€

€ for a bad memory that still haunts them

Their whispers, quiet hums and tormented screams, pleas for words, attention, answers, guidance from the demented god residing in the center of this hell of ash and Blight. Their chanting he found himself muttering in his sleep, awake, making those at the Ghostgate look at him with suspicion, like they were waiting for an animal to turn rabid, to put it out of its misery before harm came to others. Infection. Disease. Curse.

“<He Knows the Names and the Naming, He knows the Wait and the Waiting, He Enters into every Star and Moon, He Shines through their…>”

“<J’hasi.>” The Khajiit paused, blinking and eyes focusing on the Argonian looking at him.

“<Shadows.>”

“<…they’re still in your head.>”

“<…y…yeah…>” His brother sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose, pinching it near his eyes before the Saxhleel returned the eye contact.

“<For all the trouble we’re going through for this, I’d hope those greyskin bastards pay you more than just empty praise.>”

“<There’s more at stake than payment.>” J’hasi snapped, pupils slits. His grip tightened on his spear, ears flattened before he strode forward, Shadows taking an involuntary step, two back until he was pressed against the wall of the Dwemer ruin they were in. Whichever one. They’d been in and out of these for far too long. He swallowed at the low, cutting tone of his brother’s voice.

“<You seem to forget exactly what is at stake here. This is more than hearing cultists in my head, some mad god with a one-way access to my dreams. If I don’t stop this, we and everyone else in Morrowind is fucked. Maybe I should’ve let you in when I talked with Vivec, because maybe you’d get the implications of what this fucked up shit means.>” Shadows shivered a little at the chilling tone he’d never heard from this Khajiit in front of him. It didn’t even sound like his brother. Though he’d be lying if he said he never wanted to hear it again. Just not…in this situation. J’hasi’s ears flicked back, teeth bared as he continued.

“<And who knows if this shit would stop at the mountains. All of Tamriel? The whole continent, overrun by corprus beasts and Sixth House cultists? Dagoth fucking Ur could take over the entire godsdamned Empire because he has the power of the heart of a dead god!>” The Argonian stiffened a little when his brother grabbed onto the collar of his armor, shoving him against the wall, muzzle wrinkled with rage.

“<So shut your fucking mouth about payment. Because all you’ve dealt with? Is nothing compared with the shit inside my head.>” he hissed, Shadows’ legs feeling a little weak before he let go, turning to walk down the empty hall of the ruin, voice sliding back to the flat, monotone muttering of before.

“<…On rivers of fire he comes forth, Through storms of dreams he rides, With slivers of steel he pierces the Heart…>” Shadows rubbed at his throat, swallowing again before following, pulling his hood up in preparation to go back outside. He wasn’t looking forward to the dead-eyed look he’d likely find on his brother’s face now even more than the howls of Blighted winds outside the ruins.