Three copies of the elder scrolls, identical in form, identical in profound power.
Mortals cannot look directly at the contents of the Scrolls; endless knowledge would shatter their sight and overwhelm their minds.
However, Dragonborn, possessing divinity, can read the Scrolls with their naked eyes.
In fact, Simon could also, because the esoteric mental power could bear the pressure brought by the Scrolls, but he had never tried, nor did he know he had this qualification.
Even the arrogant Dwemer did not dare to take the elder scrolls lightly, storing them in the sacred Blackreach and indirectly deciphering their mysteries with large machines like the Tower of Mzark.
Of course, the Moth Priests of the Empire are great scholars who frequently interact with the Scrolls, but their crude and direct methods have led to serious problems.
Simon once read a book, or rather a collection of letters, which mentioned the relationship between the Moth Priests' beards and Aurbis, where Aurbis is the collective of the mortal universe Mundus, Aetherius, and Oblivion, that is, the greater universe.
The questioner expressed confusion, "...Facial hair and its metaphysical significance. What role do beards (and other forms of body hair, if applicable) play in the Ancestor Moth worship and the ancient culture of Nibenay? Are they somehow related to our collective spiritual function and our place in Aurbis?"
And the replier said: "The beards on the chins of most male Moth Priests are very obvious, even dazzling, thick, and numerous, and there are various mysterious theories and profound hypotheses as to why this is the case. However, a clever student would only think that the weakening of eyesight makes the task of shaving difficult."
In a word, there is no connection between beards and Aurbis; the reason why the male Moth Priests' beards are so dense is simply because they are blind and cannot shave.
For such a special group, this is actually a destiny, and after losing their sight, they will be sent to the monastery and supported until the day they die.
For someone like Simon, who knows the plot, specifically reading the elder scrolls to gain Revelation is truly a waste of effort, but he was genuinely curious about this ancient artifact and planned to ask Jonas about his subjective experience afterward, hoping to glimpse the artifact's mystery.
Simon was initially full of confidence in Jonas, but at the critical moment, he hesitated. It's always 'what if.' Following the plot to find the Ancestor Glade would only take some time; why insist on taking a risk?
Any uninsured action is inherently irresponsible.
The Ancestor Glade in the game seems to be in Falkreath Hold, the southernmost hold in Skyrim, with dense forests and distinct seasons. Although it's freezing enough to kill a person most of the year, it can genuinely be warm and comfortable in the summer.
To carry Jonas and Dilo, Simon added a sidecar to the left side of the Necromantic Motorcycle, making the overall look instantly comical. He personally felt it had the same vibe as watching the movie "Little Soldier Zhang Ga" from back in the day; no matter how cool the Necromantic flames were, it still couldn't erase a certain rustic, simple charm.
Simon drove, Serana sat behind him, and the two boys were in the sidecar. They set off southward with great momentum.
They traveled by day and rested at night. To accommodate the Vampire's aversion to light, Simon thoughtfully added a sunshade—which made it look even more rustic.
In the game, followers can only walk, with the protagonist riding a horse and the followers trailing behind, which is truly miserable. You couldn't do that in reality. Of course, making Jonas and Dilo trek across Skyrim in the name of martial arts training would be fine, but that would be too slow, and Serana would probably get impatient.
When camping, they set up three tents, leaving these tasks to the younger ones, and watching them fumble about was quite amusing.
Simon had already fully explained the purpose of this trip. Jonas and Dilo were naturally overjoyed, but the Vampire had some reservations. Her original intention was for the Dragonborn to read the Scrolls and then leave.
Serana privately asked Simon, "Why bring dead weight on such a dangerous mission?"
"Right now they are dead weight, but later, it will be our turn to be dead weight."
"Oh, you have a lot of faith in the Dragonborn?"
"Not just the Dragonborn; isn't the other boy also quite good?"
"I don't want this serious mission to turn into a fancy outing. Damn it, back in our time, girls used to spend bright spring afternoons sword-fighting. Father told me to stay away from caves and ruins, and I'd rather take these two kids to kill bandits than watch them come with us to seek such ancient secrets."
"I never thought there'd be a hint of warmth in your cold heart."
"Heh, perhaps it's because I drank the warm heart's blood of a robust stag yesterday!"
Simon looked a bit flustered, "Oh, I shouldn't have told you these things. Hey, you should still call me Baishan, or something else."
"Are you avoiding your name?"
"Avoiding?" Simon was startled, "No, you don't understand. This name is not my name. I should have my own name, or no name at all. My mother never named me, and that's fine. From now on, I will only have nicknames. This is a form of respect for myself and my family."
"Incomprehensible. However, if your adopted sons and companions are in mortal danger, don't expect me to save them."
"Hmm. I know."
The Troll's reply made Serana feel vaguely uneasy, "Hey! Don't think I'm cold-blooded!"
"Alright, go back and rest. I'll go to Falkreath to ask for directions to the Ancestor Glade. Just wait for me a bit."
...
The capital of Falkreath Hold is called Falkreath. Although it is officially a city, its actual size is more like a bustling town. Each place has its own scenery; Falkreath is a misty, rainy place, with moss and ancient trees everywhere. Human architecture gradually blends into the natural greenery, making it quite charming.
He found a tavern and learned the location of the Ancestor Glade from the enthusiastic owner. The owner lamented that no one had visited there for sightseeing in a long time. He had secretly gone there on his coming-of-age day and still remembered it vividly. The owner swore that Simon would definitely be awestruck by the beauty there.
Indeed, the Ancestor Glade is hidden in a secluded valley in the mountains, with difficult-to-find paths and many rugged and treacherous sections. Along the way, one inevitably encounters wild beasts, so even locals are unwilling to risk going there for the scenery.
Finding the valley entrance and passing through a natural crack in the mountain wall, the group saw the view suddenly open up before them. Bright twilight slanted down from a skylight-like opening at the mountain peak, and everything within sight shimmered with golden splendor. Tall pines and verdant cypresses stood everywhere, and at the bottom of the valley, there were natural underground hot springs. Rich minerals piled up into dozens of ochre-yellow lake basins of varying sizes. The spring water was light blue, and the misty sulfur-scented steam formed swirling fog, made transparent by the light, like the golden silk gauze of a goddess.
In the heart of the valley stood four ancient, gnarled sacred trees, their crowns densely covered with white-petaled, red-stamened flowers. The slender leaves were almost invisible. From a distance, the divine trees seemed to be enveloped in a faint white light, distinct from the sky's light yet intermingling with it, with a hazy halo at the connection points.
"Wow—" Dilo and Jonas exclaimed in unison.
Seeing such an extraordinary sight, Serana, for a moment, couldn't help but feel an endless desire to explore. She looked around, exclaiming joyfully, "No one has been here for hundreds of years, I imagine. It's an unusual beauty."
"Oh, then you're quite mistaken. People do come occasionally, at least the tavern owner has."
"Oh, shut up!"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"