Arcane Arrows & Burning Blood: The Burning Blood Chapter 2

  • The Burning Blood

    Chapter 2
    Calming the Blood

    Sting strode on, in what would seem a very long time. But soon he had found himself at the very hill he had climbed when he ran from Winterhold. As he reached the top, he looked at the village he once had lived in. He had witnessed start of The Great Collapse, but only by hearing it. Now, about eighty years later, the sight of the ruined village was more than he could bear. It was harder to see than he had ever, possibly imagined. Why had he not made an effort to warn the people he had lived with? He had very recently betrayed a women, running for her life. How had he grown to be such a monster, who had turned her to the very people that had been hunting her?

    All those thoughts started to rush through his mind. He became infuriated, and his veins started to glow more blue then ever before. But this time, he did not feel pain. Somehow, Sting embraced the pain, which instead made him stronger. On top of it all, he looked over to where the college had stood. But, surprised, he instead saw the great college, standing there, as if nothing had happened. Why was the college still intact, after that big wave hitting the entire village? Had the college created the storm on purpose, to purge the village? Had they wanted to kill my father, or had they wanted to kill me?

    Confused, angry and in a rush of power, Sting tried to calm himself. Instead of walking through the village, he walked back down the southern mountainside, walking around the mountain on the north side. This would be a turning point in Sting's life.

    Day after day, week after week, he lived in the harsh climate that is the northern coast of Skyrim. He could travel along the coastline, from the eastern shores around Winterhold, as far as to the marshlands north of Morthal. During the nights, he could sit and meditate, be it in a blizzard or not. He learned to master his enchanted blood so far that he could imbue his arrows and bows with even grander powers. He was also able to enchant himself and his body to an extent, making him withstand cold or breathe under water. 

    Some days, he could go on a berserk-like frenzy, killing all creatures he would find, with his trusty bows, be it horkers, bears or ice giants. This even further made him and his bows more powerful, since he captured and stored each soul he killed. If this happened during nights, the glow that shone from Sting was so immense, that even from a great distance, people would see it. The rumors started to spread that there was a ghost that had woken from a shipwreck, seeking revenge. Others would suggest that the glow would come from a great ice wraith.

    Each night, Sting looked towards the college, even if he was too far away too see it. He would sit down, turned towards Winterhold, and meditate. What is his purpose? What is he to do with the college? And what would he do if he found is father, which he had loathed in his youth? 

    It will take a long time before anyone would see Sting again...


    *****

    You can find the first two parts in this story on Tompa's Bookshelf.