I Became A Side Character In world of Elder Scrolls V Chapter 5 5

I returned to Whiterun just as the afternoon sun dipped behind the Gildergreen, casting long golden shadows across the stone walls. The wind carried the mixed scents of hay, iron, and cooked at—Whiterun's usual, oddly comforting blend.

This ti, the guards standing by the gate straightened when they saw . Their helts hid their expressions, but their posture said enough. Recognition. Wariness. A hint of respect.

"Let him through," one murmured to the other. "He's the one who took out the bandits up north."

I hadn't even told them yet. Skyrim's rumor mill truly deserved its own magic school.

Once the heavy gate thudded shut behind , I headed toward Dragonsreach. The grand hall towered over the city, its wooden beams catching the light like the ribs of so ancient beast. As I pushed open the heavy doors, a wave of warm air—firewood, roasted at, and incense—washed over .

Inside, Jarl Balgruuf sat on his throne, posture relaxed but eyes sharp, like a man perpetually waiting for bad news. His steward, Proventus Avenicci, stood a step beside him, hands clasped behind his back in that stiff, bureaucratic way that scread civil servant even in a world without paperwork.

I stopped a respectful distance, straightened my back, and gave a small bow—palms together and head dipped.

"Forgive for disturbing your ti, my Jarl."

Balgruuf tilted his head slightly, studying . His eyebrow rose, just a little. "Who are you, and what business do you have with ?"

"My na is Alex," I said calmly, though my heart thumped against my ribs. "I ca to inform you that the bandit camp to the north—Halted Stream Camp—has been cleared."

Proventus blinked, visibly surprised. Balgruuf turned toward him.

"Proventus, is there truly a bandit camp to the north?"

"Yes, my Jarl," Proventus replied, adjusting his robes nervously. "I was actually preparing to post a bounty for its removal. But since this young man has already dealt with it…" He glanced at , almost incredulous. "…the bounty is no longer necessary."

Balgruuf leaned back on his throne, tapping a finger on the armrest. "I see. Then it is unfortunate the bounty was never officially posted, and you cannot claim the reward." His stern expression softened, just a fraction. "However… I am not a petty ruler. Tell —what do you want as compensation?"

I didn't hesitate.

"I wish to be allowed to trade freely with Farengar, your court mage."

Balgruuf's brows knitted. "That is all?"

"Yes, my Jarl."

His lips tugged into a faint, approving smile. "Very well. He is to the left of the Main Hall. You may speak with him."

I bowed once more. "Thank you, my Jarl."

Turning away, I headed toward Farengar's wing. The mont I stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted completely—like stepping into a pocket of another world.

The air was thick with the scent of crushed herbs, burning oils, and sothing distinctly arcane—sharp, tallic, almost electric. Candles flickered in strange colors, casting dancing shadows across shelves overloaded with scrolls, crystals, and ingredients I couldn't even begin to na. The soft hum of magic resonated from the enchanting table, its glyphs glowing faintly like breathing embers.

Farengar hunched over an alchemy table, muttering to himself while stirring a bubbling green concoction. His mage robes were slightly crooked, ink stains dotted his sleeves, and the air around him felt… heavier, as if knowledge itself chose to orbit him.

Exactly the kind of man who would forget to eat for three days because he discovered a new rune.

He didn't turn as I approached, but his eyes flicked toward —sharp, curious, and glinting with that unique brand of mage-like impatience.

"Hello, sir. I've been granted permission to et with you," I said as I stepped closer.

Farengar finally lifted his head. His eyes—sharp, tired, and glowing faintly with that mage-who-sleeps-two-hours-a-day intensity—narrowed as he examined . His gaze traveled from my face to my hands, then paused sowhere around my chest, as if he were sensing sothing inside rather than looking at .

"Oh?" His lips curled slightly, intrigued. "Hmm… you possess a rather high degree of Conjuration skill, it seems."

I stiffened. "How in the world did he—"

Right. Mage senses. Skyrim logic.

"I do," I admitted. "I'd like to trade with you… and if possible, learn enchanting from you."

Farengar brushed a loose strand of hair behind his ear, his movents precise and slightly impatient, like he had a dozen experints waiting for him. "Very well. I can teach you."

His tone was casual, but the air around him vibrated faintly, responding to his excitent. He may have tried to sound indifferent, but the man clearly loved magic the way a blacksmith loved steel.

I approached the enchanting table. The surface glowed with pale blue runes, shifting like living veins under glass. The faint hum filled my ears, almost like a heartbeat. The scent of hot tal, burned herbs, and old paper blended into a strange, comforting warmth.

Enchanting worked almost exactly like the ga.

Break an enchanted item, learn the enchantnt permanently. No going back.

As I absorbed several enchantnts, my fingertips tingled with static energy. It crawled up my arms, leaving faint pinpricks of warmth beneath my skin.

To craft enchantnts, I needed filled soul gems—so I bought several empty ones. Farengar handed them over with a strange look, as if silently judging for clearly preparing to slaughter sothing.

Then I purchased spellbooks: Bound Sword, Bound Bow, Conjure Fla Atronach.

As I flipped through their pages, purple-tinged light rose from the ink, dancing around my fingers. Every spellbook felt heavier than it looked, humming with power waiting to be claid.

I absorbed them quickly, one after another.

Bound Sword. My pulse ward.

Bound Bow. My vision shimred for a mont.

Fla Atronach. A faint spark danced in the air before vanishing.

Then ca the perk allocation, a translucent interface only I could see. Points pulsed softly like stars in the void. I touched each perk, and the sensation flowed through like water made of lightning.

Then ca the perk allocation. For Conjuration:

Novice Conjuration: novice spells cost half MagickaApprentice Conjuration: sa for apprentice spellsMystic Binding (5 points (max)): bound weapons deal 100% damageSoul Stealer: bound weapon attacks automatically apply Soul Trap

Eight perk points spent. With 18 total level ups, I still had ten left.

I allocated for sneak:

Stealth (1), 20% beco harder to detect while sneaking

Archer:

One perk to Bow Overdraw, increasing bow damage by 20%

Enchanting:

One perk to basic Enchanting, boosting enchant power by 20%

While I optimized my build, Farengar began talking to a woman near the far bookcase. I caught a glimpse of her—a sharp gaze, confident posture, and a cloak that looked like it had seen too many secret missions.

Delphine.

Had to be.

Their voices were low, urgent. Sothing about "patterns," "sightings," and "the throat of the world trembling again."

Yeah. Definitely Blades business.

I didn't pry. I was too deep in the satisfying glow of character progression, the quiet hum of magic, and the soft flicker of candles reflecting off potion vials.

That's when—

"Hey, Alex. We et again."

My breath hitched—not from fear, but from unexpected relief.

Astrid stood in the doorway, frad by warm orange light from the hall torches. Her hair was slightly windswept, cheeks flushed from running… and her eyes softened the mont they landed on .

For a second, the tension in my shoulders lted.

She ca back. Already.

Our separation really didn't last long. And sohow… that made my chest feel a little lighter.

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