"This is the dungeon."
I studied the spot on the map where Sorine was pointing.
It's near Riften. The location is close, so this should be over quickly.
Our mission was to retrieve the schematics required for crafting crossbows to assist Sorine's research.
We were missing Choi Ha-neul, who usually served as the party's backbone and handled area-of-effect magical damage, but Serana had filled that void, so it shouldn't be a major issue.
"Does everyone understand my explanation?"
Lydia and Meriden Eloise nodded. Then, Sorine glanced warily at Serana and spoke.
"Um, that... vampire lady too?"
"I understand," Serana replied.
As expected, they're uncomfortable.
The reactions from Sorine and the rest of the Dawnguard toward Serana were mostly cold.
It was only natural, considering the Dawnguard specialized in hunting vampires. Moreover, friendly vampires like Serana were a rare sight.
However, once we started achieving results through our missions, she would eventually earn some degree of trust.
"Alright, let's head out!"
"Yes, let's go."
"Whoo...!"
I shouted with forced enthusiasm to boost the team's morale. Despite my efforts, the atmosphere didn't change much.
Man, I miss Ha-neul.
She wasn't just strong; she was the party's mood maker. Feeling the weight of her absence, we departed for the ruins containing the Dwarven crossbow schematics.
Step, step.
Arriving at the dungeon, we kept our noise to a minimum as we began to explore the interior.
"I have something to say," Serana spoke up.
"Why am I at the front?"
As a mage, Serana's standard position was in the rear providing fire support. Yet, she was walking at the very head of the party.
I was walking right beside her, but Serana, who possessed vast combat knowledge from living for centuries, found the arrangement puzzling.
"The reason is..."
Truthfully, Eloise and Lydia didn't trust the vampire enough to have her behind their backs. This formation had happened by default. I knew Serana wouldn't betray us, but they had no way of knowing that, so it was a rational decision on their part.
"V-Vampires have good night vision. That's why I wanted you to lead the way..."
Eloise offered a plausible excuse, but the sharp-witted Serana immediately realized why she was being placed in the lead.
"If it makes you anxious, do you want to stand behind me?" I asked, worried about Serana's feelings.
"It's fine. Let's keep going like this," Serana replied without further complaint and continued the exploration.
"Enemies ahead. Five of them."
Serana's heightened senses detected the threat.
Good, I should take one out with the bow first.
"It looks like they've noticed us too?"
It was then. A fireball came flying toward us.
BOOM!
The fireball didn't hit us directly, but it exploded nearby, venting fierce flames and heat.
"Ugh...!"
Serana groaned softly as the flames brushed her. Vampires were resistant to frost magic but highly vulnerable to fire.
"Serana!"
Whirrr!
I pushed her behind me and summoned a Frost Atronach. I didn't know who the enemies were yet, but the high-Health Frost Atronach would make an excellent meat shield.
However, seeing the enemies reveal themselves, I changed my mind.
"Insignificant humans!"
The enemies appearing before us were of the same kind as Serana.
"It's vampires!"
"V-Vampires?!"
Crackling!
I intentionally dispelled the summon. Since Frost Atronachs were ineffective against frost-resistant vampires, I summoned a Flame Atronach instead.
Ha-neul was gone, but we already had experience defeating vampires.
"Hah!"
Three vampires quickly leaped toward our backline, rushing at Eloise.
They definitely know how to fight!
Eliminating the healer first was an excellent strategy. However, it wasn't good news for us since we had to face them.
CLANG!
Lydia slammed her shield into one of their faces.
"Gah!"
The vampire let out a pathetic cry and tumbled backward.
But there were two more flanking her.
Ting!
A vampire struck Lydia's waist with an axe, but her heavy armor deflected the blow.
Thwip!
"Not on my watch!"
The arrow I fired lodged itself in the vampire's shoulder. Taking advantage of the enemy's broken posture, Lydia slashed out with her sword.
Splurt!
The vampire collapsed, clutching a slit throat while coughing up blood.
"Aaah!"
Crap! Eloise!
In that opening, the last one lunged at Eloise.
Grab!
Serana grabbed the lunging vampire by the hair with one hand.
Crack. SHATTER!
Just like that, she froze the vampire's head solid and slammed it into the ground, shattering the skull into pieces.
"Whoa..."
I was momentarily stunned by her combat prowess.
Now's not the time to stare.
There were still two left fighting my summon. We finished off the remaining two with ease.
"Only five of them living in a cave of this size?"
No more vampires appeared. In the depths of the cave, we found a large chest containing the crossbow schematics along with jewelry and other treasures.
"Wow...!"
"This looks like it'll be worth a lot," Eloise noted.
"Yeah. But how about we donate this loot?"
Our personal funds were fairly substantial. In contrast, the Dawnguard was currently strapped for cash due to the costs of fortress maintenance and daily rations for the recruits.
Beyond that, there were plenty of expenses: refining equipment, breeding Armored Trolls and Huskies, and more.
Isran will probably use it wisely.
I made the decision to help bolster the Dawnguard's combat strength.
"Hmm... alright."
"That makes sense," Lydia added.
Thankfully, both Eloise and Lydia agreed.
"Serana, what about you?" I asked Serana, who had been listening to our conversation.
"Huh? You're asking me?"
"Yeah. You're a member of our party too, right?"
Eloise and Lydia chimed in after my comment.
"That's right! Also... thank you for saving me earlier!"
"You really fought well. I was impressed."
Serana replied with a faint smile.
"Thanks. You guys fought well, too."
It was only a small amount, but the wall between them seemed to have crumbled slightly.
"And I disposed of Orthjolf and Stalf on the spot."
Resting his chin on his hand atop the throne, Lord Harkon listened silently to Choi Ha-neul's report. He had already sensed that Orthjolf was eyeing his position.
The reason he hadn't bothered with a purge earlier was partly because he was busy with the 'Prophecy,' but mainly because their combined strength wouldn't even touch a hair on his head.
"That is all."
"It's about time we moved on to the next stage."
The blessing of the Bloodstone Chalice had further strengthened their vampiric powers. The foundation for fulfilling the prophecy was laid; now it was time to take the actual step up the stairs.
"I have reached a point where I can sufficiently trust your abilities. Thus, I shall tell you. The 'Prophecy' that will lead us into the light."
Choi Ha-neul nodded obediently and listened to her lord.
"Centuries ago, I read a thesis written by a priest of the Moth Priests. It was a very interesting piece suggesting that vampires could overcome the sun."
The Moth Priests are a group that studies and reads the Elder Scrolls. Therefore, Harkon was certain that a clue to the prophecy must lie within an Elder Scroll.
"Serana... She brought me the Elder Scroll, but then she turned her back on me, just like her mother. But that child's plan has failed."
Harkon touched the lock on a chest in his room.
The lock was of a design he had never seen before—doubly locked and far more complex than a standard mechanism. A moment later, he opened the chest and unfurled the Elder Scroll.
"Unfortunately, this cannot be read by just anyone."
"Does that include you, Lord Harkon?"
"Even for me, reading this is impossible."
Ha-neul sensed that Harkon's next words would be regarding her mission.
"Let us go to the feast hall. I have already ordered everyone to gather."
"Yes, sir."
Harkon stood up and headed toward the castle's feast hall, where everyone was waiting. Ascending the dais, he scanned his subordinates.
Once he confirmed everyone was present, Harkon made his declaration.
"The time of the 'Prophecy' is nigh. We have the Elder Scroll in our possession. Soon, we shall rise above the sun and reign over every living thing on this earth."
The vampires in the hall cheered as they listened.
"Finally!"
"It looks like the time has come!"
"However, we need someone who can read that scroll."
Harkon then issued a command to the crowd.
"Find me a Moth Priest! To lure them out, I have scattered rumors throughout Skyrim that an Elder Scroll has been found. Use every means possible to bring a Moth Priest to me!"
As soon as his order was given, everyone rushed out of the castle to find a Moth Priest.
"Ha-neul, shall we go as well?" Salonia approached Ha-neul in a friendly manner.
Having worked together twice already, they had become quite familiar. It would be far better than Ha-neul, who knew little of Skyrim, trying to find a Moth Priest on her own. There was no reason to refuse.
"Alright."
Accepting Salonia's proposal, she departed to find a Moth Priest somewhere in Skyrim.
Hmm... I wonder where and how I should start...
It was good to be on the mission with Salonia, but actually looking for a Moth Priest in the vast expanse of Skyrim left Ha-neul feeling overwhelmed.
"Now, shall we start by visiting innkeepers or carriage drivers?"
Moth Priests were traveling into Skyrim, so it was highly likely they had passed through various cities and come into contact with carriage drivers and innkeepers.
"Oh, that's a great idea."
Ha-neul agreed with her suggestion.
We have to be the ones to find the Moth Priest.
Salonia, having abandoned her dreams of rebellion, had shifted her goal from the throne to securing a high-ranking position within the court, second only to Harkon. For that dream, she needed an achievement—specifically, capturing a Moth Priest.
"Let's head to Riften first. It's close to the Kingdom of Cyrodiil."
"Okay."
Since the Moth Priest would have crossed over from Cyrodiil, they planned to prioritize visiting Riften, Markarth, and Winterhold, as these cities were close to the borders.
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