Chapter 57: The Snow Prince Rises Part 5

"So sir, I have a question that might be personal and insensitive of me to ask." Merril nervously asked as she rubbed her arm.

"Feel free to ask away. And please, you can just call me by my name. No need to feel nervous."

"Uh, okay. What I wanted to ask was how are you still alive? I mean…it's been more than four thousand years that you've…been in this cave…alone…"

"Hmm, I must admit being among the last of my kind, and with the kinship between both myself and my brother having not been as it once was had been…lonely indeed. But I lived this long not because of my race's lifespan, but because Auri-El has extended it through my faith to him. I have maintained my duty all this time, as that came first above all."

Merril and Gelebor continued to talk for the next hour while Sivreth had been contemplating many things in his mind.

Eventually, Sivreth had dealt with his psychological issues, and made his way over to the group.

"Gelebor, I need to reach the Inner Sanctum and confront Vyrthur."

…

…

"Ri-"

"Sivreth…call me that. I had made peace with the fact I had been reborn into this world for a long time now. And I would like to forget my old name. It has no purpose here."

"As you wish. Sivreth, what you are asking…it's unnecessary. Even if you want Auri-El's Bow, Vyrthur is way beyond your current abilities."

"Please, I have to. I have a plan Gelebor. I can bring back the Falmer, everyone, as they were uncorrupted just like us." My words echoed throughout the cave, making Gelebor ponder upon my words.

"Given that you are from another world, you have the knowledge and insight to make what you claim into reality, so I won't doubt it's possibility. But how would this be done? You wouldn't have told me this now if nothing else was required?"

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"The Life of a Healthy Pure Falmer, to Return their bodies to their original Pure Falmer forms and grant said sacrificed Pure Falmer to the corrupted ones to give them the knowledge,experience and memories of thee individual to the others. Vyrthur isn't a Pure Falmer anymore, he had been tainted and became a Vampire. Faireth and myself are half Falmer while we share some of Auri-El's blood, while I am a half Nord. So in order to fulfil the last requirement needed…"

"Would be through my sacrifice."

…

Everyone remained silent after that until it was time to have dinner.

I had taken out the best homemade food I knew, homemade being that it was food from my past life.

Considering that this could be Gelebor's final meal it was the least I can do to give him something delicious, other than the scraps he had lived on for thousands of years in this cave.

"Sivreth…I would gladly accept this responsibility to offer my life if it meant restoring the Falmer, but you must understand from my perspective. Leaving the wayshrines unguarded would be violating my sacred duty as a Knight-Paladin of Auriel. And I have no idea what would happen afterwards, neither do you. Would it succeed or not?"

"I understand, which is why I need to confront Vyrthur. I will reason with him to come to his senses, and once done, he will take the responsibility to guarding the Wayshrines should the worst come to pass, which I am confident it won't."

Gelebor looked into my eyes, but all he saw was my resolve.

"Alright then…"

The four of us had our dinner in silence, and not long after we had our rest as we all slept.

When the morning came, we had breakfast before we continued with topic we ended yesterday.

Gelebor led us over to the Wayshrine, to which he cast a spell that caused the top of it to light up, and the sealed Wayshrine in the ground began to rise up from out of the ground.

"This structure is known as a wayshrine. They were used for meditation and for transport when the Chantry was a place of enlightenment. Prelates of these shrines were charged with teaching the mantras of Auri-El to our Initiates. The only way to get to my brother is by following in the Initiates' footsteps and traveling from wayshrine to wayshrine just as they did. The first lay at the end of Darkfall Passage, a cavern that represents the absence of enlightenment. Once the Initiate's enlightenment was complete, he'd bring the ceremonial ewer, which they'd have used to collect the waters from each Wayshrine, to the Chantry's Inner Sanctum. Pouring the contents of the ewer into the sacred basin of the Sanctum would allow him to enter for an audience with the Arch-Curate himself."

"How many more wayshrines are there?" Merril asked from the side.

"There are five in total, spread far apart across the Chantry. But before I send you on your way, you'll need the Initiate's Ewer." He said to which he retrieved and handed to me the Initiate's Ewer.

"So we need to fill this at each wayshrine? The Alter girl continued her questioning.

"Yes once you've located a wayshrine, there will be a spectral Prelate tending to it. They will allow you to draw the waters from the shrine's basin as if you've been enlightened. This may be the last time we're able to converse. If you have any questions before you leave, I suggest you ask them. Otherwise, all I can do now is grant you all my hopes for a safe journey." Gelebor said as he answered her, turning from her to me as he spoke.

"Well make it to Vyrthur. However…"

"You don't have to say anything more."

"…alright then. We'll be off then, farewell…for now."

I said, to which myself, Merril and Rael all passed through the Portal into Darkfall Passage.