Hello viewers! What's up...? You can't answer that... So, this is the latest installment of Thaumaturge. In this chapter our hero finally reaches his destination, and meets some of his fellow apprentices. Well, I hope you like this chapter. Read on!

Tanz woke up and felt cold, which was good, that meant he was alive. The blizzard was over, and nobody had noticed him. He stood up, his shoulder was sore, but he would be fine. Tanz peeked around the corner and saw a few people walking about the town. Tanz walked out from behind the building and looked up at the college's gates. The gate was massive. It looked to be completely made of stone and had a walkway leading up to a large arch. Under the arch was a High Elf who didn't look to happy to be standing out there in the snow.

"Bros you there?" Tanz asked.

"Yes. Today's the day, hmm? Your finally joining the college?" Bros asked.

"Today's the day. I've been waiting years for this!" Tanz said excitedly. The mage walked up the stone walkway and approached the Elf. She had her orange hair in pigtails and a green tunic.

"Cross the bridge at your own peril! The way is dangerous, and the gate will not open. You shall not gain entry!" The Elf said.

"This is the College of Winterhold, right?" Tanz asked.

"Yes, this is the College of Winterhold. A safe haven for mages in Skyrim. A place of wisdom and arcane knowledge." She said.

"May I enter?" Tanz asked.

"Perhaps, but what do you expect to find within?" The Elf asked.

"I want to study and master magic. I want to become a powerful mage and learn to wield fire, ice, and lightning." Tanz said.

"It seems the college has what you seek. But what do you have to offer the college?"

"Offer..." Tanz thought. He didn't expect them to ask something like that.

"Conduit, show her your barrier spell." Bros said.

Tanz turned away. "What my ward?" Tanz asked.

"No, your shield." Bros insructed.

Tanz turned back to the Elf. "Uh, watch this." Tanz said. He looked up and saw an icicle hanging from the archway. Perfect. Tanz fired a shard at the icicle and the ice spear fell down towards Tanz. Tanz brought up his barrier and the icicle shattered on the magical wall.

The Elf crossed her arms. "Was that a ward?" She asked.

"I don't know, I just used it one day. It blocks physical attacks instead of magical attacks." Tanz said.

"Hmm, you just used the spell one day?" She asked.

"Yeah." Tanz said.

"Well, you have the ability to use magic. Alright you may enter. Follow me." She said. Tanz did as instructed and followed the Elf along the snow covered bridge. As they walked the Elf cast an unknown spell into a pools of magicka. Once they had reached the gate, the Elf turned to him. "Talk to Mirabelle Ervine about enrollment. Last I saw her she was in the courtyard." She said.

"How will I know when I see her?"

"She's a Breton, shorter than you, brown hair." The she-Elf said and walked back toward the gate.

Tanz walked towards the door and the halves parted. Tanz walked into the courtyard and saw a Breton arguing with another High Elf.

"You may be used to the Empire bowing to your every whim, but the Thalmor will receive no such treatment here. You are a guest at the college, here at the pleasure of the Arch-Mage. I hope you appreciate the opportunity." Mirabelle said with a scowl.

"Yes, of course." The Elf said.

"Good, then were done here." The Breton said, she turned to the Argonian to follow him.

"I was told to come see you about enrollment." Tanz said.

"Enrollment? Well, there isn't anything to do for enrollment except give you a room." She said, "I'm surprised by how many people have come to enroll lately. I trust Faralda tested you on your abilities before she let you in?" Mirabelle asked.

"Yes." Tanz replied. He looked around the courtyard. The courtyard made up a large part of the college. There was a large tower rising up into the sky. Along its height was a thin window, and above that was another large stained glass window. On the window was the college's emblem, an eye with five points jutting outward.

"Alright then," Mirabelle started, leading Tanz toward the tower. "On the first floor is the Hall of Elements. Above that is the Arcaneum, and above that are various classrooms and such. Finally, at the top is the Arch Mage's quarters. Which is off limits unless permitted."

"What's the Arcaneum?" The Argonian asked.

"The Arcaneum is a large library, one of the biggest in Skyrim." Mirabelle answered. She then lead him to a door to the right of the college's entrance. "This is the Hall of Attainment, one of the six apprentice quarters. There is the Hall of Attainment, the Hall of Countenance, the Hall of Apprehension, the Hall of Endeavor, the Hall of Prudence, and the Hall of Diablerie."

"You said earlier that there was a lot of enrollment lately. How many people are enrolled here?"

"About forty to fifty students. Someone actually enrolled just a few days ago." Mirabelle said. Tanz followed her into the Hall of Attainment and saw the same pools of magicka that were located around the college. There were six door ways leading into bedrooms each with the same furniture, which included a bed, chair, nightstand, wardrobe, and shelf. On the other side of the room was a staircase. She led him into an empty room. "Here are your quarters. You'll be sharing a space with your fellow apprentices, who you'll be meeting shortly. Go find Tolfdir, the restoration teacher, I believe he was giving a lecture to some of the apprentices in the Hall of Elements."

"Thanks." Tanz said. She walked out of the dorm room. Tanz looked around his new room. This was going to be his room for a long time. He set down his sword in the wardrobe and set his satchel on the nightstand. The room had no doors so there wasn't very much privacy. The other rooms were similar to his, with little differences from his own. He heard an odd squeaking noise but he ignored it. Tanz walked out of the hall and into the courtyard. The snow was falling hard but the colleges towering walls blocked the wind and whirling snow creating a eye-of-the-hurricane effect.

He walked across the courtyard, feeling unbridled joy, He was here, finally. This was were he had always wanted to be, somewhere he could study and learn more about magic. He observed the statue in the middle of the courtyard. A hooded man's hands were raised as if calling upon the beam of light emanating from the magicka well. He walked past a snowberry bush and pushed open the doors.

"Oh come on, we've all proven we can wield magic. I can shoot fire from my hands!" Someone said angrily, followed by similar comments.

"Calm down, everyone. Magic is not about burning, freezing, or electrocuting things. You have to learn true mastery of magic, and how to wield safely. If you are not careful, magic can and will destroy you." Someone else said. Tanz walked into the hall and saw a group of apprentices and a elderly Nord.

"But you have no idea what were capable of. Let us try something." One of them pleaded. Tanz walked up to the left of the group. The elder looked over at the Argonian.

"Ah, come in, come in. We were just getting... started..." He said. Tanz looked over the group he saw Elves, Bretons, Imperials, and surprisingly a Nord. From what he had heard, Nords thought magic was weak. He saw a few Argonians too, good, he wasn't the only Argonian here. Tanz walked over to group and the apprentices resumed there arguments.

"Let us do something!" One yelled. The apprentices yelled more comments for a few more minutes and the teacher didn't look like he was going to change his mind. He looked back at Tanz.

"You," he gestured to Tanz. "You've been quiet so far, what do you think we should do?" He asked. Tanz looked around, the group of at least fifteen were all staring at him.

"Say something boy." Bros said quickly.

"Uh... I think we should try something practical." He said nervously.

"See even he agrees with us!" A female said. The elder sighed and nodded, accepting defeat.

"Alright then, but in our theme of safety we will be practicing wards." Tolfdir said. He pointed at Tanz. "Would you mind helping? Do you know how to use wards?"

"I've used wards before." Tanz shrugged and walked to the front.

"Alright stand over there," he gestured. "Cast a ward and keep it up."

Tanz stood where directed and cast a ward with both hands. Tolfdir charged a fire spell and launched a firebolt at the shield. The flames spread out along the width of the ward and dissipated.

"Good!" Tolfdir said with a grin. Some of the apprentices stood around with unimpressed looks and others with the opposite. "Now, I want everyone to practice wards. That will be enough for today. Have a good rest of your day, study hard." He said. The apprentices started walking out of the Hall. Tanz walked outside and noticed the sun setting. That must have been the last lecture of the day. An Imperial looked over his shoulder and noticed Tanz. He turned back and walked over to the Argonian.

"Your that new apprentice, right?" He said, "Trebon Varro."

"Tanz... Huleed." Tanz said. He'd have to remember his new last name.

"You Argonians have some weird names. Has anyone ever told you that?" He joked, "Where's your room?"

"In the Hall of Attainment." Tanz said.

"Same as me. I feel kind of bad for you though." He said.

"Why?" Tanz asked.

"You have to deal with J'zargo." Trebon said, angered by the thought.

"Who's J'zargo?" Tanz asked.

"A Khajit, he's really competitive and arrogant. He's the only Khajit here though." The Imperial said. "Thanks the Nine for that."

"A Khajit mage? Weird. Anyone else I need to worry about." Tanz asked.

"Not really, except for Cania. She's just... not right." He said.

"Cania?" Tanz asked.

"Newest apprentice before you. She's just... strange... She actually arrived a few days before you." Trebon said. They continued into the Hall of Attainment and saw a female Dunmer arguing with a male Khajit.

"J'zargo, you can't just steal Onmund's things!" The Dunmer said angrily.

"Why not? If Onmund wants to leave this in his nightstand he shouldn't get mad if someone takes it!" J'zargo said and held up an amulet.

"J'zargo, what makes you think that stealing Onmund's stuff is any different than stealing my things!" Trebon yelled.

"That was different..." The feline started but stopped when he noticed Tanz. "Who's this?"

"This is Tanz, the new apprentice. He was the guy that helped Tolfdir with the demonstration." Trebon said.

"Oh, hello." The Dunmer said.

"Yes, yes, hello." The feline said and rolled his eyes.

"Who's Onmund?" Tanz asked. The Dunmer swiped the amulet from J'zargo's hand a chuckled. She walked into another room and placed it on the dresser.

"No fair." The Khajit whined and his ears flattened. The Elf chuckled and walked over to the Argonian.

"Onmund's another apprentice, his room is over there." She said and pointed to the room that she had put the amulet in. "He's the only Nord apprentice in the whole college. I'm Brelyna by the way."

"Tanz Huleed." Tanz said. Good he remembered this time.

"I'd hide your stuff," Trebon said. "Because J'ZARGO cant leave people's stuff ALONE!" He yelled as he charged at the cat that was now in his room. "I told you to stay out of my room you stupid cat!" The feline ran up the stairs and the Imperial followed after.

"Do they always fight?" Tanz asked.

"Not always, but you really should hide your stuff... just a suggestion." Brelyna said. "And J'zargo also talks in the third person most of the time, but you get used to it."

"J'zargo is sorry... There is no need to get- AH!" Tanz heard the feline scream from upstairs.

"I don't like Khajits by the way..." Bros muttered.

"Uh... So where's Onmund?" Tanz asked.

"Probably talking to one of the teachers. He had trouble with his conjurations today." She said. Tanz swore he heard a crash from upstairs. They both stood there looking in the direction of the noise. Another flurry of crashes and bangs resonated throughout the dorm.

"HEY!" Someone yelled.

"Umm... I should go see what's going on. J'zargo has been getting on Trebon's nerves and I think he finally snapped." The she-elf said as she started up the stairs. "You should probably get some sleep. Our first class in the morning is with Drevis at eight." Tanz heard another crash. She rolled her eyes and ran up the stairs.

Tanz shrugged and walked into his room. He sat down on the bed and removed his guantlets and boots. He put the guantlets on his dresser and shoved his boots under his bed. Tanz removed his hood revealing dark red leaves and two horns jutting out from his head. Tanz looked at his satchel that was sitting on his nightstand. He grabbed it and set it on top of the wardrobe. He let out a satisfied sigh and sat down on the bed.

"I'm finally here!" He said with a grin.

"That you are." The spirit said. "And don't worry, you won't be going to Quagmire for a while."

"Good. I just want to focus on my classes." Tanz said. The Argonian laid down on the bed and closed his eyes. He heard another crash and some shouting. But soon the fighting stopped and the other three apprentices walked downstairs and settled into their beds. Tanz heard the strange squeaking noise again but he didn't care, he was finally here, in the place where he belonged. His mind drifted off and he fell asleep.