To be quite frank, I'm scared out of my wits. I have a hell of a good chance of dying right here and now. In a moment's notice I may be torn into shreds by the ruthless storm. And that only makes me want to do it more. As I said, I live for danger. If there's a chance of me dying, you can bet I'll take the risk for the greater good. I glance back at Drelnas. He gives me the thumbs up. I'm ready. I hastily down the potion and shoot out the door, heading straight for the Mage's Guild.

And the potion worked! I don't feel a thing. Unfortunately, it won't keep up for long, so I constantly push myself forward. It's been 20 seconds and I just crossed the bridge. I can feel the fatigue bearing on me already. Storms have a way of sapping you of what little strength you have, so you're left to suffer the brunt of it. But it won't best me.

40 seconds now, and I just reached the street that the Mage's Guild is on. I run past Nalcarya, the fine alchemist of Balmora, as she gives me a look of wonder. Naturally, she probably has immunity herself, so it doesn't surprise me that she's out here.

50 seconds, and I'm getting closer. Only a few more steps.

55 seconds, I'm right near the Mage's Guild.

58 seconds, and I reach the door. I force it open just as the raindrops strike me in the back, knocking me down on the floor of the Guild. I look up and see Danrys Halvel, the recent head of the place. He helps me up, and says "Selphica Relsinus? The mercenary? What in the living hell are you doing running here through a storm like this?"

I reply, "I need to gain immunity to water."

He laughs heartily and says "My my, don't we all. Well, I'm afraid I'm not willing to just give you immunity. You have to earn the immunity yourself somehow."

Great. "What is it I have to do then, if I want to gain it?"

Danrys says "Well, if you can do something for me I will enchant your armor with 100 water resistance. Deal?"

"Give me the mission first."

"Heh, alright then. Here's what you have to do for me. I need you to investigate a newly discovered cave outside Seyda Neen. It's called Acranelcis. Now, we can't seem to find a main entrance, but it's been said that a secret passage to the cave has been discovered in the storage room at Arrille's Tradehouse. The only way into the room is locked, and guards are always stationed outside it. Which means you'll have to find some way to get in. Once you do, the hidden tunnel should lead directly to the camp. Kill anyone inside, as they are most likely bandits anyway, and get me an ancient artifact called the Ring of Transcendence. Return this ring to me and I will enchant your armor, free of charge."

Damn. This doesn't sound like an easy one. But I knew ending the rain would be a challenge anyway. "Okay, I'll make that deal with you if you explain to me how I'm supposed to get around Seyda Neen without getting eaten alive by the rain."

"Oh. Right, I forgot about that. Well, now I'm stumped. I guess I'll have to enchant your armor anyway, just so you can do the mission. But here's the deal: If the ring is not returned to me within a week, I will place a death warrant on your head. Is that sufficient?"

After contemplating the situation longer than I ever have any other time (2 seconds), I say, "Sounds okay to me."

"Perfect. Now let's just imbue this armor. The process may take a while, so feel free to wander about here. Just please don't teleport to another Mage's Guild, only because I'll need you here to notify you."

So now I have some time to kill. What to do in the Mage's Guild? I suppose I could read, as they always have good books here. But to be honest, I can't settle myself enough to read. I might as well talk with my friends here. I walk down the steps and into the main room. It seems to be much noisier than I remember it to be here. Then, as I look a little closer, I see what the fuss is about. It appears Ajira and Galbedir have gotten into a scuffle. Big surprise.

Ajira shrieks, "You wax-stealing nincompoop! How dare you try to practice your thievery on another member of the guild! You should be expelled!"

Galbedir shouts back, "I did not steal your wax, you overacting magically challenged drama queen!"

Ajira retorts, "Yeah, like you're in any place to call me a drama queen. Remember when you made a big scene months ago about how someone tinkered with your soul gems?"

Galbedir takes a step back, a look of disgust on her. "I know you messed up my gems, you dogface!"

The whole room gasps, then hushes. The term "dogface" is a highly offensive, racist term for a Khajiit, the cat-people of Morrowind. Ajira turns a shade of red and runs away sobbing. From there, everyone gets on Galbedir's case.

"How dare you say such a thing!"

"Have you no decency!"

"This is as bad as physically attacking another member! You really should be expelled now!"

"What in the name of Dagoth is going down here?"

Danrys walks into the chamber, where everyone again has hushed. The only sounds that can be heard are the explosions of rain and the quiet crying of Ajira in the next room.

"Galbedir just called Ajira a dogface, Master."

"They were fighting over stolen dreugh wax, sir."

"Ajira's over there crying, and I don't blame her after what Galbedir said."

Danrys raises his hand. "Enough. Galbedir, you are aware that comments like that are considered an attack on another member of the guild, and therefore are intolerable. As such, you are expelled from the Mage's Guild. You may stay here until the storm subsides, but once it does you are required to leave the guild."

This demand is followed by the most severe silence I can ever remember in my life. Even Ajira stops crying. Galbedir is frozen in place, unaware of what just happened, but knowing that soon it will sink in. There's no look of anger, of sadness, of betrayal. Her face is blank, as if her expulsion erases all feeling.

Danrys then turns to me and says, "Your armor has finished enchanting. You may leave for your quest now. I wish you luck."

I look back at this scene. Galbedir refuses to move, still frozen in place. The other mages start to whisper to one another, and Ajira tiptoes into the chamber, drying her face with a handkerchief. Saddened by such an empty sight, I slowly make my way back to the entrance of the guild. As terrible as I may feel now, I must press on.