Morning light was just beginning to pierce through the thinning mist when we slipped back into the Moorside Inn through the back door. Our armor and clothes were caked in swamp mud, dried blood, and black ichor. We looked like we had crawled out of Oblivion itself.
Jonna was already up, sweeping the common room floor. She stopped mid-sweep and stared at us with wide eyes.
"By the gods… you two snuck out last night?" She looked us up and down. "I thought you were just restless. Most people who leave at night don't come back looking half-dead. What in the swamps happened to you?"
I leaned my sword against a table. The blade still emitted a faint golden shimmer. "We went north. Into the sunken barrow. The corruption there — the drowned dead, the false Eye, everything — we destroyed it."
Jonna blinked, then let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. "The sunken barrow? You expect me to believe that? People who go near that place usually vanish. You're telling me the two of you just… cleared it?"
I nodded. "It's true. The air already feels lighter, doesn't it? No more unnatural fog rolling in from the north."
The innkeeper crossed her arms, clearly skeptical. Her eyes flicked to Meridia, who stood tall and radiant despite the mud on her boots.
"And I suppose you're going to tell me this was some divine work?" Jonna said, raising an eyebrow. "Let me guess — Talos himself came down and helped you?"
I glanced at Meridia, then back to Jonna. "Actually… it was Meridia. I'm her Champion. She chose me to carry her light and burn away corruption like this."
Dead silence.
Jonna stared at me for several seconds, then burst out laughing. "Meridia? The Daedric Prince of Light?" She shook her head, still chuckling. "Lad, I've heard some tall tales in this inn, but that one takes the mead barrel. You two look like you fought a pack of mudcrabs and lost. Just admit you killed some undead and got lucky."
Meridia's golden eyes narrowed sharply. Her aura flared for a brief moment, making the room noticeably brighter.
"These mortals…" she muttered darkly beside me. "Blind. Insolent. Utterly blind."
I quickly placed a hand on her arm to stop her from demonstrating her power right there in the inn.
"Believe what you want," I told Jonna calmly. "But the northern barrow is clear now. You can send people to check. The disappearances should stop."
Jonna waved her hand dismissively, though she looked slightly unsettled by Meridia's presence. "Sure, sure. I'll mention it to the Jarl's men. Just… try not to cause any trouble while you're here. And maybe wash up before you scare off my other customers."
She gave us two mugs of warm cider "on the house" — mostly out of pity, it seemed — and went back to sweeping, still shaking her head and muttering about "crazy outsiders."
The moment we got upstairs and closed the door, Meridia exploded.
"How dare she laugh at my name!" she hissed, glowing with indignation. "I stood right in front of her! A Daedric Princess in the flesh, and she thinks I am some drunken tale!"
I sat down heavily in the chair by the fire and started pulling off my muddy boots. "That's how it goes sometimes. Most people in Skyrim treat Daedric Princes like old legends or scary stories. Seeing one in person and believing it are two different things."
Meridia paced the room angrily for a moment before finally sitting on the bed. "Mortals are infuriating. Especially this one."
System Notice: Quest "Purge the Sunken Corruption" –
Completed! Experience Gained
Significant New Skill Unlocked: Eye of Radiance (Active) – Summon a floating orb of Meridia's light that reveals hidden enemies and weak points for a short duration.
Meridia sensed the notification. Some of her anger faded as she looked at me.
"…Still. You performed admirably, champion. Even if these fools refuse to acknowledge my greatness." She moved closer and sat beside me. "I suppose I will stay in this form longer. Someone must ensure you are not distracted by stupid women while these idiots doubt you."
I smiled and leaned against her. "There's the real reason."
She poked my chest. "Do not misunderstand. It is purely practical." Despite her words, she rested her head against my shoulder.
We stayed like that, quietly eating and recovering. The skepticism stung Meridia's pride, but it only seemed to make her more determined to stay by my side.
"Tomorrow we will speak with the Jarl," I said. "Maybe she'll be more open."
Meridia huffed. "If she laughs at me too, I may reconsider my mercy."
I chuckled softly. "Try not to smite the entire town."
"No promises."
Even though no one believed us yet, the corruption was gone. Morthal was safer. And the proud, tsundere Daedric Princess currently leaning against me had no intention of leaving anytime soon.
That was enough for now.