul into another weapon is impossible.” A look of astonishment filled Farengar’s eyes, and he tried to touch Aerondight. The witcher cocked his eyebrow and held back the urge to smack the mage’s hand away.

“How did you manage this, Goldeneye?”

Roy remained silent, but Farengar wasn’t angry. His eyes were still on Aerondight, and he was astonished by what he found. “These runes… They’re completely different from what I know. It’s different from the enchantments in Skyrim… No, the whole of Tamriel!”

Obviously. The inscriptions come from another world, and it’s improved by my character sheet. This weapon is one of its kind. I’ve had it almost since I started adventuring, and it’s gone through a lot of powerups. I’m much stronger with the sword than I am without.

“Most enchanted weapons channel their souls and unleash it upon their target. It’s how they unleash their power, but your weapon doesn’t even have to use any souls at all. Wait, so that means every time it strikes, it takes energy from its user. Or perhaps its surroundings. This is akin to the permanent enchantments we usually find on armor. This proves that weapons don’t need soul gems to recharge! It’s a breakthrough! Oh, but then that makes triggering its effects a matter of chance, but if you use souls, the effects are always guaranteed. It’s a tradeoff for a permanent upgrade. Pros and cons, I say.” Farengar pinched his beard.

“Soul gems are for the rich,” Arvel said. “Most people—like me—prefer Goldeneye’s style. Saves a lot of time and money.”

“True. Oh, but that’s not all about this sword.” Lost in thought, Farengar muttered, “There are about six or seven enchantments on this sword at the same time, and yet they coexist peacefully. No fighting at all. The professor of enchanting back in College of Winterhold told me a weapon can only have two enchantments at most. Even the best enchanter in Tamriel can’t break that rule. If they try to do that, they either render all enchantments ineffective, or they break the weapon. I bet not even Hermaeus Mora’s library contains knowledge of multiple enchantments on a single weapon. So who did this?” Like a fanatic, Farengar grabbed hold of Roy’s hand. “Might you be a master enchanter?”

“Goldeneye comes from another land called Novigrad. It’s probably something the people over there know.” Flynn looked at Aerondight, a look of astonishment filling his eyes. This sword is as powerful as Gwyhyr. He could still remember how easily Gwyhyr sliced through his enemies back in Bleak Falls Barrow. It was a shame Roy only lent him Gwyhyr that once. He has two powerful swords. Man, I wish I had two powerful weapons too.

“A shame I have to put all my efforts into deciphering the stone. We have to find the dragons as soon as possible.” Farengar sighed. “Otherwise I would’ve taken my time to research this blade. I’m sure I can create a new school of enchantment eventually. May I have the sword for a while, Goldeneye? For research purposes?”

Roy shook his head and caressed his sword before sheathing it. This is my sole weapon. No way I’m letting you touch it. And Sherry won’t agree to it either. Maybe next time, if I get more enchanted weapons. Roy was planning on getting more of the better armor here and paying Farengar to enchant them.

Farengar looked at the sword and reluctantly calmed himself down. “Sorry. I should’ve known you wouldn’t tell me something so important so easily. Let’s put the conversation to rest. So what next for you three?”

“We’ll stay at Whiterun,” said Flynn. “Until you decipher that stone. Until you find a weakness of the dragons.”

“You’ll be waiting for a while, then.”

“I have a question.” As per their earlier discussion, Flynn asked, “If a dragon were to attack Whiterun, what would the Jarl do? Just have his soldiers fire away at the dragon? And how many soldiers do you have? A few dozen? Hundreds? Honestly, if the dragon is as powerful as the one we saw in Helgen, everyone is going to die. But I don’t think it will be as powerful as the one we saw, though it will still prove to be trouble.”

“And why are you interested? None of you are citizens of Whiterun, as I recall.”

“We saw a dragon butcher a whole city. Killed a bunch of our brethren. We can’t sit this one out,” Flynn said. It was an excuse Roy suggested earlier. “Besides, if we can kill a dragon, we’d be as famous as Olaf One-Eye, founder of Dragonsreach. No one can resist that kind of glory. And once our names make it across Skyrim, every Jarl will welcome us with open hands.”

Farengar shot them a look of surprise. It’s like they’re different people. “I’d expect no less from heroes like you. Most people would be eager to run away from dragons after one attack, and yet you’re running toward them. Very well, come with me to the lobby. Only the Jarl knows how we are going to deal with the dragon. Since you’re lending your hand, you should listen to him.”

They entered the main chamber, and Farengar whispered to the Jarl.

The Jarl shot the adventurers a sharp but approving look. “We don’t receive heroes every day here. Our soldiers are scattered across a few towns and villages. Some will have to stay back to defend the keep. If another dragon attack is imminent, we can only send out thirty… maybe forty soldiers at best.”

Farengar bowed. “I despise combat, but I am the court wizard. Once the dragon makes its appearance, I shall join the front lines as well. Killing a dragon is out of the question, but at least we can destroy its body.”

“Wait. What do you mean we can’t kill a dragon?” asked Flynn.

“Unlike common beasts, dragons are not affected by time. They are immortal. The most we can do is destroy their flesh,” Balgruuf boomed. “Only those who are called Dragonborns can irrevocably destroy a dragon. They are the only ones who can kill a dragon’s soul. But alas, it has been many years since we last saw a Dragonborn.”

Roy looked at Flynn, and the Dragonborn scratched his head. Even now, he had no idea he was a Dragonborn. But with him on our side, we have a chance to take down the dragon. Yet Roy chose to keep Flynn’s identity a secret. Nobody would believe an honest Nordling like him was a Dragonborn. Not without proof.

And Roy wanted to find out if his character sheet had the special ability of the Dragonborn: to absorb a dragon’s soul.

Flynn scratched his head. “Is Dragonborn an important person, Jarl?”

Balgruuf smiled. “Dragonborns are worth nothing when the dragons remain in hiding. But now they are resurfacing, and Dragonborns might just be the saviors of Whiterun… nay, the whole of Skyrim. They shall be treated as guests of utmost importance no matter where they go.”

Balgruuf continued. “And it is all because Dragonborns can strengthen themselves through the absorption of a dragon’s core. And they are granted the talent to master something called Shouts. They can use these Shouts to fight even dragons.” Balgruuf seemed to know more about Shouts than he let on. “Humans can master Shouts as well, but we have to work on it hundreds of times harder than a Dragonborn.”

“Is that so?” Interested, Flynn asked, “Jarl, as far as your knowledge extends, is there anyone else who knows how to cast these Shouts?”

“Of course. There is a group of people in Skyrim who saw it their duty to pass down the art of Thu’um through generations, yet they keep to themselves.” And then he sighed. “In my youth, I made a pilgrimage. Tried to see if they would teach me Shouts, but all I did was waste my time. I wasn’t cut out for the job. But Ulf…”

He didn’t finish the sentence. There was envy, disgust, and respect in his eyes.

Wait. Someone else in Skyrim has mastery over these Shouts? Wonder if I can get some pointers from them.

Before Roy could say anything, Flynn asked, “So how can we find these people, Jarl?”

“No need for that. They will summon the Dragonborn to them and teach them the way of Thu’um. All to fend off the incoming dragons,” Balgruuf said mysteriously. And then, mockingly, he added, “As for people like us, we should just keep to ourselves. Do not chase after what is not ours, or the only path that will lead us to is that of destruction.”

Roy fell into silence. Even if I showed my Shout, I can’t prove that I’m a Dragonborn. And Balgruuf might find me detestable. Besides, I still have a lot to learn about Unrelenting Force. Not in a hurry to find the next Shout.

And then, through Arvel, Roy said, “Jarl, steward, Farengar, pardon me, but fending off a dragon with only a few dozen soldiers is insane. You expect to take down a dragon with nothing but arrows and magic? It’s a dragon! It can burn your soldiers to a crisp easily. And it can tear us apart easily with its fangs and claws. And it can breathe fire. And summon a meteor rain.”

Balgruuf fell into silence, and Proventus tried to say something, but he couldn’t.

Farengar explained, “Not all dragons are as powerful as the one in Helgen. According to my research, dragons are split into five tiers, each more powerful than the last. Dragon, Blood Dragon, Frost Dragon, Elder Dragon, and Ancient Dragon. The one you met in Helgen no doubt was at the top of the hierarchy. I suspect it was Alduin, the Bane of Kings, and the one who appeared in the first era. That was a rare dragon. While the dragon we’ll be facing is on the lowest rung of the hierarchy.”

“No harm making more preparations. Do you have a plan?” asked Arvel.

“Do you?” Balgruuf raised his hand, telling the thief to continue.

“Contact the other Jarls and form an alliance against these dragons. Falkreath, for example. It’s the nearest hold.”

“We have gone through that conversation.” Proventus shook his head, sighing. “The only sighting of a dragon was in Helgen. No news from the other holds. We don’t know how many dragons will be attacking, nor do we know when they will attack. And we don’t know why they’re attacking either,” Proventus said. “They’re coming in full force, and the Jarls prefer to keep their soldiers in their territory. We don’t have any manpower to spare.”

Arvel took a deep breath and bowed to the people around the throne. “I apologize. I did not think that far ahead.”

“That is alright. Arvel, is it? Did you come up with those questions yourself?” asked Balgruuf. There was a look of approval for Arvel in his eyes.

Goldeneye asked me to do it. Arvel hung his head low. “It’s what the three of us talked about.”

Flynn blushed.

“Not every day that I see a regular man keeping his cool in the face of an impending dragon attack. Most would either run away with their tails between their legs, or they would charge into battle recklessly.” Balgruuf nodded. “It is still too early to work with the other Jarls. Any other ideas?”

Arvel looked at Roy. “If we can’t ask for help from the outside, why don’t we turn to the people inside? We ran into Jon Battle-Born in the inn. He said his family is a powerful one. They should be helping out, seeing as they are a part of the city.”

“No.” Balgruuf shook his head, though he was obviously tempted by the idea. “The Battle-Borns are my people, and I am the Jarl. I have a duty to protect them. I cannot ask my people to fight when my soldiers and I are still standing.”

“It’s not as simple as you think,” Proventus explained. “Things are complicated. Unless the dragon attacks Whiterun itself, the Battle-Borns have no reason to take to the front lines, nor do we have any reason to make them fight. But if Talos wills it, they might just send their troops to fight with us.”

Proventus continued. “The Battle-Borns own a lot of farms and people, but the Grey-Manes possess the best gear, though they are stubborn and traditional. And then there are the Companions, who are connected to the Grey-Manes. We have no power over them.” Proventus shot the adventurers a weird look, and he said, “Goldeneye and Flynn have seen firsthand how the dragon attack in Helgen went down. If you can… persuade the families of Whiterun to lend their forces to us—better if you use your experience to do so—or even supply the soldiers with gear, you’d be heroes of the city. And you’ll have clearance to do a lot of things here.”

The adventurers exchanged a glance. Alright. That’s what we’re here for.

“We shall try our best.”

Now that Roy had a translator, mastered a Conjuring spell, owned a soul weapon, and learned a Shout, it was time to prepare for the fight with the dragon. The lowest tier, of course. He had to make sure he could collect some of its blood. And once the dragon was defeated, everyone would see that Flynn was a real Dragonborn. That alone would make traveling Skyrim damn easier. This partnership is essential to our plan.