"Don't worry. The East Empire Company is handling your spice shipment as we speak."
At my words, Evette San, who sells spiced wine in the Solitude market, looked visibly relieved.
"Oh, thank you! You've really taken a weight off my mind. Please, take this as a token of my gratitude."
[Quest Success!]
ㄴ Reward: Magicka +20, Stamina +10.
"Heh. Everything's coming up roses."
A smirk played across my lips as my mood lifted. I'd cleared Octieve San's debt, persuaded Svary's mother to attend church again, and now I'd helped Evette San get her spice shipment moving.
[Level 15]
Magicka: 150 / Health: 185 / Stamina: 237
Completing three quests in a row had triggered a growth spurt. I stood up and stretched my limbs. As the stiffness left my muscles, my body felt lighter—likely thanks to the increased Stamina.
I had already spent the Perk Points I'd earned from my previous level-ups. I invested in Eagle Eye to zoom in when aiming a bow, Shield Wall to increase my block effectiveness by 20%, and Muffled Movement to reduce the noise generated by my armor. Combat should be a lot more stable from here on out.
As a bonus, the grateful citizens had tipped me enough gold to more than make up for the septims I'd spent paying off Octieve's debt.
Seeking my next objective, I pulled open the door to Radiant Raiment, Solitude's premier clothing store.
Stepping inside, I saw the walls lined with ornate garments fit for nobility. The shop was fairly bustling with customers. It wasn't just high-end fashion, though; they had a wide variety of practical items, from tunics and undergarments to functional outdoor wear.
"What kind of attire are you looking for?" the clerk asked. I politely declined her help, saying I'd look around myself.
I wasn't here to buy clothes. I was here for a quest.
"Oh! It's Mister!"
While scanning the room for Taerie, I heard a familiar voice. When I turned toward Ha-neul and the others, I was momentarily stunned by their appearance.
"Hehe, what do you think?"
"Wow, that actually suits you surprisingly well."
They looked like noble daughters dressed for a grand ball.
"Even Lydia's wearing one?" I muttered. I didn't think she'd have an interest in such things. I suppose she's a woman after all.
"Ahem... they said trying them on was free, so I figured I would just give it a go."
"Anyway, Mister, what brings you here?" Eloise asked. I froze for a second. I couldn't exactly tell them I was here for a quest, so I improvised a quick excuse.
"Oh, I was just... thinking of buying a set of clothes."
"Then we'll help you pick!"
"Wait, what?"
Eloise and Ha-neul grabbed my arms and dragged me into the piles of clothing. From that moment on, I ceased to be a human being and became a glorified clothes hanger.
"This one's not it."
"This one's even worse!"
An hour passed.
"Haa... I actually bought it."
Driven by their relentless energy and the sheer guilt of having tried on half the store's inventory, I'd eventually picked out a decently stylish outfit and brought it to the counter.
"Pfft, it actually looks good on you," they teased. The girls had also picked out some clothes—not the flashy ball gowns, but something simple and pretty.
"Thank you for your business," the clerk said. Just as we were about to leave, I spotted Taerie arranging some merchandise near the entrance.
My true purpose flashed back into my mind. Already knowing how the quest worked, I shifted my expression and spoke up casually.
"Hmm... I think I'll pay a visit to the Blue Palace."
At that single sentence, Taerie's hands stopped moving.
"You... are you serious?"
"Indeed. Why do you ask?"
A glint appeared in Taerie's eyes. She dashed into the back room and returned holding a set of incredibly ornate Fine Clothes, the kind a high-ranking noble would wear.
"Then... could you wear this and see what Jarl Elisif thinks of it? And perhaps just happen to mention it came from our shop?"
She added that if I did this, she would let me keep the outfit for free. I accepted.
[Quest Started!]
ㄴ Wear Taerie's outfit and get Elisif's opinion.
ㄴ Reward: 2 Perk Points.
The reward is solid. To be fair, I would've helped anyway, but this was a nice bonus.
"You heard her. Let's go to the Blue Palace."
"I don't mind, but... are you really going in that get-up?"
Compared to the simple clothes of the commoners, my new attire—dark blue cloth accented with silver embroidery and a fancy sash—was so flashy it commanded attention just by standing there.
"Oh my, what a splendid design."
"Is that man a noble?"
Predictably, it drew a lot of eyes. I was dying of embarrassment, but I sucked it up and headed for the palace. Eloise, being timid, seemed equally embarrassed, but Ha-neul was having too much fun with the situation.
"Step lively, My Lord Count!"
"Please stop."
Surprisingly, the outfit worked. The guards gave us an immediate pass, likely mistaking me for a visiting noble from another province, and we entered the Blue Palace without a hitch.
"Believe me! There are strange magical phenomena occurring in the cave!"
"A cave that's been abandoned and peaceful for over five hundred years suddenly has 'phenomena'..."
Varnius Junio, a humble farmer from Dragon Bridge, was reporting the oddities he'd witnessed, but the court seemed skeptical. Everyone, that is, except Elisif the Fair—the Jarl of Solitude and current High Queen of Skyrim.
"Even so, we cannot ignore his report. I will dispatch the Legion and order an investigation immediately."
While she couldn't be sure about the strange occurrences, she judged that any potential threat to Haafingar should be dealt with proactively. However, the court mage, Sybille Stentor, shook her head in disagreement.
"My Liege, I have consulted my scrying crystal, and I detected no abnormalities in that cave."
If the farmer's story was true, they needed to act quickly, but the province was currently gripped by war. After securing Whiterun, the Empire was busy reclaiming Stormcloak territories in a lightning campaign, and Solitude was currently short-handed on troops.
"Hmm... what should we do?" Elisif leaned her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
That was when Falk Firebeard, the Jarl's steward and head of palace administration, spoke up.
"In that case, I will hire a suitable fixer to handle it."
"Thank you, Falk. You are always so dependable. Varnius, we will take care of this. You may go now."
"Yes, My Liege. Thank you." Varnius bowed to the Jarl and quietly left the palace.
Having overheard everything, I naturally stepped toward Falk.
"I apologize for intruding, but I happened to hear about Wolfskull Cave. If you need a fixer, why not hire me?"
Falk's eyes widened. To him, I looked like a man of high standing, the last person who would jump at a menial labor task.
"Truly? But for someone of your... station to take such a job—"
At that moment, Elisif, who had been watching us from afar, approached.
"Are you sure? If you resolve this matter, I promise a reward commensurate with your service."
"Of course. Don't worry about a thing."
This was perfect. I could get stronger by completing the quest, and Elisif could solve her problem without diverting her military. It was a win-win situation.
[Quest Started!]
ㄴ Uncover the secret of Wolfskull Cave and resolve the issue.
ㄴ Reward: Magicka +90, slight increase in Conjuration proficiency.
'Huh?'
The reward was far more generous than any quest I'd taken so far, leaving me momentarily speechless. At the same time, an ill omen crept into my mind. My long experience and gamer instincts whispered: this is no ordinary job. Usually, easy tasks had piddling rewards, and the difficulty scaled with the pay. If the reward was this good, the task was going to be dangerously difficult.
Well, that's a problem for future me. First, I had another task to wrap up.
"Could I ask one more favor?"
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Could you give me your opinion on these clothes?"
Caught off guard by the random question, she chuckled slightly before answering.
"Hehe. It is an absolutely splendid outfit."
Fortunately, Elisif's review was positive. "I'm glad to hear it. For your information, I purchased this at Radiant Raiment."
Elisif seemed to recall something. "Now that you mention it, Emissary Elenwen is hosting a party next month. I should purchase a few more outfits for the occasion."
With that level of feedback, Taerie was going to be thrilled.
At that same moment, inside Wolfskull Cave—
A man in a black hood ascended the stairs of an abandoned tower. In his hand, he carried the final component required for the ritual.
"Priestess, I have it right here."
"Bring it here, quickly."
The middle-aged woman called 'Priestess' saw that the final ingredient had arrived and smiled ominously.
"Finally... gather everyone at once."
"Now? But the ritual was scheduled for tomorrow..."
"I've changed my mind."
The plan was to wait another day, but now that all the preparations were complete, she couldn't contain her impatience. One by one, the cultists gathered at the magic circle atop the tower.
The Priestess and the others began channeling their Magicka into the array, and she whispered in a low, somber voice.
"Wolf Queen... hear our call and arise."
As the Priestess finished her incantation, the other necromancers cried out in unison.
"We summon Potema!"
"We summon Potema!"