Flackback
"I assume you are worried about this, Lucifer."
"Not as worried as you my lord, but yes. I am."
Lucifer sighed as he carefully strolled through the beautiful Garden of the Divines, the polar opposite of the busy and stressed Hall of Divines. It was a relaxation area for the gods, its own transparent glass brick paths allowing them a clear view of the radiant and holy land of Sovngarde, Nirn's heaven, below. Where the path did not touch, there was divine gold grass, kept to perfection as little daises and bluebells spotted the glistening blanket of gold. The trees weren't like ordinary trees, with their green leaves forming like a bush at their trunks while the branches spread about in the air like actual roots. And in the center of the garden that spanned indefinitely was an inhumanly massive tree, its huge trunk supporting up a great planet-like translucent body. The tree Yggdrasil.
And what was on it was what they were talking about. The giant spherical body made out of flames only appeared whenever a new god is to be born. "This is to be my son..." Akatosh, in the form of an old wise man with white hair that covered the entirely of his head and reached his shoulders, looked on at the body. His wizened wrinkled hands held carefully his great Hourglass, Jikan Sunadokei. The oak stand around the never blurry glass contributed well to the old look Akatosh was giving, making Lucifer feel very young near the Supreme God of Time.
The male was donned in a white mandarin-style jacket, over a white hakama, and his bare feet felt warm against the cool surface of the glass brick path. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbow, revealing their black undersurface, and his collar was upturned, reaching the cheeks of his smooth youth-like face. His hair, like the night itself, was braided in a Chinese ponytail that reached down till his waist, also leaving enough freedom for the remainder to form a scruffy look. His eyes were heterochromatic, with his right eye a stunning ever-changing multitude of colours and his left a serious emotionless black. Lucifer was easily taller than Akatosh, his 2.0-metre tall form towering over the man's diminutive 1.5. "Are you sure he's your son?" His concern was undisguised. "Honest as usual, Lucifer." Akatosh smiled.
"Look at the flames," Akatosh pointed towards the huge 'egg' and Lucifer knew he had asked a stupid question. He replied apologetically. "They are black." Indeed they are, the sphere dark rolling black fire surrounding what seemed like a condensed being of energy, alive yet asleep. A draconic-like being.
"The second dragon god." Akatosh nodded in approval as he used his long sleeves to wipe off whatever invisible dust was on his hourglass. A habit that has arisen from holding on to the artifact for so long. The sand in the top half had been almost been depleted, as it dropped down the neck grain by grain. "And a new age soon enough."
"What will you call him, sir?"
"I do not know. He's still too young. And too inexperienced."
"My Lord?"
"He'll need a caretaker." Akatosh grinned as he turned to look at Lucifer. "Me...me?" Lucifer exclaimed in shock.
"Hahahaha! Of course not just you, silly! I'm sure I will still be around to give the child a good father."
"Then why did you bring me here, sir? I've enough trouble with dealings with demons." Lucifer then felt he spoke too much and hurriedly apologized. "Forgive my rudeness, My Lord!" Of course the god of time was sure to be busier than him.
"I forgive you, Lucifer. I brought you here to talk with you about what you think about him."
"Him, sir?"
"Don't worry, Lucifer. This isn't Oblivion. You can speak as you please." Akatosh gestured Lucifer to sit down with him on what seemed like a tree shaped of a chairs and table. Even though it was raw, the wood was smooth and of a very fine quality, making more than a comfortable sitting place.
"Sir, I seriously don't think your time is done yet. You have achieved much in your reign as Time God. The mortals worship you. The Aedra sing praises of your deeds. The Daedra speak of you as if you are their bane. The dragons call you their idol and their ancestor. Nirn revels in your blessings and your-." "Cup of tea?" Akatosh suddenly offered.
"No thanks, kind Lord." Lucifer continued, using his arms to put more power into his words. "But in short, I really believe this...this...Alduin...this destroyer...this devourer...this master...might just be a bit too much for us. And if his birth spells your end, he is a serious threat to us and everyone out there. Even my wife..." Lucifer abruptly halted. He misspoke once again. "I'm sorry. I have...insulted you..."
"No worries, Lucifer, God of Exorcism and Boundaries. I perfectly understand how you feel. I cannot deny that I am uneasy with how powerful his black flames are compared to my own and that parasitic connection between me and him has been draining my strength everyday. In a few millennia, I might not be able to even control Time anymore. But thank you, Lucifer."
"My Lord?"
"Alduin he shall be. Maybe it is fate that brought that name to your mouth. I'm never sure about these things." Akatosh nodded cheekily. "But one thing I am sure about, Lucifer. You will be his guardian."
"Guar...Guardian, sir? Then who will take my place?"
"Don't worry, I'm sure Yggdrasil will come up with something soon enough. But I must have you as Alduin's guardian. And also the universe's."
"The universe?"
"I know a great many facts. And I also can feel even more possibilities. But one of them stands out like a firefly in a black chimney, prominent and bright. You see, Lucifer. Most of the gods here merely see Alduin as a replacement for me, so that I can live my final eras in retirement. They see Alduin doing what I do all the time, being like me, working like me, talking like me. Essentially they see Alduin as ME. But you perceive him differently. As a different person. And while our views might not agree, we both share this exact same quality. You and me and Gospel."
"Gospel?"
"I'll introduce her soon enough. But I feel that Alduin will become me and beyond. He will turn into a pioneer of new greater ages, the forebringer of many amazing things and his reign will surpass my own." Akatosh smiled to himself as he seemed to soak himself in his joyful expectations.
"However, to make such a god, I need good guardians. Guardians who can see that he is not just me. Guardians who can separate their perception of me and him. Else, he would just develop into another Akatosh and we wouldn't want that. So please, Lucifer. Take this role as his guardian."
"I...I..." Lucifer felt dumbfounded. He had only been a pretty young member of the God force and was also one of the weakest in terms of power. The only reason he got to speak with Akatosh at such friendly terms was because the God of Time found his young courageous attitude to be many times more interesting than the oldies of the group. "But...but..."
But Lucifer couldn't refuse when he looked into Akatosh's pleading eyes. It was one of the god's greatest qualities. His voice and his eyes made a very deadly combo that no one could refuse. One was persuasive to insane degrees while the other was emotional enough to make others empathize exactly. It was this trait of his that had allowed him to easily persuade the Daedra to draw the line and call a state of balance, preventing all-out divine war. And now, it was working its magic.
"I...I would be honoured to be his guardian, My Lord." Lucifer couldn't help but smile as he accepted. "So what do you want me to do?"
"First, we must talk about your wife."
"My...wife? Mary? What about her?"
"She's a mortal, right? And I've heard about her pregnancy. I must say I'm impressed, Lucifer." Lucifer blushed in embarrassment at Akatosh's congratulations. But he could sense the serious atmosphere and he instinctively tensed up. "Don't tell me..."
"You must leave her, Lucifer. Make sure you hide her well."
"Why?"
"Your presence with her has granted her and the baby a massive amount of Divine energy. And while I am sure that the Daedric Princes will know their lines, one of their subordinates might not be so responsible."
"You mean, a Daedra rookie is hunting them right now? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Lucifer jumped back up to his feet as he raised his hand. Within moments, his signature curved claymore came into his hand, materilized from a collection of light beams. "If I did, you wouldn't even listen to what I have to say. Just like now." Akatosh glared at Lucifer. Now the old man didn't look so old now. Crossing certain speaking rules were okay with him but doing things rashly and without thought was most certainly something he could not tolerate,
"I am sorry, Lucifer. You have to do what must be done."
"What do you mean?" Lucifer gawked at his words. Akatosh's grim face didn't help to ease his worry.
"If you truly want to give Mary a good rest, you will do more than leave and hide her."
Lucifer's eyes widened in realization, his right eye now a shade of aqua blue. "No way..." Akatosh watched in pity as Lucifer dropped to his knees, the man stunned to silence. His pupils were shaky, as if they were little molecules vibrating on the spot. As he let the claymore drop to his shivering side, Lucifer felt his teeth chatter in fear and frustration.
"Go, Lucifer. Go and see her for the last time."
Hope you like this first of many flashbacks. This gives a little insight into Lucifer's past before he went into Alduin. I'm sure you might be able to guess what he did. It was also what he did that gave him the understanding of necessary evil. Hope you like and please review!
