//------------------------------//
// In Footsteps 
// Story: Order and Chaos 
// by Tatsurou 
//------------------------------//

	As Discord slowly grew older, the things Sheogorath had him do changed.  Being older and more expressive meant less freedom to do whatever he wanted, but in exchange it brought new areas for fun he'd never even considered.  Sheogorath had taken to sending Discord on 'quests' throughout the Isles and beyond.  This could involve anything from fetching an item to trapping or destroying specific types of animals, and even mediating between the Golden Saints and Dark Seducers when they clashed (which they did frequently).  Discord still didn't like the Golden Saints' uptight attitude, and the Dark Seducers still left him feeling odd...but he found himself drifting towards Dementia more and more when he had free time in the Isles.  For some reason, this mightily amused Sheogorath and Sanguine.

One thing that Discord found surprising was that there were a great many more lessons now.  Before he'd begun to talk, Sheogorath had let him more or less run free both physically and magically.  Now, he was being taught how magic worked in the various realms of Aurbis, Anu and Padomy, Anui-el and Sithis, Daedra and Aedra, and how his own magic - not of any of these things - worked with and influenced each of these things.  It was a lot for him to take in, but he struggled to do so since Sheogorath was rather insistent he understand these things.  Admittedly, the knowledge seemed to make his magic stronger and let him wield more of his power in Realms other than the Shivering Isles and Mundus...but it hurt his head to keep all that knowledge.  He didn't want to have to think.  He just wanted to live and have fun.  Was that so wrong?

Any time he voiced a complaint along these lines, Sheogorath would back off, letting him take a break from lessons and just enjoy himself.  But each time he did...a look of worry crossed the Mad Prince's face, dashed away by whatever mad gallivant they got up to next.  That look of worry always scared Discord...as it was the same look Sheogorath had when he'd obliterated that first obelisk he'd discovered in the Isles.  It was why Discord hadn't told him about the two other obelisks he'd discovered since.

As a result, he kept his complaints to himself.  Every so often, he did vent to one of the other Daedra who were his friends, but they never seemed to know what to say.  Clavicus Vile always seemed to get especially somber when he vented to him, so Discord now did the only thing he could do.  Leaving a note for his Dad that he was off to clear his head, he made his way into Mundus.

He swam through the air slowly, struggling to both think and not think at the same time as he went looking for something, anything, to help him bring his mind into focus.  He wanted to help his Dad.  He wanted him to be proud of him.  He wanted him to stay his Dad.  But the grey man...

Discord shuddered slightly.  One thing he hadn't told anyone was that an obelisk had appeared right next to him as he'd been taking a nap in the Isles, and he'd experienced a nightmare of a grey man clad in metal reaching for him.  He hadn't told anyone about that nightmare, but he'd had it every so often since.  What was strange was that it wasn't the grey man himself that made the nightmare frightening, or even that it was reaching for him.  It was the sense of echoing loneliness and implacable deadness within the grey man that filled Discord with dread, as though the very existence of the grey man and his nature erased the very concept of hope.

"Well, what a strange creature to find in Ghostgate."

Discord let out a yelp as he pulled himself from his thoughts, finding himself in a tall tower in front of a white-haired human with ancient eyes.  The human was garbed in simple black armor, and seemed rather unassuming to normal senses.  "Sorry, wasn't watching where I was..."  Discord's voice trailed off as his other senses kicked in.  He couldn't see an aura of power like he could with the Daedra, or the inherent link to the energies of the world as he had with Akatosh.  In fact, he could sense...nothing.  Everything about this individual just screamed 'perfectly ordinary human'...but something much deeper inside Discord's soul screamed all the louder that this being was anything but mortal.

The human chuckled softly.  "Well now, you're much more perceptive than anyone I've met like this before.  However, I think I'll keep things like this.  If I didn't, things would get...complicated."  He took a seat, silently inviting Discord to join him.  "Besides, you're looking for a solution to a problem you barely understand, and old men are much easier to accept advice from, wouldn't you say?  We've, how you say, seen it all?"

Discord floated over to eye level with the man.  "Who...are you?" he asked carefully.

"You can call me Wulf, Discord," the man responded readily.  "And you're scared for yourself, your father, and the future?"

Discord nodded.  Akatosh had known more than expected, and the Daedra frequently had extra information than what they should.  This being, whoever he was, was likely greater than Aedra or Daedra - probably something he hadn't learned about yet - so it wasn't unreasonable that he'd know a lot more.  "Yeah...the grey man..."

Wulf gently stroked Discord's short white hair, rubbing his head between horn and antler.  "You are a strange being.  You have a cruel mind, a good heart, impish mischief...and so much love it scares you, because of how easily losing it could destroy you.  When you appeared in the Isles, you felt safe because all around you could not be lost...except now you know the one most important to you could be."

"Can't I...fix it?" Discord asked worriedly.  "I...I don't want to lose him..."

"I don't think he wants you to fix it," Wulf offered compassionately.  "He is your father.  It is in the nature of good fathers to protect their children from that which they don't want them to have to face."  He looked Discord right in the eyes.  "Would you like that advice now?"

Discord nodded eagerly.  "Yes, I would."

"Time is not yet as short as either of you believe," Wulf explained.  "For now, enjoy life, and your time together.  You will have a chance to grow up before you have to grow up."  He paused, glancing back and forth before leaning in to whisper.  "It isn't my business, and Akatosh would be unhappy if he knew, but I've made sure of it."  Grinning conspiratorially - an expression Discord quickly mirrored - Wulf sat back.  "My second bit of advice is something I know from experience, the very experience that allows me to be here to pass it on to you.  If you are daring, and willing to risk all for that which is most important to you, and above all stay determined...there is always another solution, if you're willing to face it."

Discord blinked in surprise.  Somehow, the words - as cryptic and non-specific as they were - had relaxed many of his worries.  "T-thanks Mr. Wulf," he offered warmly.  "I don't know why...but I feel much better now."

Smiling, Wulf held out a golden coin.  "This is my lucky coin, Discord," he offered warmly.  "It has brought me luck, and to everyone I have ever loaned it out to.  I think you need it more than anyone else now."  He gently laid the coin in Discord's lion paw.  "And one last piece of advice.  Don't fear the tower."

Discord's gaze turned to the coin as he turned it over, feeling the luck magic inside it.  He then blinked at those last words.  "What do you-"  When he looked up, Wulf was gone as though he had never been there.  There weren't even boot or butt imprints in the dust of the tower.  Discord grinned widely.  "Oh, he's good."

Now feeling orders of magnitude better, he flowed away.

Elsewhere in reality, a pointy-eared being stood beside Wulf.  "I bet he won't figure it out."

"1000 souls says he succeeds," Wulf responded readily.

"Make it 2000 he fails," the pointy-eared man responded.  "This will surely be entertaining."

Wulf chuckled softly, slowly appearing younger and more full of fire.  "You're on, Vivec."