A ceiling I don't recognize. How did I end up here?
'Ah, that's right. I passed out fighting that dragon.'
I sat up and looked around. The familiar interior design made it easy to realize where I was.
'The Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun.'
The moonlight visible through the window told me it was already night. I wonder how long I'd been unconscious.
Not far away, I saw the other Choi Ha-neul lying on a patient's cot, just like me.
Judging by the drool and her heavy breathing, she was lost in a deep, sweet sleep—probably dreaming of something nice.
'Well, she did get pretty banged up.'
Even if her body was reinforced by the Dragonborn bloodline, she was still human.
Speaking of injuries, I noticed the sharp pain that had riddled my body was completely gone. In fact, I felt lighter than usual.
'The restoration spells from these priests... the effect is the real deal.'
From the look of things, we had been brought straight to the temple, so no one had reported to Jarl Balgruuf yet. Since I was already here, I might as well get some more sleep.
The next morning, I woke up feeling more refreshed than ever.
"Ugh, I really slept like a log."
"Adventurer, you're finally awake."
The priestess who had treated me during the dragon fight approached with a gentle smile.
Thinking back, we never could have won without her healing.
Of course, it wasn't just her. It was also thanks to Irileth and the guards who whittled down the dragon's health and shredded its wings.
"Thank you truly for your help back then."
"Ho ho, it was nothing."
Since I had to see the Jarl anyway, I thanked the priestess and went over to wake up Ha-neul.
"Hey. Get up. It's broad daylight already."
"Mmph... five more minutes..."
—Flick!
I delivered a sharp flick to the forehead of the sleep-mumbling girl.
"Ow! I was having a good dream!"
"You've slept plenty. Let's go report to the Jarl."
"Okay..."
Before leaving, I intended to pay my debts.
"Priestess, I would like to pay for the treatment."
"You fought hard to protect the city. There is no need for gold."
"Then at least let me make a donation."
"If you insist. May the grace of Kynareth be with you."
In this world, temples were places where people came to pray or study theology, much like cathedrals or churches back home.
While most people visited for healing, the priests often treated the poor for free. I hoped my small amount of gold would help their efforts.
After saying our goodbyes to the priests at the Temple of Kynareth, we finally headed toward Dragonsreach.
I was already looking forward to the gifts and rewards the Jarl would offer. In the game, you'd only get some random armor or the Axe of Whiterun, which had mediocre stats and low value.
They were little more than collectibles back then, but this reality differed from the game in the finer details. Surely the rewards would be more generous here.
Entering Dragonsreach with high hopes, I spotted Balgruuf conversing with Proventus Avenicci, his steward.
As soon as he saw us, he offered an enthusiastic welcome.
"Ah! The heroes of Whiterun have returned right on time."
"You flatter us. The true heroes are the soldiers who fell in battle against the dragon."
I spoke with deliberate formality, giving credit to the guards.
"Not only brave, but humble as well. Though I did not witness your deeds with my own eyes, Irileth gave me a vivid account of what transpired."
Come to think of it, only me, Ha-neul, and a few guards were at the temple. It seemed Irileth had received basic treatment and went straight to report.
Irileth, who was standing beside Balgruuf with her arms crossed, spoke up.
"That Nord's outstanding tactics allowed us to ground the dragon, and the Elf beside him dealt the final blow to finish the beast."
"No matter how many times I hear it, it is hard to believe. This event will become a grand saga of Whiterun, passed down through generations."
"Hehe, it was nothing..."
Ha-neul was clearly enjoying the praise, but I cut her off to make an important request.
"Jarl Balgruuf. Actually, there is something I must discuss with you regarding that."
"Hmm? Speak."
I stepped closer to Balgruuf and Irileth, ensuring I wasn't overheard by others.
"The companion standing beside me is a Dragonborn."
"What?!"
Judging by Balgruuf's sheer shock, it seemed Irileth and the guards had kept their promise to remain silent.
"Didn't you ask me to keep it a secret?" Irileth asked.
"I did, but I thought it was only right for the Jarl to know."
My reason for the secrecy was simple. The moment word spread that she was the Dragonborn, we would become targets.
In the game, NPCs didn't treat you much differently after learning your status.
Sure, some NPCs might say it's an honor to meet you, or Miraak's cultists might come looking for you.
But those were minor scripted events that didn't feel realistic. In this world, letting that information slip could introduce variables I couldn't predict.
'Evil forces looking to steal the protagonist's power, or Alduin himself coming to eliminate the threat... who knows what would happen.'
It was unfortunate, but keeping it quiet was the right move.
"Therefore, officially, please credit the guards and Irileth for slaying the dragon."
And naturally, the fact that Ha-neul is Dragonborn remains a secret too.
"I see... A pity, but if that is your request, I shall grant it. Oh, and you there, Elf."
"Yes?"
"I heard you were the one who landed the final blow on the dragon. And a Dragonborn to boot. Because of this, I wish to grant you the highest rank within my power. As of today, I name you a Thane of Whiterun."
Balgruuf snapped his fingers. Servants approached from a distance, carrying weapons and armor on plush cushions.
"It is a small token, but please accept it. And since these items alone are insufficient to honor your achievement, I shall grant you a special reward of 3,000 Septims."
'Woah!'
My hunch was right. Whether for buying equipment or recruiting allies, gold was essential. This was a very satisfying reward.
"Wow! But a Thane? What's that?"
"An honorary title given to those who have earned my trust. You may consider yourself near-nobility."
"Whoa! Then... do I have to stay here forever?"
"Haha, not necessarily. But should a disaster like yesterday's strike again, I expect you to defend Whiterun."
"Then I'll do it gladly!"
"There is one more thing. I am assigning Lydia, formerly one of my personal guards, to be your Housecarl."
I never thought I'd see Lydia here. She was a famous companion known by almost every player in the early days of Skyrim.
'I used to take her along all the time when I first started playing.'
Of course, after discovering the world of mods, she became an unfortunate companion whose presence eventually faded to zero.
But that was game logic. In this reality, a formally trained warrior like her would definitely be a huge asset.
—Clank, clank.
Someone descended the stairs leading from the council room. Each step echoed with the heavy rattle of metal, indicating they were clad in heavy armor.
When she finally reached the bottom, Lydia placed a fist over her chest and spoke.
"It is an honor to meet you. I am Lydia, your Housecarl."
"Oh... hello."
Ha-neul was a bit shy, as it was their first meeting.
"From this day forth, I shall be your sword and your shield."
"Please take care of us," I added awkwardly. I was used to her in the game, but seeing her in the flesh felt surreal.
"Of course. If you do not wish for me to travel with you, I shall remain here in Dragonsreach until summoned."
Ha-neul suddenly marched over to me and whispered in my ear.
"What do you think?"
"What do I think of what?"
"Taking her as a companion."
Actually, after the dragon hunt, I'd realized how difficult it was for just the two of us to adventure together. We needed more numbers.
What we really needed were mages and healers. Since Ha-neul could at least use basic Destruction magic, that wasn't an immediate crisis.
But a healer was a different story. We were going to get hurt countless times on this journey, making a healer a top priority.
Someone who could use other utility spells would be even better.
While Lydia's role was technically a tank, she was a properly trained warrior. She'd be a big help.
After a quick discussion with Ha-neul, Lydia officially joined our party.
"We look forward to working with you!"
"The honor is mine."
Balgruuf wanted to host us for lunch, so we stayed to eat at Dragonsreach.
"This table is freaking huge!"
"Watch your language. Where's your sense of decorum?"
"Heehee. But look at this food! It's incredible."
I had to agree. During my miserable life as a courier, I couldn't even dream of expensive meals.
The table was laden with apple pies, hearty meat stews, luscious fruits, and all sorts of high-end delicacies. Expensive booze was just a bonus.
However, since we were in the presence of the Jarl, I ate slowly and politely. Ha-neul, on the other hand, was apparently starving and began stuffing her face.
Man, it's been a while since I had a meal that actually felt like food. Lydia, notably, was eating as gracefully as I was.
After finishing the meal, we left Dragonsreach with Balgruuf seeing us off.
"So, what should we do now?"
Ha-neul spoke while walking with her hands clasped behind her head.
"Before that, didn't you hear a strange sound earlier?"
"Ah, now that you mention it... when I was carrying you to the temple, I heard this weird voice ringing inside my head."
"I thought so."
"Why? What is it?"
Ha-neul had proven she could be trusted. It was time for me to start revealing who I really was.
"Gah! Urgh!"
Bersi Honey-Hand, the owner of Riften's general goods store, was being pummeled by a woman who claimed to have been sent by the Thieves Guild.
She hadn't hit him for no reason, of course. This was about him failing to repay the debt he owed the guild on time.
Bersi had looked at her thin frame and thought he could take her in a fight. He had been dead wrong.
"Need a few more hits?"
"No... I'll pay. I'll pay it all back."
Bersi sobbed, speaking through gaps where teeth had once been before her fist connected with his face.
"Good. Don't forget. Pay up."
"Y-Yes..."
The moment she walked out, Bersi slammed his fist onto his desk.
"Damn it! Who the hell was that woman?"
He regretted treating the Thieves Guild so lightly just because their reputation had declined, but more than that, he wondered why such a woman would even join a dying guild in the first place.
But what could a powerless merchant do?
Busy cleaning up the fragments of a vase the woman had smashed, he had no way of knowing that a massive incident was about to rock Riften very soon.