My name is Alex… and I died because of my own stupidity.

“Damn it! Why hasn’t Todd announced Elder Scrolls VI yet?!”

Alex slammed his fist against the desk. “You should be focusing on making The Elder Scrolls VI, not announcing some Elder Scrolls Creation Club nonsense! Are you out of ideas or something? Is that why you’re making fans improve the game themselves with paid mods inside the game?!”

I’m just an office worker. My age… well, I’m a little embarrassed to say it. I don’t have time for romance. It’s not that I don’t want to fall in love   I just can’t. I have to pay for my own living expenses and my mother’s hospital bills.

Maybe you’d say, “That’s not your responsibility.” Maybe you’d say I should live my own life. But my mother sacrificed so much for me. After she divorced my father, her health gradually worsened. There was no one else.

My phone suddenly vibrated.

(Electricity bill   almost past due.)

Alex glanced at the screen. “Ugh… If that bastard hadn’t been such a womanizer and had actually taken care of Mom, maybe… maybe I would’ve had a better life…”

He clenched his fist and slammed the desk again. The cup of coffee on the table tipped over instantly, spilling straight into a nearby power outlet.

The exposed cables scattered near him, combined with the surge of electricity, sent a violent current through his body.

“AAABRBRBRBRB BRBRBUURRB!!”

Alex convulsed uncontrollably, agony piercing through his chest.

(Am I… going to die because of such a stupid mistake?)

The continuous shock began generating heat inside his body.

(It’s burning   it’s so hot   it hurts!!!)

“AAAAKHHH !!”

Moments later, the power finally went out.

And Alex collapsed to the floor.

Everything went dark.

The unbearable heat that had consumed Alex’s body slowly faded… replaced by a creeping cold. Little by little, he curled into himself, wrapping his arms around his body as if he had finally accepted his fate.

Then

A sharp, suffocating smell burned his throat. A wave of scorching air suddenly washed over him.

Alex’s eyes snapped open.

“HHAAAH ! Haa… haa… haa…”

He gasped frantically, his chest rising and falling as panic seized him. He looked around.

“What…? What’s happening?!”

Massive flames raged in every direction, devouring buildings whole. Houses crumbled into charred ruins as the fire swallowed them. People ran desperately through the streets, screaming, searching for shelter. Some were horribly burned   one man staggered past with half his body blackened and smoking.

Alex’s heart pounded wildly.

“Am I in hell?! But what did I do to deserve this?!”

Suddenly, a woman with piercing blue eyes and long blonde hair slammed into him as she sprinted past. They both fell to the ground.

“Ouch…” Alex groaned.

The woman quickly pushed herself up and urgently said, “Hey! Why are you just standing there frozen?! Run! We need to find a safe place!”

She extended her hand toward him.

Alex stared at her. Her clothes were different from what he was used to seeing and its like a beggar clothes rough fabric, dirty and worn like something from another era. But this wasn’t the time to judge appearances.

He grabbed her hand. “Y-Yeah, you’re right. Sorry…”

They began running together.

“So what’s going on?” Alex asked between breaths. “Why are the houses burning ”

Before he could finish, a deafening roar echoed from above. The powerful beat of enormous wings shook the air overhead.

The woman answered while pointing up at the sky.

“That’s the reason.”

Alex stared at the dragon with his own eyes, his entire body trembling.

“A-A… a dragon?! What is this? Where am I right now?!”

The woman looked confused by his reaction. “It’s normal to be shocked seeing a dragon for the first time. I was the same ”

Before she could finish, Alex suddenly grabbed both of her hands tightly, his expression deadly serious.

“Where are we right now?!!”

She flinched at the sheer panic in his eyes. “O-Oh… we’re in Helgen.”

Helgen.

Alex froze. His mind struggled to process the name.

Then he burst out laughing.

“Hahaha… HAHAHAHA!!! This has to be a dream!”

The woman stared at him, now seriously questioning his sanity.

(Has he lost his mind…?)

“Hey! I know this situation is insane   dragons appearing after so many years   but we need to find somewhere safe. Are you coming or not?!”

Alex slowly stopped laughing and looked at her with a strange intensity.

“Hey… are you the Dragonborn? No… that’s impossible. It wouldn’t be known at this point.” He shook his head. “Sorry, let me rephrase that. Are you the prisoner who was about to be executed… even though your crime didn’t deserve the death penalty? Just crossing the border, right?”

The woman blinked, completely baffled by his questions. She had no idea what he was talking about.

But the flames were getting closer, and the dragon had already begun slaughtering more people. There was no time to argue.

“Y-Yes, that’s right! Everyone saw when I was about to be executed. Now can we please move?!”

Alex smiled faintly.

“Good. Then I know a safe place.”

Without hesitation, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

“Follow me.”

Alex was convinced now   the woman had to be the Dragonborn.

(If that’s true… I need to stay close to her.)

“By the way, my name’s Alex. What’s yours?” he asked as they ran, weaving between burning houses and collapsing debris while avoiding the dragon’s sweeping gaze.

“My name is Astrid!” she shouted back. “Now hurry! This isn’t the time for small talk!”

“Whoops   sorry! Let’s just survive first!” Alex replied.

Having played Skyrim countless times, Alex moved with surprising confidence. He navigated through ruined buildings, avoided falling beams, and kept out of the dragon’s line of sight almost instinctively. Soon, he reached a familiar structure   the tower.

“This is it!” he said urgently. “Let’s get inside! The underground should keep us safe, and there’s a hidden escape route to get us out of this hell!”

Without hesitation, Alex chose the path that aligned with the Stormcloak route.

They rushed inside the tower.

“This place should be safe for now…” Alex muttered.

Then he glanced at Astrid’s hands.

“Wait… weren’t you supposed to be tied up?”

Astrid shot him a look. “What kind of sane person would stay tied up when disaster is right in front of them? When the soldiers died, I grabbed a dagger and cut myself free. It wasn’t hard.”

Alex nodded. “Okay… that makes sense.”

They moved deeper into the tower. The air inside was thick with smoke and dust. Soon, they came across the fresh corpse of a fallen soldier. Beside him sat a chest   slightly open   revealing a set of soldier armor inside.

“Hey, Astrid… sorry if this sounds rude, but what race are you?” Alex asked awkwardly.

She frowned at him. “Can’t you tell just by looking at me? And you should at least recognize your own race, shouldn’t you?”

Alex lifted both shoulders in a helpless shrug, silently admitting he had no idea   not about her race, and apparently not even about his own.

Astrid let out a long sigh. “I’m a Nord… Honestly, it’s strange for a Nord not to recognize another Nord. I’m starting to wonder how you were raised.”

They approached the chest containing the armor.

“Hey, Alex, right?” Astrid said. “You should change your clothes. If you keep wearing those normal clothes, it’ll be hard to protect yourself.”

“Ah… I don’t think I need to. I’m not sure how ”

Before he could finish his sentence, Astrid had already begun removing her outer clothes, stripping down to her undergarments so she could change into the armor from the chest.

Alex froze in shock and immediately covered his eyes.

“H-Hey! Shouldn’t you be embarrassed?! Why are you suddenly undressing in front of a guy?!”

Astrid paused for a moment, then casually replied, “Ah  oh… sorry about that.” She turned slightly toward him, completely at ease. “It’s not like I’m completely naked.”

She noticed how stiff and flustered he looked and smirked teasingly.

“What? Don’t tell me this is your first time seeing a woman in her undergarments.”

Alex tried to keep his eyes covered, but he peeked through his fingers from time to time, his face turning bright red. For someone who had never seen a woman like this in real life before, seeing Astrid like that was an overwhelming first experience.

Astrid stepped closer, clearly enjoying teasing him.

“You know… usually, if another man saw me like this, I’d punch him unconscious   or even kill him,” she said casually. “But for some reason, in front of you, I feel completely normal. Maybe it’s because you’re not a threat to me… or ”

She leaned in even closer, her face now only inches from his.

“ maybe there’s something special about you.”

She looked utterly satisfied as she toyed with Alex’s flustered heart.

Alex, however, had always respected women deeply. After all, he had been raised by his mother, who sacrificed everything for him. The thought of taking advantage of a woman he didn’t love   or who didn’t love him   made him feel guilty.

His face burning red, he quickly stepped aside and gently pushed himself away from Astrid’s closeness. He avoided her gaze entirely.

“A-Ah… I-I’ll wait over there. When you’re done, you can come find me…”

Astrid simply smiled as she watched his embarrassed reaction, clearly amused by how red his face had become.

A few moments later, Alex could hear the faint sounds of Astrid changing into the armor.

To him, she looked incredibly attractive   her toned body, defined abs, broad and firm midsection, and her full figure making her appear both strong and alluring. The image of what he had just seen replayed vividly in his mind, and he couldn’t help imagining how striking she must look now in armor.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice her approaching from behind.

Suddenly, Astrid tapped his shoulder.

“Hey. I’m done.”

“Ahh!!” Alex jumped in surprise. “S-Sorry! I’m sorry!”

Astrid blinked in confusion at first, but then she seemed to understand why he was acting that way. A faint smirk appeared on her lips as she leaned her face closer to his.

“You know… you could’ve just looked.”

Alex’s face instantly turned bright red again. Without daring to meet her eyes, he cleared his throat and quickly stepped forward, putting a bit of distance between them.

“Haha… let’s just get out of here.”

And with that, he moved ahead, leaving Astrid one step behind, while she followed with an amused smile.

They continued moving through the underground passage when several soldiers suddenly blocked their path.

“Are you civilians?” one of them asked suspiciously.

“Yes,” Alex replied quickly. “I was being guided by one of the soldiers to pass through this underground tunnel.”

Astrid immediately understood what Alex was trying to do   they needed to deceive the Empire soldiers.

“Y-Yes, sir!!” she added convincingly.

The Imperial soldier nodded. “Fine. Just follow the path ahead and you’ll find the exit. We need to go rescue other civilians and capture the escaped prisoner.”

Alex swallowed nervously, while Astrid’s hand was already gripping the hilt of her sword.

The soldiers walked past them.

But then one of the soldiers slowed down, staring at Astrid’s face more carefully.

“Wait… aren’t you the ”

Before he could finish, Astrid’s blade flashed through the air.

In a single swift motion, she slit his throat.

With the element of surprise on her side, she quickly struck down two more soldiers before they even had time to react.

Alex witnessed everything.

He froze.

The sound of steel cutting flesh. The thick smell of blood. The sight of crimson pooling onto the stone floor   it was overwhelming.

He had seen dead bodies earlier above ground… but this was different. This was close. This was immediate.

Astrid called out to him, but he didn’t respond. His ears rang loudly, a sharp buzzing drowning out her voice.

She grabbed his shoulders and shook him hard.

“Alex! Snap out of it!!!”

He blinked, finally coming back to his senses.

“H-Huh…? Wh-what…?”

Astrid studied his pale face and immediately understood.

“Is this your first time seeing this much blood?”

Alex looked at her and slowly nodded.

“You need to get used to it if you want to survive here,” she said seriously. “If not, you’ll be the first one killed.”

Her words carved themselves into Alex’s mind.

He had never seen so much blood before. Even though he had witnessed many people die earlier, experiencing it up close like this was entirely different.

Deep inside, he realized something he could no longer deny.

This wasn’t a game anymore.

This was real.

Alex slapped his own cheeks lightly, trying to snap himself back to reality.

“Sorry… Let’s keep moving.”

Astrid looked at him in surprise. The way he had suddenly shaken off the trauma of witnessing death for the first time was unexpected.

“Alright,” she said. “But tell me if something’s wrong again.”

They continued forward until they reached a torture chamber. The stench of blood filled the air. Various torture devices were scattered around the room, many of them stained dark red.

Alex felt another wave of shock.

“Damn it… did it really have to be this cruel?”

Astrid crossed her arms. “I guess I was lucky. At least I wasn’t tortured before being sentenced to death. But… this is the reality of this world.”

Alex scanned the room and noticed something inside one of the cells   a spell tome titled Spark.

His eyes lit up. “There’s a spell tome in there…”

He tried opening the cell door, but it was locked.

“Damn it… I can see the spell tome from here.”

Astrid raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you’re more suited to being a mage than swinging a sword?”

“Well… let’s find out,” Alex replied.

He searched nearby and found a small pouch containing lockpicks. Taking one, he knelt in front of the locked door.

“Alright… I just have to try this…”

Astrid watched as Alex carefully worked the lock. Seconds turned into minutes.

She tapped her foot impatiently.

Finally, after waiting long enough, she suddenly kicked the cell door hard.

The lock broke open with a loud crack.

“Hey! I was almost there!” Alex protested.

Astrid rolled her eyes slightly. “Ugh… at that pace, it would’ve taken you an hour. My way’s faster.”

Alex picked up the spell tome from beside the dead prisoner. Without hesitation, he opened it.

The moment he did, the book began to glow.

A stream of light burst from its pages and shot straight toward Alex’s forehead. He froze as the knowledge carved itself directly into his mind   the method, the flow of magicka, the sensation of channeling lightning. In an instant, he understood how to use the Spark spell.

Astrid stared in disbelief. What she had just witnessed was anything but normal.

“What just happened? How did you do that?”

Alex looked at her, confused. “What do you mean? Isn’t this how you learn magic?”

Astrid grabbed his shoulders firmly. “What do you mean, ‘learn’?”

Alex tried to sort through the knowledge now embedded in his mind. Slowly, he raised his hand   and summoned the spell.

Electricity crackled from his palm, bright arcs of lightning dancing between his fingers.

Astrid took a step back.

“What kind of power do you possess to master magic instantly like that? You’re supposed to read, study, and practice. Some people struggle for years just to cast a simple spell! But you… you learned it in seconds.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Are you some legendary sorcerer in disguise? Or… who exactly are you?”

Alex didn’t know how to answer. He finally understood something important   mastering magic instantly might make sense in Skyrim the game, but in this real world, it clearly wasn’t normal.

“Um… can you keep this a secret?” he said cautiously. “I just found out myself that I can learn magic instantly. And if word spreads… that’s bad news, right?”

Astrid fell silent for a moment. She realized he was right. A power like that would draw dangerous attention. It could put both of them in serious danger.

“Of course,” she said at last. “I don’t plan on dying because your secret gets exposed.”

She looked at him again, more carefully this time.

He possessed incredible power   yet he showed no arrogance, no pride, no desire to boast. That confused her.

At the same time, she felt a faint embarrassment creeping into her chest. Earlier, she hadn’t considered him a threat at all.

And yet… there was something about him. His presence felt strange   not hostile, not aggressive…

But strangely… drawing her in for reasons she couldn’t quite explain.

“Hey… umm… this is a little awkward, but can you just treat me like you normally do? Okay?” Alex said, scratching the back of his head.

Astrid looked at him for a moment, then gave a small smirk.

“Alright. But I’m seriously surprised. Seems like Skyrim still has plenty of mysteries I don’t know about.” She let out a light laugh. “Hahaha.”

The tension between them slowly eased, and their dynamic began to return to how it was before   casual, teasing, and strangely comfortable.

Together, they continued walking deeper through the underground passage.

Until suddenly

They encountered a monster ahead.

Chapter 2 System

Bro, I’m not scared of spiders, okay?

But man… if the spider is twice your size, with legs long enough to grab you like a toy that’s a whole different nightmare.

The moment I stepped into that gloomy cave room, a cold draft slid down my spine. The place smelled like damp moss and old bones, and every sound echoed just a little too long dripping water, scurrying critters, the soft crunch of our boots on dusty stone.

Then I saw it.

Every hair on my body stood up so fast I swear I felt the follicles scream.

The spider’s massive body shifted, its coarse hairs brushing against the cave floor with a faint shff-shff-shff that made my stomach drop. Its multiple black eyes glistened in the dim torchlight like a cluster of wet marbles each one staring straight at me.

Like a dozen creepy CCTV lenses programmed solely to detect my despair.

Those fangs dripped thick venom.

Its legs twitched.

I twitched harder.

God, is this Skyrim or a horror simulator?

“Astrid, I’ll back you up from behind with my Sparks spell,” I said. I tried to sound calm, but my voice cracked like a teenager ordering food alone for the first time. My hands trembled around the crackling magic building in my palms.

“Alright,” Astrid replied, as steady and fearless as someone ordering extra spicy food without flinching. She raised her sword like she was bored.

(How is she this calm!? I’m the one about to scream here!)

I quickly checked my blue potions mana potions. Only three left. The glass clinked nervously in my shaking fingers.

Okay Alex, don’t panic. You’ve beaten this game countless times. You know every inch of it. You can do this.

It’s just… a giant, real, lethal monster that can kill you for real.

Nice. Fantastic.

I stepped forward, gulped, and fired electricity.

The cave lit up in a burst of bluish-white lightning.

“Take this, you oversized nightmare! Kahaha!”

Okay, that actually sounded cool.

Ten seconds ago I was THIS close to yelling “ASTRID HELP!” but thank God my dignity held on by the last thread of my sanity.

Two spiders convulsed violently, their legs curling as the electricity roasted them from the inside out. They collapsed, sizzling. The air filled with smoke… then

the smell hit me.

Oh God. Burnt monster smells like burnt socks soaked in sewage.

My eyes watered. Astrid didn’t even flinch. Of course she didn’t.

Another spider dropped from the ceiling with a wet plop.

I panicked and threw a dagger at it more out of reflex than skill.

“Got one!” I shouted, chest puffed with the last remaining drop of pride.

Astrid glanced over her shoulder with a smirk.

“Wow, not bad… for someone using magic for the first time.”

Bro… if she knew I’ve beaten Skyrim more times than I’ve left the house, she’d probably rethink that statement.

“Well, yeah… I tried,” I said, forcing a shrug, pretending to be casual.

DON’T TELL HER YOU’RE A NO-LIFE GAMER, ALEX. PLAY IT COOL.

We gathered spider venom. My hands were still trembling slightly as I bottled the thick, glistening substance. It looked too real. Too deadly.

This is real poison.

Not the safe, pixelated green stuff from the game…

We continued deeper until the tunnel widened into another cavern, lit by shafts of pale light from cracks above. The sound of something big breathing filled the air slow, heavy, rhythmic.

Then we saw it.

A massive bear, curled up and snoring like a giant, furry thunder machine.

“Astrid… we could use a po ”

SWOOSH!

Her arrow flew before I even finished. It sliced the air with deadly precision and sank straight into the bear’s eye. The body slumped instantly, not even a final growl.

She lowered her bow, completely unfazed.

“Were you saying something?”

I stared at her, mouth slightly open.

“No… never mind.”

Forget it. She’s the barbarian woman, and I’m just the dude trying not to have a heart attack every five minutes.

I skinned the bear.

This is the first time in my life I’ve touched real animal hide…

Not smooth, not clean but warm, still radiating heat from a life that ended seconds ago. My fingers sank slightly into the rough fur, and a smear of fresh blood stuck to my palm, hot and sticky.

Holy crap.

This isn’t a game.

This is reality.

My stomach twisted; even my breath felt heavier, as if the air itself refused to let me pretend anymore.

When we finally reached the dungeon exit, a faint breeze brushed my face cold, sharp, and filled with the scent of pine and wet earth. I stepped outside and let out a long, shaky breath.

“Huff… finally Hey, careful!”

Astrid yanked me back behind a boulder.

Then I heard it.

WHOOOM… WHOOOM…

The beating of giant wings.

The ground trembled with each flap, tiny rocks dancing near my boots. The wind carried loose snow and dust past our faces as the sky darkened.

A shadow passed overhead.

A dragon huge, scaled, ancient glided above us. Its wings stretched wider than houses, each flap forcing air downward so hard it stung my skin. The growl coming from its throat vibrated through my ribs, like standing next to a thundercloud ready to explode.

This… this is nothing like the game.

Seeing a dragon in real life is like watching a mountain decide to fly.

A force of nature.

A natural disaster with wings.

Astrid crouched beside me, jaw tight, hand gripping her bow. My own hands clutched the rock so hard my knuckles turned white.

Finally, after what felt like forever, it passed over the treeline and vanished behind distant peaks.

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding

FWOOOM!

A soft, resonant hum filled the air.

A glowing blue screen burst into existence in front of me, its light reflecting in my wide eyes.

My heart stopped.

My blood froze.

N-no way…

A system?

Why now?

Why me?

This isn’t a cutscene! There’s no narrator! No pause menu!

“Astrid…” I whispered, voice trembling. “Do you know about level up? Inventory? Skills? Perks?”

Astrid blinked at me with the same expression you’d give someone who just started speaking alien language.

“Is that a new language? Are you joking?”

Oh God.

So only I can see this. A floating blue hologram menu right in front of my face and she sees nothing.

Why?

Why me?

I am NOT the Dragonborn. Astrid is!

The screen pulsed softly, waiting for input.

With a gulp, I reached out hesitating, fingers shaking and opened the menu.

Items. Level Up. Map. Magic.

Exactly like Skyrim.

The same fonts. The same icons.

But the weight of it…

The danger…

This time, there are no save files.

No reload.

No console commands.

If I die

It’s game over. Permanently.

Maybe the system didn’t appear earlier on purpose.

Maybe it wants me to stop treating this world like a playground.

Well congratulations, system

I’m traumatized already.

“Hey, why are you spacing out?” Astrid tapped my shoulder, her touch snapping me back into the moment. Her brows were slightly furrowed, confusion mixing with concern.

“Oh yeah. Let’s go.” I forced a weak laugh.

Focus, Alex. Focus.

Stop panicking.

Stop nerding out.

Do NOT act like a dumbass in front of the warrior princess.

During the walk, I asked the question that had been gnawing at me.

“Astrid… will you still travel with me?”

My voice wavered a bit. I rubbed the back of my neck, eyes darting everywhere except her face. “Things will get very dangerous, and I don’t want you to get hurt becau ”

Astrid cut me off by folding her arms.

Not just casually she crossed them with that cocky, confident tilt of her head. A smug grin curved her lips, the kind that screamed I know something you don’t.

“Heh. I should be the one saying that.”

She leaned forward slightly, her ponytail shifting over her shoulder. “You almost puked when you saw that corpse, turned pale fighting the spiders… and you saved me. I owe you.”

Oof.

Right in the pride.

That stabbed my ego clean through like a steel arrow.

But the way she said you saved me… kinda sweet?

NO. STOP. BAD. Don’t fall for her, Alex. Survive first.

“So you’ll come with me?”

I tried to sound confident, but it came out as hopeful as a kid asking if they can keep the stray dog.

“Of course.”

She tapped her chest with her fist firm, sure of herself. “Count on me.”

Holy shit.

She said ‘count on me.’

Her tone, the way her eyes softened just a bit too much for my weak adventurer heart.

Am I allowed to fall for her now??

NO. NO ALEX. BAD. FOCUS.

I cleared my throat. “Hey, I’m only a little shorter than you! And if I train, I’ll get abs or maybe even muscles!”

Astrid paused.

Slowly, deliberately, her gaze drifted down my body… then up again.

Her lips twitched like she was fighting laughter.

“…Sure,” she said lightly.

Yeah yeah, Alex. Keep dreaming. Your body right now is potato-shaped with bonus squish stats.

The Guardian Stones

The forest opened up into a clearing bathed in soft late-afternoon light. The air here felt strangely still, almost reverent. Moss-covered stones circled the area, and the river beside us glimmered like liquid silver.

Then the Guardian Stones lit up.

Blue, green, and red light pulsedfrom the ancient pillars, casting colorful reflections across the trees, the water, and even Astrid’s face. Fireflies hovered near the glow, like they were drawn to it. The air vibrated faintly, as if ancient magic hummed beneath the ground.

It was… breathtaking.

More beautiful than anything the game ever rendered.

Maybe this world isn’t just deadly.

Maybe it’s also full of beauty I never bothered to notice.

I laid my palm on the Mage Stone warm energy surged up my arm like gentle lightning, tingling across my fingertips.

Astrid placed her hand on the Warrior Stone. The red-orange glow washed over her, making her look like a heroine carved out of light and fire.

Mage Stone: 20% faster mage skill growth.

Warrior Stone: same but for warrior skills.

Even the mechanics felt real.

Riverwood

As soon as we entered, panic hit us like a wave.

Villagers shouted, some clutching their children, others barricading doors. Dogs barked wildly. Smoke drifted from chimneys, mixing with the sharp smell of fear in the air.

“A dragon, a real dragon!”

Totally understandable.

If I saw a sky-lizard firing death beams above my house, I’d pack my bags and move continents.

We sold our loot.

And just as expected the merchant dramatically clutched his head and launched into:

“The Golden Claw was stolen!”

Classic Skyrim side quest energy.

Then I tested something in private.

I held a random dagger… thought about storing it…

and POOF.

It vanished from my hand into the invisible, mind-operated void that was apparently my inventory.

My eyes widened so much they almost popped out.

Holy hell.

This is power.

Real power.

Power not even Skyrim NPCs possess.

I turned and caught Astrid watching me.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, not suspicious… but searching.

Trying to understand.

“It’s… a special magic of mine,” aku berkata, memberi senyum canggung. “Please keep it a secret.”

Astrid’s expression shifted instantly.

Her shoulders straightened, her brows lowered with determination, and she placed a hand lightly on the hilt of her sword as if taking an oath.

“Of course,” she said quietly. “I won’t tell anyone.”

There was no hesitation. No doubt.

Just trust.

Thanks, Astrid.

Somehow… that makes the fear in my chest loosen a little.

Toward Whiterun

After stocking up potions clinking in my bag, fresh food packed neatly, new arrows for Astrid we followed the main road north.

The wind carried the scent of wheat fields. Fireflies drifted around us. The sky had begun to darken, shifting to a deep violet scattered with early stars. Astrid walked a step ahead, checking the surroundings like a seasoned warrior.

Our journey had just begun.

And me…

I looked down at my hands, still tingling from the Mage Stone’s magic.

I have to become someone new

 someone stronger

if I want to survive this world.

Because this isn’t a game anymore.

This is Skyrim.

The real one.

Chapter 3 Parting

On our way to Whiterun, the journey felt almost peaceful wide open plains, the wind brushing cold against our cheeks, the faint rustle of tundra grass swaying in waves. The wolves that ambushed us were barely warm-ups; Astrid moved with a sharp, fluid grace, her boots digging into the soil as she pivoted, blade gleaming. I followed up with bursts of Sparks, leaving the air crackling. Their howls faded quickly.

Along the road, I knelt to pluck Blue Mountain Flowers growing near a sun-baked rock. Their petals shimmered faintly in the breeze, and I gently stored them in my pouch. Handy for potions later.

In the distance, Whiterun’s silhouette finally came into view its wooden palisades and the towering shape of Dragonsreach perched high on the cliff like a proud sentinel. Seeing it always filled me with this strange mix of nostalgia and awe… even though I technically didn’t belong to this world.

While we walked, Astrid kicked a pebble along the path, her expression relaxed. And then, curiosity tugged at me.

“Astrid… before you came here, who were you? Really?”

Her steps faltered. Just slightly but enough. Her shoulders stiffened, her jaw tightening for a brief moment. She didn’t look at me; her eyes darted forward as if suddenly fascinated by the empty road. Clearly uncomfortable.

Oops. Too personal.

Panicking internally, I cleared my throat and clumsily redirected. “Alright, alright I’ll go first. I’m… someone who craves adventure. I lived in Helgen… though I don’t think I actually have any family there. Haha…”

Astrid narrowed her eyes, slowing her pace. “Why don’t you have any family there?”

…Right. Of course she’d question that.

My palms got sweaty. I scratched the back of my neck, laughing weakly. “Well… yes and no. My head feels like it got hit pretty hard. Honestly, it feels like I was… reborn.”

Astrid blinked. A small crease formed between her brows. “Reborn?”

Great. Now she looked at me like I’d swallowed a Frostbite Spider egg.

“I mean reb uh ”

And then, salvation appeared.

Ahead of us, dust rose into the sky. A booming thud echoed across the plains. I spotted a towering giant swinging its massive club at a group of warriors.

“Hey, look! Let’s help them!” I yelled, practically sprinting before she could interrogate me further.

Thank the Nine. Perfect escape.

Electricity surged through my fingertips as I cast Sparks, the air hissing with each arc. I swear, I felt like Raiden for a second minus the hat. Astrid charged ahead, boots pounding the earth, her longsword flashing. She slashed across the giant’s leg with a clean, powerful strike that made the massive creature buckle with a pained roar.

I seized the opening. With a shout, I unleashed a focused burst of Sparks at its head, the smell of burnt flesh filling the air as the giant toppled with a thunderous crash that shook the ground beneath our feet.

I exhaled in relief. “Hey, you’re pretty strong cutting a giant’s thick leg like that.”

Before Astrid could reply, a confident female voice cut in from the side smooth, commanding.

“You two are strong enough to steal our kill.”

Oh no.

Aela the Huntress stepped forward, arms crossed, giving us that signature unimpressed-yet-intrigued stare. The sunlight caught the war paint on her cheek, and her red hair swayed slightly in the wind. Farkas loomed behind her, quiet but alert.

I swallowed. Hard. She was one of the strongest companions in the game… and also a marriage candidate. I wasn’t a furry, but look, she was objectively gorgeous, alright?

Aela tilted her head. “Impressive, considering your appearances. Maybe you’d be interested in joining the Companions.”

I tried to sound relaxed. “Maybe another time. We’re here to bring news about Helgen.”

Aela nodded, flicking her braid back. “Very well. I’m Aela, and this is Farkas. Come find us if you’re interested.”

“Okay,” I replied, trying not to stare too long.

Astrid nudged me in the ribs the moment they walked off, raising a brow.

I pretended not to notice.

At Whiterun’s gate, the late-afternoon light cast long shadows across the wooden palisades. The wind carried the smell of hay, roasting meat from the market, and the distant clang of a blacksmith’s hammer. A guard stepped forward, steel armor glinting.

“Halt.” He raised a hand sharply. “Security of the city is tight right now. State your business.”

I stepped closer, trying to keep my voice steady. “We bring news that a dragon is approaching Whiterun. Are you really going to delay us?”

At the word dragon, the guard’s eyes widened, the color draining from his face.

“Dragon? …Fine. You may enter.” His gaze flicked between us before he pointed with his spear. “But only one of you.”

Huh?

I froze. That never happened in the game. But then again… in the game the Dragonborn arrives alone. Maybe the guards were trained to expect that.

“Astrid,” I said with a sigh, “you should go. I’ll take care of something else. Meet me later at the stable.”

She made a face arms crossing, brows pulling together. “Alright. Don’t wander too far. You can’t survive a second without me anyway.”

Her tone was teasing, but something softer flickered in her eyes something she quickly hid when the guard looked at her. She brushed past me, her shoulder lightly grazing mine longer than necessary, before heading through the gates.

What? I’ve beaten this game multiple times. And if she knew I’d eventually learn master-level spells, she’d be the one clinging to me.

Left alone, I stretched my arms. The evening breeze chilled my skin, and the whinny of horses from the nearby stable echoed faintly. Nothing left to do but train.

I focused on Sneak. With no instruments, no trainers, and… no guards paying attention to me outside the walls, manual practice was the only option. I practiced my footsteps, controlling my breathing, finding blind spots around rocks and fences.

Hours passed, and the sky darkened.

My Sneak ticked up from 15 to 20.

I also leveled twice thanks to the giant XP.

But all the grinding reminded me of something uncomfortable.

As I lay on some hay near the stable, staring up at the purple night sky of Skyrim, a thought crept in:

Should I separate from Astrid?

She was strong maybe too strong. Maybe she didn’t need me. I’d only slow her down.

The thought left a small, hollow ache in my chest. I tried to ignore it.

When Astrid finally returned, lantern light from the stable flickered across her face. Her hair was tousled by the mountain wind, and she looked determined but the moment she saw me, her expression softened, almost relieved.

“Hey, Alex.” She approached with quicker steps than necessary. “I’ve informed the Jarl about Helgen. It seems we’re being sent to retrieve the Dragonstone from Bleak Falls Barrow, up in the mountains.”

“Astrid…” I exhaled. “I think we should split up for now.”

She blinked. Then her entire posture stiffened.

“Why, Alex? Are you scared?” She leaned closer, trying to search my eyes. “Don’t worry,” she said, forcing a smirk, “I’ll protect you.”

But the smirk didn’t reach her eyes. There was something brittle in her voice like she was trying too hard to make it sound like a joke.

“Hey, no.” I waved my hands. “I just want to grind first. Maybe fate will bring us together again.”

She stared at me. Confused. Hurt. Trying not to show it.

“Grinding…?” she murmured.

“Yeah. Training to get stronger.”

For a long moment, she just stood there, silent. The lantern light flickered across her face, revealing subtle shifts her jaw tightening, her fingers curling slightly, as if gripping something invisible. She looked away for a second, pretending to study the stable fence to hide the dip in her expression.

Then she inhaled deeply and faced me again.

“You’re sure?” she asked quietly.

Not teasing. Not commanding. Just… uncertain.

I nodded. “Yes. And when fate brings us together again, I’ll be far stronger than I am now.”

She looked at me really looked at me. Her eyes softened, the way frost melts under the morning sun. The corners of her lips lifted in a small, fragile smile she didn’t usually show.

“Very well,” she whispered. “I’ll see your progress when we meet again.”

She stepped closer only a handspan away. Her fingers brushed my sleeve, then hesitated there, lingering before she pulled back.

“And when that time comes…” Her voice trembled, just barely. “I want us to spar. I want to see how strong you’ve become.”

For a heartbeat, neither of us moved. The cool night air wrapped around us, and she looked like she wanted to say something else but couldn’t.

And so… we parted ways.

Astrid walked toward the road leading up the mountain. She didn’t look back, but her shoulders were tense, and her steps slower than usual.

She was the Dragonborn destined to take on Bleak Falls, skeletons, draugr, all of it. I didn’t need to worry.

But as I watched her silhouette fade into the night, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she would have preferred not to go alone.