The Hero in Disguise, Chapter 4 Options

[Taillus]

Ok ladies and gentlemen, I feel bad for neglecting this story for any stretch of time so I have decided to give you all a fair chunk of the chapter to make me feel better. It is a large read but I hope it will be worth your time. Tell me what you think

My shaking hands felt around me for my lost blade. I watched as Taillus drew in deep breaths obviously glad that he finally tracked me down. I still had no clue how I was going to even scratch his armor but I knew I was going to have to hurt him somehow. I could feel the blood rushing from my limbs and face, making my body cold as ice even in the oftentimes overwhelming heat of Oblivion.

“There will be no talking…No speech and no bragging. I will kill you after torturing you longer than you can stand plain and simple.” Taillus growls as he watches me on my knees not even two feet away.

What troubled me the most is that he seemed to be free of the mocking voice of Molag Bal inside his head. If this was so, then he would be free from interruption allowing him to fully focus on ripping me to shreds. The very thought of engaging him in battle made my skin crawl. Every wound he caused, every injury dealt at his hands began to pain once again as I slowly climbed to my feet. I grabbed my katana and held it tight, hoping my fear wouldn’t cause me to drop it again and I looked squarely into his blood red eyes.

I watch as he unbuckles his cuirass as well as unlatching a pauldron and sleeve of his armor. The whole sleeve of his Daedric armor falls to the floor beside him, rattling between us. I remembered that he preferred using only half of his armor because it shows his cockiness and allows him to move better. My theory proved correct when the whole cuirass fell off his chest before Taillus cracks his neck in anticipation.

Just as I was about to launch a surprise attack, Taillus attempted the same. He lunged forward, catching me totally unawares and sending me sprawling backwards with a speedy backhand to my face. His speed was unbelievable and his strength was exactly as I remembered if not even greater. Just as I stopped rolling from his introductory attack, I watched with my head spinning as he leapt in the air, hoping to crack my skull more than likely.

I was barely able to roll away and I gasped in horror as his armored gauntlet plowed through the rough black tiles of the floor splintering the thick rock like tiles in an explosion of debris. Thick rock dust clouded the both of us after the attack allowing me to quickly scramble back to my feet once again but without even missing a beat, I watched as the silhouette of Taillus broke free a large piece of the floor and hurled it like a jagged Frisbee on a direct course for my neck.

I ducked as quick as I could and felt the sting of the rock tearing through my armor as it peeled away the plating that covered my back but that was the least of my worries as Taillus burst through the cloud of dust and kicked at my head as I was dodging the floor piece. I managed to raise an arm in defense but it hardly mattered. I could feel the bone breaking in my forearm before Taillus picked me up by my neck and tossed me at the wall behind me.

This was impossible. How am I even going to survive this, let alone defeat this demon. Taillus was finely tuned and bent on my destruction…but maybe not as finely tuned as I had originally thought. I watched after coming to my senses as he approached me but quickly brought his hand to his mouth before coughing violently. I could see blood trickling from his fingers as the coughing continued.

Taillus was looking really sick, and as underhanded as it was, I thought that catching him while in this state might be my only chance. My mind scrambled for a spell that would come in handy but spells have been incredibly hard to conjure ever since Taillus and I switched bodies. I was going to have to learn to come out of this rut if I ever wish to see the light of day in Cyrodiil again.

I managed to remember a lightening spell that could potentially put him down for the count. It was a spell I used to light up Nord Barbarians back in Northern Vvardenfel. I thought for a second as I ran towards Taillus who was still coughing badly. I smiled victoriously as my hands lit up blue with magicka before releasing large tendrils of electric energy that wrapped around Taillus making him convulse in pain.

It was still not enough as I was met with a blast of his own magicka in retaliation. Blood trickled down the side of his mouth as he practically roared while a large wave of fire energy screamed in my direction. Without even thinking, I closed my eyes remembering a fire protection spell and held out my hands to meet the spell wincing as it rolled around my body. I could feel heat but my protection spell must have worked because the wall behind me was charred badly. I should have been baked where I stood.

I must say that Taillus brings out the best in me. Fighting literally for ones life would probably bring out the best in anyone but it is as true as it gets. Fighting him was forcing me to remember the spells I was unable to conjure otherwise and all of this quick thinking and instinctive moves revived my knowledge, revived my entire library of spells I worked so hard to memorize!

Taillus quickly ran to the mangled Daedroth skeleton and pulled free the daedric broadsword that he obviously used a time ago to dismiss the previous keeper of the Sigil Stone. He uttered something mildly witty along the lines of needing the weapon back if the ill-fated Daedroth didn’t mind and I sprinted forward in hopes to catch him flatfooted as he was releasing the blade.

I was met with a harsh elbow to the collar bone stopping me in my tracks and almost bringing me to my knees in pain while also allowing him the few seconds he needed to release his broadsword. I had to think of how easy this would be if it wasn’t for Taillus. A Daedroth as a Sigil Stone bodyguard would have only been a minor setback, this…this was catastrophic! I managed to sidestep and dodge the swift attacks from Taillus noting that he was obviously still shaken from his recent coughing fit. I had to wonder what was happening in that body of his but had little time to piece anything together as I was quickly beaten with the flat of the broadsword as punishment for not keeping my mind on the fight.

My broken arm was really keeping me out of the game and I was sure he broke something other than my cuirass with his last attack as well. I was in danger of losing my life but I knew it wasn’t going to be quick just as he promised. I was certain that my body was going to give up soon under the sheer power that is Taillus but just as he was about to take another swing, the doors that I had only minutes before used to gain entry to this room flew open revealing my Nord friend.

“Let my friend be you filthy Daedric Demon!” The Nord shouts as he points his blade in our direction. I rolled my eyes as Taillus turned on his heels to meet the source of the comment. A smile creeps across his face before he burst into hysterical laughter. I had to say that I couldn’t blame him. The Nord was hardy and tough but I am sure Taillus at ten years of age could have had him begging for mercy.

“Terribly sorry friend. I apologize sincerely for pummeling your friend. Let me make it up to you both by giving up.” Taillus laughs as he walks toward the Nord. The leader of the Bruma army quickly realized the caliber of my tormentor as a black miasma crept around Taillus’ body revealing a brewing fear attack. Taillus was going to scare the Nord to death! I had to end this quickly. I shouted to the Nord, ordering him to throw his amulet in my direction. I quickly grabbed a jagged, broken rib from the Daedroth skeleton and sprinted to catch the airborne amulet.

The Nord hauled off his amulet and tossed it over Taillus’ head. I readied a spell as I ran at them and cast it as soon as he turned around to catch the soaring piece of jewelry. Taillus was surprised with a quick and intense light magic that blinded him, He cried out in pain before covering his eyes in an attempt to shield himself from the burning light that robbed him of his sight giving me just enough time to catch the amulet, whip it around my neck and let it charge.

Taillus frantically swung at me but without knowing where I was, he was easy to avoid, Just as the light spell wore off allowing Taillus to see, the familiar red of the strength fortification from the amulet circled my body. With not even a second to spare, I jumped, pulled back my usable arm that was armed with the broken bone of the Daedroth and buried it deeply into Taillus’ right shoulder.

The force of the action along with the fortification of my strength made the bone sink deeply into his non armored skin. Taillus screamed in agony as more blood trickled out of his mouth. I decided to take advantage of the still active enchantment by planting a few good punches at his abdomen and to my amazement, the mighty Taillus went down for the count.

My arm was still broken, and paining badly. Plus I was certain that my ribs have suffered as well as my shoulder blades and back. Taillus had definitely done a number on me but I was still standing and he was not. It was a better ending than I could have ever wished for and now it was time for me to grab that Sigil Stone and get out of here. The Nord and I both went up the winding catwalk and stood before the stone. It was finally over and was time to leave this place.

“Who was that beast of a man my friend?” The Nord asks shakily as we crested the top of the catwalk to meet the waiting Sigil Stone, our way out of this nightmare. I told him vaguely that he was an old “Friend” who was more dangerous than any other living mortal man. The Nord questions him being mortal and with good reason, I was barely sure he was still human myself.

I motioned for the Nord to grab the Sigil Stone while I drowned myself in healing magics. It was unlike me but unless one feels the pain caused by Taillus then I would suggest not judging. I also felt that the Nord deserved to finish closing this gate considering him even making it here was astonishing I gave him the honor and he nodded before quickly snatching the stone from its perch obviously as eager to escape this place as myself.

[Taillus]

Alright here we go with another update. Hope you all like it!

Rumor has it that the Arcane University has been working on a project ever since the emperor was murdered. A way of communicating with the other provinces so that a faster form of communication could be utilized and taken advantage of as far as sending warnings instantly to alert officials in let’s say Vvardenfel for example.

It is a wonderful idea that could prove pivotal in coming months, I just hope that the Arcane university can alter it so that we can use this person’s powerful mental capabilities to track down Taillus. It might just wind up my only chance to find him and I had little to no time to work with. I decided to leave that moment, gather my gear, thank the innkeeper for such royal hospitality and be on my way. Time and Taillus doesn’t sleep and unfortunately that means that I cannot either. I shook the hand of the smith that repaired my damaged armor and expressed my gratitude to both him and the innkeeper before jogging to the stables to pick up my horse…

The sun was barely in sight, leaving only hues of blues and purples to crest the mountaintops signifying its inevitable return. The stars and moon stubbornly hang around trying to retain their place in the sky for even a few more minutes, it was the struggle of dawn and it was beautiful. I sat atop my trusty horse as it galloped its way to the Arcane University in Imperial City. Riding horseback gave me time to think about things and while sometimes I was afraid to be left alone with my thoughts, I was actually feeling optimistic for a change.

Taillus was alive and relatively well but I was feeling more confident in my own skills as a Battle-mage and I began to realize that if I died today, I would still be remembered as a hero. I have saved many lives and I have impacted the lives of others. People know me by my first name and consider me a savior. Not many can say this as being true in themselves. I have accomplished many things and while I plan to do more, plan to finish what has been started, I could die relatively happy with myself.

The sprawling Imperial City began to reveal itself as I crested a large upward hill before gaining access to what was on the other side. Even though it was a cesspool of semi-corrupt officers and often-times lined with the poor, sick and hungry it was still quite a beautiful city. With a tower you can honestly see from almost anywhere in Cyrodiil, beautiful, breath taking gardens, nice architecture and of course, my favorite, the Arcane University it really makes an impression on first-time visitors.

The steel gates are swung open for me by two battle mages in their light grey armor and navy blue hoods. Waiting at the front steps for me was two young scholars that had heard through others that I had entered town not only minutes previous. The Arcane University was very accommodating and took a particular liking to me after they learned that I was a well respected Battle Mage from Vvardenfel.

As I set foot on the first stair leading to the doors to the Lobby of the University I was greeted by a friend of mine. Hannial Traven is one that may express the “I remember you when you were this tall.” Quote when speaking to me because I had the chance to meet him when I was slotted to create and train the Blue Lions. He guided me during his visit to Vvardenfel and made sure that we were off to as best a start as we could have. A very nice man with a very warm heart who is also an accomplished mage even though one would seldom see him use his skills in battle…anymore.

Hannial wrapped his arm around my shoulder and invited me for a full tour of the campus considering that my last visit was short-lived when I was trying to uncover the Mythic Dawn. I explained that my visit may again be short and that I had a favor to ask him and his scholars.

After briefing him on the details of my situation I asked him solemnly if he could recommend anyone with the skills to track my nemesis down. I was hoping that through his extensive network of allies and comrades he could think of someone with enough mental capacity and prowess in the Telepathic arts to aid me and to my relief, he managed to determine who I could ask for help.

“This is going to be a long shot but we do have a lady that has been of service to the University and the Mage’s Guild for many, many years. She is not on the payroll though so she has no obligation to do anything for anyone. She has been away from the public eye for quite some time and only communicates with us on rare occasion via a young messenger that she trusts to deliver messages. I can give you the location my dear friend but I give you no promises. She lives due north of here in a large construct known as Frostcraig Spire. Her name is Aeriandala, an elderly dunmer woman. Hopefully she can be of help to you my son.” Hannial explains as he slowly creaks into a sitting position before resting on a bench.

I thank him dearly and shake his hand with the promise that when this is all over, I will be able to spend the time I have been dreaming to spend on the beautiful campus and bid my farewells to the students.