The drunkard had a saying that Jonas only came to understand much later.
Those who haven't truly lived are not fit to speak of the meaning of life.
Jonas's mother—he hadn't known he had such a mother, or rather, he once knew but had since forgotten—was a Breton woman. She looked clean, as if she had been washed and hung to dry under a locust tree, smelling of sunlight and a hint of dust.
A mother is a mother. Jonas gave her a light hug, both their bodies stiffening like two stones. There were no complex thoughts, just a bit of trepidation, a vast amount of bewilderment, and awkwardness.
Jonas felt he was doing well. He was like a knight of the old era who had prepared his warhorse and polished his lance, ready to rush to the front lines. The kingdom's flag was planted on his horse's back, and the heraldry representing history, bloodline, and gods flickered as the banner fluttered. In the thin light of the setting sun filtering through the twilight clouds, he too seemed to glow.
But a mother is a mother; she represents the soft side of humanity. Jonas could roughly guess why he had been separated from this woman for so many years. She should have been the one to fasten that button on the knight's white shirt collar, but she had been absent for a long time—long enough that Jonas had never even thought such a person existed in the world, nor did he know how to face her.
"Mother."
The woman didn't speak; she only wept continuously. Once she calmed down, she said "I'm sorry" over and over again.
A smile spread across Jonas's lips. He was as joyful as a little mouse in a honey jar, though he was still unsure if the happiness before him was real.
I can't die now, otherwise I won't be able to see my mother again.
Jonas rested in Winterhold for three days, reuniting with his long-lost family, but he truly could not stay any longer. His mission urged him to set out. However, since he no longer had the scrolls, he had to find Miraak first.
Dilo prepared a vessel for him—a steel steamship. Setting off from Winterhold at six in the morning, they arrived at Solstheim by eight in the evening.
Viewed from afar, Solstheim was a land of dust and oppression. Standing on the deck, one could see the erupting Red Mountain amidst the continuous landmass on the southeastern horizon. The night was starless and moonless, thick with clouds and smoke. The darkness hung low, as if it were right above one's head, reachable with a hand—like the ceiling of a prison that could bruise one's head painfully.
The steamship docked at the port of Raven Rock. This was a massive city built for war, founded in the year 427 of the Third Era, prospering due to its rich deposits of ebony ore.
The mines here were steeped in history. On one hand, they nourished the economy; on the other, they bred crime and stripped people of their sweat and blood. Yet, they also saved most of the town's people during Solstheim's crisis. In 4E 5, Red Mountain suddenly erupted, and a massive amount of fire crossed the Sea of Ghosts to strike Solstheim directly. Most people were working underground at the time and were thus completely unaffected by the volcanic eruption.
Fort Frostmoth, which guarded Raven Rock, was buried and swallowed by ash. Afterward, to allow people to work in the mines with peace of mind, a fortification called Bulwark was raised on the eastern edge of the town, proving to be highly effective.
In 4E 16, Solstheim was occupied and managed by the Dunmer. Though nominally leased to Morrowind by the Empire, it was essentially a Dunmer colony. The East Empire Trading Company was also forced to transfer control of Raven Rock to House Redoran.
By the year 181 of the Fourth Era, the ebony veins were completely exhausted, and the town declined sharply. Today, it has transformed into an ordinary settlement living off fishing and hunting.
A single town witnessing two hundred years of historical rise and fall—it was not easy.
Jonas went ashore. The captain said he would wait here for him indefinitely and told him to venture forth without worry.
Before Jonas could say anything, a Frost Dragon flew in from the horizon. A fierce battle immediately broke out, waking Raven Rock from its slumber. Numerous Redoran Guards joined the dragon-slaying effort.
The process went smoothly, but Jonas was unable to absorb the dragon soul. Instead, it flew toward the center of the island, and Jonas followed closely behind.
From the air, he saw the dragon soul fly into a temple-like building in the center of the island, after which he lost his sense of the soul. He was certain the problem lay there.
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