Chapter 25: Arch-Mage

We woke up early the next morn, feeling refreshed and ready to take this new day. Cooking up a huge breakfast, we all headed upstairs and ate atop the roof, a canvas canopy above us. There was costal lobster and eggs, sautéed with onions, red and green peppers, and drizzled with hot sauce. There was a silver platter of toast, each slice buttered perfectly. Thanks to the Fighters Guild, having such a breakfast every morn was a very real possibility.

After sharing a quiet breakfast together, I decided to bring up the next step in my journey. "Sorry to bring this up," I said, "but I feel as if I need to ask about the Arch Mage." I turned to Hui. "Hui, you are part of the Mages Guild. Do you know anything of the Arch-Mage."

Hui, who just downed what remained in his coffee mug, replied, "Yes, I do. His name is Qorwynn. He is a Altmer he lives in the Southwestern corner Vvardenfell. His house is a tribute to ancient oriental culture. Build over a wide river, he lives there in solitude... with his many maids and servants."

I laughed. "I see," I said. "How far far of a ride is it?"

"Oh not far at all," Hui replied. "An hour or so atop our horses should be quite enough."

"Excellent," I said, "we shall set off at noon."

o0o

After breakfast, and a quick rest, we mounted our horses and began to ride South out of Balmora. Following the Odai River, we traveled through a small valley. To our left, on the other side of the hills was a small section of The Ashlands, the ground charred black, like a wind of fire swept the entire geography. To our right, the mountains reached far into the sky, leading up to the Odai Plateau, where rumor said that a secret sect of House Dagoth had set up a camp in an old abandoned mining cave.

After about five minutes of trotting by the river, the river dipped down significantly while we maintained the same altitude. A few minutes later, a rope bridge lead across the river, which was now in a twenty foot drop beneath. We were just about to cross when Varon yelled "Stop!"

Pulling back on the reins, the horses came to an abrupt stop. "What is wrong, Varon," I asked him. "You sense something?"

"Yes," he replied, "the bridge… I would not go more than one steed at a time. This bridge is quite old, and I do not think the bridge could handle out combined weight."

"Very well," I replied. "Thank you for the warning. I shall go first." With that, I lead Apoc across the rope bridge. The bridge seemed sound to me, the wooden steeping planks did not seem to buckle in the slightest. Slowly inching over, Zela and I finally reached the safely of the other side.

Now it was Hui's turn to cross. Riding atop of his horse, Kalak, he slowly made his way across the swaying bridge. Just as it was as I crossed, the bridge seemed to withstand the weight… but then, at the bridge's midpoint, the loud snap of breaking rope reverberated across the rocks about us. Suddenly, Varon screamed "Run!" Hui whipped his reins and the horse galloped at full speed the rest of the way. The second the last of the hooved steeped onto solid groung, all the ropes at the opposite end of the bridge snapped, and the bridge fell into the river below with a crash.

I turned to Hui. "So how are to get back?" I asked him.

"Do not fret," replied Hui. "I can cast a simple energy bridge, much like I did to reach Tel Fyr."

We continued south, the sun was slowly rising to its peak in the sky. A symphony of birds sounded from the tree branches above, their beautiful songs seemed soothing to the nerves. Riding alongside a small brook, I could look into the waters at any time and see large fish swimming about. "I shall go fishing later," I thought to myself.

After only a few short hours of riding, we reached the Arch Mage's property: a small island set off from the mainland mainland, separated by a ten foot river. An arched, stone bridge was all that connect the two land masses. Riding across the bridge, as the horses' hooves clopping against the stone, I noticed something different about the trees on this new island. No longer were there green oaks, maples, or tall pines. Instead, there were trees covered with pink and white flowers, their petals raining down upon us like snow. The sun shone through the trees, casting a pinkish hue upon us all.

"Cherry blossoms," said Hui, "for anyone who was wondering. They are an ancient tree, they only grow here, in this particular section of the West Gash region. It isw said that the Arch-Mage holds in his estate the last surviving cherry blossoms. Once these die out, none shall remain."

Riding further through the canopied walkway, we finally reached the home. Built upon a wooden, dock like platform, the house was easily the largest house I had ever seen (next Castle Ebonheart.) The house had a wooden frame, painted a stunning red, its walls made of a paper like substance, held in place with framing that resembled that of a window. The roof was made of copper, aged green, with edges that curled upward.

Hitching the horses to a post, we slowly approached the front door. As soon as we were within a few feet, the door slid open to the right. On the other side was a slender Dunmer woman with long, raven black hair draped across her shoulders, cut square at the bangs. She wore a pink kimono with a white sash, tied in a large bow on her back. She bowed to us with a smile on her face.

"Muthsera," she greated, her voice sweet and soft, almost at a whisper. "My name is Evesa. I shall be your servant today, to tend to your every need as long as you stay in my master's home. Please, enter. But please, remove your shoes when you enter."

Takings a step inside, we took off our shoes and placed them upon a mat to our left. Following Evesa across the hard wood floors, our socks making our footsteps nearly silent, she led us through a series of hallways. Adorning the walls were banners with calligraphy upon them, ancient paintings of legendary samurai warriors, dragons, and wars, and highly stylized katanas and weapondry.

Evesa led us into a small lounge. Against the wall to the left, four cushions were placed in a row, a small, low table set in front of each. "Please," said Evesa, "take a seat."

We each sat upon a cushion: Zela sitting on the cushion on the far left, me sitting to her left, then Hui, and finally Varon on the far right. An instant later, another Dunmer, dressed the exact same way, entered the room, carrying a silver tray with a number of ceramic cups. On each of our tables, she put a tall ceramic cup filled with a clear steaming liquid and what looked like a small ceramic sauce dish.

"I shall inform the master," said Evesa, "of your arrival, Nerevar."

With that, the two servants left,

I nudged Hui. "What is this drink?" I asked him.

"Sake," he replied, "an alcohol made from fermented rice."

"Is it good?" I asked.

"I do not know, Zaden. This will be the first time I have ever had sake. However, I do know that you must drink it slowly. Sake is very potent."

I took the tall cup and poured the sake into the sauce dish. Bringing it to my lips and taking my first sip, I was surprised by its bitter taste. By the time I took my third sip, I became use to it and began to actually enjoy the taste.

After finishing the last of the sake in the cup (which did not seem much at all), Evesa reappeared. "Master Nerevar," she said, "my master will see you now. Also… he has requested the presence of the Argonian wizard. For what reason, I know not. My master is in the other room" and she pointed to the sliding door to my left. Hui and I then got up, declairing that he would go "for protection." We thanked her politely, and entered the next room.

As soon as we entered, I quickly realized that it was not a room at all, but rather a small, outside court yard. There were large cherry blossoms in said yard, carpeting the gray brick floor in pink and white pedals. In the center of this yard was a zen garden: a square section of sand with boulders and rocks peppered within. Lines were lightly pressed into the sand, flowing across the length of the garden, gracefully flowing around the rocks.

There also were small, round, flat rocks that lead toward the center of the garden. In the center of the garden was an even larger flat stone. There, upon said stone, the Arch mage himself sat, wearing a simple tan cloak, grinding herbs in a mortar and pestle.

Hui and I approached edge of the zen garden, watching the Arch-Mage grind the herbs. I was about to take the first step into the garden, using the small, flat stones as steeping stones. But before I did, The Arch Mage yelled at me.

"No!" he said, his voice deep and demanding. "Remove from your person those cudgels, those tools of slaughter. I shall not have them within my garden."

Not wishing to provoke him, I followed his orders. I stripped myself of all my weapons: the daedric sword, Blunderbuss, the two sawed off shotguns on my waist, the six pouches of ammunition on my belt, and the hidden dagger beneath my robe. With all weapons removed, I stepped into the garden, taking a seat on the large, flat rock across from him. Hui stood outside the gardern.

I waited for him to speak. I waited... and waited... Nothing. He simply continued to grind the herbs, acting as if I was not even present. For over five minutes, I waited for him to speak. He spoke not a word. The sound of the rushing river below us could be heard. I waited some more... Nothing.

Finally, I spoke. "Good day," I said, trying desperately to get this guy to speak. Still nothing. I tried again. "My name is-"

"Finally, he spoke. "I know who you are," he said. "I know who you are, I know what you want, and I already know what my response is."

"And what is it?" I asked, expecting a yes.

Without looking up from his mortal and pestle, he simply replied, "No."

I was utterly shocked. No one yet had said 'No.'

"What do you mean 'No?'" I asked.

"I mean exactly what I said. I deny you and offerings from me."

"Why? Why will you not give me my funding my army so desperately need?"

The Arch Mage suddenly turned from calm to absolutely furious, as if the word 'Why' was a kill switch. He looked up from the mortle and pestle, staring directly into my eyes, fires raging within his. "Why?" he asked. "Why?! I shall tell you why! Never would I give funding to someone such as you: are a barbaric, egotistical, brutish, filthy human!"

"... I do not understand," I said.

"You are a mockery to all that mages strive to achieve. You think that because you have been bestowed the gift of mages, you think yourself a mage. No. True mages are born, not created."

"How did you know of that?" I asked.

"I read the mana currents within your body, your unique mana flow. It is clear that you have blessed by Azura, and that she was responsible for this travesty against all mage kind."

I became enraged. "How dare you refer to my gift in such a manner!" I retorted. "I am as much a mage as you!"

Bad choice of words.

Infuriated from that last statement, the Arch-Mage rose to his feet, his face ever more enraged. "Never say such a statement to me! I am more mage then you can ever hope to achieve! … You are no longer allowed within my home. You must leave at once."

I stood up as well. "I shall not leave until I get what I came here for," I declared.

"Leave now," said the Arch-Mage, "or I will force you out, alive or dead. The choice in that respect is up to you…"

I sighed. There was no convincing this man, not now. I got up and began to leave, feeling not only defeated, but feeling that I failed my troops. As Hui and I, The High Elf continued to rub verbal salt in the wound. "And take with you," he said, "your friends and the whore."

That was the straw that broke my back. I could take the insults directed toward me, but when he insulted her, I could not let it stand. "You bastard!" I yelled. Turning around and, channeling a vast amount of mana through my arm, released a column of indescribable pure energy toward the Arch-Mage. Before the blast could strike, however, the Altmer provected a magic shield between himself and the blast. The energies made contact, and the spell was simply absorbed into the shield… leaving the Altmer unharmed.

The Arch-Mage let down the shield... then stood motionless for a few moments, a stone look upon his face. "Shit," I thought to myself, "there is no way he will fund me now. Hell, I do not think I will leave here with my life."

Then, to the surprise of both Hui and I, the High Elf smiled.

He then began to whisper to himself as he slowly walked from stepping stone to steeping stoneI wasn't sure if he was talking to me, or to himself. 'Interesting," he whispered, "very interesting… Such power, and executed so flawlessly. Four elemental powers... in one."

I was still tremendously angry. "What in Oblivion are you muttering?" I asked.

Stopping within an arm's length before me, he lifted up his head, and look upon me with large, yellow eyes. "I am saying," he said, "that I have underestimated you, Nerevar."

"... Excuse me?" I asked.

"You no doubt know of the many types of offensive attacks a mage can wield: flame, frost, lightening, and poison. There is, however, another type: spirit. To wield spirit like you would fire is to wield nothing more or less than pure spiritual energy. Only a select few mortals have been known to wield spirit energy (apart from the gods, of course.)"

His disposition toward me when from nonexistent to full within a few seconds.

"… Though it hurts to admit so… you have surpassed me in skill. With the ability to wield spirit energy, a new world of power has been opened to you. Both offensive and defensive magics can draw from spirit energy. Through training, you may truly become a great wielder of magic and, perhaps, the greatest of all battlemages.

What a simple display of power did for the situation.

"I thank you for the complement," I said, "but I must return to the business at hand: I demand that you provide the funding my men so desperately need. If you still will not provide me with what I need, I shall not leave these grounds. Furthermore, I-"

The Arch-Mage raised his hand. "There shall be no need of such a course of action," he said. "I have decided to recall my previous reply. At first, I thought you not worthy of my aid. Now, I can see that you are more worthy that anyone I have ever met.

I shall supply your army with magic items of my choosing. Believe me when I say that they shall greatly aid them in their battles."

I bowed in gratefulness. "I shall never forget your kindness, Arch-Mage Qorwynn."

o0o

Wasting no time, we rode galloped back to Balmora atop our steeds. When we came upon the fallen bridge, Hui cast the energy bridge across the chasem and we were able to cross. Upon returning home and hitching up the horses, Zela prepared a celebratory feast, for I had finally recieved funding from all the great organizations: the Imperial Legion, the Blades, the Fighters Guild, and now, the Mages Guild. While the feast was being prepared, I went downstairs to the lounge. In the peace and quiet there, I wrote the letter I was instructed to write upon receiving all funding..

Dear Benefactor,

It has been done. I have achieved support of all the organization.. The construction of my army shall now commence.

From,

Zaden the White

With that done, I headed back outside. Putting the letter in the mailbox, I noticed there was another piece of mail. Opening the envelope, inside was a short but clear message, written in green ink.

Zaden,

Meet me in my temple. There is much to discuss.

Vivec