Chapter 114 The Sky That Mourned The World Eater
They spent five days in Sovngarde, counting from the moment they defeated Alduin.
Alex let out a long breath as he gazed across the breathtaking beauty of Sovngarde. The golden sky shimmered endlessly above the vast fields, and the distant halls glowed with an eternal light.
"Haah… I'm going to miss the beauty of this place," Alex said quietly.
Astrid smiled gently at his words.
"That's true… but we can't stay here forever, can we?"
Alex nodded.
"Yeah… you're right."
The two of them then approached Tsun, who stood proudly near the bridge, his towering presence as imposing as ever.
"Dragonborn and his partner," Tsun said in his deep, resonant voice. "You have accomplished something truly great and heroic. You defeated Alduin, the World-Eater. I am certain that when your time comes, you will return to this place once more."
Alex smiled at the words.
"Yeah… I hope so, Tsun."
Astrid gently took Alex's hand and looked at him with confidence.
"Of course we'll come back here again, Alex. We're heroes, aren't we?"
Tsun smiled upon hearing that.
"Indeed. You are heroes. You will always be welcomed here."
Alex's smile widened slightly after hearing those words.
Tsun then spoke again.
"So… are you ready to return to Skyrim?"
Alex and Astrid glanced at each other for a moment before turning back to Tsun.
"Yes. We're ready," Alex answered.
Tsun nodded.
"Very well then ah, yes… I almost forgot."
He then stepped closer to Astrid and taught her a Thu'um.
"This Thu'um is Call of Valor. With it, you may summon the spirits of us heroes to aid you in battle."
Tsun's gaze became serious as he finished speaking.
"Use it wisely."
Astrid quickly understood the Thu'um, just as a true Dragonborn normally would.
"Alright. I'll use it well," Astrid said with determination.
Then Tsun raised his voice and began chanting an ancient ritual, his deep voice echoing across the golden plains of Sovngarde. The words he spoke were old older than kingdoms, older than empires carrying the authority of the ancient heroes who had walked this hall long before them.
As the final syllables left his lips, a powerful energy began to gather around Alex and Astrid.
The air itself trembled.
A radiant aura slowly formed around their bodies, swirling like streams of golden wind. The light grew brighter and brighter, wrapping around them like a cocoon woven from the power of the gods.
Astrid felt the strange pull of the magic tugging at her very soul, while Alex steadied himself as the energy surged through the air.
Their bodies slowly began to fade.
At first it was subtle the edges of their figures becoming translucent, like mist beneath the morning sun. Then the glow intensified, and their forms gradually dissolved into countless shimmering fragments of light.
Bit by bit, they scattered like glowing embers carried by an unseen wind.
In the next instant, the light shot upward into the sky above Sovngarde, vanishing beyond the golden clouds.
For a brief moment, there was only silence.
Then
The world shifted.
Far away in Skyrim, two faint lights began to form high above a frozen mountain peak. The glowing particles slowly gathered together, as if reality itself were weaving their bodies back into existence.
Their forms gradually returned.
First came their silhouettes, faint and translucent. Then flesh, armor, and fabric solidified piece by piece until they stood fully restored upon solid ground once again.
The sensation of crossing realms left their senses spinning.
Their vision blurred, their balance faltered, and the cold wind of the mortal world rushed against them like a sudden storm.
Slowly, their sight cleared.
And when they finally focused their eyes, they realized where they were standing.
They had returned to the highest peak in the world
the legendary Throat of the World.
Endless snow stretched across the summit, glittering beneath the pale light of the sky. The wind howled across the jagged cliffs, carrying with it the ancient silence of the mountain that towered above all of Skyrim.
But something immediately caught their attention.
Dragons.
Dozens of them.
Massive draconic figures were perched across the snowy summit and along the surrounding cliffs. Their colossal wings folded against their armored bodies as their golden and crimson eyes watched the two figures who had just appeared.
Some rested upon the jagged rocks like ancient statues carved by time itself. Others shifted their wings slowly, their scales glimmering beneath the pale sky.
The entire peak of the Throat of the World had become a gathering place for dragons.
And every single one of them had witnessed the return of the Dragonborn.
Suddenly, one of the dragons raised its head toward the sky and roared loudly, as if announcing important news.
"Alduin mahlaan!"
(Alduin has fallen!)
Another dragon replied to the others with a powerful voice.
"Sahrot thur qahnaraan!"
(Mighty and glorious overlord!)
Then once again, the cry echoed across the mountain.
"Alduin mahlaan!"
Several dragons spread their massive wings and began flying through the sky, circling the peak of the mountain while roaring loudly. However, not all of them took flight some remained perched silently on the cliffs.
Another dragon then spoke in the ancient dragon tongue.
"Dovahkiin los ok dovahkriid."
(The Dragonborn is both dragon and slayer.)
After saying those words, the dragon took to the skies and joined the others circling the mountain.
Once again, the dragons roared together.
"Alduin mahlaan!"
The sky filled with the thunderous sounds of dragons roaring. Some of them released bursts of flame into the air, their fire illuminating the clouds almost as if expressing sorrow or mourning for the death of Alduin.
Another dragon spoke solemnly.
"Thu'umii los nahlot."
(The Voice is silent.)
Then it too spread its wings and flew up to join the others.
Another dragon spoke once more before taking flight.
"Mu los vomir."
(We are loyal.)
After saying that, it also soared into the sky, joining the gathering of dragons circling high above the mountain.
Then Paarthurnax spoke to them using the human tongue.
"So it is done. Alduin dilon. The Eldest is no more he who came before all others, and has always been."
From the tone of his voice, Alex and Astrid could tell that Paarthurnax was not happy. Rather than triumph, there was a deep sense of loss in his words.
Astrid responded with confidence.
"Alduin brought this on himself."
Paarthurnax nodded slowly.
"Indeed. Alduin wahlaan daanii. His doom was written when he claimed for himself the lordship that properly belongs to Akatosh Bormahu, our father."
Astrid was slightly surprised to hear that. It seemed that what Alex had said before was actually true.
Paarthurnax then continued speaking.
"But I cannot celebrate his fall. Zu'u tiiraaz ahst ok mah. He was once my brother. This world will never be the same."
Astrid crossed her arms and replied firmly.
"This world is a better place without Alduin."
Alex then cut into the conversation slightly.
"Yeah… but I think the world might stay pretty much the same. Just… with a little less terror."
Astrid turned toward Alex with a puzzled expression.
"What do you mean?"
Alex looked at her and said calmly,
"Did you forget about the Skyrim Civil War, Astrid?"
Astrid paused for a moment as the realization returned to her mind. Then she let out a tired sigh.
"Uugh… you're right, Alex."
Then Paarthurnax spoke again.
"But with Alduin destroyed, at least you no longer need to worry about the greatest threat and power in this world for now."
Alex and Astrid both nodded in agreement.
"That is true," Paarthurnax continued. "For the moment, the burden you carried as Dragonborn has been lifted. As for the future… even I cannot predict what will happen. All we can do is strive to do what is best for this world."
He paused for a moment before adding in a calmer tone,
"But be careful. Melancholy is an easy trap for dovah to fall into."
Astrid smiled and gently dismissed his concern. She turned toward Alex and held his hand tightly.
"Don't worry," she said softly. "As long as I'm with you, it's impossible for me to feel gloomy again."
Hearing her say that, Alex gave her a warm smile.
Then Paarthurnax spoke again with a faint chuckle.
"Ah, indeed… a pair of lovebirds completing one another. That gives me far less to worry about."
After that, his expression grew serious as he continued.
"You have won a mighty victory one that will echo through all the ages of this world for those who have eyes to see. Dovahkiin, this is not the last of what you will write upon the currents of time."
Moments later, Paarthurnax spread his enormous wings and took flight, joining the other dragons circling the peak of the Throat of the World.
As he soared through the sky, he called out joyfully,
"Goraan! I feel younger than I have in many an age!"
Astrid watched the scene with relief before letting out a light laugh.
"Hahaha… does that mean we can finally get some rest?"
Alex looked at her and shrugged slightly.
"Maybe. I think we can at least breathe for a moment, right?"
In his mind, however, Alex was thinking something else.
(I don't know when the DLC events will begin. In the game and in real life, things are obviously different. It's impossible for everything to happen at the same time time here doesn't flow like it does in the game.)