IV

Leaves spin through the calm air of the new morning as Rina tilted her chin above. The sun sill hid beneath the cloak of mist, but not for long. Now inches of light pierced through, tearing the air of gloom and muddy clouds that held the sky. Soon daylight will break, and their trials will truly begin.

With a subtle crunch of grass behind her, Rina opened her eyes. "Ah. I had almost forgotten…" she said before moving her gaze to the simple scholar where she examined the transformation before her.

"My, my; Casanar was right. You don't even feel like the same person."

"Where is the young master?" The bosmer snickered while shaking her head. "Even now, still loyal as ever."

"Where is the young master?"

"He is busy. Meeting someone very important." Rina aimed her chin to the entrance of a cave not far behind her. "He is in no harm, of course. I will not stop you. But-

"Lets not pretend like you could," Rina's associate declared before his firm steps began forward. Not taking long before reaching and passing her shoulder.

"But you cannot enter, Orin." Despite her words, the second wood elf's steps continued on. Pulling a simple sigh from Rina's lips as if the outcome had been plausible in her mind all along. "These are not my words, brother. It is the will of our king."

The steps behind her came to an abrupt end.

5E

Aka could feel the sleek nothing aftermath of the mist even in his sleep, along with something odd enveloping around him. A presence, once invisible to the eye to shifting and growing into a manifestation that now studied the lone intruder that laid in its wake. It was more potent than weather, stronger then muscle or bone. And in a blink it pulled the boy from his sleep, guiding Aka to ignore the unfamiliar environment around him, and find what could barely be seen. Forming slightly with the use of the curling mist.

"Unborn son of kings. Our meeting has been carved in fate since before I gained my voice and grew my wings," the deep and thunderous voice spoke in the darkness of the cave. "To speak plainly: this moment has been long overdue."

Despite the power erupting around him, the cave's insides shaking after each breath from what hovered before him, Aka stood. Aiming a quiet stare high as he shook the rest away.

"Who are you?"

"The details are none of your concern, young prince. As of now, I am your goal. Your peak. Whose steps you will inevitably follow, and power inevitably attempt to reach." The boy cracked a smile. "I have no peak."

"Hmmm. An answer most appropriate. But inconsequential none the less."

Aka lowered his head with a sigh, the strings of his hair dangling all the while as he fell into a sitting position with his legs crossed. "I have heard tales similar to this. By the way you speak, I can assume in some way we have some sort of connection?" Within the form of mist, the shape of eyes blinked in a stir of blue light.

"Deep as the roots of Nirn. But that also is not for me to tell."

"If there is nothing you can tell, then why am I here?" A slip of laughter shook ground. "There are many powers beyond Nirn that cannot be found by mortal eyes, no matter how hard you search. But in your tongue, you are here today by the will of two individuals that history will sadly one day forget.

"… My father."

"Yes. King Forn, the first true king of breton homelands since Emeric. I can still remember how the land earned its new name with the flood of chaos before he finally elevated to his throne and devoured all of the little kings of High Rock."

"… then who is the other?"

"Queen Sharu. Your mother of birth." Aka reveal a shaky breath as he eyed the form above him. Cautiously willing to enter unknown territory. "I do not know their relation, but somewhere throughout time, he alone was chosen as a worthy successor, and accepted her gift and task of raising a son when he could not forge one of his own."

A silence came over the cave. Lasting only seconds, but leaving the feeling of longevity.

"It is a tragedy. He is different then the others I have witnessed. But all must come to find a end eventually." Aka smiled. "Tragedy, you say?" the boy said, his voice wavering.

"These are not tears of a boy, but a man."

"They are."

"You do you not resent them?"

"… I do not."

"Wish ill for them or their loved ones?"

"I do not."

"I see. I can feel your focus, the hunger surging through your blood. There are no lies. You eye much further than them, and those after.

"But you will destroy them still."

"… I will."