An Unusual Stalker

The floorboards groaned slightly in distress, his wooden, pointy feet tiptoeing in silence through the hallway. His posture tilted slightly forwards, prowling, as he sneaked across the house - not unlike a spider would.

Just as his center of balance was to tip over, an unnatural force pulled him in the opposite direction, keeping him upright. Sevyn still hadn't gotten used to this method of walking, but he remained loyal to it ever since envisioning it one month ago.

It required a lot of trust in his own body's instinct to not fall over. That and practice letting Magic flow through him as he walked - a skill which took a lot of training and failed attempts to fully grasp.

Though, just as his theory over the differences between unconscious and conscious use of Magic said, the natural instinct of a body to avoid falling over proved to be sufficient.

He still felt awkward walking as such, but not needing to use his wooden crutches was a heaven-sent in situations such as this - where finesse and balance were required.

Were it not for this, he would've probably been a sitting duck when trying to hide the man's body. Or right now, when he needed to sneak out of the city without tipping off Lyslenne.

Whatever Azura wanted from him, he wanted none of it to trouble Lyslenne - she already had enough problems as it was, no need to add a Daedric Prince on top of them.

Unbeknownst to him, however, his little escapade didn't go unnoticed. It took more than that to fool one such as Lyslenne.

A novice believing himself capable of fooling a master in the craft? She'd laugh if the situation didn't concern a meddlesome voice in her head.

'He must go alone.' It said, 'Don't worry, I won't be a bother for the both of you any longer.'

It even had the gall to sound amused.

Perhaps, if Lyslenne knew who it was that spoke, she wouldn't have the courage to curse them to all seven hells. Well, the clenching in her heart, as if someone threatened to pop it, was enough warning anyhow.

She trusted Sevyn regardless. Whoever, or whatever it was, he'd take care of it.

He was her son, after all.

*

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*

The wind's ferocity was milder in the morning, the snow clouding his vision just ten meters ahead on the road. The cold, however, was not one-bit welcoming - it bashed against his face as he galloped onwards, the temperature that which dig knives wherever it touched.

'I've had worse.' He thought with a chuckle.

Already, he could see a rock sculpture looming over the horizon, both Sun and Moon held within the zenith of the mountain chain.

'Azura... let's see what this is about.'

*

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*

Tightening the straps of his horse to a rock, he made to go up the stairs of the Shrine. No one was around, not one Dunmer pilgrim paying their respects, making for a solemn atmosphere.

The only thing one could hear was the hiss of wind parting around the rock outcrop as if hindered from disturbing the place.

The sight that welcomed him as he rose the last flight of stairs, however, woke him out of his reverie.

A priestess kneeled, bare-footed, and adorning heavy blue cloth. She had high cheeks, features of aristocratic descent, and silky black hair complementing her ashen skin. It took a moment of silence before she acknowledged him.

"It's unwise to test Azura's patience," She spoke without turning around as she rose from the ground, "Child."

"Sevyn." Came the sole reply, which made her instantly turn around in surprise.

"Sevyn, I have a name." He said, nonchalant.

The High-Priestess simply arched an eyebrow as she regarded the boy. Immediately, he did the same, unimpressed.

"So I see... Sevyn." She conceded, calmly, "You must be wondering why you've been summoned, yes?"

He only nodded.

"Very well. I shall tell you... but first, I must ask you - do you believe in Fate?" She asked.

"No." He didn't even have to think to reply - the answer prompted without any fanfare.

"It would bode one well to respect Fate... but, yes... in this case, you would be right." She said.

'In this case?' He thought to ask what she meant, but she gave him no reprieve.

"Yes, in your case - should I say. Tell me, do you know what Azura's sphere of power is?" She made to offer Lavender flowers to the Shrine as she spoke.

"Yes, she is the Queen of Dawn and Dusk, governing over the transient Magic between Night and Day," Sevyn replied.

"Yes, that among other things... such as Fate and Prophecy. But you..." She regarded him again, "You have no Fate. A complete Outsider, one who appeared out of nowhere. One who should be dead the moment he stepped foot into these lands."

Her gaze was piercing, "The Will of Mundus doesn't take well to outsiders, yet here you stand - still alive... for now."

'Well, if that didn't sound ominous at all.' He thought, suppressing the shudder.

"Yes, for now." She repeated, as if she could hear Sevyn's very thoughts, "Were it not for my Lady, your foreign presence would draw the attention of all Mundus like a beacon would to fireflies."

"Are you saying-" He was interrupted again, an annoying trend he's been noticing later.

"Yes, she helped you. Fateless, nameless till days ago - you are a blank canvas, one that shall bring about change... Azura is curious about what you may achieve." The priestess explained, looking curious as well, "But for that, she can't conceal your existence forever."

"You must have a link to Mundus to no longer be an Outsider. A name, in this case." She explained, and his eyes glinted in understanding, "Sevyn... should you take this name, you shall become a full-fledged Nord, one blessed with a gift by Azura."

"The catch?" He simply arched an eyebrow, watching over the High-Priestess.

Something told him there should be a catch to such a great deal.

"Catch?" She intoned, confused, before an inkling of understanding flashed in her eyes, "Ah, I see. There is one, though it is more of a side effect than a 'catch' as you've called it. Azura will have a connection to you, making it easier for her to observe and communicate, should she wish to do so."

'And that's not a catch?! What do you call it then?' Such were his thoughts, but he dared not give any voice to them.

Alas, the priestess seemed to see through his silent facade.

"Tell me, would you rather have your moves observed by all Daedric Princes or just one?"

That seemed to settle it.

"What do I need to do, then?" He asked, shoulder slumped, resigned.

A beat of silence...

"Your blood. I need your blood." She said, a placid expression on her face - as if it were totally normal.

'... This lady, I swear.'