-Scritch, scritch.
I changed the bandages for Meriden Eloise. She still couldn't move from her bed, but at least she could speak now.
"Mister... thank you..."
"Don't mention it. It's the least I could do."
She was showing some signs of recovery after I used a few potions, but as a healer, her physical constitution was naturally frail. It would be a long time before she was fully recovered.
"I'm sorry... I'm supposed to be the healer. If only I’d been awake, Lydia wouldn't have... h-hic!"
Eloise began to weep uncontrollably. The guilt of failing to provide healing clearly weighed heavily on her.
"Miss Eloise, please don't be sad. This wasn't your fault."
"Hic... but still...!"
Lydia reached out with her right hand and wiped the tears from Eloise's eyes. Her left arm was gone.
A priest in Falkreath had used a basic healing spell to keep the wound from worsening, but magic couldn't make a limb grow back. When I asked Eloise about it, she mentioned that if the severed arm had been brought back immediately and a master-level restoration spell had been cast, it might have been possible to save it. Sadly, it was far too late.
By the time we recovered Lydia's severed arm, it had already begun to rot. If there was a silver lining to this disaster, it was that she could still walk and move around without much trouble.
"Haaa..."
I wiped my face and took a long, deep breath.
Their condition is stable enough. Time for me to get moving.
I wanted to stay by their side, but I didn't have that luxury.
Choi Ha-neul and those Volkihar bastards had secured Serana's Elder Scroll and captured the Moth Priest. If they got their hands on the remaining two Elder Scrolls, it would be game over.
Was I going to run off and track down the Scrolls right away? No.
Pursuing the Scrolls would inevitably lead to another encounter with Ha-neul's party. If I clashed with them again without proper preparation, history would just repeat itself. This time, I planned to use my game knowledge to prepare thoroughly.
I was going to use every trick in the book. The plan was already set.
The Holy Trinity of Crafting.
In Skyrim, this refers to Smithing, Alchemy, and Enchanting. It’s the bread and butter of veteran speedrunners. It’s the ultimate example of Bethesda’s broken game balance—when these three skills synergize, they become an absolute exploit. The game becomes laughably easy.
Why is it an exploit?
For those who don't know the game, the process is roughly like this: First, you level up Alchemy and Enchanting. Once they're high enough, you craft a potion that boosts Enchanting effectiveness. While under the influence of that potion, you enchant gear to boost Potion effectiveness. Wear that gear, brew another potion, and you get an even stronger buff. Repeat the process.
The effects stack until the performance of your potions and enchantments rises exponentially. By the time you craft a 'Fortify Smithing' potion, you can create weapons capable of cracking planets and armor that grants over a hundred thousand HP.
"First, let's gather some alchemy ingredients."
Between adventuring and bounties, I’d saved up nearly 5,000 gold. That would be more than enough to source what I needed.
Determined to start with Alchemy, I headed into 'Grave Concoctions,' the local alchemy shop, to buy materials. The prices weren't bad, and thankfully, they had everything in stock.
"Phew... alright, so how do I actually brew this?"
In the game, it was just one button. Doing it in person was a different story. I decided to follow the recipe I’d bought, throwing the ingredients into a mortar and pestle and grinding away.
"What are you doing?"
"Making a potion. An extremely potent one."
"Oh? And what do you plan to do with that?"
I wondered if she’d even understand the explanation, but since Serana was a comrade who had risked her life alongside me, I explained it patiently.
"I’m going to make a potion that boosts enchantment effects, then use that to enchant gear that boosts potion effects. If I keep looping that..."
"You do realize that both potions and enchantments have a hard cap and can't exceed fifty percent effectiveness, right?"
-Pause.
The shocking news made my hands freeze over the mortar.
"And there’s a limit to how much Magicka or Health can be added to equipment. That’s why the school of Enchanting is so small. The limits are set in stone."
"Ah."
If I thought about it rationally, it made sense. If the 'Holy Trinity' loop were possible, people wouldn't be training in martial arts or magic like idiots; everyone would just be grinding alchemy for eternity.
"I just wasted so much time..."
I slapped my forehead.
"Did you honestly think that would work? Hehe, you really are a funny man."
For the first time, Serana actually laughed, covering her mouth as she giggled. Regardless, with my master plan ruined, I could only clutch my head in frustration.
Phew... no, it's fine. It's better that Serana told me now rather than later.
If I were my old self, I might have been stuck, but current me had already prepared a Plan B.
I reached into my pack and pulled out an angular white orb.
"What is that?"
It was Meridia's Beacon, which I’d found back at White River Watch.
By using this artifact, I could obtain a Daedric Artifact from a dungeon near Solitude: Dawnbreaker. This weapon was imbued with holy Magicka specifically designed to purge the undead, burning and purifying them on contact. In a situation where our primary enemies were vampires, it would be incredibly useful.
"Serana, let's move out."
"Hmm?"
"The others are injured, so it’s just the two of us. And we need to hurry."
It had been nearly three days since the battle. By now, the Volkihar clan would be searching for the remaining Scrolls.
I knew Lydia and Eloise would understand.
After explaining the situation to them, the two women saw us off.
"Please, look after Master Bart in our stead," Lydia said, taking Serana's hand. Serana looked into her eyes.
The emotion reflected there wasn't distrust or hatred—it was trust and warmth. For someone like Serana, who had been shunned even within Castle Volkihar, these feelings were utterly foreign.
"Yes. Don't worry."
Serana squeezed Lydia's hand in return.
Lydia no longer saw Serana as a mere vampire, but respected her as a person. Serana found the sensation strange, but she didn't dislike it.
Meanwhile, at Castle Volkihar.
"As expected of Ha-neul! I knew traveling with you would pay off!"
Salonia hugged Choi Ha-neul, stroking his hair while heaping on the praise.
Normally, after completing a successful mission and being rewarded, Ha-neul should have been in high spirits. However, his mind was a messy blur.
The enemies they had fought in Falkreath felt strangely, uncannily familiar. In truth, he could have overwhelmed them even more effectively, but for some reason, his heart hadn't been in it.
"Can you get off me?"
"Che, so cold."
Regardless, they had returned to the castle with Dexion and were granted an audience with Lord Harkon. Harkon praised their efforts for bringing the Moth Priest.
"You did well to find the Moth Priest. Your hard work will not be forgotten."
"We are honored, My Lord."
Harkon then turned his gaze toward Dexion, whom Ha-neul and Salonia had brought back.
"Are you the Moth Priest?"
"I am, My Lord," Dexion replied with a respectful bow.
"I hear you can read the Elder Scrolls. Can you decipher this?"
"Yes, of course. I must focus, so I ask for silence from everyone."
Dexion caught the Elder Scroll Harkon tossed to him. He unfurled the scroll with both hands and peered cautiously into its contents.
"Ooh... visions are beginning to appear before my eyes. I see a weapon. This weapon is... Auriel’s Bow!"
"Continue."
Dexion continued to interpret the Scroll.
According to his explanation, the moment the dragons awoke and the world was plunged into chaos, darkness and light would intertwine, and the children of the night would awaken.
Harkon, listening from his throne, sank into deep thought.
The prophecy was true.
When dragons tread upon the land of men once more, vampires shall be liberated from the Tyranny of the Sun. The prophecy Harkon had heard long ago—the one he had become obsessed with—was confirmed as absolute truth by the reading of the Elder Scroll.
The key to fulfilling this prophecy was Auriel’s Bow. However, the bow's power and its current location remained shrouded in mystery.
"To find Auriel’s Bow, we must find the remaining Elder Scrolls scattered across Skyrim."
Saying so, Dexion covered his eyes, visibly exhausted.
"My apologies. The act of reading the Elder Scrolls is an immense burden..."
"You have done well. Dismissed."
Dexion bowed to his new master, Choi Ha-neul, and then to Harkon, before withdrawing from the personal chambers.
To fulfill the prophecy, I need those two other Scrolls. Hmph... if only it weren't for that woman.
Harkon knew exactly where one of the missing Scrolls was. Or rather, he knew exactly who had it.
"Listen well."
Choi Ha-neul and Salonia, who were kneeling, looked up.
"Long ago, when Serana’s mother, Valerica, fled this castle, she stole an Elder Scroll. Find her location. At all costs."
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