AUTHOR'S NOTES (This is pretty long): Hey guys! I am back. It has been awhile since I updated this story (practically a year more or less). I am happy to say that this story is definitely not a dead fic. Now let me explain my absence, this is primarily from personal troubles I faced and more importantly, the new information that just keeps coming from the lore. I am happy to say that I am now familiar with the FoZ lore but the new lore information from the Dragonborn dlc and the Elder Scrolls: Online made wait for awhile to observe the new developments and think of what to incorporate for this fic. For example, I am going to adapt the portrayal of the Elves from the Cinematic trailer of the Elder Scrolls: Online since it aligns to what elves are in the FoZ universe which are basically a long-lived magically attuned sentient creatures that is almost human in physical features except for the pointy ears. Another thing would be the factions(Ebonheart Pact, Aldmeri Dominion, and the Daggerfall Covenant) in the Elder Scrolls: Online which I will incorporate in the backstory of Thorkall(obviously). He is a prominent individual in the Second Ebonheart Pact, a faction composed of Nords, Dunmer, and Argonians (Might throw in Orcs in there). I call it the Second Ebonheart Pact because Elder Scrolls: Online is set 1000 years before Elder Scrolls: Skyrim happened. That is for the Elder Scrolls side of this crossover fic and now for the FoZ side. I encountered a little problem with the lore since I was not as knowledgeable to the FoZ lore as I am now and that concerns vampires. There is a side story light novel for the FoZ that I have seen in Baka-Tsuki that revolves around the adventures of Tabitha and one of her adventures is entitled "Tabitha and the Vampire". This new information clashes with the previous chapter because it was established there that vampires existed outside of Halkegenia. I so want to change that detail but it made me think with the vampire questline for Thorkall in this fic. It kind of appears weak now in my perspective. Should I continue this arc or focus on slowly introducing the Factions arc that affects Thorkall's sense of urgency to go back to Tamriel similar to Saito's sense of need to go back to Earth in the first season of FoZ anime while still assisting Louise in her efforts in the Reconquista arc. I think I owe you guys this little general preview of mine for a new upcoming arc of this fic. I will make a poll about this and choose what clicks to you best between the two.

Now about this chapter, this is basically my first draft so this did not undergo beta reading (seems to be my continuous problem) but I owe you guys a lot of time. Once again, I am calling out a beta reader from you dear readers to help me improve the quality of this fic. Just not that this is crossover fic will feature a spell that is not in featured in Skyrim but was featured in the previous games like TESIII: Morrowind and TESIV: Oblivion. Also note that I took a little liberty here to the iconic thu'um and let me tell you that this is because I believed that this thu'um is weakened because of gameplay limitations and concerns and not how it will suppose to be in the lore...in my opinion. Now on to the chapter!

DISCLAIMER: For redundancy's sake, I never owned the Elder Scrolls Series and the Familiar of Zero. Those belongs to its respective owners.

Seventh Contact

Brutal

That is what Louise can think of about the training regimen of Thorkall. Seriously, after learning how to properly cast a dispelling barrier that Thorkall taught her, he is now firing a barrage of fire spells at her to either dispel or just simply deflect. Forget about it being too tiring. It is just plain dangerous. Louise was only able to dispel one of the fireball spell. The rest of the spells, she just deflected since she found it a whole lot easier to do.

"STOP!" Louise yelled as Thorkall did stop immediately.

"What is the matter whelp? Is something wrong?" Thorkall asked

Louise just got flustered and shouted "Wrong?! You are asking me 'what is wrong'?! You are going to roast me alive if this continues!"

"Perhaps. If you are not vigilant" Thorkall replied. "Keep the dispelling ward up and the fire shall not reach your skin." Thorkall said as he readied his spell again.

"Urrrrghhhhhh!" Louise exclaimed as she grabbed some of her hair out of frustration. Seriously, she is already thinking that the man is mental because of his teaching method. First, he let her always perform physical exercises which is already unorthodox but it does not stop there. Noooo, he also teleported her away(which is damn impressive) from the Academy to a remote region of the country only covered by a few patches of grass however that is when his methods started becoming dangerous and disgraceful. Well disgraceful according to Louise anyway.

"How about we rest for a moment before we proceed, whelp. It is already past noon and you must be hungry" Thorkall said as he went over his knapsack and brought out two pieces of bread and an item wrapped with paper. He then unwrapped this item, revealing pieces of ham. He grabbed four pieces of the ham and then heated it on his hand using magic.

"Magic is a noble and divine art given to us by the Founder and here you are tarnishing its good reputation by using it with something so mundane as heating up your meal." Louise deadpanned as Thorkall took a plate from inside his knapsack.

"Some say that but I am Nord. We Nords are practical people. If I can use something, especially if I use it well, then I shall use it as I see fit. Now eat, whelp." He said as he put two of pieces of ham to the plate and gave it to Louise.

"You told me at first that we are just here so that there won't be any damages done to the Academy but you just taught me defensive spells like dispel and spell deflection. The most offensive I ever did here was that commoner combat you are making me do which I still think is unnecessary. So why do we still go here if we can just do it in the Academy." Louise said as she tore a piece of her bread and eat it.

"You said that you wanted to do what I can do, is that right?"

"Yes, I did said that but you said that I cannot learn everything that you can do."

"Well, there is no way that you can learn everything I know and it is a good thing. I don't want you to become a copy of myself but rather a kro (mage) of your own right. You wouldn't want to have arms as thick as mine nor a beard now, do you?"

"Of course not! But that does not tell me why you are teaching me a commoner art!" Louise said haughtily

"Seasoned warriors train to hone their senses to be able to respond properly during battles. They also need to have a high level of focus to make it through long, strenuous, and sometimes traumatizing battles. Most of all, seasoned warriors think of their next course of action while they are either dodging, attacking, or just moving at a very short time. Those would be the skills you need to be able to cast your magic faster while not needing to say your incantations and more importantly, without staying stationary. I cannot teach you this with a book so I am teaching these to you with the way I learned, through the fires of combat." Thorkall explained as he uncorked his bottle of beer and drank from it.

"Ccombat?! You mean...you are going to-"

"Yes, I will have you fighting someone or more like something soon. I am first teaching you to properly hold a blade and swing it properly to ready you for future confrontation. When you are already sufficiently trained in fighting without magic, we will advance to a level where you are going to fight with magic against an opponent that shall do the same. Do not worry whelp. By that time, you will also be sufficiently learned in the School of Conjuration and Mysticism. I might teach you the School of Restoration and other schools of magic but that entirely depends if it is compatible with you and if you are willing."

Fighting? This guy is really like one of those barbaric Germanians! Their lot also likes to fight. However, it is either that or nothing. For those that do not know Louise very well, she is, simply put, a glory seeking girl. It comes from the accumulated stress of being told that she is a failure as a mage and always comparing herself to the rest of her family. She is a Valliere and for so long her family is known for producing great individuals. For Brimir's sake, her favourite sister, Cattleya, is a triangle-class Earth Mage and she is handicapped because of her illness. That fact alone further fuels Louise to be a powerful mage of her own right. If her path to becoming a great mage would be following the example of her mother who carved her name in the history of the entire continent by her combat prowess, this would be a path she is willing to endure.

"Alright" Louise said "I may not understand your logic but if it is going to help me become a skilled mage then so be it. Though I do want to learn your art of artifact imbuement. You imbue magic to objects wickedly faster than anything I have ever seen or read."

"Such determination. I do hope that you can back it up. So far, you managed to learn how to do basic wards and it seems that you easily grasp the art of dispelling. In regards to magic, we will now delve deeper into the School of Mysticism. I will teach you how to perform the art of Spell Absorption, Spell Reflection and also Telekinesis. That does not mean that we will forgo the sword training and dagger training that you are having. Now finish your meal, we have a lot of ground to cover." Thorkall said to his pupil.

Tristain Academy of Magic, Kingdom of Tristain

Night has already fell upon the Kingdom of Tristain as Louise was teleported to her dwellings by her mentor. Thorkall has yet to explain that spell of his but it always felt comfortable whenever they travel through that method. Thorkall did this because he has a matter to take care of. Probably another "quests" of his that he needs to settle. She still cannot fathom the idea of him lowering himself to a common mercenary taking jobs from the towns he visits. Then again, Thorkall is an adventurer and those quests of his allows him to know the land and people of the kingdom. Such thoughts were banished from her mind as she now wanted to rest for the night. She is tired, both mind and body, from the gruelling apprenticeship she has undertaken under Thorkall Stormblade. Being his apprentice is extremely tiring but unlike the previous teachers she had, she has significantly more progress in the art of magic. For that, she is will endure whatever it is he might throw at her.

Louise now looks at the table in her room to only find nothing on top of it. This just irritated Louise since she explicitly told that maid, Siesta, to just bring supper to her room since she is too tired to go all the way to the Dining Hall just to eat. Strange, Siesta has always been punctual with that order. Maybe the maid is just running a little late with her meal. Louise then proceeded towards her bathroom to take a bath...

She stopped. She suddenly remember that Siesta was also the one that brings those scented oils from her town that always makes her relax during her baths and sometimes, whenever the maid massage her sore body from Thorkall's lessons. Those always helped her to relax and recover from the gruelling lessons of Thorkall every day.

"Where is that maid?!" Louise grumbled as she stepped out of her room with the intent of finding that maid. "I better make her my personal maid. That will set her priorities straight." Louise said to herself as she is now heading towards the Kitchens.

"Wait." Louise told herself having a new idea forming in her mind. "This is the perfect time to use that spell." A spell that is called "Clairvoyance" is the first spell that she easily learned from Thorkall. It is essentially a spell that guides its caster towards a physical objective. Whether that objective be a person, thing, or a location. An essential spell for any traveller from where Thorkall came from.

Focusing on a single objective, the maid Siesta. Louise then prepared her spell on her hand. A white light begins to form on her palms while Louise is dedicating her to locating Siesta. 'She better be on her way to my room right now' Louise thought as she released the spell as a trail of light appeared on the floor for her to follow. Louise then continuously fed the spell with her willpower to retain the trail of light as she is now following it towards her objective. Down the stairs, straight down the hallway, turning to the hallway to the left, a long way down the hallway and then lef-...

...

...

"Why is this going out the academy?!" Louise exclaimed as she now recognized the path she is taking. The spell is never wrong and this only meant one thing, Siesta is out of the academy. Seeing the gurad near the gate. She shouted "Guard!" That sprung the guards attention from the trail of light that she produced.

"Yes, m'lady!" he said

"The maid named Siesta, do you know her?" Louise inquired

"Yes, m'lady!"

"Good! Where is she?" Louise asked. She was about to ask why she is out of the premises but then again this man is a commoner. He will just be confused as to how Louise knew that she is out of the academy. Best to keep it simple to these simple-minded men.

"She no longer works here, m'lady." the guard answered.

WHAT?! How long was she gone? She was just in the academy earlier in the morning when she gave Thorkall those slices of ham before they departed. She is a very competent servant and a very fine companion too though she may have peculiar yet...entertaining set of literature that she enjoys to read. She can't have possibly done something so wrong to be evicted out of the academy immediately. No matter, that just makes it easier for her to acquire her as her personal servant.

She now then turned her attention to the guard and commanded "Explain"

"She was taken by another nobleman to be his personal maid." the guard said. That screwed up her plan. It seems another nobility has been aware of Siesta's competency in her profession. However, if it is just another student in the academy; the spell would not have guided her out of the premises of school. That narrows it down to a nobleman that was outside of the school.

"A nobleman, no!" Louise thought as its implications dawn upon her. There was a similar incident when another young beautiful maid was also taken as a personal maid by a nobleman and then another maid was taken and then another by the same nobleman and Siesta can be considered a beautiful young maid. "Is the nobleman Count Mott, guard?" she hissed

"Yes, m'lady!" the guard said with more fervor. That is definitely not good at all. That man is a vile pervert. He is one of those that makes the Tristainian nobility look bad. That blasted messenger often takes young beautiful maids to satisfy his sexual pleasure. He is a pig in Louise's eyes but her opinion of him is not enough to remove him of his position. Louise just gritted her teeth out of frustration.

Chateau de Mott, Moselle region under the Duchy of Lorraine, Kingdom of Tristain

"DISPERSE! DISPERSE YOU DAMN REBELS!" A guard on top of the wall cried towards the villagers rallying outside the gates carrying just about anything they can grab a hold of. Some are fortunate to carry swords, axes and muskets while others are not so much for they carry sickles, frying pans, shovels, kitchen knives, torches, and all the manner of tools and utensils they can grab.

A man shouted from the crowd "When we have our daughters back safely to our arms, we will disperse! When we have that whoreson of a count brought to us to face his crimes, WE WILL DISPERSE! Until then, NEVER!"

"AYE!" the people cried

"You heard the people, officer. It is best that you lay down your arms and lower the gates." Thorkall said from atop his borrowed steed. For this occasion, he strapped on his entire armour and he is carrying a huge battleaxe that is as black as midnight and a metal staff decorated its top like a head of a dragon. With him are the dozen of men that Count Schermer, a Tristainian nobility informally known as 'The Beaver' that Count Mott wronged because of his perversions, could spare at the moment wearing their standard issue armour bearing the sigil of the House of Schermer and armed with spears or halberds, swords and while wearing beaver caps, a signature piece of clothing among his men.

"Who are you and why are Schermer's men here. This is no concern of that senile old man!" the guard officer said

"Shut your trap! Our lord is ten times more noble than your pathetic excuse of a nobility, dog!" one of Schermer's men shouted back to the guard.

"Hold your tongue and let me speak!" Thorkall said with an authoritative tone towards the Schermer's men. "My good man. There is no need for blood to be spilled tonight. Let these people be reunited with their loved ones and I promise you this; whatever may happen tonight, Count Mott shall be only arrested before this night ends. The people demands it and his crime is so palpable that it cannot be ignored." He finished saying

"Empty threats! That is what your words are. We have the higher ground and we have more than enough men and ammunition for each one of you little shites! Disperse and go home!" The guard officer said

"This is your last warning, lower your arms and lower the gates or I swear to you that you will perish tonight." Thorkall said

"YEAH!" the crowd said "We shall go through that gate one way or the other." A man from the crowd cried.

"I'd like to see you all try!" The guard officer said. That was the worst mistake that the guard officer made in his entire life as Thorkall let loose a thunderous shout filled with intense power

"FUS RO DAH!"

And a powerful wall of force travelling as fast as the sound slammed towards the gates and it was literally blown apart like it was nothing. The debris of what was once the wall and gate, along with some of the guards themselves, are now travelling like it was launched from a trebuchet and impacted to the garden of the Chateau and to the Chateau itself. The rioters were holding on to their ears because of the loud sound of his shout but Thorkall grabbed the leader of the dozen and commanded him "Raise a bridge now!" knowing that he only has a small amount of time to move act before the Count could even realize what is happening.

The knight, a line level earth mage, complied as he willed the earth to rise from the moat and it was more than wide enough to fit in two horses a time. Thorkal then rode towards the mansion. He then saw guards, no, mercenaries blocking his path. He then raised his staff at them and sent a surge of pure electrical energy that hit them all before they could even blink. The lighting jumped from one unto the other as the bulk of the mercenaries that Count Mott hired were almost instantaneously fell as he rode closer towards the mansion. He then disembarked from his steed and swung his battleaxe towards the front door and the door was torn down like it was just a bunch of twigs. In the main hall, he saw two guards, a man dressed in a clean set of robes and man adorned by many jewels and dressed in what Thorkall would describe as utterly ludicous but he fits the description of the townspeople, he is Count Mott.

Thorkall charged towards them and one of the guards thrust his spear towards him. Before the spear could even touch him, Thorkall performed a half-pirouette to evade the spear. With the momentum of his spin, he swung his battleaxe towards the spearman. The spearman did not even have the time to react as the blade of the axe slice through his body, severing him from his left shoulder and his head. Darkness then fell upon his eyes.

Thorkall's assault did not even let them squeak a word nor gave a breathing room to the occupants of the main hall as Thorkall sent another torrent of lightning towards the unfortunate three. The attack was only short for Thorkall still needed the Count alive so the three were instantly dropped unconscious and convulsing on the floor. Thorkall then looked around the hall and saw on top of the stairs a familiar face.

"Sir Thorkall?" Siesta said as she continued to stare dumbfoundedly at him

"Siesta?" Thorkall as he then realized why she was there "What are you doing here? Were you also taken by this munax tafiir(cruel thief)?" he said as he pointed to the Count, the Royal Messenger of the Royal Court and the Count of the region degraded to a convulsing, maybe half-dead body on the floor.

City of Tristania, Kingdom of Tristain

Plotters, schemers, and conspirators. Want to know one of the things that is considered cliché about them? They always meet in secluded places away from the prying eyes and ears of the common folk and most especially, other nobles. Perfectly reasonable but a meeting in the tunnels beneath the city is seriously pushing it. This is what upsets Lord Francois Adrian Richemont, the Finance Minister of the Tristainian Court and Duke of D'Angleterre, as he makes his way towards the meeting place. It reeks of piss, shit, and other more pungent odours that Richemont has no intention of knowing as he now saw the door guarded by two men trying to look like common thugs but the eyes of Richemont was not deceived. It was obvious to him why they were not thugs due to them being too clean and their weapons and gear unblemished. Trivial thoughts were instantly dismissed as he entered the room.

Fortune granted him a little respite as clean air entered his nostrils the moment he entered the room. Thank Brimir and thank for the one that casted the air filtration spell. It definitely improved Richemont's mood for this morning. The room is small, as expected, and in the middle of it lies a poorly made rectangular table and beside sits the main reason why he had to swallow a bit of dignity to brave the tunnels, his fellow conspirators or on how he would define it; 'friends'. He can see the Captain of the Griffin Knights of Tristain, Viscount Jean-Jacques Francis of Wardes, Lord Rainier Pierre de Gaulle III, the Duke of Lorraine, Baron Marcus Kimbolt IV, Countess Jacintha Evangeline of Leuven, and the representative of the Oliver Cromwell in this meeting; the lady they all know only as Sheffield.

"Adrian, my friend! It is good that you have finally arrived. Please, take a seat." The Duke said as he offerred him a seat. Strange. Count Mott is the only one that is not here. If Richemont's memory serves him right, the letter said that everyone should be here and Count Mott is anything but punctual. Richemont took a seat and gave each and everyone his puzzled look as a way to indirectly convey to them his concern. "Ah! No doubt you have a question regarding this urgent meeting so let me just say it straight to save us time. The sooner we are gone from this shithole; the better. Count Mott is taken." Rainier said as he poured himself a drink.

"WHAT?! HOW?!" Richemont said out loud as he slammed his fist on the table.

"Please, the man is a fils de pute perverti(perverted son of a bitch). Especially with his penchant vice of abducting young women just to plough them and throw them away afterwards like trash whenever he is bored of them." Jacintha of Leuven exclaimed. It was not even a secret that the Countess has no love, not even like, to Count Mott due to his...hobbies, among other things, as Lord Richemont would say it but this is no time for this petty squabble as Richemont thought. " Nevertheless, Lord Richemont raised a valid question, how did it happened?" the Countess said as she played with her emerald necklace.

The Patriarch of the Family of Gaulle is just calm after the outburst of the two and just took a sip from his cup and then answered "The issue raised by the fair Countess is true and in fact his downfall. People from the villages of Bannay, Lisse, and Raville took up arms and march towards the residence of Count Mott and the rioters totalled at an estimate of no more than two-hundred."

"So, you are saying that two-hundred plebians managed to storm and defeat Count Mott's guards and knights? Nay! I refuse to believe this." Richemont exclaimed.

"Ahem" the Captain coughed. "Of course not, Lord Richemont. However, I believe that the Duke is still not finished with his story."

"Many thanks, Captain. The main reason for the success of this riot is because of the support of Count Voltaire Lautrec de Schermer, the Beaver and one of the heads of the famed Cerberus of Tristain." The Duke continued. The Cerberus of Tristain. It is the title granted to the three people that led the defense of Tristain against the Germanian Invasion. The Count is known for leading the defense of the Tristainian portion of the Trave River. An important river because it directly connects Germania and Tristain due to its direct connection to the largest lake in the continent, the Lagdorian Lake which is inside the Tristainian territory. He is called as the Beaver because he ordered all of his men to barricade the river with a wooden dam to prevent the Germanians to have direct access. It is on this place that the Beaver made his famous stand against the might of the Germanian Left Flank. Veterans from this defence honoured themselves and their fallen comrades by wearing beaver fur caps in parties and formal gatherings especially the ones hosted by the Count himself.

The other head of the Cerberus would be General Jean Hugo de Gramont, Count of Gramont and the Marshal of Tristain. He is known for leading the main army to defend the west most territory of Tristain which is the then known Valley of Alsace. The valley is now named the Valley of Gramont to honour his equally famed defence of the valley. The last among the Cerberus is the most feared, the most famous, and the most powerful among them. Known for not only crushing the infamous revolt of Lord Eustace singlehandedly and defending the northern region of Tristain against the Germanian Invaders but also leading a counterattack against Germania that practically ended the war. The de facto leader of the Cerberus of Tristain and known by the runic title as "The Heavy Wind"; Duchess Karin Desiree de La Valliere, the former Commander of the Manticore Corps.

"What!? Since when did this became his concern? The Beaver was not part of the county. Those villagers were of no concern of his. It is outside his jurisdictions." The Baron exclaimed

"It became his concern when Count Mott made a mistake of abducting and raping his bastard daughter. The Count lost his son during the civil war in Albion and he is looking for a new heir and unfortunately, the lass is his only remaining child left. This is why a dozen of his men policed and joined the villagers." The Duke answered as he poured more wine to his cup.

"Pardon me for saying this but surely you jest. Even if you double their numbers, the defences of Count Mott's residence will not falter. Well, not unless these dozen men are riding dragons, griffins, or manticores but the Beaver has none of such men." The Captain said and the Baron agreed with him.

"Aye! Does the Beaver possess such might? How come we were not informed of this. We made sure to analyze the military strength of each family that can be a threat to our plans. Did we overlooked some details." Said by Baron Kimbolt.

Richemont shook his head "Nay, my friend. I am positively sure that we did not overlooked some details. I even made efforts to weaken the forces of each region and even that of the Crown. We have ordered mercenaries to raid tax collection caravans, harass the locals of remote towns and villages...just basically be their merry own selves but with more care as to not incite too much suspicion of the Crown. Their forces should have been weaker not stonger." Richemont said

"Then I assume that another outside force helped the villagers in the arrest of Count Mott?" the secretary of Oliver Cromwell, Sheffield, finally spoke.

The face of the Duke instantly became grim and he replied "Yes, and it was only one man. It's the barbare(barbarian), Thorkall Stormblade."

"Who?!" Richemont inquired