"Archmage," Headmistress Ervine said with a bow, "These are the three students, J'zargo, Onmund, and Brelyna, who are to take the research exam."
"Welcome!" Archmage Savos Aren said. "I would like to introduce you all to Lilidaale, our newest student here at the college and daughter of the prestigious altmer mages Iroldur and Elenn Loreoth."
The Archmage wore a pleasant smile on his dark, elven face. His red eyes were full of warmth and wisdom. In the few times Onmund had conversed with him, he always noticed how the dunmer addressed everyone as friends and never flaunted his superiority or power. He was a simple man with a powerful position, eager to work with others to further the exploration of magicka.
But why the hell was he bowing down to the Thalmor whims? When the headmistress first warned them there would be something different, Onmund had been prepared to see a ice wraiths swarming or a bound saber cat that they would have to fight to prove themselves, not an pretentious, haughty, malicious group of Thalmor high elves. There were five of them standing there the Hall of Elements foyer, peering skeptically through the gate at the hall's grandeur as if they had seen better. Their yellow skinned glowed eerily against their Thalmor garb of black, gold embellished leather, their golden-orange eyes sizing up him and the others and smirking with amusement. He would have preferred fighting the saber cat.
Onmund sneered, glaring at the group of shifty altmer. High elves. They thought they were better than all the races in every field. Fighting, stealth, magicka, and now religion. The Thalmor cult they formed imposed on the Empire to restrict the worship of the nine devines to eight, for they believed the Nord god Talos was not true devine and a blasphemous imposter. They were granted the right of justicars, investigating Nords who were suspected of continuing the worship of their god and were permitted to torture and kill those found guilty.
Onmund, though not particularly religious himself, hated them. For the past few months, the college had hosted a thalmor named Ancano who was to advise the archmage and lend his own skills to the age long investigations of the Eye of Magnus. But according to hearsay, he was actually just spying for the Thalmor in order to make their cause more powerful.
Ancano, though rude to everyone at the university, even the other high elves, had a particular hatred towards Onmund. As the only Nord at the college, he was the scapegoat of all Ancano's animosity towards the Nord race and worship of Talos. He constantly reminded Onmund why he was a failure student and told him he would never pass the exam. Onmund hated him.
"Students," Ancano said with a nod and queer smile, stepping away from his sneering companions. The word could have been easily replaced with 'children'. "As you know, I have been advising the Archmage for several months now, and I have found this educational environment, though culturally stimulating, to be of students lacking in…aptitude. Therefore, after conversing with my fellow Thalmor mages, we have decided to send some of our own apprentices to your college. I amiably introduce you to Lilidaale, my niece. She will be taking the exam alongside the three of you."
"What!?" The word flew from Onmund's mouth before he could stop himself. All turned to him, eyes wide in shock at his speaking out of turn and hostility. A small voice in his head warned this was not the way to impress his superiors, but the larger, angrier voice didn't care. "Onmund!" Ervine barked dangerously, nostrils flared. "Remember who you are speaking too!"
"She's a new enrollee!" he further complained, gesturing violently at the high elf group.
"She has to go through a year of training. That's the rules!"
Ervine stalked forward and grabbed Onmund by his shirt front, dragging him away from the rest. "Let go!" He protested. "You're treating me like a child!"
"Because you're acting like a child!" Ervine hissed dangerously near his face. "You are embarrassing not only yourself, but all your superiors and the college itself!"
"But the damn Thalmor think they can just come in a change everything!" He complained. "That bastard Acano acts like we're all a bunch of idiots. Why do we always let him walk all over the rules. It's not like he owns the place!"
"Well," Ervine breathed, her tone dropping a peg. "He basically does. This university receives a lot of animosity from Skyrim, as does the mage profession in general. We are only able to stay open and remain on the Empire's good side because of the funds and support of the Thalmor. So we play nice. We do what they want and take their insults with a smile. They'll eventually get bored here at our inferior establishment and go meddle in a different part of Skyrim."
Onmund looked down, face red with frustration and embarrassment. "Yes, headmistress."
"Don't ruin your chances by angering the Thalmor, Onmund." Ervine said sternly. "I have faith that you can pass, given a fair chance."
Thy walked back over to the group who, though now carrying on their own conversation about the college and the Lilidaale brat, were attempting to eavesdrop on Onmund's scolding.
"I assume we can continue without further interruptions?" Acano said haughtily, glaring at Onmund. "It disgusts me how insubordinate your students here are."
"The misunderstanding has been taken care of." Ervine replied with a tight expression.
"Hmm." Acano hummed, narrowing his eyes. "Nord, is this how you welcome all of your new peers? If you wish to not be denied this year's examination, you will apologize to Lilidaale immediately."
Onmund clenched his jaw. Play nice, he commanded himself. "I am sorry for my rudeness, and I hope you know that you are more than welcome at our university."
A young, female altmer stepped from behind the Thalmor group. Her skin was not yellow like her family's, but still held a warm, gold hue. She her almond shaped eyes were a shocking gold that matched her long, half braided hair. Her mouth formed a thin line that parted only slightly as she responded in a soft, yet bored voice, "Your apology is accepted." Then turning to Archmage Savos Aren, "If it's all the same to you, Savos, I'd like to begin."
"Ah, yes of course Lilidaale!" the archmage said with a startled smile, as if he had missed the entirety of the scene. "Come forward and join your new peers."
The high elf named Lilidaale stepped forward lightly, her leather Thalmor grab not making a single crack. She stood next to Brelyna, the farthest possible spot from Onmund.
"Now, Iroldur and Elenn," the Archmage said, "I must ask you to leave the hall, along with Ancano and Headmistress Ervine. The exam must be tested without the presence of others. You can wait in the courtyard if it pleases you and say your goodbyes to your daughter afterwards."
"My parents are very busy people," Lilidaale said looking at Archmage Savos. "They have more important business to attend to than seeing me off."
"Ah, yes, well, I guess that is their decision." The Archamge slightly stuttered, "Lord and Lady Loreoth, will you be staying with us any longer?"
But the Thalmor group was already gone.
