Chapter 299 - Wulfur's Invitation
A/n: I am back! Been a long while… it wasn't easy and I am very tired after the Prosecutor exam I took. I am totally drained but here we go again.
Also, sorry for the past few chapters being short, as most of you could tell, they were mostly fillers. We are back at business from Chapter 300.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Nirnroot smoothie!" (Ysolda)
"Yep. Now open wide." (Jull)
"Get it away from me! Get it away!" (Ysolda)
"Not a chance." (Me)
A new kind of struggle began once again. We needed to see how the Anuic Energy can be consumed safely using potions and we made a lot of mixes and potions. The best thing we got so far is that smoothie. Jull created it from Nirnroot and other herbs that can detoxify the poisonous effects of the Nirnroot but let's just say it, it is impossible to consume that thing.
That's why we needed a guinea pig to confirm the effects of that torture. The one I could think of is Ysolda. She begged me many times to end her suffering in the Third Boot Camp and here is her chance, confirm the effects of the new potions we are making.
Her first impression was like, "If the taste alone can kill, it should be like that", yet she survived somehow.
"What do you think of the results?" Jull asked me.
"There is indeed a big surge of energy in her Energy Channels. She still needs to trap it and in her Energy Center if she wants to benefit from it."
"I don't think she can."
"Why?"
"Look, she passed out."
"... Oh! The taste seems to be a real problem after all."
"Don't worry about it, I can add the honey taste to it later." Jull said.
"YOU COULD DO THAT FROM THE START?" Ysolda seemed to have come back to life.
"Oh, good that you are back, now trap that energy in your body the way we taught you and get ready for the next sample."
"... HELP!"
***
Three days have passed since the experiments on Ysolda and she was now given a new house in Winterhold and was admitted in a management class. Alina came back from the Moonblade Clan just yesterday at night and we told her about the Nirnroot.
"The Nirnroot itself is a really interesting herb, it can grow in any temperature but must have a lot of water near it even if it is sea water. Nothing changes its characteristics but it was once a different plant altogether. Back in the First Era, an even known as [Sun's Death] blocked the sunlight to reach many parts on the continent because of the fumes of the Red Mountains when an eruption happened, this alone could endanger many living species on the long run but the Nirnroot back then relied on Sunlight too much. On the verge of extension, the Nirnroot developed a unique trait to consume the energy of the volcanic ash, which has confirmed healing effects, and absorbed some sort of energy that can extend its life with it. My guess is that the energy was the Padomic Energy from the Red Mountain which contains the [Heart of Lorkhan], the godly artifact that is powered by the very same energy. My educated guess is… the plant adapted by cultivating itself to the Padomic Energy to build up its Anuic Energy of origin that can resist the Padomic pollution."
"You know I get turned on when you switch to nerd mode."
"... I am seriously at a loss of words right now. Did you understand anything I just said?" I was truly baffled.
"Anuic, padomic, energies, Nirnroot, something to do with the first era and we haven't seen each other for two weeks."
"... Okay. Let's go somewhere."
***
Life went on in Winterhold for the next couple of days but the Dares were packing for another trip. This time to the Hjaalmarch.
Not a far away hold, Hjaalmarch's capital is Morthal, a town of gloom and shade out of a depressed storybook. Jon's reason to travel there was a mysterious to his companions but they normally would go where he points, no questions asked. Also, a new member joined the team this time and that was Aela. Not really a sociable person, Aela was kept company by Alina who was the lady of socialization and the head of the public relations department too.
On the other hand, Jon and Wulfur were busy with their thing.
"Are you sure about that invitation thing?" Jon asked.
"Yeah, many blacksmiths from across Tamriel gather in Orsinium every few years to compete and share skills and techniques, if I am invited then I should go. Eorlund Grey-Mane was invited there once and they say that he bested many Orcish forgemasters in their game."
"Well, if you say so."
"Come on, brother. You need to come with me. You can make trades and those things you are good at." Wulfur said.
"I know but I don't think I can. If that tournament is three months from now then I should be in Solitude to attend the Jarl Assembly and I can't make trades with Orsinium anyway. To go there, one must go through Jerral Mountains south to Markarth and the Reach, which means we must pass through the [Silver-Blood] Clan territory who hate my guts, the [Forsworn] who hate all Nords, the mountain tribes of the [Centaurs] and the [Minotaurs] who are unfriendly by nature and God knows what else. The risk is too high that is why I don't want you to go." Jon said.
"Don't worry, I will take some men and travel fast and light." Wulfur assured Jon.
***
The Dare Dragon Caravan continued the road to Morthal and reached on the 1st of Frostfall (October). Alina and Jon met with Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone that Jon liked a lot, an extensive talk about trade, war and magic took place that day before Jarl Idgrod invited Jon and Alina to stay at the guest house.
At that night, Jon told Alina and the rest that he is leaving to do some business at a Daedric Shrine nearby and left the town right away.
With him, he carried the fragments of [Mehrunes' Razor] and headed to the east for the [Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon].
Jon Dare and Mehrunes Dagon, the Young Dragonborn and the Devil himself are going to have a showdown of their own.
~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE: This is the End of the fifth volume [The Adventures of the Young Dragonborn]... the next volume was supposed to be [The Gamestart] volume but I am changing it to [The Daedric Labours].