Traveling through The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

"Helgi! Babas! Helgi! Can you hear me?"

I put my hands to my mouth and yelled.

The thick fog of the early morning mixed with the steam stirred up by the Blackwater River waterfall, blocking the light and absorbing the sound. It was white all around and eerily quiet. I didn't know where the miners were, Babas and Helgi were gone, and I couldn't hear the roaring waterfall. I was the only one left groping forward in the fog. The tent was gone, and the direction was unclear. I didn't know how far I had walked, but it seemed that I had entered the mountains.

"Haier... cough..."

The fog was getting thicker and thicker, and as my breath choked my lungs, I fell to my knees with a violent cough. A vague shadow emerged in the fog, and Helgi's voice came into my ears, but the voice seemed to be squeezed and rubbed by the thick fog and deformed, becoming a harsh metallic scraping sound.

"Brother? Brother Locke? Is that you? Have you come to see your Helgi?"

Bird claws, black feathers, a hunched little body and a wrinkled face—it’s a Hag! Moira! No, not Moira! It’s Helgi! She’s become a Hag! How could it be? How could it be?

"Brother, what's wrong with you? I'm Helgi!"

Helgi's claws grabbed my arms and shook them vigorously. The white mist shattered and dissipated in the violent shaking, and the roar of the waterfall hit my eardrums. The mild winter sun shone on Helgi and me, and the twisted bird claws and feathers disappeared like snow melting. The bird claws and feathers on Helgi disappeared! She was still the thin girl in the khaki animal skin dress.

"Helgi... it's great that you didn't turn into...

The little girl was held in my arms for a long time before she struggled out of her awkwardness and hid behind Barbas with a red face. Everything that happened just now was a nightmare. Since I started meditating, I have rarely dreamed, let alone nightmares. It may be because of my previous contact with Moira, and I began to worry that Helgi would go back to the old ways of the Rich people. Anyway, everything is normal now, except that we have missed the departure time.

While I was struggling in my nightmare, Helgi and Hefna went to the river together. The little girl once again used her electric fishing skills. She kept a small part of the fish and roasted it into dried fish, and used the rest to exchange for dry food with the miners. The hardworking and brave little girl was praised by everyone, especially compared with her brother who always slept in, so the miners warmly invited Helgi to have lunch before setting off.

Since we were out hunting, we couldn't show that we were in a hurry, so we didn't go south until two or three in the afternoon before entering the North Wind Mountains. The shortest route is naturally to go west along the ridge, take a boat near Nilheim and cross Lake Gel to reach the town of Ivarstead. But Nilheim is a bandit den, and I don't want to cause trouble, so I led the way south, bypassing Sunny Spring Lake and entering the Autumn Lookout Forest, then going west to bypass the Rift Valley Watchtower and Saretti Farm, and heading directly to the Hrothgar Trail along the official road in the south. This road is a detour, and it is much slower to go by land than by boat. It may take one or two more days, but it can avoid the main bandit strongholds. As for the wild bears rampant in the Rift Valley, they can no longer pose a threat to us.

Unlike the last time we escaped in a panic, this time Helgi and I traveled together much more easily and happily, and our strength has improved greatly compared to a month ago. I mainly practiced martial arts in the past period of time. In terms of magic, apart from the commonly used summoning of fire elements, I only meditated daily. Helgi mainly studied magic, and her progress was very fast. It seems that she is indeed quite talented. The magic system of the Rich people is completely different from mainstream magic. It is divided into four main systems according to natural elements: water, fire, wind, and earth. Each main system has a branch side system associated with it. Helgi is currently majoring in the wind system and the branch lightning system. The magic of these two systems is simple and practical, suitable for novices. For example, lightning magic and the low-level protective barrier called wind shield by the Rich people, as well as spells that summon birds, all belong to these two systems.

After all, Helgi is a child, not as scheming as Moira and Annis. After being coaxed by me for a few words, she told me everything she had learned recently. I also shared my new magic with her. Helgi is very interested in summoning spells, because there is actually no summoning spell in the strict sense in the Reachman magic she has learned so far. The weasels and crows summoned by Helgi are both condensed into known animal images with magical energy. If you have to match them, they are closer to the transformation system in academic magic. The summoning system is to summon creatures or substances from the Oblivion Plane to the main plane and establish a short-term contract. It is completely different from the theoretical basis to the essentials of casting. Summoning various elements in Reachman magic is a very high-level spell, and Annis may not know all of them.

I had no doubt that Helgi was ready to show off his magic to my aunt. In order to be able to get more information from the little girl, I specifically told her to keep it a secret and not let anyone else know that we were learning each other's magic, especially Annis. Helgi agreed with a smile.

The scenery of the Rift Valley reveals a kind of bleak beauty. After experiencing the winter snowstorm, the tall and straight birch trees have lost all their golden leaves, but they still stand proudly in the cold wind, like unyielding warriors, who refuse to bend even after being repeatedly hit by fate. Trees still have their own character, and we humans should stand between heaven and earth, and be mighty and unyielding. Even if the opponent is as strong as General Tullius, we should follow the example of the former owner of the sworn sword, singing the sad song of Yishui, serving the country in mourning, seeing death as returning home, and having a loyal heart that shines in history! If I just want to survive, wouldn't I become a idiot like Sidger? Moreover, my hometown has been ravaged, and I should settle accounts with the imperial people both publicly and privately.

"Come on, we are almost there! Listen to me, if this is done, I will definitely give you the corresponding reward. But you must remember, never believe any of Will's promises, understand?"

After another three days of trekking, we finally approached the Hrothgar Trail. Barbas and his dog led the way into the mountains, but he did not forget to remind us to be careful of the traps set by the demon god Weir.

The Shame of Heima Cave is not as easy to find as in the game. Barbas quickly led us out of the path in the valley and into the jagged rocks. This is where the Throat of the World, where the Hrothgar Peak is located, and the Gerol Mountain in the south of Skyrim meet. The streams formed by the melting of glaciers and snow have divided the terrain into pieces. The abundant water resources have led to the growth of dense cold-zone plants below the snow line, some of which are covered with thorns, which is daunting. Barbas is a man of steel, so he is naturally fearless. He just lowered his head and rushed forward. Helgi and I were in trouble.

This was the longest day since we traveled through time. When the twin moons rose into the sky, Helgi and I sat slumped beside the Shame Cave of Hema. Healing magic could heal the wounds on our skin, but it couldn't completely eliminate the pain. We had to clean each other's wooden thorns under the dim light of magic. Babas circled around us impatiently, making us dizzy, and the dog didn't forget to mock us.

"Aren't both of you mages? Did you forget how to breathe fire or how to summon fire elementals? How can you be so awkward even when using fire to clear a path? This is such a waste of time."

Why didn't you tell me earlier? When I get the Axe of Regret, I'll chop off a dog leg and cook it in a hot pot! When I thought of the dog meat hot pot in the cold winter, I couldn't help but feel refreshed. This hot pot is a life-saving treasure in the bitter cold weather. I must ask Eddie to arrange it when I get back. It's a pity that I've been running around all winter, and I only remembered this when spring is almost here.

There was no light in the cave, and Babas walked straight into the darkness. I quickly summoned the fire element and cast the magic light spell, and then Helgi and I followed. This is another karst cave, which was probably formed by a huge glacier. Eventually, the glacier melted, leaving only an underground stream running through it and a cave created by nature. Because there were many forks in the road, the echo of the running water seemed to come from all directions. The duration of the magic light source was limited, and my magic power did not allow me to summon it indefinitely, so the team's progress became slower and slower, and we even stopped to rest several times.

The Seamar's Shame Cave in the game was occupied by a group of vampires, especially in front of the altar of Clavicus Vile, where we had to face the siege of four vampires. Considering the night vision of vampires, if we were attacked in such a dark environment, I'm afraid it would be dangerous. So when Barbas suddenly stopped, I was so nervous that I almost suffocated. With a wave of my left hand, the fire element appeared out of thin air in front of me. This summoning magic has now become a conditioned reflex when I feel danger, and the act of casting is completely subconscious.

The firelight illuminated the empty and tall stone chamber, and a huge statue stood before me—the demon god of power and desire, the prince of tricks and deals—Clavicus Vile. Barbas raised his chin toward the statue, motioning for me to go up and talk to him.

"Respected Lord Weir, I have a small request."

"Ah! A believer, what a surprise. Since I was trapped in this dark place, few people have come to visit me. So let us hear what you desire in your heart? What kind of deal can we make?"

"I came here to let you and the Barbas Group ..."

"No! No! Sir, my brother and I came here in the hope that you can drive Barbas away and let it stay with us forever!"

"Of course! Little girl, your wish is not even a request, that's what I intend! This annoying dog is yours, and I'm glad to be rid of it, very glad! Even if I'm trapped in this poor idol, trapped in this place that doesn't even have a name."

Helgi cheered and hugged Babas' neck and kissed him again and again. The dog was not so happy. He let the little girl play with him with a numb face, but looked at me for help.

"Helgi, you shouldn't be so selfish. You should let Babas return to its owner."

"Why? Its owner no longer needs it! Lord Weir himself admitted it."

"Yes, this demon god admits it."

Will and Helgi, the two funny guys, sang in unison, while Babas and I looked at each other in silence. I tried to persuade the little girl, but she didn't want to listen to me at all. She hugged Babas and imagined a happy and beautiful future life with the dog. Until I was forced to turn against her and forcefully demanded that Will must take Babas back.

"Maybe. I can't guarantee it, but maybe there is a way to get this annoying dog back to me. It's an axe, a powerful axe. In the Rime Rock Cave, there is a magical artifact called the Axe of Regret. Bring it to me, and I will grant your request. No strings attached, and no sneak attacks, at least not against you."