Chapter 81 Beyond Daedra and Aedra
Alex and Astrid descended the stone steps of High Hrothgar, leaving the ancient monastery behind them. The cold mountain wind swept across the narrow path, carrying thin snowflakes that shimmered beneath the moonlight. Far below, the lights of Whiterun flickered faintly, like distant stars scattered across the plains.
They walked in silence for a while, their footsteps crunching softly against the frost-covered stone. Astrid kept stealing glances at Alex's back, her brows slowly knitting together. The image of him earlier effortlessly controlling telekinesis without collapsing refused to leave her mind. Before, every time Alex forced his power to lift something massive or tried to halt a dragon mid-flight, his body would betray him. He would stagger, clutch his head, his breathing ragged sometimes only one step away from a catastrophic backlash to his brain.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Astrid broke the silence.
"Alex…" she said softly, her voice carried away slightly by the wind. "I'm curious. Where did you get this new power?" She slowed her pace, forcing him to do the same. "For some reason, being with you always leads to… unexpected surprises."
Alex stopped walking.
"Hm."
He turned his head slowly, eyes scanning left and right. The mountain path was empty no guards, no Greybeards, not even the echo of distant voices. Only the two of them remained, standing beneath a vast sky where the full moon hung bright and unobstructed, bathing everything in pale silver light.
Astrid noticed his caution. She let out a quiet breath and relaxed her shoulders.
"Don't worry," she said, lowering her voice. "It's quiet here. All the leaders have already returned to their residences." She offered a faint, reassuring smile. "We're the last ones to leave."
Alex's gaze lingered on the empty path for a moment longer before finally settling on her. His expression changed no hesitation, no humor only a grave seriousness that made Astrid's chest tighten.
"Maybe…" he said slowly, his voice low and steady, "I can rival the Daedra and the Aedra, Astrid."
Astrid froze.
The cold no longer bothered her. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to tilt. The Daedra and the Aedra beings worshiped, feared, and revered as gods. The very pillars of existence in this world.
She forced out a short, nervous laugh, waving one hand dismissively as if trying to brush away the thought itself.
"Alex," she said, shaking her head lightly, "please. Stop joking."
But Alex didn't smile.
He didn't laugh.
He simply stared at her unblinking, unwavering. His eyes held no trace of mischief, only a calm certainty that sent a chill down her spine. The mountain wind howled between them, filling the silence he refused to break.
Astrid's laughter died in her throat.
Her smile slowly faded, replaced by disbelief and unease. She swallowed and took a small step closer, searching his face for any sign that this was still a joke.
"Wait…" she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're serious?"
Alex answered without a word.
He nodded once.
And in that single, deliberate motion, Astrid felt the weight of his words finally sink in.
Astrid lifted one hand to her mouth, fingers trembling slightly as she stared at Alex. Her eyes widened, reflecting the pale moonlight, disbelief written plainly across her face.
"But… what do you mean you can rival the Daedra and the Aedra?" she asked, her voice unsteady, as if speaking the words themselves felt dangerous.
Instead of answering right away, Alex turned his gaze away from her and looked toward the distant mountains. His expression grew distant, as though he were counting time by memory rather than by days.
"How long was I unconscious?" he asked quietly.
Astrid blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sudden question.
"A week," she replied. "Seven days."
Alex exhaled slowly, a faint cloud of breath escaping into the cold night air.
"When I was unconscious," he began, his tone low and measured, "I met Hermaeus Mora… in a dream." He paused, his brow furrowing. "But it didn't feel like a dream. It was almost indistinguishable from reality."
Astrid stiffened at the name.
"Him again?!" she exclaimed, her hand dropping from her mouth as unease spread across her face. Her shoulders tensed instinctively, as if expecting unseen eyes to be watching them even now.
Alex nodded once.
"Yes. It seems he's been watching both of us for a long time." His eyes narrowed slightly. "He took a particular interest in me more precisely, in my power. The way I can learn spells instantly… and grow stronger at an abnormal pace."
Astrid lowered her gaze, thinking back to every battle, every impossible leap in strength she had witnessed. Slowly, she nodded.
"To be honest," she said, folding her arms beneath her chest, "I've wondered about that too." She looked back at him, her expression sincere. "You were transferred from another world, but you said before that you weren't a mage or anyone special." She hesitated, then added softly, "Sorry. I don't mean to offend you."
Alex let out a small huff of laughter and lightly pinched his own stomach, as if to ease the tension.
"Hey," he said casually, "but I am great at other things."
His eyes drifted deliberately, unmistakably from Astrid's face down to her stomach, lingering just long enough to make his meaning clear.
Astrid's cheeks immediately flushed a faint red.
"H-Hey!" she protested, crossing her arms defensively. "That's a completely different matter altogether."
She shook her head, trying to regain her composure, though a hint of embarrassment still lingered in her expression.
"But still," she continued, her tone turning serious again, "you were just an ordinary person before." Her eyes searched his face. "So why do you have this kind of power?"
The wind swept past them once more, tugging at their cloaks, as the weight of that unanswered question hung quietly between them
Alex slowly lifted his gaze toward the night sky. The stars stretched endlessly above them, cold and distant, as if silently observing everything below. He raised one hand, rubbing the back of his neck, his brows knitting together in quiet uncertainty.
"Hmm…" he murmured. "I don't really know either." His eyes remained fixed on the heavens. "When I died and came to this world, I already had this power without even realizing it." He let out a faint, humorless chuckle. "Maybe it was meant to help me adapt more easily? Or survive?" His hand fell back to his side. "I don't know."
Astrid stopped walking and turned to face him fully. Her posture straightened, and her expression hardened with conviction.
"That can't be a coincidence," she said firmly. "Something or someone must have summoned you and given you that power."
At her words, a subtle chill ran through Alex's body. His shoulders tensed, and he exhaled sharply, as if the thought itself made his skin crawl.
"If that's true…" he said quietly, his voice lower now, "then I can't even imagine how immense their power must be."
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. The mountain wind swept past them again, rustling their cloaks and carrying an unsettling stillness with it.
Astrid was the first to break the silence. She drew in a breath, steadying herself, then returned to the question that had been gnawing at her.
"But Alex," she said, her eyes locking onto his, "what did you mean when you said you could rival the Daedra and the Aedra?"
Alex blinked, then lifted one hand as if something had just clicked in his mind.
"Oh right," he said, his fingers snapping softly in realization. "I almost forgot."
He turned slightly, walking a step ahead before stopping again, his expression darkening.
"When Hermaeus Mora appeared before me," he continued, "he offered a pact." His jaw tightened. "He wanted me to become his dog." The word carried clear disgust. "In return, he promised me his power and unrestricted access to all of his knowledge."
Astrid stared at him, eyes narrowed, studying every subtle shift in his expression.
"You rejected him, right?" she asked, her voice sharp with concern.
"Of course," Alex replied instantly, without the slightest hesitation. "Who would want to deal with him?" He scoffed. "His offer was disgusting."
Astrid let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and nodded.
"Good," she said quietly. "Go on."
Alex's expression grew more somber as he continued.
"When I refused, he became angry," he said. "He was obsessed with my power something even he, the Daedric Prince of Knowledge, couldn't understand." His hands clenched slowly at his sides. "That's why he tried to force me."
He hesitated, his throat tightening as memories resurfaced.
"In that dream… I was restrained by his tentacles." His fingers twitched slightly, as if remembering the sensation. "I couldn't move. I couldn't resist. And he ordered me to drink some disgusting black liquid."
Alex fell silent for a heartbeat.
"But at that moment…" he said, his voice dropping even further, "my power reacted."
He lifted his head and met Astrid's eyes directly, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
"My power extracted that black liquid from Hermaeus Mora himself." His tone was calm, but the implication was terrifying. "I don't know whether I copied his power… or stole it." He paused. "But that was when my ability truly awakened."
His hand slowly curled into a fist.
"Only when I was on the brink," he finished quietly, "completely helpless."
Alex's brows drew together as he slowed his steps. He lifted one hand and rested it against his chin, thumb rubbing thoughtfully along his jaw. His gaze drifted to the ground as if replaying past memories in his head.
"But before that…" he muttered, more to himself than to her, "when I was in critical condition, my power never activated." He frowned deeper. "Why is that…?"
Astrid listened closely, then nodded in agreement.
"That's true," she said, her arms folding loosely as she recalled those moments. "Before, when you were badly injured, there were no sudden recoveries. No strange reactions. Nothing out of the ordinary."
Alex straightened and let out a short breath, waving one hand dismissively as if brushing the thought aside.
"Well," he said with a shrug, forcing a lighter tone, "what matters is that I'm still alive." A crooked grin spread across his face. "And now I've gained a Daedric ability. No downside there I'm immune to hypnosis and any kind of telekinetic overload that messes with the mind or brain! Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed faintly along the mountain path.
Astrid arched an eyebrow, unimpressed but amused. She stepped closer, deliberately invading his personal space until only a breath separated them. Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she tilted her head slightly.
"Even my hypnosis?" she murmured teasingly. "Hmm?"
Alex's laughter faded into a sly smile. His eyes narrowed playfully as he leaned closer in return.
"Oh, darling…" he whispered, voice low and amused, "seems I was mistaken."
A soft chuckle escaped him as he tilted his head, closing the distance
ROOOOAAARRR.
The night shattered.
A deafening dragon's roar tore through the air, rolling down the mountains like thunder. Both of them froze instantly, eyes snapping wide as the sound echoed again and again.
"…Seriously?" Alex muttered under his breath, jaw tightening.
Astrid clicked her tongue in annoyance before quickly stepping back, already scanning the darkness beyond the path. Her playful expression vanished, replaced by sharp focus.
"Ahem," she said, straightening her posture. "Alex, let's find out where that came from. There might be civilians involved."
Alex clenched his fist, irritation burning clearly across his face. He looked in the direction of the roar, eyes flashing with restrained fury.
"Damn lizard…" he growled. "Just you wait. I'll grill you later."
Without another word, they turned and moved swiftly toward the source of the roar moonlight trailing behind them as the calm night gave way to looming danger.
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