An illustrated Skyrim story beyond the fall of the Dark Brotherhood~
After a surreal event, Cicero is inexplicably thrown back into a clear state of mind and his memories from his life prior to his madness return. We begin to learn who he really is...
Cicero was ripped from slumber by a sudden knock at the door. He quickly sat up trying to remember where he was. His eyes instantly landed on Jade curled up in a pelt beside him. She appeared to be just as buck-naked as himself. A large man lay dead on the floor under a bear pelt in a pool of blood. Cicero glanced up at the door before scrambling to gather pieces of his armor from the foot of the bed.
Jade awoke as her source of heat was removed. She slowly sat up looking around in confusion when she noticed the body of her dead uncle. A chill ran up her spine as memories of the night before came flooding back.
There was another knock at the door followed by a small female voice, "Master Marcurio?"
Cicero paused in his struggle with his leather breeches and turned to signal to Jade to stay quiet. She pulled the pelt over her bare chest as a look of panic crossed her face.
"Master Marcurio," the girl knocked again and wiggled the handle. Thankfully, it was still locked. "It's Aud. I'm here for my lesson! I brought the honey and the nightshade like you requested-"
Jade frowned upon hearing that and glanced at Cicero. He buttoned up his pants and bent down to gather her armor and tossed it at her. She refused to move her arms from covering her chest; the leather outfit landing over her face.
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Cicero was not concerned about her naked body so much as how they were going to get out of there. His head was pounding with a hangover that could kill a horse. As he continued to dress with haste, he realized that he was having a hard time breathing from his nose which felt pretty broken.
"Master?" The girl knocked yet again, "Is everything alright? Are you awake?"
Jade yanked her clothing off her head and glared at Cicero. Her expression slowly faded as she finally got a good look at his bruised and bashed face. She felt bad about everything that had happened, knowing good and well that it was her that had put him in each situation... yet he had never complained.
Noticing her gaze, Cicero gestured to his lips and then pointed to the door. She squinted at him, not understanding. He shook his head, pointed to his lips, then to her, then to the door again. Jade twisted around trying to get her armor on while at the same time, struggling to keep her body covered from his view. Cicero snapped his fingers to get her attention again. She grunted angrily, not understanding what he wanted.
The girl knocked once more, lighter this time, "Master, should I get the innkeeper to let me in? I'm afraid something is wrong... you never miss a lesson..."
Jade stood up to finish dressing as she finally understood the severity of the situation.
"Say something," Cicero whispered.
"What? Why?" Jade hissed back.
They glared at one another. Despite the throbbing of his jaw, Cicero clenched his teeth and motioned for her to hurry up.
