The events in Lokes Town finally came to an end, but the mission was still not complete. At the very least, for now Duanmu Huai only knew that the vampires had been performing some kind of ritual here, attempting to modify the artifact known as Azura's Star. But that was all he knew. As for why they had chosen Lokes Town, the reason was unclear. Perhaps it was simply because it was remote and unlucky?
In any case, at least for now, the danger facing Lokes Town had been resolved. After returning to the surface, Duanmu Huai instructed Old Bent to negotiate with the townsfolk, then send someone to inform the lord of the whole matter. As for himself, he and the Vigilant went together to Azura's Shrine.
Azura's Shrine stood upon a high mountain, blanketed by endless wind and snow. The mountain was covered in deep snow, making the path extremely difficult, but for Guley that was hardly the real concern.
"In fact, the vampires' disturbances did not start only now. As early as two months ago, we discovered that vampires began to appear frequently in many towns. This was completely unlike their usual reclusive nature."
As he pressed forward up the mountain, the Vigilant explained in a low voice.
"So we believe that the vampires must be planning something big. But… not everyone believes our judgment. Some of the high ranks in the Hall of the Vigilants think the vampires are just causing occasional trouble by chance. In their eyes, vampires have always been like this—after a period of quiet, they suddenly pop up to do strange and bizarre things."
At this point, the Vigilant clenched his fists tightly.
"But the situation is clearly different now. These vampires have even created so many hounds, along with hordes of undead. This is not some small mischief, they must be preparing for something huge!"
At that moment, Azura's statue came into sight.
At the peak of the towering mountains, a statue more than ten meters tall stood there. It was the statue of a woman. In her left hand she held the moon, in her right hand she held the sun and the stars. She was none other than the Goddess of Dawn and Dusk, the Mother of Roses, the Queen of the Night Sky—Azura.
And before Azura's altar stood a priestess in black robes. She waited at the top of the steps, gazing at the approaching visitors.
"Azura has foreseen your arrival, adventurers. What led you here is not your curiosity, but the arrangement of fate."
"Fine, whatever you say."
Duanmu Huai didn't care much for her words. To be honest, many Daedric Princes or demons loved to torment players this way. For example, some trickster god particularly liked to appear when the players had finished everything, only to tell them it wasn't a coincidence, that it was all according to plan, all destined, and that no matter what, the player could not escape fate or the scheme.
At first players would be furious, but after experiencing it often, they came up with their own method of response.
Just like this priestess—whether it was coincidence or destiny, how would we ever know? You say you foresaw our arrival, but how could we possibly know what our destiny is? You say everything goes according to plan, but we don't know what your plan is either.
So in the end, it still meant we knew nothing. Plan or destiny, what does it matter to us?
Therefore, later when players encountered such things again, the standard response was only one:
Ah right right right right right.
Whatever the other side said, just go along with it. Too lazy to argue.
If you say it's destiny, then it's destiny. If you say it's according to plan, then it's according to plan. You're right, all right?
"This seems to belong to your mistress."
Duanmu Huai took out the Azura's Star, which glimmered with crimson light, and handed it over. The priestess accepted it, placed it reverently on the altar, then raised both hands high.
"Azura, Mother of the Morning Star, Goddess of Dusk and Dawn, your chosen warrior has returned your Star to you!"
The priestess fell silent for a moment, then turned toward Duanmu Huai.
"She wishes to speak with you directly. Place your hand upon the altar, and you shall hear her divine words."
"…Fine, I'd like to hear what she has to say."
As he spoke, Duanmu Huai extended his hand and placed it on the altar.
But what he heard first was a gasp—followed by earth-shaking thunder like the roar of the heavens.
After a few moments, a woman's voice finally entered his ear.
"It is hard to imagine, that among mortals such an appearance could exist. Even in Oblivion, I have never seen anything like this…"
"If you're going to say that, then I'm leaving."
Hearing this, Duanmu Huai's expression darkened slightly. He could more or less guess that Azura had just shivered under his Aura of Fear. But if you don't bring that up, we can still be friends, lady.
"…Then let me tell you what you wish to know."
Azura seemed to realize that her reaction had been a little excessive, so she skipped past the awkward moment as if nothing had happened.
"Azura's Star is my artifact. It can absorb the souls of any non-sentient life without limit and store them within. But those blood-kin are trying to modify it, to turn it into something that can control every life whose soul is absorbed…"
"So what you're saying is, those vampires plan to use this modified Azura's Star to absorb someone's soul and then control them?"
"That is correct."
"Since we're already at this point, why not just say everything clearly, Lady Azura? I'll be blunt—what I hate most are vague prophecies full of riddles. So please explain in plain and simple words. Thank you."
"Hehehe…"
Instead of being offended, Azura chuckled softly at Duanmu Huai's bluntness.
"This is the first time I've met such a being as you. I can feel the destructive power burning within your body… Very well, since you ask, I will share some information."
Her voice turned serious again.
"The Daedric Princes intend to go to the lands beyond this realm."
"…Hmmm?"
Duanmu Huai raised a brow.
"I don't quite understand what you mean."
"Not long ago, the soul of a dragon from another world arrived in Oblivion."
Azura continued.
"It revealed a path to a foreign land, where there are new souls and new lands to claim…"
Duanmu Huai's face sank.
Not long ago… a dragon from another world… Damn it, so that bastard evil dragon ran here to play traitor? It's planning to side with the Daedra and betray Manaria?
"The World-Eater Alduin has returned. It is preparing a plan to resurrect that dragon from beyond. Once that happens, it will completely open the path to that other world and devour it… And what the vampires are doing is nothing more than preparation for the Daedric Princes' scheme."
You think I can put up with that?
Hearing this, Duanmu Huai's face turned as dark as iron. My fragment world isn't some buffet for you overgrown lizard to feast on!
At last he understood the whole story. Back in Manaria, he had slain the evil dragon Fafnir. After that, two world fragments fused, and Fafnir's soul fled into this continent. Then it cozied up to a dragon called Alduin, who seemed capable of resurrecting Fafnir. Once resurrected, Fafnir would act like a traitor, bringing Alduin over with a "this way, master, right this way…" kind of deal!
"Is there a way to resolve this?"
"Of course. The girl at your side, with the power of the Dragonborn, is the key to ending Alduin. It cannot be killed completely. Only the power of the Dragonborn can end it. As long as Alduin and the dragon from beyond are destroyed, all will return to peace."
These were Azura's final words. When Duanmu Huai came back to his senses, only the sound of the wind remained in his ears.
"What's wrong, Sir Knight?"
Standing beside him, Guleya noticed his expression and asked nervously.
"It's gotten a little troublesome."
Duanmu Huai turned to briefly explain the situation to the Vigilant and Guleya. Of course, he concealed most of the truth, only saying that the Daedric Princes were plotting a grand plan that could endanger the entire world. Well… that wasn't wrong either. Which world was endangered was another matter.
Hearing this, the Vigilant became extremely alarmed, insisting that he had to return at once to the Hall of the Vigilants to inform the others. Duanmu Huai agreed to go along, and at the same time, he took out his Soul Card, using telepathy to contact the others.
[Anne, Lorena, Olgis, are you there?]
[Of course. What is it, Sir Knight?]
[Yes, my lord knight.]
[Master?]
The others quickly responded, and Duanmu Huai explained everything he had just learned.
In short, after being killed in Manaria, Fafnir's soul had fled here. Then he found a powerful dragon called the "World-Eater" Alduin and made a deal—Alduin would help resurrect Fafnir, and in return Fafnir would open the gate to Manaria, inviting Alduin over for a feast.
The Daedric Princes in Oblivion also got wind of the news through their own channels. Wanting a share of the spoils, they too began to move. As the saying goes, before the troops march, the provisions must be ready. The vampires' ritual was basically the advance maneuver of one Daedric Prince's plan.
[There's really something like this?]
The girls were all stunned at Duanmu Huai's account.
[Lorena, is Sahariel with you? Ask her if Heaven can block an assault from Oblivion.]
Oblivion was equivalent to the Warp on this continent, while in Manaria, the equivalent was naturally Heaven and Hell.
Though it was unclear if the King of Icehell would fight these foreign interlopers, at the very least Heaven would never allow the Daedra to rampage freely.
[…Lady Sahariel says that at present, the connection between Heaven and the Holy City is not strong enough… It will be very difficult to send many angelic legions for support…]
"Tsk…"
Hearing Lorena's answer, Duanmu Huai frowned. This meant he had to fight two wars at once. One in the real world, against the dragon Alduin the World-Eater. And the other in the realm beyond, against the Daedric Princes in Oblivion.
Of course, the best plan was to destroy the enemy completely before the passage was opened. Duanmu Huai could freely travel between the two continents because he was a Fragment Holder. As for Alduin, wanting to enter Manaria was not as simple as just flying over a mountain range.
"But for now, there's no need to worry too much."
Duanmu Huai reassured the others.
"The dragons here are all small. Fafnir's body has already been burned. Fafnir himself won't be willing to settle for less. And it's certain that his relationship with Alduin is not one of close cooperation. So there's no need to fear his revival in the short term…"
His reasoning was not without basis. Since Alduin was the final boss of this world, he would surely be cunning and treacherous. And Fafnir, being a world boss himself, would never be content to bow down. Not to mention, the dragons of this land were so small that Fafnir would never want such a body. The two would inevitably scheme against each other.
But that did not mean they could rest easy.
No matter what, after hearing all this from Azura, Duanmu Huai knew there was no longer time for leisure.
(End of Chapter)