Nothing is eternal.

His vision always confirmed that.

An Empire, a God, a power beyond mortal comprehension can reign for centuries; for generations without end, all would crumble one day. Vivec saw countless possibilities for the future in his meditative dreams, all of which had a chance of becoming reality, even the most chaotic and unbelievable ones. Seeing how the events play out has become an entertainment for Vivec, an amusement in a life that many consider dull and boring. However, one element remained constant among most of those dreams, so prevalent that Vivec accepted it as the likeliest outcome.

He would die today.

This knowledge made the future easier to accept. The end of an era, the gates of Oblivion that were about to open, and the Daedra armies that shall swarm Tamriel. One way or another, Vivec's time will long be over by that moment. He will be in another realm, transcending the limits of his body, walking among the stars and moving from one reality to another, making his mind one with eternity itself. Perhaps he will even see the two of them beyond the veil…But first, his physical shell had to perish.

Vivec witnessed his executioner approach, a tall figure overtaking his vision. A mage dressed in azure robes with a mask covering her face and a staff infused with magic on her back. She was familiar to Vivec, for she rose to prominence before his eyes. A hero forged by Azura to undo everything the Tribunal stood for, her ultimate revenge…She almost succeeded, and the reforged blade of Nerevar on her belt suggested that she was about to make a final stride. The woman walked across the bridge directly to his temple, making Vivec smile and accept his fate. It has been a long era of flourishing, development, and pride for his people, but everything ends one day. Many cannot accept their defeat with grace, but Vivec has already made his peace with the sun of Tribunal's light being extinguished. Soon, he saw an armored ordinator coming into the inner sanctum.

"Lord Vivec, the Nerevarine has returned. She wishes to speak to you." He informed his god in a tone of reverence.

"I know." Vivec nodded. "Let her in. And let the two of us speak in private."

"Are you sure? With her powers, it would be wise for us to always watch her."

"There is no need. Whatever happens here was foretold. It is inevitable."

The ordinator nodded. Those who served Vivec learned not to question his cryptic words and simply obey his wishes. One after another, the ordinators left the inner sanctum, and the figure from Vivec's vision entered. She took her mask off and unveiled her face. Even after spending days traveling across Morrowind, no ashen storm could extinguish the golden tint on her skin. How ironic for Vivec's old friend to be reincarnated as an Atlmer, as if to serve as a bitter reminder of Dunmer's past as Chimer and have her skin reflect that of the Tribunal. Clearly, Azura lacked neither humor nor boldness.

And it was not just Azura who sought to challenge Vivec this time.

He could see the determination in Heleria's golden eyes. Whatever uncertainty she had in her soul was overtaken by proud dedication.

"Congratulations, sera," Vivec spoke softly and welcomed Heleria. "I trust your voyage to Mournhold has been fruitful?"

"Thank you, Vivec," Heleria responded politely yet confidently. Azura trained her champion well. The Nerevarine did not feel intimidated or inferior when speaking to a god of the Tribunal, although Vivec suspected another reason. "It has been more complicated than I expected…"

"Why don't you enlighten me?"

"It's everything I expected from the capital; I just didn't know I would get involved with the King himself so quickly." Heleria recounted. "Helseth is a difficult man to deal with. He nearly had the Dark Brotherhood kill me and then demanded my help, but we worked it out in the end."

"I see," Vivec said apathetically. The last thing he wanted to concern himself with was mortal matters, not in a moment like this. "And how fares Almalexia?" The bluntness of this question made Heleria freeze and reflexively look away for a second, but it was enough for Vivec to confirm his suspicions.

"Why do you think I've met her?"

"You were in her city, and she would never pass on an opportunity to meet the famed Nerevarine. After all, you carry the memory and inheritance of the man she once loved." Vivec said, noticing Heleria's face contort in disgust at those words. "Truthfully, I ask because of the blade you carry," Vivec said as he looked at Trueflame. "It once belonged to Nerevar, and you wouldn't be able to recover it without Almalexia's help."

"You're right…" Heleria said quietly. Something was on her mind, yet she could not force the words out of her mouth.

"May I see it?" Vivec wondered. "The flames of this blade are unmatched in beauty and deadliness."

"I am not good with blades, but if that's what you wish..." Heleria grabbed the blade, and the moment her hand touched the handle, it burst into primordial flames.

"Delightful!" Vivec said with a proud smile encroached on his face. "No words can relay how relieved I am that even though our time is over, the legacy of our past will live on…And for Almalexia, there is no death more poetic than to be struck down by the Nerevar's blade." He declared, making Heleria's hands shake and fear emerge in her eyes.

"What…What are you talking about?"

"No need to play coy with me. I see many things that mortals are bling to." Vivec declared and looked down with shame. "I find this situation sad, painfully so…But I understand why it ended this way. All I ask from you is honesty. Consider is repayment for helping you to defeat the Sixth House."

Heleria hesitated and took a deep breath. She was finally ready.

"Almalexia tormented Mournhold to maintain her power; she tricked me into believing Sotha Sil was the enemy when he was long dead by her own hand…She attempted to strike me down in Clockwork City and failed. You are right, Vivec. I killed Almalexia with this very blade." Heleria said quietly, as if in disbelief at her own triumph.

"Marvelous…You have truly outgrown the Tribunal."

"You don't blame me for killing one of your closest friends?"

"Almalexia was…Deteriorating. I hoped that it would take longer, but an end like this was inevitable. It was only fitting that you were the one to bring her down…Still, there is another matter, is there not?"

"What do you mean?"

"I am no fool, sera. I know of the prophecy. Your fate was to bring an end to Dagoth Ur and the Tribunal. You accomplished everything Azura demanded of you, becoming the hero who changed Morrowind forever. There is only one thread to tie, which you are looking at right now. Is that why you've come, Nerevarine? To relieve me of my duties?"

"I…" Heleria's lips quivered as she braced herself to look Vivec in the eyes. "I am tempted." She said with ease as if releasing the words she desperately tried to keep within. The woman clung to her burning blade. "The time of the Tribunal is over, and Mournhold was adamant proof of that. Almalexia terrorized her own people for power and gain and acted like a tyrant who demanded total obedience. Killing Sotha Sil was not enough for her; she used his servants to strike at Mournhold, and she killed innocents for her power play!" Heleria's voice grew furious. "Is that a goddess that is worthy of worship and reverence? The one that punishes those who are loyal to her? And you, Vivec…You might have helped me once, but you are no different. Or do you believe that threatening your people with annihilation the moment they stop bowing to your every whim is humane?"

"After all you've been through, you still remain a naive girl at your heart." Vivec smiled, not caring for Heleria's accusations.

"Do you think your indifference makes me want to show you mercy?"

"No, and I didn't ask for any." Vivec continued calmly. "I understand why you would see me in this way. You are a young outlander hailing from a distant land that is very different from our own. Ever since you set your foot on Vvardenfell, you were guided by Empire and Azura…Admittedly, the Tribunal has fallen far from glory. All of this has shaped your perception of us. It will take you time to fully grasp what transpired in Mournhold, for after centuries of prosperity, the Tribunal finally met its end. Only I remain…And a poet is incomplete without a soldier and a king. More relevantly, you and Azura have won, and I admit it. Whatever you choose to do, my days are numbered."

"You…" Heleria hesitated. "You would let me kill you? Just like that?"

"I would call it 'helping me to move on,' but from your point of view, killing is an accurate word. Should you choose to strike me down, I would not resist, nor would I call my guards. I would like to ask you to make it swift and treat my body's demise with dignity…But I realize that I have no right to ask of this after I treated your spiritual ancestor. Do your duty, sera, end this fading age, and avenge Nerevar; it is a fate to which I surrender myself."

"You…" Heleria took a deep breath. "That's not the reaction I expected."

"Life is full of surprises."

"It's not fate that you're surrendering yourself to…I do it to help the people of Morrowind. Almsivi has terrorized them long enough; now they will be free to find their own path without your shadow!"

"I disagree." Vivec shook his head. "There is no word more accurate than fate to describe our predicament."

"What do you mean?"

"Is it not obvious? Each and every one of your feats has been a part of a prophecy, the one that Azura waited for centuries to fulfill. The fates of both the Tribunal and Dagoth Ur have been sealed the moment you came to Vvardenfell."

"That might have been Azura's plan, but that's not…"

"Not what motivated you? Not what you had in mind when challenging Dagoth Ur? I do not doubt that, but your point of view is tertiary at its most charitable interpretation. You performed exactly as Azura intended. Your own motives are an illusion of free will, a component that made you play along with her plan more willingly. Your motives could come from any place, but without Azura's plan for you, you would not have come this far."

"You're wrong about me!" Heleria snapped. "Azura wanted to destroy you for her personal reasons, but why did she not do it before? Why did she wait for me, an Altmer from Alinor, to enact this plan? She needed me as much as I needed her. I was the one who fought and put my life on the line, and I did not do it to satisfy her ego! At first, I had to follow Imperial orders to avoid prison, but I grew to know the people of Morrowind, and I wanted to protect them where your Tribunal could not. Just because the prophecy is fulfilled doesn't mean that I will stop…This journey granted me powers and experience I could never dream of only a few years ago, and my words, 'god', I will not stop using them for good!" Heleria declared proudly. "I don't need Azura or anyone else to guide me…Thank you for helping me realize this." Heleria smiled with pride and sheathed her blade, quenching its flames.

"You are overtaken by delusions of grandeur. An unfortunate side-effect of you becoming a key pawn for the end of this era."

"Keep thinking that, I don't care anymore," Heleria said confidently. "Azura said that I was destined to end you, as well…But I won't. Because I am not a slave to prophecy. You can die at your own pace, but I would appreciate it if you stayed for at least a while. You'll see that you were wrong. I will show it. There are still plenty of problems in Morrowind where a newly-risen Nerevarine could help. It won't take long…Goodbye, Vivec. And watch." The Nerevarine turned around and walked towards the gates, leaving Vivec in complete solitude and silence. This was not the outcome he expected, but he was not surprised by it, either. The lone god let out a sigh of acceptance. He knew that soon, Heleria's arrogance would cost the Altmer her soul; there was nothing he could do to prevent the inevitable.

Vivec closed his eyes and continued his meditation.