ʜ ᴇ ʀ ᴏ // Teldryn Sero

o.o.2 // back-up

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   After nearly six bottles, I was feeling the effects of the Sujamma. Quite heavily, actually. I rubbed my eyes under the cowl harshly, regaining my grip on reality. If these cultists were going to be everywhere, i need a bit of protection. At least, right now.

   I'm drunk off my ass.

   I rose up out of my seat, sighing and glancing around. How the hell would i pinpoint a merc around here when i barely know-

   "The best swordsman in all Morrowind is at your service, for the right price~!"

   A deep, almost grainy voice filled my ears as i turned to the source of the noise. Ah. There's my merc. Probably also drunk off his ass, noting the empty liquor bottles on the table to his side. I rolled my eyes, walking over to the man covered head to toe in Chitin armor.

   He looked up through his goggles. I could almost hear the fierce grin on his face as he spoke.

   "Well hello there. Teldryn Sero, blade for hire! Best damn swordsman in Morrowi-"

   "Yeah yeah, i heard your little speech from the other side of the damn bar. How much you askin'?" I cut him off, crossing my arms over my chest as he cocked his head to the side. Arrogance just radiated from him, but i unfortunately had no other option that i know of.

   "Five-hundred septims~ unless you're looking to raid a bandit hideout just for the fun of it. Then it's a thousand." The Dunmer replied, staring up at me through his helmet. I sighed and took out two-thousand (2000) septims in a coin purse, throwing it on the table. The mercenary, Teldryn, glanced over without a word.

   "Cover me for the night. Make sure nobody comes into my room unannounced, especially if they are masked. Wake me up after about three days for some more alcohol if i haven't gotten up already. You're in for a rough time, my friend." I replied, a few of my words slurring together as the weight of drunkenness and exhaustion hit me. "You'll need the extra coin. I'm a bit extra to handle."

   Teldryn took the coin and pocketed it, standing up. "That's it? Watch you sleep? You had better not expect me to stay up for those three days straight just cause you don't want to wake up." He grumbled, stretching his limbs a bit before nodding.
"Let's be off, then."

   I nodded, grabbing my dagger from the table along with an extra bottle of Sujamma before walking out of the bar, searching around for an inn.

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   Teldryn was not much help when it came to finding a place to stay the night. I eventually found the tavern myself, as i'm now taking my weapons off me and setting them at my bedside. Teldryn was waiting for an apparent instruction.

   I looked up at him as i unhooked my boots. "Whatcha strain' at? Want a cookie, or something?" I huffed, pulling off the boots and setting them neatly by my warhammer.

   Teldryn shifted his footing in annoyance. "I'm just waiting for you to actually tell me what you want." He hummed, tapping his gloved finger against his arm impatiently. I pulled off my cowl and rose a brow.

   "Whaddya mean? I meant it when i said for you to keep watch." I replied. Teldryn huffed.

   "You paid me two grand to watch you sleep? Anyone could do that..." He trailed off. I rolled my eyes.

   "Rhea." I replied. "And i'll tell you later. Wake me up whenever, i guess." I said before laying back against the straw bed frame, thankful my armor was rather light. Teldryn walked out of the room, annoyed.

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Teldryn Sero's POV

  Two thousand septims. Two grand to watch over some random outlander for a few nights. I've never in my hundreds of years, had someone so odd. Now the sarcasm, i'm used to. Makes things a tad bit less boring. I only hope i'm about to be traveling with someone competent.

   The female intrigued me, yet annoyed me. She was heavily sarcastic and secretive, which only led me to question her actions more and more. I rolled my eyes, looking up. What in the name of Azura have I gotten myself into? Why did they even need protection in the first place? Who the hell are they? My questions grew as i continued to wonder about the cloaked outlander. One thing was certain.

                She was fucking annoying.

   I slumped against the door of my patron's room, sitting on the ground. I leaned my head back, mentally preparing myself for the next few days.

. . . . .

   Two days later, Rhea Nahro's POV

   I slowly stirred, groaning a tad bit from the lack of movement i've had. Gods, how long was i asleep? I carefully sat up, stretching as a few joints popped and cracked in my shoulders and back. All of my belongings were as i had left them before. Thankfully, the merc i hired was no thief as i was.

   I pulled my boots on along with my cowl, packed up all of my things, and opened the door to my room to find it slightly blocked by an obstacle.

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Third Person POV
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   Rhea glanced around the corner. A sleeping Dunmer sat, leaned against the door and the wall. The Dragonborn rolled her eyes as she lightly kicked the merc's side, causing him to groan and stir.

   "Oh- you son of a b-" Teldryn started, glaring through the goggles of his helmet. Rhea was unfazed, staring down at him.

   "I'm leaving. You can come with me or you can stay here. I don't care. I appreciate the guard, even if you were sleeping on the job." She stated, arms crossed as she awaited an answer. The Dunmer grumbled in response, standing up slowly. The hangover had long been gone, especially now that Rhea had been asleep for two days straight.

   "I'll accompany you. Better than sitting in that bar all the time. Though i do prefer getting drunk than your oddities." Teldryn huffed, sliding his sword back into his belt holster. Rhea shrugged, already walking out of the inn in search of the "Earth Stone," as the man at the docks had mentioned. Teldryn blinked and against his better judgement, followed.

 
   As the two ventured out of Raven Rock, the world around them seemed to almost darken out of the lively feel that the small town gave them. Especially the blade, noting that he knew all about the province whereas Rhea knew minimal.

   In the distance, a figure dressed in traditional Redoran Guard uniform could be seen fighting off creatures that seemed to be unfamiliar to the Dragonborn.

   "What the fuck is that?" Rhea growled, her head whipping over to Teldryn, who readied his weapon with a grim stance.

   "Ash spawn. Dastardly, filthy creatures. I absolutely despise them." He huffed, advancing towards the undead with Rhea soon following.

   "Ash fucking what?"

Rhea was absolutely about to get a taste of Morrowind.

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The following chapters will be much longer, as this is simply the beginning. I'm imagining this to be a slow-burn type of thing lmao. also if some letters aren't capitalized where they should be, i'm tired and heavily sleep deprived, so i couldn't care less about some text <3

jk i love y'all

-1222 words-