A/N: and here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Elder Scrolls series, I only own my original Ideas.

Chapter 36: Good Intentions

Shouts-at-Sun's POV

I hurried back up the road to Winterhold, and arrived back at the college. I went into the Hall of the Elements, and immediately saw the Eye of Magnus floating in the center of the room, staring back at me. I stepped up to Tolfdir, who was observing the Eye.

"Tolfdir," I said, "What is this artifact doing here?"

"It was decided that the Eye should be brought back here for further study," said Tolfdir.

"How'd… you even get it out of Saarthal?" I asked, "This thing's bigger than either door to the chamber it was in!"

"I honestly do not know either," said Tolfdir, "Ancano claimed he had 'methods' and sent me back to the college. The next thing I knew, the Eye was here!"

"That's… interesting," I said, "I need to think about this, and deliver these books to Urag".

I headed up the stairs, and entered the Arcanaeum. There, I found Urag in his usual place, sitting next to the counter and reading. He looked up as I approached.

"Ah, you're back," said Urag.

"Yes, and here's your books," I said, handing them over, "I believe 'Night of Tears' is the one with the information we're looking for".

"I take it you read them already?" said Urag, "well, that's good, saves some time. What conclusions did you come to from your study of the book?"

"The book mentions that something at Saarthal was likely the reason that it was sacked in the past," I said, "I believe that the artifact we discovered there, the one that is now sitting in the Hall of the Elements is likely that something".

Urag nodded, and placed his hand on his chin, considering my conclusion. It seemed like he was about to respond, but we were interrupted by a certain Thalmor Liason.

"You, Lizard," said Ancano.

"Yes?" I said, imitating his superior tone.

"The Arch-Mage has a visitor, who has requested your presence," said Ancano, "Come along, now".

I followed the Thalmor up the stairs to the Arch-Mage's quarters. Inside, I saw the Arch-Mage speaking to a man in the robes of a monk.

"Ah, apprentice!" said Savos Aren, "good to see you, I would like to introduce you to our guest, a member of the Psijic Order".

The Psijic monk lifted his head to look at me, and then froze time to speak with me privately.

"Now then," said the Psijic monk, "I am Quaranir, time is short, so I must impart this information immediately".

"Alright, I listening," I said

"The Psijic Order has had very little success attempting to contact you before this point," said Quaranir, "this is likely due to the Eye of Magnus. The longer the Eye remains in Winterhold, the worse the situation will become. If the Eye is not banished, then there will be dire consequences. However, the future is… obscured, and we are unfortunately unsure how to direct you. There is one thing I can do… a logical next step: you must seek out the Augur of Dunlain. Remember, time is of the essence".

With that, there was a flash, and time resumed, as Quaranir, having relayed the information he needed to. As soon as he did, Ancano started grilling him. Quaranir simply deflected his questions and then left, with Ancano threating him in his wake. Now that Ancano had left, I turned to speak with Savos Aren.

"I have a question for you, Arch-mage," I said, "What do you know about the Augur of Dunlain?"

"Oh dear," said Savos Aren, "has Tolfdir been spinning his tales again?"

"No… but thank you for pointing me in the right direction," I said.

I left the Arch-mage's quarters, went looking for Tolfdir. I soon found him sitting in the Hall of Attainment.

"Hello again, Tolfdir," I said.

"Greetings apprentice," said Tolfdir, "Was there something you needed?"

"Yes," I said, "What do you know about the Augur of Dunlain?"

"The Augur?" said Tofldir, "I have spoken to him in quite some time! Though, he should still be in the Midden".

"The Midden?" I asked.

"Yes, it's a series of catacombs beneath the College, there's a trapdoor entrance in the corner of the courtyard next to the hall of elements," said Tolfdir, "If you do go looking for the Augur, be careful down there".

"I do my best," I said.

I went back out into the College's courtyard, and headed for the trapdoor that Tofdir had mentioned. When I reached it, I noticed that the snow around the trapdoor had been recently cleared: someone else had opened this door recently. Noting this, I descended into the Midden. The first part of the Midden appeared to have been a torture chamber. I descended a flight of stairs into the lower half of this room, and found an opening overlooking a snowy chamber with a waterfall. I entered the next hall, and moved deeper through these catacombs. A few chambers further ahead, I came upon some sort of altar. I was composed of light blue stone, with a Daedric Symbol in the center. The journal nearby described it at the 'Atronach Forge'. It looked interesting, but I decided that it would be best to not mess with it for now. I continued through a couple more chambers, soon arriving in the lower section of the chamber from earlier. Up ahead, saw a door that appeared to lead down to another level. Above this door someone had crudely carved the words 'Midden Dark'. I hadn't found the Augur on this floor, so I was left with one option: I descended into the Midden Dark.

In the Midden Dark, I quickly came upon a natural bridge spanning a chasm. As I crossed it, I heard a voice that seemed to come from up ahead on the left.

"Your perseverance will lead you to disappointment" said the voice.

I continued forwards and reached a junction in the path. To the right, was a tunnel leading deeper, and to the left was a door. I thought about where the voice had seemed to come from, and went over to attempt to open the door. It was solidly locked, and there was no keyhole. Not sure what else to do, I spoke to whoever was behind the door.

"Excuse me," I said, "Are you perhaps the Augur of Dunlain?"

"You seek the Augur?" said the voice, "For what purpose?"

"I wish to benefit from his knowledge," I said, "Also a Psijic monk told me to seek out the Augur".

"If you truly seek the Augur, then you may enter," said the voice.

I heard the lock shift, and the door swung open of its own accord. I stepped inside, and saw the Augur of Dunlain before me. I'm not sure what I was expecting to find but this was not it. What I saw was not Man or Mer, but a swirling orb of energy.

"So you still choose to persevere," said the Augur, "I must admit; it has been quite some time since a Dragonborn has come here, especially one of your… potential. However you may already be too late to stop what has been set into motion".

"There has to be something to repair what has been done!" I said.

"There may be," said the Augur, "but with that Thalmor who visited me earlier still snooping about, the situation is still out of balance".

"Thalmor… you mean Ancano?" I said.

"Yes, I feel that his only reason for being here is to strengthen his own position, and advance his own terrible goals," said the Augur, "which is why I failed to mention to him how to properly control Magnus' Eye".

"It's possible to control the Eye?" I said.

"Yes," said the Augur, "While the Thalmor's path only leads to darkness, you are being… guided by several sources, and reliable ones at that. As such I shall tell you what is needed. To control and contain the Eye of Magnus, you require another associated artifact: the Staff of Magnus".

"I see… and where can this staff be found?" I asked.

"That… I cannot say," said the Augur, "you would be well served to seek the knowledge of those at your college. Go now, search for the staff!"

With that, the Augur indicated that he had told me all how could for now. I left his chamber, hearing the door shut and lock behind me. I then journeyed down the right path, passing an abandoned alchemy lab before coming into another odd chamber. The chamber in question was circular, with a Daedric Gauntlet on a pedestal in the center. The fingers of the gauntlet were extended, as if waiting for something to be placed upon them. I decided that whatever this was for it was best to keep from messing with it. The world was already in peril enough times over without me unintentionally bringing further danger to it. I continued deeper into the Midden Dark, passing by a goat that someone had used in some sort of dark ritual. The next chamber was a burial chamber, filled with Frostbite Spiders. After dealing with them, I headed down the passage to the west, passing under the natural bridge from before. I crossed the room, and emerged from the Midden, onto the cliffs overlooking the Sea of Ghosts.

I headed to the right, and work my way along the ledges on this side of the cliff, and eventually managed to find a path leading inland. I was approaching Winterhold when I heard a loud roar. I turned to see a dovah diving towards me. I quickly rolled to the side, and watched at the dovah pulled up from its dive, and came to hover above me. I drew my sword, and stared my foe in the eyes: I saw nothing there… it was a Dovah Volaas. There would be no negotiating with this dovah. My opponent took a deep breath and attacked.

"YOL… TOOR… SHUL!" Shouted the dovah.

I dodged away, and responded with a few harsh words of my own.

"FO… KRAH!" I Shouted.

My cold statement struck true, further angering my foe. In its rage, it came in to land, bringing it into the range of my Frostblade. I charged in, and began to hack away at my foe. The dovah swung its head around to snap at me, but I had already evaded. I then leapt onto its head, and finished it off. I leap back off its head, and took a deep breath as I absorbed its soul.

'It seems Lokhunnonvul was correct when he said dovah attacks would be more frequent here,' I thought.

I continued on my way back into Winterhold, and climbed the stairs to the college. When I arrived, I headed for the Hall of Elements, and almost headed up to the Arch-mage's quarters before I spotted the Arch-mage over by the Eye of Magnus. I went straight over to him, intent on informing him of what I'd learned.

"Arch-mage," I said, "I have some important information for you".

"Really, what is it apprentice?" said Savos Aren.

"I believe to properly contain and manipulate this artifact, the Eye of Magnus," I said, "We require the Staff of Magnus".

Savos Aren scoffed, and then replied.

"Is that so?" said Savos Aren, "while such a powerful staff could be useful, I just don't know... where did you get this information?"

"The Augur of Dunlain told me about it," I said.

"Y-you've spoken to the Augur?" said Savos Aren, "I admire your initiative to seek the Augur out. In that case, It seems that it would be prudent to send someone to investigate at attempt to find out more about the staff".

"…And by 'someone' you mean me, correct?" I said, "Alright… where are you sending me?"

"That I don't actually know," said Savos Aren, "But I do remember the Mirrabelle Ervine mentioned something about the staff… though, it was a while back. Still, you should ask her about it. One more thing… you've been going above the call of a simple apprentice recently. I would like you to take this circlet; it was quite useful to me back when I was still a student".

I took the offered item, and put in on immediately.

"Thank you Arch-mage," I said, "I shall seek out Mirabelle immediately".

With that, I headed out to find Mirabelle Ervine, and the information I needed.

A/N: And there we go! Next time: Revealing the Unseen. See you then!