(Mika’s POV)

Volendrung is heavier than I expected. Well, the weight is just for the user and for the attacks, it won’t affect Shadowmere when I’m riding her. With Lily sitting in front of me, we ride south for two days, stopping only to eat. Shadowmere doesn’t need to rest, since she’s a supernatural horse.

Of course, the one that prepares our food is the head chef that Sebastian mentioned before. And indeed, his food is the best that I have ever had. We didn’t meet any monsters, we were too fast for them. And if they approached too much, Lily would take them down with Auriel’s Bow.

She was shocked at the power of the bow. Well, who wouldn’t? An Aedric artifact, with the power of the god of the sun. It’s no joke, even more with my improvements with faster arrows and stronger explosions. However, I made so that the power of the wielder affects the strength of the bow.

That means that is she shoots a mountain, she won’t cause any damage at all. However, if I use the bow to shoot at the same mountain, it will blow up completely… and maybe the next three or four mountains.

I should put some seals on myself, for precaution. Normally, I wouldn’t do something like that… but man, if I sneeze, I might end the continent. I want to enjoy this world, not destroy it. I could at least enjoy this world’s fights a bit.

And I think that I made the right choice taking Volendrung as main weapon. It isn’t powerful as Dragonbane, my most powerful weapon, but it can wreck shit really well. Volendrung, besides having a name that is fun to say, doesn’t let its user get tired, ever.

It also can break anything when it hits, causing a hundred times more pain, and if you hit the ground with it, it will make the earth shake, making your enemies lose balance. Of course, it has more powers, but these are the basics. The others have specific conditions, I had a lot of fun modding this guy. And yes, as everything that I meddle with, it has a way of ending the world, that only I can use.

This one, if you hit hard enough, it will split the planet in half. It’s a fun, one use attack that was amazing to see in game. Well, it would be an amazing thing to see in real life, but then I would only be able to see it once, so it’s not worth it.

As we ride, I slowly seal some of my powers. Of course, I can use them if I want, but this will stop the activation when the conditions are met for automatic activation. Some such as Death Aura, when I’m in low HP, it will kill everything in a large radius, enough to take a dragon out of the sky.

I also deactivate my lycanthropy, since I would turn into a werewolf during full moon. Me, with enhanced physic strength and out of control isn’t something pretty to see. I do leave some untouched, since they are passives. I only turn off the one that are active with wide area destruction. I pretend to rule this world, not destroy it.

We arrive at a village by the dusk of the third day. The village seems isolated, as the road to it is on bad condition, with some weed on it, seeing that it hasn’t been used that well. Also, the trails are old, barely visible.

Umm… an isolated village… I wonder if we can do something to earn a night here, or if there is an inn around. I look down to Lily, who’s now wearing a nightingale armor. I decided to give her a set of the armor since it’s light, and stealthy, something that she’s good at. I would give her the dark brotherhood armor, but the nightingale one seems more fit, as it can hide her ears.

I slow down Shadowmere as we approach, and murmur down to Lily.

(Mika): “We are going to stay on this village for the night. Keep your hood on.”

She nods, and we approach the wall. The gate is still open, with two guards on the sides. I say guards, but they are clearly not that. They don’t look like soldiers, being a bit skinny, and they don’t wear any armor, or any uniform, with their clothes not matching at all. Well, I guess that they are on guard duty, with their spears.

One is a young man, while the other is an old man with his beard starting to grey. They are most likely villagers. As we approach, the younger man points his spear to us.

(Guard 1): “Who goes there?!”

(Old man’s POV)

I immediately smack the back of the head of the brat pointing his spears to the travelers. As he crouches in pain, I say to the travelers:

(Old man): “I’m sorry for his behavior, Sir! Welcome to our village.”

(Mika): “Thanks, elder. Does this village have an inn?”

(Old man): “Yes sir! It might not be for your states, but it’s at the middle of the main street. It’s called Mug of Sap. Their food is quite good sir.”

I say respectfully. Nodding, the hooded figure with the armored girl pass by on their black horse. After they are gone, I yell angrily to the brat on my side, who was wisely quiet during our conversation:

(Old man): “What the hell were you doing, you idiot?!”

(brat): “I was just doing my job! Besides, they both aren’t showing their faces! They’re suspicious!”

I slap his head again, making him wince.

(Old man): “Didn’t you see how they were dressed and armed?! The girl’s bow and armor were clearly something a noble would wear, and the guys clothes and hammer looked even more expensive! Even their horse was of a good breed! They’re probably nobles in disguise traveling! Pay attention next time you are going to stop someone and point your spear to them!”

He looks at me, with wide eyes. This stupid kid. As always, he doesn’t think before acting. Attracting the rage of a noble to our little village would be a terrible thing. We are an already isolated village, without many travelers, and the wrath of a noble could send us to complete isolation.

We return to our posts. As I stand, by back hurts. Dammit, I’m getting old for this.

(Mika’s POV)

I thin that they confused us with rich people or nobles, but whatever. Better for us, I guess. We ride to the inn and leave Shadowmere on the stables. However, when we enter to rent a room…

(receptionist): “I’m sorry sir, but our two bed rooms are rented out. We only have rooms with single beds.”

(Mika): “Alright, one of those, please.”

I say, paying for the night. Under the eyes of the villagers, that look at us with certain fear on their eyes, we eat silently our dinner, never revealing our faces. Although the food doesn’t taste as good as the head chef’s, it’s still tasty. The old man was right.

As we eat, I hear the murmurs of the villagers with my heightened hearing, they are in vast majority about us, trying to figure out from where we came from, or what is our objective. However, a pair talking catches my attention.

Not only because they are using hoods to hide their faces too, but that they are using magic to bend the attention of the people around them. The smell of blood… vampires.

(Vampire 1): “So, did you find the relic already?”

(Vampire 2): “Yes, I have found it. Well, not exactly.”

(Vampire 1): “What do you mean?”

(Vampire 2): “The magic that I used showed me the way to ruins, not far from here, most likely elven ruins. The entrance is blocked by magic.”

(Vampire 1): “Do you think that you can break through it?”

(Vampire 2): “Probably. Give me three days. After that, I will meet you guys on the nest.”

(Vampire 1): “It seems that our revenge against this village will be done soon.”

(Vampire 2): “Yes. We will avenge the damage that they have done to our clan. The paladin is old and retired, and he hasn’t taught his children his powers. With that relic, this whole village will turn into a feeding ground! We will have food for years to come, and our power will raise as we grow our clan!”

(Vampire 1): “To our raise of power, and one day, to the downfall of the Church of Light!”

The made a short cheer, drinking something that smelled as blood, and after, went out of the inn. Humm… interesting… elven ruins, huh? This seems interesting…

I guess that I will make a light change in my plans.