"I want to bash some people’s heads to a wall, rip off their arms, stick them up their asses, shove my hand down their throats and give them a handshake."

  (That’s too vivid. You can just say you are annoyed.)

  "I am annoyed."

  (Hmm…… you are right, not that helpful. Fine, move along to the brutality part.)

  "I don’t know, man. I just want to drink my sorrows away now. Do you know any good place with fine liquor around the Abyss?"

  (The way out.)

  "Sounds like my kind of place."

  Jon walked out of the ruined temple not caring for anything anymore. The world can bite his ass for all he cares about.

  After the Soul Fragment of Azura told him that his 7th Labour is just beginning, it faded away along with [Azura’s Star] and he was left staring at nothing.

  As he pulled his mind back to positivity relying on his violent desire to get back at Azura. After that, he just broke a few things then walked out of the temple.

  Passing back to the Abyss from the Crack between the Worlds wasn’t something really easy but the Meteoric Glass Crystals helped. Jon found himself back in the cave outside the Rift.

  A lot happened but at least things got resolved for now. Ever since he left the Citadel of Ebonarm to search for clues regarding Zain, Isha’s dead brother, things were escalating at their own pace. Jon wasn’t sure what happened with Zain exactly. Was it the Cult of the Black Worm? Did they kill him to take his corpse and make one of those high-quality Zombies they fancy? Or was it just the curse the traitors cast on him? Was his body in the Ghost World when Jax detonated most of the undead vaults? Maybe it was just a pissed off Daedra or a misanthropic entity claiming souls by curses?

  Jon wasn’t interested anymore in those questions. Following those leads won’t do any good and may harm Isha.

  There is still a 7th Labour he has to take care of and had to wait for some new sign from Azura. Now that he thinks about it, this isn’t unreasonable. The Worm Cult has already made an enemy of him and they are bound to clash. Azura will also be vengeful and will seek to settle the score with Mannimarco.

  Not that crushing his undead locker was enough or anything.

  With things like that, a lot of chaos is bound to happen. Maybe a big event will take place before year 4E 201 comes.

  "My real age should be 42 by now. I am too old for this shit." Jon sighed.

  But first, he needs to return.

  ***

  *Alik’r Desert, Dead Sand region, the secret Ansei Pyramid*

  It has been days since Jon entered the Abyss but the area around the Ansei Pyramid has changed.

  A few camps were stationed around the Pyramid for securing the perimeter and many Warriors and Battlelords stood on watch while the Scholars from the Citadel kept studying the sight.

  "We need to do something. It has been a week since he entered those accursed gates. We can’t just stand by and not follow him." Mirren shouted.

  "If there is anything we can do about it, we would have done it by now." Said Nagla, the Spear Battlelord.

  "That’s not helping. Even Isha came here once she knew Jon has entered that death trap."

  "I am glad that the girl finally budged from her place but there is nothing I can do. The Archaeologists said that the Pyramid needs Starlight Energy to activate the Gates of Wish beneath it. That energy needs some rare Crystal that we don’t have to be installed on the top of the pyramid in a certain hour at night for the Gates to Open."

  "And you are telling me that Krilon managed to activate the pyramid by himself while an organization like the Citadel is unable to?"

  "As embarrassing as it is…… yes." Nagla said what massaging her temples. "We didn’t even know there was a method to cross the Dead Sand, a sacred Pyramid in the heart of this godforsaken place and the Worm Cult making it their base."

  The situation was dire in the face of the Citadel of Ebonarm. To be unable to uncover such facts was a fatal mistake, who knew what would have happened if Jon didn’t wipe out the Work Cult with Illindar or what is on the other side of the Gates of Wish.

  Illindar himself was questioned for two nights straight just to get to the bottom of what Jon discovered.

  It all started with the most ominous name, Sithis, the snake known as Akel. According to Illindar, Jon believes it is the entity that cursed Zain and that’s a very big claim.

  After that, the cultists of Boethiah claimed that Isha was not tricked and she received the reward for her Labour in full.

  Then somehow, Jon received a revelation from Azura that led him to the Dead Sand and he conquered it after building a bone bridge that resembles a large spine going through the desert.

  The Citadel wanted answers and Jon was somehow beyond the most infamous Gates that no one can open.

  "Don’t worry about him, this guy fights like the devil. He will be okay." Illindar said.

  He returned to the Citadel after he parted with Jon and reported the whole thing.

  "Just shut up now. You know you are being punished for not stopping him." Nagla said while glaring at Illindar.

  "Come on. I wouldn’t be able to stop him even if I tried to. He had that Labour thing he had to do."

  The whole matter was getting more complicated by the second and none knew what to do.

  The number one priority of the Citadel right now was to hide the existence of the Ansei Pyramid from the Crowns and the Forebears to not risk giving them one more reason to slit each other’s throats.

  Still, the most important thing they are focusing on right now is to make heads and tails out of this situation. Jon and Illindar are the best leads but as far as the latter could tell, the former was the one who investigated everything thoroughly.

  In the center of this mess, there was an important family member they all had to take care of.

  "Haven’t Isha talked just yet?" Nagla asked.

  "No. She is with Zahra and Miranda beneath the Pyramid." Mirren answered.

  Once she knew that Jon has entered the Dead Sand and found an ancient sacred site while he was investigating the truth behind Zain’s death, she stood up from her place and walked to the Dead Sand. She looked more lively and ate her fill while waiting for Jon to emerge.

  Today marked the seventh day since Jon entered the Gates and was the day he came out.

  It all started when the valley shook as if an earthquake was happening. Everyone around the Pyramid cleared to a safe area only to see the patterns on the pyramid glowing.

  The Archaeologists said that if something like this happens then the Gate beneath the Pyramid has been opened. Those who were related beside the top brass of the Citadel ran towards the Pyramid and went down to the Gate room.

  As everyone gathered, the Gates of Wish opened. Through those gates, people could the different things, some saw darkness while others saw a long narrow bath going endlessly in any direction.

  Yet in a second or two, the scene changed reflecting a person walking out.

  It was indeed none other than him.

  "……"

  Jon wasn’t surprised to see how many people waiting for him outside, however, he expected some fuss rather than dead silence. Thankfully, he managed to collect both Wrath and Jax before he comes out.

  He stood in front of the gates as they closed themselves and looked around.

  "Pretty crazy places you can go to beyond that gate." He said while pointing at the gate behind him.

  Mirren, who just came running, stood in front of Jon and pointed at him.

  "Is that really you?" He asked.

  "Missed me?" Jon wondered.

  "According to the Legend, the Gates of Wish are known to devour whoever goes through them. Some of those who returned were different beings no longer themselves." Nagla said.

  "Oh!" Jon was taken aback, "That would be mostly due to a Time Anomaly or something similar…… or maybe possessed by Avatars of higher beings."

  Jon’s bad habit of making sense of everything got to him. He noticed and put up a merchant smile.

  "So, what do you think I should do?" He asked.

  "Prove your identity." Nagla said.

  Jon noticed the warriors around becoming nervous and grasping their weapons tightly.

  "Seriously? Fine!" Jon said and turned to Mirren.

  A smile widened slowly across Jon’s face. The kind of smile that makes people uncomfortable.

  "Oh no! It is him alright. Don’t say it, you bastard." Mirren freaked out almost immediately.

  "That’s Jon indeed." Miranda didn’t need further verification.

  Even the silent Isha eased up and let out a breather.

  "Come on, Mirren. We have been preparing for this since the day we met." Jon said while making a ring with his left thumb and index and inserting the right index through it.

  "Our gay scene."

  "Shut up!"

  "You two need to get a room." Nagla understood that Jon is himself.

  "Totally." Jon agreed.

  "And why was I even worried. This guy can’t be dealt with even with a Mad Daedric Prince." Mirren flipped the table and left the room.

  "Krilon."

  Not expecting to hear that voice, everyone in the room turned facing Isha.

  Silence became a bit awkward especially with Miranda urging Jon to reply with her eyes.

  "Yes, Isha."

  "Do you still have that spear you lent me? The one made of Ebony Steel?" She asked.

  "I do." Jon said.

  It was a marvelous spear that Wulfur crafted. Jon didn’t use it that much but Isha liked it a bunch.

  "I want to trade it." She said.

  "It is yours." Jon said taking out the Spear and throwing it to her.

  At the same time, she threw another spear to him.

  Jon caught the shaft and froze.

  "Why?"

  "Don’t need it."

  This wasn’t just an ordinary spear she gave him. It was the [Spear of Bitter Mercy].

  "You need it." He said.

  "It is time to let go." She replied.

  "But…… over there, there is this place called the Abyss that led me to a realm where the Worm Cult has made a large Worm Cell. I destroyed it but there should be more Worm Cells out there. I believe your brother’s demise is their doing." Jon desperately tried to convince her.

  "Krilon…… It is time to let go." She replied the same once again.

  Her eyes were filled with emptiness but she was…… she needed a rest.

  It is time to let go.

  Ruining life won’t bring the dead any solace…… neither the living.

  "And?" He asked.

  "I am leaving Hammerfell." She said.

  Jon sighed and looked around. Isha was already wrapping her spear and planning to kick off from where she is.

  Everything about Hammerfell must remind her of her brother now. She no longer wanted the truth but rather wanted to heal.

  Jon has no choice now. After all, wherever she goes, goes his 7th Labour.

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  • P4TRE0N

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