It had come into the month of Hearthfire. All around leaves had begun to wilt and die, turning a range of orange and red and brown as they fell to the ground. The sky grew clouded as the fall began, summer's heat having cooled off. Around this time the College of Harmony was packed. The number of students staying in its halls grew exponentially. It was coming to the second half of the year, after all with numerous courses that required further attendance as the learning curve steeped higher.

Yet for some, the busier days only grew tiresome. The servants were rushing about, making rooms for new accommodation for those who weren't staying at their homes as well as preparing extra meals.

Thadimus side-stepped a rushing servant carrying a pile of sheets. In his hands was a few of the Professor's robes, which he had been tasked with cleaning. His continued 'punishment' had left him rather drained. And after only turning up with around thirty septims from that sewer escapade, he was less than impressed. That Redguard had given him the slip before he could follow to find what more artifacts he had spoken of were held. Would have been easy to slip a couple of them away...not like the Redguard needed the coin anyway.

Thad's own travels into the city had been hampered as well. He had spied guards putting up posters, with a face distinctly like his own. Someone put out a wanted for him. He had not even bothered to see the reward, he didn't want to be spotted then brought in. For now, this indentured service was the safer route.

In the distance he spied the servant woman that had aided him before with the robes. She was making her way to the washroom with a pile of students clothes, hurrying through a dozen others rushing about. Thadimus quickened his pace to get there around the same time as her.

During his stay she had been helping him with his duties, not knowing that he was not a new servant. Not in the sense of it being an actual job, at least. Her name was Jal, as he had learned in their third meeting. After past discussions he had discovered she was a few years older than he had originally thought. While she had refused to say how exactly old, she had hinted to being in her forties. When he had first been told so, he had been stunned for a moment.

"There is the young boy! Come, come!" She ushered him by before following, taking up the washtub beside his. All the drying racks were covered with tunics and robes, with only more to come.

Due to her teachings Thad had, regrettably, gotten used to cleaning silks. It was not something he had wanted to learn, but with being in indentured service of a sort, well he needed to learn. And this was the basics.

"Been doing well for yourself?" she asked while scrubbing away at some student clothes. Thadimus shrugged. Of all the people in this place, she had been the only one to really converse with him naturally. The Professor only asked of him if he wanted something. And that Redguard was a means to an end...

He briefly thought back to that mini-venture in the sewer. Soon after leaving he had gone straight for the College, avoiding patrols. He had taken a different path than the other two and managed to avoid them since. It would bring up too many questions if they saw him, after all. Something he couldn't risk.

He did briefly wonder just what they were doing down there, though. Was it really all just for a sword, down in some sewer? He knew he recognized them from the first night. He knew those voices. So what was a pair of students doing hunting for old things like that? It didn't make sense to him. The Redguard had even said it wasn't about the money. Well, Thad had to disagree there. It was always-

"Thadimus?" He started, glancing back from the small tub to the woman that helped him. She had a face of concern about her. "Did you not hear?" He frowned, then it came through again. A knock at the door, followed by someone calling his name. And he knew exactly who was there.

With a sigh the young Imperial stood up, pausing to ask if it was all right. Jal nodded, she would finish up here. Thad opened the door, closing it behind him. There stood the Professor. Reynor Labain, leaning into his walking staff.

"Running late again, boy. I had asked for you to be back half an hour ago" he held a stern tone, tapping the staff to the ground when the boy's gaze began to wander.

"I was held up-"

"Held up? Washing a few robes? Come now, don't take me for a fool," Reynor muttered to himself under his breath, pinching at the bridge of his nose. "I expect you to be on time from now. Is that understood or not?" Thadimus narrowed his eyes only slightly. He had to keep this up for a while, he knew that. He nodded. "Good."

It was only then that Thadimus took notice of what the aged man held; a stack of books, a couple of them worn along the backs. "These need to go back to the library. I had them borrowed out for a few students. Let the librarian know these are returned by me. Offer this," he placed a small slip of paper atop the pile before handing it all over. "Then return to my quarters. I have more tasks. Are we clear?"

Thadimus glared from behind the stack of texts, this old man was talking down to him like...well, like a servant. As if the Breton was of royalty, a king or lord. Thad did not bother with a reply, instead taking to turn away. He walked down the hall, balancing the books along the way. A cough stopped him.

"The library. The other way is faster." He turned to see Reynor angling his staff down the other direction. Another glare, and the boy was off at a slow pace. Reynor watched after him, then when the boy was out of sight went to tend to his own duties. Humming a small tune along the way.

With the sudden growth in numbers of both students and staff, the college grounds were bustling with life. And the library was no exception. The College librarians had trouble keeping things quiet as per the rules of this wing of the building, or retrieving requested titles.

The library was a large section of the southern wing, taking up three stories. The second and third story had a divide through the middle down to the first floor, some stairs moving up these divides to each floor. Each floor easily had up to fifty aisles, hundreds of books on each of them. Between the aisles were several tables, students either studying or leisurely reading. Across the ceiling was a grand skylight, windows lining above the divide. Unlit candles lined the tables or hung off the sides of the aisles.

"Apologies, it seems the last of the Talara books has been taken. Anything else that may suit your needs?" The elven librarian was leaned against the counter, taking a moment to catch their breath after rushing around. The dark elf student across from them thought long and hard, shrugging off the many stares her way.

Despite how many believed dark elves to be unattractive unless from among their own race, Andulsa was one such outlier to this. She was considered to be beautiful. Her slim yet well toned figure, ashen black hair, pale dark skin and amber eyes of fire. She always held herself in high respect, both in pose and behavior. And she thrived off the attention.

Andulsa raised a hand to her pointed chin while pondering the question. "Is there...any books of illusion?" Several students overhearing bolted off, despite the request not being directed to them. The librarian gave a nod and retreated away.

There was a long while before she spied the librarian, still rushing about. Having her patience run thin the Dunmer moved off to do her own searching, nearly knocking a servant with a tall stack of books. There was something said, but she ignored whatever it was. Something else was on her mind, after all.

She scoured the aisles, running her hands along the spines of books she passed by. History, wasn't what she was after. The Divines, Astronomy, Destruction Magics, Alteration Magics, Illusion- there it was.

Andulsa read along each of the books for what she wanted. Scriptures on Illusion magics weren't plenty, it was a difficult school of magic to learn. Not that it ever deterred Andulsa.

The Dunmer picked out a red leather book, with the symbol of the Illusion school upon the front. A shape forming three unfinished circles, like three snakes coiled against one another. Judging by the book's title, it had something to do with charming others using spells. A coy smile played across her lips, flipping through the first few pages as she began moving to a table.

The few students sitting at her chosen table paused their reading, all eyes on her. Her smile played across her lips again with her nose in the book, knowing they were watching her intently. She took her seat and laid the book down. Silently she read along about how mages would charm their opponents into letting their guard down, twisting one's views on things in the world.

She made note of everything within the book. But she also took note of everyone around her, glancing from their own reading to look her over. She never returned the attention, she enjoyed their gazes upon her. How they looked over her beauty, staring intently. It made it all the more satisfying when she didn't return it in kind.

Of course there was a chosen few that she returned the attention to. When she glanced up for a moment from her book she spotted a familiar face at the counter, a brown haired Imperial with his hair slicked back. He wore a tunic of dark red and dark red shorts, and seemed to be discussing something with one of the librarians. Andulsa watched her friend discuss something with them. The librarian finally beckoned over a servant boy who didn't seem to eager. She was great at reading faces, and something about his practically yelled about how badly he didn't want to be here. Some more conversing followed, before finally they began moving.

She watched the pair move through aisles, holding more and more books after each. After the fourth aisle, Markus finally spotted the dark elf and had a look of surprise for a moment, before a smile grew.

"Andulsa!" He ushered the servant to follow to her table, taking a seat across from her. The servant appeared to also be Imperial, around their age. An olive complexion, eyes of dark brown. Now that she had a closer look, there was something else about him. Almost like a mask of emotions...oh, he was good. And that immediately bought her interest. What was such a young boy doing as a servant in a place like this?

"Markus," she greeted in return, drawing out the s lightly, "a surprise to see you here, not playing with your swords."

Markus laughed in amusement as he took a book from the pile the servant still held. "You mistake me for Bezir. I don't play with weapons. No, I came to study." Andulsa quirked a brow. "...Father insisted I do."

Markus looked to the servant and gave him a signal to place the stack down. The servant did so, beginning to move off.

"Ahem." He paused, then slowly turned to Andulsa. There was an obvious tension in his expression, suppressing a glare it seemed. "We may need you again. I doubt poor Markus here could carry all these books alone. Take a break, have a sit down with us." The servant seemed surprised, narrowing his eyes even...then shrugged and took another seat. Any eyes on the trio that lingered had returned to their books now.

"Andul-"

"What you studying there, hmm?" Markus frowned at her, sighing.

"Military history. The war of the White-Gold Concordat, Great War of the Fourth Era" he stated in a tired voice. It was obvious to Andulsa he had been studying this for a few days with less and less sleep. "I'm up to the advance into Cyrodiil. The naval battles of Lake Rumare and Niben, holding the river banks against the Ald-"

By this point Andulsa had tuned out, eyeing the servant. A lot of questions ran through her mind. He was young, younger than servants that usually worked here. She had noticed it was all adult servants, no doubt with thorough training and background checks. A place like this needed to be safe. What was with that constant expression? She knew the look of someone hiding...something. Someone who was very out of place, and knew so.

Besides his age, he looked just as all the other servants did. The right clothes, appeared rougher than all the students in this place. But the way he moved, the way he held himself wasn't at all like the other servants. He wasn't standing at attention ready to serve. He caught her staring, and glared back. Yet she kept on staring, a sly smile crossing her face.

"What's your name?" Markus paused his reading aloud, glancing up from his book. He was about to speak when Andulsa continued on. "How old are you? Look a little young to be working around here."

"Andulsa-"

"Something about you...thought you were a student! Till I saw your clothes, that is-"

"Andulsa!" Markus hissed through his teeth, glaring her down. She stopped, the servant clearly appearing rather...unnerved. Ah well, she had had her fun while trying to question the mystery boy. "You're dismissed. Sorry for troubling you with her...antics."

The servant quickly left the table. With the two of them left, they waited in silence...before Markus spoke up, a demeaning tone to his voice.

"That was uncalled for." The Dunmer shrugged her shoulders, picking up her book.

"Oh please, did you see him? Ever seen a servant so young?" Andulsa read through the pages quietly, now and then mouthing some of the words on the pages. Markus had stopped reading altogether, visibly upset with his friend.

"You know disturbing servants could get both you and them in trouble. I get you like to stir things up, pick at people, but Andulsa? Come on, leave the servants to their business." Andulsa continued her silent treatment, turning another page over. He was right, she pried into people's businesses. She did it a lot, only to sate her ever growing curiosity...but she knew that she also had a point to make. That servant was very interesting.

Markus waited for any kind of response, yet none came. With a sigh, he got back to his own reading. Andulsa glanced up, flashing an amused smirk.

There was a long pause as they continued in their own studying. The awkward silence weighed over the table, and those that were sat there before left to avoid it. It was only when the last of them left that Andulsa finally piped back up.

"You did hear, right?" Markus' eyes flicked up, then back to his book. "About how just a few nights ago, someone broke in? Someone young is what I heard. Now, you know me, I know faces. And I've never seen him around...aren't you the least bit curious?" She had Markus' attention now that he stopped reading.

"You think...that the guy who broke in, and the servant, are the same?" Andulsa nodded quickly. And even if that was not the case, a cloud of unease and mystery hung over the Imperial boy. She wanted to clear it, learn what suddenly drew her in.

She began to study her friend, her amber eyes flicking over his features. She had studied them hundreds of them over and over across the couple years that she had studied here. Always trying to figure out what went on in their heads, what they were thinking. Were they thinking about classes? About her? About practicing with swords?

Markus was still upset, she could tell that much. But he was also frowning deeply at his Dunmer friend. She could guess why. She pushed people that drew in her curiosity, wanting to know just what about them had made her so curious in the first place. Perhaps this time was a little too far. Of course she rarely ever cared. She wanted to know things.

"Just...Just be careful. I know you like to ask questions, you're...always curious." Andulsa had a small smile at how they first met.

"I remember when we first talked. Boy in armor, chiseled chin, sword at your side." She laughed at the memory. "The guards had to stop you from entering with that sword." Markus gave a laugh with her at the thought.

"Yeah. I hadn't known about the 'no weapons' rule. And my...my parents insisted that I come armed. For my protection." Soldier boy, he didn't need some sword to protect himself. She had seen him in a fight. "...Wait. Was that really the only reason you approached me? Because I came with a sword?" Andulsa opened her mouth to speak...then closed in an an amused smirk. That was plenty of an answer. Markus held the exact same amusement, shaking his head lightly. There was a moment of silence...before they both burst out laughing. A few annoyed glares shot their way by their noise.

The laughter died down, wiping at their eyes. It was like a big joke, but that was truly the reason...or well, only a small part. There was a lot that drew her in back then. Not that she would say, where would be the fun in that?

A loud bell sounded through the college. The pair placed down their books, pushing out from the table they shared.

"Well, it is time to get to classes!" Markus said aloud. He looked to the stack of books that he had rented out. A deep sigh followed.

"You regretting sending him away now, yeah?" Markus gave another sigh, this time holding his tongue but also in slight amusement. She could plainly see the irony in his situation, and it was brilliant.

A bell tolled out over the college, reaching even the outer grounds. By one of the fields a series of arrow-ridden targets stood, bows drawn by guards and students alike. Only a few, pausing their training as the bell rang out. One of the guards that had not turned to the college called out to those training to get their attention back to what was at hand. A sturdy man with light hair on his chin, a leather cap on.

Beside the lead guard was a half-elf with a bow of her own in hand. Her hair had been tied back to keep it out of her eyes, protective leather padding all over without limiting her movement and a quiver on her back.

"Thank you again, Miss Duskdale" the lead guard was met with a light smile from the half-elf. "Are you sure you got no classes?"

She gave a quick nod. Elengil was experienced in archery. One of the higher guards of the college usually invited her to help train, she was always welcome to help. While combat training was not a class in the campus, a few of the guards had organized these training sessions. Some of the guards needed it, anyway, and they thought why not invite some of the students? Self defense was a necessity out there in the world, after all.

Plus, it helped on the few travels she went on with others. Bezir typically, taking them along to find some artifact that had been rumored, or to follow a map to an old dungeon. What fun they had as well, and all the history uncovered. This training helped out.

"I...well I made sure none of these students had classes, didn't want anyone getting in trouble. Especially since this isn't, you know. A class." The guard snorted a laugh. "I'm just happy I get to volunteer for something."

"One of the best archers here, better than some of my own, got a bit of free time. What more could someone ask for out of an assi- hey! Arrow needs to be straight! Don't let it-"

"I've got it" Elengil assured the guard, moving over to one of the students learning.

The arrow had gone off to the side slightly as the student tried to hold it in place, but was obviously struggling. Elengil moved alongside them, taking a back-step when the arrow swung around near her. The student gave an apologetic look, lowering the bow and arrow.

Elengil got to work, lifting their arm while holding it with them. She helped readjust the arrow, giving them tips and pointers on how best to use the weapon. "A steady stance, arm out straight. Bend at your elbow, hold the bowstring...Deep breath, okay?" Her fellow student nodded along to the advice given. Elengil drew on her own bow after she was sure they could hold it well enough. Making sure they followed along, she aimed at one of the straw targets. The arrow was let loose, striking near center. With a nod, the student let their own loose. It hit at the second circle. Elengil clapped, earning a prideful look as she moved to rejoin the lead guard.

The guard shook his head, the thin line of his lips creasing. "I don't know how you do it."

"They aren't soldiers...so I don't treat them like soldiers. It is a lot better when they aren't full of stress" she beamed up at him.

The lead guard sighed for a moment. "Another reason for having you as an assistant. You do some good work here. One day I might even reco-" he paused as another guard came running over, with urgent news by the looks of it. Elengil stepped aside, yet couldn't help overhearing bits and pieces.

"Captain Cole...have arrived...this morning...escort." Captain Cole nodded through what the guard was saying, giving quieter responses. Before long, he dismissed them and returned to Elengil's side.

"Seems the lesson's up. Sorry about that, something came up. Can you get the students back? I have to take the guard." She smiled and nodded. She never took it as odd with how casual the Captain of the Guard was with her sometimes. After all, she helped him train the others. So why would it be strange?

Cole shouted among the guards a couple of orders and before long they started putting away the training equipment. All the while Elengil began gathering up the students, getting them to put away their own equipment then leading them off to the campus.

Along the way the half-elf and fellow students spotted some carriages moving along the road some distance off. All of different design, all with different armored guards and other people following along. She had seen gatherings like this. Important dignitaries frequented the college. Many students' parents were dignitaries or generals. But this many was something she only heard of. She watched Cole meet the long trail of carriages, escorting them the rest of the ways.

"El?"

Elengil turned at hearing, one of the students casting a glance her way. The young Nord woman approached the half-elf, and she smiled in return.

"Y..You did pretty well back there, Li." Her praise to her Nord friend brought a smile in return. Liera always came to the lessons whenever she had time.

"Oh come on, you're just sayin' that!" A light shoulder bump that stumbled Elen with a chuckle followed. Liera, compared to most of the women in the college, was strongly built. Tall, well-toned, her hands alone could crush skulls, if she tried. Her grey eyes were like storms, red hair cut back far. She always wore a kind of fur over her tunics, and sometimes had face paint of different colors somewhere on her face like casual makeup. Today she had red over one of her cheeks.

"But you did! Hit the mark pretty well!" Elengil continued to praise her friend. "A-All of you did!" Most of the students had small smiles, a couple laughing a bit.

Elengil had faith in her abilities to teach, sure, but she always praised those she helped teach. They did well with their own skills. And while most shrugged off her praise as just a happy joyful reaction, she always meant it as genuine. It was pride in herself, in her teachings.

"With you to teach us?! We would be left without knowing what way to hold an arrow!" Liera gave her friend another pat on the back, making her stumble again. Elengil offered a forced smile while putting a little space between them.

Her gaze turned one more time to the line of carriages as they went out of sight. One of the carriages at the back she recognized, and she knew that someone would be very happy to know they were here.

Another chapter! Something I forgot to mention in the last chapter is that the current story has gone through tons of rewrites, if you want to check those out! Thanks for reading, and hope you enjoyed!