The Aftermath | Chapter 1: A Strange Noise

  • (Author's Note: Before I begin, I have to thank my friend Wolfythewolf13 here on the site for all of her help with this story. It is not my story, it is our story. I am only uploading this on my account because she is rather new here. So thanks a lot, Wolfy. Also, as of today, this story is by no means complete - just up until chapter 3 are finished, so after the first 3 chapters, my upload schedule may become off. We WILL get the story out, though, so don't worry! Without further ado, please enjoy Chapter 1. =D) 

    It was chilly when I woke up. But I didn’t find that surprising, since I live on the deserted outskirts of Winterhold. I squirmed uncomfortably under my covers, then pulled them over my head. I didn’t want to move from my bed, so I lay there, staring at my walls. Decorating them was a window, some staves, and some admittedly bad drawings that I had done. In the corner of the room was my desk, messy and unorganized. Amidst the piles of spell tomes and rough sketches was a wooden block with a collection of letters scrawled into it: O-R-E-N. It was not just an assortment of letters - it was a name. My name.

     

    After minutes of staring at my room, I got out of bed, donned my glasses, and staggered sleepily to the kitchen to make breakfast, my eyes feeling heavy with slumber. I found Morose in the kitchen, looking irritated as usual.

     

    “Breakfast?” I asked.

    “I don’t eat.” He replied.

    “Oh,” I slurred. “Right.”

     

    I grabbed some cheese and some bread, slumped into a chair, and ate. Then I went upstairs to get dressed. I looked in my mirror. Here, I see quite a young Bosmer with voluminous medium-brown curly hair, freckles dotting his thin face. Glasses balanced atop his pointed nose. He was stepping awkwardly into his Adept mage robes, almost losing his balance a few times as he had to stand on only one foot. If you looked close enough, you’d notice the three small holes in his right ear and above his left eyebrow, along with a single hole in his right ear. These were where he placed his piercings: three studs were placed above the eyebrow and in his ear, and a piercing with 3 smooth blue feathers was put in the other. After dressing himself, he made a face into the mirror and chuckled quietly at his ridiculousness. How childish.

     

    I heard a crash downstairs, along with an angry curse. My guess was that Morose had crushed or dropped something once again - without trying to, I’m sure. Speaking of Morose, how he came to be is quite a story. Last year, 4E 204, I was trying out a new Conjuration spell, and I must have gotten it wrong, because what resulted was not an Atronach, but a permanently bound Dremora. Or, at least, I think the spell is permanent. He hasn’t gone back yet, like a regular Dremora would have. He hated it at first, but I think he’s come to grips with it. As much as a hatred-fueled creature could, anyways. After this incident, everyone at the college thought I was a much better mage than I actually am, which is why I moved away from the main part of town. I didn’t want to take credit for something that was completely accidental. If I wanted to cast it again, I wouldn’t be able to.

     

    My thoughts were interrupted by a loud sound outside. It’s just the wind, I thought, but it’s stronger than usual. Maybe it’s just a storm. After all, those aren’t unusual around here. To my dismay, the sound did not die down. In fact, it did quite the opposite. The house shook violently, and the wind was no longer howling. It was screaming. I peered out the upstairs window, and I was shocked, to say the least, at my find. It was clear as day outside. Snow was falling gently from the sky. Everything looked normal, aside from what looked like large pieces of hail flying past my window, and that unnerved me.

     

    I ran downstairs and out the door frantically. Maybe the other mages know something. I am quite secluded out here, something may be happening. I slammed the door in my frenzy, and soon heard it swing open once again. Morose, weapon drawn, had followed me outside.

     

    “What is that sou-” Morose began. He looked up, and so did I. A large cloud of smoke had enveloped the College.

     

    The veil of smoke departed enough to reveal what had once been the College. I watched in horror. I could not pull my eyes away from the terrible scene. Shouts echoed across the barren hamlet. Debris was flying all around, which I had mistaken for hail, creating a whirlwind of rubble and remains. Through the commotion, I looked up once again. A large, misshapen object flew away from the once-college. It definitely was not debris. It was alive. Without even thinking, I flung a Fireball at it. Perhaps it could be the reason for the ruckus.

     

    Before I could see the result, a piece of debris was hurled past my face, and I jumped back in shock. Little did I know, I had jumped right into the path of an airborne stone. The stone collided with my head, and my vision went blurry as I fell to the snowy earth below, unconscious, just as I had started the day.

     

Comments

8 Comments
  • Xeelus
    Xeelus   ·  July 1, 2015
    Thanks a lot! Hope you enjoy it, Idesto.
  • Idesto
    Idesto   ·  July 1, 2015
    Good start. I'm looking forward to the rest of the story
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  June 22, 2015
    I always get the blame . Oh look there's that stiking Argonian I bet it's his fault that Alduin returned and I bet he started the  rebelion. He was there at the time after all.
  • Xeelus
    Xeelus   ·  June 19, 2015
    Alright, thanks for the tips! =P I'll make sure to change things now.
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  June 19, 2015
    The word "adorned" is used incorrectly. It means to make something beautiful, not to put something on. I think the word you're perhaps looking for is "donned."  You can don a pair a of glasses. Well, you can adorn glasses as well, but it doesn't mean you'...  more
  • Golden Fool
    Golden Fool   ·  June 19, 2015
    What comes next you can blame on Sotek, he was the one whom encouraged me to contribute errors or constructive criticism.
    "Without even thinking, I flung a Fireball at it, thinking it could be the reason for the ruckus."
    Using thinking twice i...  more
  • Xeelus
    Xeelus   ·  June 18, 2015
    Thanks a lot :D
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  June 18, 2015
    And so it begins. Not bad Xeelus.