You were always the hero.
Doing adventurous and dangerous quests to the most simplest and menial tasks. From traveling to a realm filled with spirits in different shapes and beings alike to finding an amulet for a citizenâs one love.
Always acting for others, always wanting to please and to calm. Never relaxing, never sleeping, always tired and wanting to act the sloth and just lay in your bed all day.
Yet always filled with energy, wanting to find new ruins or quests to do. Always fighting, adrenaline singing in your veins, eyes wide and lips curved in a rare grin when you find something new and unknown, thinking in your mind on why you would want to rest when there is so much more to explore.
You were Dovahkiin, the Dragonborn.
The Honoured Thane of all Skyrim, Harbinger of the Companions, Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold, Listener and Leader of the Dark Brotherhood, Guild-Master of the Thieves Guild, Member of the Bards College, Beloved Apprentice of the Greybeards, Vampire Lord of the Volkihar Clan, Savior of Solstheim, The Victorious Conqueror of Solitude, Peacemaker, Stormblade, Champion of the Nine Divines and Champion of some Daedric Princes, Dragon Priest Slayer, Honorary Member of the Moth Priests, Dwemer Expert, Bounty and Treasure Hunter, Master of the Thu'um, and Vanquisher of the World-Eater Alduin.
So many titles, so many burdens upon your shoulders. Everyone looks to you with hope or fear in their gazes, because of how much power you bear and the many ways you can use it. The responsibilities were endless, always stressed, always tense, always trying to stay two steps ahead of the enemy;whether real or in your mind.
Always rescuing. Yet always killing. Always giving. Yet always stealing. Always finding friends. Yet always being betrayed. A constant cycle, a cycle that has long been in the spectrum of different shades of grey. No longer are actions and choices black and white. Some days you find yourself choosing a light grey, always soothing for your heart that is always being cracked. Always warm.
Other days your choices are too dark, too dirty. Your silence was the strongest those days, for you were screaming in your mind at this madness. Surely you will become mad! The thought of joining Sheogorath in his realm scared you those days. But then you calmed yourself, remembering how the Daedric Prince was, and how you couldnât help but smile when you were temporarily in his realm for that quest. The Prince was odd and certainly mad, but he was fun and interesting. With this, the darkness soon washes away, but it never gets rid of the stain in your mind and heart.
All these actions, all these choices, all these titles and groups that were yours for you were their trusted and valuable leader.
And yet, at the end of the day, you were just (Y/N). Friends with your once superiors now followers. Even friends with at least two Daedric Princes and friends of dragons. Thatâs all you wished to be, yet you were so much more.
So much more then you wanted. You never wanted this, never wanted to be the fated hero and savior of the world like something out of a story or legend.
But you were. Youâre a hero. A legend.
The day you defeated Alduin you knew Sovngarde would be where you would rest once you die, if not Alduin, then surely all the other tasks you have accomplished. Regardless of race, you knew this.
Youâre so much. Yet you did not want to be such.
The day came where you had enough of Skyrim. Where you already explored every ruin, every cave, every rune for a new Shout, every village, every city, every island, every possible realm you can enter, and even every crevice no matter how small.
You were here for so long, surely you would miss your now and only home? The place that held so many comrades, young and old, from Khajit to Nord, mortal or immortal, would you leave them?
Your answer that was before just long and hesistant consideration is now a strong yes in your mind.
You wish to see something new. Not the same land filled with so much sadness and pain, yet happy times and victory. You seek new adventures that would make your blood sing, for it has been long since a quest made you feel such. For menial tasks always made your eyes dead, gait sluggish for you were bored. The gratitude though from the person who asked, made you feel better. The reward of money was now just a plus, a plus that you are growing to believe is unneeded for there is not much of anything you wish to buy in this land. Not anymore.
So you went to the best port of Skyrim, which is in the coast of Solitude. Thankfully the Dainty Sload was still there, for it was the ship you have chosen to carry you in this unique adventure. You climbed aboard, familiarizing yourself once more about the vessel that used to be home of the Corsairs. You knew how to control a ship, and you are sure you will be able to handle it by yourself. Once you were ready, you gazed at Skyrim for one final time. As well as Tamriel.
You do not want to be in this country, believing the other provinces would just be filled with nothing but the same like Skyrim. You want something completely new, completely strange.
You want something unknown.
For even though you deny it, you are an adventurer, therefore a hero. Always excited at new lands, new people, and new quests. Itâs just you did not enjoy how others looked at you afterwords. Their awefilled gazes, with hope shining in their pupils as they asked for more favors always expecting for you to succeed because you are the legend, the Dragonborn.
Your gaze was sad as you looked at Solitude, the only city that will see you off. If you had a choice, you would rather see off Whiterun. But alas, Whiterun is near no ocean nor rivers that will eventually lead to one. You gazed at the architecture, your well trained and farseeing eyes taking everything in. You turned, quickly.
Not wanting your mind to think of the prisoners of the Civil War under the Blue Palace, nor of Viarmo the Headmaster of the Bardâs College, or the children who enjoyed playing tag and hide and seek with you.
You prepared the sails to distract yourself from your memories, when your ear twitched.
Your eyes widened, recognizing the voice, and turned. There was your friend, Serana staring at you with those yellow orange eyes of hers with confused betrayal underneath her pulled up hood to protect her from the sun as she stood at the wooden pier. You stared, not expecting her to be here. You told her to go back home and stay at her castle. Why is she here? That is what you asked, and it caused her fists to clench.
âWhy am I here?! Youâre leaving! You were going to leave and just leave me here alone. How could you do that?!â The vampireâs voice cracked, eyes filled with tears refused to fall. It made your cracked heart break a little more.
âYou werenât going to be alone, Garen is there as well as the others even though their company can be rather sourââ
She interrupted with a fierce glare and snarl.
âYou know that is not what I meant! And at this point, I know you more then I know them. You are my only family left (Y/N). The only one I can fully trust and not use me, who truly cares for me.â You knew she was talking about her mother, Valerica who put Serana to sleep for thousands of years without explaining. The statement only made your brows furrow with emotion. âBut then you left me. I know you, how you are. Just like you know me and how I hate being alone. YouâŚâ the woman looked down to the ground, pausing, there was a pained silence between the two of you. When she looked up, you tried to not jump off the ship and hug her tight.
âYouâŚyou were going to leave me. And never come back.â
She was crying. And your will of leaving this land wavered for a moment.
Only for the littlest of moments.
âYou know there is nothing left for me to do here. You say you know me, then you know why Iâm doing this.â
âTo escape. To learn. For freedom. For adventure. To forget.â
âSkyrimâŚI have done what I could here. And with what I did with Alduin, I have done enough for Tamriel as well. Thereâs more to this world then this country, I know there is.â You turned your eyes to the sea, (e/c) eyes distant. Mind in a whirl on just how much different other places are from Tamriel. âI wish to leave this place.â You turned your head back, noticing that Serana was quickly climbing up to the ship. You rose your brow with a disapproving frown.
âWhat are you doing?â She looked at you with blazing orange eyes, pausing on her movement up the rope ladder on the side of the ship.
âIâm coming with you.â
âNo. You are not. Itâs too dangerousââ
âAnd it isnât dangerous for you?!â She was now on the ship, getting close to your body with her finger waving at your chest. âYou think just cause youâve done all these things that you cannot die? You donât even know much about the other continents of this world. Of Akavir, Thras, Pyandonea, and Atmora. As well as the destroyed Yokuda and Aldmeris. I can take care of myself, and we have plenty of Bloodcursed Elven Arrows if things become too much. Do you not have faith in my capabilities?â
You do. Sheâs quite a fighter. Itâs just what you seek is something even more outrageous then Serana believes.
âDonât misunderstand Serana. I know how strong you are, itâs justâŚI wish for the unknown, my friend. This world, itâs grand isnât it?â You began walking around, motioning your hands to your sides, your voice slowly getting more animated. âSo much mystery, so many places lost as well as races like the Dwemer and Snow Elves who sadly became Falmer. The majority of races came to Tamriel from somewhere else, somewhere beyond. And we donât even know where some of these lands are! Or if thereâs more areas then we think with their own inhabitants!â You looked at her, eyes sparkling with an excited grin. Serana was gazing at you oddly, for seeing you so cheerful about subjects or other these days did not happen often. Her eyes then slowly widened in realization.
âYou want to discover a new continentâŚgo to Aldmeris or Yokuda?!â At your silence, lips staying in a smile, she grabbed your shoulders. âThat is madness, who knows how long we will be out in the sea with no food and constantly in the sun with no water? Or if we even land somewhere? The inhabitants might be dangerous or more bloodthirsty then my father.â You held back your tongue that you are just as dangerous or even more so with how much youâve accomplished. As well as say that you may have a touch of madness. âThereâs so much risk in this, you really think you cannot die?â
You paused, tilting your head as you gazed at your close female friend that was once the daughter of Harkon. You thought on her words.
Can you die? Youâve been so close numerous times, but that was during your early days of your arrival to Skyrim. You remember the fear, the confusion of this new region and the number of dragons and people wanting your head. Itâs been a long time though, youâve matured and very much experienced with all sorts of enemies.
ââŚI donât know. I do know that this is possible and thereâs more to this world then three continents. And,â you grinned slightly, ârisks make things fun.â
You stunned Serana into silence, whether from how you arenât sure if you can die or how you seem to want to find out if you can with this adventure. You thought the danger would make her walk away and leave this ship. And she did walk away. Only towards the main sail and prepare it. You sighed, seeing that sheâs determined to follow although you disapprove and are positive you will only worry for her.
But a part of your shattered heart grew warm that you will have someone here with you in this journey. Even though you are positive the woman will complain about the environment till your ears will fall off. What can you say? People who were stubborn and determined always captured your respect and interest, especially if they look at you sadly and ask for favors.
You were always the hero. Always wanting to please and to soothe.
When you made sure there were enough supplies for the both of you, whether food that was salted or items to help purify water as well as good and your precious weapons, the both of you were off.
You did not look back, even when Serana made a comment as she looked at the now faraway city of Solitude.
âSkyrim always was beautiful and had amazing weatherâŚIâm going to miss it.â
