AN: Next chapter hooray. Thanks for reviewing again, Isla-Robin-295! I'm glad you're enjoying it and keeping up; it means a lot.

We filed into the underground ruin down a stone staircase. I remember reading a passage or two on Saarthal. It was one of the earliest Nord settlements in Skyrim, also the largest. What actually happened is a mystery; no one knows for sure what took place after "The Night of Tears".

"What are we looking for?" the Dragonborn asked.

"Anything, anything at all that might be of interest. That's why I adore this location; we have no idea what we're going to find and, along the way, my message about the dangers of magic should happen to sink in for a few students, that would be a happy coincidence." Tolfdir said, but I believe the Dragonborn stopped listening after he answered her question; he told her she should find Arniel Gane and give him any help he might require.

I caught up the Dragonborn while Tolfdir started handing out jobs and told her that I could lead the way to Arniel Gane, but then promptly realized that I just made it obvious that I was eavesdropping; she didn't seem to care, thankfully, but hinted that, perhaps, this was my way of shirking duties Tolfdir was assigning.

I led the way over stone bridges and up stairs, relying on my very limited Clairvoyance charm; now only if I had the guts to talk to the Dragonborn like I planned. Instead, we walked in silence and I regret that greatly. We found Arniel without incident. After informing him of Tolfdir's request, he said

"He what? You must be one of the new apprentices, then. Fine, fine. Just...just don't make a mess of my work, alright? I've only looked through a portion of this section. You, uh, you can look around in the chambers just North of here. Try and be careful, alright? We don't want to damage anything." he didn't even raise his eyes too us; surely, if he knew of this woman's importance, I be he wouldn't have been so rude. The Dragonborn requested him to clarify, using no more respect than he gave her. His tone was the same when he answered: exasperated and dismissive.

"Just round up the rest of the magical artifacts so I can catalog them." he seemed short, but she complied. I followed, hoping to not be a nuisance, because I was still attempting to scrape together enough courage; I still have barely managed to say two words to her. I ended up being able to help identify the garbage from the artifacts; this time she led the way. I jogged a few feet ahead when I spotted an artifact. I picked up an enchanted ring and held it out for her to see. Once she understood what we were searching for, we were able to find three more before concluding that was all there was to find. That is, until the Dragonborn's attention was caught by an ancient amulet placed upon the wall in a separate room with no door.

"Wait!" I cried, as she unhesitantly reached for it. Magic is dangerous, you can't go snatching whatever catches your fancy! I tried to stop her, but I was too late and she found herself trapped as bars fell in front between us, blocking the entrance. Before I could think of anything to do, Tolfdir rushed in; the conversation went as such:

"What in the world was the racket, is everything alright?"

"I'm trapped in here!"

"How in the world did that happen?"

"I pulled an amulet off the wall."

"Really? Perhaps the amulet is important somehow; is there some way you can use it?" The Dragonborn slipped the amulet over her head and we waited with baited breath.

"Do you see that?" Tolfdir asked excitedly, "Some kind of resonance...you and the wall. It must be connected to the amulet! I wonder…what effect your spells might have?" he thinks aloud, not needing to ask her to test her magic. Fire appeared in her palm and she took a deep breath before allowing it to burst forth. Her spell power must have increased tenfold, because the thick stone wall crumbled like dry clay and scattered in an explosion.

Tolfdir immediately insisted they investigate; I tried to discreetly follow, but I'm turned away and told to join the other students. I hesitated by the entrance and attempted to understand their echoing voices. I was able to discern talk of the Psijic Order; I've only briefly read about them so all i know is that they are an ancient and mysterious order full of powerful mages; nothing's been said on them in as long as a century; why on earth were they being brought up now?

Suddenly, clashing blades and the sound of destruction spells erupted from the hallway. I rushed down it, just short of the room where the fight was taking place, and peered in cautiously. I was there just in time to see the last Draugr body crumple to the ground. A Draugr! I'd never seen one before! I kept a good distanced follow, but more Draugr surrounded us, and I was forced to defend myself. For the first time in my life, my magics had a use to me. I felt powerful and fulfilled; if I wasn't resolute on my departure before, I was, in that moment, firm on the decision.

I watched the destructive force of my chain lightning as it pierced right through their ancient armor and reverberated through each limb, leaving behind their broken bodies; what power!

"What on earth do you think you are doing? I told you to stay behind!" Tolfdier demanded once the smoke cleared; he was furious."I can't escort you back, now." he sighed, upset, "You may follow, but stay back; I don't want to see another Chain Lightning stunt like that; you're barely a Journeyman." he ordered me. 'Stunt', he said; gods! He knows nothing of my true ability, nothing of what i'm capable of. I swallowed my indignation at his patronizing speech.

With the pull of a lever and a warning of caution from Tolfdir, a gate opened into another chamber where Draugr burst from coffins along the wall. Without hesitation, I took down several Draugr while the Dragone bore cleared out the rest. It seems Tolfdir forgot my indiscretion as he marveled at the coffins and the overall unusualness of the ruins. He falls back, but I make sure to stay at the Dragonborn's side as we press on through the caverns.

So I've been using actual dialogue from the game, but I just realized how limited the Dragonborn's responses are. Will someone please let me know if I should keep it as direct quotes from the game, or if I should rewrite better sounding responses. The only reason I'd leave the game version in is because I'm trying to stay as true to it as possible, but I feel like it might kinda throw off the flow of the story. Please let me know in the reviews!