III
I awoke to the cries of my fellows by noon of the next day. Lili's voice was the first I heard. Then followed Horace and Ravaia, Azarain joining in shortly after. "Yagir!" I could hear them holler. "Yagir! Where are you?!" Horace's voice echoed across the open landscape. At first I was under the impression of being in a dream world. As I opened my eyes, a most staggering sight revealed itself to me. It appeared as though I was suddenly teleported into a crystal cave!
Everywhere around me sprouted prismatic appendages from the walls and floor in different colours, seemingly transforming and taking over the room I laid myself to rest in earlier. So much so that even my coarsely sewn-together bedroll started morphing into a solid mat at its edges and corners, with little shards of the colourful growth everywhere. I quickly rose up to my feet, surveying my surroundings. Where there had been a blank and mossy brick wall before, to my left there now stood a sparkling mural of white, blue, red, green, yellow, teal and purple beauty with little spiky, sharp looking gems protruding from it. Gazing to my right I espied a mosaic of stained glass coffins emitting a gay shine in their beauteousness. The floor to my feet, not completely overrun by whatever versicolor coating all this was, twinkled enjoyably, casting lovely shadows at the remains of the partly broken ceiling.
As if in a trance I marvelled at this pulchritudinous display of otherworldly elegancy. I noticed not how close my boots were to the foreign substance but I was swiftly flung into present reality once more by Lili's voice yelling behind me: "Yagir! By the Nine! Are you okay? And what is all this?". I turned around and looked up, seeing the party of four blocking the sun's rays providing me with shadow so I didn't have to squint. All of them stood there in absolute awe at the look of the vitreous caverns I was situated in. And by extension, at the opalescent, gargantuan jewel that had also started giving off various colours as opposed to the night it so brutally crash landed. I responded to my friends, enunciating what had transpired the night before. How a surreal force presented itself to control the adjacent flora and fauna. How the wisps danced. And how the thing from above struck the area after which a pillar of extraneous radiance shot up. And, of course, I told them of my first observations I had made, iterating how I myself was surprised as to the interesting developments that had unfolded over night. Recalling whence I climbed in from, I rapidly ascended the debris-filled cave in whereby I knocked over some protrusions in the fractals of the stony brick floor.
Being above ground again I proceeded to greet my peers with a solid handshake. Lili then started speaking of how the four of them observed an almost indescribable light they spotted from the lodge in Leyawiin and their worries about my well being. They knew the ruins lay in this general direction. Albeit I got thrown around by the blastwave the impact created, I told them, I was fine nonetheless.
After this little chit-chat and Ravaia chastising me on having traveled alone yet again, I gave them my notes I had made that night. Lili, Horace and Azarain studied the pages avidly before proclaiming it's high time we set up camp for our base of operations. As it presently was, we would have much more to do than we previously expected.
We proceeded to build up the different tents my friends brought. First, we set up the big tent in which we'd examine and study specimens taken from the ruins. While Horace and I built this one under Lili's guidance, Azarain and Ravaia started constructing the four smaller tents. Three of them would be used for sleeping in. One for me, one for Horace and Azarain and one for Ravaia and Lilisephona. The last tent would be used as a crude infirmary in case someone contracts disease or injury. You can never be too sure when dungeon delving so it always helps to have some medicinal herbs and some basic alchemical equipment along with a spare cot at hand. Our group also rented some horses to aid in the transport of our wares. After we were done building our shelter, we unloaded our supplies from the six horses my friends brought along. Let me reiterate: you can never be too sure.
Furthermore, our 'better-safe-than-sorry' kind of attitude has saved us in the past. I remember a venture from way back into some cave that was supposed to contain some antediluvian relic of sorts. At one point, the pathways fell to ruin preventing passage in or out those vaults. But Horace was careful enough to carry a pair of pickaxes with him. At the start of our journey we mocked him for that but considered it a boon when we actually needed to dig ourselves out of the solid earth. Needless to say we failed in retrieving said relic but at least we all survived.
Ever since, we always keep a list with us containing notes on crucial supplies. And what can I say? The pickaxes are listed, too. We carried the copious amounts of provisions, tools and collapsible furnishings, mostly stools and two small tables, off the horses and placed it all in our linen-roofed safe holds. When everything was done and all items put into place we took our horses in an effort to tie them to a pole we hammered into the ground by the camp. We cleverly placed our camp near the now colourfully illuminated cave-mouth, so naturally, the steeds and mares had to be brought near it as well.
However, when we approached the site, the horses started going crazy. They jumped and tore at the ropes we used to hold them with, neighing ferociously in denial at the hole's precipice. One kicked Azarain in the chest with its hind legs before disbanding from the herd, driving him into the mud. The others we could keep under control no longer, so we let go of the leashes to avoid getting hurt like poor Azarain had. The animals fled at once, disappearing into the distance in the warm midday sun. We were collectively baffled by such fright when it dawned on us that curiously, the whole area appeared to be vacant of fauna. We did not really have the time to ponder on this quite astounding fact too deeply since we were busy taking care of Azarain as we hurled restoration spells at him from the distance. He swiftly got up again and after thanking us, sported an inquisitive look on his face asking the question we've all been thinking. "What the hell was that?".
In utter bafflement we surveyed the area and indeed, not a living thing could be seen or heard. No wolves or hares, no falcons or even insects. Even the plants seemed to bend away from the crater. I took to explaining this odd detail away by the shockwave that happened, but weird it was regardless. "Gone are the horses. Great." remarked Horace in disappointment.
Reassuringly, Lili told him with a sharp tongue that, should come our investigations with more peril and destruction, we wouldn't have to carry all these materials back anyway. Horace shot her a mocking look and went back to his tent, puffing his cheeks. We all did the same to retrieve food, firewood and some stones to prepare a campfire at which we would eat.
While our group waited on evening to come upon us, we all met inside the big tent to discuss our next steps. We've been working together for years so the operation didn't take much planning. Azarain proposed we'd fashion a rope ladder first to then safely descend into the gay lit cavern, collecting samples for further studies. Horace munched a piece of bread in agreement, adding that the pickaxes should come in handy. In response, Lilisephona remarked it'd be best we wear protective gloves since the crystalline substance had some sharp tips and edges and we wouldn't want to put the infirmary to use too soon. All nodded and were content with the plan thus far.
I then spoke up and proclaimed that, while the other two were digging, I'd investigate deeper into the haunting ruins for any clues that might help us understand what's going on. Lili gave me her okay in this respect and suggested she'd stay in the camp together with Ravaia to guard the premises and coordinate our undertakings.
We all approved in unison and lifted our mugs in acquiescence. After the awkward silence that ensues when everybody present is drinking at the same time, we noticed the sky darken and headed out to light our fire.
As the flames reflected off our eyes by nightfall, we cooked up some venison stew to keep us fed. Grey smoke rose up from the smouldering logs we set ablaze and the smell of freshly cooked meat and charred wood filled the surprisingly stale air around us. While we sat circumjacent to the fire, we told each other stories from the past.
Ravaia recounted a very peculiar client from her time as a sellsword a couple years back. Apparently, the guy was a retired hunter living in a small shack in the Rift woods in Skyrim. For some inexplicable reason he dared not tell, he had an intense fear of caves so he sought Ravaia's help in retrieving some rare herbs from Snapleg Cave betwixt Nilheim to the west and the Rift Watchtower to the southeast. Ravaia could remember his name not, but vividly recalled how shaky and bathed in sweat he was when she entered the cave to fetch the precious greens. Upon successful retrieval and delivery, the client awarded her a surprisingly large amount of coin and hastily disappeared into the forest. "I'm still confused to this day", she then commented. She lifted up her mug and took a gulp of warm mead.
Lili and I then told of our tale in respect to our first meeting at the Throat of the World to which Horace responded by raising one eyebrow. We looked at each other in puzzlement when he finally explained that he was on his way patrolling the roads around Ivarstead with his fellow Stormcloaks when he witnessed someone falling down, getting completely obliterated on impact. Surprised, we all burst into laughter at the notion of how close we actually were to each other.
Azarain had nothing to tell, shrouding himself in mystery as always. He never was too talkative and he never really told us anything from his past. Only that he fled from Morrowind after Red Mountain plunged the province into chaos. For years he had been stranded in Raven Rock on Solstheim mining for ebony until he at last earned enough septims to afford passage to Skyrim's mainland to start his life anew. The only thing he added to the conversation was that he was grateful to have met such amazing companions such as us. He raised his mazte in our honors and drank from it with deep swallows.
Before long, we finished eating our soup and grew tired. It was then time to appoint who'll stand guard during the night. I volunteered and chose Horace for the first half. He agreed silently and so, we put out the fire and got ready to sleep. We sought our tents while Horace stood guard for the first few hours. We all consented upon waking Ravaia and Lili when dawn came so they could prepare the operations while I was able to get a few more hours of rest. I crawled into my bedroll, happy about it being a proper one and not whatever murky thing I fashioned the night before. I briefly wondered if it had been engulfed by those crystals by then as I watched Horace extinguish the fire.
Then all was dark. Only the brilliance of the cavity a few meters away shone lightly through the linen cloth of the tent's fabric.
IV
A cracking noise in the dark. A howl of unnatural origin echoing through the halls. A high pitched screeching surfaced from the shadows. I felt some entity grab my shoulder and call my name. "Yagir!" time and again. An invisible force rattled and shook, swaying me back and forth. I awoke. Horace's face stared down on me.
"Wake up!" he whispered sharply, motioning me out of the tent. Of course, the nightly watch. I quickly got my bearings and crawled out. 'What a strange dream' I thought. I watched as Horace retreated into his shelter and waved at me. Then my glance shifted involuntarily to the glowing aperture in the distance. Keeping watch is important. That shining nozzle in the ground there might attract unwanted attention after all. I headed towards the tent where we stored our most crucial belongings in and from it I produced one of the foldable stools they brought. I set it up between our base and the vitreous dissemination of emptiness to get a good glance over the still forsaken landscape and the ruins. Thereby I wondered how Horace even managed to stay awake without one of these wooden seats. Has he been standing this entire time? "Crazy people" I silently mumbled to myself in disbelief.
For hours I sat there unmoving, observing the colourful beams of light, watching as dark clouds flew by in a very much peaceful atmosphere. I started closing my eyes and meditating, in- and exhaling deeply, achieving an almost trance-like state. I didn't bother with thoughts of a raid or malicious wildlife. After all, living things seemed to avoid this place for some reason.
This meditation went on for several minutes until a noisome crack broke the silence in the dead of night. Disturbed, I opened my eyes. I assumed it came from the Malada ruins. Did something damage the crystals, perhaps? Maybe it was a bit of broken brickwork tumbling down the mound? I readied a fireball in anxiety as I approached the gaping light source. Slowly but in a steady pace I drew closer to it, a growing feeling of repulsion accompanying my every step.
Crack! I fancied something just hit the ground down there. Bigger than mere debris. I was intrigued, yet frightened as to what it might be, causing this breaking of a hitherto serene silence.
Just a few steps more. It was as if an ill gust flew through the burial chamber. At the roughly composed ledge I looked down into the iridescent abyss, utter darkness behind me. I could barely make out the camp in the shadows despite it being so near. I inspected the crash site, looking closely for any sign of heretofore unseen life in the luminous mists. After a while, I concluded there wasn't anything there and my mind, at unrest about the implications of something - anything - being down there, playing tricks on me.
Just as I went to turn around, I thought I saw a shadow moving in the damp, undulating swarthiness of the caverns below. I batted my eyelids several times in response to something I deemed impossible as of yet. The shade appeared to be gone. I returned to my seat, shrugging it off as a mirage. A figment of my imagination. Clever trickery devised by my fear of the unknown and unseen. My elevated heart rate slowed down and I felt moderately at ease again. Although I couldn't shake off the impression that what I thought I fancied seeing was real, I didn't pay any more attention to it. After all, a mind at unrest is a mind without proper focus and concentration. And I knew I needed both for what's to come.
The rest of the night was blissfully uneventful, downright boring to some extent. I watched the distant horizon setting itself aflame in the rising morning light. I folded the stool and brought it back to the great tent before waking Lili and Ravaia. In doing this it dawned on me that Horace must've done it the same way and with a slightly embarrassed "Oooh" I proceeded to Lili's tent.
I woke her gently by stroking her cheeks. Ravaia immediately grabbed my wrist in response and held it in a tight grip as she looked at me. She then shyly apologized, remarking that one could never be careful enough. As she withdrew her hand a slight hematoma formed on my pale skin. Ravaia poked Lili in the face to which she grumpily woke, complaining that this "had to stop or else".
Ravaia and I both chuckled at Lili's mood and I was subsequently relieved of guard duty, free to take a nap before we'd start to uncover the secrets of this celestial stone.
"Do you like that, eh?" were the first words I heard that morning while simultaneously being poked in the face with a wooden stick.
Apparently, Lili took our snickering a few hours ago much more seriously than Ravaia and I thought. She beckoned me to get up so that I don't miss the meeting by which goals were established and tasks assigned. I dressed myself and clumsily rolled out into the open. The morning sun blinded my vision under the clear sky as I laid on my back for several seconds. In hazy puzzlement I got up and staggered towards the unlit fireplace passing it by, sniffing the odor of cold ash and burnt wood.
I entered the big tent and was greeted by my friends who stood around a table waiting for me. I never was a morning person, anyway.
Lili spoke up, placing her long, golden hair behind her back making it fall off her blue robe. She once again went over what we had discussed yesterday, reiterating on what had been planned and adding to that list some other tasks.
Specifically, I was to investigate the ruins and note down anything suspicious I could find whereas Horace and Azarain were to collect and surface any gem fragments they'd uncover, careful not to break anything in the process. When they were done they got assigned to gather more firewood while Lili coordinated it all. Ravaia was to stay in the camp in case she needed to defend herself, Lili and our goods from raiders or hostile wildlife. In between all this, Lili would brew some potions and concoct a few remedies for anyone who got hurt or contracted a sickness.
The part about getting hurt she said with an annoyed tone in her voice looking at me in a scolding manner pertaining to my general clumsiness. We all nodded in agreement and proceeded to have some breakfast before our work began. Then we all got ourselves ready for the tasks at hand that should keep us occupied for the entirety of the day. I prepared by packing a pickaxe (just in case), a steel dagger, two red and three blue potions (for life force replenishment and magicka rejuvenation, respectively), some food and water as well as my trusty quill, ink and paper.
The three of us, Horace, Azarain and myself, wandered towards the ever sparkling mound together. Horace had during his night shift constructed a rope ladder from spare rope and leftover logs. We anchored the ladder with two big iron nails driven into the ground and threw it down the ledge. To our amazement, the chamber seemed much more alight than conceived previously and my makeshift bedroll was also gone.
Notwithstanding these odd occurrences, we climbed down the ladder. On the way down I noticed one colour missing from the obelisk and a small crack seemed to have appeared on one of its six sides.
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