"Throughout history things have been lost, people forgotten, events unknown to us. Luckily, the College has information on each Era. Most of the 1st and 2nd are secondhand tales, but we do have the handful of Shalidor's texts and miscellaneous scholars. There is some absurd blanks throughout the timeline, however. The 4th Era is the biggest concern we have.
"Readily known as the Era the Dragonborn returned and brought dragons, that is not all there is to the 4th. We have a basic understanding of other major events. The Great War, which leads to the White-Gold Concordat; The Dragonborn appears; Three Elder Scrolls are discovered; Alduin, Bane of Kings, is finally killed; The assassination of Titus Mede III; The Thieves Guild is once again prominent; Daedra are stirred; The Blades are reestablished; The Companions reforge Wuuthrad and discover a cure for Werewolf Lycanthropes; The Eye of Magnus is uncovered in Saarthal; Auriel's artifacts are uncovered; Miraak appears on Solstheim; so on and so forth.
"But where is the bulk of the details? Many of these events happened in less than ten years. And we have come across work undeniably stating the Dragonborn is behind or connected to much of it. The Dragonborn is a mystery in itself. We know them to be the Last of their kind, but their name, species, and even gender are unknown to us. How could a being with so many facets and appearances be lost to the folds of time? They affected citizens, guards, guilds, Jarls, royalty, and an entire Empire. This is all wrong.
"Where did they come from? What were they? What happened to them? How were they so powerful and influential to one time period? This person is tied to everything we know, and it is our duty as scholars to understand our past to strengthen our future.
"Thus this class was formed. You are all the invited students, recommended by professors for multiple reasons. We are here to learn who and what the Last Dragonborn was, and all that became of them. This class will last as long as is required to get all we seek. Without a doubt you all realize this will take resources. Even we do not have them. So with clearance from I and the Arch Mage, students will be permitted to travel for information.
"For specific details, return here tomorrow immediately after lunch. This is not school-wide, so we suggest you talk to only others in this room for the time being. Again, congratulations to you all. I hope you all return to help."
As Professor Aurrin left, the room erupted in noise. There were well over one hundred of us in the room. People began to slowly shuffle out of the room. The true atmosphere of the room was nervous. But I left wondrous.
The Fourth Era was very captivating since so much had occurred. Even after the Oblivion Crisis. After a Daedra enters Tamriel, a Dragonborn reappears. And oh, look! They are the last of their kind and even brought back dragons for the first time since Tiber Septim.
I am Lillianna, preferably Lianna. My father also happens to be the Arch Mage. He is the Dunmer flowing through my veins, and the Altmer is unknown to me. Even if I take after her more. I am the youngest of their eight. We are all full siblings, but our mother is a complete mystery. Let's allow that to fade right now.
Bendrick, our father, obviously wishes to see all of our magical potential met. And so each of us was sent to the College at about age twelve. Our eldest sibling, Onmund, did not remain in the field of magic as was intended. Rather, he left the College and pursued adventure. The third eldest, Verren, left by age sixteen for High Hrothgar. With all of the unmet expectations, Bendrick set a rule.
Being there were eight of us, he split the group in half. Four children would be allowed adventure to seek friends, fortune, and fate. The four left would keep the "last of the family's dignity" and pursue studies in the College. You can see the dilemma with being youngest. I was left to pursue Conjuration at the school despite anything I wished.
To improve it all, my father is no family man. He is erratic in visits (at best,) even while you are studying in the same building. The rarer they are, the longer a lecture you endure. Mostly regarding your lessons. The College held more for him. The fact he wasn't present in our lives from age one to twelve is the proof. Each kid was scattered about Skyrim with a close friend of our mother on her various estates.
I grew up in two different houses. We went between Hjerim in Windhelm and Lakeview Manor in Falkreath. My "nanny" was Serana. She was a serious Nord woman, but very kind at heart. As stubborn as she could be, I adored her with my whole heart. She was the reason I coped with being a Mage.
Since Serana refused me scavenging and hunting, I grew interested in Conjuration and books. Every room was filled with various volumes and I took to them. One that caught me was The Book of the Dragonborn.
Secretly, Dragonborn lore thrilled me. I was so intrigued that I asked Serana questions. I burnt her out, but she complied. At least until Bendrick heard mention of it on a birthday visit.
The Dragonborn was touchy with him. I would learn that eventually. It must be because he equates the Greybeards with them and we "lost" Verren to them. I never believed he was lost. All I could really say was him leaving left Bendrick with even less of our mother. And it made him all the more introverted.
Perhaps his absence could prove useful. Verren would be a valuable resource in my studies and that could appease Bendrick. Maybe he was even a viable excuse to venture for studies. I thought about that for a long time.
YOU ARE READING
The Lost Era
FanfictionIt's been an entire Era and countless hundreds of years since anyone last met the Dragonborn. Our main character delves into their story and her own life. Politics will appear in both her family and her studies. Accompany her through the Era that wa...
