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69.24% Dragonborn Saga / Chapter 519: Lord, Land & Family

Chapter 519: Lord, Land & Family

"Wife, is it done?" I asked as we stood in front of Breezehome.

"It is done. Took us quite the resources to make, though." Alina replied.

What we were talking about was the project I entrusted her with. When I was in Cyrodiil, I sent many messages to my people and associates around the continent telling the specific instructions or asking for favors and information. My wife had the task of purchasing all the Player Homes across Skyrim which were five in total along with other three places for the holds that had no player homes.

"Aside from Falkreath and Dawnstar, we have completed the network." She added.

"What happened with Falkreath and Dawnstar?" I asked.

"The Jarls are not friendly with us, you know. Jarl Skald the Elder and Jarl Siddgeir are not your biggest fans."

"I get it. Dawnstar is actually closeby and Falkreath suffered from the attack on Helgen so the situation is not that bad at all. We'll figure it out."

Now, inside Breezehome. We walked in as a party of twelve. It was me, Alina, Jull, Nefertiti, Wulfur, Aela, Miranda, Mirren, Isha, Jax, Beth and finally, Lydia. The house may not be vast enough but that wasn't the idea here.

Breezehome was redecorated by the careful touches of Alina who transformed the old thing into a nice and cozy place to rest in. Still, the most important thing was that gate-like object which was added in the small room on the ground floor.

A Portal Station.

This was the intended purpose of purchasing all the player homes and that is to make a Fast Travel network that takes me between the hold the fastest way possible.

"Lydia, I know it is illegal to Teleport and Levitate inside the city but I don't give a damn, are we clear?" Jon asked Lydia with a dangerous smile.

"Al… alright."

"Perfect. This is for the betterment of the world anyway. You will be using it a lot and also… watch out for cliffs, dear. They are so very tempting." I said warning her about something that may or may not happen.

"…"

"Now now, husband. Don't scare our new Housecarl." Alina interfered after she activated the portal pushing me away then looked at Lydia, "You report to Jullanar."

It seems that my dear wife will activate the policy of keeping all unauthorized females at a safe distance from me. I wasn't thinking of anything anyway.

Either way, I was now just facing the portal that will take me back to Winterhold. Truthfully, I have complicated feelings at the moment. It is just… it is complicated.

"Just go ahead, will you?"

Alina lightly pushed me forwards and I stepped in the portal trying to think positively.

***

Winterhold, the historical capital of Skyrim and the home of knowledge and politics that long since sank under the sea of ghosts. Winterhold of the past was a sorry place plagued by hate and skepticism between the common folks and the mages but one man reformed that waste into a power that can't be looked down upon.

Winterhold of today is a Massive Trading Hub that sits upon the coldest parts of the Sea of Ghosts and the Capital City of Magic in Skyrim. The docks have expanded further and further to rival that of Solitude and Windhelm to the point where it extended between the small islands to the north. The Shipbuilders of Winterhold now have a guild of their own separate from the Dare Dragon Company but still loyal to the House of Dare. The town expanded yet past the old walls giving birth to newer districts and slums. The buildings started to take a new form to contain more residents by stacking apartments on each other rather than building independent houses.

This was no longer a city but rather a machine powered by various races and origins. Rather than having the time to be racist against each other, work and money were the aspects of the community in Winterhold.

Either with force or reason, advancements took place when people needed it. Businesses took places outside the umbrella of the dominating Dare Dragon Company and diversity became a theme.

This, of course, wasn't the end of it. With positivity comes negativity and as money increased, so did crime. With a war raging outside the hold, refugees hoarded outside the city. With the work market endlessly demanding workers, many businesses lost and many kept struggling.

It was a merciless place yet the Haven all wanted. The original natives of Winterhold couldn't be distinguished anymore but they are now living on the better side of the community being envied for being here first.

That is the way of life in the new Winterhold.

The bloodiest image of Capitalism was incarnating in that city and everyone was getting addicted to it.

On the other hand, Whispering Town became larger and larger, taking away the stone quarry business from Saarthal. With Jarl Korir and Thane Alina instructing the southern road to be fortified, the new quarry was set up near the mine and the Dare Dragon Company hired a lot of Dunmer to start digging. Alina was even smart enough to allow the construction of a temple for Azura under the shade of Azura's gigantic statue to gather the support of the Dark Elves even though it was against Alina's own faith.

Away from the east of the hold, the heart of Winterhold was Saarthal or Neo Saarthal as officially called. Saarthal had a new Temple for the Nordic Divines and many clans moved there including the Moonblades after the destruction of their home after the Battle of Winterhold. The Firemanes also constructed a massive manor which where Jonrad and Hilda Firemane. Aside from the housing, the Nordic population of Saarthal increased massively in celebration for the revival of the Ancestral Home of Mankind itself. All was good and fine but what impacted the city the most was the Museum of Saarthal, the grand building that was under the direct supervision of the House of Dare managed by their retainer Silus Vesuius. This Museum became a hot spot for the scholars and mages around Skyrim, High Rock and Morrowind.

The three main settlements of Winterhold had a fourth town constructed half a year ago by Clan Moonblade, Hsaarik Head Town also known as Hsaarik. This town was built to the west near Dawnstar as an expansion for the overflowing dock of Winterhold and to harass Dawnstar economically. Hsaarik was a natural fortress from the sea and a very secure location on land. It already had a lighthouse constructed ages ago and run by a Redguard family that Alina managed to save from a Falmer attack. Hsaarik was not just a dock and a sea fortress but had a very significant historical value as this is the place where Ysgramor and the 500 Companions landed from Atmora, a sacred spot to the men.

Jon promised to exploit Winterhold not only by its resources but by its overall value. Alina followed those plans as the current head of the company and added her passion as a Nord to it. Following her example, many clans put their heart and soul into the land making something Jon couldn't even imagine. His dreams on the painting were beautiful but in reality, he wasn't the only painter with endless love for Skyrim and Winterhold.

On the end, not only the Humans were the ones who participated in Hsaarik but their neighbors were the giants who herded their mammoths in the artificial groves nearby. These Giants were the ones that were chased from the Pale by Jarl Skald of Dawnstar and were forced to live in the ice wastes of Winterhold until Jon and Alina grew the artificial groves for them.

The Artificial Groves is an ambitious project that Jon didn't have the chance to finish but with the help of Alina and the Cult of Kyne, it was intended to grow a forest north to Saarthal. Alina and her cult started to put the Pine saplings in the snow wasteland but it was too hard to grow anything so she asked the Guardians of the Grove, a branch of the Cult of Kyne residing in Kynesgrove, to transfer Spriggans to Winterhold. The process was dangerous and almost impossible but no one gave up on the dream of building the first artificial forest. With the ambitious project greatly helping the Giants who reside between Saarthal and Hsaarik, it was separated into multiple groves to further manage them without hindering the trade routes.

With a strong alliance with the Giants, Winterhold was no longer a place any could challenge. It hasn't just grown but overgrown and attracted all the Clans around it, swearing loyalty to the House of Dare as its banner-men and shield-thanes.

From that point, many coveted Winterhold. Organized Crime and Espionage were the main themes of Winterhold's trouble, thus steps in the guardians of Winterhold. The Black Pigeons, also known as [Team 0], the ghost that doesn't exist. Jullanar's private force and anti-espionage unit in the Dare Corps. Imperials, Stormcloaks and Thalmor spies were systematically discovered and executed through the hold. On the surface, Winterhold may be at peace with all but in the shadows, there were rivers of blood curved into the pure snow. With Alina leading Jon's dream, Jullanar was protecting it from the shadows.

Understandably, the shadow unit was not enough to protect Winterhold as it is very limited to Intel Gathering and Anti-Espionage so the main striking force of Winterhold was quite the issue. After the Battle of Winter. The Empire and Solitude realized how cunning Winterhold was in the matter of regulating recruitment in the Dare Corps which meant that not only they can break the legal limit but also muster quite the force, it led to a very strict regulation to manage and control that force and the Dare Corps wholeheartedly complied to be limited to a 1000 Dare Trooper. The Guards of Winterhold were former Dare Troopers which meant they had divided loyalty but they were also limited by law to quite the same number. This meant that the Empire was limiting Winterhold to 2000 units in total but was that truly a thing? Jonrad and Hilda Firemane were their little project behind the scene and by little project, it means the Warband of Winterhold consisting purely of the members of the new clans and sneakily a lot of former Dare Troopers. This force was unlisted and completely unofficial divided on all the clans but in the secret documents under Alina's pillow, that's 10'000 units ready to huff and buff wherever she points.

This is Winterhold.

Winterhold City, the Capital of Commerce and Magic.

The Whispering Town, the Mine of Fortune.

Saarthal, the Cultural Home and Impenetrable Bastion.

Hsaarik, the Thriving Port.

With many villages, giant settlements, training camps, work spots and unearthed treasures spurting all over; the Hold was in its best image for the arrival of its Boss… the Big Boss.

"We are ready."

Alina spoke as she looked past the door of a new residence at the edge of Winterhold City. This was the new house which will be claimed by the Dragonborn in the future as his base of operation in the city.

Inside the house, everyone gathered with Jon in the center. He was immersing himself in the sensation of homecoming while the others were covering themselves with heavier clothes, it is summer alright but Winterhold is called with that name for a good reason.

"A lot has changed… I truly missed a lot." Jon finally spoke as he opened his eyes.

"No." Alina replied and held his hands, "Everything you love was never misplaced. Your people, your family, your clan. It just rose up to your level, my Dragon."

Jon smiled and got closer to his wife.

"You outdid me."

"No. Only one person would dare to start all this and he started it alright. You know what, the past two years almost doubled our population so not all of the people know you. Why don't you go and claim the spotlight on your own?"

Alina's words were tempting as they filled Jon with pride. He looked past the door and he could no longer resist it.

His spotlight, his stage, his scene, his crown and his rightful throne.

The town that was just some broken buildings surrounded by some walls and buried under snow and corruption. He arrived at it when it was void of hope and had nothing left to lose. He built a bathhouse to make the money circulate and invested in any trade or labor available. Even with the Jarl against him, he put him down smoothly and took the lead, establishing a company. Then the pirates came and he fought them at that cliff and in those waters, that cliff which is covered by wide stairs and those waters which are filled with trading ships. He went wider and taller expanding to every direction, he brought a master Alchemist to the town and regulated business and enhanced it. The East Empire Company tried to devour him early on but it ended in bed somehow, Windhelm and the Empire wanted to devoid the cake with him and he sent them home empty-handed with a fleet that dominated the water with no sails going against the current and defying the tide for all it cares about. He expanded further and further making his pocket reach as deep as the Royal Coffers. They called him a monster, an irregular, a beast; he took these names to the heart and never stopped. Those who hated them for no reason were gladly given some real reasons to hate him as he emptied their coffers and grew Winterhold further. And when an army came to his door, the army was buried at the gates of Saarthal.

Jon Dare and Winterhold, there was never a better match. He is its soul and she is his body. He loved her and she loved him… and he missed her so so much.

As he opened the door to meet his dear, a hand stopped him so he looked back. It was Wulfur giving him that thing.

"Ah! Right."

Jon Dare had a particular robe. The red sleeveless one with red plates on it. He always wore it open. Last time he wore it was at the Battle of Winterhold and it was torn badly. He had to dress for the occasion.

"Your beard is a bit overgrown and please let your hair loose." Jull said.

"Can I go now?" He was being held back for trivial things but the others were as excited as he is so it must be perfect at least.

"You are perfect. Hurry before they remember anything else." Aela pushed him past the door and he was finally outside the manner.

Truth be told, he was barely ready.

The Manor was directly on the main street so no one stopped for him. He was noticeable for his height and clothing but seeing the Firemanes in Winterhold was something very common. Life didn't stop for him, people didn't applaud and girls didn't throw flowers in his ways.

That was nothing to him, he didn't need applauding or recognition, he only needed to see the people, the buildings, the life. He looked at every person working around, carrying wood or hammering nails with great pride. He was moved by their sight as they were the extension of his will and the echo of his work. A step further would bring him to more life and advancement. More and more, the things people built, the steps they took after him, he could see himself in them. There is nothing he wouldn't do for those people.

He walked in the street as if he was touching the air that flowed around him, he knew this place by heart even though most of the building went up by a level or two. Some eyes fell into him, he smiled even if he never saw them before. They felt him as much as he felt them. That bond was strange and powerful, they never understood it but they knew he was someone they trust. Someone who walks on a great path for all of them for selfishness and selflessness.

Jon's presence was strong in this place, he was too noticeable and too attractive. He was felt by those who feel bonded to this land like him, those who see Winterhold as home. He was also felt by those who lurk in the shadows as the shadows were strangling them. He is not just a man, inside Winterhold, Jon is the Man. The Law. The one who ascended to protect the land thus the landed ascended for him in return.

This was as anything else, a Magic.

It was not Jon's Magic or the Magic of any Mage. It was the Magic of the Land. Jon loved Winterhold and she loved him back, that is the Magic.

Talos used the same magic to convey his love for his Legion, Talos told them that he will reshape the land which is his for them. Jon was the same, he was drawing the hearts and the eyes after him.

He is no Divine but he was once a Demi. The Love that makes the Divine powers him now. He is there bathed with it and the more people see him, the stronger it gets.

There is no longer a need to point and say this is Jon Dare, it was already known. He was followed by men, women and children. He was followed by his wife and his friends. They all felt the land with him.

He walked the news streets, the old streets, Shalidor's Plaza, the Market square, the Temple of Kyne. Every place recognized him as much as he recognized them. Hundreds followed him, more watched him from the windows. Elishka recognized him right away and almost panicked, she seems to have put on a lot of weight those past couple of years, Ongeim saw Jon and dropped whatever in his hands, Trudvar was on the verge of tears, the vendors and the masons who worked with him before anyone else are now the wealthy influential the influential who came running to walk right behind him announcing that they are the first lackeys.

Everything about this cold piece of land on the northernmost edge of the continent was just warm.

Soon, Jon was in front of his house. He wanted to go in as he felt many presences there but something stopped him. Not far from the house, there was a small platform made of earth with a sword stuck on it.

"Bloodskal?"

Jon felt the powerful connection with that sword awakening after a long slumber. What is this sword doing here? The last time Jon had that sword was when he infused the last of his Divine Power inside of it and sent it above the Tower of Music to protect the land in his stead.

"Not long after you left, some Nord brat from a big clan came and annoyed Alina. Seemed like he said something about you to her causing her anger to boil but before my hand or Alina's eyes got to him, a bolt of red lightning came down and split the boy in half. What we saw after was this sword stuck in the ground." Wulfur said.

"We tried to remove it from the ground but it was impossible to lift. Wulfur had to spend a whole week lifting the ground under it to make an earthen platform and not harm the passers-by." Alina continued.

"People came from all around the place trying to pull it out but no one ever could. The sword would then fly from its place whenever there is some big fuss, solve the trouble by creating big holes in the ground and swoosh return back." Jullanar demonstrated.

"Hehehe! That's classic."

Jon laughed as he remembered the will he left inside the sword. It must have caused a lot of trouble but now… it was time for it to rest.

"You exhausted too much power, didn't you?" Jon held the handle and pulled it out, "Time to rest, old friend."

With the sword being effortlessly pulled out, the earthen platform it slept in crumpled but that wasn't the only aftermath.

A strong cheer came from everyone who followed him. Many tried to pull the sword to the point where a few legends were formed about the sword but now as it is finally out, only one truth remains.

Winterhold progress will never end.

***

"Jonhild."

"Mother."

Here was it. The hug I waited for. I may have grown strong but I'm still overpowered by Hilda whenever she finds me. How blessed I am!

"Cousin!"

"Jonhild."

"Boy!"

It was Hilda who came out first from the house. It seemed that Alina called for the whole family to gather here today. Following Hilda were my cousins and my uncles. Even my grandmother is here.

"People! I'm back."

As soon as Hilda let me go, I was held by Hafthor and Vladimir who pulled me in. Uncle Tyr was there as well.

"This is impossible! No one told us you're coming."

"Man, it is really you."

"Drag him in quickly. Someone send those people away."

The situation was too chaotic and hectic. All the relatives were here and none of them expected me.

"It is good to be back. How are you all?" I asked.

"Good."

"Great."

"We're fine."

I was surrounded by my people in my house, most of us are red-haired and blue-eyed to the point where it caused the newcomers to get scared. I can see Mirren hiding behind Isha from the too much Nordness in one place.

"Bring him some meat. He looks thin."

"Grandma, wait!"

"Eat!"

There is no refusing it when Grandma Jenna stuffs the food in your mouth. Just let me chew.

It was a messy yet warm situation. Everyone was here and everything was interactive. Even the kids were causing an absolute mess but it was fun to watch.

"Hey, leave Jon alone you stupid bunch. Jon, come and see." Hilda who disappeared for a minute after I came in was dragging me away from the gathering.

"Where?"

"Here."

"Hey, Jonhild." The one who greeted me was Bjorna.

"Cousin, so nice to see you. Wait! Don't tell me…"

I saw a child in her arms and I was almost freaking out.

"Beowulf." Wulfur introduced me.

"You son of a gun. Come here."

I held the boy carefully from Bjorna and he seemed unwilling to be taken by unfriendly hands.

"This is your uncle," Wulfur said.

"What's up?"

Wulfur and Bjorna had Beowulf not long after I left. The kid is two years old now and he looks like Wulfur almost to a scary point.

"Congratulations, brother." I handed the boy back to his parents.

"Thank you. Will see what kind of a demon spawn you will bring to this world." Wulfur joked carefreely and the other laughed but for some reason, Alina and I were facing each other at the moment and it didn't feel like a laughing matter to us.

I didn't want to be a mood killer so I smiled and nodded.

"Hey, you still have to meet those two." Hilda pulled me over further in the house and there were the two she wanted me to meet.

"Oh my God! You two are so cute I could eat you. Come 'ere." I ran towards Thor and Idun as soon as I saw them.

My little brother and sister. The cutest in the world.

"Ha!"

"Ahah!"

Once they saw me, they reacted right away. I can't believe how this life is mine so blessed with two little siblings like these, I feel like getting purified and will almost cry right now.

Thor and Idun are my little siblings born during my Second Labour. Say no more about other people's babies, those two are cute all the way to Aetherius.

Thor has short hair and long bangs. He seemed like the kind that likes to suck his fingers but he had the airs of a troublesome child. Idun, on the other hand, had Buffy cheeks and her hair was gathered above her head as she sat on her own and looked at me with her wide eyes.

"Look at that little cutie. You are my little sister? How can our rotten family have such a pure being?" I said as I teased her cheeks but Thor started hitting my hand with his toy.

It was fun to see my little siblings. I bought them a lot of gifts from Summerset and Elsweyr but I never know what is suitable for someone their age.

Still, in this harmonious air, the most undesirable voice was heard behind.

"HANDS! OFF! MY! DAUGHTER!"

Without any warning, I felt a large palm striking my hall back as if the wrath of Fire Titan was trying to go through me.

I almost crumbled from the sudden pain but I endured while standing up.

"Jonrad, what are you doing? You mad?" Hilda shouted at Jonrad.

"Hmph! No one touches my daughter without going through the process of elimination to eliminate all the darkness of the world of their dirty hands. Only then they can come in contact with my daughter. Even Thor knows that." I could hear that idiot of a father talk about something as I stood up.

"For goodness sake…" Hilda was holding her forehead troubled from that idiot.

Fine, I'll handle him.

"HA!"

Out of nowhere, I buried my fist in that man's abdomen making him bend forward.

"Co…ward!" He said agonized from the punch in his guys.

"Ugly me! What's up?"

"Abhorrent child!" Jonrad rose up to face me only to look at each other face to face.

"What on Nirn!"

"Oblivion!"

Us two had a look at each other's faces and to our utter surprise, we had the same hair and beard styles.

"You bastard!"

"Son of a…"

This was a big taboo in our book. The two of us would never share the same style one way or the other but with the same light beard and long hair, this is bound to turn ugly.

"I'll rip that face of yours off."

"I'll tear apart your ugly mug."

We had each other by the face and were digging our nails into the other's skin but all of a sudden, our heads were struck down as soon as we started.

"Stop it, both of you. You're making Idun cry."

We turned around to see Idun's eyes getting moisty. Seeing her father and brother fighting is clearly unsettling for the young girl.

"Dammit!"

"No! Don't cry. Here, Nefertiti."

Jonrad held his head not knowing what to do but I cunningly offered a dose of fluff. Still, she was going to cry.

"Your faces are confusing her. One of you must go and shave now." Hilda said.

"Shave! Right! Where?" Jonrad started running around confused causing me to roll his eyes backward.

"Alright." I said as summoned [Lust] right away.

As soon as it fused with me, I manipulated my beard to disappear and my hair to grow shorter.

"Tada!" With my face looking younger, Idun started to settle down.

"That… was… awesome. How did you do it?" Jonrad was mystified by the miraculous technique I just did so as the others.

"Hmph! It is a technique anyone can learn. The only requirement is to be at least 1% as good looking as me." I replied.

"Damn you, little shit." Jonrad ground his teeth as this is ultimately my victory.

My little sister seemed happy with the trick of making my hair grow longer and shorter. Such a thing is nothing, guess I'll show her how to make a Daedric Titan dance on a ball.

It was too nice to see my family again but as I looked around, someone was not there. Someone I really needed to see. I could feel her getting closer in my heart and as soon as she was close enough, I went towards her as well.

The door to my house was opened and she walked in right away. No one stood in her way and cleared the way between us immediately.

I finally see her again.

I have a lot… a lot to tell her about.

"Jon."

"Nurina."

She is here coming at me with a smile but she suddenly stopped.

Her smile froze.

Her eyes widened.

I feared this would happen. I feared she would see my Chaos. And then again, what really happened in Chaos?

~~~~~~~~~~

• Bonus •

- Don: Gentlemen! Next Chapter is a Chaos recollection.

- Reader A: You're a Monster!

- Reader B: You know we don't like backflips in the narration.

- Don: Fufufu *Pushes Glasses like anime as they glow* Oh! But here's where you are mistaken. Boys, you're up.

- Jon: Next Time on Dragonborn Saga…

- Wulfur: *drum roll*

- Jon: We Defy Logic

- Mirren: *TSSS*

- Jon: And Define Nonsense

- Mirren: *TSSS*

- Jon: Even Socrates will be there

- Mirren: *TSSS*

- Jon: And go through a Mind Hive experience

- Mirren: *TSSS*

- Jon: And if that is not enough for you, we will go into the most realistic 4th Wall Breaking Experience ever!

- Wulf & Mirren: *Jazz Music*

- Jon: *Joins with a Trumpet*

- Don: Are you not entertained?

- Readers A, B, C… Z: 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩


next chapter

Chapter 520: Chaos (1) : Blank Space

Quick WARNING! The following chapter may contain the deepest shit you're going to read in your life… also an incredible amount of nonsense. It is like… Deep Nonsense, if you catch my drift. My mental state and the chapter were affecting each other and I rewrote it almost four to five times with. It almost made me go crazy like yesterday but I've finished off the monster. Just as I said, my mental state was not right while I was writing. Just read safely. Next chapter will make more sense, I promise.

———————————

*One Year Ago after the Battle with Mannimarco*

(Two)

Chaos as an element is the Origin of all elements. Only through the comprehension of Time did the Chaos dissolve into the first forms of Order. It is understandable that Chaos and Order always existed within each other and it's also acceptable that they can be turned into one another as well.

The story of Anui-El (the Spirit of Anu) creating Auri-El (the Spirit of Time) is the official myth of creation is all about turning the Chaos into Order which by its part led to the Existence of the Aurbis (the Universe).

Now let's go back way before that. Way before Anui-El or Sithis, Auri-El or Lorkhan, right exactly at the simplest of all truths. Anu and Padomay, the Is and Is-Not.

It was said that this world is a Dream that began by believing in one's self as [Value equals True] thus having a Self and truly existing. Padomay and Anu were incapable of comprehending such facts on their own as they are just some colossal amounts of cosmic energies to our understanding. They needed to create Sithis and Anui-El later on but… it seems that I have strayed from my point again. Let's go back in time a little more to when even Anu and Padomay were not existing.

Was it just a Complete Darkness? Eternal and Passive? Or maybe it is just some "Blank White Space" like the one I am speaking to you from right now?

You see… I believe that Anu and Padomay had an origin and that origin lies beyond the shackles of everything we know.

The One Single Truth.

The Crux of Creation enshrouded in Mystery and Enigma.

You see… if my time here has taught me anything, it would be that everything must go back to an Origin. Anu came from the Breath of Existence, Padomay came from the Waters of Creation.

How did I know that?

Silly! I don't know that, I know nothing. I am just a Madman after all. Whatever I say is pointless but let me make a point here. I am crazy… well, you already know that. The answer to everything lies within letting go of the illusion that you know anything.

Socrates once said "True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing."

So hold my hands and be crazy with me. No homo, I swear.

Oh! These are some soft hands you have. You moisturize? What! Antiseptics? Must be pretty though these days, huh? Okay, let's not hold hands then. Then be crazy with me from a safe distance. I know everyone is on edge these days about keeping healthy social distance. Heh… Mortals!

So the first step to becoming crazy is… yes, you guessed right. No step at all. There are no guidelines or rules in the zone we're about to step into. Actually, it will get a bit hardcore from now on so in advance… just take a deep breath and sway with the music.

Socrates said "The greatest blessing granted to mankind comes by a way of madness, which is a divine gift."

Oh! How I love this guy!

He also said "I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think."

This time, I won't tell you something you should just accept from me. So please, think without limitations.

Let's talk about the mix of Chaos and Order we call "Existence" and raise a few questions.

Can it be that "Existence" in totality was developed from "Nothing"?

Can it be that it wasn't something that always existed or developed by an accidental coincidence?

Is everything in existence "Eternal Old" or did it have a "Beginning"?

Confusing, right?

I'm not talking about the Elven Myth of Creation or the Big Bang Theory or any of that. As I said before, we are going way back in time.

There has to be a limit, right? A limit to how much we can go back in time. A limit to how much Existence Existed?

Doesn't this mean that at some point, this whole thing of endless numbers of stars and galaxies was "Created"? Chaos and Order, Existence and Nonexistence, Everything and Nothing. Was it all "Made" in perfect balance and design or did it just come with a bang?

Crazy question, right? If that's right then we are going on the right track.

Still, some people would come and say "Come on! Do you even have a proof for this nonsense you just said?"

I would say Yes, Yes indeed. A Madman doesn't simply need any proof but I'll play your game "Sane People".

You are the proof.

You!

Look at you!

You are perfectly and beautifully made and planned. I know your parents take most of the credit for how good-looking you are and when you were born yet all of that applies to everyone. But you must remember, we are looking at the MUCH bigger picture, remember?

Let's just let go of the Universe and Existence and all these complicated thoughts. Let's be normal mad people and get to our mortal level. The Human.

Every Human is evidence of the Perfect Blueprint. It starts with a mere Sperm that evolves into a leeching Clot of congealed blood, then to a chew-like lump called the Foetus then into Bones and Flesh and BAM!!! The super sexy you.

This transformation between Imperfection to Perfection in a very systematic and flawless way that even with the best stars aligned, it can't be accidentally sequenced.

And then, you start magically moving around. From the first baby steps to the widest strides of youth to the weakness of old age, perfection becomes imperfection and no matter what, there is nothing that you can do to reverse the process. Even delaying it requires practice and cultivation.

The more we know, the clearer things get. We look everywhere and see everything just moving perfectly, the world is not glitching or overloaded with details or sends out bug messages… the Elder Scrolls aside, okay? Apart from that, day comes out and night comes after and not a single thing out of order.

Either way, the concept of every Act has an Actor is a great concept that is proven by observation. We think of what we observed and come up with ideas like seeing and believing. If you don't want to see or believe and rather stick to whatever Order you were Told then please, leave a madman like me to his madness and carry on.

For the rest of you who stayed, if there is any, let's take one more dive together. The last one I swear.

Existence as a package is too complex. It is known that the human brain is also complex but the situation we are in here is a little too overwhelming, okay? I'll be honest, it's a mess… big time.

To revert the Existence to its most primal element, aka Chaos, this needs an act of an equal amount of complexity. Let's agree that no matter how advanced the technology went, it is still a little bit too far from that level of complexity… I mean, the neighboring planets are as far as technology has reached anyway.

But at the end of the day, Existence has all that it needs for a new tomorrow. It is not as if there is some primal apocalyptic entity that is about to jump and devour us all to Oblivion. Okay okay, I'll take that one back. But with every one of those disasters comes a solution whether that is a Hero or a Cure… or a Hero with a Cure, love that last one.

To sum all this madness up, everything exists on an accurate plan. Take the Gravitational Constant for example. It is an empirical physical constant involved in the calculation of gravitational effects in Newton's law of universal gravitation and in Einstein's general theory of relativity. Its numerical value is 6.674×10^-11 m^3 kg^-1 s^-2.

Any slight change in that value will flip the world upside down. That number is responsible for the centrifugal force for the continuation of the planet in its orbit and how far away from or close to the sun so you can imagine.

It is up to you whether you agree or disagree with a Madman like me but is all that a coincidence? I'll be an open-minded person and leave you to your opinion.

Then again, this raises a very pivotal question. What is Madness? What is Crazy?

Whoops! Those are two questions… or are they?

What gives you the sole realization of comprehending numbers. One plus One equals Two? Why is that a thing? In the place where I am in at the moment, All can equal Zero which by its part may or may not equal Anything.

Possibilities become endless where the Mind has enough power to Perceive and Analyze.

What is related to Madness in any of this?

Nothing… and Everything.

When you are Mad, anything is possible. You don't only think outside the box, you Eliminate the Box. You have no limits.

You become from Sane to Insane and from Insane to Sane once again. In my case, repeating the process a few times made me understand that both Sanity and Insanity are two sides of the same coin.

It made me open my eyes and just smile as I saw light. Don't worry, that's not the one at the end of the tunnel. That's actually the light of hope becoming a literal… light… thing.

It lit the world around me and kept me in a state I have never experienced before. I was there standing in that same Endless White Space that was in my mind.

What's on my mind became a reality which is not a thing that happens any day. The experience is incredible and I feel limitless yet the only limit I have is time.

I know you may be wondering "What in the absolute fuck was that all about?" and to answer all that… I just don't understand it well myself. I am the guy who was trapped in Chaos but I am also the guy who got himself out to this weird Blank Space.

You know when the things happening inside your head happen in front of your eyes, you are in a full state of control and wonder. I can just create endless clones of myself and hold conversations together but everything is pointless at the moment.

I must figure out a way before I become out of time and lose myself.

***

(One)

Was the Chaos enough to trap Jon Dare?

No, it wasn't.

The place around him had the same white image he had in his mind. This phenomenon only happens with what is known as the Godhead.

The thoughts of his head control everything. If he let his thoughts wander around, he can end up creating a universe or something.

He must be careful in this place, in the Blank Space.

Many people come to this place and even more people come following their trail. It is the most common event in history for people to exist here.

It is the Blank Space after all.

"Okay, I get it. It is the Blank Space… thank you. Will you please shut up so I can think?"

That was Jon shouting.

"They know."

Just to clarify.

"… Fair point… okay, keep narrating but… don't make me feel interrupted."

Peace of cake. Jon was trying to focus and with a slight push, he was in total focus at the moment. Everything becomes clearer and the bigger picture unfolds slowly as if a large number of domino pieces falling one after another in an artistic manner.

"That was great!" Said Jon referring to the large number of pieces of Domino that he imagined falling one after another in an artistic manner.

"Yes, I had the euphoria of thoughts that felt totally awesome. Can we do that again?"

Tick tock.

"A large clock appears as the narrator indicated the tightness of time trying to warn Jon from the seriousness of his situation... Hold on… Did I just narrate?"

It would seem that Jon found himself in a rather strange situation. He looked pale for a second as he finally started to take the situation very seriously.

"Can you at least help?"

Jon asked the air.

"The fuck! You are bailing out on me now?"

Alright, I'll throw you a bone. How about a riddle?

"… Okay."

I have a Blank Space, I have Limitless Imagination, I have full Authority but I don't have enough Time. What am I?

"Easy… that's me...… WAIT!" Jon raised his hands as he realized the complexity of the question and finally understood the answer, "You… it's You!"

"I know… I know where I am… I finally understand. Heh! Hehehe! You are a really tricky one, aren't you...

I understand now. It was all pieced out yet I was… stupid…

I am out!

HAHAHA!

I AM OUT!

OUTSIDE!

This is weird but it is getting weirder yet it somehow makes sense… and makes no sense at all.

It is so stupid yet clever… well, from my perspective at least.

I am outside.

Outside what?

Outside the Text, Out of Context, Lost in the Translation, Away from Keyboard.

I am in a Blank Space.

The Black Chaos I was in was the darkness of the ink. The White Blank is the Whiteness of the Paper.

Right now I am… I am way ahead of my story.

It is still Chaos you see, Chaos is the extreme sides on both edges. A black sea of ideas you can never see through or a White Blank Space you only hear the echo of your thoughts in.

Who did you think I was talking to. A third person? How? I am the only person here.

What a twist!

This Chaos is playing tricks on me.

Even time… it is not right.

Two, One, Three. Be careful!

***

(Three)

I didn't lose myself.

But it got worse than I imagined.

"You look handsome."

"You look handsome too."

"I am Jon, by the way."

"Pleasure. I am Jon too."

"Fantastic! Double Trouble!"

"Excuse me, you two are Jon, right?"

"Oh look, it is a third Jon."

"Three of us? That's a Triple Threat, Baby."

"Guys, calm down. The four of us getting too excited about the number is just idiotic. By the way, it's a Wholesome Foursome now."

"This is so cool."

"Four of us. That's more than a single book can handle."

"Indeed. But we must be careful, there is something not right about our number. Jon Dare is supposed to be one Jon Dare, four of us is simply asking for trouble."

"I couldn't agree more, handsome version of me."

The Four Jon Dares looked at each other and thought. Actually, their thoughts were shared and synced all time but it would be a killjoy if they didn't speak them out loud.

"So, let's put some rules. We are all equal so there is no reason to go full sicko on each other. Let's just randomly pick a number."

"I got 1." (1)

"I got 2." (2)

"I got 3." (3)

"I got 4." (4)

"That's incredible. Now, why are there four of us?" (1)

"It is mostly because of the Chaos. Each time we fall into a situation, we start having a very troubling experience. The First experience Blank Whiteness, the second experience was an Existential Crisis, and the third experience is a multiple character disorder." (2)

"Damn! That's one hell of a situation we got ourselves into." (3)

"This is to be expected. After all, we are in a place that doesn't make sense. Thankfully, we are now having some control. We need to figure out a plan." (4)

"Bang our way out of Chaos!" (2)

"With a style! And a flip once we land." (1)

"Sounds like a solid plan, Gentlemen, but I'm afraid we'll need more." (3)

"More Jons?" (4)

"God forbids!" (3)

"Okay, jokes aside. Who here would want to share the plan we all have in our mind right now?" (1)

"Okay, I'll go. So as everyone knows, we passed two phases now. Turning the Chaos into Order required us to organize Time then Get our thoughts together. This time we are in a situation with our Reality." (2)

"That's one hell of a situation, guys." (4)

"Well, at least with the four of us going Hive Mind… or Mind Hive… which one is this?" (1)

"That's strange, I agree. We are in the same person's head but we are also sharing the same head. God! That's too confusing." (3)

"Either way, Reality is very unorganized right at the moment." (1)

"For that, that is why this space is like this. Blank and White. We are outside the text of our story." (3)

"Off text… that's like we are novel characters on a blank page. I see the irony." (2)

"So, in order to fix this, we need to write ourselves in the story." (4)

"We now have the power over this White Space. We can rewrite it." (1)

"No no no, we need to write back." (2)

"Write back. That's a good term. This means we need everything we had right at the moment we fell into the Chaos." (4)

"And exactly in details about how we were at the time. But we are missing one great detail." (3)

"Once we set it all back, we will return back to the chaos once again and all these events will repeat themselves unless…" (2)

"Unless we know what we are up against." (1)

"For all that we know, we were dragged into the Chaos by some being and it may be Sithis. Either way, some being used our plan to send Mannimarco to the Void and opened up a loophole so we get devoured as well." (3)

"Remember, our Fate is only restrained to our Universe, outside of it. We are weaker and we don't possess neither magic nor any sort of leverage." (4)

"If anyone has this sort of power, it should be a Higher Existence from a less stable world." (3)

"What we know about the Stable Worlds is that they have more reality than ours thus they possess no Powers or Magic. Earth for example." (1)

"So our enemy may be that thing Shadow once talked about, the danger threatening Earth." (2)

"There is a fair chance. Still, we don't know much and can't point fingers. Let's start our work now, shall we?" (4)

The situation was much more understandable than before. The Jons managed to get themselves a destination and a threat to be wary of. With the work laid out, the four started working on recreating themselves on a well-detailed scale.

Chaos dissolves things. If the Outer Space is a vacuum to Air then Chaos is a vacuum to Time. Jon's survived but he needs to regain the time he lost, it was part of the reason he split in four. Just like Auri-El, Akatosh, Alkosh and Alduin. To exist, he needed his four aspects that maintain this Spacetime he is in. As a four-dimensional manifold, 3 Jons keep the space while one maintains Time.

With this knowledge, the four of them started recreating their own new aspect by mantling one another. They first needed to "Write Back" everything about themselves.

The First was Nefertiti. Their Fluffiest Friend in the whole wide world. Once she finally regained being, she experienced a four-way patting from the fluff-hungry Jons.

What came after that were definitely the Sin Artifacts. Greed had taken enough damage from the Chaos and the Jons had to 3D print it from memory, Pride was hard to pull, Lust was unstable and Wrath was inactive.

It didn't end here as the Cube was recreated too with every piece of inventory stored in it. This process required Jon almost two mental years to put all that stuff together.

Jon was left with two things he didn't recreate yet. One of them kept slipping out of his mind and the other was just something he seemed to have forgotten.

"Why would a thing keep slipping out of our mind?" (3)

"Interesting question. I have a theory." (1)

"Entertain us." (2)

"I think the thing that keeps slipping was protected by a Disregarding Spell, you know, like the one from that time we snuck to High Hrothgar." (1)

"Someone planted an item on us and protected it from others noticing it may sound like one person to me." (4)

"Nurina." (1)

"She's the only one who knows how to pull that one out as far as we know." (2)

"Still, that is strange. We are not fully Jon so we can't remember such a thing but if there is someone who can…" (2)

The four Jons turned around.

"Lady of Naps." (1)

"Mistress of Grace." (2)

"Queen of Fluff." (3)

"Her Meowjesty." (4)

The four of them were embarrassingly posing around the napping Nefertiti who opened her eyes knowing that her troublesome Hoomans are up to no good.

"Hoomans. Fluff off."

"Yes, but we are trying to remember something only you can remember." (1)

"Fine, Hoomans. Be quick."

"An item belonged to Nurina, she must have planted on Jon for a long time and he must have never parted with it." (2)

"It may be big or small but at least cherished as a memento." (3)

"And must have been there almost all the time." (4)

The Four Jons described to her something that she can never mess. Something she is 100% familiar with ever since Jon adopted her.

How could these four idiots forget about it?

The thought made her take a human form and look at them strangely.

"You cat to be kitten me!"

There was one item that fit the description rather very well.

"Nurina's Enchanted Golden Ring of course."

The Golden Ring! The four Jons could now recollect what was slipping off their minds and became pale.

How could they ever forget about the most important thing Jon cherished more than anything.

The Ring was given to Jon way before he left Riften for the first time. Nurina gave it to him around the time she started teaching him. The Ring was simply too good for its incredible Magicka Regeneration ability but more to that, Jon could never see through that ring.

Yet the details, the texture, the carvings. He can never forget those.

The Ring was there almost everywhere he went. The Adventures, the Battles, the Heists, Even at his wedding he was wearing it. Also, when he was trapped in the Briarheart Tree, he lost some fingers but he had the finger which had that ring intact.

"Hoomans!"

And no one ever tried to loot it from him

"Hoomans!"

This is strange! It is not just gold, it is also enchanted and…

"Hoomans!"

There was that strange thing… he never…

He never took that ring off either.

"HOOMAN!"

Nefertiti jumped off her place and hugged Jon.

He never noticed but all of a sudden, he was being put back together, Jon after Jon.

He returned… as one.

"How on…"

He wanted to hold Nefertiti's shoulder but as soon as his eyes landed on his hand, he saw something that spooked him.

The Ring was there… back on its own.

He didn't need to write it back but it returned and with a glow on top of it.

"Hooman, your ring is glowing."

"Yeah… I can see."

Just what absurdity did Nurina plant on him for all these years.

"This thing… it put me back together. I had a plan to do so but it would take time… why would it… Time?"

Jon had an absurd idea.

"Time? Is this ring powered by Time?"

Jon never had the chance to see such a thing. Something that consumes time was on his hand for years… it must have… some sort of recorded him. A Recorder of a sort?

Nothing would pull a being back together to a perfect full state unless it is getting a record of him. Backup & Recovery if he wanted to put it in an accurate manner.

Nurina was incredible at everything and no matter how much more Jon learns, he finds himself understanding how an incredible mage his adoptive mother is. If Jon had the Power of an Immortal combined with that ring he…

"Nurina, you… you've got to be kidding me."

If this hand landed in the hands of a Higher Existence, it can be used to…

"Travel Back in Time."

Such a thing was completely out of Jon's league. Even if he could utter the words, he can't imagine the magic itself. If Nurina had created an item to go back in Time, she must have made it to return back and save her family during the Destruction of the City of Vivec.

That was Nurina's regret… her family. But she now has the means to return back in time. Even if it creates a Dragon Break and destroys 200 years' worth of World History, Jon knew that Nurina was a selfish person regarding the ones she loves. Why hasn't she done it?

Why put it around his fingers?

That is a question only she can answer. Jon dejectedly accepted that and kissed the ring.

"I guess we just need to get done with our business here, right?" Jon said.

Nefertiti let go of him and asked.

"What do we need?"

"When we entered the Chaos, we had someone else with us. We need him around." Jon said.

Nefertiti frowned immediately.

"That evil elf dog person mage." She said meaning Mannimarco.

"Quite accurate, your Fluffness, but not quite right." Jon said.

He moved back to the table planted on the Blank White space and pulled out a quill and a paper.

"The one who entered with us was indeed Mannimarco but we don't need him, in the Chaos, souls are irrelevant. What we need is that guy."

Jon started writing for some time before witnessing the Manifestation of another individual. Nefertiti hid behind Jon as she felt uncomfortable with that person being around.

On the other hand, that person opened his eyes and looked around with an expression as blank as the space they are in.

Jon stood in front of him, the last piece of getting back to the Text of the Story. Maybe, the one character who wasn't given the chance to play a fair role or have the right ending.

"Hello, my name is Jon, you can call me Krilon. I am friends with Isha." Jon offered a handshake, "You must be Zain."

———————————

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