Chapter 71
Alex and Astrid set out for High Hrothgar just after dawn, the memory of their night at the Sleeping Giant Inn still lingering in their bodies. The air in Riverwood was crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth. Thin mist clung to the ground as sunlight slowly filtered through the treetops, casting long, pale beams across the dirt road.
As they walked, Alex fell into a familiar rhythm. His steps were steady, his breathing controlled but his focus was elsewhere. A few paces ahead of him, a large stone trembled, then slowly lifted from the ground. It hovered in the air, rotating slightly as if held by invisible hands. Alex's brows were drawn together in concentration, his jaw clenched, a faint vein visible on his temple.
Astrid glanced at him from time to time, no longer surprised by the sight. At first, watching someone casually defy gravity had terrified her. Now, it had become almost… normal. She adjusted the straps of her gear and continued walking, keeping pace with him while keeping an eye on his condition.
The stone rose higher, its shadow stretching across the road. Alex extended one hand forward, fingers trembling slightly as he increased the weight and height. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, sliding down his cheek despite the cold mountain air. His shoulders tensed, and his steps grew heavier.
After a while, his breathing faltered.
"…Hah."
The stone shuddered violently before dropping back to the ground with a dull thud, kicking up dust and small pebbles. Alex staggered, his knees buckling as he instinctively reached out for balance.
Before he could fall, Astrid was already there. She slipped an arm around his back and shoulder, steadying him with practiced ease.
"Enough for now," she said firmly, though her voice was gentle. "You're pushing yourself too hard again."
Alex let out a tired chuckle, his head dropping forward as he leaned against her.
"Just… give me a minute."
Without hesitation, Astrid crouched slightly and hoisted him onto her back. Alex blinked in surprise but didn't resist, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder as she adjusted her grip under his legs.
"You're getting heavy, you know," she teased, though there was no real complaint in her tone.
"Hey… that's because I'm full of magic," Alex muttered, half-laughing, half-groaning.
She carried him along the winding mountain path, her boots crunching softly against gravel and fallen leaves. The forest gradually thinned as the terrain grew steeper, the air colder. The distant sound of wind whistling through cliffs replaced the gentle river murmurs of Riverwood.
After some time, Astrid felt his grip tighten slightly.
"Alright," Alex said quietly, lifting his head. "Put me down. I'm good now."
Astrid set him back on his feet, watching closely as he rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath. His eyes sharpened once more, determination burning behind the fatigue.
Without a word, Alex raised his hand again.
Another stone larger than the last slowly tore itself from the earth. It rose shakily at first, then steadied, floating beside him as they continued walking. Astrid shook her head with a small smile, equal parts exasperated and impressed.
"You're really not going to stop, are you?"
Alex glanced at her, a faint grin forming despite his exhaustion.
"Not until this body gets used to it."
And so the cycle repeated strain, collapse, support, recovery. Step by step, stone by stone, Alex pushed his limits, while Astrid remained by his side, silently matching his determination with her own.
Alteration: 51 → 62
When they finally reached the foot of the mountain leading up to High Hrothgar, the world seemed to open up before them. The stone path narrowed, giving way to steep cliffs dusted with thin layers of snow. Cold wind swept down from above, howling between jagged rocks and carrying with it the distant echo of chanting from somewhere high beyond the clouds. The peak loomed overhead, massive and unforgiving, disappearing into swirling white mist.
Astrid stopped walking and tilted her head back, shielding her eyes with one hand as she stared up at the endless stairway carved into the mountain. Her shoulders sagged slightly.
"Looks like we have to climb again, huh…" she muttered, letting out a long, tired sigh. Her breath turned faintly white in the cold air.
Alex followed her gaze in silence. He flexed his fingers, then looked down at his own hand, watching the faint shimmer of magicka ripple across his palm. A spark of inspiration lit up his eyes.
"What if… I fly you up there?" he said, his tone almost casual, as if suggesting a shortcut through town rather than defying gravity itself.
Astrid snapped her head toward him so fast her braid swayed sharply.
"Are you crazy?!" Her eyes widened. "What if you suddenly lose control?!"
Alex only shrugged, a relaxed smile tugging at his lips.
"Relax. I'm pretty confident in my abilities now."
Before Astrid could argue further, the air around her shifted.
The ground vanished beneath her boots.
"Alex WAH!!!"
She screamed as her body lurched upward, instinctively flailing her arms as the mountain dropped away beneath her. Her heart slammed against her ribs, and icy wind rushed past her ears. Below, Alex stood calmly, one hand raised, his expression focused but oddly serene.
"Hold still!" he called up, trying and failing not to laugh.
Astrid clenched her jaw, gripping the air as if it might somehow hold her. "You absolute idiot !"
Alex carefully guided her higher, though not all the way to High Hrothgar. After reaching a decent height, he slowly lowered her onto one of the stone checkpoints along the climb. Her boots touched solid ground again, and she nearly collapsed to her knees, hands pressing against the cold stone as she caught her breath.
Down below, Alex winced and rubbed his temple as a sharp headache pulsed through his skull. He muttered a quick incantation, soft golden light washing over his head as Fast Healing took effect. The pain dulled, and with a deep breath, he lifted himself off the ground, his body rising smoothly into the air.
"Hahaha this is fun," he said, floating upward, "though my head hurts a little."
Snowflakes brushed against his face as he drifted closer, boots dangling lazily beneath him. He landed beside Astrid with a light step.
Astrid slowly stood, her face dark with fury.
"Alex grrr!"
She punched his shoulder, not holding back.
"If you're going to fly me, at least give me a warning! Don't just do it out of nowhere I nearly had a heart attack!"
Alex staggered half a step and rubbed his shoulder dramatically.
"Ouch hahaha, sorry, sorry!" he said, still grinning. "But hey, it worked, didn't it?"
Astrid opened her mouth to yell again, then hesitated. She turned away from him and looked down the mountain. From this height, the world below seemed distant and small Riverwood nothing more than a memory, the road a thin, winding line through the forest. The wind tugged at her cloak, carrying a strange sense of exhilaration with it.
"…Yeah," she admitted quietly. "I guess it did work."
Alex straightened, eyes gleaming with renewed confidence as he rolled his shoulders and focused his magicka once more.
"So," he said lightly, "ready to do it one more time?"
Astrid inhaled deeply, then squared her stance, feet planted firmly on the stone. She clenched her fists at her sides, bracing herself.
"Okay," she said, forcing a steady tone. "I'm ready."
And once again, Alex lifted her into the air. This time, Astrid didn't scream though her heart still raced as the ground fell away beneath her. Using this risky but efficient method, they soared from checkpoint to checkpoint, cutting through the brutal climb and reaching High Hrothgar far faster than any normal ascent ever could.
As they walked toward the massive doors of High Hrothgar, their laughter echoed faintly through the cold mountain air. The stone beneath their boots was worn smooth by countless pilgrims, and the wind tugged playfully at their cloaks as if sharing in their lingering excitement.
"Hahaha, Astrid, that was fun, wasn't it?" Alex said, turning his head toward her with a wide grin, his shoulders still shaking with laughter.
Astrid laughed along, one hand pressed against her chest as she tried to steady her breathing. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled with leftover adrenaline.
"Yeah, it was," she said between breaths. "My heart was pounding so hard felt like pure adrenaline rushing straight through my body."
Alex bent forward slightly, bracing his hands on his knees as he laughed harder. He wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve, a tear escaping from laughing too much.
"Exactly! That's exactly how it felt! Hahaha."
They pushed open the enormous wooden doors together. The hinges groaned deeply as the doors parted, and warm torchlight spilled out to meet the cold mountain air. Inside, the chanting of the Greybeards faded, replaced by a heavy, reverent silence. The elders turned their attention toward the two of them as they entered.
Arngeir stepped forward, his long robes brushing softly against the stone floor. His gaze settled on Astrid, calm yet probing.
"So," he said slowly, "have you obtained the ancient artifact?"
Alex shifted his stance and reached toward his bag. In one smooth, practiced motion, he pulled the item from his system inventory, carefully masking the movement so it appeared as though it came directly from inside the bag. He held it out between his hands.
The moment it was revealed, Arngeir's eyes widened slightly, and the other Greybeards drew in quiet breaths. Their gazes gleamed with awe.
"Amazing…" Arngeir murmured. "This is a legendary artifact. Even its aura feels different."
He extended his hands hesitantly, stopping just short of touching it.
"May I?"
Alex gave a small nod.
"Of course."
Arngeir accepted it with reverent care, as though holding something fragile and divine. He turned it slowly, studying the ancient markings, his fingers trembling faintly with both excitement and restraint. The sacred presence of the Elder Scroll filled the room.
He began to open it
"Stop."
Alex's voice cut through the silence, sharp and urgent.
"If you open it, you'll go blind," Alex said firmly. "Trust me."
Arngeir froze instantly. His hands stiffened, and he carefully closed it again, swallowing hard. Without a word, he returned the Elder Scroll to Alex, who accepted it and slipped it back into his system inventory using the same discreet method once again ensuring the Greybeards noticed nothing unusual.
Astrid stepped forward then, her posture respectful but confident.
"We want to meet Paarthurnax again," she said. "He told me I need to use the Elder Scroll at the peak of this mountain. But before that, may we rest? We've traveled a long way from Riverwood to get here."
One of the Greybeards nodded, his expression warm and welcoming.
"Of course. Make yourselves at home. When morning comes, you may depart immediately."
Alex blinked, tilting his head slightly in confusion.
"Why wait until tomorrow?" he asked. "We could climb now. With my telekinesis magic, it would be much easier."
Astrid turned toward him, her expression suddenly serious. The playful light from earlier vanished from her eyes.
"Before we go up," she said quietly, "I want to talk to you just the two of us."
Alex stiffened slightly, caught off guard by the shift in her tone. He studied her face, searching for clues.
"Alright…" he said carefully. "Do you want to talk now?"
Astrid shook her head, her braid swaying gently.
"No. Later tonight when we're about to sleep. I want you to be the only one listening," she said softly. "The atmosphere will be better then. It'll be easier for me to say what I want to say."
Alex raised an eyebrow, clearly curious, but after a moment he nodded.
"Alright. If that's what you want."
He then reached into his bag again and pulled out a large piece of goat cheese from his system inventory, holding it up with a lighthearted grin.
"But before sleeping, we should eat first, right?"
Astrid's serious expression eased into a gentle smile.
"Yeah. Of course."
Alex turned and walked ahead toward the area where the Greybeards usually ate, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor. Astrid followed a few steps behind three steps exactly.
As his back faced her, the smile she wore slowly faded. Her gaze lowered, and her fingers tightened slightly at her side.
I hope Alex will accept me as I am, she thought.
I don't want there to be any secrets between us.
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