As if a giant ice club crushing his body, a cold and relieving sensation hit him hard. He felt...free. Free as if the invisible shackle that bound him all of this time was destroyed. The first thing he saw was a peaceful countenance of a woman. She looked worried. Suddenly a burst of heat flowing inside his body rapidly. Hatred, anger, regret, confusion, and all other unfamiliar feeling rushed through him without control. He suddenly felt so vulnerable. The next thing he felt was the touch of that unknown woman on the side of his face.
"Everything is going to be fine." She said softly. Her gentle touch offered a sense of reassurance and safety. He saw her other hand holding the mask. She took it off from his face. To his surprise, he felt warm and fell asleep.
"Damn!" Miraak grunted as he awoke from the dream. He hated the dream for it reminds him of his state now. But most of all, he hated it because he saw her in that dream. It made him even more frustrated to know the feeling he felt inside the dream was so good.
A moment later a splashing sound echoed in the distance, drawing his attention. "She is taking bath." He thought. After a while, the sound stopped. "It is time." Miraak sat up then walked out of the room. While he was alone, he managed to find a steel dagger hidden in the armory. The girl has anticipated his betrayal by not having any weapon in the house but she seemed to miss this one.
Sneaking was not his style for all this time—he could incinerate dozens of enemies with his magic. This time, Miraak tried his best to walk as quietly as possible. But when he opened her bedroom door, ready to stab the dagger through her chest, she was not there. His head turned quickly as he heard her voice from the other room which door was open.
"This is going to be fast." He thought while sneaking closer.
However, Miraak suddenly froze in his place when he peeked. He saw her only using a piece of towel to cover around her body. Then carelessly she was reading a book in that state.
"Did she just go straight to the library after bath?!"
This was the second time he saw her. Now he realized her small figure. Not much muscle as the female Nord warriors he often saw. In a sense, she looked normal—even weak. Her untied black hair swayed freely as she browsed from one book to another. She turned her head, gazing at what seemed to be a diagram or map the was pinned on the wall, being deep in thought.
"Let see here..." she mumbled to herself. One hand holding a book while another hand holding a piece of charcoal. "The first source will be hidden near Solitude..." she put a mark on the map.
Miraak lost his mood for bloodshed. The thought of killing Dragonborn was no longer pleasing when knowing it's going to be done when she was half-naked. He grunted in annoyance, feeling humiliated. It was also the moment when he understood his mask was in her possession. Thus, he decided to play along and strike when the time came. For now, he retreated.
Meanwhile, the young Dragonborn sighed in relief as she sensed him leaving. It would be a full moon in three days but the beast blood was already boiling hot. It kept her from sleeping while at the same time making her sense sharper. "I wonder why he backed off." Even with the sympathy she had for him, she was more than ready to knock him out.
The crisp morning air blew gently as they walked down the town of Raven Rock. For a moment Miraak was speechless because of what he saw. It has been a millennium since he set foot in the mortal realm. He forgot how blue the sky was and how the world was stained in many colors. In a sense, he felt that sensation again. Free...with no more Hermaeous Mora's eyes and his wretched tentacles.
Miraak's attention turned to her who was busy re-reading a piece of paper while checking what's inside her bag. "Map...check. Primal Soul Gem...check. 9 of them...check." She mumbled and thought for a while and suddenly said, "Ok, we are ready!"
She then walked across the bustling city of Raven Rock with Miraak behind her like a shadow.
"Hey, Alduin slayer!" someone called out to her. "Ammra!" Miraak noticed he finally knew her name. He never concerned himself with other's names. He had many servants when he was a dragon priest. A master didn't bother himself to remember the servant's name. And while in Apocrypha, those creatures of tentacles were nameless. It was foreign for him now to know her name.
"Hello Teldryn!" she greeted. "You are not with your helmet on. How rare." He grinned.
"I heard you are leaving." He said as he walked along beside Ammra, ignoring Miraak. "Raven Rock will not be the same without you. Visit us often."
Suddenly Ammra stopped on her track and bent over in pain while Teldryn held her. At the same time, Miraak gasped and felt a mild grip on his heart. He knew Mora was trying to take him back to his realm. But something prevented him and Miraak was sure it has something to do with her and her pain now. "Ammra, are you alright?" Teldryn asked with a concerned tone.
"I am fine." She said while standing straight. "It—it just lacks sleep."
"You know you are a terrible liar. Spill it." He demanded in a friendly way.
"I just had some argument with a Daedric Prince and yeah...the wound not yet healed." She continued walking toward the dock. Her ship was ready for taking her back to Skyrim.
"Sometimes you keep your secrets so well. Like now. I did not mean to be nosy. But is it really okay to travel when you are injured?" he asked after Ammra boarded the ship. The girl just nodded with a smile. "Don't give me those puppy eyes and nod because I know you are lying."
"Geez, Teldryn! Being, hundred years older than me making you act like a mother." she chuckled. "Yes, yes. I am not okay. But I must leave at once. I need to finish something soon." She said in a normal tone. "I am taking that guy with me. He will help me with my project." Ammra pointed to Miraak. He felt Terldryn's gaze on him. Miraak saw how the Dunmer rested his right palm on her head.
"You are the dumbest smartass, I've ever known!" he petted and messed her hair gently. Ammra chuckled. The first Dragonborn took his time to register what he saw and eventually remembered how mortal used to interact when they are close. "I'll miss you," Teldryn said.
She just grinned and chuckled. "You are being odd. Are you drunk?"
Teldryn did not answer then turned to Miraak instead. "Make sure you remember the map too. She is very capable of getting herself lost." he paused then added. "Sometimes she also has a pure talent to get confused over something simple. Her insanity and stupidity are contagious. Beware...Ouch" he groaned when Ammra playfully punched her side.
"Thanks for the compliment...Teldryn," Ammra said sarcastically. "Now shooo..." she sneered to which Teldryn chuckled. "Until next time." She waved him goodbye as the ship sailed away.
Slowly the sight of the city faded away on the horizon. She felt a bit sad to leave the place. Several months had been in Raven Rock and all of it was dedicated to tracking down Miraak. During her stay, Ammra managed to help the city regained its life, making her quite known amongst the Dunmer. They thanked her but Ammra owed her thank to Teldryn. Without him watching her back, she wouldn't have lived long enough to see the bright faces of the Dunmers when their city prospered.
Now that someone she had benn looking for was here, Ammra had only one thing left to do. She turned to Miraak who was gazing at the line where the sky met the sea. In brief second she noticed how he stared at the distance solemnly. He was quiet, stoic and utterly cold as well as intimidating. His tall build also making him look imposing and threatening. Seeing her new companion so engrossed by the view, Ammra decided to talk alter.
On the other hand, as hours passing by and they further away leaving Solstheim, Miraak slowly felt a new sensation he had long forgotten. It was like an invisible heavy burden slowly unloaded.
"I could tell Mora is looking for you." He heard her speaking. "I hope you don't mind walking on the mortal realm for some time." Miraak turned to her.
"For some time?" she stared at him for a moment then turned away, thinking.
"Nevermind."
"Is the project you said earlier related to my blood?"
"Yes." She answered with her eyes fixed on the distant sight. The gentle breeze swayed her loosened dark hair. Miraak suddenly felt a warm flush inside his body which was so foreign.
"Why?"
She thought for a while. "Just like soul trap, I need to absorb...capture...some form of energy. That's where your blood came in. I need it because the dragon within you is stronger than me. Its nature runs in your blood." She paused. "I hope you understand what I mean."
Miraak smirked proudly. "What will you kill?"
"I don't think we will kill anyone or anything."
"I have been in Apocrypha for centuries. I know ancient knowledge and forbidden rituals. Impossible to capture energy without killing its bearer."
This time, Ammra's confident but gentle smile struck him. "That's where you are wrong, Mr. Know-It-All." She teased and Miraak was dumbfounded. No one had ever dared to talk to him with such an impudent manner. "You have knowledge of the ancient times, but I can see you are not open-minded enough for new knowledge. This is something that I invent and I am sure your Home Sweet Apocrypha does not store this knowledge." He stared at her intently, remained silent for a moment. Partly agitated partly amused by her way of talking.
"Then tell me what we will gather the energy from." he finally replied.
She smirked. "The divines. I am planning to capture the divines." Miraak was speechless again. What she said was complete nonsense but Ammra just smiled seeing his confused look. "You'll see." She added then rummaged her backpack.
As a mage of high intelligence, what she said intrigued him. Miraak who was inquisitive by nature started to take interest even though he viciously denied it.
After some time, Ammra took something out of her bag and hand it out for Miraak. "Put this on. We will arrive in Windhelm dock and it is very col..."
"I know." He snapped. "I was there even when the city had not been built," Miraak added sternly. They look at each other and Ammra still had that carefree yet calm countenance.
"Umm... you know it already." She said. "But will you take this or not?" her hand still hanging in the air, reaching out to give a roll of fabric that seemed to be a warm coat.
"Tsk." Miraak grabbed it.
"And you can use this for now in case someone attacks you." Ammra offered her Stalrim blade. Miraak was hesitant. Clearly, he had so many questions in his mind.
"I can kill you with that." He said in a somewhat calm and deep voice.
"Don't worry, I beat you once, I can do it again," Ammra replied softly. Miraak glared then snatched the blade. "No magic, no shout, so protect yourself with that. Don't die before I use your blood." She chuckled. And at the same time he could not sense even the slightest hint of bloodlust nor evil in her way of speaking.