Ceolrianna, Miraak, Sorerica, Alduin, Sanguine, Ruby, Nanae, Eolri, Carciel, Leijona, Trineiya… None of the fights throughout any of the Cycles had prepared Niyleen for a battle with the most formidable opponent she’d ever have to face… herself. When she’d heard about Aeron from the Second, seen how she fought against Sorerica in that spectacle of a duel, Niyleen thought that she was an arrogant blowhard, a pushover, someone that she could face even before encountering Trineiya or Ruby in the Fourth Cycle. However, the truth wasn’t so kind.

 

 

 

Marynziia, rather, Aeron was a force of nature. Even with that unwieldy weapon of hers, she was keeping Niyleen at bay, and if the Halfling didn’t know any better, she would have thought that she was being toyed with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a prolonged exchange, Niyleen was finally able to create a sizable amount of distance from Aeron so she could catch her breath. (I just can’t penetrate her defenses. And this weapon…) Niyleen looked down at her weapon and frowned. (I’ve known for quite some time that I had a high resistance to Flames, but if she does as well—)

 

 

 

“You’ve no time to rest Flame-Child! Or do you not mind seeing Lucari die in front of you again?”

Enraged, Niyleen lunged at Aeron and the two resumed their battle with the former yet again not gaining any ground in defeating Vaermina’s Champion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Dammit this isn’t working…” Niyleen said as she got to a knee after taking an hellacious kick to the stomach that sent her flying. (This is literally impossible! She’s moving like Carciel, has Trineiya’s technique, gives off as dangerous a presence as Ruby, is as sturdy and strong as that Lion…)

Just as she thought of Leijona, she remembered a piece of advice that the Second had given her while she was fighting the Lion. When she goes for another overhead attack, go for her chest. Use one of Eolri’s special attacks.

 

Seeing how fast she was, Niyleen didn’t think that Aeron would fall for such a trick, but she’d have to use all the tricks in her disposal if she was going to have a chance at finishing this fight, and soon. Engaging Aeron again, Niyleen dodged and parried her attacks and continued to wait until the moment presented itself. After staying in this defense for so long, Niyleen thought that she’d be stuck defending forever, but then an opportunity presented itself.

Niyleen didn’t know if it was frustration, or a lack of patience that had gotten the better of her, but randomly Aeron decided to pick up the pace with her attacks and after missing wildly with a slash that would have decapitated the Halfling, Niyleen took advantage of her awkward position and delivered an array of slashes all over Aeron’s body.

 

 

(Heh, child’s play.) With her back facing her opponent, Niyleen got to her feet and dispelled her weapon. “No matter who you are, no one’s proven stronger than any of Eolri’s techniques.” She smirked to herself at how overpowering the Breton’s swordplay was. “Now then, Ravager Style Secret Technique Number 194: Curse of the—”

Suddenly Niyleen was hit hard in her back and went flying a ways away from where she'd last been standing. The initial hit didn’t feel that strong, but when she finally stopped moving, Niyleen was aching all over with the worst headache she could ever remember having.

“Shiiiiit…” Niyleen said. (She shouldn’t have been able to move! She’s more like the Lion than I thought…)

“Are you mental,” Aeron jeered as she made her way to Niyleen who was struggling to stand. “Do you really think that the Champion to the Dream-lady, the Collector of Minds, the Prince of Nightmares, would be susceptible to illusion based attacks?”

“Heh, I guess my attack was a bit illogical.” Niyleen made it to her feet, but she didn’t have nearly the same amount of strength in her legs that she had before.

“Disappointing.” Aeron stopped a few yards away from Niyleen and shook her head. “For someone who worships Julianos, you’re very susceptible to anger and you make more than your share of illogical decisions. No wonder it frustrated Nega so much that you out of all of us was the so called Chosen One.”

Niyleen never cared too much about how Nega felt about her, but hearing her sentiment again from Aeron’s lips frustrated her to no end. “You wished to be the best version of us? Well, I wonder if Clavicus Vile screwed you over again.”

“I see… you must be delusional…” Aeron pointed her scythe at Niyleen. “You’re done. I’ve taken your speed and your power. You were never the strongest, fastest, smartest, or quickest witted out of any of us. The only thing you had, was love. A love that amounted to nothing but the end of both participants involved.”

“You lie!” Niyleen screamed. “Lucari isn’t… Lucari isn’t—”

 

All of a sudden Lucari was all that filled Niyleen’s head.

 

*
 

I knew from the moment you began talking to me that we were kindred spirits, but now I know it’s true. How about we team up and help out here in the Reach together?

 

(Was this when I starter to change? Was it at this moment that I had been drawn to you like moths to a flame?)

I’m trying to become the best.

 

(You had dreams… Hopes… They were pure, with no ill intent. No trickery. You were prepared to face off against the world in order to achieve your goals…)

So where are you from? I’m from Dragons Bridge. Got a friend back there that I miss dearly… Do you have any friends? I, er, didn’t mean that as if you don’t. I-I mean…

 

(For me you were a light in the darkness… an annoying light in my otherwise bleak world.)

Wow, a battle-maiden and a cook. I’m sure lucky that I’ll be able to dine on home-cooked meals while traveling.

 

(I… I shouldn’t have been so stubborn. I should have accepted your feelings instead of overlooking them…)

Dan… gerous…

 

(You weren’t the monster… I was. I drove you away. My lies, my secrets, you probably thought I would have spurned you… turned you away…)

You know what I’ve become. A monster like me could never become a hero.

 

(No… you, more than anyone deserved to be the hero. You may have been awkward, chatty, and annoying… but you were pure of heart and mind. I… I did this… I ruined everything…)

…No matter what happens, no matter what you think, don’t assume that Lucari blames you for any of this… until you hear it from her, do NOT believe that you’re at fault for anything!

 

(And that’s why until I see you once again, until I tell you how I feel, I can’t stop! I can’t be defeated!!)

 

*
 

“Lucari isn’t dead,” Niyleen said confidently. “Whether you were truthful to me before or not, I KNOW that as long as I defeat you here and now I’ll see Lucari again. I’ll be able to touch her, hold her, tell her all the things I’ve been holding inside me until now—”

Aeron rolled her eyes. "And how exactly are you going to carry out this fairy tale of yours? Do I have to remind you of your current situation?"

 

Death-Bringer was right. How indeed was Niyleen supposed to win? (Julianos guide me. Now more than ever, I need your help. Please… Show me the way...)

 

“I guess since you’re the Ultimate amalgamation you don’t have a trump card like giving Nega control, do you,” Aeron said solemnly. “Such a shame. Beating that overpowered bitch would have been the greatest proof that I am indeed the strongest.”

Niyleen sucked her teeth. It was true that if she could give Nega control she’d do it in a heartbeat. However, she’d been silent ever since Niyleen had come back from the supposed Fifth Cycle. (But what if Nega wasn’t strong enough? Don’t I have something… anything in my arsenal that can compare to her?)

Stop trying to compare things. Stop limiting yourself. Look beyond what you’ve seen, beyond what you know, and take what’s been waiting for you the entire time.

 

(The Second!?) Niyleen’s eyes went wide and a realization came to her head. (If the Second’s here then that means… Nega! NEGA!! Stop hiding! I need your help!!!)

 

The Second echoed her words once more and then her presence vanished from Niyleen’s mind.

“I don’t mind waiting for you to come up with a plan of some sort, because vanquishing you in your pathetic state wouldn’t be a fitting end to this battle, so don’t worry,” Aeron stuck her hand out. “I’ll give you five minutes. If you don’t have a course of action by then, then you’re shit out of luck, because you’ll be dead. But to be honest, there's no way you'll ever be able to take me down unless a Divine comes down and stops me themselves from killing you."

(That arrogance… Arrogance? Wait a second…) Niyleen smirked and fell into a low stance. “Five minutes? You must be out of your mind!”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“You said before that you were the strongest and I was the weakest. Well when I’m through with you, you’ll finally see that there is more to me than you, Nega or I could ever realize.”

Aeron shook her head. “So you’ve finally lost it. A pity that the last bout in the Cycles would be between a predator and an invalid.” Aeron sighed, and then her eyes went cold. “Fine then Flame-Child. Times up. I’m coming!”

 

Niyleen saw Aeron coming at her, rage painted on the latter’s face, and simply closed her eyes. (I surrender myself to you my Lord... Once again, I am yours...) Feeling a power surge through her, Niyleen's eyes snapped open and the Halfling lunged herself at Aeron for the final time...

 

 

“Haaaa…” Lucari didn’t know how many times she had sighed today, but she just couldn’t get the memories of that day from out of her head. Every day since then she played it back over and over in her head, and none of it made any sense…

 

*
 

“Whether you were truthful to me before or not… I’ll be able to touch her, hold her, tell her all the things I’ve been holding inside me until now—”

 

(Who… who on Nirn is saying these embarrassing things…) She didn’t know who those words were directed to, but they caused Lucari to stir from her slumber and get to her feet. Things were still a bit fuzzy, and she couldn’t remember what happened after she…

 

“No… I… Niyleen!!” The image of her thrusting her arm through the chest of the woman she loved made Lucari sick, sicker than she had ever felt before in her life. She started to race down the stairs when she saw the strangest sight. “Are my eyes playing tricks on me? There are two Niyleens…”

 

 

“…Fine then Flame-Child,” said one Niyleen. “Times up. I’m coming!”

 

Lucari looked at the other Niyleen and saw the most outlandish thing, she had closed her eyes. (Don’t just stand there! Do something!!)

Unable to watch any longer, Lucari decided to jump in between them and intervene but she froze as her body was not allowing her to do as she pleased. (Move! Come on Lucari, MOVE!! If… If I don’t stop them, Niyleen’s going to die!!!)

Believe in her… A voice in her head said. Lucari looked around and sighted a Bosmer who was looking right at her, no, who was staring beyond her tangible self. I know you wish to assist, but this fight is hers and hers alone. All you can do for her is watch and believe…

 

The longer Lucari looked at the Bosmer, the more it seemed like she had seen her before, and then it was the tone in which her voice was projected into her head… “Do I know you—Niyleen!!” Lucari turned toward the fight and saw that both Niyleens were standing with their backs towards each other. “Is… is it over?” It looked like their exchange had ended, but she couldn’t tell who came out ahead. Until they spoke.

 

“What… was that,” said the Niyleen with the large scythe. “Wasn’t that one of your pathetic illusion attacks? How… how am I…”

“Aeron, the basis behind Mistress—Eolri’s Ravager Style Secret Techniques is to restrict and torture your opponent,” said the Niyleen who seemed to be unarmed. “There are a few of them that outright will trick someone into thinking they’re dead and thus cause them to kill themselves, but most simply want to immobilize you. But as you said, they’re all pretty much useless against someone who can fend off illusion based attacks.”

“Then… what have you done to me,” said the one called Aeron as she took to a knee.

 

“I didn’t use any tricks. I simply used the strength and gifts that I always had available to me. I also remembered His words, ‘Abandon Yourself,’ something that you’ve clearly forgotten.”

From seemingly nowhere, Niyleen retrieved a weird looking dagger. She tossed it into the air and smiled. “You may think that ‘Aeron’ was the strongest, but even she threw away her name for power because she was weak. I simply used the first weapon that was given to ‘Niyleen’ when she gave up on being ‘Aeron.’”

“Mehrunes Razor… And to think you called me out for seeking the power of a Daedra...”

 

The Daedric artifact crafted by Mehrunes Dagon that Niyleen received during the First Cycle. Normally the dagger only has a chance to instantly kill any opponent. However, when one goes makes a pact with Mehrunes Dagon, that chance is raised to one hundred percent for the next opponent be it Man or Divine. Seeing the effect the dagger had on Sorerica in the First Cycle, Niyleen and Aeron knew its power to be true. However, the likelihood that Niyleen herself would wield it, even if technically it was rightfully hers in the first place, was so slim that Aeron didn't even take it into account.

 

“‘I thought you were slower than this, but I’m glad that it only took you a bit of prodding to see the bigger picture,’” Niyleen said mockingly. “As you said, I am Nega. I am the Second. I am the Thane of Morthal. And I AM the ‘Child of Flame, destroyer of Karthspire.’ I may not have all of their abilities and experiences available to me at this time, but they’re still within—”

Suddenly Niyleen lowered her arms and turned to meet Lucari’s gaze. They may not have been exactly close to one another, but the Nord’s heightened senses let her see perfectly clear the miserable look on the Halfling’s face. “You’re alive… you’re really al—”

 

 

 

Suddenly Niyleen froze, and the terror on her face shook Lucari to her core. “You… you got me too?”

“I heard you calling out… that ‘Ravager Style Secret Technique’ BS and decided… not to dodge it in order to get a clean hit on you as well. But I guess… I… was too… arrogant...”

And then Aeron fell to the ground, and Lucari saw her breathe her last breath.

Immediately, Lucari went over to Niyleen and tried to help her, but was refused. “Why?” Lucari said as she tried to control how much she was trembling out of anger. “Why do you always deny me Niyleen? Was… was I never—”

 

Niyleen’s smile made Lucari go silent. “You’re embarrassing me, love,” Niyleen said with a laugh. “I… I don’t… I never wanted to look this weak in front of you… I wanted to remain… the ‘kind, patient and firm but caring’ Niyleen that… you fell in love with. The one that made you angry, but… still made you feel safe. Not the me who… drove you into a corner and made you feel like you’d be betrayed if the fact that you became… a vampire got out.”

 

Lucari shook her head feverishly. “N-n-no! I… you never—”

Niyleen laid down and closed her eyes, but kept that smile on her face. “Lucari… when I go… don’t be sad. We’ll meet again… I promise…”

“H-hey, don’t talk like that Niyleen. You’ve got plenty of strength left in you!” Lucari surprised herself when she felt something wet fall down her cheeks. “Hey… I’ll be waiting for you. I promise…”

*

“I later found out that Niyleen’s victory, if you can call it that, put an end to these so-called ‘Cycles,’ and for the first time in a long time I’ve felt like life…” Lucari opened the door to Niyleen’s room, the room that she slept in when the three of them had come her before, and just stared. “She was different. She…”

 

Lucari punched the wall hard, and didn’t as much as grimace at the pain. “Stupidstupidstupid! Why did I believe her? Why!? Why…” Lucari said as tear rolled down her face. “It’s been three months since then, and no one’s heard tell of her in any of the Holds… People don’t come back when they die, not unless they’re made into a thrall. I know that… I KNOW THAT!! So why would I think that it would be any different? Why did I think Niyleen would be any different…”

A knock at her door made her jump and turn her back toward it. “C-come in! The door’s unlocked.” Without hesitation, her visitor entered and Lucari could guess who it was. “Nyleine, is that you?”

“Heehee, how did you guess?”

(It wasn’t that hard to figure out. You’re the only one that’s visited me since that day… But how did you know where I was…)

After Niyleen’s death, Lucari could feel something within her break and all of a sudden she was transported back to Teresa’s castle, where she encountered everyone that Niyleen had been traveling with. She had expected fear in their eyes at the sight of her, even anger because it was obvious that Niyleen’s blood was on her hands… However all they had was sadness in their eyes. She wasn’t being judged, she was being pitied. Unable to handle it, Lucari ran off into the night and straight to the last place she expected anyone to look for her, Vlindrel Hall.

 

 

 

A peculiar thing was that she hadn’t seen the Halfling at Teresa’s castle or Teresa for that matter, yet Nyleine was waiting for her when she first arrived here …

“I don’t know, a lucky guess.”

 

“Luck? You’ve never been one to—hey… are you crying?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Oh uh… Well, the first time I saw you here, you had your back to me as well. Seeing you shaking now like you were then just made me think that you may have been, you know, crying.”

Lucari couldn’t help but smile. “Why are you sticking around here anyway?”

“It’s MY sister’s house! I feel like if anything, next of kin should have rights to it rather than some silly unrequited love interest,” Nyleine said with a laugh. “I guess… that’s a bit much though, seeing how far she was willing to go for you…”

“What would you know?”

 

*

“You’re right,” Niyleen said, with a grin on her face. (It’s not like I’m HER or anything…)

It’d been a while since she’d started visiting her home under the guise of her sister. She wanted so badly to simply tell Lucari that she was back, but the price of her surviving Aeron’s fatal attack was half a year’s servitude with no one knowing that she lived, plus she had to serve him whenever and wherever he called upon her afterwards. If her identity was explicitly found out during these six months, she would be turned into a Xivilai and spend the rest of her existence in the Deadlands.

 

 

“What would I know? I don’t know anything about you other than what my sister told me. Hey, speaking of her, do you remember how the two of you met?”

“Of course… I’d never forget.” Niyleen heard Lucari sigh before she continued. “I had left Dragon Bridge, with only my passion for becoming a hero driving me. After getting a tip of where Niyleen… of where the ‘Raging Inferno of the Reach’ was last seen from a Bosmer… from Dagger, I ended up heading towards Karthwasten and after some time, I decided to rest on the side of the road.

“I remember saying something about capturing Niyleen and being heralded through the ages as a hero when I heard some footsteps come up from behind me.” Lucari sighed. “Haaa… I remember thinking that the footsteps belonged to some arrogant adventurer that was trying to pick me up. I was so ready to punch Niyleen in the face that when she said ‘Hey there’ in that god awful cheerful tone… I couldn’t help but smile and return the greeting in kind.”

“You were so cheerful,” Niyleen said. “Er, I mean, Niyleen said that your smile would have crippled vampires it was so bright. I remember her saying that her first impression of you was that of a worthless naïve adventurer, a milkdrinker.”

“It wasn’t a lie,” Lucari turned slightly to Niyleen. “Your sister… Niyleen opened my eyes. I had always seen the world in black in white, good and evil. She showed me that there were so many shades of gray, heck I’m still finding different hues, even after everything that had happened.” Lucari faced Niyleen and the Halfling could feel her heart ache. “Hey… did your sister ever speak of me?”

“Wh-what!? Stop being so embarrassing!”

“Please. If she said anything…”

(So that’s where my amulet went… and is she wearing… The blindfold I used as a bandanna?) Niyleen turned from Lucari so that she wouldn’t expose herself. “I… Niyleen said a lot. At first I thought she was looking for you because you were the first person she could call a friend in the truest form of the word. However as she continued to talk about you, I could tell that she was in love with you.”

“Heehee, in love with me? Surely you jest.”

“I wish,” Niyleen said angrily trying her best to imitate her sister. “It got so annoying hearing her talk about how much she missed you, wanted to see you, to hold you… to apologize for pushing you away…”

Niyleen felt Lucari’s arms around her and almost went into a panic. “You’re joking, I know you are.” Niyleen could hear the smile in Lucari’s voice, feel the Nord's words on her skin, and she got goosebumps. “If anything she probably felt like I needed to be rescued, which in itself is cute. But… thanks Nyleine. Thank you so much.”

Niyleen pushed Lucari away from her when their eyes locked, the Halfling was sure that she had been figured out. However, seeing Lucari’s puzzled look reassured her that everything was fine. “I only came here to ask one question that’s been bothering me for a while now.”

 

“Okay,” Lucari said with a sniff. “Shoot.”

“Do you think it would have been better if you had never met my sister?”

The speed at which the anger came over Lucari’s face made Niyleen feel like she had tripped a trap in one of those old Nordic ruins. “If you ever say such a thing again, I will fucking hurt you… very badly.”

Lucari stepped right into Niyleen’s face and stared right into her eyes. “Your sister was mean woman. A liar. A thief. A murderer. She never seemed to want to listen to me, AND she was so aggravatingly arrogant… But she was the nicest, most caring person I ever met.”

The longing in Lucari’s eyes almost made Niyleen reveal herself then and there, but she didn’t. Since forever, Niyleen had always played the long game rather than the short one. Revealing herself would only cause Lucari even more pain in the future. So no, she’d keep that piece of information to herself for the time being.

 

“Looking back on it, everything she did was for my own good. It was annoying, but her telling me off after killing that Orc, her keeping the fact that she was the ‘Raging Inferno of the Reach’… her obviously lying about the fact that she had feelings for me… it was frustrating, but if she hadn’t done those things, I would have never grown as a person.”

 

 

“If you've grown, then why are you staying here?”

 

“Heeeeh,” in an instant, Lucari’s attitude made a 180. The smile she was making at Niyleen, she knew it was meant for her and not who Lucari thought she was speaking to. “The only reason I’m here is so that I’m the first face your sister sees when she comes home. I also want to start over. As you know, I’ve stopped trying to be a hero. There’s no meaning to it… you know? Especially when the person I love has the biggest bounty on her head. I’m not going to throw away my love for a chance at fame. Besides… you know, Markarth’s more corrupt than one would think. They might have half a mind to turn me in if I turn in a bounty.”

(Restrain yourself!) It took every ounce of willpower that Niyleen had in order to keep herself from wrapping Lucari in her arms and taking the Nord’s lips for herself. “I… I see. Well then,” Niyleen made it to the door when she stopped. “Maybe I’ll make you a Snowberry Crostata again when that time comes. You seemed to really enjoy them last time.” And with that Niyleen left her home, and closed the door behind her.

 

*
 

(Did she just say ‘I’ll’? And her awkwardness, her reactions…) “Wait! Nyleine!!” Lucari raced to the door and was knocked to the floor when the door suddenly opened and hit her in the face. “Owww… By Shor’s beard… who in the world—”

 

“How did you know that I was coming over?”

 

Lucari looked up and her heart skipped a beat at who she saw. (N-no way…)

 

"What is it? My hair? Yeah, I decided to change it back to how I used to have it. Do you like-"

Immediately, she headed outside and looked down on the city to see if she could catch a trace of the woman who had just been in Vlindrel Hall, but it was to no avail.

 

“Hey Lucari,” Nyleine called from inside. “What’s wrong?”

 

Maybe I’ll make you a Snowberry Crostata again when that time comes. You seemed to really enjoy them last time.

 

Lucari shook her head and smiled inwardly. “Yeah… when that time comes, I’ll be waiting.”

“Lucari? Do I need any help?”

 

Lucari wiped her eyes and tried to make herself as presentable as possible. “No, I’m fine.” She looked back one last time at the city, and nodded reassuringly. (I’m finally fine.) She then walked back inside, not wanting to keep her guest waiting.