Bloodlust - The Continuation, And the likely conclusion as well!!! Options

[The Metal Mallet]

Well, here's the link to the previous thread: Bloodlust - The Beginning

You can continue your praisings of my written words here. Expect an update next Saturday. I don't expect I'll get one out sooner. School starts again

[The Metal Mallet]

Another shorter one today. I hope you enjoy it all the same, though.



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Savlian walked into the Infirmary wing of the Barracks, a concerned expression on his face. The stench of blood, medicine, and bedpans greeted his nostrils as he entered. Rows of beds lined the walls of the room. Very few of them were occupied though, as only the few who had received serious injuries in the final battle against Hlodir still remained. That was not totally correct though, two beds had recently been taken. In one rested the silent corpse of a guardsman. The sheets had been pulled the body, covering it completely but a blotch of dark blood stained the cranial region of the body. Savlian’s gaze held upon that spot momentarily.

Another body on my conscience… he thought bitterly and turned his attention to the patient lying across from the body.

Sethyas rested in his bed slightly seated. His body was slightly paler due to blood loss, making the black hand tattoo that covered his face all the more vivid. Bandages covered several spots on his chest and a large padded bandage covered much of his right forearm. His eyes were closed, and his even breathing told Savlian that the assassin was likely sleeping. Savlian calmly pulled up a chair beside the bed and waited for Sethyas to awaken.

It took little more than an hour for Sethyas to stir. His ember eyes winced as he tried to sit up even further. It wasn’t until then that he noticed Savlian sitting beside him.

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting that long,” Sethyas said, his raspy voice covering up the grogginess in his voice.

Savlian shook his head. “No, not long. I felt that you deserved some rest though. You’ve been looking like Guar dung as of late,” he replied with a dry smirk.

Sethyas frowned but said nothing. Savlian continued. “How are you feeling?”

Sethyas looked down and examined his body. “Just a lot of minor slashes, excluding the one on my arm. That one was deep,” he paused briefly, “Why don’t you give me some potions so I can get out of here?”

“Like I said, I feel like you deserve some rest. Potions will only make you feel that much weaker. Let yourself heal naturally for a bit. Regain your strength,” Savlian replied.

Sethyas’ frown increased. “I’m not going to sit here idly while he’s out there!” he said heatedly.

Savlian knew he wasn’t going to sway Sethyas mind so he conceded. “Fine, but for today you’re resting. You’ll get your potions tomorrow,” he said in an annoyed fashion. After Sethyas expression brightened Savlian continued, “So what happened?”

Sethyas struggled through his depiction of what happened. Savlian thought he explained well, giving a thorough description of the fight. It was unsettling hearing how drastically the tables had turned upon Sethyas.

“He was just toying with me after he stopped me from killing him. It was as if I was fighting someone completely different. Something changed in his eyes… in his movements. It caught me off guard,” Sethyas replied, a haunted look etched on his face, “He wasn’t even trying until I kicked him and then he just went nuts! Normally I know how to deal with those types, but I was just out of it. I could only react; only focus on defence rather than offence… I’d be a goner if your men didn’t show up.”

Savlian’s expression was grim. “Just be thankful that they did. Now you have the chance to redeem yourself,” he said with encouragement.

Sethyas cursed. “I should’ve known something suspicious was going to happen when I heard that noise!” he sighed, “I guess the lack of sleep has been affecting me…”

Savlian rose from his chair. “Then I’ll let you get some rest then. I’ll speak with you again tomorrow,” he said, bidding Sethyas goodbye.

A gnawing pit of doubt gripped at Savlian’s gut as he left the Infirmary. Sethyas’ description of the fight perturbed Savlian. Sethyas was the Grandmaster of the Morag Tong, and according to his statement, he was nearly killed by an assassin that previously was of a lower rank and retired. Sure, the lack of sleep Sethyas had could’ve affected the outcome of the fight, but Savlian thought Sethyas’ excuse was more of a cover up for Sethyas’ wounded ego. Still the fact that a great assassin was defeated so easily did not help Savlian’s confidence one bit.

But he was only defeated so easily after this supposed change happened… Before that, Sethyas had been doing fine, or so he said. Could this change only be triggered when Simion’s life was threatened? Perhaps Savlian could defeat Simion before this “change” happens.

Savlian shook his head. No, he couldn’t have changed; it just didn’t make sense. Sethyas must’ve just become overconfident and when Simion caught his second wind, he managed to mangle the bewildered assassin. That was the logical explanation. Sethyas was just being influenced by his partner’s ridiculous claim that Simion was possessed or something. In the heat of battle, one can see strange things that aren’t there, especially when there’s blood loss added into the mix. That had to be what affected Sethyas. If Savlian had seen it once, he had seen it plenty of times.

It just so happened that as Savlian left the Infirmary, he came face to face with the Khajiit assassin, Rah’mirr. They both nodded a greeting to each other but Savlian held the Khajiit before he entered the Infirmary.

“Might we speak for a brief moment?” Savlian inquired.

An inquisitive look crossed Rah’mirr’s face. “Sure, Rah’mirr will speak with you, Captain.”

“Good. What I want to talk about pertains to Sethyas. I –“ Savlian stopped short as Rah’mirr’s face suddenly turned from calm to alarmed. “Oh no! He’s fine, he only suffered some scratches. Sorry to frighten you like that,” he said quickly, attempting to ease the Khajiit’s mind.

Rah’mirr sighed in relief and his expression returned to the original calmness he displayed. “Go on then, Captain.”

Savlian took a moment to rethink on the phrasing of his question but quickly decided to be blunt. “I was just curious to know if Sethyas has a history of seeing things.”

“Seeing things?” Rah’mirr asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

Savlian shifted his weight of his feet in awkwardness. “You know, like he sees things that aren’t there or he misinterprets events,” Savlian elaborated.

“He is the Nerevarine, of course he can see things we can’t see,” Rah’mirr replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Nerevarine? What the heck is that?” Savlian asked.

Rah’mirr’s eyes widened. “You must forget what Rah’mirr told you. Rah’mirr has made a foolish mistake!” he said, scolding himself before entering the Infirmary in a hurried manner.

Savlian simply stood there and scratched his head. This is becoming more and more strange…