Dragonborn Chapter 15: A Good Bath, A Good Fight

[A/N: Check out our new group on discord, link at the end of the chapter. Enjoy]

Healing magic can't erase fatigue, that's something I learned the hard way.

One night, when I was absorbed in reading I cast healing on myself to resist sleeping and I was still nine years old.

The next day I collapsed from fatigue and got scolded by Nurina.

After that, I made a decision to take it easy when recovering from fatigue. And the best way was through a hot bath and a good sleep.

Luckily for me, Solitude has a bathhouse and the participants like me who won and were witnessed by many were treated like nobility in that place.

The bathhouse was outside the city near the river. A place were men spent time away from their wives. It was an open space with a water wheel to draw water in, and a boiler to heat water, along with many small and tall white tents, every tent has a wooden tub.

Wenches of bathhouse were its number one feature. You can go in there, spend your money and go out with a wide happy smile.

There are also some other services like cleaning clothes, and there was a barber. I'll definitely use all these features.

I was beaten up the most after my match with Farkas, so I needed it the most. Using healing well only close my wounds and protect me from any internal injury but won't heal my soul. So, I took the boys and went to see the bathhouse.

[A/N: Continue this part on "Skyrim: Amorous Adventures" for the same author, it will be the side novel for the +18 stuff.]

On my way out, I saw the bathhouse mistress glaring at me, I walked to her and said hey.

"Your friends have already left, and you owe us two hours." The mistress said.

"I already paid for two hours." I retorted, I paid and these people won't work unless be paid to.

"These were the first two hours." The lady said with scary cold eyes. But wait!

"What do you mean the first two hours?" I couldn't help but ask stupidly trying to think it was not true.

"You blind boy? It's already evening. You have spent four hours." The woman said something I was trying to mishear.

"F- F- Four h- hours?" I was holding myself not to cry it out loud.

"Seriously what are these girls thinking? I even went to yell at them to hear them moaning two tents away, no girl could take business around you." The woman was shaking her head in anger.

I was speechless. What the hell did I do this time? Was it the potion? Damn it all, this is scary.

But to hear our moans two tents away is absurd. I must apologize.

"Sorry about that, next time I'll take a tent in the corner." I was trying to come up with something.

"Next time you take it into the secrecy rooms where no soul can hear you? pay up and leave already." The woman yelled at me.

I paid and went to the side of the bathhouse.

There was a barbershop with an Altmer working it.

I asked for a trim to make my hair short and stylish.

Unlike the noobs in Riften, this man was an expert, he even witnessed the fights and bet on me, so his win was good.

He told me to come back and was very friendly.

I have a poor opinion of High Elves, but this man was alright. His name was a Micalo and he had a 'Shadow Mark' on his shop. It was a triangle with a circle in it. This place was a safe house for escaping thieves.

Looking at the mirror he provided I could finally see my face to the clearest detail.

I have been trying to find such a good mirror but of course, an expensive hair stylist would have one.

Even Nurina who was rich and capable doesn't really have mirrors.

What I could see in the mirror was I, a young man with racial features of Nords such as blue eyes, pale skin and colorful hair.

But after asking for the same Taper hairstyle I used to have in my past life I already confirmed what I thought of long time ago. The facial features of my past life didn't change much.

The colors of my hair, eyes and skin were the only things that changed.

My eyes were the same Egyptian wide eyes with the saber like brows. I had the same small nose and the full long face, my chin was a bit thinner but that's due to healthy diet.

This was not a dream, me is still me, just a little luckier and much more handsome.

I returned to the inn and found the boys drinking in the first floor.

I went and sat down, they looked at me with half eyes and kept staring.

"Don't even start thinking about it." I was not in the mood to be lectured.

They looked at each other and sighed then gave me a bottle.

"Say Wulfur, What do you think of our brother here?" Battle-Born started it.

"Normally he is a man among men, yet he has taken it a bit too far." Wulfur talked in a low voice but not minding me at all.

I sat looking at that exchange.

"You mean he is manlier among men now!" Battle-Born exclaimed and continued, "Say, how long did you last?"

"A tad less than an hour, what about you?" Wulfer answered and asked back.

"... Same as you." Battle-Born gulped and answered.

"You saying that this bastard lasted four times more than us." Wulfur made a calculation.

"... And with two girls!" Battle-Born made it worse.

"Damn!!" They both said together while looking at little Jon's location.

I caught goosebumps.

"Calm down guys this was just a huge misunderstanding, I got a trim on the way back and visited some places, that's all there is to it." I made excuses.

"Look at him knowing no shame, as if we didn't go to check on his tent before we leave." Battle-Born said with disdain.

"Tch Tch. He's a Khajiit lover after all, he even lies as much as them. I bet the first thing he did when he arrived at the bathhouse was to look for Khajiit wenches." Wulfur said, dammit! he found out that much.

It took me the whole night trying to clear away this scandal.

Next day I woke up and was in a good shape, yesterday was great and today is having a good start, breakfast tasty, weather warm, birds chirping, bards singing and morning coffee, ah! what a blessing, coffee can only be bought in Solitude from the East Empire Company, so I am taking all the coffee with milk I need.

My friends woke up a little while after me and the looked at each other with their sleepy faces, the said in unison "F**ker."

"What of it huh? I just woke up before you guys and ordered your breakfast too. Who is the bestest friend in the world?" I retorted.

"That won't make me feel any better. Just admit it, what kind of a potion did you glup up yesterday?" Wulfur retorted back and asked.

"Didn't you guys drink the Stamina Vigoration potions?" I remember giving them one each. One wouldn't last third of the time they lasted yesterday.

"I think you took something different though." Battle-Born made a speculation.

"I did. Remember that troll we killed on the way here?" I said it without hiding it.

"What of it?" Both said in unison.

"I extracted few ingredients from its marrow and made a medical potion that can enhance one's properties to the point of wonder. It never said anything about the duration in the prescription though." I declared with a grin.

"Look at him having no shame, he tricked us with some cheap potions and gluped on the good stuff." Battle-Born said with a stiff face.

"And saying it enhances properties but didn't say anything about the duration! taking us for fools? duration is a property you fiend." Wulfur said with another disdainful face.

"Such a way is no Nord way." Battle-Born continued.

"Ysmir's beard! What does this have to do with Nord ways?" I couldn't take it anymore.

"I'll say anything as long as it makes you feel worse." Battle-Born spoke his true intentions.

So it was like this, fine "I'll make you guys one each."

"Told you he is our brother." Wulfur smiled while drinking.

"I know, one can tell a true Nord when he sees one." Battle-Born kept making Nord related nonsense.

I couldn't muster any power to retort any more, these guys caught many bad habits from me.

I couldn't help but smile though, I had once felt that feeling before.

Fatty and Four-eyes were like that too. We did all sort of weird stuff.

We swore to do all fun stuff that are expensive, immoral and fattening.

I, as the one who actually made real money was in charge of the expensive section. and the two took the rest.

I am sorry I left you guys earlier than I should.

Or maybe these two are your incarnation in a different world and heaven was so kind to bring us together this way. I don't think I'll ever know though.

An hour later we walked out of the 'Winking Skeever' and headed to the castle where the arena is.

We didn't want to accept more challenges so we dressed like normal people.

I walked up in my unique stylish otherworldly customized fashion. in Riften I requested many unique clothes such as modern looking shirts and pants.

Tailors aren't that skilled in these parts but I could get my hands on few white shirts that can be worn like robes [A/N: Those from Witcher3] and fit tight dark colored pants, I also liked to wear custom made fur jackets on them for the cold days.

My boots were made by me though in a sports boots style, they were soft and I learned an enchantment that remove smells and infection so they are the best for all purposes.

I looked stylish in my own eyes, my Taper hairstyle was just fitting the whole thing. I only needed some shades, a watch and a thin chain necklace yet these stuff can't be found in Nirn.

I had black dwemer eyeglasses that originated from the mod 'Realistic Eyeglasses', I put on a very stylish Amulet of Akatosh, and some small bracers.

I didn't carry any weapons as I couldn't ruin this style, I can just shoot spells if I need.

Wulfur always wore Nord robes that fit his large build along with a triangular hat that he liked for some reason, he also had an axe on his side.

Battle-Born wore some fine clothes from an expensive shop nearby, and his sword was hanging from his side.

"Let's head out and watch some matches."

We went out and as if the world was going in slow motion we walked in the street, Battle-Born to my left and Wulfur to my right. I don't know how could I hear (Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song) which I didn't mind at all, as it seams the Author was listening to it and it strangely fit the mood.

We looked like rich people, even though only one of us was, the other two were fresh out of the orphanage orphans.

Svidi or who became Lynly as of late joined us on the way.

That girl was always being spoiled and protected by us so she could be considered our little sister.

Reaching the castle, I showed my token and went right to the special seats made for the teams.

Team White Wolves one of few teams that didn't lose at all in the challenges so we had a good reputation already.

Along with our beautiful Lynly, we already became famous.

The arena was front of us and there were a lot of applause as it seemed that a member of team 'Golden Swords' of Solitude was challenged by a member from 'North Star' from Dawnstar.

These teams were ones of the teams that were sponsored. The first was sponsored by Torygg himself and 'North Star' was sponsored by the Jarl of Dawnstar, Skald the Elder.

I don't really know these guys well but one guy was a blonde with a very shiny armor and a bastard sword, his name Argir Swift-Hilt from the 'Golden Swords'. The other guy was Ongeim Scar-Mouth, a tower of muscle with two axes each hand.

Knight style vs Barbarian style, this must be interesting as the two of them were not helpers but the main participants.

Argir was a handsome guy with a tall blonde hair and good height, he looked to be one of the future king's men, his style is a bit mysterious to me. Ongeim was two meters in height and wore a leather armor with two axes in hand, one could tell his style was speed and power.

Ongeim took the initiative and kicked the ground flying at Argir swinging his left axe from upwards, Argir who took a stance made a step dodge in the last second.

He was not really making any effort but Ongeim was not that simple, he followed with his right axe horizontally at Argir who was on his right covering his side and making Argir retreat again.

Argir jumped back and took a stabbing pose, I thought that he would launch himself at Ongeim's opening but he just waited.

After Ongeim approached Argir started stabbing and slashing and stabbing again. It looked messy but it was so accurate that wounds and cuts started to appear on Ongeim's body, Ongeim on the other hand became slower and could only retreat while guarding.

I couldn't see a rhyme to Argir's sword but he was something else, he was aiming at precise locations in his opponent's body. That was like a surgeon but he was dismantling people, not fixing them.

I must admit it, he is good.

As good as me and Farkas. His hitting speed is really high but his body is not that strong, that's why he would rather wear a heavy armor on his waist and his arms and legs only in protective light gear, the same also goes to my gear.

I think I want to fight him but my hammer will get in my way.

Let's think of that later and watch the match now.

Ongeim was having a hard time, his right arm has many cuts and it was barely moving now. I think that's as far as he goes.

But to my surprise, he jumped back away from Argir's blade and lagged for a second.

Argir was giving a chase but once he started cornering his opponent a fast shadow attacks him. He was able to protect his head but his shoulder guard was grazed and blood oozed out.

It seems that Ongeim was waiting for Argir to chase and he threw the axe in his left hand once Argir wasn't able to dodge. Wise move, but now he had lost one of his weapon. He switched the axe on his right wounded arm to his left and charged.

On the other Hand Argir was in a daze after taking the hit, he staggered and lost his momentum completely, one could hear few girls screaming after he was hit, he barely started to react when Ongeim's shadow approached him.

Ongeim was going for blood and was really in a bad mood now, he didn't swing his axe but he attacked with all the might he can muster in one straight kick.

Argir received the kick and flew backward, he coughed blood from his mouth too, that kick carried all Ongeim's stress from the start of the match.

I really liked these two guys, the have good judgement and also strong.

Argir recovery was fast, he took his sword and was about to stand but a shadow covered him and he could feel the air changing from a certain direction.

He dodge backward while on the ground, it looked like he could read his surroundings well.

What caused the air to change was Ongeim's kick upward, he wanted to launch Argir again.

Once he saw Argir dodge, he used his left hand and attached with a high arc towards Argir in the ground.

Argir had no time to breath but that was not a problem, all he could do is roll to the side, once he could find a chance to put his feet on a solid ground, without even standing, he leaned on his left hand and used the sword with his right to stab at the nearest spot of Ongeim.

The stab went into Ongeim's left thigh all the way through and blood gushed out.

Ongeim fell and the referee made his announcement that he can fight no more.

A healer ran to Ongeim to stop the bleeding and remove the blade, another ran to Argir to check on him.

I must say that match was something else, I really made a good decision to come today instead of participating in the shooting range.

Duels are way much better after all.

Argir was hailed as the winner and many girls started jumping around, seems like this handsome fellow is well-known in Solitude.

I can't lose now, I don't have a weapon but I need to fight or else my adrenaline rush will go to waste.

I look around for anyone who can fight. The arena was full due to Argir's and Ongeim's pre-announced match so I had to take the chance.

After few seconds I spotted a tall elf woman in a college robe. She was an Altmer with with 3 boys and 2 girls around her. From her outer appearance I could guess that she is one of the NPCs I know. That is teacher Faralda from the College of Winterhold, Master level mage at the Destruction major.

So they were here too, I don't have a weapon but most of my enchanted gear is on me, the Belt, the Ring and the Amulet of Akatosh that gives Magicka regeneration.

I walked to her and greeted, "If I am not mistaken, you are Master-Mage Faralda from the college?" High Elves get things done quickly when people are more polite.

"It is 'Wizard' when you add the word 'Master' to it, and your information is not right, though I would rather it would be, my rank is still that of a 'Wizard' but that's of a little importance to people outside the college, I guess." Faralda said in a haughty manner, I feel like I was scolded just now but I can't point to where it was.

Anyway she was no master yet.

"So, by any chance, are your people up for a challenge?" I cut to the chase before any annoying idea come to her head.

"I don't understand why should we join these barbarous acts of common folk? and why should my students fight a no-name like you?" Faralda kept spewing nonsense again.

This woman is annoying, "So, you guys came to fight or not? you can't refuse a fair challenge once you are challenged or it will be considered a loss on your side, right?" I spoke to her students directly.

These guys looked to each other and one of them stood, "I am Rusning, The main participant, whoever sent you, I'll take them on." His name was Rusning and he wore a blue college robe with a hood that, he looked Nord enough for me so as his teammates.

It seems the college used their Nord students for this tournament, I guess they want to make their image look better with Nords.

The people started to look at us and they knew there would be another match.

"I'll be your challenger." I said.

"You? But you aren't even armored or anything." Rusning said. He looked at my unusual appearance and gave me a weird look.

"I don't go around unprepared. Let's get this over with, What should I call you with?" I asked.

"Just my name is enough." He replied.

I nodded and walked to the arena. I found the referee and told him that I am issuing a challenge.

I then walked to the middle of the stage with many eyes looking at my strange appearance in tight pants and white shirt, people started pointing at me and I could hear words of 'what is he doing with no gear?' and stuff like that.

I stood in the middle and raised my voice "Rusning from the College of Winterhold, I Challenge you." this was the simplest way to call someone out for a challenge.

Some people would exchange weapons and stuff like that.

I could see Rusning standing and was about to come but Faralda stopped him and whispered something in his ears, probably she is suspecting something.

Rusning nodded and came down from the seats, he held no staff so this meant he will spam many spells at me.

He stood towards me and did nothing at all, just waiting for the referee.

The announcer didn't know what to announce so he only announced our names.

People were not really understanding what's going to happen but Nords in Solitude were more open-minded than any other place so they didn't cheer for me just because I am against a mage, they waited too.

Rusning was waiting, I was waiting too. The referee announced the start and we still didn't move.

I was thinking of which spell this guy will shoot. I need to at least know the element he likes to use and think of a counter, that's how Nurina and I sparred.

My favorites are lightning the fire, Lightning because I just love electromancy as a skill and Fire because I am very good with it for some reason.

This guy, as Faralda's student must be a Destruction-monger if that was a word.

He sighs and starts to call spells on both hands, from their appearance he is going to use 'Stoneskin' and a Fire skill.

Fine, let's get into business, I used 'Stoneskin' too and changed it to 'Conjure Flame Atronach'.

The people was startled seeing me use magic. No one came here expecting to see a mage fighting another.

Some were scared, some were hyped. The VIP section was partly empty but due to the previous matches Torygg and Skald the Elder haven't left yet.

They sat back, and all people started to show interest.

Rusning was was narrowing his eyes, and Faralda had a look as if she was saying 'I had a feeling it might be the case but it really is.'

He fired a 'Firebolt' at me which I received with a normal 'lesser ward'.

I thought of hyping up the atmosphere and shot the spell in my other hand.

What happened was a space distorting followed by an appearance of figure on fire, it looked like a female and was hovering around itself, that was a Flame Atronach.

Before anyone react I summoned another Flame Atronach, my Conjuration skill was good and second only to main Mysticism, this was also due to the mod 'Multiple Summons' that makes the conjurer summon more atronachs and raise more dead with every rank up.

Two Flame Atronachs stood in front of me and the people just realized what happened just now.

Some people screamed and some looked in daze, some children were very amazed by what they saw.

The two daedric creatures I summoned made the arena in a stir, Rusning was calculating his strategy fast but why would I give him time?

I commanded the atronachs to fire and made another two spells ready, they were my signature 'Quadrant Ward' on my left and a 'Bound Sword' on my right.

Rusning started spamming ice spells and my atronachs dodged left and right, my control over them was good, and I also can summon one creature more but my control would worsen over three atronachs.

An exchange of spells were going between Rusning and my atronachs, I ran to the side and charged at Rusning.

He was observing me the whole time and as I slashed at him with the spectral sword I bound, he jumped away and fired an 'Ice Spike' at me.

I used the 'Quadrant Ward' in my block it and charged again as my atronachs started blocking his escape routes.

I am not even done yet I slash again and again, and he retreated to use Fire magic and deal with me as it wouldn't actually harm my atronachs, my strategy was to counter his fire magic with my flame atronachs which don't get damaged by its own element.

As I drive him to a corner he fired a bigger 'Fire Bolt' I didn't think much about it tried to dodge it but it was fired to the ground right next to me.

I suddenly understood but I was too late, he also ambushed me by using Apprentice level spells and then used an Adept level spell, this was 'Fire Ball' and it tends to explode.

My 'Stoneskin' was on so I didn't get harmed but I took the next flight to the other direction of the explosion and took me few seconds to recover.

Rusning used that time to deal with an atronach swiftly and the other was going down.

I couldn't let him has his way so I cancelled the Ward and fire a 'Lightning Bolt' at the insolent fellow. Mages tend to hate lightning damage and try their best to avoid or block it.

Fortunately Rusning momentum against my atronach made his reaction speed to my long range attack slow and he was struck nicely.

I could see his face turn anguish as he felt a chunk of his Magicka pool fly away. Lightning is a counter mages magic so he was disadvantaged with a good strike.

I kept firing few lightning spells again but he was ready and I couldn't spam lightning forever, it was the costliest element for a reason.

My atronachs were already defeated and I dispelled my spectral sword. Me and Rusning needed a breath for the coming showdown.

We looked at each other and readed spells on both hands. I readied 'Sparks' and he readied 'Flames'.

According to the mod 'Magic Duels' if two spells met in the way of each other, a channelling contest shall begin by pushing each other with destruction elements.

Rusning took a pose by positioning his hands to the right side in a dual casting way and summoned his fire, I do it more stylishly by raising my hands in the air together and summoned my lightning.

Two beams of channeling spells gets fired against each other and clash between us.

I raise the output a little by little but Rusning was going all out for some reason, it caused my beam to get shorter and being pushed back a little.

This was fine, I haven't even spent much Magicka so I was confidant but I could see Rusning face sweating already while grinding on his teeth.

I took a deep breath and I raise the output more and more as my blue beam took back its original length and advanced against Rusning steadily. Rusning was not able to move or his magic beam will get disturbed.

His beam was at its end as my magic crashed into Rusning directly sending him flying.

He flew for a few meters and hit the ground hard.

The referee came and check on him to find him safe and conscious but out of energy.

My win was declared and people actually liked what they saw. Torygg kept clapping but Skald the Elder looked indifferent, he clearly hated mages.

Anyway I had a good fight, that was all there is to me.

By that time I hope strong people would come to challenge me.

At the end of the day I was still thinking about going to the bathhouse or leave it for later.

Chapter end