U.O.T.W. Chapter 36 Hot reception

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    As soon as the carriage approached Winterhold a large black shadow swooped overhead blotting out the sun. A red dragon came hurtling down the mountainside gliding just above the ragged terrain before it came to a halt hovering just above the Inn. Everything glowed a bright orange as the dragons fire breath blasted one of the houses opposite. The doorway gave way under the force of the fire attack while the windows shattered spraying molten hot glass over a guard who had ran to the house for protection. He crawled in agony away from the building as the walls seemed to buckle and swell. Moments later the roof exploded in flames as the last of the walls strength faded causing the house to literally explode in a baptism of fire. Burning debris rained down adding to the panic and confusion. The guard disappeared under a wall as it collapsed on him. The only sign of his existence was a dead lifeless hand. It’s fingers were stretched out as if he was trying to grasp anything that could save him.  

     

    The whole town was in chaos as the mages from the college joined in with the guards who were trying vainly to defend Winterhold and its inhabitants. Sporadic firing of arrows combined with magical energies of fire, lightning and ice flew out in as many directions. Both Aela and Sotek knew the towns own attacks were useless as there was no co ordination between any of their attacks. Before Aela could say anything Sotek took command.

     

    “Aela, round up the archers and take them to the road. Form up on the mountainside”. Then he turned his attention to the mages. Giving no regards towards ranking, he grabbed the closest mage to him by the arm and shoved him towards the road. “Gather outside of town we have to draw it away”. then immediately after, without pausing for breath he turned his attention to the guards. “Get those people under cover”.

     

    The dragon swept down again preparing to attack with its fire breath but this time Sotek was ready for it. He turned towards the dragon and waited until it was just about to blast the Inn with its breath attack when he shouted out.

    “Fus Ro”. The blast knocked the dragon back slightly although it did however disrupt the breath attack. It also drew the dragons attention. “Wait for it”. Sotek yelled his command to stop everyone from firing as he didn’t want anyone adding to the confrontation. The dragon was eyeing up its next victim, an Argonian called Sotek and he didn’t want anyone else to attack lest they caused it to change its mind. “Hold your fire”.

     

    The dragon reared up and once again prepared to use its fire breath. Sotek who was walking backwards kiting the dragon away from the centre of the town saw the signs and shouted out a second time.

    “Fus Ro”. Again the invisible force slammed into the dragon disrupting its attack causing the dragon to roar out angrily. Sotek ran out of town as fast as he could while the dragon’s shadow loomed overhead.

     

    He felt the searing heat of a blast of flame and dived unceremoniously into the ground. A burning sensation and flames roared like a tidal wave over his head, he scrambled back up to his feet and scampered across the ground initially on all fours until his legs out paced his hands. A few yards past the town marker changed everything. Sotek turned to his side and skidded across the dirt trodden pathway and came to an abrupt stop. He made it, this was his standing ground. This was where Sotek stopped running and turned to face the dragon.

     

    “Don’t shoot”. He concentrated on his fireball spell and for the first time managed to double cast a destruction spell. He learned to double cast healing spells when Aela was at the temple after he wounded her, but with destruction, here now was his first time.

     

    The giant fireball leapt from his hands and flew towards the dragon. The great reptilian monster was too intent on the chase to notice, not until it was too late. The fireball struck the dragon in the head exploding like a small sun going nova temporarily blinding it. At that point its fate was sealed and Sotek knew it.

    “Now!!! Use everything we have!!!” All at once arrows shot from the left side of the road. Gone was the ineffective bowmen. Arrow after arrow darted across the sky tearing into the dragons side and wing. Within seconds flight was impossible.

     

    At the same time on Sotek’s right, spells of all colours arced towards the dragon. fire and flame moulded with chunks of ice which ripped into its side. Lightning arced across it lighting it up like a bizarre float from a carnival. The dragon crashed to the ground having been literally blasted straight out of the sky. Sotek himself cast fireball after fireball, double casting each spell. His manna failed him so he switched to his bow where he stood and proceeded to fire at the dragon. The creature tried to charge him, but only managed a few feet before collapsing on the ground. The constant attacks from both sides completely overwhelmed it. Vainly it tried to lift its head in one final defiant attack. Before it could raise its head to even look at Sotek, its head slammed into the ground and it’s two enormous eyes glazed over as it’s life gave up the fight.

     

    As before with the other dragons which Sotek and Aela had killed, it started to glow then burst into flames. Its soul was torn out and absorbed by Sotek as Aela screamed out in victory.

    “Yes!” She quickly composed herself  due to the guards briskly turning their attention on her. “Ermm... Well done men”.

     

    Collette, the restoration trainer who had only just tended to one of the wounded guards approached Sotek cautiously almost like she expected him to sprout wings himself. “It’s true, you’re dragonborn!”.

     

    “Ermm yess. Yess I am”. Sotek’s words hissed out like a serpent which caused Aela to chuckle to herself.

     

    She came over to the group and threw her arms around Sotek. She blanked everyone as she gave him a long lover’s kiss. When she broke away from him she twisted her head around to Collette with a big grin plastered over her face.

     

    “No he’s not. He’s ‘my’ dragonborn”. She then gazed into Sotek’s eyes as she commented on his leadership. “I couldn’t have done that better”. She beamed.

     

    While Collette looked on feeling somewhat embarrassed at Aela’s actions, another mage joined in the conversation. Sotek recognised the old mage as the Alteration trainer Tolfdir.

    “Well at least we know you have been working on your destruction spells. Double casting fireballs... Impressive I must say. Although I must stress that you can’t be too cautious with magic”.

     

    Mirabelle who helped Savos Aren the arch mage with the day to day running of the college butted in.

    “Oh stop being such a fuzzy wuzzy. His spells looked controlled enough from where I was standing”.

     

    “Fuzzy wuzzy? May I remind you Mirabelle that I have seen with my own eyes what damage spells can do if used recklessly. Safety has to be a integral part of the student’s training. I know what can happen if a student goes...”

     

    Mirabelle rolled her eyes at him then turned back towards Sotek.

    “Ignore him. He’ll have us all wearing cushions on our backsides in case we slipped on the ice”.

     

    Tolfdir raised his eyebrows at  her then pointed at Colette.

    “Last winter, several times may I point out that Colette was called out to heal various members of the college when that heavy frost froze the...”

     

    Mirabelle snapped at him, shutting him up.

    “I am not ordering people to have cushions tied to their backsides. That’s enough!” Without waiting for him to respond she stepped away from him disengaging from the conversation altogether. “Sotek. Just what are your current magical capabilities at this present time?”

     

    Sotek stared wide eyed at Aela who was grinning due to the mages confrontation. He slowly turned to Mirabelle but the best answer he could give was a shrug of his shoulders.

     

    “Well that’s no good. Let’s see what you can do after all if we don’t know your capabilities the we can’t teach you what it is you need to learn. Tolfdir, put him with the other two, Nirya and that Khajiit J’zargo. Let’s see what they make of him”. With that she led the other mages into the college grounds.

     

    Before Sotek and Aela followed Mirabelle inside the college grounds, they examined the dragons skeleton where several of the town’s residents had started to gather. Aela picked up two dragon scales and handed them to Sotek. He faired luckier and had located three bones which he stored with the scales in his pack. Feeling somewhat curious, the librarian Urag approached Sotek and pointed to his rucksack.

    “May I enquire as to what you picked up from the dead dragon? As in show me...”

     

    Sotek’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as he stared at the orc but then he reached into his pack and produced a dragon bone and a scale. “I can’t tell you why, but there’s something different about these. I’ve found them on every dragon we’ve killed”.

     

    “Every dragon? You’ve killed more than one? Hmm, let me borrow these. I’ll get back to you...” The Librarian gave Sotek no illusion that he had little choice in the matter and took possession of the bone and scale.

     

    Aela recognised him from the description given to her by Kodlak. Her hand shot out and grabbed his arm as he started turning away.

    “Wait! Do you know about dreams?”

     

    He stood there looking at her hand for the scantest of seconds before Aela retracted her grip on his sleeve.

    “You must be Aela. We heard a lot about you. Now do I know about dreams? Afraid not, I don’t know anything. I don’t know of anyone else either”. Aela looked disappointed she was hoping for some insight.

     

    “Mind you” The Librarian added. “It’s not dreams your having, its nightmares. That’s a different story. See me in a few days time, I’ll look at these then we’ll take a look at you”.

     

    Then he turned back towards Sotek as he spoke he held up the bone and scale for emphasis. “Leave these to me”. Then he went off following the others across the bridge to the Winterhold.

     

    As Sotek led Aela across the bridge, she walked cautiously to the side and glanced down the large crevasse to the sea below them. A loud whistle mimicking a falling stone echoed as Aela imagined a rock plummeting down to the freezing seas below.

    “Bloody hell. That’s one hell of a fall”.

     

    She started walking along the platform when Sotek shouted out at her.

    “Watch out!”

    Aela jumped and sidestepped causing her to slip on the ice. She fell backwards and cried out leaving the scant drop of decorum which she had well and truly behind.

    “Ahrrg my ass! Dame it that bloody hurt. Sotek, you stupid bastard. I hurt my ass”.

     

    Sotek smirked as he moved out of the way of any retaliation.

    “I tried to warn you”.

     

    Inside the college Tolfdir cast a knowing look at Mirabelle who in response to his look held her finger up forewarning him not to say a word.

     

    They all entered the courtyard to find a tall elfin figure waiting for them. Aela paused as she glanced around the courtyard. Unlike Jorrvaskr, here it was all white marble and stone. To the right were archery targets which Aela noticed them straight away. She called out to the group as a whole as her interest was clearly evident as well as her confusion.

    “You teach archery here?” she asked.

     

    The elfin figure nodded as he studied her then his eyes fell upon her bow.

    “Ah you must be Aela the huntress, Companion from Whiterun. I’m Savos, Savos Aren. I am the Arch mage. Welcome to the college. In answer to your question, yes we do but nothing compared to your skills”. Then he thought for a few seconds as he remembered what he had been told about her archery skills and of her position in the Inner Circle. “Maybe later you could give a few pointers to our students... If you wouldn’t mind”.

     

    “I’d love to”. She couldn’t help but smile as her eyes fixed on the targets a second time.

     

    Mirabelle disdainfully traced along Sotek’s chest as she examined his armor.

    “This will never do. Have you had your mages cloak yet? Tolfdir, your somewhat lacking today. Kit him out will you please, if it’s not too much trouble”.

     

    Minutes later Sotek was given his apprentice mage outfit. He screwed his nose up as he examined the robe which Tolfdir mistook for a snarling threat. He placed the hood, gloves, and cloth boots on a bench then scuttled over towards the other students. “We’ll start first thing in the morning. You really should wear that outfit”.

     

    As soon as Aela saw Sotek in the robes she laughed loudly. All the students muttered as they watched her creasing up with laughter.

    “I’m so sorry, I’m just used to seeing him in armour. Not like this”. Then she laughed even more. They all glanced at the center of Aela’s amusement who happened to be Sotek as he came into view in the training area. His outfit didn’t fit him properly at all. The hood stuck up as it was caught on the bone spikes on his head while his tail constantly swished side to side on reflex as it argued with the robe as it struggled with the irritable cloth which draped on it. Everyone could see he wasn’t happy what so ever.

     

    He tried to practise with his spells but they kept messing up. The fireballs didn’t form right, his familiar faded out more times than it appeared and the other students were constantly complaining about his tail distracting them all as it whipped out slashing through the air. After an hour Sotek had enough. He took Aela back to the Inn without saying a single word.

     

     

Comments

10 Comments   |   SpookyBorn2021 and 1 other like this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  March 30, 2016
    Fixed the two errors you pointed out Relycs. Mirabelle won't be so straight forwards. I'll have to go slow here and change a bit at a time.
  • Relycs
    Relycs   ·  March 29, 2016
    I'd love to see a screenshot with Sotek in his mage outfit.^^

    Great chapter, there was only one thing that didn't really fit, at least in my opinion. Mirabelle acted a bit like... well, Vilkas. Like a warrior and not like the mage she is. I t...  more
  • FlameLord
    FlameLord   ·  September 15, 2015
    Im real tired right now and think I spotted some small errors, I'll check over this chapter again if I have time tomorrow. Thxs for this great piece Sotek, lovin it.
  • FlameLord
    FlameLord   ·  September 15, 2015

    Beatifully written already but have a suggestion to make it flow better. 
    The only sign of his existence was a dead lifeless hand. It’s fingers were stretched out as if he was trying to grasp anything that could save him.  Try:
    The only...  more
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 29, 2015
    Fixed Thanks for that Mathias
  • ShyGuyWolf
    ShyGuyWolf   ·  July 29, 2015
     you have this: Collette, the restoration trainer who had only jus tended to one of the wounded guards approached Sotek cautiously almost like she expected him to sprout wings himself. “It’s true, you’re dragonborn!!!”.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  June 13, 2015
    trouble is I'm not at home. . That would be my first option.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  June 13, 2015
    Fixed... Mirabelle. Soz about that. I like the fact that Tolfdir get's so worked up over saftey. I'm going to have fun with him later on.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  June 13, 2015
    You know I thought it was Mirabelle but the site I checked stated it was Mirabell Damn it. (Honest I checked that. This is what happens when you leave your notes at home).
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  June 13, 2015
    Are you a stickler for names, or do you not care? It's Mirabelle Ervine, if you do care. Otherwise, nice introduction into the College for Sotek and Aela. Haha, we both take advantage of the frequent dragon spawns there. Albee and crew battle one there to...  more