Journey to Power

As the cold wind blew at the entrance of the cave, strange noises came from inside.

Even wild animals such as wolfs and bears retreated from the cave, as their instincts screamed in danger.

...

Since there was still 10 years until the Saarthal's slaughter from the Snow Elves and 15 years until the Dragon War, Miraak wanted to become stronger. The faster, the better.

And since he still had 8 years before the Ritual, Miraak chose to become an Arch-Mage in these 8 years.

There are numerous ways to become an Arch-Mage on Nirn. Some simpler than others.

He chose one of them.

Alchemy. The use of raw ingredients to brew potions.

( For Readers: There will be no Restoration potion loop here so don't get hopes for it. )

It looked simple but it wasn't.

Depending on the potion, you could jump power levels temporally.

And the potion Miraak chose to make was one of them.

But... It wasn't a normal potion.

...

Somewhere in the First Era, a Genious Alchemist Altmer named Curalmil that was visiting Skyrim to study all the existing ingredients started to take a liking to Atmorian and Nedic culture, so he temporally settled there.

As time passed, the brilliant Alchemist started to fear death more and more, so finally, he chose to brew a potion that cheats death through undeath characteristics.

Along with this potion, he made a Phial. An extremely powerful Phial that magickally infinitely replenished the chosen liquidy inside.

The Phial name was, 'The White Phial'. Later chosen to be an Artifact of great power.

...

And the 'White Phial' will be what Miraak will try to create.

First, he needed the most important ingredient in its creation.

The Never-Melting Snow at the peak of the Throat of the World.

Since he decided to make the 'White Phial', Miraak decided to brew a powerful potion to use as the liquid.

The name of the potion was 'Flask of Ancient Wisdom'.

It was a long lost potion in which the recipe was found only on Apocrypha. Created by an unlucky Dark Elf during the Red Year that died before having the chance to divulge the recipe.

It was an extremely powerful potion that temporally Fortified the Magicka Pool, Fortified the Regeneration of Magicka, and Restored instantly a portion of Magicka on use.

It was an ungodly potion to Arcane Users. So powerful that even Hermaous Mora put the recipe on the 'Forbidden Knowledge' section of Apocrypha.

The section contained knowledge about the most mysterious mysteries on the TImeline of Nirn.

Mysteries such as 'How The Dwemer Disappeared' or 'Why and How did the Snow Elves Devolved'.

So the recipe to be put inside, it demonstrates how powerful it would be.

The problem was the ingredients.

( To Readers: This potion exists in the Game but I will modify the ingredients to be more challenging. The original recipe is Jazbay Grapes + Moon Sugar + Red Mountain Flower. As you see, it's quite easy to make it. )

As Miraak remembered the recipe, The nearest ingredients was the Never-Melting Snow at the peak of the Throat of the World for the 'White Phial' and 'Netch Jelly', collected from dead bodies of Netchs, a species of large, tentacled creatures that float several feet above the ground only found on Vvardenfell.

Since it will be an extremely long journey, he decided to say Bye to everyone on Saarthal.

...

Arriving at Saarthal and entering the dining room, he saw everyone there.

His father, Aron, brawling again with Ysgramor over something Miraak was certain that was trivial.

Arnora Stormcloak, his father's best friend and Asa's mother, eating on the table alongside her daughter staring at Aron. Probably betting something again.

Vigot, an old friend of his father, staring at Ysgramor, just like Arnora.

'... The same as usual, huh...' Miraak thought clicking his tongue but he felt a flying feeling. He didn't know what it was, so he ignored it.

Since he knew how much 'Important' brawling is in Atmorian culture, he waited so the duo finished.

...

Evading masterfully the punch of Aron, Ysgramor said, "Come on! You punch like a damn child!!"

"... Really?" Aron said smirking as he suddenly punched hard on Ysgramor's chin.

As Aron was smirking, Ysgramor grabbed Aron's head with his hands.

Stopping Smirking, Aron wanted to retreat but couldn't do it.

'Oh Sh-' He thought as he saw Ysgramor head going towards his head like an arrow.

The impact was so powerful that the duo started walking like drunk men.

"Fluck ykou," Aron said dumbly as he struggled to stay standing.

"Nto, Fluck ykou!" Ysgramor said dumbly as well, as he struggled to stay standing too.

Punching each other one last time, they immediately collapsed.

Staring at the duo, Arnora and Vigot started to tremble more and more.

"... Aaaahhhh!" The duo screamed as they threw the table to the ground and started to kick the unconscious duo.

"A draw again?! Piece of...-" Arnora said kicking Aron.

"Best fighter!? My ass!!" Vigot said kicking Ysgramor.

...

After some time, Arnora and Vigot stopped while returning the table to its normal state.

And, soon, Aron and Ysgramor woke up, strangely with pain on their stomach and their back.

"We need to talk," Miraak said as everyone seated on the table.

Turning their head, everyone stared at him confused.

"... I'm going on a journey. Outside the border." He said to everyone.

"... You know that we still don't know anything about the Snow Elves, right?" Aron said staring at him.

"I know," Miraak responded nodding seriously.

"... And you know that there is probably more danger outside here, right?" Arnora said staring at him too.

"Of course," Miraak responded nodding again.

"... And you know that you're still 10 years old, right!?" Ysgramor said almost slapping the table.

"10 years old and the best warrior here you mean, right?" Miraak said staring at Ysgramor.

Sighing, Ysgramor retracted his stare.

"... And you still want to go out?" Vigot asked more curious than confused.

"... Yes. I want... No, I need to." Miraak said seriously.

Staring one last time, everyone finally retracted their gaze and sighed in defeat.

"... Fine. But Asa will go along with you." Arnora said like it's a matter of fact.

Staring murderously at Arnora, Miraak said, "You know she is a child, right?"

"... If she is with you, I'm certain that you won't do anything too dangerous." Arnora said laughing like a villain.

Since he can't refuse or else, the only other option was Run Away. And since it wasn't a feasible option, Miraak sighed and said, "Fine. But she will do what I ask when I ask and where I ask."

"Fine by me. So? How much time will you be gone? 2 days? 3 days?" Arnora said relaxed.

"... 8 Years," Miraak said smirking at her.

As everyone started to stare at him, they said slowly, "... Can you repeat it, please? I think I heard wrong or something."

"... 8 Years," Miraak repeated smirking more and more.

"You... You..." Arnora said sometimes in rage, sometimes in panic.

"Are you out of your mind!?" She finally shouted.

...

It took some time, but Miraak finally convinced everyone.

As long he returned for his Ritual in 8 years, he traveled with Asa and did nothing too dangerous, it was all good.

"We will see each other soon. Bye, Everyone." Asa said to everyone under her Bear-skin hooded vest.

"See you soon," Miraak said to everyone as he slowly walked away on the complete whiteness of the mountains, followed by Asa.

...

"Where are we going first?" Asa asked childishly since she was still a child, she was quite naive and stupid.

"... Unsthalas." Miraak responded relaxed as he walked along with Asa.

Although Miraak knew that his journey would become harder and harder, mainly because he is along with a child, he still walked forward.

Toward his goal. His New Destiny.

...

Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time, was relaxing in his realm.

Since he knew the past, present, and even the future, he was always relaxed since he already knew the end.

But, this time... His visions started to blurry.

As if time was being rewritten every second.

As if the future stopped existing.

Only the Present counted.