U.O.T.W. Chapter 39 Last Laugh

• Posted by Sotek June 18, 2015 - Filed in TSC: CB Story - 1,027 views

   

  

   

  Sotek walked slowly towards the other students who were once again being lectured on the paramount’s of safety by Tolfdir. As Aela watched Sotek advanced across the vast hall, she felt her stomach calm down as she noticed the quiet but supremely confident pace which Sotek held. It was easily enforced by his tail which swished effortlessly side to side with every pace he took. Tolfdir’s eyebrows lifted as he turned his head towards Sotek while his hand quietened down the two students.

  “Are you able to use ward spells now?”  He asked as he watched Sotek move alongside the Khajiit.

   

  Sotek just nodded as he fixed his gaze upon the Alteration Trainer. Tolfdir studied him for a few seconds before he stood to the side out of the way of the students spell castings.

   

  “Good, because I’m expecting a good deal from you. Time will tell”. He stated.

   

  He once again called out to the three students.

  “First off, ward spells please”.

   

  The Khajiit and the Elf said their spells and quickly cast them. As before two ward spells shimmered in the air before solidifying in front of them.

   

  Then it was Soteks turn. He started to say the spell then a very loud “Cough, cough”. Echoed through the circular hall. Sotek turned to see Drevis the Illusion trainer who was with Colette the healer. He was shaking his head as he waved a finger straight at Sotek. Sotek smiled slightly and discretely nodded then after he took a deep breath, he started casting the spell again but this time not one word passed from his lips. Silently within moments a bright glimmering ward shield materialized in front of him and solidified in a few seconds to form a strong magical barrier.

   

  Tolfdir’s mouth fell open as he gazed at the barrier which Sotek had summoned before him with so little effort. He couldn’t help but feel impressed.

  “Oh well done”.

   

  The two students, J’Zargo the Khajiit and Nirya the Elf froze as they gawped at the magical barrier which Sotek had just silently cast. Although they regarded Sotek as a joke they couldn’t help but feel the cold tendrils of jealousy wrap around their hearts.

   

  Once all three shields have dispersed Tolfdir led them all outside to the courtyard where Mirabelle, Phinis and Faralda the lecturer of destruction were all waiting for them. Tolfdir spaced out the three students then stood to the side along with Aela who inquisitively looked on. Tolfdir nodded to Mirabelle before addressing Sotek and the other two students.

  “Now the second test is attacking a target. Are you all ready?”

   

  Both the Khajjit and Elf shouted out excitedly in their hasty reply.

  “Yes!!!”

   

  Sotek studied the three lecturers who were the other side of the courtyard. His opposite was Phinis the Conjuror so he watched the lecturer for a few moments before lowering his head as he calmed himself down. He felt hot and his mouth was parched despite the cold wintery breeze. He turned his head to Aela and caught her smiling back at him. She gave him a wink which filled Sotek with a strange calmness like he knew she had faith in him. He still felt hot though, his palms were sweaty and his throat cried out for water.

   

  By his feet, snow from a few days ago still lay undisturbed. Sotek broke away from the line and knelt down in the snow. He scooped up a great handful and rubbed the icy flakes on the back of his neck then across his brow. Trickles of water ran down his neck as icy particles melted almost instantly but the cooling effect was obvious. Despite Aela’s difficulty at reading Sotek’s face, she couldn’t help but know the ecstasy which Sotek was feeling. She had seen that particular face during several occasions before although she had always been on her back at the time. She felt her face redden as memories played through her mind until she snapped herself out of it. A quick glance round the courtyard told her that no one noticed her change of complexion. Everyone’s eyes were instead fixed on Sotek.

   

  He stood up and rolled his head around slowly before suddenly tensing up his arms and chest. A loud thud resided across the yard as his tail slammed down bringing Sotek to the height of his focus. He boldly stepped forwards then nodded.

  “I am ready”.

   

  The Elf tutted as she tapped her fingers together while the Khajiit stepped eagerly side to side. Nirya sniped a comment for Sotek’s behalf.

  “I was ready ages ago”.

   

  From the other side three circular black voids formed allowing familiars to enter the realm of men from the daedric realm which they were summoned from. The wolves ran across the courtyard as fast as they could while their howls cried out for vengeance at being so unwillingly summoned. Sotek’s eyes shot open and locked on a target. He didn’t think or second guess himself he just reacted to the new threat. A large fireball silently formed in his hands which he launched at the closing wolf. The ball of fire shot away from him and struck the Familiar perfectly in the head destroying it in a blazing inferno of heat and flames.

   

  J’Zargo franticly fired a fireball seconds after Sotek had but in his haste  he missed his target totally. A moment later he screamed out as the Familiar rapidly closed the gap between them.

   

  Nirya started casting a ice spear but she was far too fearful to concentrate. Moments later a shield formed in front of her blocking the Familiar who was now mere moments away from her.

   

  Sotek instantly fired another double cast fireball at the Khajiits familiar before it could leap at its intended victim. As before it exploded in a vast ball of flames. He then glanced at the Elf who was franticly trying to keep the barrier up while the spectral wolf attacked her. The wolf suddenly fell to the side as flames engulfed it dispelling it almost instantly.

   

  Mirabelle yelled from across the courtyard.

  “When students boast about being ready, we presume they are. Wake up J’zanrgo!”

   

  Sotek chuckled to himself then sneered at both the Elf and the Khajiit at the same time.

  “Protections great but you will have to strike back at some point. And what is the point of the most powerful spell’s if you can’t hit what your aiming at?” He glanced across to Aela who was leaning against a pillar slowly clapping at him while a broad smile filled her face. Sotek bowed down slightly at her which caused her to burst out laughing.

   

  At this point Tolfdir raised his hands up to silence Sotek and the two students who were clearly muttering to each other about Sotek’s actions.

  “The third test is simple. It is vital for mages to be able to summon aid. Now all of you summon something to help fight by your side”.

   

  Nirya’s hands moved together then slowly parted as she spoke a strange tongue. A few feet in front of her a large dark portal shimmered for several seconds before a giant elemental creature stepped out from the dark void. Her storm Atronach bellowed loudly with a thunderous roar while the Khajjit summoned up a less potent but still just as impressive Flame Atronach which danced in a circle while it’s flames crackled loudly.

   

  Sotek’s interest flicked between the two Atronach figures then he closed his eyes as his arm stretched out. A blue portal formed to be suddenly ripped open as a familiar leaped through the haze. Sotek’s familiar turned towards him then slowly walked around just in front of him as it patrolled the area.

   

  Tolfdir nodded enthusiastically at the other students before commenting on Sotek’s summoning skills.

  “Good, good. Familiars are ok but you really want something stronger at some point”. Despite the trainer seemingly being happy with Sotek’s summoning, Sotek knew that Tolfdir expected more from him.

   

  Sotek glanced down at his familiar as if deciding for himself whether it was suitable for the purpose of its summoning. It walked in front of him and howled loudly at him. He just stood there howling back at it before they both howled out in unison. Aela watched them both as a smile formed on her face. She knew two looks from Sotek and knew them well. The first was when he was on a high, like when he covered his neck in snow, when they made love. This was his other face which she recognised. It was Sotek’s classic ‘I don’t care what you think’  look. She knew at that moment he wouldn’t abandon the Familiar for something more potent. That wolf was the one he would stick with.

   

  The conjurer discretely walked past Aela and poked her in the ribs like he saw Sotek do earlier. She gave a slight squeal as she spun round towards him just to have a book discretely thrust into her arms. Before Aela could say anything Phinis wandered off.

   

  “Well done to everyone so far. Now the fourth test... Archery”. Tolfdir turned towards the other students who started complaining bitterly. “Spells are good but you need to adapt. There are several weapons you can conjure to use in your defence and for attacking”.

   

  Both the students moaned loudly to each other.

  “But we don’t have bows”.

   

  Sotek strode past them mockingly tutting at the pair of them.

  “That’s a shame”. He silently cast a spell as he held his hand out. A blue shimmering length of bright blue vapour appeared which quickly formed into an ethereal bow.

   

  Before the others could say a single word, Sotek rapidly fired five arrows into the large bulls eye of the target across the yard.  He then turned to face Aela who is standing on the wall clapping.

   

  “Well done, your learning”. She exclaimed excitedly. He bowed down to her causing her to laugh.

   

  Over the next half hour the other two students were taught how to conjure a bow. Sotek however was pulled away by the healer and taken to the far corner of the large circular yard.

  “I owe you an apology I should have seen what the Illusionist saw, but I didn’t. So I’m going to teach you something that will give you an edge, but from what I see your holding your own anyway. Now, Destruction magic has four forms. What are they?”

   

  Sotek answered easily as his eyes cast on the other students.

  “Fire, Frost, Shock and Direct”.

   

  Colette clapped excitedly.

  “Yes, a lot of students forget direct damage. Now these are basic counters. Instead of blocking the effect you neutralise it. Flames won’t burn you if your immune to fire”. She then taught him the resistances to the three elemental attacks of fire, frost and shock. “Keep it to yourself for the moment you will know when it is time to use them”.

   

  By the time Sotek returned to Tolfdir and the two students, they had mastered the Bow conjuration spell . However it was quickly obvious that they were struggling to hit their individual targets as numerous bright blue arrows shot passed the targets to smash against an outer wall.

   

  Aela walked over to them and passed the book discretely to Sotek.

  “I think this is where I come in”. She declared as she took command of the training session. Within a hour they are hitting the targets, not in the bull’s-eye but enough to count for something should they need to fire back at an attacker. During that time instead of training with them, Sotek sat to the side and learned the new conjuration spell from the book which Aela was given.

   

  Tolfdir gathered the group up and led them towards the large double gate which would be used to seal off the courtyard from the outside world during the harsh wintery nights. Standing from just within the gates borders, the Alteration trainer explained the next task which the students would have to complete.

  “Now the final test is stealth”.

   

  The Elf Nirya instantly complained quite openly as she ranted back at him about the whole situation.

  “That isn’t magic. Why are we doing this?”

   

  Before he could answer, Mirabelle yelled out at the group as a whole.

   

  “If you’re in trouble then magic can most certainly get you out of it. It’s all to do with the application of magic. We did discuss this last week...” She then turned her attention towards Aela by calling her over towards the middle of the yard. “If you would be so kind and assist I’d appreciate it”. Aela made her way to her and stood where she was asked to.

   

  Two trainers were positioned just in front of a small wooden pillar, but slightly to each side of it. Aela stood directly in front of the pillar and watched with keen interest as Savos the Arch mage carefully placed an apple on top of the pillar. The next thing he did was to ask the three ‘Protectors’ to turn around so their backs was to the apple and the students.

   

  Savos spoke loudly so everyone could hear as he explained the test to both Aela and Sotek at the same time.

  “If you detect the slightest sense or sound then you can turn around and then they are out. They have to try to take the apple whilst they remain undetected”.

   

  Aela couldn’t help but raise one flaw in the test.

  “I don’t mean to boast but I’m a huntress. They won’t have much of a chance with me”.

   

  Savos dismissed her argument on the spot and waved at Mirabelle to start the test.

  “Oh I know but I want to see just how close they can get”. He then surprised Aela by leaning in to her and whispering in her ear. “With you’re kind here, I’m not expecting them to get even half way but they will certainly have to try”.

   

  Aela’s eyes snapped open wide as she stared blankly forwards. Slowly she turned her head towards the Arch mage but all he did was gently hold her arm for the fleetest of seconds before winking at her. Before Aela could give any response he turned away and moved to the outer edge of the circular courtyard.

   

  Nirya tried to cross the ground first. She cast an invisibility spell but Aela heard her clearly after just taking two steps. She turned around and pointed straight at the Elf despite the fact that she was invisible.

  “You may be light but you certainly can’t tread softly. I’m sorry but I can hear you”.

   

  Nirya was about to complain when Mirabelle tapped her on the shoulder.  

  “Next time maybe you’ll remember to use muffle as well”.

   

  The Khajjit was the next one to try but Aela quickly called out to him.

  “No offence but you got a strong scent. Go downwind next time. Sorry your busted”.

   

  She turned around to see him appear after only taking four paces from his starting area. He protested strongly against Aela’s judgement.

  “But I had invisibility and muffle. You cheated. You didn’t know I was there!”

   

  Aela’s arms slowly folded as her weight shifted sideways so her hip was sticking out. Her eyes fixed heavily on the Khajiits as she softly spoke to him.

  “I beg your pardon?”

   

  Despite the tone in which Aela softly communicated her displeasure at the accusation, her mannerism left no room for any mistake to her annoyance at being accused of cheating. The Khajiit gulped loudly the scampered off to the side ad hid behind the still fuming Elf.

   

  “Sotek, it’s your turn. I hope that you apply more caution than what the other students did”. Stated Savos as he watched with a peculiar interest in Sotek’s demeanour.

   

  Sotek’s head tilted to the side as he studied Aela’s back. His mind traced over her curves as he systematically placed every advantage Aela had over him. Afterwards he casually moved towards the outer wall and sat on the edge while he prepared himself for the task ahead.

   

  Mirabelle addressed the three ‘Protectors’ in order to check that they were all set for Sotek’s attempt.

  “Aela, Phinis, Sergius, when you are ready you may start the test”.

   

  Aela took a deep breath then exhaled slowly as she bought her senses to bear on her target, Sotek. Her voice called out across the training yard sharply and clearly, as she prepared for the hunt.

  “Begin”.

   

  She stood there hearing and sensing everything. The heartbeats of the trainers next to her, the scent of the Khajiit, even the Elf. Strangely enough although she easily picked out Soteks scent as she knew it so well from their relationship, it was the faintest. She couldn’t work out why after all he should be moving towards her except her senses were telling her different. He hadn’t moved. After 30 seconds her instincts screamed at her and she knew something was wrong.

   

  She lifted her head as her shoulders dropped limply to her sides.

  “You bastard”. Just at that moment an apple core hit her on the back of her head making her flinch. She turned around glaring at Sotek who was still sitting on the wall. “You used that bloody spell again. Didn’t you?”

   

  The other two trainers just looked on in disbelief.

   

  Sotek cast his telekinesis spell on the apple core which silently lifted up as the tendrils of the spell wrapped around it causing it to float towards him. He snatched it out of the air while a big grin formed on his face.

   

  “Who me? Naa”. He couldn’t help but laugh as he saw the looks of the two other students who were both glaring hatefully at him.

   

  J’Zargo protested and was immediately backed up by the Elf Nirya.

  “We don’t know that spell. That’s not fair”.

   

  Sotek glanced at them both then mimicked their voices.

  “I’ve spent weeks training for this, send him home... You’re out of your depth go away”. Then he shook his head at them as he sneered at the pair of them. “Fancy being shown up by a lizard... Hsss”.

   

  Tolfdir intervened before the squabble came to blows.

  “Settle down, settle down. You are all capable and able to do the final test. That will be tomorrow so I suggest you rest and spend what free time you have studying and perfecting those spells which you think will be of the most use to you”.

   

  With that comment Mirabelle pointed the J’Zargo and Nirya.

  “You two can go together”. She then singled out Sotek as she pondered her next move. “Now what are we going to do with you?”

   

  Colette butted in as she stepped in front of Sotek.

  “You can’t send him by himself”.

   

  Mirabelle’s head tipped side to side slowly as if she was balancing things up in her head.

  “No, I can’t. However I do feel he’s more than able to go by himself”.

   

  Aela’s eyes quickly scanned Sotek before she approached Mirabelle.

  “What has he got to do?” She asked inquisitively while she felt Sotek move behind her. Her eyes closed slightly as she felt his hands rest on her hips while he tucked tightly in to her.

   

  Savos pondered the question for a few seconds before answering cautiously.

  “Well, he’ll have to get a key to a door, survive some traps. Maybe even fight a few creatures. That sort of thing really”.

   

  “We do that sort of thing all the time, he’s ready for it. Send him by himself” Aela assured him as she leaned back against Sotek so she could rest her head against his chest.

   

  “Are you willing to go by yourself?” Mirabelle asked as she herself studied Sotek’s composure.

   

  “If Aela feels I’m ready, then let’s do it”. Sotek stated while he wrapped his arms around Aela. She knew he was calm, she could feel the slow beating of his heart as he just stood there ready for whatever they could throw at him.

   

  Savos took one last look at him before nodding to the other trainers.

  “Ok tomorrow it is then”.