Chapter 418: End Of The Plague - The Traitor

A/n: The novel seems to have lost a considerable number of Patrons over the past two months and the comments are also not that much. I think rushing things would be bad but I seem to be having no choice. Most of you want the Gamestart Arc.

Also, the monthly extra dropped to 3.

Anyway. Another Double Chapter. A Daily + 5K votes Extra.

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(Part 1: End of the Plague)

Jon, Isha and Galam took the way back after exterminating the millennia-old Plague Husks. Just like the Draugrs, these undead were quite the thing to deal with but they were undead and Sun Spells were their ultimate bane.

The mine place was completely purified by completely incinerating and disposing of anything that can carry the Plague. Jon even offered one of his contamination Dwemer chests to seal the remaining and locked it forever by the Skeleton Key while planning to banish the whole thing to Oblivion if there is an opportunity.

Still, when the three approached Narsis, they felt that something was amiss. The three detected some unnatural auras and rushed in the city.

The situation was complete mayhem.

"Plague Husks? Here?" Isha became horrified.

"Oblivion!" Galam and Jon were not believing what they seeing.

"Compared to the old things from the mine, these ones are quite fresh! How on Nirn?"

The Plague Husks shouldn't have appeared in Narsis even after a week from now.

"Krilon, the Old Woman... Our Labour... She is our top priority." Isha shouted.

"Shit! I'm going all out then." Jon didn't plan on concealing his power anymore.

He took out [Pride] and put half of his Magicka in a spell.

"Come forth!"

As he cast the spell, the void shifted and a horde of Flame Atronaches appeared. Just like a flock of torchbugs, they flew in all directions attacking the Plague Husks.

"Krilon, you're a mage?" Galam was taken by surprise.

"He is! And the best one I know." Isha replied.

"We need to find the city hall. The Old Woman is a strong sorceress, I think I can feel her magic this way."

Jon walked through the ruined area and the burning houses to the direction of the Plaza. He cleared the roads and rescued many just by waving his staff left and right. The fires were put down, people were saved and any Plague Husk in his way was just set ablaze.

On the road to the Plaza, they came across Mirren and Karly.

"Ms. Karly, Mirren, what is this situation."

"Thank goodness you're here. The whole Narsis is falling apart, we don't understand how but the Plague skipped the Third Stage to the Fourth." Mirren said.

"No, it got accelerated way too fast. The Afflicted are turning into Husks." Karly had another opinion.

"Where is your grandmother?" Jon asked.

"She is maintaining some Protection Runes in the Plaza. We should save the people first. Any Afflicted outside the Plaza will turn into a Husk."

"You four do that, my Atronaches will assist you. I have something to discuss with Old Cat."

Jon said and Teleported right away to the Plaza.

"Wai... Did he just..."

"... Teleport?"

Galam and Mirren were looking to the spot where Jon was.

***

"Old Cat!"

"Oh, Krilon. A hand with this please?"

"Okay."

Jon appeared right next to the Old Woman in the center of the plaza. She was standing and raising her staff up forming a large barrier around the emergency encampment.

Jon held the staff with her and supported it.

"What is this barrier?" Jon looked at the runes of the formation on the ground but didn't have time to read it all.

"Protect against Magicka and Mental Influence. Something is very wrong out there, my friend."

"What do you mean?"

"After you left and the medicine was being given to the people. Some started to get better but the ones not given the cure started to scream and hallucinating their conditions worsened on a rapid pace. I realized that an outer effect is at play so I put that barrier."

"Good thinking. By an outer effect you mean we are under attack by something or someone we are not even aware of?"

"Right."

"We need to figure out who and maintain the Barrier. Hold the staff for a while." Jon said and retreated away from the old woman.

He looked at the runes she applied on the ground and found the start of her spell. By that, he started adding to the Runes and installing many Soul Gems on it.

By that time, the rest of the team arrived at the plaza.

"What are you doing?" Mirren asked.

"Making a bigger barrier. Step away."

As soon as he was done. Jon stood in front of the Old Woman.

"Now take your staff and go back. I've got this."

"You sure."

"Yeah."

She stopped channeling at the barrier and left things for Jon who was holding [Pride].

Not one expected what comes next to happen.

The ground rumbled under Narsis and from the center of the plaza. The clouds gathered in the sky and a golden lightning shock the heaven.

Jon raised his small staff up and [Pride] started expanding and becoming taller than Jon.

Jon then held the staff by his two hands and raised it high. The golden lightning struck down.

The stone on the top of [Pride] made contact with the falling golden lightning and a golden shockwave expanded killing every Plague Husk in Narsis.

The golden lightning strike turned into a pillar between heaven and Earth and threads of golden light appeared over Narsis. These threads formed a fabric and the golden fabric tightened up together forming a transparent barrier all over Narsis.

By the time it was done, the whole Narsis was as being as day and the golden pillar of light disappeared leaving the barrier to protect Narsis.

The ones around Jon were affected by the light the most and covered their eyes but once the pillar was gone, everyone in the Plaza could see the mage holding up his staff and casting that absurd spell.

Jon collapsed on his butt after that. He is not that skilled in Restoration but he could finally cast that spell.

The Master Level Spell [The Heavenly Dome of Stendarr]. A Spell that contains every Magical protection there is as well as healing and destroying undead abilities.

"I would shout 'For the Alliance' but my throat is very dry." Jon said as he relaxed down.

The ones around him had a hard time understanding what happened. The Old Woman was not shocked by Jon's power but rather by the skill. The others were dead silent but the people around the plaza were cheering.

***

An hour passed after the unfathomable spell that was cast in Narsis and the Plague was being suppressed on a rapid pace. The Heavenly Dome of Stendarr was enough to give people hope in recovering and made everyone on the city stare at nothing but the beautiful magic.

"Good job out there, my friend." The Old Woman said.

"It's alright."

"I knew Krilon would use one of his insane spells one day." Isha was excited the most.

"So, you are some sort of High Mage?" Mirren asked.

"An Expert Mystic officially but I can be considered a Master."

"Oblivion takes me!"

"So, how are you feeling, Old Cat?" Jon asked the Old Woman.

"I was once in the city of Senchal on the southern coast of Elsweyr free diving in the Padomic Ocean..."

"Oh. A storytime!" Jon became excited.

"... I fell terribly ill, stung by a sea serpent. I was dehydrated and in excruciating pain. I had lost all sense of time and place, completely disoriented. But I knew I was dying. So I readied myself for it. And in that moment at death door, I looked up... And standing over me in the brightness was this Maormer (Sea Elf) Gypsy. Just standing there. Smiling. She and her people nursed me back to health on a small isle even though they were rumored to be vicious. Anyway, after becoming good as new. When I left the island, she kissed me, it was like a burst of sunlight on my cheek. It was... It made nearly being on death door worth it. That's how I feel now." She said.

"Ooooh!" Jon smiled brightly and covered his mouth.

"I've never heard you tell this story before." Karly said.

"That's because I never told anyone about it."

"Didn't you go back for that girl?" Jon asked.

"I did. It was 3E 310 and war broke between the Empire and Summer Set on a side and the Pyandonea (Sea Elves home) on the other. I went back to that isle to warn the people and ask them not to participate but only to find it abandoned. After that, I heard that the Psijic Order interfered with the fight and destroyed the Moarmeri fleet. They never came to Tamriel ever since."

"I see..." Jon noticed the remorseful tone of the Old Woman and changed the subject.

"So, any ideas on who attacked Narsis?" He asked.

"Attacking by a Plague is cowardly. Is it really the same enemies we are facing?" Mirren asked.

"I don't know. We need to investigate this." The Old Woman said.

"The trail is still hot. If we go out and search while the Barrier is up, we will catch a rat snooping around for sure." Isha said.

"Good call. I am coming with you." The Old Woman said.

"I'm staying with my sister." Mirren said.

The team got ready to move while it is still possible to catch wind of the one who is after the plague.

The Old Woman, Karly, Jon, Isha and Galam all were getting ready but out of nowhere two people appeared. A very old Redguard man in a large loose robe and a Dunmer middle-aged woman.

"Aranea!"

"Hafiz!"

Jon and Isha recognized the two, the Prophets of both Azura and Boethiah.

"We need to talk."

***

"First off... Thank you for saving Dunmer lives." Aranea said. "You have fulfilled the purpose of your Labours even though it is not over yet."

"You two young ones have to stop the reason behind the plague. That's why we had to a tip for you." The old man called Hafiz said.

"Holding our hands now? Fine... will take what we get." Jon said.

"What you are up against are other Labourers." Aranea said.

"Oh! Interesting. Go on!"

"We don't know much because anything south to Deshaan is veiled in mystery now."

"Wait! Whose Labourers are we up against?" Jon asked.

"We are not sure which of the other Daedric Princes have a Labourer but let's assume that all is possible." Hafiz said.

"That's why we were tasked to warn you and one other thing. We need to arm you against danger. Consider it a reward for saving Narsis." Aranea said.

Aranea stood up and approached Jon putting her hand on his head. A mysterious power flowed from her towards him, he was familiar with that aura as the power of Azura.

< You have received the [Agent of Azura - Dawn's Beauty] >

'Dawn's Beauty? Isn't that what the world Tamriel mean.' Jon thought.

==========

• [Agent of Azura]

- Dawn's Beauty: Absorb 50% of any Magic Attack turning it into Magicka (Active)

==========

"... Daaaamn!"

"I guess you already had an insight into it." Aranea said.

"Yeah."

He looked at Isha who seemed to have received a Blessing too.

"What did you get?" He asked.

"... Don't know. Still, a bit mysterious to me."

"You will have an insight into it when you need it." Hafiz said.

"So, this is it? Two blessings and a tip... no, old age wisdom?" The Old Woman entered the room.

"That's all that the Gods wish to reveal at the moment." Aranea nodded.

"Hehe, if it is some old age wisdom then do not die. Gods know how we can use some of that youth you guys have. Such a waste young ones are no wise but foolhardy." Hafiz said.

"I tend to disagree." The Old Woman said. "People say youth is wasted on the young. I believe wisdom is wasted on the old. All you can do is die with it without the others benefiting from it, especially the ones closest to you. They want no part of it."

"It is as the Lady of Mournhold says." The two priests replied with respect.

"Shall we go now?" Isha said.

"Yes, but before we do that. I have a gift for Lady Boethiah... and an apology." Jon said.

"Hm?" Hafiz didn't seem to have got Jon.

"Here."

Jon took out a strange looking mace and handed it to Hafiz. It was none other than the [Mace of Molag Bal], the one he got from Markarth and had to kill a priest of Boethiah's cult for it.

"Oh... that is 'that'!" Hafiz seemed to have recognized the Mace.

"Give that backstabbing bastard Bal some good whooping for me. Also, make sure that no other hero-like guy have a chance to find it. Here's a pro tip, hide that thing in a Dwemer Ruin and make it only reachable by remote controlling a Dwemer Drone that has shitty controls... you know that quest in San Andreas? Supply Line."

"I'm afraid I don't."

"You'll figure it out."

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(Part 2: The Traitor)

The light of dawn lit the sky over Narsis and the team headed south. Jon had a lot in mind regarding the epidemic's unnatural evolution. Still, they were not knowing what to look for here.

The area they were venturing through was a swampland with a lot of strange alien trees that gave the feeling of mystery around every corner.

'Hooman.'

'Speak.'

'Go that direction.'

Thankfully, Jon put Nefertiti on the search. She kept the whole forest under surveillance by sending Shadow Atronaches around.

According to her, something stated to attack the Atronaches and she thinks it is people's doing.

Deshaan is a no man's land and fairly abandoned except in Narsis and Mournhold. The other settlement that is active is Tear but that's Argonian territory now.

"You hear that?" Karly asked.

"Seems like Krilon is right. There are some presences over there." Isha nodded and lowered her posture.

Karly hid behind some trees and sneaked around to catch a glimpse of some camp in the swamps she returned and reported that.

"Argonians? Maybe bandits." Galam said.

"I don't think so. Let's deal with them and take prisoners. Won't take a second if they are bandits." Jon had a different opinion.

"Fine, let's use the same plan. Spread around."

The Old Woman decided to attack the bandits from all directions. After some scouting, the plan was put in motions and a barrage of Fireballs descended on the camp.

Jon, Isha, Karly, and Galam were to attack from all directions while the Old Woman would support them from behind if needed.

Jon charged from the north like the wind and jumped in the bandits camp.

"An Enemy Atta..." An Argonian noticed Jon but the Ebony Blade send his head to the other side of the camp.

"An attack! Hurry!"

Argonians flowed from all directions at Jon. An Arrow support came from Karly who was stationed on the tree but Jon only waved his sword and cut three Argonians in one slash.

"Dammit! Stop him. Summon Gorgath and Klang." An important-looking Argonian shouted.

Jon took note of him and cast a Thunderbolt enough to paralyze the Argonian rather than killing him.

As the spell was about to strike, someone appeared with a large shield and blocked it.

"Humph." Jon seemed dissatisfied so he used his Aura recklessly and launched a series of energy ribbons to all sides killing as much as he could.

"Where are the rest?" Jon wondered to himself.

Only Karly and the Old Woman were supporting him from the back but the other two didn't appear yet.

"GAAAH! DIE!"

A strong shout came at Jon from the side as one big fellow waved one big hammer.

Jon was provoked by that guy's voice and waved the unbreakable Ebony Blade at him. The two weapons clashed but it was Jon who fell short, he felt like his Aura was escaping from his hand.

"Tsk! Troublesome guy!" Jon retreated away before the hammer lands while cursing.

It was a long while since anyone forced him back. Looking at the hammer, Jon felt some familiarity to its crudeness and frowned for only when it moved he could tell what is it.

"Volendrung?"

Looking at its wielder, he saw an Orc.

Looking at the guy with a shield who just stopped his spell, he was also an Orc and the Shield was inverted with a unique look to it carrying a faint Spell Warding effect.

"Spellbreaker?"

This was it.

The two other Labourers that were supposed to be facing them. Jon focused on his sword and readied himself for a bitter fight. The Hammer can empower its user while draining the enemy's power while the shield can fairly block anything.

A troublesome duo.

"Take this." Jon out a fair amount of his Aura in the sword and launched a strong attack towards the hammer user.

Jon's oppressive Aura seemed to have put a lot of strain on the strong Orc but he somehow intercepted Jon's attack with the shaft of the hammer.

"Strong Orc you are." Jon praised.

"As any Orsimer." The Orc said.

"Then why don't you BREAK FOR ME!" Jon shouted a Nordic 'Battle Cry' at the Orcs face.

The Orc felt he power failing him and fell back. Jon got the chance to kick away the hammer and was about to cut the orc but the other one stopped him with the shield.

"Annoying!" Jon said while striking multiple times.

The Shield was really something to behold withstanding an unbreakable blade being waved by Jon. The Orc behind the shield was big but seemed weak and feeble despite his ability to keep Jon in his place.

The other orc managed to run for his hammer but an arrow from Karly found its way to his shoulder while a spell came at the other Orc from the back paralyzing him.

The shield Orc tried to spit something at Jon but the latter evaded quickly knocked the Orc by a faint.

The whole camp was wiped out save for the important looking Argonian and the two barely moving Orcs.

"Let me guess, the Labourers of Malacath and Peryite if I am not mistaking?" Jon spoke to the Argonian and walked towards him.

"No. Stay back! You can't hurt me... I am..."

"I don't give a single fuck who you are. You are getting a Thundercookie." Jon said as he waved his hand but a voice stopped him.

"Krilon, stop."

It was Isha's.

Jon stopped as he felt something was wrong.

That indeed was.

She was being dragged by the Ebony-clad man they know as Galam with a dagger on her neck with her face full of bruises.

Jon's whole being stiffened.

"You fucking..."

"That's enough, Krilon. Throw your weapon." Galam said with a troubled face.

"I knew you were going to backstab us one day." Jon said.

"Then why didn't you kill me from the start then?" Galam said, "You bastard is a pain to my ass ever since the day you showed up. You just do things your way and be the fucking hero. You even didn't let me off and openly kept an eye on me."

"So you were paying attention?"

"Damn right I was."

"What's does Isha has to do with this? Come at me man to man?" Jon said.

"HA! You think I'm an idiot or something? I've never seen anyone as large as you are and you knocked off that bastard Gorgath. Even I can't do that."

"Let her go, Galam." Jon said impatiently.

"Why? So you can kill us with a spell? I'm not taking chances with you. And you Old Hag, show yourself and that granddaughter bitch of yours."

As Galam shouted, the Old Woman and Karly came out from their hiding.

"So, you betrayed me, Galam?" She said.

"Betrayed you? I was never on your side to begin with. You Tong bastards are acting like Lords and Ladies making your own kingdoms from the suffering of people."

"Wait! You are actually caring about people?" Jon asked.

"Oblivion I do. That woman is not some charitable old lady, she is the Tong itself. Doing charity to gain more followers, killing who oppose her, sorting out people as she wishes, loaning merchants to sink them and to take over the Bazaar. No one even knows who she is or what is her goal. Do you think that should be left aside?"

"I can't defend her but when shit is broken in someplace, some people tend to fix it. Last I saw of her was stopping a damn Plague you and your friends seem to have started it."

"Just a sacrifice for the greater good."

"I don't see a greater good in a plague."

"It was just to frame her."

"Frame me?" The Old Woman retorted.

"The cure was ready outside Narsis in shipments just when the chaos goes loose. You would be arrested and the town gets saved." Galam said and turned to Jon, "But somehow you just managed to stop it. Like Oblivion... Who are you? Krilon? Who is the real you? What is your real face?" Galam said as he tightened the hold on Isha.

"You can call me Anne Marie."

"Don't smartass with me! Who the fuck are you?" Galam shouted.

Jon looked troubled. He wanted to try out something but Galam was too cautious. The two Orcs also recovered and stood on Galam's side so it would be hard to free Isha.

He looked to the Old Woman but she signaled him to stall them.

"... I am... I am Jon Dare."

"What?" Karly shouted.

"... Jon... Dare!" Isha's eyes widened.

"Who the fuck is that?" Galam seemed unfamiliar with the name.

"I... I know." The important looking Argonian shouted, "Jon Dare, a Nord Thane, and a Winterhold's ruler. He owns the Dare Dragon Company and has a large fleet."

"Jon Dare... of Winterhold... I know him. I see... So you are just like that Old Woman, a rich guy with a criminal Tong at his back."

"Well... being as cool as Old Cat is really something to strive to but yeah... I feel like she is the much older female version of me, right?"

"I remember! He is on the second Most Wanted to the Thalmor and got banished by Skyrim's King. His head equals one million gold septim." The Argonian said.

Everyone stared at Jon with wide eyes.

"Okay, I didn't know that! I know I was wanted but... A Million Gold Septim. I see... it is the same amount of money I extorted from them."

"You extorted money from them?"

"Yes, and I have to admit, I made a pool out of gold and sat in it with my cat. We were fabulous. But still... you said I was the second Most Wanted? Who is first?" Jon said.

"The Remnants of the former Royal Family of Summerset."

"Oh! I don't think I can top that." Jon gave up.

"What should we do? This guy is a fearsome mage." Galam spoke to the Argonian.

"Take his artifacts, and retreat with the girl. We have the advantage in the swamps."

"Do as he said." Galam shouted at Jon.

"... Which artifacts?"

"The Ebony Blade... and that Ebony Mask... and the Ebony Staff as well." Galam demanded.

"I see you are obsessed as ever with Ebony." Jon said.

Jon said as he took off [Krilon] and took out [Pride] then passed the Ebony Blade all on the ground.

"Now, stand back." Galam said.

"Why? I am still having more ebony things. See this coat I am wearing?" Jon gathered [Greed] on his hand turning it from a trench coat to a slimeball.

"Look at my bracers and boots. They are armored by ebony too. An ancient enchanter called Ahzidal made them."

Galam who had a weakness to Ebony stared at the Artifacts Jon had.

"Oh! Almost forgot the Ebony Rod. But sorry... that's in my pants."

Jon was desperately buying time for whatever the Old Woman was doing. Just as he was about to run out of jokes, Isha's body shivered with a strong Magicka.

A hot wave of energy came forth and swirled around her like a gust of hot desert wind.

Galam was instantly blown away and Jon ran to catch her.

"I got you. Stop that thing?"

He made sure that she is okay and then looked at Galam who was staggering up beside the Argonian.

Jon gave a deathly glare as he was about to go for them but the Argonian cried.

"Venerable one, protect us!"

With that sort of prayer. The swampy forest reacted.

Every truck, branch and leaf moved at Jon.

"The fuck!"

Unexciting such an attack, Jon put a clumsy guard and got flung away by a tree.

He flew a fairly big distance before crushing in the mud.

Annoyed he jumped up from his place and ran towards Galam but the Old Woman stopped him.

"Wait! You can't go. The Hist has taken over the Forest. It is dangerous to fight here."

"Dammit."

Jon hurriedly recovered his Artifacts and carried Isha away from the danger zone.

"Are you okay?" Jon asked.

"I am *cough* just some bruises. Give me that beauty Mirren for a night and I'll heal right away." She looked like someone who got ran on by a truck but still had the ability to throw a joke.

Healing her wounds was a priority.

"What should we do now?" Jon looked at the two Dunmer women.

"I found the Curse Totem they were using. I'll disable it right away." Karly said.

"We have got a situation." The Old Woman seemed to have something to say.

"Galam was right. Narsis is saved but Elder Council's Army arrived to rescue it under the lead of a Commander from House Dres." She said.

"How do you know that?"

"Miranda was on Telepathy with me... the two of them got captured."

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