5 2 years later

Over the course of the past years and months chasing the wolf became an everyday event, I would wake up, have breakfast, entertain my sibling, do some work within the hall to help my parents, and go for a swim in the freezing lake, train and then i would chase the wolf until I passed out.

Over time I grew larger and I grew stronger, At twelve years old I nearly met my father at full height and was now able to enter the everyday training that was provided to the Nordic members of Windhelm. Since the Great war had come to an end and Jarl Ulfric had taken his position all members of the local NORDIC population had free access to training within the guard barracks where they could be trained as soldiers should they wish.

Personally, I had risen clearly above most of my peers, a combination of my past memories and just sheer strength resulted in a lot of one-sided fights. Eventually, it had gotten far enough that i had been taken under the wing by one of the more prominent figures of Windhelm Galmar Stone-fist, a rather gruff and grumpy man.

He had chosen and a select few recruits personally and within a few months we found ourselves embroiled in the training of the most brutal sort, one of the more grueling involved attempting to break into Windhelm and assassinate Ulfric. Even i completely failed that one, the man was in his prime and was strong enough to through grown men through walls, which he literally did to one of the recruits.

Anyway, aside from the formal training I had still been endeavoring with hardening my body and pursuing the wolf. But after the first year, i had learned something that had shocked me entirely. Within the hunt, i had been chasing the wolf in the crypts for hours and upon finally catching up with the beast i saw something ahead.

A stag, bright white and running faster than either of us.

It was not just a hunt, but a race! For the past year, i had been hunting the wolf only to learn that i was not even chasing the fastest creature within the dark and musty walls of the underground. Not going to lie that had me drinking myself stupid for a few days.

So instead of catching the wolf, my goal was instead to surpass it!

And damn right i did. It took another year of near-constant training, after learning the truth i verily doubled my efforts, training until late in the night and rising early in the morning, swimming further, training harder, going as far as to go out at night to run within the woods like i was a wolf myself, hunting like a true hunter.

I worked myself to the brink of death, ripping and tearing muscle until i was almost screaming i pain. A lesser man may have died but not I! I wa Radukar the Wolf! Radukar the Beast! Radukar the Frozen!

And finally, after two long and hard years, the hunt began a final time. I ran after the shadowy form of the dire wolf, gaining ground as i howled and snarled, my feet were bare and i jumped from the floor to the wall to avoid the obstacles that were the fallen coffins of the dead and the forgotten.

I was steadily gaining ground on the wolf as I pursued the Stag, we were fighting for food, for survival and only one of us would taste the sweet victory that was its blood and flesh. Over the course of the next few hours i did not stop, i did not slow and i hunted. The wolf, now behind me howled and snarled in frustration as i drew closer to its prey, but i did not stop, it was mine and i would earn it.

And finally, after 2 years, i lunged at the stag, latching onto its neck and latching onto its back, plunging my dagger into its heart, killing it instantly, and claiming my prize.

And then I once more found myself in the frozen grove.

It was the same as it had been the first time i had entered, except i no longer felt the cold and the lake of blood seemed more appetizing than grotesque.

Once more the shadows arrived before me, although this time i heard them arrive on my own as I watched them approach, led by the death god and my Projenator, a creature i know could fully recognize.

In the age of myth, within the nine realms, it had been Hrunspuul who had made a deal with Belladamma Volga, the first of the Vyrkos, to create our bloodline. By blood and by spirit Hrunspuul was both the god and the father of the Vyrkos court, of which i was a part of.

"you have awoken and completed the first trial" the haunting voice of Nagash sounded, despite the god's mouth never moving. The Death god floated beside Hrunspuul as they led forth the sea of shadow creatures "you have taken the first step in bringing forth the Day of Expanse".

"Trial?" I had asked, still confused, not understanding.

"The first of many hardships you will face" Hrunspuul uttered, sounding sad "you have much to overcome".

"Why?" I asked, unsure of everything, the sad tone in the godbeasts voice setting me on edge "What have I done or will I do face this?" I had spent 2 years trying to catch that damn Stag and it was only the first step? What did the gods have in store for him?

"It is in accordance with the contract!" Nagash cut in harshly, his voice allowing no refusal as he spoke, his very aura growing for a moment before shrinking back down "you are the vessel and once you remember the terms you must fulfill them"!

"Vessel of what! What Contract!?" I yelled over the now rising wind as shadows began to leak onto the world around me, slowly surrounding me and dragging me back to the world that I knew, i felt my leg begin to burn with a sharp pain but i ignored it.

"Find an old enemy within the Sea of Ghosts!" Hrunspuul howled gently as the shadows pulled me down "only then shall you find the first reward!"

And then everything went dark and i awoke on the floor of the Crypt, my lungs heaving and my dagger soaked in Stag blood. Looking down at my leg i soon found that the tattoo of the dead wolf was gone, replaced by the image of a six-fingered wolf paw, with one claw and another five missing.

(one more chapter or so and we'll leave the brief past tense and move into a more interactive story! Yay!)