The power apparently had an element of luck to it. For some it came naturally after training with a sword for a certain amount of time. For others it might require a life threatening scenario for it to finally take shape. There were also stages to the development of the power, three in total. The first was the manifestation stage that created the physical form of the spirit blade. At this stage the power was basically useless beyond showing off. It wasn't solid enough for anything else.-
The second stage was the most common for those with the power to stop at as it was where the created blade was solid and actively enhanced the wielder to superhuman standards. According to the book at this stage any Ansei could stand against large numbers of normal enemies with little trouble. Additionally the wielder could create spell like effects with the blade with long devastating slashes being among the most common. Finally was the third stage in which case the She` Hai was so solid and powerful the wielder could cut even conceptual beings down. The book mentioned that Ansei at this stage were little different from walking weapons of mass destruction capable of cleaving apart mountains and the sky.-
'I suppose that with my blade being a literal part of my soul I was always just at the edge of this power. It was only now when I felt death closing in that it woke up. Ugh, this is too useful to not use but how do you even train something like this!?' I thought with an annoyed sigh.
I had hoped the book would say but it basically just said to "hold true to your way and the justice in your heart" and that was it.-
It had some techniques described that I could take some time to replicate but otherwise nothing more of use. The power was really one of those "the wielder makes it what it is" type deals. I paused however as a thought struck me. Learning words of power caused them to be impressed into my soul. So if this power was one of the soul could I theoretically channel the thu'um through my blade? I felt an itch to try it and had to stop myself from actually doing that. If I drew out my blade and caused a commotion again there'd be nowhere to hide.-
'I'll wait for the heat to die down before I test it out on the ice fields far away from anyone who might notice it.' I decided.
The book never mentioned whether a Nord ever learned the power much less one that also knew the thu'um. I doubted it though, this felt like one of those all or nothing type powers where you dedicate everything to it. Technically the thu'um was the same but I had the unique advantage of being able to skip basically all the hard work needed for one of these powers.-
I didn't stop reading after learning what I could of this newly awakened power but true to my word used the other books as light reading material. As for the scrying eyes of that antiquarian society I considered seeing about it later but for now chose not to. While I was reading and sipping a warm cup of hot chocolate I heard something that made me pause and turn slowly.
"Crack!"
It was sharp and came unexpectedly from beside me. I pinpointed it's source instantly as the egg I had sitting on a small cushion. -
Along it's surface a hair thin crack was now present and the egg wobbled slightly as more cracks appeared.
'You've got to be kidding me!? I thought the thing was dead!?' I thought in shock as I watched the egg hatching.
Soon a hole got pushed open from within and a sharp wet black beak poked out and snorted softly as the creature within breathed it's first breath of air. I watched as the hole was opened more and more until the sticky wet creature within flopped out ungracefully. -
'Is that a fucking Griffin!?' I though dumbfounded.
I knew the species existed of course since they were recorded in the books on sacred beasts I read when training under the priest in Riften. They were native to the Summerset isles and were thought to be tied to Auriel(Akatosh's elven depiction). They were also HIGHLY prized by the Altmer as mounts with a whole armed group being dedicated to raising them for that role. This one was NOT like the depictions I saw though that were the usual mix of lion and eagle. I could at a mere glance see the draconic influences on it.-
It was a not a bald thing like you'd expect of a bird based creature but had small rough scales along it's body that were almost transparent but hardening and darkening at a visible rate. It's long slender tail was also covered in scales and ended in the triangular pointed tip the dragons from the game all had. It's spine had nubs along it's whole length with no gaps making it clear I'd never get to ride it. It's head was wider and the snout was longer than a normal griffin's but the general shape was roughly the same. The wings though were all dragon with a claw at the joint and long bones giving it shape throughout the wings.-
Unlike a dragon however this thing had two sets of legs as well as wings. The first set at the front was thin and very on point for bird legs. The back legs however were the clawed reptilian legs of a dragon. It's two eyes were still closed and the thing shuddered from to cool air and chirped loudly to no doubt let it's parent know it was here now and needed care. I could only helplessly grab one of my spare towels and begin to clean off the slimy stuff on it from the egg.-
It was almost horrifying how cute the thing was as it leaned into the towels every swipe across it's scales. Once it was all cleaned up I carefully wrapped it in a spare shirt and just sat there with it in my arms at a loss. -
'I need to see Urag, again.' I thought helplessly.
I collected my books into my plane before carefully carrying the little thing out of my room and hurried to the Arcanaeum. Urag took one look at me before his eyes narrowed to the bundle in my arms.
"That better not be the books you just checked out." he said with an aggressive tone.
"Chirp!" the thing spoke up hearing the orcs voice.
"You brought an animal into MY Arcanaeum?" he asked with a dark expression forming.
"I panicked okay? I have no idea what i'm supposed to feed this thing or what sort of care it needs! I thought it was a dead egg this whole time!" I said hurriedly.
"HMMM, I don't like it but this does sound like an emergency. So what's this creature of yours anyways?" he asked gruffly but did visibly relax at least so it was something.