Ahnaressu's Travels Ch. 8 Options

[Dantrag]

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Chapter 8

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A dunmer of about nineteen years stared at the Odai River as the wind blew his long, thin, black hair across his face. His arms were thin, but taut with muscles, a trait gained from years at the forge. He had worn black leather boots, brown pants, and a black overcoat covering his light grey shirt. His fierce red eyes took in everything around him. he watched the dazzling reflections of the trees on the surface of the water, the movements of a scrib, and he felt the presence of the mer walking towards him.

"Hello there. young lad." the elderly dunmer began. "Would you happen to know where to find a young dunmer by the name of Ahnaressu?"
"Actually, I do." said the young elf. "But might I ask why you want to know?"
The elderly mer continued. "I have need of his services. I am old, I will need help getting to my annual pilgrimage to Ghostgate."
"When do you need to get there?"
"Tomorrow."
"Meet you here at dawn. I will escort you to ghostgate then."
The old priest laughed. You had me fooled for a moment, but I knew who you were all along."
Ahnaressu began to walk back towards town and yelled behind him, "Remember. First light."

Ahnaressu had started a mercenary-like business about two months ago, having quit his old smithing job at the Razor Hole. When he started the business, he had hoped for exciting jobs from collectors of artifacts, great houses, guilds and the like, but being based out of Balmora, he usually got jobs escorting priests wanting to go to various shrines. He chuckled to himself whenevr he thought of the time he escorted a priest to the House of Earthly Delights in Suran - without revealing the priest's identity. He made more money than he did working for Thorek, and he had the added bonus of getting out of the monotony of "civilized" life.

When he had saved up enough money, he rented the top half of a house on the west side of the river. He, Cali and Relgar all shared the little house and it was a large improvement from the room in the temple, and less pressure on Ahnaressu to join the ranks of the temple doctrines.

Ahnaressu walked into the house he rented. Having only rented the top half, he always ended up carrying things up the steps for Cali.
"Ahnaressu!" Relgar yelled happily when he saw his older brother walk through the door.
Ahnaressu suddenly became a young child again when he yelled, "Relgar!" and ran towards his brother.
They ended up wrestling, the seven year old Relgar emerging triumphant while Ahnaressu played dead.
Cali laughed, just as she did every time she saw the two brothers together. She turned away from the brawl for a moment to check on the soup, tasting a sip before deciding if it was ready or not.
"Okay, boys, time for dinner."
Relgar jumped off Ahnaressu and quickly sat down at the table. Ahnaressu slowly got up and brushed himself off before seating himself.
The two males in the house rubed their hands together in anticipation of the food. Cali served them and sat down herself.

After dinner Ahnaressu went to sleep in preparation for the next day's short trek to ghostgate.

[Dantrag]

Ahnaressu sat outside of Balmora watching Relgar cast an array of weak spells. They seven-year-old dunmer was actually quite adept at spellcasting, especially for such a young age. Ahnaressu admired the fireball, but it also brought back memories of his mother's final moments. Ahnaressu mused that he must have gotten his father's fighting skills and Relgar got his mother's magical prowess.
"Did you see that?" Relgar yelled. "That was my biggest yet!"
"Pretty nice fireball. Can you do other spells?" Ahnaressu asked.
"Hmm....I can use illusion alright I guess, I can heal my scratches, and that's all I've learned so far." Relgar explained.
"Well, you keep at it." Ahnaressu said. "And soon you will be better than most Telvanni ever dream of being."
Relgar didn't even hear the last statement, already practicing his light spells.

Cali sat on her bed, dwelling on her conversation with Ahnaressu. She had no idea of how to stop him from going. Whenever he decided he was going to do something, he did it. No person could stop him. Not even Cali. While she had gotten over her grief over her own mother, Ahnaressu had somehow turned his sadness into a boiling rage deep inside. Cali wanted to help him, but he was too blinded by the rage that had been a part of Ahnaressu's life for far too long.

Relgar had long exhausted his magical and phyisical powers, and was snoring contentedly on the soft ground on the banks of the Odai. Ahnaressu thought of the deed that he had to do. He had let Valnor live far too long, and was determined to finish what he had vowed to start, and he hoped to finally rid himself of the same disturbing dream.

But something else made him want to abandon his vow forever. Cali. She was his best friend, and he wanted to go further, but was scared to say anything for fear of making himself and her feel awkward around each other, losing their current friendship. He almost felt cowardly, but this was a different kind of problem he faced. He could not slash it out of existence with a sword, or pound it out with an armorers hammer. He wished it were that simple, but it wasn't.

Ahnaressu picked up his little brother and walked back to his house.

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That's all for now. Enjoy.