It was as though nothing had changed at all. Wearing the traditional mage robes provided by the college, KaNack fought through the roaring winds to the Hall of the Elements with Brelyna and Brelas walking behind him. The reptile kept a strong ward up as he tried to protect all three of them from the painful biting of the storm, but there was only so much magic could do against the wrath of nature.
It felt like forever, but eventually they all made it through the tall doors, and roaring winds were replaced by the quiet murmuring of students.
"So, there is no such thing as a snow day in Winterhold?" KaNack grumbled as he brushed snow from his robes.
"Every day is a snow day here," Brelas laughed as she walked past the Argonian, whipping her head to the side. Her long golden hair sprayed the mage with a splash of icy water. "The instructors just choose to not let it interfere with lessons.
They had arrived for their early morning lesson in destruction magic, and the chamber had been properly set up. Large and durable wooden and straw targets decorated the stone floors of the hall. KaNack could see by the singes on most of the dummies that the class had been practicing even more destructive magic since he had left.
The three students headed over to where all the other apprentices were gathered on the low stairwell. A wicked smile formed on the reptile's face as he promptly sat himself right next to J'Zargo, who had been making small talk with Onmund.
"Good morning, J'Zargo," the assassin chimed as he smiled at the Khajiit. "Did we sleep well last night?"
The cat's ears flattened and his body tensed up as the furry mage recognized the voice and did not dare to turn his head to face the Listener. J'Zargo gulped and avoided eye contact as he responded, "J'Zargo did not get any sleep at all."
"Awww, that's too bad," the mage sympathized. He leaned to the side to whisper in the Khajiit's ear. "I know of an elixir that can help with that. Do you like the taste of snowberries?"
"That won't be necessary," the cat mumbled, still not daring to look the Argonian in the eyes. "J'Zargo will manage somehow."
Deciding to leave the poor feline alone, the Listener turned back to Brelas and Brelyna with a smile that was actually sincere. It was a relief to finally be back in the familiar stone chamber of the Hall of Elements. Too long he had been underground or in the Pine Forest working with the Dark Brotherhood. He had almost forgotten how good it was to reside in a place where death was not on everyone's minds.
"All right students!" Faralda announced as she approached the gathered mages. "I know that this blizzard has forced a lot of our classes to remain indoors, but these storms are nothing new to the college!" She placed her hands on her hips when she noticed the attendance of one that she had thought was gone for good. "Ah, the Argonian returns. I trust you spent your time away doing something productive?"
"You could say that," KaNack answered with a shrug.
The High Elf's eyes narrowed. She had been training the others apprentices hard, and didn't want to change the lesson plan simply because one of them had fallen behind of the rest of the class. "Do you think you can cast a fireball? That is where we are at this point."
KaNack's eyes widened in delight, and could not hide a toothy grin when his instructor called him out in front of all of the students. What had once been an action that would normally make him nervous and self-conscious now was a challenge that he would openly accept.
"Fireball?" he asked gently. "I think I can manage something along those lines."
"KaNack, you've been gone for months," Brelyna whispered to him. "If you can't perform it…"
"Up bup bup bup!" The Argonian held a finger to the Dunmer's lips, gently silencing her. "I can at least try, can't I?" He nuzzled his nose against hers before standing up and briskly walking over to the Atlmer's side. The master destruction instructor was less than impressed by his confidence.
"Not possible," J'Zargo confided to Onmund as he leaned to his friend to whisper behind a palm. "Six months he was not in class. He'll be lucky if he can still properly cast fire bolt."
Faralda pointed over to a dummy that looked very similar to the ones he had been training under Festus' guidance. It was large, durable and void of straw that would easily burn up. "I want you to cast at least a firebolt at that target. If you have fallen behind in your casting, I will need to set up some time on the side for you to be privately trained until you've caught up with the others."
KaNack politely bowed to his teacher, and then got into his casting position. "Elf and beast races alike!" he called over to the students. "Tell me! What is the name of the most wretched man in Skyrim?"
"Ulfric Stormcloak!" "The bastard Jarl of Windhelm!" "Ulfric!" "The High King slayer!"
All the students began to answer angrily with a similar answer. Ulfric Stormcloak was widely despised by practically everyone in the school of Winterhold, being that half the student population was made up of elves.
"KaNack," the Altmer grumbled as she shook her head, feeling that the mage was merely stalling. "Please stop wasting time."
The High Elf did not realize that there had been a reason for the Argonian's actions. He pictured Ulfric Stormcloak in place of the dummy. Everything from his gargantuan nose to his uncaring and judging eyes.
When he was not with the Greybeards, Whiterun had been his only other home. With this location though, the pressure had been placed on the mage to be a loyal supporter of the Imperial Army. The mage had seen Ulfric only once when he had come to Skyrim, but it was a day that would be burned into his mind for the rest of his life.
Ulfric Stormcloak had been captured by General Tullius, and the Imperial insisted that the Dragonborn be present for the Jarl of Windhelm's execution. The General believed that if Ulfric saw that the Dragonborn clearly was siding with the Imperials that the Nord realize that his precious Rebellion was going to come to an end after his death.
KaNack had been hidden under a large cloak and hood, so Ulfric did not have a good look at the reptile, but the apprentice had seen him clearly. He would never forget that look of resentment between the two when Tullius and Ulfric locked eyes in Helgen.
The Stormcloak leader was supposed to pay for his crimes against Skyrim that day, but instead the dreadful beast, Alduin, appeared from the skies after centuries of absence. With the great dragon's interference, both Ulfric and most of his Stormcloak soldiers escaped death and justice, leaving Tullius rather furious and placing even more stress on the Argonian do his part to aid in the Civil War. He was bitter to Tullius for it, but he still respected the Imperial more than that dreadful Nord.
KaNack could feel the flames of his inner fire start to grow hotter as he kept the wicked jarl clearly pictured in his mind. He was not ready yet, but he was sure that someday, if Tullius had not managed to do so, he would see that the reign of Ulfric came to an end.
The raging fire he was conducting in his hands burned brightly, and began to glow white as the assassin's fury continued to grow. It finally came to a peak, and KaNack hurled the ball of flame directly at the target.
There was a deafening sound of detonation as the Argonian's cast came into contact with the wooden dummy. A massive inferno erupted around the target, and the destructive flames consumed everything it had engulfed. There was nothing left when the flames had finally died down, with the exception of a few still burning splinters of wood.
Both the students and teacher were dead silent, shocked and more than a little terrified from what they had witnessed. Jaws were dropped, eyes were wide, and voices had been hushed.
KaNack panted slightly, exhausted from all the energy that had been drained from his body to create the deadly spell. A satisfied open mouthed smile was still on his face though as he imagined that soon it would not be a wooden dummy, but the Stormcloak leader himself.
"WOOO!" Onmund suddenly cried out as he lifted his fists into the air, breaking the stillness and quiet of the group. While everyone else had been stunned, the Nord was more than slightly impressed. "Did you see KaNack's fireball?!" He punched J'Zargo in the shoulder. "That was incredible!"
The Khajiit only stared dumbly at the smoldering remnants of the dummy, his mouth agape in utter astonishment.
"That…" Faralda started quietly and quite fearfully, "was NOT a fireball." She walked around so that she was now in front of the reptile. "That was 'Incinerate'. One of the most dangerous and deadly fire spells a mage can produce." Her eyes narrowed. "It is also a spell that is never taught in this school to students as inexperienced as yourselves." The Atlmer leaned closer to the mage, trying to read him, but all she saw was exhaustion and pride.
"You HAVE been keeping quite busy these last few months, haven't you?" she hissed bitterly. "Dare I ask where you picked up that little stunt?"
KaNack tensed, as he was not about to explain to Faralda that the previous destruction magic instructor had been responsible for his newfound skills. Still, he couldn't openly lie to the Altmer, she would be able to tell.
"My uncle," the reptile answered simply. "Magic runs in the family you see." Technically not a lie, as the Dark Brotherhood was a family, and Krex had practically become a grouchy uncle to him.
"Clearly you aren't behind the other students. However, that spell will NOT be cast on school grounds unless you are specifically instructed to do so, are we clear?" she snapped angrily at the Argonian.
"Humble KaNack lives to serve," he giggled as he bowed politely Faralda, not able to resist impersonating his dearest friend. He was dismissed by the elf, and the reptile returned to his spot by Brelyna, who was still trying to get over witnessing the infamous spell 'Incinerate'.
"Wow, someone got really powerful," an Altmer purred down to KaNack from behind.
"That was so amazing," a male Breton whispered from the side.
Brelyna leaned closer to the mage, ignoring Faralda who had called up another student to demonstrate a proper fireball in front of the class.
"What on Tamriel did you do while you were gone, KaNack?" she asked in a soft voice. "How could you possibly have mastered expert spells that quickly?"
"I had a very good teacher," he answered her simply. "Pretty adamant with the whole tough love concept, but it was definitely effective."
"Clearly."
The students did their best to focus on the rest of Faralda's lecture, trying to pay attention, but the casting of Incinerate was still plaguing their minds. The mages waited until class was dismissed, and Faralda took her leave before they all began to swarm around KaNack.
"You have to give me the name of your teacher!" Onmund insisted. "Tell me your uncle trains other students!"
The Argonian laughed heartily as he placed a hand on the Nord's shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look. "Oh, Onmund. You wouldn't be able to survive the training."
"I wish that HAD been Ulfric!" a male High Elf exclaimed. "That easily would have put that racist bastard down permanently!"
"KaNack! You have to join the Imperial Army!" Brelas insisted as she grabbed the mage's hands. "With you by Tullius' side, the Stormcloaks will be stopped once and for all!"
Hearing this made the mage frown, and he instinctively but gently pulled Brelyna to his side. The thought of returning to Tulluis would only lead to him once again being separated from his loving Dunmer, and he was not about to let her go just when he had gotten her back. Not to mention that the General would most likely not be pleased to see the Dragonborn after he had just vanished one day abandoning his duties.
"The war? I'm not prepared for war yet," he answered quietly. "Believe me, no one wants that bastard gone more than me. I came here to improve my magic, not just get thrown into the rage of battle. I will join though when I am ready."
"There is no rush," Onmund insisted as he folded his arms. He then gestured to himself proudly as he shut his eyes. "I may be a Nord, but as soon as I complete my studies, I will march right into Solitude and pledge my oath to General Tullius!" He looked at the other students. "You will all join the army too, right?"
The Listener was more than a little disheartened when he saw that almost all of the students shied away, or actually left the Hall of Attainment. Mages were naturally weaker than most fighters, and it was more likely for one of them to be killed in battle than any barbarian. They would much rather live in a country where any race that was not human could be openly oppressed, than dead in a land where the Jarl of Windhelm had finally paid for his crimes.
"Well, I will join!" Brelas announced loudly as her hand formed into a fist. Seeing Onmund's drive gave her a newfound courage and desire to bring the war to an end. KaNack's head picked up as he saw that there were still those willing to fight for their country.
"J'Zargo will live long enough to see that murdering racist get was he has coming," the Khajiit hissed bitterly. "My magic will bring both him and his prejudiced army to an end!"
A sad smile began to form on the Argonian's face. Despite the dangers of the battlefield, there were still some mages ready to fight or even die trying to stop Ulfric from becoming High King.
"We're all agreed then? When we are ready, we will all join the Imperial Army." He pointed over to the charred pieces of wood. "Let that stand as an effigy for what is to come! As soon as we master our craft and join the fight, we will snuff out Ulfric Stormcloak and his rebel scum once and for all!"
"Right!" Onmund barked, fired up and biting at the bit to join the Imperial Amy to fight for his country and beliefs.
KaNack held out his hand and his eyes scanned the mages before him. "Let's take a vow, right here and now! When we're ready, we will all go to Castle Dour, and pledge our loyalty to Skyrim and the Empire!"
Slowly, Brelyna, Brelas, and Onmund placed their hands on top of the Argonian's. KaNack was taken by surprise when J'Zargo's clawed hand suddenly landed on the top of the pile, clasping tightly onto Onmund's.
"For the Empire," the Khajiit hissed darkly.
"For justice," Onmund added.
"For liberation," Brelas insisted.
"For peace," the Dunmer said softly as she looked over at KaNack.
"For Skyrim!" the Argonian shouted loudly.
This was exactly the kind of sensation that the Argonian needed to lift his spirits. His hatred for Ulfric Stormcloak made him determined to one day see him dead.
War is a frightening thing to rush into, but if you are alongside someone whom you know you can trust your very life with, then there will be not fear of death. Only honor and glory awaits those who fight for what they believe in. The mages had taken their pledge, and the Stormcloaks' future looked very bleak indeed in KaNack's eyes.