[h3]The Obstacle is the Way[/h3]

[@Rtron] & [@Stormflyx]

[i]Early morning, 15th of Midyear 4E208 [/i]
The Oasis, Alik’r Desert

[hr]

[indent]With a jug of fresh water in one hand, and her books and quill held up under her arm - Raelynn made her way to a quiet spot inside the cavern, electing to sit beside the stream away from the tents. She still found herself lamenting over Zaveed’s words. The heat of the moment having been and gone left only the echoes of what he had been saying. She would ruminate over it all for some time yet. She wondered, in the back of her mind, if he was thinking about it too.

Still, the clear air had given her a clear spirit and clear mind to try her hand and deciphering some of the runes found in the restoration tome. She had been able to make a good start on it so far, but had found herself stuck over one she had never seen before. 

Minutes passed over, and she was still perched up on a rock, tongue poking out in concentration with the quill in her hand - bobbing against the page. She was trying her best to hold down frustration, but this task was timely. Raelynn really believed that if she could learn the spell within the tome, then her magicka would be freed from whatever prison was holding it. She did not have time to get caught up on singular runes. She exhaled sharply and her nostrils flared. [i]This was an obstacle in her way[/i]. Try as she might, she had never been that great at holding back her temper when she was in a hurry. “What are you…?” She muttered under a terse breath.

Nanine rose from the stream where she had been crouched, taking a drink and stretched. Sleep had brought her out of her mood, reaffirming her convictions. Now she needed to focus on the task ahead, and the goals they needed to accomplish. 

She paused before leaving, curiously glancing over at the sound of Raelynn speaking. A spell tome, similar to the ones she had spent years studying. Curiosity getting the better of her, she walked over to where the other Breton was sitting not-to-subtly trying to get a glimpse of the text. 

“I could help.” She offered, standing next to Raelynn. She could see now that it was a restoration tome, which wasn’t surprising considering that the other woman was a healer. The writing was different than conjuration and destruction tomes, but not entirely alien. She could make out some of the runes from where she stood and understand them. 

“I spent years studying destruction and conjuration tomes, and the writing isn’t that different. Between the two of us, we should be able to have this translated quickly. If you’d like, that is.”

It was almost as though the realisation that she should let go, had allowed something that she needed to be let in. She turned her head and looked up at Nanine, who was hovering around her. On any other day, she would have been perturbed by a presence so close to her - but right now she required help. “I see…” was her first response, and her eyes glanced back down to the pages. Was this not a task she must complete on her own without help? 

“I will get it eventually…” she found herself saying next, emphasis on [i]eventually[/i]. It dawned on her in that brief silence she held before turning down the offer of the Battlemage that maybe, just maybe, this was a task that would require her to seek out others. She mused over her life so far - she was a staunchly independent woman who would often refuse assistance if it meant she could get the job done alone. She was against the clock now, it was fine to be difficult when you had all the time in the world but right now, time was against her. “I will get there eventually, but if you think you can help me… I would very much appreciate it.” It almost hurt her to say it, even more so to lift up the tome for Nanine to take hold of it. Whether it was a book or a precious jewel, it had been a gift from her father and she hoped her fellow Breton would take it carefully. 

Nanine smiled, excited to do something other than survive or fight. “I have no doubt you’ll get it eventually, but two can work better than one, no?” She carefully took the book from Raelynn, seeing how important it was to her. Nanine didn’t know where it came from or why it was so important, but she could understand that sentiment. 

She scanned the page and its margins, catching up to Raelynn where she had translated too. She stared at the rune for a moment, comparing it and Raelynn’s translations to the other tomes and runes she had read over the years. It took a few moments to get back into the mindset of converting languages, having been a long time since she actually translated anything, or even pursued anything scholarly beyond preparation for a fight. She unconsciously took a hand from the book and started sparking lightning between her fingers, far enough away so as to not damage the tome. The magic helped her concentrate, ignoring the burbling of the stream and Raelynn’s eyes on her. A few moments passed, and she gave a small ‘aha!’ 

“Knit.” Nanine sat down next to the other breton, cancelling her magic and showing Raelynn. “You see how this part of the rune flows into main part and how its mirrored on the other side? It represents ‘unity’. The arching part on both of them represents ‘force’. Forcing unity from what is broken. Knitting back together what has been damaged.” Her voice contained subdued excitement and pleasure. It had been too long since she’s done this. 

“I haven’t done this in years. May I help you translate more?”

“Well I never… You’re right, it is. It matches perfectly what I’ve already done… Thank you!” Her eyes lit up and sparkled with a relief. The obstacle was gone. “Thank you,” she said again softly, giving her fellow Breton a squeeze on the wrist to show her appreciation. “There was actually a rune in there that means to See. But, it’s easy to confuse with another one which is Watch. It’s a very similar looking rune, but very different interpretations. I guess part of the spell is to see what must be knitted back together - and I can only assume that means flesh to be mended…” Her words came out as a quick ramble. It was nice to talk about this with someone. 

“You might be thinking that it would be obvious to first see, but with the other runes - it’s actually to see within from within. It’s not looking with eyes, but with… Spirit, I think.” Raelynn’s face was overcome with an almost smug grin, but it was really rather endearing. For a woman who so often scorned and curled her lips - a smile of pride at what she had done was rare. “I would… I would like you to help, actually.”

She shuffled over on the rock, leaving a space for Nanine to sit beside her. “I don’t believe we’ve [i]formally[/i] met… It’s nice to share this moment with you.”

Nanine smiled, quietly excited, taking a seat next to the other Breton. She was glad that Raelynn had appreciated her help. For whatever reason, this was very important to the healer and she was all too happy to help Raelynn get through it. She tilted her head, considering Raelynn’s words. “That would make sense. Restoration spells aren’t limited to just healing the damage that you can see with your eyes. And it's not like destruction where all you have to do is force elements into being and let them go. Restoration requires more sight and belief.  It’s a pleasure to finally formally meet you.” 

“Hard to get proper introductions through when you’re busy running from the Dwemer, slogging through mud, or planning an insurrection. Even harder to find time to properly study magical texts like this amongst all that. I’m glad you’re letting me help.”  She scanned the translations Raelynn’s had so far, making sure she’s caught up. “What part of High Rock are you from?”

“The best way I can explain it is that it is… seeing by feeling.” She said as she turned back to the book to plug away at the next rune. “You're not wrong, we really haven't stopped for a while, have we?” At the mention of it, Raelynn's eyes lifted from the book and she began to glance around the camp at everyone. Sora and Jude were together, Latro was doing his thing - Calen heading out of the oasis. Everyone was doing something, even she was. “I'm from Daggerfall, actually, and what about you? You look like you've seen a lot of battle… I'm going to guess you're not from a Merchant family like I am.” 

She picked up her journal from the floor, flicking to a certain page. “I've seen this rune. Air or wind or something…” 

“Hey, I was raised in Daggerfall! Best part of High Rock right now.” She looked over at the rune, studying it. “Change maybe? Air and wind are always the elements associated with that, after all.” She gave a small laugh at the image of her father and brother being merchants. “No, not a merchant family. Legionnaire family. Father was in the Legion, mother was a healer in the Legion, and my brother was going to join the Legion. There was never really any question of what I was going to do, and they spent their lives helping me prepare for it. When I came of age I joined up and was immediately sent to Skyrim towards the tail end of the civil war and helped bring order to the area in the aftermath. That’s where my combat experience comes from. Where did you learn how to be a healer?”

“I first read of magic, actually, while my mother was trying to train me as a seamstress. It all seemed so fascinating and powerful, but destruction didn't [i]feel[/i] right to me. Save for a simple familiar summon, nor did conjuration. The only school of magic that really resonated was restoration. Off I went to Winterhold.” She scribbled the notes about change next to the rune in the book. As it happened, Nanine was right again. “Your family must be very proud of you for upholding that tradition, then.” Raelynn thought on how her life would appear if she had done the same and trained as a merchant and seamstress. She definitely would not be here, and yet she most likely would have found herself in Gilane… It was a nice fantasy that she would hold to daydream about later. “I lived in Skyrim for many years, I was there for the aftermath of the sacking of Windhelm… Terrible stuff, truly.”

“I’m glad someone else understands how fascinating magic is, not just from a practical point, but from simple study.” She gave a soft smile at Raelynn’s words about her family.  Proud of her tradition and servitude to the Empire, of course, but proud of her? She could only think of her brother feeling that way about her specific accomplishments. “Yes, I imagine they would be.” She sighed for a moment, looking up at the sky. She hadn’t actually participated in the sacking of the rebel capital, off on patrol in the Reach, but she had heard about it and the horrors spawned from it. 

 “Windhelm was the result of a lot of anger and hurt being unleashed all at once. In turn, it only created more hurt and anger. As I was left Skyrim, things seemed to be getting better and trust was being restored in the Legion,  but one never knows with these things. The Dwemer suddenly reappearing might’ve forced unity or caused even more chaos.” 

She glanced at the book again, focusing on a specific rune. “Fire? That doesn’t make sense. Or is it speaking about an inner flame?”

Raelynn traced her finger over the marks on the rune, eyes narrowing in concentration, “if we ever get back there, we'll surely find out. I have many companions and acquaintances in Skyrim. I think even if we find it wartorn then I would still feel at home and safe. Skyrim has an unbreakable spirit…” She sighed almost happily at the memory of the province. 

“Ah! It's Ignite. So you were close, but just missing the interpretation… the next one looks like Spirit, don't you think? Igniting the Spirit… These books can be so cryptic, but I appreciate the message behind each breakdown. They’re poetic in a way, and as mysterious and wise as magic itself.” 

Nanine nodded. She didn’t feel Raelynn’s reassurance about Skyrim, though they had had two different experiences in the frozen nation. “Indeed, though I sometimes wish they forewent poetic in favor of directness. It’d be nice if they wrote down what you had to do in plain Cyrodiilic, just once or twice.” 

“I wouldn’t call all magic wise. The Daedric Princes have shown little wisdom throughout the recorded history we have of them, or at least wisdom mortals cannot understand, and magic like Necromancy actively ignores wisdom at almost every turn.” She shrugged slightly. “Though I suppose that can be applied to every magical art, depending on who is using it.”

“I have seen magic from all schools be used for both good and bad purposes, you’re right that some are more… Colourful than others, but magic teaches us lessons regardless of the school. Whether we choose to listen and learn…” She would let Nanine finish that sentence herself. 

“For example, the lesson here… If I put it all together…. ‘Watch that which must be mended, for change will come when the Spirit is Ignited.” She almost laughed, everything was so cryptic indeed, and that may not be the correct interpretation. “How would you interpret it? As a mage of Destruction?”

“A fair point.” Whether the lessons to be learned were about the dangers of foolish magic or not was another debate entirely, and not one to start right now. Nanine read the line again, mouthing it to herself, and considered it for a moment as lightning sparked across her fingers.

 “From a destruction spell point of view, it’d be about watching for an opportunity to attack, ‘that which must be mended’ meaning an injury or damage to armor you can capitalize on. Change would be referring to a change in battle, and the Spirit being Ignited would be your spirit igniting the magic to destroy your opponent through their said weakness.  Probably something to do with fire. So, assuming that we’ve translated it correctly, we just need to apply the opposite ideology to that interpretation.” She gestured slightly to Raelynn. “Which would be your expertise, I believe.”

“That sounds like the destructive interpretation alright,” she said with a soft chuckle. Raelynn ran her thumb over her lips, deep in thought as she let what Nanine had advised sink in. Hers was an interesting take on it all, that was for sure. She hummed quietly to herself, organising her thoughts. “Is it strange that I wonder whether it is something far more personal and less… Literal?” She stopped suddenly, humming again as her forefinger traced the outline of a rune on the page. “I do wonder if this could be a message about observation of one’s own spirit and behaviour…”

The breton paused and her eyes narrowed, fingers circling the runes again. “I think it could be… to observe your own spirit deep within, in order to reignite the flame and begin to mend.” It felt so true to her, and it was almost as if she felt the message land with a thud in her stomach. 

“Makes sense. All of what Destruction does is literal effects and reactions, whereas Restoration has belief and hope.  After all, you can’t knit things back together unless you’re sure with and of yourself. Forcing elements into existence, summoning monsters, manipulating reality, manipulating people’s perceptions, all that is just pure willpower to make it happen. Restoration requires belief and passion.” Nanine shrugged slightly. She didn’t truly know much about Restoration, all told. “At least from my outside perspective. You can’t heal damage to others if you’re damaged too much yourself, after all.” She glanced over at Raelynn curiously. “Is that how Restoration works? Or is it simply force of will?”

“You might be right there… All I know is, when I summon my magicka and place my light on someone, if I focus hard enough I can feel everything. It’s… Not just a wave of a hand and an injury is healed, it’s more than that - it’s about making a connection and wanting to heal the wounds too…” Finally, she closed the book and placed it on her lap. 

“You’ve given me food for thought without even having realised it, Nanine,” she said with a smile. “I’m glad you helped me with this.”

“I’m glad to have helped you with that, even if I’m not certain what I’ve done.” Nanine smiled in return, only mildly puzzled. She helped Raelynn with something other than the book, and it seemed to be good for the healer, and that was enough. Nanine stood with a stretch, she still had to go, as enjoyable as the experience with Raelynn had been.

 “Well, I’ve got more preparation to do. If we’re going to break people out of prison and steal things from that prison at the same time, I’d like to be more prepared than last time. We only got out because we got lucky, and luck runs out eventually.” She paused before leaving. “We should do this again. It was nice to focus on something other than the next fight for a change.” [/indent]