Testimonium Noctem | TBATE

Drink Up

Alduin Eralith

"There have yet to be any signs of Mernir, my king." General Aya said, bowing. I thanked her and dismissed her, her quiet footsteps - unheard, really - echoing through my office as she left, giving me one last bow. I watched her walk out of the door, waiting for her to completely leave before I collapsed.

I slowly put my head in my arms as I heard the slight crumple of paper on my elbows, where I rested them at my desk, but I could not bring myself to care right now. It was a shitshow with how much I had on my mind and everything that I had to do right now. We didn't even get to announce what we gathered everyone for, so we would have to reconvene. If it fails once more, I would just send messangers with the news.

My niece was locking everyone out of her room, no one able to go in. It pained me to see her like this after Mernir's dissappearance - she likely assumed he had lost the battle and died. I could understand why she said that, we went back to the battlegrounds for investigation and it looked like an Asura went wild.

But I couldn't let my faith go just yet. I had seen the prowess Mernir held and knew that he likely came out victorious, but I also saw the prowess of the 5 people with horns that were there. I couldn't even see any of them move, just appearing at some spots as everything around them was destroyed simply from the shockwaves.

"Dear?" A voice came from the door. I looked up to see my wife, Merial, stepping through. Tessia was behind her as they entered my office and I smiled at them with a small and tired - yet genuine - smile, my hands folding on the desk. I could definetly use a little company, better if it's of the two most important women in my life.

A hand laid on my shoulder as Merial sat down, looking up at me from her small stature. Tessia was rubbing her eyes, likely tired, as she tugged on my leg. I chuckled lowly and pulled a chair out for her as she sat down, leaning against the side of my torso. I rubbed her hair as I wrapped an arm around my wife, sitting there in silence.

"What do you think?" I asked, looking at Merial. Tessia had already fallen asleep in the few minutes of silence, leaning against me. She looked at me strangely for a second, and her eyes flicked to the papers that were spaced out on my desk before they shone with realization.

"I don't know." She said plainly as she turned her head to the ceiling, a small frown playing on her lips as she ruminated on her thoughts. "Mernir is exceptionally strong, but so were they. It's been a week and we still have no signs back... what am I supposed to think?" She continued, letting out a small sigh. I nodded, understanding where she came from.

"Got to have some hope." I muttered lowly, and she nodded against my shoulder. I sat there like that, comftrably, my eyes closing little by little, even though I was aware of how much work I have to do.

Well, I am sure future Alduin could take over that.

Agrona Vritra

"There have been no signs of Mernir Nyrus, Lord Thareus." I said, kneeling and putting my head down to the floor. The aura in the room was suffocating, even though I knew Lord Thareus restrained his power. I took a look up to see that Thareus nodded in satisfaction as he sat down and motioned for me to get up and sit on the couch.

"We thank you for your co-operation, Agrona Vritra." Thareus said as I sat down. I looked at him for a few seconds, wanting to know where this conversation will continue - hopefully, towards them helping me take down Kezess.

"The Sentinel," He said, stopping for a second as he folded his hands on his kness, eyes looking around the room with nonchalance. A power move, but a power move I could do nothing about from my position. "Have no interest in having any direct involvement in your affairs with the so-called... Kezess Indrath?"