Simon opened his eyes, and a surging heart power flowed in the gaps of his body and mind. The fuller the ritual kettle, the stronger his heart power, the stronger his Word of Power, and the more his Thu'um multiplied.
"False power," he murmured to himself. At this moment, the portal had opened, a path to the Forgotten Vale. Simon nodded to Serana, and Jonas's shouts came from afar; they were almost there too.
"Don't let the children catch up. Let's go." Simon took the lead, gently passing through the water-like portal—as if passing through morning mist, in a blink of an eye, he arrived in a completely new area.
The teleportation site was a completely ruined shrine, but that wasn't important. The place they needed to go was still intact. They followed the winding path along the inner wall of the mountain to leave the Underground.
They stepped into a vast world. Snow flew across the deep valleys of the mountains as night fell. The air was as clean as clear water, and every breath was a blessing. A long beast's cry echoed from the depths of the vast night snow city. Thick clouds covered all light in the sky, and the earth was as chaotic as boiling thick soup. Everything was frozen, the majestic mountains were as treacherous as knife screens, and the alternating light and dark ice surfaces shimmered like the scales of a planet. At this time and place, surrounded by mountains, an otherworldly land, the Forgotten Vale.
Simon reached out to Serana, "Come, let's fly."
Serana didn't immediately give him her hand. "Simon, do you know that you are an arrogant, incorrigible bastard!"
"I know."
"Then are you willing to release my father? I will atone for his sins."
"Harkon is like a banner planted on the land of Skyrim. As long as he lives, countless Vampires will rush for eternal night. Only his death can prove the purity you desire."
"Is there really no other way?"
"You know me. What I say, I must do."
"Then are you willing to lie for me?"
"I am not."
Such a reply made both of them fall silent.
Their eyes met, as if a vortex was scouring their souls, sometimes soaring, sometimes suffocating.
After a long while, Serana shook her head. "Yes, you wouldn't change for an outsider."
"I promised not to hurt you, that's the truth. I said I'm unwilling to lie for you, that's also the truth. The truth hurt you, so it became a paradox. Now I'll say it again, Serana, I won't lie, but you are my lie."
"How dare you..." Serana covered her mouth. "How dare you say that!"
"Please forgive my abruptness, Serana. Just pretend I didn't say it."
"No, you said it, and I remember it clearly."
Simon was silent, filled with trepidation—how long had it been? How long had he not felt trepidation?
All love in the world is karma, all beings suffer—what does it matter if one sees through it?
"You are a Vampire, and I..."
"You are a beast-man!"
"No, I am a dream bubble, I am merely an insignificant..."
"Enough. For me, it's enough."
"But I am your enemy."
"I am also your lie."
Simon clumsily opened his arms, then abruptly pulled them back. "No, weakness. Emotions make people weak. I'm afraid of losing courage."
Serana said softly, "I won't be like that. I am not your subordinate, nor do you need to treat me as a weakness. For me, the moment I have you is my eternity."
"What do you mean?"
"I want to turn back into a human."
"Why? Are you tired of immortality?"
"No, I just think you're right. Father's existence is like a banner, and my blood is the key to completing the task. Unless I destroy it, the prophecy will not end."
Simon gave a dry laugh. "If I said I would turn myself into a Lich, what would you choose?"
"That is your choice, and I respect it. Please respect my choice as well."
Serana's words had never been so calm and gentle.
Simon calmed all his emotions. "Alright, Serana, let's be lovers for a lifetime. Until death do us part."
"Until death do us part."
...
Simon and Serana flew high in the sky. With the Hawkeye Technique, they could see the Falmer in the valley. They bred Nest Moths and built complex vertical strongholds along the mountains, using the carapaces of these disgusting insects as the main material, spread everywhere.
They would leave these for Jonas and the others. Simon found the direction of the Sanctuary and flew there, receiving blessings from the remaining few priests, refilling his water, and finally heading to the gate of the inner Sanctuary for the last step of the ritual.
The Sanctuary was situated between the steep cliffs of two mountains, like a crown jewel. Its grayish-white surface was covered with fine cracks, meticulously narrating the passage of time. The ancient ruins, frozen in history, finally welcomed new visitors.
Starting from the last shrine, they crossed the stone bridge and arrived at the main entrance of the inner Sanctuary. The building, hundreds of feet high, seemed to have a life of its own, making people feel dizzy when looking up at it.
Entering the forecourt, the main body of the temple had many semi-arched window structures on its exterior walls, like a series of altars. In the center of the courtyard stood a huge bronze statue of Auriel, holding up the sun god's emblem, facing north.
Ice flowed out of the Sanctuary, hanging on the walls, like a flooded house instantly frozen solid, a pitiful sight.
Simon poured the water from the kettle into the stone basin on the high platform behind the statue. Watching the pure water flow away through the hole at the bottom of the basin, Simon suddenly felt an immense tranquility—the Revelation was complete.
The false heart power dissipated with the Revelation in the kettle, but it left behind the cleanest, clearest light, shimmering deep in his heart, like a lighthouse on the coast, commanding endless waves and returning boats.
Simon had a premonition that he was getting closer and closer to his own divinity.
The pure water flowed in the slender channels on the high platform, gathering in the hexagonal groove in front of the entrance gate, filling the sun's indentation.
Suddenly, a emerald green light from the spherical crystal at the top of the high platform shone down, illuminating the sun's water pool. The locks of the inner Sanctuary's door rotated and opened.
"It's almost done. Let's go meet that High Priest."
Serana whispered, "First, let's heal my father a bit. He's too weak."
Simon untied the rope, lowered Harkon from his back, and used a Healing Spell to give him some vitality.
"You've arrived?"
"Yes, we'll soon see the source of the prophecy."
Inside the ruined Sanctuary hall stood countless ice sculptures. The expressions of these people were lifelike, but they were slumbering beneath a shell of ice. In the depths of the hall, many Falmer, Nest Moths, and Snow Elves could be seen surrounding Auriel's altar, some worshipping, some raising their blades, in various postures.
Serana: "These people look as if they were frozen in an instant."
Simon nodded, "It seems so. Should we drink some frost resistance potions?"
"Are you joking?" Serana patted Simon's arm. "Nord blood flows in your veins."
"Nords also get cold. I'll have a sip of antifreeze first." With that, Simon took out a bottle of vodka and drank it all.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp!"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"