Rise of the Empire

Betterment of the Empire

Octavus Merill was tired, yet trekked to his destination. Inigo walked nearby, informing his best friend about something about fleas and the stone walls that surrounded them. Dressed in his Heroic Legion Uniform, he wasted no time get to his destination. The busy capital of the Empire is usually very vibrant, but now, it sat in quiet. Their beloved Emperor was dying and it hurt them dearly.
Octavus stopped and turned towards Inigo.

"Inigo, please wait at the Inn, I need to face this alone" He asked his greatest friend.

"Are you sure my friend, I promised to be by your side no matter what!" Inigo exclaimed, visibly upset by Octavus's request. Octavus stared at Inigo and Inigo got the message and turned back towards the Inn.

Octavus took a deep breath and continued towards the White-Gold Tower. He took note of the grieving citizens and sighed. The man that was holding the Empire together was dying and they feared the future.

'The Empire is crumbling and we must remain strong during these dark times' Octavus thought to himself. He fought to protect the union and was going to continue fighting. He arrived at the gates and looked up in awe. He saw the capital many times as a child but it never ceases to amaze him. Penticus Oculus guards lined the battlements and the main gate. He approached the Gatekeeper and saluted him

"Ah, General Merill, I apologize but I must see your Identification papers and your official guarantee ticket" Octavus nods at the young soldier and hands him what he asked for

"Wow, The Emperor wants to talk to you on his death bed? Maybe he'll make you our next Emperor" Octavus and the Gatekeeper chuckle at this but quickly regain their bearings. The Gatekeeper steps aside and let's Octavus inside.
The trip to the chambers were uninteresting as most of the Palace Staff were sent home for the unforeseeable future. He knocked once at the door and it opened to a scrabble but it ceased when they noticed him. It was quiet, the room dimly lit by a chandelier.

"Approach me Octavus" a weak voice sounded from the bed. The surrounding occupants stepped aside, revealing a frail but determined face. Octavus looked at the person with sad eyes and sighed. He walked towards The Emperor, his footsteps making a metal tapping sound on the stone floor. Two of the occupants glared daggers at Octavus, but he paid them no mind.

He reached the bed and kneeled down to The Emperor's level.

" Your highness, I have arrived to hear your message" Octavus spoke, nearly cringing at the politeness in his voice.

" PFFT quit with the formalities, I'm dying here for Divine's sake." The Emperor said, coughing as he laughed. Octavus nodded, obeying his word

"Sorry, I haven't spoken to you since I was a lad, I was just curious about what you wanted with a simple son of one of your servants?" Octavus questioned. The Emperor smiled at him and grasped onto Octavus's hand. Octavus was surprised but hid it well, not wanting to appear weak in front of Imperial Elder Council, who he deduced the other occupants were.

"Please listen to me. I realized that the Empire is failing COUGH COUGH it hasn't been strong ever since the collapse of the Septim Dynasty. Now, we barely survived the Great War and the Aurelius Revolt, so I deduced something...."

"And what was that Father?" The young man, who appeared to around the same age as Octavus, spoke.

"I needed to find someone more suitable to rule I over Tamriel. The Mede Dynasty COUGH has been filled with hardships. Now my successor is in this room, and I called you all here to announce him" Titus wheezed out. He wiped his blood lips with his handkerchief.

"It is obviously me, as I AM the crowned prince of the Empire" The young man states, looking rather smug about what he said.

"Just listen to what he says Prince Orion, it is quite rude to interrupt him" Octavus orders, glaring at the Prince, who took the hint and shut his mouth.
"The Next Emperor of the Tamriellic Empire is......" Everyone looked towards Prince Orion, certain that it was him.

"Octavus Merill, 9th Champion of Cyrodill and General of the 12th Legion!"