138 Chapter I: Revelations And Recruitment

(Reyvin's POV)

"Do go on" I tell one of my agents who was reporting the results of my students' expedition, as I lounge in a comfy armchair in my quarters atop the Mage's Tower.

He nods and continues his explanation "Upon defeating the overlord the apprentices approached a nearby dragon wall, and started chatting about something completely ignoring the possibility of betrayal, the traitor promptly incapacitated them with a scroll of paralysis and started grandstanding like an old fool. Your senior apprentice did a fair job at delaying the traitor but without our interference, their chances of survival were slim at best."

I contemplate the information for a while and then nod slowly "At least they will learn the lesson thoroughly after this" I look up at the agent once more "When will they arrive?"

"A couple of hours Serjo" He answers stoically.

"Very well, you may return to your duties" I dismiss him lazily and he leaves.

As soon as I am alone once more I pull out something from a nearby drawer and continue fiddling with it. Davos had recently brought me a bunch of dragon bones and this was the one I sensed the most power from, it was unlike any aura I ever experienced, It felt both young and old, essentially timeless for lack of a better word.

As I examined the ancient bone I felt a tugging sensation from within and my crown summoned itself without my input, I felt the two powers attract each other and I only needed a slight push toward my artifact for it to consume the power.

After making thoroughly sure I wouldn't inadvertently blow myself up like a complete idiot, I placed the bone against my forehead and felt it dissolve completely, as it did so my mask thrummed in power which in turn made me feel the slightest connection with the dragon's patron god for a split second... and it was glorious.

A quick examination revealed that the bone buffed every aspect of my mask slightly, with the majority going to the Royal Guard enchantment, increasing the available slots by one. I quickly tried adding more dragon bones but for whatever reason the crown seemed to reject the remnants of the same dragon.

"A remnant of a dragonblood consuming the remnant of a dragon" I muse "Fitting at least." I remove my mask and look at it curiously while scratching my chin "Did I accidentally create an evolving dragon priest mask?" I hum lightly as my thoughts turn to a whirl "Well at least I now have something to gain from killing dragons, no matter how minor" is what I settle on with a nod.

No need to get greedy about this, after all, I need Minthara as strong as she can possibly get to survive the upcoming free for all. Speaking of... I need to make sure I don't get hit with a bend will sometime in the future, she is nice right now but the hard times that await can warp anyone and I need to prepare for all eventualities...

I hear a light knock on my door and look up... speak of the devil.

I wave for my apprentices to enter and take their seats and they do so, both seem somewhat battered and I note a new amulet hanging around Mitnhara's neck whilst a blackened broadsword hangs on Marco's hip.

"I see you have been successful" I say in lieu of welcoming them, both immediately shift uncomfortably but I still go on "I note a distinct lack of Sera Valen among you."

Minthara frowns at the reminder while Marco openly rolls his eyes "Oh please, it isn't like your agents did not immediately inform you of everything that went down."

I shrug, yet internally I feel a twinge of pride at his deduction "I am not about to leave the fate of my students to some random fool I just met" A vicious smirk worms its way onto my face "Besides, whether he betrayed you or not he was not leaving that place alive."

Both frown and I go on "The two of you need to learn that the number of people you can trust starts rapidly shrinking the higher in power you rise, and also why by all the gods did you leave your backs open to him if he had already shown himself to be hiding his power?"

Minthara sighs "We were naive, we get it. No need to rub it in." she mutters in frustration.

Marco on the other hand focuses on my earlier words "So you would have just had an innocent man murdered, just because you wanted the amulet for yourself?" He sounds both incredulous, disappointed, and completely unsurprised.

I raise an eyebrow "Do you see me demanding the amulet be given to me?"

Marco raises one in turn "Are you going to demand it be given to you?"

I chuckle at his cheekiness "Not for the moment" I look at Minthara who seemed content to listen to the two of us talk "I might need it for some research, it is after all a work of art in enchanting, and I will need it when the time comes to reforge the whole thing. Until then... feel free to play around with it as much as you like." 

"So you still consider it yours" She scoffs, likely having expected this.

I merely shrug in response "If you didn't need me to save your asses I might be inclined to give you the final product after researching it thoroughly" I scratch my chin "I still might, depending on necessity, but for now that shall be its fate."

Both grumble but also agree about needing to be saved.

They both mutter something among themselves and Marco makes an excuse and leaves the room and likely the tower. And then of course Minthara decides to drop a bomb on me, suddenly and without a hint of warning "Am I Dragonborn?" She asks out of the blue.

I feel a massive headache coming as I palm my forehead and look at her tiredly "And what gives you that idea?" my voice is strained and my answer is obvious but I still feel the need to ask.

She sighs at my all but confirmation of her question, looking very distraught by the revelation but still explains "It is the word walls, they only ever react to me." Her eyes meet mine "At first I thought it might be due to Kyne's blessing, but you yourself did not hear the chanting in the temple of Namira." She pauses briefly "And then there is the ease with which I learn the words of power, far faster than even yourself."

After some deliberation I nod slowly "It is true, you are indeed the child of Akatosh" I consider my next words briefly before continuing "Most likely the final one as well."

Minthara might not show it often but she can be scarily intelligent when she wants to be, and the moment the words leave my mouth I get the impression her headache eclipses my own a hundredfold. She sighs deeply "And I am guessing the dragon of time did not create me merely to stabilize a dying empire..."

"Indeed" I agree immediately and summon some hard drinks from a nearby shelf "I had hoped for you to grow more powerful while having at least a bit of peace of mind, but you just had to have a functioning brain didn't you?" I drawl.

She snorts and after some urging I explain everything about the coming prophecy, naturally leaving out the small details. After I am done Minthara looks as if she has aged a couple of years and as if the weight of the whole world is pressing on her shoulders.

"Is there anything else you know about me that you might want to share now?" She asks, almost pleading for a negative answer.

I finish off another tankard of black briar and nod "I am guessing you are not fully aware of your heritage?"

She shakes her head.

"Do you wish to be made aware?" I ask slowly.

She is silent for a while before once more shaking her head "Being chosen by the chief Divine is enough for one day I think..." She chuckles tiredly "I am going to go and get drunk now." she states.

I snort and just as she is about to leave yell "You better be ready tomorrow, we have an expedition to plan!"

"Sure thing old man!" She slurs as she almost knocks the doors of her own chambers off their hinges.

Well... that went far better than I expected. At least she seems to understand my position and is not about to throw a massive semi-divine tantrum. Hopefully...

At least things won't be boring...

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Hours later I find myself within my mansion in Winterhold going over reports from Karsus, the Mer I left in charge of administering my businesses. That is right, businesses plural, I wasn't just sitting on my massive ever-growing pile of gold, even though I was tempted to... so very tempted... 

But good sense won out in the end and now I was the proud owner of a dyeworks and a rather large apothecary. Asking the young Jarl to give me permission to invite so many people over was so easy I actually had to make him increase the taxes on my properties a bit just so my workers didn't get mobbed by angry Nords.

Across me sat Davos, lazily filing his nails with an extremely sharp dagger.

"I seem to have finally reached a hundred employees" I muse aloud "To think things would expand this quickly..."

Davos shrugs "Not all that surprising boss, you did offer them a way out of that shithole."

"Fair enough" I agree "How are the guards doing?"

He tilts his head "Most of the newbies are just that, the three brothers you already had working for you seem pretty good with both fire and their weapons."

"Good" I nod in satisfaction and proceed to the actually important part "Do you think they are loyal enough to be recruited?"

He hums in thought, still flicking the dagger back and forth "I think they might be." He finally says "They almost seem to worship you, the poor fools."

We share a chuckle and I ask "Did you see Edrassa anywhere?"

"Ah yes" He drawls "My fellow retainer..." I note a hint of disdain for the spoiled princess, but Davos is not foolish enough to delay too long "She was in the inn, talking with some moping blonde Nord."

I nod and stand up, closing the large ledger and placing it on the pile of other ledgers I went over "Inform the brothers to meet with us here in the evening, I feel that it is finally time to start expanding the house." He nods and also gets up "I will go and fetch miss Moabain." I inform him and leave for my inn.

As I walk through my mansion and then my inn, many of the Dunmer present greet me with respect as I expect them to, but what really surprises me is the once mindbroken slaves of Dyrren looking at me with literal worship in their eyes.

Well, as long as they didn't do anything overt I might as well let them satisfy that little bit of inherited divinity I posses.

I soon find Edrassa sitting near Thorfinn, both of them having lunch and talking about something. The Dunmer looking exasperated and annoyed while the Nord was practically radiating depression.

"Who went and killed your dog Thorfinn?" I ask out of the blue and both of them nearly jump out of their seats, well Thorfinn twitches and Edrassa practically flies out so it evens out.

"What an impressive welcome Edrassa" I clap lightly "Now, do a flip." she looks incensed for a moment but after realizing I was kidding she deadpans and takes a seat once again while grumbling to herself.

Thorfinn raises his mug lazily "If it isn't the great Flame-tongue, what an honor for this mortal to be blessed by the radiant presence of the Royal Thane." His words are slurred and I feel he is not all there.

I raise an eyebrow and sniff "Why does my inn suddenly smell like little bitch?" The edge of his lips curls ever so slightly but he doesn't react to my barb in his usual fashion causing me to frown "What happened?" I ask him and he sighs, signaling me to take a seat and starts retelling the events that ocurred at Kirkheim.

After my friend finishes his tale I nod slowly "So I am guessing you now have no idea what to do with your life and feel completely lost?" I ask bluntly.

His eyes widen for a moment and he nods "Yes, after getting my revenge I realized that I no longer had anything to live for, well except taking care of my mother of course" He quickly adds as I raise an eyebrow.

I chuckle at his shift of mood "The people of that town celebrated your victory, did they not?"

"Yes, they did." He smiles unconsciously. 

"And how did that make you feel?" I ask.

"Well, I was despairing about someone dying for me at the time but it was... nice" He admits.

"There you have it" I smirk "If you enjoyed being treated as a hero, then just make sure to stop any idiot from becoming another Haldyn."

The hand holding his tankard stills as he blinks "Why did I not think of that?"

"Because you are a Nord." I drawl and telekinetically stop the tankard flying at my face.

I spend some hours talking with my friend... and less so with my vassal. Thorfinn seems much more relaxed after my little pep talk but Edrassa cannot stop fidgeting and looking like she wants to be anywhere except anywhere near me.

As the sun starts setting I wave Thorfinn goodbye and turn to my first retainer "I am holding a house meeting within the hour, do not be late." I command.

She bows her head "Of course Serjo."

I nod in satisfaction and head back toward my manor, the time had finally come for the sixth house to start gathering its strength.

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Some of you might be disappointed that I didn't make the Dragoborn revelation more dramatic or whatever but I find that respecting Minthara's intelligence is a far better choice as Reyvin isn't the only one in possession of a functioning brain.

Now, where was I? Ah, yes! Stone pls.

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