How I Found it All: Part IV
It was still dark, and I was still following the two children and their dog. I had found out that my stealth skills were still a little lacking, because there were a few occasions where they turned around as if they were listening for me. Thankfully, I was not discovered.
I followed them for what seemed like an hour. "Where do they live, and why is it taking so long to get there?" I asked myself. "Why are they even all the way out here? Why am I talking to myself?" I felt the sudden urge to reveal myself to them, though I didn't know why. Thankfully before I gave in to my impulses, I finally spotted a small light where the children were heading. "That must be their house." I saw no other settlement for the entire time I was following them, so I assumed that it was their home. They and I continued towards the ever growing and inviting light coming from the windows.
Soon I was at proximity enough to hear a voice coming from within, although they were still too far for me to make out anything of it. The two children came in through the front door, but the dog went around to the back. I thought that I could come a little closer to try and see who was inside and what they were doing. So, I cast myself invisible, this time drawing no attention with the green flash of the pre-effects. I was comfortable enough to look in through a window. What I saw looked like a typical housing in Skingrad: expensive furniture, intricately designed woodwork on the stairs and walls, and even a clock. I had seen clocks around Cyrodiil. Each of them was a unique work of art, having their own exquisite carving created by the artisan who's hands had spent countless hours to bring the world the seconds of the day. That clock was different, though. It glowed; but it didn't glow with the same magic that flowed through my and my sister's veins. No, it was different. I sensed no true power from it like I could with other things saturated with the essence of magicka.
I was looking through the window, so I could see what those who lived here were doing. They did not seem to be doing much. The children were sent to their rooms in the upstairs, and all who remained was a young man. He looked very similar, although I could not remember from where. I stood there, pondering, while he sat, seemingly quite comfortable in a reclining chair. He was reading something. I tried to make out the name, but it was out of view. One thing I had noticed about him was that he wasn't very old. I guessed he was about 17, or 18 years of age.
I wanted to get his attention. I wanted to be discovered. All of this hiding and sneaking around suited me poorly. I decided that I was going to get him outside, then reveal myself to him. Knowing that it could go in the completely wrong direction, I kept my sword easily accessible, yet still out of sight.
There were a few pebbles near me where I was, so I picked one up and tossed it lightly at the window. Plink, went the stone against the glass. I saw him turn quickly around in his chair and get up, going to the door. When he opened it, he gave out the usual stock phrases: "Who's there? Hello, anyone there?" He looked out for a little while, then went back inside. I felt that I should have come out then, but shyness overtook me. I decided to do it again. Plink, went another pebble against the window. He got up again and came through the door; this time coming all the way outside. He began with "whoever's out there better show themselves. Come on. Out in the open..."
"Okay," I said. "will you promise to keep yourself?"
"Who's to say? It all depends."
"Well, for your sake, I hope you retain your composure."
"What does that mean?" I heard him say to himself.
I began walking out into the light. First, my feet with the moccasins on were shown. Next, my pants. Then, the strangest part yet: my belly scales. I could see his expression change from minor confusion to utter shock as soon as he realized that who he was looking at was not a human, but a "lizard." My face came into view. The sudden light hitting my eyes was like a fireball. It took me a few seconds to adjust, although he took much longer to come out of shock. "Hello there. Now you see me, and I see you." I waved to him. With the same expression still on his face, he waved back, quite strangely. "Oh, don't tell me you can't speak, Come on. What's your name?"
"Uh--Charley."
"Hi, my name's Jumps. Jumps-In-Water is my full name, but you can call me Jumps."
"Uh--okay."
"You look like you have never seen an Argonian before. What? Khajiit got your tongue?"
"Uh..."
"Oh, I see. Since you are still unfamiliar with me, you think you can just stand there, jaw gaping." I began to walk over to him. I left my sword, knowing that I would just set him into a panic. He didn't move, but his face changed more from shock to slight curiosity. Soon, I was within distance for him to see my eyes clearly. His face changed instantly to that of a child comforted by his mother. "See, is that better?"
"I--I don't know what to say. I mean, I thought you weren't real, but those eyes... those eyes. They are beautiful, absolutely."
"Thank you very much." I saw him glance at my belly. "Well go ahead, don't be shy. You can touch them. They are very real." He reached out one of his hands. He hesitated, but then came into contact with my scales. I could feel his warm fingers straight through. I actually enjoyed the caressing for a moment.
"Wow..."
"Yes," I said pausing. "Must we stand out here? It is a little chilly."
"Of--of course not. Come in."
He brought his hand back to his side, then gestured me inside, while opening the door. I walked inside, with him following me shortly. He was soon canceled out of my mind, because what I had seen outside was within touching distance. I moved over to the clock I pondered about earlier. I turned to him. He was staring at me in amazement. His eyes locked with mine.
There was what seemed to be an eternity of silence between us. He had a face of gentle kindness, yet possessed the hard grit of an experienced warrior. His eyes: they were the most prominent feature of his face. They were unique, being completely unlike any I had ever seen. They had the black of the pupil, only it was surrounded by a ring of deep hazel, subtly fading to an unexplainable earthy green, almost a grassy green. They reminded me of Lake Rumare. Sometimes, when the time of year was right, the lake would turn a green and the island would lose the green grass, exposing the brown earth.
We remained in ocular embrace until he broke the silence. "Are you an angel? You are beautiful."
I hesitated to speak, after a chuckle from his remark. "No, I'm not. Have you ever heard of Argonians?"
"Sorry, but no. Are you sure you're not an angel?"
"I like you. May I have a seat?"
"Of course. Here." He pulled over a chair to me, and and sat down in it, not losing my concentration on his face.
"Well, I am an Argonian. We are what you would call "lizard-people," having scales and such. I myself have an unusual tone for my scales. Usually, the typical Argonian that you would meet has green and red scales, with a few shades of blue and yellow blended into wondrous patterns. As you can see, I am almost completely white."
"I like it." We met our eyes together again. This time, he pondered about my eyes. "I like your eyes. They are the most amazing shade of blue. Are--are they glowing?"
"They do glow, yes. That is also unique about me. My sisters and I all have glowing eyes."
"You have sisters?"
"Two, actually. One is a very close friend of mine: Found-Her-Marbles, but most just call her Marbles."
"You have strange names. What about the other one?"
"Leireija? She is a very dangerous person. She has dishonored our family by turning to the life of an assassin. I do not want to talk about her."
"Sorry."
We talked for a while. He seemed to have adjusted fairly quickly, since he wasn't stammering his words so much and he had a more leisurely tone. We talked about many different things, such as things from my world, and things in his world. Both of them didn't seem to be so strange when they were compared. The only thing that I found incomprehensible was the term "technology." He spoke of it as if it possessed no incredible traits, almost as if he took it all for granted.
"That clock... why does it glow like that? I feel no magic in it."
"Magic? Oh, no. That is electricity."
"Electricity? Oh, like lightning?"
"Well, it is more controlled than that, but yeah, like lightning." We continued our conversation about things from my world and things in his world. Eventually, I grew weary, so he asked me "Do you need somewhere to sleep?"
"That would be lovely." He and I got up and he showed me to where I believed was his bedroom. I saw the bed, and I immediately jumped onto it. "Ahh, this is nice. Sooo comfy..."
I got out of the bed, remembering my manners as a guest. "It's fine," he said. "You can make yourself at home. You are going to be staying for the night."
"Well, in that case..." I began to remove my moccasins. Soon after, my dirty leather pants were unbuttoned and thrown aside. All this time, my host was watching me, although I was thoroughly confused with his expressions. They seemed to be a mix of curiosity, horror, pleasure, frustration, happiness, and envy. I continued by unclasping my vest, tossing that aside. Nothing further was said, other than my "What? Have you ever seen an Argonian sleep with clothes on?" He just shook his head lightly, keeping the same expressions of reluctant acceptance.
It was dark, and I was very tired by now. So, I did what anyone who was lethargic would do. I got into the bed and passed out. I kissed him goodnight before I went out, and he accepted it with a smile. I didn't know why I did so. I felt like I knew this person. I was so tired, but I did dream, although it was unimportant and I soon after forgot about it.
End of part IV...