The kitchen was once Tara's favorite room in the house. The warmth of family meals always made it seem brighter than normal. Now it was lonely, what with Kalila at the University , her mother, Rhianna Karminova at sea, and Clarissa dead.

Well, not so much dead anymore, she reminded herself as she sliced some vegetables for dinner. But without digestive organs, Clarissa had no need for food yet. Tara dreaded the day she would need to eat. She still hadn't found out whether or not necromancers fed their "creations" human flesh out of necessity or for kicks. She huffed in disgust. Those were the ones that needed to be stopped. The ones that did it for nothing but the need for control and power. At least she had a reason for it, a very good reason… not that it would make a difference if she were caught.

"Clarissa," she called to the open basement door. "When you can eat again, what would you like me to make? I can fry up some chicken or maybe a casserole? And of course I'll make you a big cake! Chocolate pumpkin marble, your favorite! Do you remember?"

The jingling of Clarissa's chain was the only answer. She knew it would be, but she felt like hearing her voice would be helpful, maybe even soothing, as the long process went on.

Tara went down to take a look at her. Some of her old toys had been brought down, but seemingly ignored. Clarissa simply walked around the room as far as her chain would allow. Tara frowned. She couldn't believe how long it was going to take to get her even partially back to her old self. It was like having a mudcrab wander the basement! Still, getting her closer meant killing again. That was something she would happily put off if possible.

The faint sound of galloping caught her attention. It wasn't the casual trot of someone on patrol. It was quick, the rider knowing exactly where they were going. And it was heading for the house.

Tara quickly shut the basement door and locked it. The good thing about Clarissa not having vocal chords was that she couldn't cry out and cause suspicion. Yet.

The galloping stopped and was replaced with heavy footsteps. There was a knock at the door.

Tara took a deep breath before opening it. Act natural.

A battle mage stood before her dressed in his uniform. "Wizard Karminova?" Though it was a question they both knew that he was fully aware of who she was.

"Can I help you with something?"

He pulled out a letter and handed it to her. Hannibal Traven's official seal was on the front.

She tried to keep her face expressionless. After all there was no way he could have found out already and even if he did, he would send a whole group after her, not just one man. The battle mage stood there waiting. Traven must have wanted a response.

Dear Tara,

I hope you are doing well. It has been awhile since I have been able to visit the Skingrad quarters, though now that you are working from your home, perhaps we may be able to visit more often.

Kalila has done very well in her studies, though she requires a bit more training for restoration. Her instructor says the skill is present but it seems like an issue with her mind that prevents her from being able to heal properly. I have recommended the Anvil Mage's Guild to her. As you know, it's a lovely place to be, though admittedly there have been rumors of rogue mages in the area. Of course Kalila is far too on the straight and narrow to get herself caught up with such things.

I was wondering if you would be willing to speak at the graduation ceremony. I heard you will be present and it's always a treat to hear from our successful alumni. Please let me know as soon as possible so I can make sure we have a slot from you. Hope you will join us.

Arch-magister Hannibal Traven

She sighed. Thank the gods it was only that. "Oh, alright." She looked at the battle mage, though not before glancing at the basement door. "Please, come in while I write out my response."

She showed the battle mage to her living room, kicking herself mentally for not straightening up further. A few of her alchemical supplies were still scattered on her armchair and on the coffee table. The Mages Guild banners were still draped on the couch.

"I had to rearrange some things," she offered before he could ask. "With my sister graduating, I wasn't sure if she'd be staying with me for awhile."

"Ah…" he said. He had no reason to disbelieve her, but Tara still felt nervous.

Dear Archmagister Traven,

I am glad to hear that Kalila has done well, though it comes as no surprise to me. She has been dedicated to her studies since childhood. I'm glad she will be able to get some further training in restoration before she goes on to battle mage training.

She pressed the end of the quill to her lip.

I would love to do a speech at the ceremony. Really, it would be an honor. I will see you then.

Wizard Tara Karminova

"Here you are," she said folding it up. She didn't bother sealing it. Frankly, she wanted the battlemage out of there before any strange jingles came from the basement. She handed him a septim for the postage and another as a tip.

"Thank you, ma'am," he said with a nod.

"Ma'am?" She asked aloud after he left. Good gods, she wasn't that old, was she?

.✯.✯.✯.

The morning of the graduation, Tara went down to visit Clarissa. Clarissa had been sitting cross legged on the ground. One of her dolls was before her. Clarissa didn't touch it. She simply stared. Tara wondered how she could see from empty sockets. When she heard a faint, steady crackling from the girl it occurred to her that it could be a form of echolocation.

Tara knelt next to her and waved her hand in front of Clarissa's face, slowly. Clarissa mimicked the motion. She gasped softly as she realized what an opportunity she had. No one in the Mages Guild had studied very much of the undead. Doing so would cause far too much suspicion and could result in being kicked out. However, it could be beneficial at least for personal study.

Everyone knew what the undead did, but not how. Figuring that out could greatly help adventurers and mages clear out some of the haunted locations or caves of necromancers. The evil necromancers, she corrected herself, as she was technically a necromancer herself.

"Clarissa, I have to go out for a few hours," she said. "Kalila is graduating from the university today. Do you remember her?"

Clarissa only crackled.

"She's grown up a lot since you… since you last saw her. She misses you very, very much even though she won't talk about it."

Hell, Kalila wouldn't talk about much of anything these days.

Tara stood up and glanced back at Clarissa. She would be fine in the house alone. Tara just hoped no one tried to break in while she was away.

Kalila sat with the rest of her class, all of them dressed in bright purple robes and the traditional caps. Of course, hers kept slipping and frankly, it looked ridiculous. She couldn't wait to toss hers up with the rest of her class… and abandon it afterwards.

She stared up at the stage where Arch-magister Traven was speaking. Dreams, hopes, future, blah, blah, blah. She looked behind him. The Emperor wasn't in attendance. At first Kalila was surprised, but them again, he probably had more important things to attend to than coming to a simple graduation. Now for when people became Master Wizard status, that was another story. In his stead, High Chancellor Ocato was there, looking about as bored as Kalila was. Next to him were the heads of the Cyrodiil Mages Guild halls and a few other prominent mages. And Tara.

Something was off about her. She was usually poised and confident looking. Today she seemed nervous. She kept wringing her hands and glancing elsewhere.

Traven stepped down and the audience applauded. Someone else took the stage, basically echoing Traven's sentiments.

Kalila turned her gaze toward the section for the students' families. Proud parents from all over wept and clapped, occasionally shouting out their child's name. A couple even blew loud horns when a speech was particularly touching.

She scanned the crowd for her own parents, but didn't see them. That meant that her mother was probably not there. Rhianna Karminova was known for many things, but blending in wasn't one. She would have brought her entire crew for the occasion and would be hooting and hollering throughout the speeches. It was just as well, she supposed. If her father happened to be there, then there would be yet another ugly fight between them. Kalila didn't feel like playing referee on her graduation day.

Another round of applause went by and another speaker stood up.

Kalila looked down at the ground. She sighed. She had spent so many years at the Arcane University. It was going to be strange not going every day. It would be even stranger being in Anvil. For the first time in her life, she would be truly on her own. Well, not entirely. She knew a few people who would be going there as well but this time Tara would be nowhere near and save for the Guild, she had no one she had to report to. It was exhilarating yet anxiety quivered in her stomach.

After the last applause, Tara stood at the podium.

"What an unforgettable day for everyone present," she began. "It wasn't too long ago that I sat in your seats," she said to the students.

Sure, if nearly a decade isn't too long ago, Kalila thought, pursing her lips to keep from giggling.

"I still remember it like it was yesterday. My mother stood proudly in the audience, with a flag she had enchanted to let out fireworks every time she waved it. My two younger sisters sat with her, beaming with pride, as I do now looking at one of them among her students." Tara smiled at Kalila.

Several people turned and glanced at her. Kalila wanted to sink into her seat. Did she have to be so damn sentimental all the time?

"This is the moment where life begins whether you go into your chosen profession or continue your education even further through the Mages Guild. The best part about right now is that you can still do anything, anything at all."

As Tara began going on about successes and achievements, Kalila thought about the day Tara had graduated. Though Tara remembered it well, much of it was a blur to Kalila. She remembered Rhianna's flag and also Rhianna fighting with her father over whether or not he had any business there, as he was not Tara's father. She also remembered her mother getting fined for assault over it. Most of all, she remembered Clarissa jumping up and down and screaming Tara's name as she walked across the stage. Tara was right. Clarissa had been beaming with pride over it, as though she had a hand in Tara's success.

A change in Tara's voice grabbed Kalila's attention. She sounded distant and she was looking away again. "And you may find yourself doing things you never imagined you would. And you'll find that beliefs you held dear, that were once unshakable, you just might think the opposite one day. Just keep an open mind and listen to your gut above all else and you'll do just fine. Thank you."

Kalila clapped along with the rest of the audience, though she couldn't escape the feeling that something was definitely up with Tara.