Chapter 10
The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller was the relic Arngeir had entrusted to the Dragonborn. And if my memory served me right, the Blades had already stolen it. By the time we reached Ustengrav, the Blades had probably carved their way through every bandit, necromancer, and draugr unlucky enough to cross their path
but honestly?
I didn't mind.
A dungeon swept clean meant two things: fewer threats, and untouched treasure glimmering in the dark.
Before our journey, Astrid and I passed through Whiterun. The early morning mist still clung to the rooftops, and the air carried the faint scent of warm bread and forge smoke. Market stalls creaked as merchants prepared their wares; distant hammer strikes echoed from Warmaiden's. The chill wind bit at my cheeks as I stepped into the arcane shop, burning through my dwindling savings.
I bought Healing, Healing Hands, Lightning Bolt, Fire, Firebolt, and Frostbite
and just like that, my coin pouch became lighter than a troll's brain.
Good thing I still had the gold rings I smithed earlier at that bandit camp. They would be perfect for leveling my enchanting once enchanted, their value would skyrocket.
Of course, to enchant them, I needed filled soul gems. There were only two ways to fill them:
Soul Trap, or a Bound Sword.
I preferred the latter the weightless blade of pure magicka that shimmered like starlight, forged from Oblivion itself. Stronger with every Conjuration level and perk.
But there was one tiny drawback…
I was a mage.
Not a swordsman.
Not even close.
Still, I wanted to learn. And the only person I trusted to teach me was walking right beside me, her blonde braid swaying with each step, her expression as casually smug as ever.
But asking her… was embarrassing.
"Astrid… do you know how to use a sword?" I asked, my voice embarrassingly soft. "Not a greatsword just a… normal one."
Astrid slowed her step and shot me a sidelong glance. Her breath misted in the cold air as she stopped completely, squinting thoughtfully at me.
"Hm… where should I even start teaching you…?"
She tapped a finger against her chin, eyes narrowing as though analyzing an invisible battlefield. Then, suddenly, she snapped her fingers.
"When using a sword," she said firmly, "you must not hesitate. Even a little hesitation lets your enemy strike you first."
Her voice dropped into something unexpectedly solemn, almost philosophical. The wind swept through the tall grass around us, rustling softly as if the land itself listened.
I stared at her, surprised she could sound this wise.
"So," I continued, wanting to follow her lesson, "I have to swing my sword with intention, right?"
Astrid smirked, folding her arms with theatrical confidence.
"Hah! Intention! Of course! But not that soft intention monks use when meditating."
She lifted her sword slightly and tapped the flat of the blade against her armor.
CLANG.
The metallic sound rang sharp and commanding.
"When you swing a sword," she said, her voice low and resolute, "you swing it with all your strength and your conviction. No hesitation. No half-hearted moves. A doubtful sword stops in the air…"
She lifted her blade, eyes narrowing with dangerous clarity.
"…but a certain sword cleaves through anything that dares stand in its way."
The air around her seemed to shift like a warrior's aura rising before battle. She relaxed a moment later and shrugged, her grin returning, bold and unrestrained.
"So? If you're going to swing swing! Let the earth judge whether your resolve is strong enough."
For a moment, the world felt still.
The sky above stretched wide and bright.
The wind brushed past like a whisper of approval.
And just like that, something inside me clicked an understanding, a spark, a new thread of determination intertwining with my magic.
All thanks to Astrid.
I was stunned and more than a little enlightened. Astrid's words echoed in my mind long after the conversation ended, like a mantra etched into my bones.
After that, I practiced swinging my Bound Sword every chance I got. The blade shimmered in a translucent blue glow, humming softly with otherworldly energy. When I tried dual-wielding, the strain hit me like a mammoth. My limbs trembled, and my breath turned ragged, my Magicka bar metaphorically screaming.
Yeah. I regretted dumping every stat point into Magicka.
My arms felt like noodles.
Our journey toward Morthal took us through marshy wetlands, where fog clung low to the ground and the smell of damp earth filled the air. Fireflies drifted lazily between clusters of twisted trees, glowing faintly like wandering spirits. Sometimes, during our camping breaks, I continued practicing. The night air was cold, and every exhale came out as mist, but I forced myself through the motions.
Astrid occasionally sparred with me though calling it "sparring" was generous. She moved with terrifying ease, dodging and countering effortlessly. Meanwhile, I was gasping for breath like a fish on land.
When we finished, she didn't even break a sweat.
Not a single bead.
A monster wearing a human skin no other explanation.
By the time we reached Morthal, the sun was sinking behind the swamps, staining the misty landscape in hues of gold and violet. Morthal was a quiet, eerie place the kind where silence felt alive. Wooden houses stood atop stilts, surrounded by pools of murky water that reflected the moonlight.
We rented two separate rooms at the inn. The interior smelled faintly of peat moss and damp wood, the lanternlight casting soft amber shadows across the walls. Once inside my room, I checked my status window, the glowing interface hovering before me like a quiet reminder of progress.
I still had five perk points left. Since my Destruction had reached level 26, I allocated them:
Destruction – Level 26
– Apprentice Destruction: Apprentice-level spells cost half Magicka.
– Destruction Dual Casting: Dual-casting overcharges spells, amplifying their power.
One-Handed
– Armsman: One-handed weapons deal 20% more damage.
I sighed. Investing in One-Handed felt like preparing to walk a path I wasn't sure belonged to a mage but I knew I'd need it.
By the time the sky outside had turned completely pitch black, I collapsed into bed. The wooden room creaked softly with the wind as I drifted into sleep.
The next morning, fog still blanketed the ground as we approached Ustengrav. But before we even stepped inside, we saw them
bodies lying near the entrance.
Slashed, burned, pierced.
'Yep… looks like the Blades came here and stole the horn. They wanted to meet the Dragonborn,' I thought. 'But hey… at least they didn't take all the loot.'
Astrid crouched beside one of the corpses, her expression troubled.
"Someone must've cleared this place before we arrived… these bodies look like they've been dead for a day. And some of them…" Her eyes narrowed. "These were killed just recently."
I nudged a boot gently against a still-warm corpse. "Hmm. That might be."
"But why kill all these bandits? What's the point?" she asked, brows furrowing.
"Probably the same reason we're here they were after the Horn of Jurgen."
Astrid crossed her arms, thinking. "Should we report this to the Greybeards?"
"Well," I shrugged, "we're already here. Might as well explore the dungeon. There's bound to be treasure left. And don't worry if your inventory gets full, hand everything to me. I'll stash it in my magical inventory."
Astrid let out a relieved exhale, her shoulders relaxing. Then she smiled bright, confident.
"Right… I forgot. Okay then. Let's go explore this dungeon."
Her footsteps echoed beside mine as we descended into the dark maw of Ustengrav, torches flickering and cold air brushing against our skin like unseen hands.
The adventure continued.
I summoned my bound sword the ethereal blade humming softly as violet runes flickered along its edge and stepped inside. The air of the dungeon immediately wrapped around us like a cold, damp shroud. The torches on the walls sputtered weak orange light, barely strong enough to carve away the shadows that clung to every corner.
As we walked deeper, the smell of old blood and decay thickened. Our footsteps echoed eerily, bouncing off stone walls covered in moss. And then… we found the bodies.
Dozens of them.
Human. Elf. Some in traveler's clothes, others in armor. Their limbs twisted unnaturally, faces contorted in frozen terror. Too many. Far too many for one person or one monster to have killed alone.
A cold knot tightened in my stomach.
Astrid crouched beside one corpse, her brows furrowing. The faint blue glow from her Shout-marked gauntlet reflected in her eyes. "These wounds… they're too clean. Whoever did this knew exactly where to strike."
Before I could respond, voices echoed down the corridor sharp, disciplined, and getting closer.
I grabbed Astrid's wrist gently but urgently, pulling her behind a collapsed pillar. She pressed against me instinctively, her breath warm against my neck as the footsteps approached.
"Sir, we've examined all the bodies, but we still haven't found the woman," a soldier reported.
A High Elf in polished Elven armor strode into view, his golden hair tied sharply back. Beside him, a robed figure in black moved silently like a shadow.
The moment I saw them, my heartbeat spiked.
The Thalmor.
The whispered puppet masters behind Imperial politics… and the relentless hunters of anything that threatened their agenda.
"Did the informant lie to us?" the High Elf snapped, his voice like cracking ice. "Useless! Pull all forces back to the headquarters. There's no point searching deeper."
"Yes, sir."
Their boots clattered away until the sound faded entirely.
Astrid exhaled shakily. "Fiuuuh… looks like the Thalmor were hunting someone, Alex."
I swallowed. "Yeah… seems like it."
But then I turned to her, meeting her eyes seriously. The faint light revealed worry hiding beneath my calm expression.
"Astrid… you shouldn't draw too much attention to yourself. If they're searching for something related to dragons, and they see someone like you…" I hesitated. "They won't let it go."
Astrid smirked and waved a hand. "Relax. If they try anything, I'll just beat them up."
I didn't laugh.
My gaze stayed firm. Concerned. Protective.
"Astrid, I'm serious. But… if you insist on being reckless, then at least let me stay close so I can protect you."
Her breath hitched for a moment.
She straightened up quickly and brushed her hair to the side, cheeks faintly pink even in the dim light.
"Ahem… fine. Just don't say it like that so suddenly." She pretended to clear her throat. "Looks like they're gone. Let's continue."
We ventured further into the dungeon. It was far from empty. The clatter of bones echoed as skeletons assembled themselves from scattered fragments. Draugr crawled from their sarcophagi, their eyes burning with ghostly blue fire.
Perfect targets.
My bound sword tore through the undead, its violet arc illuminating the darkness. Each kill filled my soul gems, the gems vibrating with captured energy.
Astrid fought beside me like a tempest. With her second Shout, the ground trembled, sending enemies stumbling. Her blonde hair whipped behind her, glowing when caught by stray torchlight. Her movements were fluid powerful yet graceful, like a knight from songs told around fires.
More than once, I found myself staring too long.
The way her eyes blazed with determination…
The way she exhaled softly after each battle, chest rising and falling…
The way she'd glance back at me with a small, confident smile, as if asking, "Still watching my back?"
Astrid wasn't just beautiful.
She was a storm wrapped in steel.
And in that dim, dangerous dungeon, surrounded by death and whispers of the Thalmor…
I felt myself drawn to her even more.
The deeper we ventured into Ustengrav, the more the ruin felt alive its corridors breathing cold ancient air, its shadows stretching like silent watchers from another era. Pale-blue braziers flickered weakly, casting eerie light on carved murals depicting ancient dragon priests. Our footsteps echoed in long, hollow notes across the stone floor, swallowed by the cavernous darkness.
Then we entered the puzzle chamber.
A vast hall opened before us, the ceiling so high you could barely see where the shadows ended. In the center, three stone pressure plates lay in a straight line, old runes carved into their surface. Beyond them stood three descending gates iron jaws waiting to snap shut at the slightest hesitation.
I stepped onto the first plate.
CLANK GRRRRK!
The first gate rose slowly, shaking dust loose.
The second plate responded just the same
KRRAAAK!
But when I triggered the third, all three slammed shut almost immediately.
Astrid let out a low whistle. "They really didn't want anyone getting through alone."
"Yeah… unless that someone is fast enough to outrun time."
Astrid smirked. "Or someone who prefers using their lungs instead of their legs."
She stepped onto the plates in order, cracking her neck slightly as her stance widened. The cold glow from the braziers flickered across her face highlighting her focused eyes and the determined curve of her lips.
She inhaled deeply, and her breath misted in the air.
"WULD… NAH… KEST!"
A burst of blue wind exploded beneath her feet. She shot forward in a blur, her cape fluttering like a streak of gold and black. She slipped through each gate just as they dropped, her movements smooth, confident, almost graceful.
When she reached the end, she spun lightly on her heel and grinned triumphantly at me.
"Told you. Easy."
I couldn't help but shake my head, half impressed, half stunned. "…Seriously, how did I end up traveling with a woman who bends physics for fun?"
Astrid laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Maybe the world likes you more than you think."
She said it casually, but her eyes lingered on me for just a moment too long warm, almost tender before she turned away.
I tried to ignore the way my heartbeat suddenly became awkwardly noticeable.
We moved deeper until the air grew warmer. The stone walls here glowed faintly with old magic, as if remembering the hands that carved them. The room we entered was smaller, almost intimate, lit by a single floating orb of pale light hovering above an arcane enchanter.
On a stone pedestal beside it lay several filled soul gems, shimmering with trapped souls like miniature storms, a Fortify Destruction necklace, and a Fortify Health ring.
My eyes widened. "This… this is perfect. Actual good loot."
Astrid leaned against a crumbling pillar, watching me with an amused smile. "Go on, Alex. I know you're dying to touch that."
She wasn't wrong.
The moment my fingers brushed the enchanter's surface, it hummed runes igniting in vibrant violet lines. As I studied the enchantments, knowledge streamed into my mind in a warm pulse.
Enchanting 15 → 18.
Then I lined up my gold rings, one by one. The room glowed each time a ring absorbed power, the air vibrating with growing arcane resonance.
Enchanting 18 → 20 → 25 → 30 → 35 → 40.
Main Level: 22.
When I finally stepped back, breath a little unsteady, Astrid tilted her head, studying my expression.
"When you're focused, you really forget everything around you."
She smiled faintly.
"It's… nice to see."
I blinked in confusion. "Uh… t-thanks?"
She chuckled softly and looked away, a tiny flush on her cheeks betrayed by the braziers' blue light. But Astrid didn't say anything else and I didn't understand what she meant, exactly.
Or maybe I just didn't want to assume anything.
At last we reached the final chamber.
A massive altar stood under a lone shaft of pale light streaming from a crack high above. Dust floated like drifting snow, disturbed only by our steps. The stone cradle where the Horn should have rested was empty.
Only a note remained, pinned down by a dagger.
I read it aloud:
"I need to speak to you, urgently.
Rent the attic room at the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood, and I'll meet you.
Delphine."
Astrid crossed her arms. "So someone really stole it. Looks like Riverwood's our next stop."
I tucked the note away. "Yeah. Whoever she is… she knew we'd come. That's not comforting."
Astrid stepped closer, her voice gentler than usual.
"Then we go together. You're not facing this alone."
Our eyes met.
Something unspoken passed between us warm, subtle, lingering.
I looked away first, pretending to adjust my gear.
Astrid turned too, but I caught the faint smile tugging at her lips.
And so, side by side though neither of us said what we were really thinking we left the ruin and began the journey toward Riverwood.
Together.
Even if we both pretended it meant nothing more… for now.
Status
Main Level 19 → (Likely 22 after sleep)
Enchanting 15 → 40
Destruction 26
– Apprentice Destruction
– Destruction Dual Casting
One-Handed 15 → 23
– Armsman (20% more damage)
if you want to support me and more chapters. please visit:
PA_TR_EO_N.C_OM/FRZ10
just remove all the underscore