[Encanto] 22 – Traveling South

Thanking Salvos for his help, I made sure I was packed and ready to go after the hours we spent going over my plans. Specifically, I only had a pouch filled with septims strapped to my waist, and I wore a robe showing my relation to the college and my rank as an 'Expert.' I had no need to carry anything else, as magic was quite a convenient tool. Not to mention, if I wanted to and pushed myself, I could obtain Azura's Star, cleanse it, and be back to the College before it even started to get dark, but instead, I wanted to take my time, so I told Salvos I'd be back in a week.

I wanted to stop by Meridia's Temple west of Solitude and see if I could make a deal with her and check out the World Wall outside of her Temple while I was at it, maybe even stop by Solitude to pay Sheogorath a visit and make a deal with him too. Plus, getting my hands on their artifacts would be nice as well, especially Meridia's Dawnbreaker, a sword of blinding holy light that is especially effective against the Undead. 

She and Arkay would likely be the best of pals due to their hatred of the Undead. Though if there's anything I have learned, there are some excellent Undead out roaming across Tamriel, or well, the best example of an Undead I know of is still trapped in a cave south of Dawnstar waiting to be released. Said Undead was an Ancient Vampire, one of the firsts, Serana. 

While I could go free her from her sarcophagus right now, I wanted to give myself some time, as if I woke her up, I would feel obligated to help her out, which means I would have to contend against an entire group of Ancient Vampires, one of which, her father, would be a considerable foe to face against, one that I think could take on a Dragon and win, not to mention how easily they would be able to wipe the floor with Salvos.

Not to mention, if I acted too soon, the Dawnguard may not form due to the butterfly effect. During the Game, with the Dawnguard DLC, the Vampire menace becomes more noticeable, and the player gets recruited, allowing them to choose a side: becoming a Vampire or joining the Dawnguard, the order of Vampire Hunters.

Stepping out to the courtyard, I reached out with my gift, taking flight. I rose into the air, hovering far above Winerhold and the College, the bitter wind and chill threatening to freeze me whole. With a thought, [Sun's Embrance] coated my skin, and I took off like a missile through the Sky. 

While I could have completely negated the gravity of my body on the world, created a 'bubble' around me to protect me, and flown at the speed of sound, I instead let the wind touch my face and body, going only around 30 miles an hour.

I wanted to enjoy the view my flight gave me, and I did. 

...

Flying past Azura's Statue and following the road south, it didn't take long before I could see Windhelm, Skyrim's ancient capital, and home to the future Stormcloak rebellion, if it hasn't already started, that is. Windhelm was also the oldest city of man, a city dating back to the Mertethic Era. A time when elves spread across Tamriel alongside man who arrived in Skyrim from a faraway land past the Sea of Ghosts, the Orcs came into existence, and so much more.

The city was that old. 

However, the ruler of the city, Ulfric Stormcloak, was...incompetent and war-hungry due to the Empire's loss against the Thalmor and the resulting signing of the White-Gold Concordat, which banned the worship of one of the principal deities the Nords worshipped. A recipe for a civil war, something the Elves greatly desired that would weaken Skyrim and the Empire even further. Because of that, the Elves who called Windhelm home were greatly discriminated against, to the point where they were treated as less than 'human' for lack of a better word. 

This led to the formation of the 'Gray Quarter, ' a section of the city where Elves, primarily Dark Elves, lived in poverty and struggled to survive with what little scraps they could scrounge. I felt sorry for them. Not to mention, the Argonians were forced to live outside the walls and in the Docks, as 'Decreed' by Ulfric. 

While I initially did not plan on stopping at the city, I realized that the opportunity was too good to pass up. Winerhold had plenty of people who were unwanted by the city, so why not spread rumors while I stopped to grab something to eat? Throughout history on Earth, there were plenty of examples of people who were down on their luck and left to find better futures. 

I already promised Azura a sanctuary and temple for her followers, and Winterhold will need the people if it wants to get back on its feet. Winterhold will need builders, farmers, miners, and an able-bodied workforce for a great many things, a workforce that Winterhold currently lacks.

Touching down a reasonable distance from the city, I began walking.

...

As I came closer and closer to Windhelm, the larger the city seemed. There were many houses along the road outside the city, small homesteads, some growing crops, others raising livestock such as chickens or cows. I noticed many of those outside working send a glare my way, making me laugh and smile. They recognized the robes, associating me with the College, and if there's one thing you could trust, it was that Nords hated Magic outside of Restoration, Alchemy, Enchanting, and the Thu'um.

It was clear that they didn't appreciate the apparent use of magic that was causing my form to glow.

Deciding to be f friendly, I shouted, "Does anyone need healing? I am an Expert Restoration Mage with the College of Winterhold!"

If I hadn't had their attention before, I certainly had it now, though in the form of a whole lot more glares.

"Keep your filthy magic away!" One of the younger farmers shouted.

"Alright, but if anyone needs healing, I'll be at the Inn in the center of the City drinking whoever I can under the table!" I laughed, not reacting to the hostility.

"As if a milk drinker like you could drink any man under the table!" An older Nord shouted.

"Oh yeah? Willing to bet on that?!" I retorted, a confident smile on my face.

Unfortunately for them, I had a spell just for the occasion, and it was a pretty valuable tool to make friends with the Nords, as it would be impossible for me to get drunk or intoxicated unless I canceled the spell or ran out of Magicka. 

Seeing my clear challenge, especially from someone my age, obviously bristled some of the men's egos.

"If any of you think you can beat me, feel free to come challenge me in the Inn. Anyone who does, I'll give five hundred septims," I challenged, showing off my full pouch of Septims.

That got their attention.