Nephili found herself eating her meal amongst four other apprentices in the dormitory the evening of her second day. Despite the bleak beginnings, Brelyna, the Dunmer Adept, had told the other students of what had happened in Saarthal and had suitably impressed them with the young Novice's quick thinking and the Nord’s bravery. The tremendous tale had not only elicited a favorable response, but it also returned the others to engaging the Breton and politely keeping their opinions of the housecarl to themselves. As the group finished up their evening supper, the discussion naturally turned to another piece of gossip that was whispering its way through the College halls.
Yisra, a Redguard student of Master's Faralda and Drevis, had failed to return from her pilgrimage to achieve Destruction Mastery. She had left the College, granted with possession of the book, Power of the Elements, but had now been gone for over three weeks. This was the Redguard's first pilgrimage and returning triumphant would have heralded the creation of a new young Master of the College. Instead, she had failed to return at the expected time and the long absence had forced the College to send out both Masters to search for their wayward student.
"It serves her right. She was likely ill prepared by Faralda who clearly overestimated her expertise of the Destruction school."
Nirya was enjoying her wine and speaking to anyone who would listen. Leaning back with her goblet, the third year Expert continued. "I'm sure she'll turn up but what an embarrassment to be chased by members of the College!"
Brelyna, who was also backing away from the supper table, nodded to the Altmer. "Well, I'm sure it would be an embarrassment to anyone of us. What worries me though is how much time has passed since she left. From what I understand, the pilgrimage for Power of the Elements almost never takes more than fifteen days, and it’s usually closer to nine. Yisra was gone for twenty-two days before the Master's decided to act."
Onmund, a Nord Novice recently accepted like Nephili, piped up from across the table as he ate. "What's there to worry about? This Yisra sounds like a powerful mage. Even if she got lost in a white-out somewhere, surely her magics would sustain her in any situation?"
"J'zargo also believes as the Nord. Yisra iis a powerful one but Thiis One understands the dark elf's unease. Brelyna is perhaps referriing to the unfortunate inciidents that had taiinted the College's reputatiion before J'zargo's arriival?"
The Nord mage paused in his meal at hearing the Khajiit's words. "What other incidents are you talking about here?"
The Dunmer spoke for the older students. "Well, starting in Second Seed, there was a series of... accidents that killed three apprentices over a two month period. The resulting uproar led to a split in the College causing several teachers and a number of students to leave. Having joined right before it all happened, it gave me a good fright wondering if the College was going to survive at the time."
Nirya pulled the cup away from her lips. "Haaa! You call them accidents? I call them travesties. In my view, both Master Drevis and Master Phinis are entirely to blame for the deaths of their students. If my field of study had been Restoration, I would have left with Estiredain too. At least she could be admired for her principled stand."
Brelyna gave her friend a sour look as she began to pick at some grapes. "Well, I think poor Ilas-Tei's death was of her own making at least. She left the grounds insisting that she wanted to improve her newly learned Calm spell on skeevers. From what we could learn, she had apparently made a mistake and cast Fury at some point. Supposedly, not a drop of blood had escaped their ravenous maws. Ugh, I can't think of a worse way to die."
Sitting up, the High Elf scoffed. "Youuu, are being overly naive. Even Drevis Nelorin, as absent minded as he can be, could not have so ill prepared a student for one to make such a mistake. The Arch-mage may have ruled it an 'unfortunate accident' but I don't think it was an accident at all."
Brelyna stopped picking on the grapes. "Wait... you never told me that you believe as those others did? How can you see Master Drevis having any direct responsibility for Ilas-Tei's death?"
Nirya frowned at her friend, "Oh, come now. It is as plain as day for anyone to see that the Argonian 'accidentally' killing himself is the least plausible explanation. The fact that the Arch-mage had ruled it as such doesn’t mean the Novice mage died a fool's death. It just means that greater forces were at play, oh... like saving the College from the public humiliation of punishing one of its own precious mages."
Taking another drink, the Altmer continued. "In all the years that I've been here, really the only thing I've seen coddled is the research. It’s far more likely that Ilas-Tei as well as Rundi and his brother Borvir had died in the name of research and that the Arch-mage had chosen to cover up the incidents."
Sitting straight up, the Dunmer found herself almost spitting at her friend. "You, say that too easily! You’re implying that the college not only places the safety of its members at risk but does so willingly!"
Nirya shot Brelyna a look of exasperation. “Brelyna, why do you think Estiredain and Master Falion left? It was because of the hypocrisy that's why! Instead of punishing the perpetrators, the Arch-mage chose to re-interpret long standing governance about safety and used that to limit certain types of research! I will tell you all something you should know about this place. There are in fact, ‘two schools’ within the halls of this institution. One school performs its research with suitable caution and the other school places research above all, particularly its expendable apprentices.”
The voice of an old man spoke, "I see you are all talking about the accidents of the past few months."
The students who had been facing away from the main entrance turned at Tolfdir's voice. The others nearly jumped however, unable to place when he had arrived.
Tfoldir walked up to the group. "Well now, those deaths... were tragic to say the least. Ilas-Tei's could not have been more painful I'm sure. Rundi died attempting to use a conjuration spell that he was not ready to handle. And, poor Borvir, unable to accept his brother's death, he left the College seeking to 'right the wrong' only to lose his life in senseless fashion."
“But, I am not here to talk about such tragedies. Nephili, our Librarian has a task for you. You should head on up to the Arcanaeum when you find yourself available.”
“A task for me? I... well, yes of course! I’ll go right over. May I ask what it might be?”
“You can but I haven't any idea. Mirabelle simply asked to relay the message as I was leaving the Hall of the Elements. But, considering who is supplying the task, I think some help might be in order."
"Hmm, Brelyna, why don’t you go with her?”
* * * *
The Breton and the Dunmer walked across the snowy central courtyard with Lydia just behind. "I'm sorry. It seems in asking what was in store, you ended up getting involved with us."
Brelyna smiled at the young Breton and shook her head. "It's all right. Master Tolfdir had a very good reason for asking me to come along."
“Very good reason?”
“Well, the one thing I can say about Urag gro-Shub is that he tends to think everyone is an Orc.”
“Come again?”
“Mmph haaa. Sorry, I... he somehow always over-estimates the ability of the apprentices in the College. Often, his 'simple' errands turn into something incredibly difficult that should have been given to more advanced students.”
A short while later, the two apprentices stood before Urag gro-Shub, Senior Archivist for the College and keeper of all its tomes. While not a particularly powerful mage, his acumen, physical bearing and most importantly his impressive summoning abilities had made him the ideal candidate to ensure the safety of the Arcanaeum. The last qualification was currently in ample evidence by the presence of a particularly foul smelling dremora standing off to the side. The Nord warrior had gravitated into its presence and studied the armored daedra with evident interest.
Sitting behind his desk, the Orc set aside the documents in his hands and scowled at the Novice student. "Good, I'm happy to see you responded quickly."
Wait, you're happy right now?
"Brelyna, what are you doing here?"
“Tolfdir asked me to help Nephili.”
“Tolfdir did? Hmph. Well then, this should be incredibly easy."
"Have either of you heard of Shalidor? No? Immensely powerful mage. Devoted all his time to research and study while holed up in Labyrinthian, back in the First Era. Since then, many of his works have been scattered all across Skyrim. Occasionally, I'll hear whispers of some of his texts turning up. In this case, I need you to investigate Wolfskull Cave. That’s west of Solitude. Any questions?"
Nephili nodded. “I’ve only been here for just a couple of days, so I'm surprised that anyone would ask me to help...”
“Heh heh... the College is a repository of knowledge which anyone here can study but most of the learning happens out in the field through practical application and investigation, got it? As for why you were picked... first, you just got here so your not doing anything. Second, Mirabelle Ervine had mentioned that you might be particularly useful for this task. Everyone’s heard from a certain someone about what you were able to do inside Saarthal. Shalidor's texts are often imbued with magical properties, something you might be able to sense."
"I was mentioned..." Nephili glanced at Brelyna who winked at the Breton.
"Yeah, Mirabelle mentioned you by name. If your successful, I suggest talking to her after you return. She does not often take on students, but you might have a chance to enrich your development with her help."
"Speaking of enrichment, talk to Master Sergius before you leave. He may have a small errand you can help him with in that direction. Now... I need you to do one last thing."
"What might that be sir?"
"I need the three of you to leave the Arcanaeum before that Nord of yours upsets my Dremora!”
Lydia sniffed at the Orc's remark but followed the two mages out towards the stairs. The Dunmer seemed to be holding her laughter while the young Breton seemed lost in thought.
Brelyna felt the Breton's unease and spoke. "Concerned?"
"Well, nervous. The thought that this College thinks I have something to offer is... exciting actually but also unnerving. I mean, if Tolfdir is any kind of measurement, then the Masters here seem to tower over me to a frightning degree. If anything, it's only reinforcing in my mind of how little power I really have."
Brelyna smiled at the Novices assessment. "As far as things go here, you'll have plenty of time to grow into a powerful mage yourself. Much of our growth as mages happen in the beginning. Before you know it, you'll become an Adept working your way towards Expert level. If I were to guess, you have amazing control over your magics but just haven't learned enough spells."
The three exited into the main courtyard to head over to the dormitory.
“My Thane? I would like to ask a question.”
Nephili turned to the housecarl. “Of course. Why so formal?”
"Well, I wanted to ask about the power one is able to grasp as a Master magus. In the Arcanaeum, I could sense great power and skill in that foul guardian and, as much as I do not wish to admit it, I do not think I could best the creature. Does this mean that Urag gro-Shub is a powerful Master magus?"
The Breton looked to the Dunmer to respond. "I would not want to tangle with that Dremora either, but Urag is not a Master. He is only deemed an Expert, though he's considered particularly skilled at conjuration."
"Only an Expert? Yet, he is able to wield such a powerful creature and have it do his bidding! Than how much more power is contained within a magus of Master ability?"
"Well, yes. Hmmm... a true Master would be able to conjure two especially high level Dremora at the same time and still have the magics to cast thunderstorms from one hand and sow chaos in the minds of all before him with the other."
The Nord warrior stopped to stare at the Dunmer, unsure if she should believe Brelyna's claims.
"Do... all the Masters at this College hold such power?"
"Well, I have not had chance to witness the full power of all the Masters but I've seen one do just as I described. I believe though, that they all are able to do something similarly powerful."
Nephili was also impressed by the Adepts claims. Looking back to the Nord, she saw a face, twisted with something akin to confusion. "Lydia, why the sudden interest in magical power?"
"Forgive me for I do not mean to presume... yet, earlier, when there was discussion about the Redguard apprentice..."
"Go on..."
"It occurred to me to wonder why the College felt the need to send out two Masters in order to find one wayward student?”
* * * *
dun, Dun DUN!
Comments
The photo at the top is excellent...I love Dremora's and hate them, too, as they scare th... more