These dreams... My memories keep coming back, I experience them as if they just happened...

 

Why now? Is this also the work of Mephala? How long does she want to torture me? Wasn't that enough?

 

Beggar: Please Madam, just one more Septim.

Aeliana: Here, I'll give you more.

Beggar: Thank you lady. In return for your kindness, allow me to warn you.

Aeliana: What do you mean?
Beggar: I saw that you are on good terms with the imperial girl you work with at the cathedral. Be very careful with her.

Aeliana: Yes, she is very different from me, she lives a rather debauched life...
Beggar: Don't trust her. She makes friends with dangerous people.

Aeliana: What do you mean? Who are you talking about?
Beggar: I think you know very well, you have already met them. You know, most people don't even notice us beggars, they see us as air. It's not always a curse. We see and hear things that others do not. You have been nice to me and I say avoid that girl as much as possible.

Aeliana: Um, well, thanks, I guess.

Aeliana: Was he telling the truth? Why would he lie to me? Would Shannia have gone so far as to get along with thalmors? Nooo...I don't even think about it.

 

A little later

 

Aeliana: Hadrien, what are you doing here?

Hadrien: So what, I can't even visit my girlfriend anymore?
Aeliana: Of course, I'm happy for you, I'm just surprised.

Hadrien: I was also with your parents, they sent you some clothes. Are you okay? How's the work going?
Aeliana: It's going pretty well. I'm not saying it's not tiring sometimes, but I took the job.

Hadrien: You know, I'm not so happy that you're here alone, at the mercy of the city mobs. At the same time, I know that I couldn't have talked you out of it anyway.
Aeliana: You know me well.

Hadrien: I stayed at the Jerall View Inn. Let me invite you to something.
Aeliana: Why not?

 

Jerall View Inn

Aeliana: ...if all goes well, by the time we go to the Imperial City, I'll have enough extra money to rent my own room. My brother has acquired several investors throughout Cyrodiil, and more and more places are interested in our beers.
Hadrien: Once the business starts... But I see that's not what you really want, is it?

Aeliana: Is it that obvious? Look, I am very happy for the success of my parents and the family, perhaps they have been waiting for this all their lives. But I need more than that. I would like to see the world, travel, adventure... I could also continue my combat training what my brother and I started...
Hadrien: In this case, I have to agree with your parents, Liana. I'm not saying you don't have the skills, I've seen you train... But these are very dangerous times. Peace in the realm is fragile and all it takes is a little spark and all hell can break loose.
Disturbing news also came from Skyrim, the people are not asking for the suppression of the Thalmor.

Aeliana: Right now would be the time to help people, help each other.
Hadrien: I respect your dedication, but I can't support you in this, I was too afraid of you...
Aeliana: You are kind, but understand me too...
Hadrien: Come with me...
Aeliana: Where are we going?
Hadrien: You'll soon find out...

 

Aeliana: Hadrien, I'm not sure now...
Hadrien: Shhh, relax my dear...

 

Hmmmm....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning

 

Hadrien: You remember Lothgar, don't you?
Aeliana: Who also taught my brother Lucas? Why do you ask?

Hadrien: I'm really not happy for him, but if you want to train, he'll welcome you to the Fighters Guild.
Aeliana: Is he here in Bruma too? If I know this first...
Hadrien: Just be careful Liana. I have to go on now. They count on me in Skingrad.
Aeliana: It was important to discuss something before we parted...

Hadrien: I remember what you mean. Next time we meet, and you still feel this way, we can clear things up, but until then, leave the hope to me.
Aeliana: I don't want to promise you Hadrien, I really like you, but...
Hadrien: Please, not another word. I won't be away for long, but you can think things over in the meantime.
Aeliana: If that's better for you, fine. Take care of yourself.
Hadrien: I try.

Later, Cathedral of St. Martin

 

Shannia: Liana! Father Nererus gave us both a break for next week, he said there would be an important religious practice in the church, and we were not needed until then.
Aeliana: After all, a little rest sometimes doesn't hurt. I think I'll visit my parents until then.
Shannia: Can I ask you a big favor?

Aeliana: What is it about?
Shannia: Like I said, I don't really have anyone and I don't really have anywhere to go. If you don't mind, could I stay with you? I promise I won't be a burden on you.

Aeliana: Well, I don't know.
Shannia: Please Liana! I've come to like you a lot since you've been here, and frankly, I don't trust anyone as much as I do you.
Aeliana: I wish I could say that too.
Shannia: What? Why do you say that?

 

Aeliana: You know, I've heard some disturbing rumors about you working with the Thalmor. Is this true?
Shannia: I don't know exactly what you heard, but it's only a small part of the truth. Sometimes I help them, yes, I won't deny that, but honestly, what else can I do?

Aeliana: Why wouldn't you? I don't do business with them either, but I manage.
Shannia: You think I didn't try to choose another path? Look, don't take it as an insult, but you've only been in Bruma for a few weeks, so you don't really know how things are going here. The presence of the Thalmor means constant pressure on the population, they terrorize people wherever they can. If you don't surrender, if you don't give something in return, they'll pick you out, and there's no one to help you, Captain Holsgar can't always be there when there's a problem.

Aeliana: Okay, let's just say I believe you. What can you give them in return for leaving you alone? Isn't it...?
Shannia: I like to fuck, but I also have a limit on who I'm with, if that's what you mean. No, I'm not their whore, although at first they tried to get me to do this kind of "service". However, what I have fed them with is much more important to them than that. With information.

 

Aeliana: What kind of information?
Shannia: I gained the count's trust and cleaned the castle for him for a while. The Thalmor instructed me to spy for them and report anything compromising if I found anything. I think they want to replace the popular and philanthropic count as soon as possible. Of course, I don't agree with the Thalmor's goal, but I was more afraid of myself than of him, so I went along with their little game.
Aeliana: Whatever you're doing, it could get you into a lot of trouble. Did you not think that when you are not useful them, they might kill you?

Shannia: That's why I'm leaving town as soon as I have enough septimes to start a new life. Until then, maybe my luck will last.
Aeliana: That way I understand why you don't want to stay in the city during the gap. I'll think things through tomorrow and we'll talk, okay?
Shannia: Okay.

 

Next day
Fighters Guild

After Work

 

 

Aeliana: Uncle Lothgar, good to see you again.
Lothgar: Liana, look, you've grown into a woman since I last saw you.

Aeliana: How long has it been? 6 years ago?
Lothgar: There are more. Unfortunately, duty always called. How are you?

Aeliana: Thank you very much. Hadrien said you work here.
Lothgar: Are you together? He didn't even say. Nor that you are also in Bruma.
Aeliana: He wanted to spare me from that... It doesn't matter. I want to train.

Lothgar: I don't mind. The Fighters Guild exists only formally, but we know for whom they are hardly commissioned. I have more free time than I would like. When do you want to start?
Aeliana: Could it be now? I'll change and get ready.
Lothgar: Of course Liana.

 

Little Later

Aeliana: Come on!

 

 

Lothgar: Defend yourself! This is it!

 

 

Nice one!

 

Lothgar: I see you've been practicing ever since. You could make a great fighter.
Aeliana: Thank you.
Lothgar: Go on!

 

Aeliana: I have to be persistent...

 

I don't want to spend my life as a merchant...

 

I'll show everyone that I'm worth more than that...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evening at the cathedral

 

Aeliana: Shannia, I was thinking...

...you can come with me next week.
Shannia: I'm so grateful Liana, I promise I won't be in trouble.
Aeliana: We have to be careful, I don't want anyone following us.
Shannia: Don't worry, I figured something out...