Chapter 1

Llathala Ralas was preparing for her big day. Everyone who grew up in the Arcane University looked forward to the day when they are raised to the level of apprentice. There is a big ceremony for each person at the grove near Wellspring Cave where the wood for their symbolic mages staff they receive is grown. She decides to go through the trouble of fixing her hair since she will be expected to have her hood removed for the ceremony. She pulled her show white hair back leaving two strands hanging down on either side framing her face and eyes. As Dark Elves go she had to say she thought of herself as attractive. Her skin was the dark grey that her race was known for, even her eyes were that bright red that made it hard to hide what she was. Even with the hood of her robes on they shown bright from underneath. When she finally decided she was ready she left her quarters to head to the ceremony.

Just as she was leaving a figure in dark robes could be seen walking across the grounds toward her, when they were close to twenty yards away they removed their hood and dark red hair like unto the color of blood could be seen. Llathala smiled at the site of her oldest friend in the guild. His name was Volf Spellslinger, which may seem like an unusual name but he had proven to be an unusual person. He was orphaned around the age of four and found by a battle mage who brought him here. At the time all he knew was his first name which was from a northwestern dialect in cyrodiil. He was later dubbed with the surname Spellslinger for the erratic manner in which he would cast spells. This ensued until another mage took him in and taught him control and discipline, but by then the name had stuck. Being a Breton he had immense power when it came to Magicka. It was no surprise when he was granted his staff and made an apprentice 3 years prior at the age of seventeen, Llathala being nineteen herself now just at the normal age for this honor.

Volf was smiling his usual boyish smile as he walked up, "Hey Llathy ready for your big day?" Llathala groaned at hearing his annoying nickname for her. Honestly how could someone considered the greatest mage of their generation be so immature?

"Volf I've told you not to call me that.", she stated flatly.

"why not?", he asked tilting his head to the side quizzically.

She sighed rubbing her brow with her thumb and forefinger already feeling a headache coming on. "Because it sounds like someone with a lisp calling their dog."

He laughed and poked her in the ribs, "And you say I have some weird quirks."

"hey" she shot back, "I'm not the one who still has a stuffed bear in my room." His smile faltered and she realized she had struck a nerve. Thinking back she remembered that toy was the only thing he had left of his former life before he came here. She started to apologize but before she could his smile popped back into place as he tugged her sleeve.

"come on lets go. We don't want you to be late."

………………

Everyone was gathered on the island while the new apprentices were presented with the wood for their staves. Thunder could be heard faintly and it wasn't until two of the battle mages in attendance fell to the ground dead that they realized it wasn't natural thunder. Llathala watched as people fled in terror from the figures in black robes with skulls on them. Wait skulls these were necromancers she thought. They've never been so bold as to attack like this before why now? She watched as the necromancers killed her friends, raised them from the dead to fight for them, and killed more. She could see Volf firing arrows that burst into flames on contact. He seemed to be doing so by reflex as his eyes weren't on his targets, the bow must be enchanted she thought. Then he started running towards the middle of the growing army of dead. He had obviously found his target the puppet master pulling the strings

Volf tackled the man who he had determined was raising his fallen comrades to kill their own friends. Before the fiend could recover to attack back Volf drew his elven mace and brought it down hard crushing the mans skull. As all the undead dropped to the ground again lifeless as they should be and Volf stood up Llathala could see a pouch on his belt glowing faintly. She gasped as it dawned on her. In the pouch was a soul stone and Volf just added the soul of his enemy a human soul to it.