Chapter 131 For Them, I Will Become Stronger
Whiterun, a city located at the heart of Skyrim and surrounded by vast tundra plains, was known for its beauty and tranquility though that only held true when certain individuals were not around.
From beyond the city walls, a strange sound could be heard, a man's voice, strained as if he were enduring great pain. Along with it, two massive stones could be seen rising and falling just beyond the walls, their movement visible even from inside the city.
The residents of Whiterun were left puzzled by the bizarre phenomenon unfolding outside. Curiosity quickly spread, and before long, a crowd gathered near the walls outside Whiterun, watching and whispering among themselves as they tried to make sense of what they see.
Alex was drenched in sweat, his hands trembling as if he were gripping something incredibly heavy yet there was nothing in them. Instead, he was casting Telekinesis on the massive stones before him.
"Fifteen… fuhh…" he exhaled sharply.
One of the huge rocks lifted into the air, then dropped… only to rise again. Over and over, Alex continued to raise the stones, pushing himself as he relentlessly trained his Telekinesis.
Astrid watched Alex as he trained, a faint blush creeping onto her face as she noticed the many Whiterun citizens staring at them.
"My love… do you really have to train here?" she asked, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
Alex, still focused on the massive stones hovering in the air, didn't look away but he was still able to respond.
"Of course, my love. I'm worried something might happen to you… and I want our baby to be healthy too."
Alex fixed his gaze on the stones with unwavering determination, ignoring the murmurs of the Whiterun citizens around him. He responded only to Astrid's voice, shutting everything else out.
His expression turned serious, and deep within his heart, a single thought echoed in his mind:
(I have to become stronger… stronger than ever before. I need to protect Lucia and Astrid, who's carrying my child. I want the very best for them to keep them safe and shield them from any threat.)
Alex finally let the stone drop to the ground with a heavy thud, then wiped the sweat from his brow.
(Yes… for them.)
He turned his gaze toward Astrid and Lucia, a warm smile spreading across his face.
Lucia beamed with joy, proudly showing off that Alex was her father, her eyes shining with admiration. Astrid, on the other hand, looked slightly embarrassed under the attention but she still managed to return his smile, her expression soft and filled with affection.
"Love, it's already evening… aren't you tired?" Astrid asked gently.
Alex lifted the massive stone once more, his focus unbroken.
"No. I have to keep training, my love. You're carrying our child I need to be ready for whatever might happen to us."
He continued raising and lowering the heavy stone again and again.
(That's right… I don't know when the vampire incident will happen, and I don't know whether the war will truly end in peace. But I have to prioritize the safety of my wife and child.)
As he trained, a faint coldness crept into his expression.
(To be honest… I will choose my family above all else even over the people of Skyrim. If anyone becomes a threat to them… then I'll become a terror myself, for their sake.)
Lucia then ran over to Alex. The moment he saw her, his expression softened back to normal.
With a bright, cheerful face, Lucia exclaimed, "Papa, you're so strong!!!"
Alex smiled, still straining slightly as he held the massive stone aloft. "Haha, of course I'm Lucia's papa, after all," he said with a light chuckle.
Lucia puffed her chest out proudly. "Mm, of course!"
Astrid then approached as well, her expression filled with concern. "My love… why have you suddenly become like this?"
Alex glanced at her. "What do you mean?"
Astrid gently touched her own cheek, her brows slightly furrowed. "You've suddenly been training so intensely… I'm worried about you, you know. And it looks like they've already set up the enchanting table. Come on, let's head back I want to be with you at home."
Alex gently lowered the massive stone to the ground, then turned to Astrid, his gaze steady and serious.
"This… is all for us."
He cupped Astrid's cheek softly. "For you…"
Then his hand moved down, resting carefully on her belly. "…and for our child."
Lucia pouted slightly, crossing her arms. "Boo… this is for Lucia too, right?"
Alex let out a small laugh and ruffled her hair. "Haha, of course it's for you too, Lucia. That's why "
Before finishing, he lifted the massive stone once more, resuming his training.
"I have to become stronger than I was before."
Astrid watched him, seeing the determination and sincerity in his words that everything he was doing was for her. It deeply moved her, stirring her heart. She stepped closer and gently wiped the sweat from his face.
"Alright… just don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
Then she took Lucia's hand and began leading her back home.
"Come on, Lucia. Let your papa focus on his training. We should prepare something delicious for him after he's done, okay?"
Lucia smiled brightly. "Ahh, right! Let's go, Mama!"
The two of them headed back home together, while Alex remained behind fully focused, continuing his relentless training.
As time slowly passed, the once lively crowd began to dwindle. At first, there had been murmurs of amazement, scattered applause, and curious whispers but as the minutes stretched on, the spectacle lost its novelty. People yawned, exchanged bored glances, and gradually drifted away, one by one. The open space near the walls of Whiterun, once filled with onlookers, grew quieter with each passing moment.
Yet Alex didn't notice… or perhaps he simply didn't care.
His entire focus was locked onto the massive stone before him.
(Fiuuh… alright. I can lift this with ease now. Next… control.)
He exhaled slowly through his nose, his fingers twitching slightly in the air as if gripping an invisible force. His gaze sharpened, and with a subtle motion of his hand, the stone rose once more.
This time, it didn't just hover.
It moved.
Swiftly.
The massive rock cut through the air in a controlled arc, then shifted direction forward, then to the side before stopping abruptly midair. Alex's arm tensed as if bearing a tremendous weight, the muscles along his forearm tightening despite there being nothing physically in his grasp.
"...Hah…"
A faint strain slipped from his lips.
He didn't let go.
Not even for a second.
Carefully, deliberately, he guided the stone through sharper turns, quicker motions testing its speed, its responsiveness. But even as he pushed it faster, there was a clear restraint in his movements. His control was precise, but cautious.
(Not too fast… if I lose focus even for a moment… it could slip.)
His eyes never left the stone, unblinking, intense. Every slight tremor in its movement was met with an immediate correction, his fingers curling tighter as if tightening an invisible grip around it.
Time passed.
An hour slipped by almost unnoticed.
By then, the stiffness in his movements had begun to fade. The strain in his breathing lessened, becoming more steady, more controlled. The once-heavy stone now moved with far greater fluidity, responding to his will almost instantly.
Alex narrowed his eyes slightly.
(…I'm getting used to it.)
With a slow breath, he raised his other hand.
Another stone trembled… then lifted from the ground.
Now, two massive rocks hovered in the air.
For a brief moment, they wavered slightly unsteady.
Alex's arms tensed, his shoulders stiffening as the pressure doubled. His jaw clenched, and a faint tremor ran through his fingers as he struggled to maintain balance between the two.
"…Stay… steady…"
He adjusted subtly, carefully.
One stone moved forward.
The other followed.
He guided them in tandem, slower this time, mimicking the same controlled movements he had practiced before. Each motion was deliberate, his focus split yet unwavering, his mind fully immersed in maintaining their balance.
The stones circled, shifted, and hovered under his command still imperfect, still demanding but no longer beyond his reach.
After two long hours of relentless training, the golden hue of the late afternoon slowly faded into the deep orange of sunset. The sun dipped lower behind the distant mountains, casting long shadows across the tundra plains surrounding Whiterun. The once warm air gradually cooled, replaced by a gentle evening breeze that brushed against the grass and carried with it the quiet sounds of the night beginning to awaken.
Alex's control finally gave out.
With a heavy thud, the two massive stones descended back onto the earth, settling into place as dust and small pebbles scattered around them. His arms trembled faintly from overexertion, and in the next moment, his body gave in he collapsed onto the ground, landing on his back with a dull, exhausted impact.
"Haaah… haaah…"
His breathing was heavy and uneven, his chest rising and falling as sweat soaked through his clothes. Strands of damp hair clung to his forehead, and his muscles screamed in protest after being pushed far beyond their limits.
Yet, despite the exhaustion weighing down every part of his body, Alex remained still, his eyes fixed on the sky above.
The vast expanse stretched endlessly, painted in shades of orange, crimson, and fading blue. A few early stars had begun to peek through, faint but steady, as if watching over the quiet world below.
For a brief moment, everything felt still.
(Good… at this rate, I think I could split an ordinary dragon in two…. I think)
He slowly pushed himself up, his gaze shifting toward the massive stones.
(These stones are bigger than the ones I used before in riverwood… but I can't afford to be satisfied. I need to keep training.)
Then something crossed his mind.
(Ah, right… tomorrow I need to experiment with the enchanter. If I can combine two materials and stack multiple enchantment effects into a single item… and if it works, I'll become many times stronger than I am now.)
His expression softened slightly as he thought of them.
(And after that… I'll make something for Astrid and Lucia too, so they'll be safe.)
Alex stood up and left the area, heading back toward his home inside Whiterun.
(Fiuuh… I really need a bath. My body reeks I can't stand it if I don't clean up.)
Then, an image crossed his mind bathing together with Astrid.
(Hmm… I can't wait to get home.)
But as he approached, his steps slowed slightly. In front of his house, he spotted two figures dressed like soldiers, just about to knock on his door.