(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
Aerion nodded, accepting her gratitude, knowing that the small investment had paid off handsomely in local reputation and potential future goodwill.
He watched Carlotta's sigh of relief, knowing the small act of intervention had solidified his position not just as a powerful figure, but as a decent person.
As the tension eased, a small, delightful sound broke the remaining quiet. Mila, having finally finished her warm stew, was captivated. She slid down from her stool, her eyes wide with happines, as she approached Lupin, who was still stationed dutifully by Aerion's feet.
Lupin drop his guard instantly when it saw her. The sharp, amber eyes that had been tracking Mikael's every twitch softened. The moment Mila knelt down, her small hand reaching out, the fox as a pet eager for attention. Mila's fingers found the thick ruff of fur around his neck, and she began petting him, her touch was gentle and full of exploration.
Lupin melted into the affection, leaning into her tiny hands with a series of soft, happy yips that were barely audible over the general din of the tavern. The fox accepted a loving hug from the little girl, rubbing its nose affectionately against her cheek before it true nature asserted itself.
Mila, with the generous heart of a child, looked at her empty bowl, then back at the fox, and decided to share her remaining wealth. She carefully scraped the last bits of gravy and a few lingering carrot slivers from her bowl's bottom and offered them to Lupin.
The gluttonous fox consumed the leftover stew with an enthusiastic, slurping zeal, earning a quiet headshake of disapproval from Aerion. The fox's appetite was truly boundless.
'Ah, the sweet roll,' Aerion recalled. He had promised the fox a celebratory treat back at Halted Stream Camp after clearing out the area and gathered the loot. Now was the perfect time to fulfill the promise.
He turned to Hulda, who was currently organizing tankards beneath the counter.
"Hulda," Aerion said, leaning slightly closer. "lDo you by chance still have any of those fresh sweet rolls remaining? I promised my little fox here one after we finished our business."
Hulda paused her stacking, a rare, genuine grin spreading across her face. "A sweet roll for the fox, eh? Well, I like a man who keeps a promise, even to a creature. Aye, I always keep a few hidden away for tomorrow, before a new batch was bakes."
She reached behind her, expertly navigating the storage shelves, and produced a single, perfectly golden brown sweet roll, its glaze catching the firelight.
"That'll be two septims for this piece of luxury, dearie," she said, placing the sweet roll on the counter.
Aerion promptly paid the two septims, watching the small gold coins slide across the worn wood. He took the sweet roll, the sweet, yeasty scent instantly making Lupin's ears perk up even further.
Not handing it directly to the animal, Aerion saw an opportunity to engage Mila further. He turned to the little girl, who was now sitting back on her heels, watching the exchange with huge, expectant eyes.
"Mila," Aerion said gently, holding the sweet roll just out of Lupin's reach. "Lupin has been a very good boy today, helping me complete a mission for the Jarl. Would you do me the honor of giving him this reward? It would mean much more coming from a kind heart like yours."
Mila's eyes, already bright from playing with the fox, now shone with genuine delight. She nodded rapidly, her small face alight with excitement.
She took the sweet roll from Aerion's hand, holding it carefully. She presented it to Lupin with the solemnity of a high priestess offering a sacrifice.
Lupin, displaying a surprising degree of politeness, took the sweet roll delicately from her fingers. The subsequent consumption was, however, less delicate, a happy, rapid series of bites and appreciative crunches.
With the fox occupied and the immediate drama concluded, Aerion finally took a seat on the unoccupied stool to the left of Carlotta. The tavern sounds, Mikael's suddenly inspired, if slightly manic, strumming, the clatter of tankards, the low roar of Nord conversation, formed a comforting sonic wall around their little corner.
"So, Aerion," Carlotta began, her voice low and measured, cutting through the background noise. She watched him closely, a residual skepticism lingering in her look, mixed with the new curiosity. "I have to admit, I didn't think I see you shutting down Mikael with the weight of the Jarl's name. What exactly happened with Jarl Balgruuf? That 'bounty hunter enlisted by the Jarl' sounds important."
Aerion smiled, a natural, unforced gesture this time. He knew brevity was appreciated by busy folk like Carlotta and Hulda.
"The matter was concluded successfully," Aerion says, decided to summarized what hapoe. "I presented the bounty I finished, took the reward, and in doing so, officially secured my status as a resident and associate of Whiterun. The Jarl was… impressed enough to immediately offer a new, more substantial contract. One with a much larger prize."
Hulda, who was leaning over the counter, drying a mug with vigorous circular motions, paused. "A larger prize? What bandit camp caused the Jarl to issue a more substantial prize, Aerion? Usually, the Jarl would send his men to gives out missives if there was bounty placed."
Aerion took a slow breath. "It is not bandits, Hulda. The target is the Giants at Bleakwind Basin."
The word caused a perceptible drop in the atmosphere around them. Carlotta's eyes widened slightly, and Hulda stopped wiping the mug entirely, letting it hang suspended in the air.
"Giants? Alone?" Carlotta's voice was laced with genuine alarm, the market woman's toughness momentarily replaced by simple human worry. "Aerion, those things are monstrous! They wander with those great shaggy mammoths, two or three of them, sometimes. A single blow from a Giant's club will turn a man into paste! It's suicide, even for the best Nord warrior."
Hulda nodded gravely. "Carlotta is right. They are the size of small towers. Even the city guards won't patrol near their camps unless they are in groups of six or more, and even then, they don't engage. Why would the Jarl send one man for that?"
The genuine concern in their voices was a warm feeling Aerion hadn't often experienced. It was the first time he felt concern since coming to this world, even if it's the honest worry of people looking out for a temporary acquaintance.
Aerion offered another easy smile, a calm reassurance that he hoped would settle their fears. He tapped his temple gently.
"I appreciate your concern, both of you, truly," he said. "But I assure you, it will be fine. I am aware of their size, and their ferocity. That is why I rely not on brute force or a sharp sword, but on something slightly less conventional. I have my magic, and that makes the difference."
He kept his tone light, suggesting the Giants were merely a large, well defended target that required a specific kind of explosive solution.
"They may be massive, but they are slow, and they are susceptible to concentrated arcane energy. I intend to use my considerable resources to ensure the fight is swift, surgical, and ends definitively in my favor. I will not be walking up and asking them to have a debate," he concluded with a wry lift of his eyebrow.
The answer seemed to satisfy them marginally, replacing their active worry with a watchful caution.
"Well, you certainly have spirit, I'll give you that, Aerion," Hulda murmured, finally returning to her mug wiping. "Just promise me you'll come back in one piece to tell the tale. We need fewer loudmouths and more dependable folk like you in this city, even if you are one of the pale ones, and that says much of our situation currently here."
They continued talking for a while, discussing the typical town topics, the current lack of decent fishing, the irritating rise in the price of salt, and the latest batch of mead brewed in the local cellar.
Aerion found himself enjoying the casual conversation, the easy, human rhythm of life which he haven't had for quite some time.
Their quiet evening was drawing to a close when Mila stirred. She had been gently petting the now slumbering Lupin, who lay curled up at the base of the stool, his stomach full of stew and sweet roll.
"Mama," Mila mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "Can we go home now? I'm sleepy."
Carlotta's expression softened completely as she looked at her daughter. She reached down and lifted Mila into a tight, secure hug.
"Of course, cara. It's far past your bedtime," Carlotta said.
She stood up from the stool. She looked first at Hulda. "Thank you, Hulda. You saved my evening, as usual. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Safe journey, Carlotta. Be careful getting home," Hulda replied, genuine warmth in her voice.
Carlotta then turned to Aerion, her expression serious and grateful. "Aerion, I meant what I said. Thank you for intervening. I don't know why, but I believe you'll return from this Giant hunt. Just… be safe."
"I intend to," Aerion promised, standing up to acknowledge her departure.
Mila, still nestled against her mother's hip, leaned out and waved a sleepy hand at the curled up fox. "Bye, Lupin! Don't let the bedbugs bite!"
Lupin only responded with a soft, content sigh, entirely unconcerned with potential spider threats.
Aerion watched them walk toward the inn's main door, the sound of the latch closing behind them sealing the night. He then gave Hulda one last nod.
"Good night, Hulda. I shall require a morning meal before sunrise, if possible."
"I'll have Saadia start the fire early, dearie. You'll have your morning stew waiting," Hulda confirmed.
Aerion gave Lupin a gentle nudge with his foot. "Come, my furry menace. Time for rest. We have large targets to consider."
Lupin stretched languidly, yawned, and followed Aerion up the winding wooden staircase to the second floor. Aerion found his rented room and after performing a quick check of the perimeter, he locked the door securely.
Exhaustion, both magical and social, hit him quickly. He collapsed onto the soft, fur filled mattress, and with Lupin curling up instantly at the foot of the bed, the Altmer mage fell immediately into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The transition from deep sleep to waking was not governed by the slow intrusion of morning light or the gradual fading of dreams. It was triggered, instead, by a wet, persistent sensation against his face.
Aerion blinked, his eyes snapping open instantly, and he groaned.
"Lupin," he muttered sleepily, gently admonishing the fox who was enthusiastically licking his cheek, clearly indicating that the sun, though not yet visible, had long passed its point of minimum depression. "Honestly, must you be so… tactile? I prefer a loud, intrusive sound of you yips, thank you."
Lupin merely gave a series of cheerful, non apologetic yips, demanding attention and, also food.
Aerion pushed himself up, the rough sheets clinging briefly to his skin. He stretched, feeling the satisfying crack of his spine and the pull in his muscles.
After the intense emotional and magical exertion of the previous day, the rest had been truly restorative. He felt the Magicka coursing through him, the new reserves added by his level up already integrated into his core energy.
He quickly dressed in his mage clothes, secured his gear, and, after a brief, final sweep of the room to ensure nothing was left behind, he unlocked the door. He paused to secure the lock again, a habit born of prudence and the knowledge that every asset was valuable, before heading down the creaking wooden stairs.
The common room downstairs was remarkably quiet, only a few early risers, probably hunters or traders, huddled near the hearth. The only light came from the sputtering flames of the newly stoked fire and a few flickering oil lamps.
Hulda was already behind the counter, looking surprisingly fresh, overseeing the morning preparations. Beside her was the striking Redguard, Saadia.
"Good morning, Hulda, Saadia," Aerion greeted them, his voice clear and resonant despite the early hour.
"Morning, Aerion. Ready for the hunt, are you?" Hulda replied, offering a warm counter greeting.
Saadia offered a quick, reserved nod and a polite "Good morning."
Aerion took a seat at a vacant stool at the counter, with Lupin settling patiently beneath him, his attention focused entirely on the scent of cooking food.
"Indeed, Hulda. And yes, my stomach demands preparation," Aerion confirmed. "I'll take two bowls of your finest stew, please, and a bottle of your finest mead to wash it down."
Hulda chuckled warmly. "A growing one, that fox. Two bowls of stew and the mead will be 15 septims total, if you don't mind the early service charge."
Aerion immediately paid the 15 septims. The small expenditure barely registered on his balance, but he always ensured prompt and exact payment.
Saadia quickly arrived, placing two steaming, fragrant bowls of stew and a bottle of mead on the counter. The air immediately filled with the delicious, earthy aroma of carrots, potatoes, and savory meat broth.
Aerion ate his breakfast methodically, the thick stew warming him from the inside out, providing a solid base for the strenuous day ahead.
Lupin, given his own bowl on the floor by Aerion, ate with the quiet, efficient focus of a creature determined not to leave a single drop. Aerion chased the meal with a strong swig of the mead, its sweetness and fermentation giving a pleasant bite to the back of his throat.
After they both finished, Aerion stood up, feeling energized and ready. He thanked Hulda and Saadia for the excellent meal, promised Hulda he'd be back by the end of the week, and then, with Lupin trotting purposefully at his heel, he left the warm sanctuary of the Bannered Mare.
The city outside was silent and cold. The rising sun was still hidden behind the eastern mountains, casting the western plains in a blue grey, frigid twilight. Aerion walked past the central market, now even quieter than it had been last night, the stalls shrouded under frost rimmed canvas.
His destination was not the city gates yet, but a specific location near the city gates, the back of the Warmaiden's.
He was going to the stack of Mod Chests to get some items. He also knew that the store and the smithy, owned by Adrienne, would not be open for several hours, leaving the area entirely deserted.
This was perfect. It allowed him to move past Adrienne's tools and the forge area without having to ask permission or provide explanations, preserving the illusion of his new status as a respected, if slightly mysterious, citizen.
He rounded the corner of the stone building and there they were, the unassuming stack of five large, sturdy wooden chests, placed improbably against the Warmaiden's wall and only him can see it.
Aerion approached them. He had emptied these chests of the 5,000 septims on in each each. He hadn't expected the gold to regenerate, but just maybe the rules of this reality were consistent only in their inconsistencies.
He placed his hand on the lid of the first chest, and the internal interface immediately displayed its contents. He felt a small, triumphant surge of validation.
'It has indeed regenerated,' he realized. The system, for whatever reason, a programmed daily reset, or perhaps a bug tied to his level up which caused it to regenerate each time, had completely replenished the gold in the chests.
He quickly checked the other four. Every single one held the exact, full amount of 5,000 septims.
Aerion didn't hesitate. This wasn't theft after all, merely collecting a resource generated by the system, that would greatly accelerate his preparation for his schemes, and preparation for when the main story started.
The more gold he had, the faster he could buy materials, train skills, and enchant gear, ensuring his longevity.
He swiftly transfer, one by one.
He felt the abstract weight of the wealth register immediately in his system panel, an immense money boost of 25,000 Septims now added to his existing funds.
"Excellent," Aerion murmured softly to Lupin, who was sitting down right at Aerion's feet, looking bright at him while tilting it's head.
His primary goal for being here, however, was not the gold. It was the other contents of the chests. He needed objects with specific enchantments to learn the base principles of that skill.
He began sifting through the magically infinite contents of the first chest. His internal interface, a constant overlay on his vision, allowed him to filter the contents instantly.
He searched specifically for powerful, common enchantments that would allow him to quickly level the skill.
He picked out a handful of items, a Ring of Minor Destruction, a Necklace of Stamina, a Helmet of Magicka, and a Cuirass of Minor Health.
He focused the search further, looking for specific weapon enchantments like Fire or Paralyze, crucial for high level tactical utility. He found a Steel Sword of Embers and a Dwarven Bow of Paralysis.
After choosing the items, he initiated an immediate transfer to his System Inventory, and the weight of the objects was instantly added to his carrying capacity by 43 KG.
Aerion organized the items in his mental catalog, storing the knowledge they represented. Each item was a lesson waiting to be absorbed at the Arcane Enchanter in Dragonsreach. With the unexpected gold secured and the initial enchantment resources collected, Aerion and Lupin turned away from the stack of cheating chests.
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[Main Panel] Name: Aerion Race: High Elf (Altmer) Health: 160/160 Stamina: 140/140 Magicka: 250/250 Level: 11
Skills: Animal Affinity (MAX LEVEL), Fast Skill Levelling (MAX LEVEL), Fast Magic Mastery (MAX LEVEL), Destruction (Fire/Lightning) (Level 21/22), Persuasion (Level 20), Smithing (Level 9), Sneak (Level 13), One Handed (Level 7), Restoration (Healing) (Level 7), Two Handed (Level 8), Lockpicking (Level 9), Archery (Level 7), & Alteration (Level 4)
[Inventory Panel]
1x Small Pouch = 315 Septims
1x Steel Dagger, Iron Shield, Long Bow, Potions of Minor Stamina, Philter of Lockpicking, Steel Warhammer, Small Sack, Poacher's Axe, Copper and Onyx Circlet, Steel Mace, Mammoth Tusk, Ring of Minor Destruction, Necklace of Stamina, Helmet of Magicka, Cuirass of Minor Health, Steel Sword of Embers, & Dwarven Bow of Paralysis.
2x Gold Garnet Rings, Gold Ring, & Scroll Of Fireball
3x Silver Garnet Rings, Silver Rings, Sapphire, & Amethyst
4x Lockpicks, Potions of Minor Magicka, & Ruby
6x Potions Of Minor Healing
8x Iron Arrows
Weight: 118 KG / 370 KG
Septims = 51,606