Chapter 150 Walking Beside Disaster
Alex, Astrid, and Serana moved steadily along the winding path, their footsteps crunching softly against the dirt and scattered pebbles beneath them. The road stretched ahead through patches of forest and open land, the cool breeze carrying the faint scent of pine and earth.
Astrid glanced sideways at Serana, tilting her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "So… where exactly are we going?" she asked, her tone light yet inquisitive.
Serana slowed her steps just a little and turned her head toward Astrid, her crimson eyes meeting hers. A faint, almost teasing smile touched her lips. "It's near Solitude," she replied calmly. "You'll see when we get there."
Alex, walking just ahead of them, let out a thoughtful hum. His gaze drifted toward the distant horizon as if already mapping the route in his mind. "Hmm… Solitude, huh…" he murmured. "If we keep this pace, it'll probably take us about a day to get there on foot."
Astrid's lips curved into a relaxed smile as she clasped her hands lightly behind her back, her posture easy and carefree. "Well, then…" she said, her voice carrying a hint of excitement, "let's just enjoy the journey."
A few steps later, her expression suddenly shifted her eyes widening slightly as a thought struck her. She stopped mid-step and turned sharply toward Alex. "Wait, Alex…" she said, raising a finger as if pointing out something obvious. "Isn't your telekinesis already quite advanced? Why don't you just make us fly there?"
Alex blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Ah… right, that's true " he started, then hesitated, his brows knitting together as another thought surfaced. "Wait, but…"
He trailed off and turned his head toward Serana, his expression growing more considerate. "Would that be okay with you?" he asked gently. "If we fly, we'll be much more exposed to the sunlight, won't we?"
Both Alex and Astrid shifted their attention fully toward Serana, their gazes silently waiting for her answer.
Serana's steps slowed, and she let out a quiet sigh, her shoulders lowering slightly. Her expression softened, though a trace of discomfort lingered in her eyes. She looked up briefly at the sky, as if imagining the harsh sunlight above, before shaking her head faintly.
"Yeah… you're right," she admitted, her voice calm but carrying a subtle unease. "I'm not very comfortable being exposed to sunlight."
She paused, folding her arms lightly as she continued walking. "Maybe at night, I could fly with you," she added, a small shrug accompanying her words. "But during the day… I'd rather walk."
Her gaze shifted toward the trees lining their path, the shadows they cast stretching across the ground like a natural shelter. "Besides," she continued, a faint, practical tone slipping into her voice, "there are plenty of trees along the way to block the sunlight. Walking like this… is better for me."
A gentle silence followed her words, filled only by the sound of their footsteps and the whisper of the wind through the leaves as the three of them continued their journey forward.
Then, as they continued walking, Astrid suddenly slowed her steps, her eyes widening slightly as an idea sparked in her mind.
"Alright, then…" she began, turning toward Alex with a growing smile, "how about we find a shaded place to rest during the day… and travel at night instead?" she suggested, her voice carrying a bright, excited tone.
Her eyes lit up as she spoke, a spark of enthusiasm clearly visible. She even clasped her hands together briefly, as if already imagining it.
Alex turned his head toward her, his brows drawing together in mild confusion. "You mean…" he said slowly, trying to process it, "we're going to stay up all night… just to fly there?"
Astrid nodded immediately, almost bouncing slightly on her heels. "Yes, yes!" she said eagerly, her excitement barely contained. "I want to experience flying properly."
She lifted her arms slightly, as if embracing the invisible sensation of wind around her. "And at night, we can feel the cool breeze against us…" she continued dreamily, tilting her face upward. "And the sky the stars they'll be so much clearer, right?"
Alex raised one eyebrow, a faint, amused smile forming at the corner of his lips as he watched her enthusiasm. "Wait…" he said, crossing his arms loosely, "haven't you already flown on a dragon before? So why do you look this excited to fly again?"
Astrid let out a small, exaggerated sigh, shaking her head as if disappointed in him. She then lifted her index finger and waved it side to side in front of him, her expression turning playfully lecturing.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk… Alex," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly with a teasing smirk, "you really don't get it, do you?"
She took a small step closer, folding one arm while the other remained raised as she explained. "Riding a dragon isn't truly flying," she continued, her tone firm but playful. "It's more like using a vehicle. You're just… sitting there. You only feel half of what it actually means to fly."
She spread her arms slightly again, as if emphasizing freedom. "Real flying should be something you feel with your whole body… not just something you ride."
Alex let out a soft sigh, though the smile on his face only grew, clearly amused by her passionate explanation. He shook his head lightly. "Alright… if that's what the princess desires."
The moment those words left his mouth, Astrid's face lit up instantly, her eyes sparkling with delight.
"Yes!!!" she exclaimed, pumping her fist slightly in triumph, unable to hide her excitement.
Serana suddenly fell silent.
Her steps slowed ever so slightly, her gaze drifting forward without truly focusing on anything. The faint spark of conversation in her eyes faded, replaced by a distant, almost hollow look as if her mind had wandered far away from the present.
Alex noticed immediately.
He tilted his head toward her, his brows knitting faintly with concern. "Hey, Serana…" he called gently, slowing his pace to match hers. "What do you think? Do you agree with flying at night?"
There was no response.
Serana kept walking, her expression unchanged, as though she hadn't even heard him.
Alex glanced briefly at Astrid, then back at Serana. "Serana?" he called again, a little louder this time.
Still nothing.
A small frown formed on his face before he finally raised his voice just enough to break through her thoughts.
"Serana!"
She flinched slightly, her shoulders tensing as if startled awake. Her eyes blinked rapidly, refocusing as she turned toward him. "Ah what?" she said, clearly caught off guard.
Alex studied her face for a moment, his expression a mix of curiosity and mild concern. "Hey… why are you spacing out like that?" he asked, his tone softer now. "What are you thinking about?"
Serana hesitated for a brief second, then shook her head lightly, a strand of her hair shifting across her cheek. "It's nothing…" she replied, her voice quieter, more subdued than before. "I just heard the word 'dragon,' and it made me think."
Alex tilted his head slightly, confusion evident in his eyes. "And what about dragons?"
A faint smile slowly formed on Serana's lips small, almost nostalgic. Her eyes softened as if recalling something distant.
"I've only ever read about them in books," she said, her voice carrying a quiet sense of wonder. "Even back during the time of the Oblivion Crisis, I never once saw a dragon."
She glanced briefly between Alex and Astrid, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "And you just said you've ridden one…" she continued, her smile deepening slightly. "I was just thinking how incredible that must be."
Astrid shifted awkwardly at her words, lifting a hand to scratch the back of her head. "Ah… we didn't tell you yet, did we?" she said, glancing at Alex before looking back at Serana. "Dragons have actually… come back from the dead."
Serana froze.
Her eyes widened, the faint smile on her lips disappearing instantly as disbelief took over her expression. "Wait…" she whispered, her voice tight with shock. "What?"
Alex gave a slow, confirming nod, his expression turning more serious as his gaze drifted slightly ahead, as if recalling the memory.
"Yeah… it's true," he said, his voice steady but quieter than before. "When Alduin appeared, he began resurrecting dragons from their graves one after another."
He paused briefly, his eyes narrowing a little. "So in this era…" he continued, exhaling softly, "…it's not surprising at all if we run into one."
For a split second, silence hung between them.
Then Serana let out a short, disbelieving laugh, shaking her head as if trying to reject what she'd just heard. "Wait…" she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "You mean Alduin? The one I'm talking about that terror?"
Alex and Astrid exchanged a quick glance, a silent confirmation passing between them, before both of them looked back at her.
"Yeah," Alex replied calmly, his tone unwavering. "The World-Eater."
Serana's expression immediately shifted. Her hand rose to her forehead, fingers pressing lightly as if trying to steady the sudden rush of thoughts. Her brows drew together tightly, disbelief written all over her face.
"Wait…" she muttered, her voice strained. "Isn't that far more dangerous than my situation?"
Alex frowned slightly, tilting his head. "What do you mean?"
Serana let out a long breath, her shoulders rising and falling as she tried to process everything. "Dragons are already starting to reappear…" she said slowly, her voice laced with tension. "And then the king of dragons suddenly returns?"
She shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That threat is far worse than my father."
Astrid, however, spoke up with surprising casualness. She crossed her arms and shifted her weight onto one leg, as if the matter wasn't nearly as overwhelming to her. "But we already defeated Alduin."
Serana froze.
Her entire body went still, as if time itself had stopped around her. Then, slowly, her eyes widened shock flooding her expression.
"What!?!" she blurted out, her voice rising sharply.
Alex scratched his cheek lightly, looking a bit awkward under her intense stare, though a faint, modest smile lingered on his lips. "Yeah, that's right we defeated him," he said. "And honestly…"
He hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "You could say we're kind of dragon hunters well, not exactly," he corrected himself quickly, waving a hand slightly. "But at the very least, we're strong enough to take down dragons."
Serana stared at both of them, her eyes wide, searching their faces for any sign of a joke.
"Do you even realize…" she began, her voice almost incredulous, "…that for vampires, hunting a dragon requires coordination and teamwork?"
Her brows furrowed deeper as she gestured faintly with her hand. "And you're telling me you can defeat dragons just like that?"
She let out a short scoff, shaking her head again. "Come on… stop joking."
But Alex and Astrid said nothing.
They simply stood there, their expressions calm serious.
That silence spoke louder than any words.
Serana's smile faltered.
An awkward laugh escaped her lips as she tried to brush it off, though it came out forced and uneven. "You've got to be kidding… hahaha…"
A moment later, Alex lifted one hand slightly, as if recalling something important. His brows drew together as he glanced between them.
"Ah wait," he said, his tone thoughtful. "Back then, Alduin was weakened, right? And you, Astrid… you weren't alone either. You had help from Paarthurnax… and even the heroes of the past."
Astrid blinked once, then twice, as the realization sank in. Her posture shifted slightly, and she let out a small breath, her shoulders relaxing.
"Ah… that's true," she admitted, a faint, self-aware smile forming on her lips. She crossed her arms loosely, tilting her head with a hint of embarrassment. "Well… I guess I exaggerated a bit there."
She glanced briefly at Alex, her eyes softening. "Let me correct that we did defeat Alduin," she continued, her tone more grounded now. "But I wasn't alone. A lot of people close to me helped…"
Her gaze lingered on Alex for a heartbeat longer before she added gently, "…including my husband."
Alex scratched the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed under the attention. A sheepish smile spread across his face as he avoided direct eye contact for a moment.
Serana, however, still looked visibly shaken. Her eyes moved between the two of them, as if trying to reconcile what she had just heard.
"But…" she said slowly, her voice uncertain, "…you can still defeat dragons easily, right?"
Alex gave a small nod, his expression calm but no longer casual. "Yeah… that's true," he replied. Then his gaze lowered slightly, his tone turning more contemplative.
"But in my opinion," he continued, "strength and weakness aren't defined by who should win… but by who actually survives."
He lifted his head again, his eyes steady. "For example… if you were facing someone like Alduin whose power is many times greater than yours and you still manage to win while he dies…"
He paused briefly, letting the thought settle. "Then there's no denying it you're the stronger one."
Alex exhaled softly, a faint, wry smile tugging at his lips. "So don't get arrogant about the power you have. Sometimes… even someone far stronger can end up dying from something as trivial as choking on their food."
Astrid stared at him for a second, her brows knitting together in confusion. "What are you even talking about…?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "That doesn't make any sense."
Without hesitation, she lightly smacked his arm.
"Ouch hey!" Alex protested, pulling his arm back slightly as he rubbed the spot, though a small grin still lingered on his face. "I'm just saying!"
He let out a quiet breath, his expression softening as his tone became more sincere. "What I mean is… we don't really know how our story ends. Fate can be unpredictable."
His gaze shifted toward Astrid, warmth filling his eyes. "…But there's nothing wrong with becoming strong," he added gently, "and protecting the people around you…"
He paused for a brief moment, then his voice softened even further.
"…like you, my love."
Astrid's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by his sudden sincerity. A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she turned her face just a little to the side, clearly flustered, though a small smile still formed on her lips.
Meanwhile, Serana remained silent.
Her gaze lingered on the two of them, watching the subtle exchange the ease, the trust, the quiet affection.
At first, she had thought they were just ordinary people… perhaps a little stronger than most.
But now…
Her eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
She realized something far more unsettling.
If they truly wished it-
These two… were the kind of people who could bring world a disaster.
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