When the seven arrived back in Azura's realm, Alderich and Sumika were waiting for them in the throne room alongside Azura. They, like Makenna, had changed, but nothing so terrible as like Makenna. Their skin was now the same pale color as Azura's, the color of a Chimer. Alderich's eyes were now a silvery white to match his hair and Sumika's were a bright amber not so different from what the Dunmers' had been changed to. Alderich wore a cast over his left leg, presumably a souvenir from his encounter with the golem, he would not be fighting for a few weeks.

"Welcome Wild Cards," Azura greeted the group as they entered her throne room. "It is with mixed blessings you enter my hall."

"Indeed it is my lady," Isaiah agreed as he and the other six knelt.

"Rise, all of you," Azura told them.

"Where is Makenna?" Alderich asked the group. "And who are these two?"

"I am Christopher Showers," the black steel clad Nord introduced himself.

"And I am Hanele," the Altmer presented herself.

"Where is Makenna?" Alderich repeated.

"Your brother is serving as my replacement," Hanele told him regretfully.

"You…" Alderich stared at her. "You are the shade!" Alderich drew his sword and nearly fell over trying to overbalance on his broken leg.

"You are in no condition and she is no enemy," Isaiah told him.

"And you will have trouble learning your place," Azura told him.

"What does she mean by that?" Alfonso asked his leader.

"I am not the one to lead the Wild Cards anymore…" Isaiah told the eight others.

"Have any of you noticed how many you now number?" Azura asked them.

"Nine," Eyana said without placing any semblance on the number.

"One for each of the Aedra," Azura told them. "You nine assembled here represent the Nine Divines."

"I am not sure we understand," Sumika told the Daedric Prince.

"Only the Nine may combat Sithis as he tries to undo this existence," Hanele told them.

"Each of you has been chosen and blessed by one of the Nine to be their champions against the Lord of the Void," Azura told them. "As much as we daedra dislike the Aedra, we must respect their power in this world."

"Why us?" Alderich questioned astounded.

"I know not the reasons behind their choices," Azura said, "but I do see a power within each of you."

"Why does Sithis want us assembled if we are charged with stopping him?" Sumika brought around a valid point.

"As much as the Aedra need us to defend this world," Hanele started, "Sithis needs to destroy the Aedras' mortal anchors to Nirn to destroy it."

"The Prince of Destruction has torn down the barriers between Tamriel and Oblivion in an attempt to again reign on Tamriel's surface," Azura explained. "He has had an effect he did not foresee however: the barriers to Oblivion were tightly knit with those to the Void. Mehrunes Dagon's destruction of them has allowed Sithis passage as well."

"Why does Sithis not just leave Nirn be?" Ryan queried.

"He views existence as a blight on otherwise perfect nothingness," Hanele answered.

"What do we do?" Alderich asked.

"You are charged with restoring and defending the barriers between Nirn and the Void," Azura replied. "Even as we speak, Sithis' forces are attempting to weaken them in the various planes of Oblivion. You must travel the realms to repair them. But please keep in mind we daedra are proud creatures, many of us will see fit to fix the problem ourselves without your help, but only you may succeed. You must make them see this."

"How do we persuade Daedric Princes?" Christopher, to whom all of this was new, asked.

"Present yourselves as the champions of the Aedra and request to assist them," Azura answered. "Many of them will no doubt have trials for you to prove yourselves, but you must persuade them. Alderich, champion of the Dragon God of Time Akatosh, Isaiah Osis, champion of the Man-God Talos, Alfonso Furey, champion of the God of Mercy Stendarr, Ryan Pryde, champion of the God of Wisdom and Logic Julianos, Sumika, champion of the Goddess of Beauty Dibella, Eyana, champion of the Goddess of Air Kynareth, Jaime Weaver, champion of the God of the Cycle of Birth and Death Arkay, Christopher Showers, champion of the God of Communication Zenithar, and Hanele, champion of the Mother-Goddess Mara. You are existence's only hopes."

"So…" Sumika started. "If Isaiah is not to lead us anymore, who will?"

"The Nine are lead by Akatosh," Azura told her, "so his champion will lead the Wild Cards."

"It is yours Alderich…" Isaiah conceded.