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Lunise could not help but thin her lips with concern as she followed Meesei around the tent with her eyes. "This is the most affected by nerves I have ever seen you," she remarked. She pinched at a finger on her opposite hand. "Is this...magic aura a kind of meditation?" She gestured up and around the white light.



Janius lay comfortably and affectionately in Kaleeth's embrace as only someone with full trust in her could.

"I will protect you too, my love," he said. "Can't have you paralyzed by a spider daedra on the battlefield." He sighed. "I love you, Kaleeth-rei."
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"In a way, yes." Meesei answered, albeit after some hesitation. The aura was still noticeable, though now that Meesei was no longer focusing on what she had been doing, it was now starting to fade. "It was just some preparations. I just want to make sure I am physically, mentally...spiritually ready for tomorrow."

The way Meesei looked and moved towards Lunise was obviously intended to be enticing. She eventually stopped with her hands resting on Lunise's hips, smiling the whole while. It was hardly unexpected for her now that they had privacy, though it did make her seem eager to move on from the prior topic. "And of course, I think it would be quite calming to have your company tonight."




Kaleeth gave a short, deep laugh. "Have you seen the armor they made for me? Nothing is going to hurt me. Not spiders, or spears, or anything else. If you don't think your shield is good enough, then I will make sure to be the best shield you could ever have. And I love you too much to let you say no."

Kaleeth started to run her hand through Janius' fur, massaging the muscles all down his back. She probably would have bruised a normal Human, but a werewolf was a sturdier being. She nuzzled her snout up against his. "So, when you were talking to Fendros earlier...do you really think I am 'dangerous'?" She asked.

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Lunise did smile and initially brought her arms around Meesei to kiss her. They embraced with escalating energy for only enough moments for Lunise's subsequent pulling away to be particularly teasing. She held Meesei by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes.

"You are diplomatically skilled, Meesei," she said. "But I am not just a professional who has had plenty of practice with these things. I am also your partner. I know you well enough to tell when you are being coy with a scheme. Perhaps you might like to tell me why you are hiding it."



Janius only laughed. Kaleeth's insistence was hardly worth picking at for nits and technicalities. Especially with her ministrations.

"I know you're dangerous, dear," he responded. "Just dangerous enough. In all the right ways."
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For a short while, Kaleeth simply held tightly onto Janius, caressing his fur and letting out a sound that could be mistaken for a growl, for one less familiar with her. Eventually, however, she rolled over onto him, pinning him down underneath a weight that was difficult to escape with her snout touching lightly against the tip of his nose. "Just how dangerous do you want me to be...?"




For the briefest moments, Meesei's eyes shifted away from Lunise. She did not have an easy response to quickly dismiss Lunise's concerns, but she was at least not at a loss for words entirely. "Because I do not want to give false hope, or to make any guarantees I cannot be certain of. Like we discussed before, I want to do everything in my power to make sure I get to see my daughter's future. I simply made some preparations that I hope will help keep me safe tomorrow, but it is nothing that would let me make...promises."

"But I am being genuine, and not just deflecting." Meesei continued quickly. "I really would appreciate your company tonight. I know there is a risk to it, but if I am being realistic, I know there is a chance I might not survive the battle. If that happens, then I would not want to have wasted this time together just because of fear."
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"Meesei," Lunise said softly, taking Meesei's hands. "You must understand I am tempered by my experiences. I...fully understand the risks. You can be assured that I will not take anything here you say as a guarantee that you or anyone else will be safe tomorrow." Her eyes flicked down and up. "You can tell me or you can hide it. The only guarantee I wish is that you are not making a sacrifice that we will regret."
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Meesei hummed, moving one hand on top of Lunise's and softly rubbing her skin. "I do not think I will regret ensuring my existence. At least...as close to ensuring it as I can. It is amazing the insights I have gained over just a few days. Sabine, Ariel, Ahnasha...they are such bright mages. And Neesa, well...as much as I hate to admit it, she can be a veritable fountain of knowledge if she wants to be. Perhaps I am right, and perhaps my soul is now capable of surviving death? Maybe we will see...or maybe not? Despite this grim conversation, I do not actually intend to die tomorrow." Meesei grinned.

Reaching up, Meesei wrapped her arms around Lunise's neck and pressed her body up tightly against her. "And if I am right, then no matter what happens tomorrow, tonight will not be the last chance we have to hold each other like this. Even if it does...take a while."
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Lunise smiled sadly. "Then let us endeavour to both survive and take it from there," she murmured. She then brought her hand behind Meesei's head and gently pulled her in to press their foreheads together. "And let us make this night count. You will always be my love, even if we should part early."
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Although Meesei did, eventually, get to sleep in time to have a reasonable amount of rest, the morning still felt like it came too soon for her. Though, she could have slept for days, and it still would not have felt like enough. The time until the invasion’s start was now measured in hours, rather than days. The only comfort for Meesei was that, for her pack, they needed only to ready themselves to take the lead when the portal opened. Their tactics for the battle had already been decided, and the task of readying their troops into their formations for the portal’s opening fell to their respective commanders. No doubt, Ri’vashi had already been up for an hour or two preparing. For Meesei and her pack, however, their role was far more simple and clear. They were not serving as battlefield commanders, but rather as the tip of the spear: a role that took far greater advantage of the combat prowess of the Champion’s pack. Rather than being attached to a specific battalion they would be prowling the battlefield like hunters, taking on the most important of objectives while their armies supported them in reaching Vile.

When Meesei did awaken, it was in Lunise’s arms. It had been a risk for them to sleep together for the night, but it seemed one they were both willing to make. Meesei had her warding enchantment on the front of her tent to prevent any surprise intrusions, and if someone tried to pay Lunise a visit in her tent, there could be any number of reasons for her absence, but there was still this certain feeling of “danger” for them to be together in this way in the midst of such a large camp. Though, admittedly, there was a part of Meesei that just found the risk all the more exciting, as if she were back to her youth trying to sneak away with her lover without her father’s knowledge. It was an amusing thought, and one that she was happy to take just a few moments to savor. Reality was sure to come find her soon enough. If nothing else, she had mentioned to Sabine during their time out in the wilds the previous day that she would want to have a few minutes to talk to her in private the next morning. Meesei expected she would stop by some time soon, at which point Meesei would actually have to get up to let her through the ward.




Ahnasha had awoken earlier than she expected, despite having had quite a long night with Fendros. She did feel that she had managed to have enough rest, regardless, but even still, she took a potion as soon as she was up to help energize her. She had intended to get an early start to the day, perhaps even have breakfast prepared for them before Fendros was even awake. Yet, as she sat up on the edge of the bed, she just ended up staying there, staring off ahead at seemingly nothing for what felt like an eternity.
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It was hard to tell both for Meesei and Lunise which of them woke up first. Even if Lunise was not conscious, laying where she was with her arms around Meesei, she did not have any desire to wake up and part from her. They were still and silent without any more motion than their gentle breathing and occasionally but briefly tightening their embrace.

However, just as Meesei expected, a small voice did emerge from outside of the tent. "Um, Meesei, are you awake? It is Sabine."

Lunise murmured into Meesei's ear. "I will fetch a gown. You should let her through."

And reluctantly, though gracefully, Lunise slid away from Meesei and stood to wrap herself in a dressing gown.



Some time into Ahnasha's ruminations, there was movement behind her.

"Ahna..." Fendros said behind Ahnasha. The sound of him breathing the morning air deeply and slowly sitting up heralded his arms closing around her middle. He placed a kiss on her jaw and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Today is the day, is it not."

He stayed hugging her for a long moment before speaking again. "What are you thinking, sitting here like this?" he asked.
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Meesei got up quickly enough, though she did give Lunise ample time to dress herself. Certainly, Meesei did not usually sleep with a warding enchantment on her door, but the reason for it would quickly become apparent for Sabine once Meesei allowed her inside. Even with it being the last night before the invasion, there would have been no guarantees that both Meesei and Lunise would have been willing to take the risk to spend it together.

“Good morning, Sabine. I hope I am not keeping you from anything else you wanted to do this morning. I just…wanted to speak with you for a little while, before the day really starts.” Meesei explained.




Ahnasha let her hands rest on top of Fendros’ around her stomach, as well as leaning her head against his. “I’m thinking I’ve just wasted too much time sitting here, doing nothing.” She replied. However, she still did not budge, and just ended up letting out a sigh.

“I guess we didn’t really have a chance to go see my parents again, did we?” Ahnasha finally continued. “I guess that’s my fault more than anything. I just…wasn’t sure it was a good time. I did get a letter from them, about a week ago. They didn’t say anything about your father, or what happened. I’m not sure if they have moved past it, or are just too afraid to mention him, but they did at least have a lot of good to say about you, and the rest of your family.”
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Sabine stopped as soon as she entered and saw Lunise tying the ribbon of her dressing gown. The surprise quickly passed – she swiftly answered herself the questions that came immediately to mind. If Hal-Neesa's temper had taught her anything, it was quick and effective reasoning.

"It is okay," Sabine said to Meesei, clasping her hands together. "I am all but prepared in advance." She tried to give a smile to Lunise, who smiled back in a far more relaxed way. "What was it you wished to speak of?"

Lunise quietly interrupted first to Meesei. "Shall I be on my way, dear? I do not wish to impose."



Fendros slowly closed his eyes. "I am glad one more message came through, as least."

He considered his words as carefully as he could.

"I wish your family could see everything you are, but they do love you anyway." He looked at her with one eye. "Would there be something you wanted to tell them? Or just see them one more time?"
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Meesei reached out and took Lunise's hand. "You are part of my family now, my dear. There might be a few words in private I would like to have with Sabine, but you do not have to leave in such a rush."

Releasing Lunise's hand just as quickly, Meesei returned her attention to Sabine. "There are just a few things I thought we might want to talk about. The Staff of Magnus should be brought out from the Silent City's vault before it is time to open the portal. I want you to be the one to bear it in battle. The weapon is yours, after all, and I am sure you will be able to make the greatest use of its potential. It is a relic of the Aedra, of Mundus' architect. It has a kind of power that can stand up even to a Daedric Prince directly. It would not give any mortal the power to defeat Vile, of course, but it may prove invaluable to being able to reach him with the Axe. I would trust no one more than you to wield it."




It took a while for Ahnasha to give an answer, and even then, there was little certainty to it. "I don't know, really. I mean, I would of course like to see them, but I don't know if there is anything I could really say. There's nothing that could just explain away your father's irrational rage that they had to witness. I suppose I do want them to see you again so that your father isn't the most recent thing they associate with you, but...maybe that isn't important. If their last letter is anything to go by, they still like you. There's just...one thing in particular I haven't been really sure about. If something happens to me, should they be told? No parent should have to live through the death of their child, and they've already had to live through mine once. What right would I have to make them live through it twice?"
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Lunise did stay, though she began laying out her uniform so she could start the day rather than join in the conversation just yet.

Sabine's breathing halted. Her hand squeezed her fingers until they began growing red. "Are you certain?" she finally managed to say. "You are the one with the axe. It should be you with that power. Besides, you taught me everything. Surely your magic would be better supplemented."

Lunise could not help but laugh quietly through her nose.



"Well," Fendros thought out loud. "I would not be so sure it would be the same. Back then, you were their young daughter left out at the mercy of the wilds. They blamed themselves. This time, you are their strong, capable, successful daughter who fights for the very fate of Nirn." He kissed her cheek. "I think they would be sad, true. But they should be proud as well."
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Meesei stepped up in front of Sabine, placing her hands on both of her shoulders. She spoke firmly, but encouragingly. "Sabine, you are the best one to wield it. Aside from the fact that you have a much stronger claim to it than I, the potential of the staff does not rely on the raw magical power of the wielder. You are creative, intelligent, and resourceful. You can do far more with the staff than the woman you took it from, and I think you can do more with it than even I can. My raw power, for a long while, has been at the point that I can simply overpower the majority of my foes. Honestly, I do not think your raw power is as far behind mine as you think it is, but...even still, you spent quite a long time having to match yourself against mages as strong or stronger than yourself, over the course of this war. You will be able to use the staff to its greatest potential."




Ahnasha sighed, turning her gaze towards the ground. "Maybe. But I don't come from a line of proud warriors and mages. They will just want their daughter to be safe."

Pausing a moment, Ahnasha gave a quick laugh before finally turning to look at Fendros. "At this point, I'm not even sure they would believe the actual truth. Once the war is over, the secrecy won't matter as much, but if something did happen to me, it might still be better to come up with a more tame story to tell them. Just so they'll believe it. Ah, well, maybe I can still just rely on nothing happening to me? That would probably be the best outcome, I think."

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Sabine shrank a little. "Meesei," she said nervously. "I do not know if I can fight a daedric prince."

Lunise let out a dark, low laugh as she finished securing the belt of her trousers. "No one knows if they can face Vile on the field of battle, Sabine. Likely it will be quite different from any conception of a battle you have ever had. But you are the most likely to help your family prevail, for you have already proven yourself. Time and again. Just see your past."

It took Sabine a moment of uneasy consideration to take in both Meesei and Lunise's advice. The mix of encouragement and blunt truth proved hard to refute.

"I will do my best," Sabine said. "I only wish the staff did not mean what it does to me."



"Agreed," Fendros said. "Should the worst happen, however, I'll make sure your family doesn't have to suffer unduly. I know how much they mean to you."
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"The staff is an exceptional tool of Aedric power." Meesei remarked. "But it is still a tool. When in use, it has no will beyond your own, and it will mean what you decide for it to mean."

Meesei had approached a table on the far side of the tent, which had a few pages of what appeared to be her notes, and a few unlabeled books strewn about. She started to organize the loose pages and stack up the books neatly as she spoke. "If I am being honest, I am curious to see what you will be able to accomplish with it. Your approach to magic has always fascinated me. No mage with even an ounce of creativity is completely identical to the ones who taught them. Honestly, I wish we had more time just to share our results of our own studies. How have you fared with the notes I gave you on Psijic magic? I have been looking forward to hearing your insights."




Ahnasha smiled softly, giving Fendros a quick kiss before finally standing to her feet in front of him. She let out a yawn and raised her arms up above her head as she stretched out her muscles. Still, she did not seem to be in a particular hurry to go anywhere. In terms of remaining preparations, all she needed to do was allot enough time to get outfitted in her new armor. Ahnasha was usually one to rely on magical protection, rather than physical armor, but based on the last time she tried on the dragonscale armor, she could say she was impressed with its craftsmanship. It was not too restrictive, especially her light armor, and all of their armor had been enchanted to their individual specifications.

"Well, whatever happens, everything will certainly be different tomorrow. In one way or another." Ahnasha remarked. "I think I'm looking forward to the freedom we'll have. Say we succeed, and we both live to tell about it. We can do anything we want after this. Power, coin...we have it all. I'll admit, Kaleeth's talk of settling down has sounded tempting to me from time to time, but I think you know that I can't sit still for too long. If it weren't for the serious, life-and-death stakes of everything we've been doing, this past decade would have been a lot more fun. Exploring the jungles and deserts of Elsweyr, sailing the Topal Sea, braving the swamps of Black Marsh, navigating High Rock's mountains, and delving the depths of Dwemer ruins. And that's all just been in the span of a handful of years. Just imagine what we'll be able to do with the next few hundred?"
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Having something different to think about helped Sabine to level out her breathing. She looked aside to think, taking a moment to piece together an answer.

Lunise commented in the meanwhile. "You've been sharing Psijic secrets, have you Meesei? I dare say few enough outside of the order know what you and Sabine know now. I do hope they pay it no mind."

Sabine piped up. "It works about little effects and phenomena that I never knew about before. I am still baffled how they discovered such things in the first place, for the effects are usually completely obscured behind what conventional magic can perceive. I find myself now sometimes idly thinking of how they operate underneath alchemical effects. I could make potions that do things previously impossible...maybe. I want to experiment on it." She glanced up quickly. "After the invasion."



"I certainly look forward to a new journey," Fendros said with a smile. He stood up and took Ahnasha's hand. "Whatever that may be." He breathed in the fresh air. "Now, did you get your armour sorted yet? I need to get mine on before the stockpiles grow too busy."
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Meesei turned her head briefly towards Lunise. "Well, it is not as if the Psijics themselves taught me their secrets. I had to learn them on my own."

Meesei took a few moments to stack a few of the books on her table and moved them aside from the rest. "Come to think of it, I have never put much thought into the potential alchemical applications of this knowledge. Much like everything else, the Psijics have a unique understanding of alchemy, but that has never been my specialty. Their applications of mysticism might allow them to derive new or hidden effects, even from known reagents. Much of their magic seems to tap into...deeper aspects of reality. I have some of my most recent notes here, as well as the original tome I took from Apocrypha on the subject. You can have them all." Meesei offered to Sabine.




Ahnasha nodded back to Fendros. "I tried it on a few days ago. It fit perfectly. I didn't have time to test the enchantments, but I doubt they were careless with them. The Forgemaster would probably take their heads if they were. I've never seen so much pride in a man before over his creations, though I guess it makes sense here. Dragonscale armor is, quite literally, a thing of legends. Our weapons should be ready today as well. The Forgemaster is definitely cutting it close with his perfectionism, but as long as it is ready, it doesn't matter."

Still holding on to Fendros' hand, Ahnasha looked around the tent somewhat aimlessly. "I guess we shouldn't linger around too long, but we still don't have to be in too much of a rush. I'm sure we'll be the top priority once we show up. I know I do want to give the portal stones another check, just to be safe. I trust our enchanters, but I don't want to use any portal without making personally sure that it works. I say we get some breakfast, go check on the portal, then go make love behind the great gate." She said, maintaining a quite intentionally neutral tone.

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"Oh..." Sabine wished she could interpret Meesei's friendly offer without the risks of their mission, but the ominous implications echoed in her response. "Thank you. That is kind. I should...I should be interested to see what they say."

Ever mindful, Lunise looked up from the last knots and ties in her uniform with a smile. "And when you have made your interpretations, Sabine, I am sure Meesei should be just as interested in your notes."

Sabine returned the smile. Resolved, she gave a firm nod.



Fendros was only just able to hide the rushing realisation up the sides of his face. He breathed out a soft laugh and looked at Ahnasha from the side of his eye.

"What, for all to see and hear?" He asked. "Or have you figured out that trick with invisibility magic you joked about?"

He was sure today would be a good day either way.
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Meesei quickly and briefly smiled towards Lunise. Even if it had just been for a short while, Meesei was glad to have her support. Lunise was dressed and ready to go, and no matter how much Meesei might have wanted her to stay, she could not linger for too long. Lunise’s absence from her own tent could be easily explained on today, of all days, but not indefinitely. If she was nowhere to be seen in the camp for too long, then her peers might start to ask questions.

When it was finally time for Lunise to take her leave, Meesei joined her at the exit of the tent to lower the ward for her. At first, she simply gave Lunise a quick, simple kiss goodbye, but as she reached her hand towards the welkynd stone, she seemed to freeze in place for a moment. She was still for just long enough to allow one to wonder what she was doing, then suddenly embraced Lunise far more enthusiastically. She ended up causing Lunise to take a few steps back, nearly knocking over a chair in the process, and with a kiss that was perhaps the most passionate she had ever given, in any context. It seemed to last for ages and was enough to make one briefly wonder if Meesei was going to ask Sabine for privacy, but ultimately, she did release Lunise.

“Thank you.” Meesei said softly while they were still close, a tear or two visible in her eyes. Although she almost had to force herself to do so, she did finally disable the ward to allow Lunise to leave.




Ahnasha started to walk around the tent with an exaggerated sway to her hips and a grin back towards Fendros. “With how we were last night, I’m pretty sure everyone in every tent around us has already heard it, but no, I just mean that, this early in the morning, no one’s going to be around the portal.”

Eventually, Ahnasha walked back around to Fendros and almost immediately wrapped him in her embrace. She was quite forward with him, holding him tight and running her hands down his back. She pressed herself up against him almost forcefully enough to push him back down onto the bed, yet her feelings were not quite so straightforward as she seemed to want them to be. Something just felt slightly off in her attitude. Her hands shook very slightly, but perceptibly. She was doing well to keep her eyes looking almost hungry, but her tail was hardly moving at all, instead of showing her excitement as it usually would. Her sensual demeanor and provocative words were much more of a mask than a mere playful act.

“Well…I suppose we should go have a good breakfast. We will need our energy today.” Ahnasha finally added.
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