Hello everyone! So this is my first every fanfiction! I've written things in the past during high school and college, but they have all been in the genre of academia. I've never written a creative story in my life, so I figured I would give it a shot. Basically, I decided to start writing because I have too many friends who have English degrees and have been asking me to write for ages. I have several fun ideas for stories, but I'm only going to be working on this one until it gets finished. I hate it when authors don't finish their stories, so the one thing that I can promise you all is that I WILL FINISH WHAT I START! I appreciate and encourage constructive criticism; flames and trolls are not appreciated at all, and frankly, just make you a lame person as far as I'm concerned. The cover photo for this story is of my OC. The cover is actually of one of my cosplays I did earlier this year, before I even thought of this story. No, my OC is not in the Dark Brotherhood for this story, so just pretend they are regular mage robes :) Happy reading!
Illusion of Beauty
Chapter 1:
Leann is tired, the most exhausted she has ever felt. She just made it to Winterhold after traveling for a week from Markath.
"It's a good thing I learned offensive magic after all." She muttered to herself. Just in the journey from Windhelm to Winterhold, she encountered necromancers, the undead, ice wraiths, and ice wolves. The annoying part was when she encountered the wolves within view of Winterhold's gates!
I still can't believe that no one came to help out a traveling priestess! I should have purchased some light armor, even though I can't make much use of it. I would've at least been protected from the wolves' teeth...she mused in her head. As soon as Leann made it to the city gates, she asked the nearest person where the Inn and College were located. Her magicka was still pretty drained from the journey, so she opted to spend the night in the tiny Inn. Then, when she was rested, she would approach the college.
It's the dawn of a new day, and Leann is anxious. She gets out of bed and stands in front of the small mirror in her rented room to check her complexion. She was pleasantly surprised at what she saw. Her long blonde hair did not look as dirty as it should have after traveling across the country for a week; her skin managed to remain scratch free during her trip as well. The only thing that was not to her liking were her eyes. They normally have a beautiful dark green color to them, but because of her lack of sleep the past week, they look bloodshot and dull. Leanne goes through her knapsack one final time: potions and poisons, check, clothes, check, gold, check. She finished up in her room by donning her Master Destruction Robes and a Gold and Emerald Circlet with Restoration and magicka fortification enchantments.
Everything's here and accounted for; time to go learn some Illusion magic! She thought with determination.
Leann makes her way to the College's entrance and is stopped by a male Dunmer.
"Halt! Why do you seek entrance to the College?" The Dunmer asks.
"I wish to study magic." Leann replies nervously.
"Well, judging by your robes, I would say you have already begun your studies" The Dunmer stated with a smirk, "What do you wish to study here?"
"You are correct in your assumption. I've been studying different magic schools for most of my life. What I came to this college to learn is the Illusion school of magic." Leann responded more sure of herself.
"Oh? Well, you're in luck; my name is Drevis Neloren, and I'm the Professor of Illusion here at the College of Winterhold." Drevis said, standing up a bit straighter. "Now, as for your test to enter the College..."
"WAIT! I didn't know that I had to take a test in order to be allowed entry." Leann interrupted.
"It is customary for each student to pass a trial to prove their magical aptitude. But don't worry; the tests are not too challenging." Drevis said without missing a beat. "As for your test, I think a simple Muffle spell will suffice, since you are going to be an Illusion student after all." He finished with a smile.
Leann gave an awkward laugh, "It figures that would be my luck..." she trails off.
"What do you mean?" Drevis interjected, "Surely, as an experience mage, you can cast an Apprentice level Illusion spell?"
"Well, if I could do that, it would defeat the purpose of coming here in the first place" Leann said with a hint of sarcasm. "Hah, I am completely and totally inept with Illusion magic; is there another school I could do my test from? I swear I actually am worth of the Master level robes I wear." She finished with a hopeful grimace.
Leann could see Drevis mulling her request over in his head. "I suppose you can summon an atronarch for me as your test." Leann shed her first smile since she left Markath.
"Thank-you! Here we go!" She summoned a large amount of magicka to her left hand, Might as well show that I'm not a total invalid, she thought as she conjured a Storm Atronarch into this plane.
"Welcome to the College of Winterhold," Drevis said with a smile of his own. "Now, if you would follow me, I'll show you around the grounds and where you will be staying during your studies here."
After Drevis started leading Leann to the great bridge, she went back to her usual reserved self. She was never really comfortable talking with people she was unfamiliar with, let alone of the opposite gender. Once they reached the courtyard, Drevis started talking about some of the history of the place. He showed her the Hall of the Elements, the Arcaneum, and finally, the dorms where Leann would be staying.
When he got to the Hall of Countenance, he turned to Leann and said, in a formal tone,"Welcome to the Hall of Countenance. This is where all of the Illusion students sleep. In your dresser, you will find a set of Novice Robes of Illusion; you are to wear those to any lectures and lessons as a 'uniform' of sorts. We are still waiting on the rest of the students to arrive, so classes will officially start next week. I sleep in this hall as well, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask them of me."
"Thank- you very much for the tour Professor Neloren; I will be sure to address you with any concerns I might have." Leann finished in a pleasant tone.
"Haha, it's just Drevis; we're not that rigid here!" He said with an amicable grin. "Have a good night, and I'll see you around the college."
"Good night Drevis," Leann replied with a smirk of her own.
Leann unpacked her small knapsack of supplies and searched around for her new robes. When she found them, she smiled and held them up to the light; she loved how they felt. She put them back and got herself ready for bed. Several minutes later, she got under her covers and thought to herself, I'm definitely not in the Temple of Dibella anymore.
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