(From: Chapter Four Act Four: Untold Truths)

Elyvaea: Where am I?

Elyvaea: Seems I’m not through yet after all.

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(From: Chapter Four Act Four: Untold Truths)

Malkor: I saw first hand these creature’s power… Boethiah used one to take the city. She used many to defend it, only to still lose.

Malkor: How could one prophet accomplish this?

Castalia: She’s discarded the one weakness a prophet has. I am mortal; she is not. Though it’s still not that simple.

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(From: Chapter Four Act Four: Untold Truths)

Erinye: If he hadn’t put her in that frail, mortal body, I wouldn’t have stood a chance.

Erinye: He must be furious that I took his chance to kill her.

Malkor: You’ve ruined everything!

Castalia: Malkor! No!

I remember how cool the sand was that day, under my bare feet. It had rained throughout the night and the water still clung beneath the surface. I could feel it tickle my toes with each step sinking slightly into the sand.

It was the last time I ever felt a sense of comfort.

I wish I could begin this with “legend has it…” or “the stories say…”, but I can’t. This isn’t a legend; this isn’t a story. It’s my reality. Prophets aren’t expected to survive to their tenth year. Mortal bodies just can’t handle the strain. Unfortunately, I was an odd one out.

Castalia: I hope he made it! Oh please, please, please!

Back then I had nothing. Not even a decent pair of shoes. I didn’t have a home; I didn’t remember my parents. I lived behind the brothel and spent every evening hoping some drunk would misplace a few coins. But I’d still take it over my life now. I’d do anything for that.

And I am.

Castalia: Huh? He’s not here?

Castalia skids to a stop at the shoreline. She gazes at the sea for a moment before looking around her. This is where they always met, at least when they could. More often than not he wasn’t able to make it. But he had promised he would today.

Castalia: Maybe his parents are keeping him away again… But… That’s just not fair.

Castalia: He should have snuck out or so-

Malkor: Boo!

Castalia shrieks and stumbles backwards as Malkor leaps out from behind the rock.

Castalia: Eeyah!

As she finds her balance, her fists curl as her mouth twists into an angry grin.

Castalia: Oooh, you rotten little- I’ll get you for that!

The threat goes over his head as Malkor leans back in laughter.

Malkor: Oh, you should’ve seen your face! Your jaw must’ve hit the ground!

Castalia: Your jaw is gonna hit the ground if you don’t shut your mouth! You little-

Castalia cuts off as Malkor suddenly pulls a pair of shoes from behind his back.

Malkor: Happy birthday!

Castalia: Wha- You didn’t have to get me anything…

Malkor cocks his head and smiles warmly.

Malkor: Oh, shut up. You know I did.

Malkor: Try them on! They should fit.

Castalia beams as she takes them in her hands. She can’t recall the last time she’d had a pair of shoes. There probably wasn’t even a last time. She smiles and starts to lean down to try them on…

Castalia: Heehee, okay! I-

…when she loses all feeling in her hands. The shoes tumble free, but Castalia doesn’t even notice. 

Castalia: -… will…

Malkor: Cass?

Her body locks still. Not by fear or confusion, in fact, not by anything that she can discern. It’s nothing. As if she herself is nothing, just some lifeless doll.

Malkor: Cass what’s wrong?

Castalia tries to respond. She slips out a single word before control is lost to her, as if a hand has gripped her spirit and now controls it with twists and tugs.

Castalia: … I…

Mephala: My child…

All emotion flees her as Mephala utters her command.

Mephala: Choke him.

Castalia:Yes, mother.

Without a thought, Castalia pounces atop her friend, coiling her fingers around his neck.

Malkor: Ack! Wha-

She tightens her grip, observing his life begin to waver. A fragile strand so easily plucked. Ending it would be so easy.

Malkor: C-Cass… W-Guh…

Malkor: Nngh… P-please… Ugh…

Through this emotionless haze, she feels a rush. With this life in her hands, she sees it’s weave. The weave stretches before her, crossing over hundreds of others, even ending some along the way. Some days from now, others even years. It is all before her in an intricate web of life; it’s is hers to watch, hers to sew, and hers to c-

Mephala: Good. Now release him. I don’t want him dead yet.

The rush sharply ends as her grip suddenly releases. Castalia stands from her unconscious friend and turns to Mephala.

Malkor: Nnn…

Mephala: Now come, child.

Mephala: Time is ticking…

Mephala: … and you have much to learn.

It was another year after that where I trained with the Morag Tong. Mother-… Mephala… Needed me to be able to not only fend off foes, but to be better than them. She wants to remake the world and she needs me to do the dirty work. Her puppet, her slave, her child.

Castalia: HYAH!

Gernal: Come on!

Gernal: Very good. But don’t hesitate!

Castalia lands gracefully and snarls at her mentor.

Castalia: I know what I’m doing.

Gernal: Hesitation is defeat. Watch!

Gernal: Hrah!

Before Castalia can return to her feet, Gernal slashes out at her. But instead of finding her footing…

Gernal: Wha-

Gernal: No way…

…Castalia materializes behind him and rams her heel into his spine.

Gernal: Gah!

Castalia: Wrong.

Castalia straightens up, sliding her sword over her back.

Castalia: Hubris is defeat.

Gernal exhales heavily as he lifts his face from the floor.

Gernal: Yes... In a way, I suppose so.

He pulls himself up, letting out a humiliated sigh.

Gernal: I did not expect you to have progressed so quickly.

Castalia kneels down, extending her open palm as the spider scurries towards it.

Castalia: It’s to be expected.

Castalia: You only teach me sword play. My daedric powers are none of your concern.

They each stand and face one another. Gernal lets out another sigh and nods solemnly.

Gernal: I suppose that is true. Though it wouldn’t have killed you to at least include me in the process.

Castalia stares into her mentor’s masked face coldly.

Castalia: It’s not for you to bear, Gernal.

Castalia: I did you a favor.

As she finishes, she gives Gernal a nod along with a knowing look. Gernal nods back with a somber exhale.

Gernal: I suppose you did. You were a great disciple, Castalia. One of my best.

Castalia offers him a faint smile.

                I still remember shutting that door for the last time. Exactly 1 year after it all began. I wish I had never made a big deal out of birthdays, because it might have made them hurt less. I certainly don’t now.

                I probably remember that day so well because of how often I replay it. Back then, I felt trapped. My fate had been decided and there was no fighting it. My decisions never felt like my own, no matter how small. Every step I took, I loathed. I wasn’t making progress towards anything; I was being tugged by her strings. That’s how it seemed anyway.

Mephala: You did well, child.

Mephala: Come to your mother.

Castalia’s hand slides down the wooden door as she drags her feet towards Mephala.

Castalia: Yes, Mother. Um…

I knew what the end of my training meant, but I had to ask one more time. I was so on edge. Nervous doesn’t even begin to cover it. There was a lump in my throat so large it could have choked me.

Castalia: Before we leave… Can I just… Just see him?

She stares anxiously into Mephala’s distant, empty stare. The daedric lord sighs disappointedly and shakes her head.

Mephala: No. Rid yourself of these emotions, child. Love and friendship will only get in our way.

                My jaw dropped when she said that. But I kept quiet. I… I fucking kept quiet! For those few seconds... those few seconds of bitter, stunned silence… I KEPT QUIET! Why didn’t I retaliate? Why didn’t I insist? She needs me. She NEEDS me! FUCK!

Mephala: You understand, child?

Castalia solemnly drops her head and nods halfheartedly.

Mephala: Good. Then it’s time to begin.

                We began alright. I studied the web of life for years. I know every thread, every intersection, every cut. I can literally predict the future. I can manipulate lives to my will. But I couldn’t do so for myself. Funny thing is…

…I did see him again.

Malkor: Damn it.

Malkor grunts and shakes his head. He ogles the destroyed dwemer contraption with as much curiosity as spite.

Malkor: These things will never function as an army. Calibrating them to work for me is difficult enough, but with them breaking afterwards… ugh.

Malkor: Not to mention the damn falmer keep killing them.

Castalia closes her eyes and sucks in a quiet, deep breath. How long has it been? 10 years? More? She doesn’t know. She isn’t even sure if Malkor remembers her. Heck, she doesn’t know if she wants him to. But there’s no going back now.

Malkor: Maybe I’ll just use this one for scraps.

Castalia: Malkor?

He quickly straightens up…

Malkor: Whose th-

...and freezes.

Castalia: Do you remember me?

His eyes widen in disbelief, filling Castalia with a sliver of hope.

Malkor: Cass? Is that-

The sliver snaps quickly as Malkor’s eyes narrow.

Malkor: Here to try and kill me again?

She halts abruptly. Suddenly the air feels heavy, as if it was trying to push her down. She gulps as her stare falls to the floor.

Castalia: No… I won’t do that. I-

Malkor: Then why are you here? I know what you are now. Prophet. 

He spits the last word out as if it were vile.

Castalia: I’m here for… business. But I knew you were here too and I just…

Malkor: Just what? Wanted to try to kill me again?

Malkor glares at her intensely, forcing her to look away. She shakes her head.

Castalia: I will never harm you… I promise.

Castalia: I want to… to give you something.

Castalia glances up to see his reaction, only to see the same bitter glare.

Malkor doesn’t respond. It takes a few seconds of idle silence for Castalia to continue.

Castalia: All lives are mine to observe. But that doesn’t mean death is beyond my grasp as well.

Castalia drops to one knee, picking up the head of a slain falmer.

Castalia: Weaves of fate determine our path. But weaves can be restrung.

Castalia: A cut weave does not vanish.

Malkor: No way…

Malkor’s jaw drops as Castalia returns to a stand.

Castalia: It just gives me an end to tug.

The falmer, lying dead moments before, stands breathing beside her. Docile.

Malkor: That thing should be dead. I… I killed it.

Castalia: And it still is. It’s just a puppet now. A soulless, mindless corpse.

Castalia: That, should you so wish, will obey you.

Malkor takes a step back, ogling Castalia in dumbfounded disbelief.

Malkor: You’d just do this? What’s the catch?

This time Castalia is able to meet his stare. Her saddened expression relaxes as her brows furrow slightly.

Castalia: There isn’t one, not really. This is a cross in your weave, Malkor. Accept, and your fate goes one way. Decline, and it goes another.

She watches him bite his lip hesitantly. He rubs the back of his neck and looks up, analyzing her. She won’t reveal any truth about his fates, and she knows he is aware of that. Right now, he is trying to tell how truthful she is being. His narrowed eyes trace over hers as his head tips from one way to the other.

Castalia: I promised I’d never harm you, Malkor. I have your best interests in mind.

Malkor closes his eyes and sighs.

Malkor: You’re not lying. I can see that.

Malkor:Fine. I accept.

Castalia smiles faintly.

Malkor: But I don’t forgive you.

That one stung.

Everything was falling into place. Mephala’s plan was going smoothly. It seemed like we would really be able to remake the world. All that was left was the most important part. To remake the world, it needs to be destroyed. And we needed to make sure would be quickly. Other daedric lords would be vying for their chance to take it over or stop its destruction. But they’d need time. Without our influence, the dragonborn wouldn’t  come to his fate soon enough, and by the time he learned of his destiny, it’d already be too late. It was up to me to give him a shove.

Castalia: Got it.

Castalia: The Elder Scroll.

Mephala: Good. Once you give it to that Priestess, her and the Dragonborn’s weaves will intersect years from now. She will alert him to his fate early. After that, you kill his elven companion, and our work is done.

Mephala: I trust you can do this alone?

Castalia glances at her inquisitively.

Castalia: I’ve much more alone before. Why?

The Daedric Lord turns around and begins gliding away.

Mephala: Oblivion will be in turmoil soon. The other Lords will seek me out and attempt to foil my plans. I must protect my realm.

Castalia: Then what am I to do after this?

Mephala: Just watch. Wait. We’ve spent years sewing the web to ensure everything plays out exactly as I need. When the world is destroyed, I’ll retrieve you.

As Mephala moves around the dwemer contraption, her form begins to disappear. Barely a moment later, she vanishes, leaving a final parting that reverberates throughout the room.

Mephala: And our eternity together will begin.

Castalia’s arms feel light. The scroll seems to triple in weight as Mephala words hit her. “Eternity together”. That… that can’t happen… It-

Erinye: Eternity is a real drag.

Erinye: Trust me, you don’t want that. Especially with her.

Castalia drops the scroll as a figure suddenly drops down from the ledge behind her.

Voice: You ever wanted a way out of all this? Away from the nonsense of being a prophet? A chance to live the life you choose?

Erinye: I did.

Castalia is barely listening to her. She doesn’t know who this is and doesn’t have to. This daedra does not serve Mephala. She can only be an enemy.

Castalia glances behind her. Her sword is still wedged in the contraption when she pried the scroll out. It’s close, but close enough?

Erinye: I know a way you can too.

Castalia huffs. Not like she has much of a choice.

She drops low and dashes to her blade.

Erinye: Tsk. So that’s how it will be.

The daedra scoffs. Castalia immediately hears a loud *fwoosh* followed by thudding steps.

Castalia reaches her sword and manages to yank it free. She twists around, swinging out with her sword blindly. It collides with a spear with a loud *thwack!*, gripped tightly by the daedra.

Castalia: What do you want? Who do you serve?

The daedra eyes her wickedly and smirks.

Erinye: I serve myself. And I want to show you something.

Erinye is like me. She is a prophet being forced along by the call of fate. Unlike me, however, she has freedom and permission to seek out her own destiny. That’s the only reason I agreed to go with her when she asked. I had not felt hope in a long time. So, when I did, it was intoxicating.

Erinye: Welcome to Null. The only place that is both nothing and everything.

            When I first saw it, I was afraid. I’ve been alone all my life, but I’ve never felt it on the same level as I did when I stepped foot in that realm. The expansive void is constrictive and expansive at the same time. You feel like you could walk forever, but every step feels like you are walking in place. I’ve returned there multiple times since then, but I can’t stay for long. To think there are souls who have been in there for months now…

Castalia: What is this place?

Erinye: It’s Null. It’s the afterlife when there is no afterlife. The container for souls that aren’t accepted, or permitted, anywhere else.

Castalia scrunches her brow.

Castalia: I’ve never heard of this place. And why is it empty if it holds all abandoned souls?

Erinye: Because it doesn’t exist yet. We’re in a projection of Null, not the actual realm.

Castalia: That… doesn’t help at all. What?

Erinye loudly exhales and spins around.

Erinye: Think about this way. You cannot have nothing without something. It’s a comparison. Null works the same way. It cannot exist until a forbidden soul has nowhere to go. As a result, that soul is forced to create Null. Get it?

Castalia furrows her brow, but nods. It makes as much sense as it really can at this point, but now she only has more questions.

Castalia: Okay… I get that. Why am I here then? Wait… I’m not-

Erinye puts up her hand.

Erinye: No. You’re not that soul. I brought you here because of your talents and your desires.

Castalia: Dead souls aren’t a part of the weave anymore. I can’t manipulate them.

Erinye: You won’t need to. Not once they are here. You know most of all how powerful a soul is. Imagine thousands of them in one place, with no purpose, free for the taking. You could do-

Castalia cuts her off, watching her suspiciously.

Castalia: -anything.

Erinye: Exactly. Anything. Even, maybe, kill a daedric lord. One that’s ruined your life.

Erinye pauses for a moment after finishing, waiting for Castalia to react. Instead, Castalia remains steadfast. Erinye shrugs and keeps speaking.

Erinye: You and Mephala have done a lot of work ensuring Nirn’s destruction. Fate is a hard thing to challenge. But why? That’s not the life you want.

Erinye: With your help, we can fill Null with enough souls to unlock its power. Accomplish literally anything.

Castalia: And I’m just supposed to trust you?

Erinye stops and chuckles.

Erinye: Everything I’ve said so far is the truth. And I’ll prove it.

Erinye faces Castalia with a sinister grin.

Erinye: There won’t be enough souls for the both of us. Only one of us will get what we want. I imagine it will be a fight to the death, but who knows, maybe something will happen along the way.

Erinye: I can’t fill Null fast enough on my own. Especially with you completing Mephala’s plan. So, what do you say? You have nothing to lose.

                I remember being so angry then. I didn’t know why at the time. Maybe it was Erinye’s haughty demeanor or the fact that she thought she could manipulate me. But it was neither of those. I was furious at Mephala. I’d never cared for her, I’d always felt bitter around her, but once I was told I had the opportunity to kill her, that all changed. I really, truly hate her.

Castalia: Deal.

Erinye: Gah!

Castalia drives her heel into Erinye’s chin. Her head reels backwards, yanking her body into a spiral. She stumbles backwards and drops to her knees. As she does, her spear materializes in her grip.

Erinye: Heh… You’re still just as quick.

Castalia stomps towards Erinye, her eyes flaring.

Castalia: I’ll give you one chance to cure him.

Erinye smirks.

Erinye: You know I won’t take it.

Malkor continues to writhe on the ground, screaming in dying agony.

Malkor: GRAAAAAAAH!

Erinye: I know this hurts our relationship, but I can’t let a servant of Boethiah live.

Castalia narrows her eyes and lowers into position.

Castalia: So be it.

Erinye scoffs.

Erinye: You’d really risk it all for him…

She pulls herself up, tightening her grip on her spear.

Erinye: It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Erinye locks her eyes on Castalia and lurches forward. In a blink, her spear flashes by as Castalia leaps to the side.

Castalia rams her heel against the platform behind her. Using the momentum from her leap, she pushes against her heel, propelling herself into Erinye with a curled fist. Erinye sidesteps and twirls her spear over her wrist. With her other hand she yanks on the flail, tugging the chain links tight in front of her just as Castalia’s fist smashes into them.

Castalia barely pulls her arm back as Erinye pivots on her heel. Before she can react, Castalia is slammed in the gut by Erinye’s boot.

Castalia: Ooof!

She rockets backwards. Twisting through the air, she barely manages to plant her feet. The momentum continues to carry her as she slides over the stone tiles, kicking up dust and dirt. Erinye forces the issue, grasping her spear in her opposite hand, she starts to twirl it over her other forearm.

The flail slices through the air and scrapes over the stone as it picks up velocity, the spear spinning faster and faster.

Castalia glances up just as Erinye slams the flail downwards. In a desperate lunge, she pushes on her back foot, propelling herself to the side just as the flail crashes down, cracking the stone she was just on.

She keeps moving, quickly finding her footing once again, but Erinye doesn’t relent. She pulls the flail back and spins the shaft of her spear around her torso, righting it so the spear end faces Castalia. She immediately lunges forward with it, forcing Castalia into another desperate dodge.

Castalia stumbles backwards as she narrowly avoids the blow. With her weight shifted, she can’t retaliate or move safely. She twists herself around rapidly, attempting to right herself before Erinye can strike again.

Erinye doesn’t give her the chance. She yanks back her spear, flipping it over so the flail swings outwards at the same time. The jagged metal bludgeons Castalia’s face and knocks her backwards.

Castalia: Gah!

Castalia immediately falls onto her knees as blood trickles down her eye and cheek. She can barely blink before Erinye slams the flail into her knee, snapping the bone with an earsplitting crack!

She falls to the ground, barely holding herself up with shaking arms.

Castalia: F-fuck…

She looks up as Erinye hollers out and leaps into the air.

Erinye: Hrah!

Erinye extends her spear and jams it down as she lands…

…hitting nothing but stone.

Erinye: What the- Is that…

Erinye: …a spide-Ack!

Erinye cuts off as Castalia appears behind her, wrapping her arm around her neck.

Erinye: A-a-ack…

Castalia: Don’t get cocky.

Erinye’s eyes widen as Castalia tightens her arm and lurches backwards. Erinye feels her neck snap as her head is yanked, forcing her whole body over Castalia and into the air.

Castalia arches her back, propelling Erinye over her. Just as Erinye is above, she releases her arm and slams Erinye into the floor. The stone cracks as Erinye’s face impacts it. Castalia immediately pounces atop her, pinning down Erinye's wrist with her heel and planting her hand into Erinye's neck.

Castalia: Cure him! Now!

Erinye squirms underneath, but Castalia doesn’t relent, digging her heels further into Erinye’s wrist. As she does, Malkor continues to scream.

Malkor: AAAAAHHH!

Castalia’s jaw tightens.

Castalia: Did you not fucking hear me? I said cure him!

Erinye attempts another futile squirm before grunting.

Erinye: F-fine.

Under Castalia’s heel, Erinye manages to curl her fingers enough to snap. As she does, Malkor’s cries cut off. His body flops over as his eyes close and his chest begins to slowly rise and fall.

Malkor: Nnnn…

Castalia loosens up instinctively and sighs in relief.

Castalia: Oh… gods… thank y-Oof!

Erinye suddenly pushes upwards and slams her elbow into Castalia. Castalia tumbles off her captive but manages to retreat backwards.

Castalia: It's over, Erinye! Stop!

Erinye lurches back onto her feet. Her wile confidence is gone, replaced by contempt.

Erinye: I don’t take orders from you. You’ve done your part already. Null is created and almost full. You’re worthless now.

Castalia: Then let’s end thi-

Castalia’s voice cuts out as a sharp pain pierces her stomach.

Castalia: Guuh…

Erinye: Yes. Let’s end this.

Castalia freezes as the pain begins to spread across her body. She doesn’t even realize as Erinye yanks the spear out. She just manages to glance upwards to see her making the final blow.

Erinye: Goodbye, Castalia.

Castalia:N… no…

Every nerve screams in immense agony as her brain begs her to move. She watches as the spear comes crashing down when her eyes fall onto Malkor. If she dies here, then…

Castalia: No!

Suddenly control returns to her. In a final effort, she lunges forward, extending her hand towards Malkor, just as Erinye’s spear sails over her.

Castalia: Come on!

Castalia: Yes!

Just as her fingers brush against his armor, Castalia musters all her remaining strength. With a desperate scream, she vanishes with him, appearing just outside the city walls.

Castalia: Nngh… Malkor?

Castalia crawls across the stone path, fighting her bodies’ attempts to black out.

Castalia: P-please… I need you…

Castalia: I… can’t…

Her body gives in and Castalia collapses.

 

 

 

Malkor: Uhh….

To be continued…