A chance meeting[Closed]

[Radsattack]

A week had passed since the Dunmer had last been seen at "home", as far as he knew everyone was in a hassle to find him. Seras chuckled thinking about the fit his mother must have thrown when she found out he had been gone again. He knew she probably hired all kinds of people to track him down with the little money she had, probably Markarth thugs if Seras had to guess.


Pulling his burlap hood further over his head, Seras continued to walk down the worn out stone path. As he walked, he thought about where he would go next. Turing back wasn't an option and camping alone would be too risky, even if it was night fall it wouldn't be smart on his part to rest alone. The moon had not yet shown its face, giving Seras time to think up a quick plan. Perhaps he would think up something good, or maybe he would be doomed to be dragged back home and punished.

 

[LeoLion98]

Nerandros looked up at the sky and frowned. It was getting late, and he was nowhere near an inn. He would have to camp outside. The Argonian never really liked doing so, not since the incident almost two years ago. Traveling in general made him anxious at first, but he eventually came to enjoy it again. The only downside were instances like this.


He looked back at the setting sun again and was surprised to see someone walking a ways back from him. The mage never even heard them. But seeing them gave him an idea. It was risky, not knowing this person, but it might be better than resting alone.


Nerandros stopped and turned to face the stranger, robes fluttering around his ankles. He lifted a hand in greeting, smiling in hopes to appear friendly, which he was. Maybe it was more to appear non-threatening. Either way, the mage wanted to speak with his fellow traveler and not have it end it violence. He only hoped that they were willing to be cordial too.

 

[Radsattack]

Seras glanced up only to see to see someone or something in the distance. Squinting, he noticed that whatever was up ahead seemed to be...waving? His first thoughts were that they were a thug meant to harm, but what thug would wave to someone before mugging them? Standing up straight, the Dunmer cautiously waved back to the figure standing in the distance.


With his free hand the Dunmer wrapped his long fingers around the hilt of a dagger strapped to the worn out belt of his once lavish robes, the band of his large ring making a muffled clank against the dagger's handle. He at least needed to be ready if they decided to attack him instead of act friendly. You never knew if anyone's intentions were just in the land of Skyrim.


Seras moved a bit quicker, in hopes to see who actually wanted to meet him. He hoped to the divines this wasn't a trap.

 

[LeoLion98]

He saw the other move a hand to their hip, and he gulped. That was usually where people kept weapons. He dropped his hand and let it slide back towards his staff, claws just barely brushing the base. It would be best to be prepared, but to actually draw a weapon would just cause unnecessary chaos. Keeping his smile, he waited until the other was close enough to hear.


"Hello, there! My name is Nerandros. I have a question to ask you, if you don't mind."


Please don't try and kill me, he thought.

 

[Radsattack]

The Mer didn't get too close, he made sure to keep a distance between the two of them. After all this was a stranger and possibly a threat. He took note of the strangers white skin, he definitely had no clue who this was. Judging on their apperal and staff they were definitely a Mage and were mages weren't always as deadly as he thought right?


"Ask." Seras answered, keeping his head down.Slowly he let the dagger go and place his hand back at his side. "I might have an answer for you."

 

[LeoLion98]

Ah, so he's a man, it seems, the mage thought. And a rather... straightforward one too.


"Well, as you can see, it is getting rather dark. And, as I'm sure you know, it is very dangerous to travel at night. I was wondering if, perhaps, you would be willing to camp with me. There is strength in numbers, and if any bandits were to see our camp, then they may think twice about ambushing us, which they wouldn't if it were just us on our own. I have provisions to share, if you were to take up my offer.


"And, I am known to be a rather capable mage, most in offense and defense, should we be attacked. And I am very proficient in Restoration, as well."


Nerandros took a breath after hurrying through his speech. He tended to ramble when he was nervous, if it wasn't already clear.

 

[Radsattack]

Picking his head up to allow Nerandros to actually see his face he slowly nodded, mentally processing what the Argonian was saying. Giving a quick look to the sun he looked back to the other man.


"Is that rehearsed?" Seras joked, cracking a slight grin. "No, but I guess I could camp with you if that's what you would like." The Dunmer knew what could happen in the nights of Skyrim and he would hate to see such a fate fall upon,from what he could tell, a kind man.


"But why do you trust me? Aren't you afraid I'll hurt you? We are strangers after all." Seras asked, a brow raised.

 

[LeoLion98]

He scratched the back of his neck. "Sort of," he said with a chuckle. He grinned when the other man agreed to his plan. If only the others at the College were so willing to follow his advice. Even as Archmage, not many truly took him seriously. Ah the joy of being young and inexperienced.


At the Dunmer's question his smile became a tad mischievous. "Like I said, I am known to be a very capable mage. Regardless of your skill, I believe I know enough to protect myself and escape relatively unharmed."

 

[Radsattack]

"That's good to know." Seras had found it useful that the Argonian knew how to fight, gave him a better chance in case the two of them were to be attacked.


"It's also note worthy that you seem confident in your self, it's a rare trait from what I hear." Seras commented. He had me many mages, but none that sounded this confident in themselves. His mother had took pride in her "natural" magic, but it was something special to meet someone who wasn't blind with pride.


"I'm called Seras, by the way."

 

[LeoLion98]

He knew he was nowhere near confident in anything he did. The fact that he came across as such to the other man was incredibly surprising.


"Most would say that there are too many that bear overconfidence, at least where I have been. And truly, I am the exact opposite." He chuckled and grinned sheepishly.


"But it is good to meet you, Seras. Shall we find a place to camp?"

 

[Radsattack]

"Could have fooled me, you seem to have both your feet on the ground from what I could tell." Seras said grinning to himself. It was nice to talk to someone new an friendly of all things, his only worry now was to not screw anything up and scare Nerandros off. "Good to meet you too, Nerandros." He added quickly.


Nodding, Seras gestured for Nerandros to lead. He wasn't worried that he would be led astray by the other man, from what he gathered of so far Nerandros he could tell he was a trustworthy person with a good heart. If something were to happen Seras was sure that the Argonian would be the first one to help fight the threat off, at least he hoped.


After a short walk, Seras stopped and pointed to a patch of grass almost entirely surrounded by brush, it would make for good cover and possibly even a good starter for a fire.


"How about there?"

 

[LeoLion98]

Seras wasn't the only one glad this was going well. Nerandros had been worried from the start that this would end in violence, but luck was on his side today. The Dunmer was friendly and cooperative and very nice. He started walking when the other gestured, hoping to find an acceptable camping spot. It wasn't much longer afterwards that the other found a great one.


"Good find, Seras," he said. "It's perfect."


He slid his pack off of his shoulders and began rummaging around for what all he would need to set up for the night. They would definitely need to get a campfire going soon, however. Darkness was settling in and it would get cold.

 

[Radsattack]

The Dunmer was happy to find a place that they could easily agree on. When Nerandros placed his belongings down, Seras went to forming a fire.


Gathering some twigs and a few hand fills of dry grass, he went to work on the fire. He arranged them into a tent like structure then placed some grass in the space. A small flame burned brightly in hand before it was blown into the fire. A fire began to form, every so often Seras would feed it with more grass to keep it going.


When he was sure it would be find, Seras signed comfortably. He removed his hood and sat for a moment near the warmth, awaiting for a new task.

 

[LeoLion98]

The Argonian had remove his tent from his pack and was on his way to setting it up when he felt the heat of the fire. The feeling made him smile. As much as he liked Skyrim, and being at the College, it could be a bit too cold for him. Well, more than a bit. That's why he was glad that magic kept his Winterhold home warm.


He went about fixing his tent and had finished in just a few minutes. All the traveling he had done made him very adept at such things. When he turned back to Seras, the mage was pleasantly surprised to see that the other had removed his hood. The Dunmer was... rather handsome.


"May I ask where it is you are heading to, muthsera?" Nerandros asked. pulling out some of the rations he had brought for the return journey. Again, his travels came in handy here. Though he had never been to Morrowind, he had met numerous dark elves in his time, and was able to pick up on some of their language. He also knew some Ta'agra, Bosmeri, Breton, though fluent in none. But, quite obviously, he was fluent in his native tongue.

 

[Radsattack]

Seras watched as the Argonian unpacked his tent. He nodded to himself as if making a mental note of it. Maybe it would have been wise to pack more than just what he had in his pockets and a mace that was no longer in his possession.


A smile tugged on his lips. This was definitely the first time he was ever referred to as a "muthsera" and quite frankly he liked it Seras shrugged.


"I don't yet, I wish I knew myself." He tried to sound nonchalant despite his nervousness, he even fooled himself for a moment.


"And you? With gorgeous robes like that I bet you have important people waiting for you somewhere."

 

[LeoLion98]

"Oh, so you are merely on an adventure then," he noted, handing over an apple and a waterskin. Oh, thank you. I'm actually on my way to the College of Winterhold. I live and study there."


He did not add the fact that he was the archmage, though. The thought was still rather shocking to him even, and he didn't quite feel like he deserved the title. Until he felt he was worthy, he would not mention the fact unless asked or addressed by those at the College.

 

[Radsattack]

Hesitantly, he took the apple and water swim from the Argonain's hands. He tried not make a big deal about it, but the action was well appreciated it, although eating the apple might be a challenge.


"Funny you call it an adventure, I might call it the same. Freedom is also a nice word for it." The last part about the college made him cringe a bit.


Seras always remembered what his mother told him about that place, and the mages that called it home. All he was ever told that it was a home of fakes and washed out necromaners.


"I bet you are a good student to be able to go out on your own, or is that a thing you can do whenever?"

 

[LeoLion98]

Freedom. Now wasn't that an odd choice of word. It sounded like something he shouldn't pry about, no matter how curious he was. If they became friends, maybe Sares would tell him about it on his own.


"You may travel no matter your status," he said. "But I have been told that I am an excellent student by many of the masters there."


A thought occurred to him and he smiled. "You are an adept mage, from what I've seen, and you said you are in need of a destination. I bet the College would be very happy to have you join!"

 

[Radsattack]

The college of Winterhold, it was surely a place that he wouldn't even dream of going. What would his mother even say to that? Above all, did he really want to become another fake Mage?


Seras shrugged. "Oh I don't know, I'm not good around others or well I don't really think I would be."


He frowned looking away from the college student. "Mother says their not real mages.." He didn't want to hurt the and feelings, but it was all he was ever told, hopefully it wouldn't upset Nerandros too bad.

 

[LeoLion98]

One cannot just call someone a "fake mage" and expect them to be okay with it. Nerandros's brows furrowed, confused and rather offended. But, as he didn't quite understand how one could be a fake mage, he was mostly confused.


"I... How is that possible exactly? Everyone at the College can do magic. I don't understand how one could... pretend to be one? Where is your reasoning coming from?"

 

[Radsattack]

Seras shrugged. "I don't know, it's just what I was told. Mother says that the magic isn't organic it's almost unnatural." He avoided eye contact with Nerandros at this point.


"And it's not my reasoning, it's my mothers." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, it's only ever what I've heard. I myself, don't believe it though, I would have no reason to."

 

[LeoLion98]

It took everything in the scaly mage to not give the other a look. "So, what you're saying is, you trust and believe in every single thing your mother tells you to, with inexplicable evidence? Just how exactly would magic be inorganic anyway? It-it just doesn't make sense!"


He was beginning to get worked up. Nerandros just couldn't understand this woman's reasoning, or how her son could take her beliefs to heart when he had absolutely no evidence to back up his claims. It was just... Ridiculous!

 

[Radsattack]

Still looking away from the Argonian, Seras shook his head. "Are you joking? I don't believe anything that flies out of that creature's mouth." He said matter-a-fatly. "If you a had to spend 25 years with her, you would understand it's better to agree than argue no matter how ridiculous." Seras shrugges.


Seras didn't want to argue about this, after all, it was no lie that she believed it, but it was a lie saying he believed her. He wanted to appologize over and over to the Mage but all he could do was watch the blazing fire and listen.

 

[LeoLion98]

"Then why would you say it in the first place if you don't believe it?" he asked, genuinely wanting to understand. First he said that the College only had fake mages, and then he said he didn't actually believe that because his mother said so. The Dunmer was a truly confusing individual.

 

[Radsattack]

Seras looked up from the fire and to the Mage. "What else am I suppose to believe? I've never met a college Mage nor been out of the Reach until now." The Dummer frowned, looking away again. "I appologize but it's just that I just don't know what to think, I wanna believe that she's wrong but...you never know if you haven't had proof for yourself."