Chapter 34 Echoes on the Alduin Wall
Inside Sky Haven Temple, the air felt cold and hollow, as if even the wind was whispering through the ancient corridors searching for the voices that once filled them. A faint echo lingered in every corner, like the ghosts of Blades long gone. The chamber ahead was swallowed in darkness vast, silent, untouched. Not a single hint of life flickered inside.
We each lifted our torches, and the moment the flames caught, warm golden light spilled across the stone walls. Shadows stretched and curled like living things. Dust drifted lazily in the air, dancing above the cracked floor as if time itself had been disturbed by our arrival.
Esbern stepped forward with trembling hands. His torchlight illuminated his wrinkled face eyes wide, lips parted in silent awe. Slowly, almost ceremonially, he climbed the stairs and lit every torch along the wall, one by one.
With each torch that sparked to life, his shoulders straightened, his breath deepened.
It wasn't just excitement.
It was reverence.
A quiet, sacred devotion to the ancestors he had spent his entire life studying.
He moved like a man stepping into a dream he never dared to believe would come true.
Esbern had read about this temple countless times poured over its mentions in dusty, fragile tomes, memorized every myth and scribbled note he could find. But he had never once imagined he would set foot here.
Years spent hiding in Riften, isolating himself, drowning in Blades history and the prophecy of Alduin.
All of it had led to this moment.
Behind him, Delphine walked slowly, her fingers grazing the stone walls. Her brows were knit, her mouth slightly open not in fear, but in a deep, aching nostalgia for a heritage she had never truly known. Torchlight flickered across her face, revealing a mixture of pride, excitement, and a sorrow she tried to hide.
For both of them Delphine and Esbern this temple was more than an ancient ruin.
It was a miracle.
A message from the past.
A living piece of the legacy the Thalmor tried to erase.
They had grown up in a generation where the Blades were hunted, scattered, forced to break their own identities just to survive. The stories of their parents had been all they had left fragments and whispers of greatness that felt like myths.
But now, seeing these ancient halls with their own eyes…
It was like reclaiming a piece of their soul.
Esbern turned toward me, and even in the dim torchlight, his eyes shone with a childlike brightness I had never seen before. His lips curled into a trembling smile, breath quickening as if the emotion inside him was too much to contain.
"Isn't this remarkable?" he whispered his voice thick, almost cracking.
I nodded, but even that felt insufficient.
The weight of the temple the history, the cold stone, the silent air filled with memories pressed gently against my chest.
We continued climbing, our footsteps echoing through the vast, hollow chamber. The deeper we went, the more the silence thickened a heavy, ancient stillness that felt almost alive. The torches we carried flickered wildly as a cold draft rolled down from the higher floors, brushing against our skins like invisible fingers.
When we reached the main hall, the space opened up before us like the heart of a forgotten kingdom.
A massive stone table dominated the center of the room, carved from a single slab of rock. Cracks ran across its surface, and a thin layer of dust coated every inch, undisturbed for centuries. Around it stood wooden chairs once sturdy, now nothing more than brittle skeletons. Their legs were warped, edges splintered, and some had collapsed entirely under the weight of time.
The air smelled of age dry stone, old ash, and the faint scent of moss creeping into forgotten corners. Our torchlight cast long shadows across the walls, revealing faded banners and carvings dulled by centuries of neglect.
This place had been abandoned long before any of us were born.
Perhaps the Blades of old knew this temple existed.
Perhaps their elders whispered stories about a sacred sanctuary built to honor their greatest knowledge.
But none of them could ever enter.
Because the entrance demanded the blood of a Dragonborn.
Astrid stood near the table, her expression quietly shifting as the weight of that truth settled over her. The orange glow of her torch illuminated her face eyes slightly widened, a small breath escaping her lips. She wasn't boasting, nor did she look proud.
If anything, she looked humbled.
Burdened.
Chosen by fate in a way she never asked for.
Ahead of the stone table rose a raised podium, its base cracked but still imposing. Stone steps curled upward on both sides, leading to platforms that overlooked the hall. But what drew our eyes what pulled Esbern toward it like a moth to flame was the wall at the center.
A monumental carving stretching nearly from floor to ceiling.
The Alduin Wall.
Even in the dim light, its details were breathtaking. Ancient reliefs, meticulously chiseled into stone, depicted battles between dragons and mortals, symbols of power, and scenes from forgotten eras. The central figure Alduin himself towered amid the carvings, wings spread wide, eyes carved in a way that made them seem to glare straight at us.
Surrounding him were runes and glyphs spiraling outward, like the unfolding of history.
A prophecy written not with ink, but with centuries of craftsmanship and devotion.
A prophecy foretelling the fall of Alduin.
A prophecy foretelling the rise of the Dragonborn.
Beside me, Astrid tightened her grip on her torch. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, her blue eyes reflecting the carvings like a mirror of fate. A gentle tremor ran through her fingers not from fear, but from the sheer gravity of this moment.
She was looking at the story of a destiny that belonged to her.
I stepped closer to her, watching her shoulders rise and fall with slow, steady breaths. She was trying to stay composed but the flicker of awe, fear, and quiet determination in her gestures was unmistakable.
And there, in the silent hall of the ancients, beneath the watchful eyes of carved dragons and forgotten heroes…
Astrid stood face to face with the prophecy that had shaped her fate long before she was born.
Esbern approached the wall with a kind of feverish excitement, his steps quick and uneven, almost tripping over themselves as he hurried forward. His torchlight trembled in his grip, casting frantic shadows as if even the flame shared his eagerness.
"Ah here it is… the Alduin Wall!"
His voice cracked with awe, echoing through the stone hall.
He pressed both hands against the cold surface, leaning in so close that his nose nearly touched the ancient carvings. His eyes darted across each etched line with the hunger of a man who had spent his entire life searching for this exact moment. His breath grew shallow, fogging faintly in the torchlight.
"Give me a moment…" he whispered, barely aware of our presence.
Seconds stretched into minutes as he traced the carvings with trembling fingers like a priest reading holy scripture. His eyebrows furrowed, lips moving silently as he translated symbols older than empires.
Finally, he murmured under his breath, voice filled with reverence and dread,
"Alduin… the World-Eater. He is a living catastrophe "
Before he could finish, Delphine threw up her hands and groaned loudly.
"Esbern, please get to the point. How do we kill Alduin?"
The sharpness of her voice snapped Esbern out of his scholarly trance. He jerked slightly, blinking as though someone had torn him from a dream. His shoulders stiffened, and his mouth pulled into an embarrassed line.
"Ah my apologies, yes, yes… let's see how he may be defeated."
He shuffled to the right side of the mural, lifting his torch higher. The firelight washed over a series of carvings depicting a dragon spiraling downward, wings twisted, runes swirling around it like a command.
Esbern's eyes widened.
His voice rose with excitement:
"Yes… here! Alduin brought down by by the Dragon Languages! A Shout… a Shout uttered by the Dragonborn! A forceful command that knocks him from the sky!"
He stepped back and stroked his thin white beard, deep in thought. His fingers brushed across his jaw in slow, thoughtful circles.
"Hm… so there exists a Thu'um capable of overpowering Alduin himself. A Shout of immense power… If only I knew more about these Shouts."
A soft sigh escaped him.
"Sadly, they are not my area of expertise."
The moment Delphine heard the word "Shout," her expression shifted instantly. Her jaw tightened. Her nostrils flared. A shadow crossed her face like a storm cloud.
"Oh, for the love of don't tell me."
She rubbed her temples in frustration.
"Of course it has to be them. The Greybeards. I swear, I hate dealing with those monks."
Alex didn't even need her to explain.
He understood the bitterness in her tone the resentment simmering beneath her words.
The Greybeards, with their immense mastery over the Thu'um, stood neutral in every conflict.
They did not aid the Empire.
They did not aid the Nords.
And when the Blades were hunted, slaughtered, scattered…
The Greybeards did nothing.
Astrid had heard these stories before
Her eyes flicked briefly toward Delphine, then toward the mural, as if trying to balance both sides of the truth.
In the heavy silence, the flames crackled softly, and the carved stone of Alduin seemed to watch them all with lifeless, ancient judgment.
Delphine exhaled sharply, gathering herself before turning toward Astrid. Her voice softened still stern, but with a hint of trust beneath the surface.
"Astrid," she said, placing a hand on her shoulder,
"I'm entrusting this mission to you. And Alex will go with you. I'm sure you two can find the answers we need."
Astrid tensed slightly at the touch, then nodded. But as soon as Delphine said "you two," her eyes flickered toward me. Her posture stiffened, her cheeks turning noticeably pink beneath the glow of the torches. She quickly looked away, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear to hide how flustered she was.
I raised an eyebrow, confused.
"Astrid? You okay?"
She nodded too quickly.
"Y-Yeah. Of course."
But her fidgeting fingers and the red creeping across her cheeks said otherwise.
Inside her mind, a single memory played on repeat:
"When all of this is over, the two of us will do it together."
That one sentence spoken casually by me at the time now echoed so loudly inside her heart it made her blush just thinking about it. Her stomach fluttered, her palms felt warm, and she kept stealing quick glances at me before immediately looking away again.
I had no idea why she suddenly looked like a frightened rabbit.
Before leaving, I called out to Delphine and Esbern.
"Would it be alright if we took some Blades equipment for research? Their armory looks… incredible. I want to understand the craftsmanship behind their ancient weapons."
They exchanged a long look a silent conversation only the two of them understood before both nodded.
"You may take some," Delphine said, pointing a finger at me,
"but not everything."
I grinned.
"That's fine. I only have my eyes on one thing."
Dragonbane.
A legendary sword resting somewhere in the armory known to deal powerful shock damage and extra damage to dragons. In the game, its enchantment couldn't be removed…
But in this world?
I wondered if magic obeyed the same rules.
The armory was a treasure trove.
Rows of Blades armor, steel-polished shields, and katanas lined the walls. Their curved blades caught the torchlight like moonlight dancing on water. Everything looked distinctly eastern samurai-like armor plates, elegant sword hilts, layered shoulder guards.
I stepped into the room slowly, feeling like I'd stumbled into another culture entirely.
Why does it look so Japanese?
Was there an otherworlder like me once? Or did the Blades simply draw inspiration from something ancient in Tamrielic history?
Astrid walked in behind me and gasped softly. Her eyes widened in wonder, blue irises shimmering in the firelight.
"Wow… this is my first time seeing armor and weapons shaped like this."
She reached out and gently touched one of the polished breastplates, running her fingertips along the curved metal with fascination.
I chuckled.
"These are about equal to ebony armor. What you're wearing now your Daedric armor is much stronger. Stick with that if you want to stay alive."
Astrid turned to me and smiled shyly.
"Alright. I will."
But before she could admire more, her eyes shot open in shock.
"Oh! Alex!" she blurted out, hands flying to her mouth.
"We forgot Arngeir gave us a mission to return Jurgen Windcaller's horn! What do we do?!"
Her panic was so sudden her shoulders rose defensively, like a startled cat.
I calmly reached into my system inventory and pulled out the horn.
"Relax," I said with a small smile.
"He's a monk. He'll understand. And see? Still perfectly safe."
Astrid let out a long sigh of relief, her shoulders dropping as tension melted away.
Then, without thinking too hard about it, I gently took her hand.
She froze eyes blinking rapidly, breath catching in her throat. Her fingers curled around mine slowly, gingerly, as if afraid she might break the moment.
"Astrid," I said, tugging her hand softly,
"come with me. There's something beautiful I want to show you."
Her face turned red again, but she nodded.
We ascended to the upper floor, passing old training halls and faded murals. Afternoon light spilled through cracked stone windows, painting the walls in warm tones of gold and honey. Dust drifted lazily in the sunbeams, and the soft wind whistled through the gaps with a calm, distant hum.
When we pushed open the terrace door…
The world unfolded before us.
The sky was a brilliant afternoon canvas wide strokes of pale blue brushed with drifting white clouds. Sunlight shimmered across the mountain peaks, scattering soft rays over the forests below. Rivers glinted like silver threads winding through the wilderness. The wind was gentle and cool, carrying the crisp scent of pine and distant snow.
The upper terrace was peaceful.
A curved-roof pavilion stood quietly at the edge, ancient yet graceful.
Open spaces for meditation and training lay bathed in warm daylight.
Astrid stepped beside me, her hair fluttering lightly in the afternoon breeze. Her blue eyes widened in quiet awe, reflecting the bright sky.
"Astrid," I said softly, tightening my hold on her hand,
"I love Skyrim. This place… this sky… it's nothing like where I came from. And I want to save it."
She turned toward me slowly, her eyelashes lowering as her expression softened tender, warm, filled with something deeper than words. She stepped closer until her shoulder brushed mine.
"If that's what you want…" she whispered, her voice barely rising above the wind,
"then let's save it together."
I slipped my hand around her waist, pulling her gently closer. She didn't resist. Her cheeks flushed, and her lips parted slightly as she lifted her gaze to meet mine.
And under the golden glow of the afternoon sun
with the wind singing softly across the ancient terrace
and the mountains glowing in daylight
we kissed.
Her lips were warm gentle at first, then deeper as we leaned into each other.
The moment stretched endlessly soft, breathless, perfect.
A memory we both silently wished
would last forever.
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