"Where am I?" Simon floated up, like a human shape coalesced from a wisp of smoke.
He opened his eyes, and all around was emptiness. Darkness was the natural color here, a clean darkness untainted by light, utterly beautiful, more beautiful than any gem in the human world, simply because of its pure and heavy texture.
In the darkness were subtle ripples, tiny waves originating in the distance. Simon felt them vaguely, an endless wind like an explosive impact, approaching him, brushing past his body—making his cloud-like form sway unstoppably—then passing him, to his back, beyond pursuit.
In these primordial, universe-birthing ripples, a giant eye opened in the darkness. Pure white sclera, light brown iris, deep pupil, just like a normal human eye, except for the immense difference in size.
"You have come. Do not worry." A deep, magnetic whisper sounded in his ear. The giant eye stared at Simon, as if a smile flickered within it.
Simon grew more bewildered. "Who are you? A Bodhisattva's incarnation, or the Lord of Truth?"
"Neither."
"So, this is what the afterlife looks like."
"Don't jump to conclusions too soon. You are not dead yet."
"Why?"
"The Lord of Truth could not fulfill your wish, so it returned your soul to you."
"Are my mother's memories not in the Soul Cairn?"
"They are, but they do not belong to the Lord of Truth. She is free and cannot be used for exchange."
"Is that so? That's good."
"You don't seem to care about your own life or death?"
"What is there to care about? Originally, it was just an illusion, and now it's merely a return to its true nature."
"It's wonderful that you have such thoughts. Now you must go back. I hope one day you will remember me." The eye rapidly collapsed, transforming into a multicolored passage that sucked Simon into it.
...
The Troll and the Vampire walked in the Soul Cairn. Serana watched Simon casually swing his greatsword, occasionally chopping down a few withered trees.
"Tell me, how did you escape from the Lord of Truth?"
"I've long forgotten. What are your plans now?"
"Hey, shouldn't you release my father?"
Valerica was collecting souls by a fissure vent not far away. This step was like bringing back local specialties before returning home. She suddenly heard Serana's complaint and immediately shouted over, "Don't release Harkon! Let him die!"
Serana ignored her mother's words, just stood still, staring directly at Simon.
"Give me a reason."
"I helped you enter the Soul Cairn, and I helped your parents. Isn't that enough?"
Simon waved at Valerica, then tilted his head and glanced at Serana. She pursed her lips, looking very nervous. He immediately grinned, mocking, "You little good-for-nothing, when it comes to helping, your mother is the most capable... Hey, don't hit me!" Simon saw the Vampire pull out a dagger and throw it, hastily using an empty-handed disarm move.
"Who are you calling a little good-for-nothing? It's you who needed us to save you!"
"Let's be fair, your father is guilty of heinous crimes, and your mother doesn't want to release him. So, he's imprisoned in my Oblivion realm. When he truly repents, then he can die."
Serana flew into a rage, pouncing on Simon with all fours, launching a barrage of attacks like a shrew.
The Troll closed his eyes, letting the Vampire attack as she pleased. Not a single scratch appeared on his skin; Serana's sharp, knife-like nails even scraped a shower of sparks from his thick hide.
Valerica, having collected a pouch full of soul stones, walked over and scolded with a stern face, "Serana, what kind of behavior is this!"
Simon reached out, pinching Serana's nape, and set her down on the ground. "Please be more mature."
"Father was once a man who loved life. He studied poetry, sculpture, and magic. He was a gentle and cheerful man." Serana still stared at Simon. "He was like the High Hrothgar, eternal in Skyrim, making us all believe."
"Stop talking, Serana. Your father is no longer that man." Valerica's face was cold, filled with disgusted contempt. As much as she once loved him, so too did she now hate him.
"His love for life surpassed everything, and his desire for immortality also surpassed everything. So he sought the Vampire's covenant from Lord Molag Bal, and we, mother and daughter, followed in his footsteps."
"Stop talking!"
"It's very unfair. Father was transformed into a Vampire through a soul ritual, but we women, to become pure-blooded Daughters of Coldharbour, had to be tormented by Molag Bal." Serana still glared fixedly at Simon; her tone didn't change at all as she said these words.
Valerica closed her eyes in pain.
Simon remained silent.
"Even with such unfairness, we had no complaints. Father was still that gentle man. Afterward, we transformed all the servants and guards in the castle into Vampires. We gained power and endless life. Centuries of human changes were even less significant to us than a short slumber, do you understand? We had nothing to long for. We were higher beings. In the beginning, we fed on animal blood, but at some point, we gradually replaced our food source with humans.
"Humans were superior food, bringing more vitality, allowing our cold blood to flow once again. We once again felt emotions other than endless hunger. That taste was so wonderful; it was the feeling of being alive.
"As you said, Vampires kill people, and people kill Vampires. There's no real logic to discuss, but I want to give the ancient Volkihar a chance."
"What chance?"
"Vampires should be a part of the world and nature, and would not have the idea of engulfing Mundus. But everything comes from that prophecy, 'Tyranny of the Sun.' Find its source and prove the purity of Volkihar."
"So, what do you plan to do?"
"I beg you, take my father with you. The three of us, outcasts, will pursue the prophecy, so that my Lord Harkon can finally give up hope. That way, even if he ultimately dies by your hand, I will..."
Serana took a deep breath. "I will have nothing more to say."
"Give me a reason to help you." Simon's voice was dry.
Valerica stepped forward and embraced Serana. The Vampire Matron turned and met the Troll's gaze.
Serana said something very well, so much so that it caught Simon off guard.
The three of us, outcasts.
Simon had never considered himself an outcast, or rather, non-human. This was a completely new perspective, so new that it was difficult to establish a logical framework of thought different from his original stance.
You are human, very good. You are a monster, also very good. So, whose side will you help?
If the Troll under Simon's command were massacred by humans, what should he, as the source of the trouble, do? And if innocent humans were massacred by the Troll, what should he do?
We are all part of nature. Proving our purity as living beings is truly important.
"Okay, I'll help you."
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