I Became A Side Character In world of Elder Scrolls V

After getting close to the location, it took them a day and a half to finally arrive near the Dawnguard but not at the place itself. Durak then brought the carriage to a halt.

"Alright, we'll get down here. From this point on, we continue on foot," he said.

Astrid frowned slightly, her eyes scanning the surroundings in confusion. Something felt off. "But… where is the Dawnguard fortress? This doesn't look like a fortress at all."

Durak glanced at her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Of course it doesn't. The place is hidden you won't find it out in the open like that. Now come, follow me."

They walked for several hours Durak spoke again, his voice echoing faintly against the stone walls around them. "Like I said before, the Dawnguard is located within the mountains… but not in the way you're thinking."

Soon after, they arrived at the mouth of a cave.

Durak stopped and gestured forward. "Alright… we've arrived. This is the Dawnguard."

Astrid blinked, clearly baffled. "Huh? Dawnguard? You've got to be joking…"

Durak simply shrugged. "Let's just head inside first."

Without waiting for a response, he stepped into the cave. With no other choice, they followed behind him.

The cave was dark, the shadows thick and suffocating. Durak raised his hand, flames flickering to life in his palm. Without hesitation, he set a piece of wood ablaze, fashioning it into a makeshift torch that cast a warm, wavering glow across the rocky walls.

"The deeper we go, the darker it gets," Durak said, his voice steady but firm. "Stay close. Don't get separated."

They moved carefully through the cave, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone. The air was damp and cold, and the only sound was the crackling of the torch and the faint drip of water somewhere in the darkness.

After a few minutes, a faint light appeared ahead.

"Ah… looks like we're almost there," Durak muttered.

With each step forward, the light grew stronger, slowly pushing back the darkness. The cave walls began to glow under the soft illumination, and before long

They stepped out.

Astrid and Alex both came to an abrupt halt the moment they stepped out of the cave, as if the world itself had suddenly opened before them.

For a brief second, neither of them spoke.

Their eyes widened slowly, almost involuntarily as the scene unfolded.

The suffocating darkness of the cave gave way to a vast, hidden expanse bathed in soft, natural light. Towering mountain walls rose on all sides, enclosing the valley like a protective embrace, their jagged peaks cutting into the pale sky above. A cool breeze drifted through the air, carrying with it the faint scent of fresh water and stone.

At the heart of the valley lay a calm, glass-like lake, its surface so still it reflected the sky like a mirror. Gentle ripples shimmered across it, catching the light in soft, dancing patterns. The distant sound of water lapping against the shore added a quiet, almost sacred rhythm to the atmosphere.

And beyond it…

A fortress stood.

Not just any structure but a massive, fortified stronghold carved into the very bones of the mountain itself. Its dark stone walls rose high and unyielding, banners hanging from its towers, swaying slightly in the wind. It looked ancient. Solid. Untouchable.

A place built not just to endure but to wage war.

Alex stood still, his body completely motionless, as if afraid that even the slightest movement would shatter the moment. His eyes remained fixed on the fortress, unblinking, absorbing every detail.

(So this is it…)

A slow breath slipped past his lips, almost soundless.

(I've seen something like this before… through a screen… rendered in pixels, framed by a monitor.)

His fingers twitched slightly at his side, as if grounding himself in reality.

(But this…)

His gaze softened, a faint trace of awe breaking through his usual composure.

(This isn't something you watch… this is something you stand inside.)

The weight of it the scale, the presence, the reality pressed gently against his senses in a way no game ever could.

Beside him, Astrid reacted far more openly.

Her lips parted slightly, a soft breath escaping as her eyes lit up with pure wonder. She slowly turned her head from side to side, taking in the entire valley the lake, the cliffs, the fortress her expression soft, almost childlike in its amazement.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around Alex's arm for a moment, as if needing something to anchor herself while she absorbed the sight.

"Wow…" she whispered at first, barely louder than the wind.

Then, with a brighter tone, filled with genuine admiration, she spoke again,

"No wonder you're so hard to detect…"

Her gaze lingered on the fortress, her eyes sharp now assessing, understanding.

"This place… it's incredibly well-hidden," she continued, her voice steady but impressed. "Anyone trying to find this would have to know exactly where to look."

She let out a soft exhale, a small smile forming on her lips.

"You've got a really strategic location."

Durak let out a satisfied chuckle, a proud grin spreading across his face. "Of course. This place keeps us safe. Vampires rarely ever find our headquarters…" His eyes hardened slightly, a dangerous glint flashing within them. "And if they do… we hunt them down until none of them are left. Hahaha…"

As they made their way toward the fortress, signs of activity began to appear. Near the edge of the lake, a few people were quietly fishing, while not far from there, others trained with crossbows carefully aiming, pulling, and releasing with practiced precision.

Alex's attention was drawn to a woman dressed in Dawnguard armor, standing at the training area. She held a crossbow firmly, her posture steady as she prepared to fire again.

"Wow," Alex said, clearly intrigued. "Do you do that often? I heard it's pretty hard to draw a crossbow string."

The woman paused and turned her head toward him, her sharp gaze quickly assessing him from head to toe. Then her eyes shifted to Durak.

"…Who is he?" she asked bluntly.

Durak crossed his arms slightly, his tone casual but firm.

"New blood."

The woman then stepped forward and handed Alex a crossbow along with a bolt.

"Go on," she said, her tone carrying a hint of challenge. "Give it a try. I want to see you shoot at the training target."

Alex accepted the weapon, feeling its weight in his hands. The woman crossed her arms, watching him closely like someone observing a complete beginner about to fumble.

"I'd like to see how 'new blood' handles a weapon like this," she added.

Alex, who was using a crossbow for the very first time, quickly realized it wasn't as simple as it looked. He struggled slightly while trying to load the bolt, his movements a bit stiff and uncertain.

The woman let out a small chuckle. "Need some help?"

Alex just smiled and shook his head, determination flickering in his eyes as he kept trying. "No… I've got it."

After a moment, he finally managed to load it properly. He raised the crossbow, taking a steady breath as he aimed at the training target in the distance.

Slowly… he pulled the trigger.

Thwip!

The bolt shot forward and struck the target cleanly.

Right at the center of the bullseye.

The woman looked at Alex and let out a low whistle. "Hmm… not bad."

She took the crossbow back from his hands with ease, her movements smooth and practiced. In one fluid motion, she loaded a bolt and raised the weapon.

Thwip!

The shot flew straight and true perfectly striking the center of the target, just like Alex's.

A faint, confident smile appeared on her lips as she glanced at him. Then, without wasting a second, she reloaded again fast, precise and fired at another target.

Thwip!

Another perfect hit.

And again.

Thwip!

Every shot landed cleanly, one after another, showcasing her mastery.

Alex let out a small laugh, clearly impressed but there was also a hint of playfulness in his expression. He gave a slight shrug, as if downplaying himself.

Then, in a sudden motion, flames ignited in both of his hands.

Without hesitation, he cast Firebolt from each palm rapid, controlled bursts of blazing magic shooting toward the training targets.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Each firebolt struck its mark, flames erupting across multiple targets in quick succession.

"Hm… yeah, I might still be a beginner with that," Alex said calmly, lowering his hands as the fire flickered out. "But that's not really where my strength lies."

The woman watched the display, her smile widening with understanding.

"Ah… no wonder Durak recruited you," she said. "A fire mage, huh? That's exactly what we need here."

Her eyes gleamed slightly, a hint of dark humor in her voice.

"Perfect for roasting vampires."

Alex was slightly surprised that the woman didn't get angry at all.

The woman then introduced herself, her tone calm and confident. "My name is Sorine. And no, I wouldn't get mad over something like that if you were wondering about my expression." She gave a small shrug. "I'm the only expert here when it comes to crossbows… and modifying them."

Alex blinked, a bit puzzled. (Sorine? She joined the Dawnguard this early? I thought she would only join after completing several missions… but I guess it's different here… huh, I keep comparing everything to how it was in the game.)

He then gave a slight nod and introduced himself. "I'm Alex. And yeah, I'm more of a mage type… as for physical combat, that's more my wife's area Astrid."

Sorine's gaze shifted toward Astrid, and she stepped closer with a friendly smile. "Wow… your wife is beautiful. You're really lucky, Alex."

After that, she casually turned back to her work, picking up her crossbow again. "Alright, move along. I've still got things to take care of here."

They continued on and entered Fort Dawnguard. Inside, they saw a Redguard man standing together with someone wearing the robes of the Vigilants of Stendarr.

Durak stepped forward and called out, "Oi, Isran! I've brought the new blood you were asking for!"

The Redguard turned around, his sharp eyes immediately landing on Alex and Astrid. A faint look of recognition crossed his face.

"Ah… of course," he said. "The dragon slayer… and his wife."