first lessons
"Our new members are housed her in the Hall of Attainment." Mirabelle Ervine gives the tiny room a once over. A small bed greets the three of them along with a drawer, wardrobe, desk and a small nightstand. "Unfortunately, we only have one bed due to capacity, and since you, Vorstag, are not enrolling in the College, we have no need to provide other rooms. It seems you two are well acquainted with each other, so one room should suffice."
Vorstag gives her a tight smile, if only not to laugh. It was quite funny that they found themselves in this predicament. He knows if Serana wishes it, he'd sleep on the cold ground without complaint. But it would be nice to rub it in a bit.
"Can't have our scholar here without the best the College has to offer." He runs his hand up Serana's back.
He sees that evil look she gives him before addressing the Master Wizard. "That will be fine, thank you. And these robes will be helpful." She nods to the robes and hood left in her hands.
Mirabelle gives a slight smile. "I am glad you are happy with the accommodations. If they aren't to your liking, there is an Inn just inside Winterhold." She reminds the mercenary.
"I'll keep that in mind." He nods to her.
"Very well then, lets get you to your first class." Mirabelle addresses Serana, "Initially you'll be learning from Tolfdir, one of our most esteemed wizards."
They begin the long walk back out into the cold and around the College. The Master Wizard gives no passing glance to the Flame Atronach who follows their trail. Vorstag watches her, as she enters the blistering snow covered landscape and doesn't so much as flinch. Smoke softly rises from her skin where the snow touches.
"Marvelous," He murmurs to himself. Mirabelle kept prattling on about the history of the College, but he was so caught up in the marvel before him, he couldn't bother to listen. He wished he did. The history of Skyrim was something to pay close attention to.
He tears his eyes away from Dawn when a small hand slides into his. Serana doesn't glance his way. She pays close attention to Mirabelle and keeps a polite smile on her face. Diligent student already. Vorstag lets her lead him on, feeling the slight warmth and comfort from her hand in his.
The Hall of the Elements was vast. It held not only the main classrooms but many halls and stairwells to other parts of the College. Including the Arch Mages quarters and the vast library this place was known for. Vorstag didn't know this building held so many secrets.
"Tolfdir is likely already addressing the new Apprentices. Go on in and if you have any problems, let one of our senior members know." Mirabelle parts with.
Serana nods, the girl was seemingly lost in thought the whole time. So, Vorstag takes the lead. He pulls her along, while keeping a good grip on her hand. "Are you awed by this place?" He asks.
"What? Oh…yeah. It's more than I expected." Serana glances over her shoulder.
Whatever had gotten into her? Vorstag's brow creases, he knows it has something to do with the dark sorcerer who brought them here, but he doesn't have the time to bring it up.
"Welcome, welcome! We were just beginning. Please, stay and listen." A jovial older Nord greets them when they enter the main classroom. Four other students send bored looks their way.
"As I was saying, the first thing to understand is that magic is, by its very nature, volatile and dangerous." The Nord, Tolfdir continues, "Unless you can control it, it can and will destroy you."
The other students don't even blink. They seem as if they want to get on with the show, but Vorstag remains concerned about Serana. Her gaze is still unfocused and dazed. She needed to be listening to this. The most important skills were being taught early.
The mercenary tugs on her hand, "Hear that, Volkihar? Magic might turn on you if you can't control it."
She slowly blinks up at him. "Right. I heard."
He wants to make sure she gets it into her head. Not once or twice, but as many times as it takes so that she understands exactly what she's dealing with. Before he can open his mouth again, some smart student beats him to it.
"Sir, I think we all understand fairly well. We wouldn't be here if we couldn't control magic!" One of the Nord students interjects. Vorstag gives him a harsh look but Serana only nods in agreement.
"Of course, my dear. Of course. You all certainly possess some inherent natural ability. That much is not being questioned." Tolfdir continues, "What I'm talking about is true control, mastery of magic. It takes years, if not decades, of practice and study."
"See?" Vorstag shakes her hand again, waking her from her trance.
"I understand." Serana hisses back.
"But listen, he said it could take decades to master." Time we don't have.
"So what? You want me to ask him about Mannimarco and see what he can do about it?" She snaps, as if on instinct.
The room quiets. The other students look at them a bit more curiously and Tolfdir turns. "Is there something you wanted to ask, my dear? I know you entered late but…" He trails off.
Vorstag can feel the heat of flame behind him. The professor was no doubt watching as Dawn entered the room. The Flame Atronach stops next to Serana, with her blazing eyes on her.
"Are you well versed in magic, my dear? If so, we can enroll you in a higher level course." Toldfir begins with wide eyes.
She shrugs, "I know as much as the others here."
Dawn, without any prompt, reaches out her hand and strokes it down Serana's dress, leaving a trail of flame. Vorstag jerks Serana behind him, violently. He begins batting the flames away.
"I'm okay." She laughs. "It doesn't hurt at all. It doesn't burn me."
"No, it shouldn't." Toldfir comes a bit closer. He runs a hand over his chin as he studies them. "Lesser daedra are tightly bound to their caller. Any spells sent this young lady's way should not hurt her as much as it would an enemy." He pauses right before them. "Do you know what power a Flame Atronach wields?"
"Sort of. I called her a few days ago. I'm still learning." Serana says sheepishly.
The old man's face fills with concern and Vorstag knows he was right. Even a professor teaching the basics knew how dangerous this all was. Vorstag moves to the other side of Serana. Right between her and Dawn.
"This is exactly what I'm talking about. Eagerness must be tempered with caution, or else disaster is inevitable." The professor addresses the crowd.
He can feel her flinch next to him. Vorstag keeps a calming hand on her back. "It will be fine."
Serana's gaze is still vacant. Suspiciously so. "I hope so." She whispers.
"All right, let's settle down. I suppose we can try something practical..." Tolfdir sighs. The others must have gotten eager, especially after seeing the Flame Atronach in their midst. "In continuing with our theme of safety, we'll start with Wards. Wards are protective spells that block magic. I'll teach you all a ward, and we'll see if you can successfully use it to block spells, all right?"
Serana's head snaps up. "Can I help demonstrate?"
The professor's eyes filled with kindness, turn to her. Such a lovely man. He must have the patience of a priest to handle all the unruly students fidgeting behind him. "Of course, do you know how to wield one?"
She gapes a little, "No."
The man smiles and gives her a knowing look. Vorstag knows, instantly, that this man will be good for Serana. He knows she wants to learn to wield these powers to the greatest extent and this professor will be calm and patient with her. Vorstag will just have to help her be patient with Tolfdir.
Serana takes a deep breath after Tolfdir goes over the spell. It was simple, almost too simple to be able to defend oneself so well. She blinks the haze from her eyes again as Tolfdir holds his own ward to the waiting class. The air shimmers around him in a protective bubble. His lips keep moving behind it as he makes eye contact with every person in the room, making sure they understand.
She can't hear what he's saying, she only remembers what happened when they first walked in here. Mirabelle, the Master Wizard was in a tense conversation with someone else in the courtyard. Some Altmer. He was rude, snobby, just your average Thalmor from the looks of it but when he turned his gaze to her.
She froze.
Those eyes were so startling and so engulfing it was hard to pull away. After Mirabelle took them around on their tour she saw and heard someone. It was like a cloud had formed in front of her. Sometimes she could see the faint image of a man. Another Altmer with paling, almost sickly, skin and snow-white hair. Other times she would hear the faint whispers of a lover's caress.
You are in the right place, my flower. If you knew how to wield such power, you would have no need for this cesspool. But as it is, I am happy you have the chance to learn…even one spell will do you good.
It grew fainter and fainter as time went on. That voice and image left her until she stood before Tolfdir with her hand at the ready.
"Alright, dear, I am going to send a spell at you, and you are to block it with the ward. Here we go." He begins. She can see the spell flaming in his hand.
Serana holds up her own, calling the fragments of the spell fairly easily. The ward simmers around her. She prays she will be able to hold it the whole time.
It felt like a solid minute with how long it took. But she supposes it only took seconds. One moment, the ward was before her, the next… the firebolt was flying, soaring through the air in a ball of flames before crashing into her ward. Serana grunted with the impact, noting that she slid back a few inches. That's when it happened.
The firebolt not only got absorbed into the ward and kept there, leaving fire dancing around the air. It also sent out something terrible to the others. A shocking booming noise entered the room. Serana gasped and pulled down the ward immediately, pulled down the power that seemingly leeched into her skin.
The others stood on the far side of the room. Vorstag and Dawn included. They all stared at her with various looks of shock on their faces.
"My…what a show. I have not seen a spell go like that in some time." Tolfdir lowers the larger ward he had over the crowd and hesitantly steps forwards.
"What was that? Was that normal?" Serana asks.
"Sure as Oblivion didn't look like it." The Nord student proclaims.
She notes that Vorstag looks like he wants to bash the man's head in. Tolfdir pauses, "I will need to consult the history books, but I know this is a rare occurrence. Thankfully, everyone is alright." He turns to the crowd behind him. "I think perhaps we're ready to begin exploring some of the various applications of magic throughout history. The College has undertaken a fascinating excavation in the ruins of Saarthal nearby. It's an excellent learning opportunity. I suggest we meet there in the morning and see what awaits us inside. That's all for now, thank you."
The others leave as soon as they are dismissed, probably to go enter Winterhold for drink or fool around with some spells in the courtyard. Vorstag only comes over to take her trembling hands in his. "Are you alright?" He asks in a calm voice.
She nods. "I don't know what that was…"
"Dear, what is your name?" Tolfdir walks over in an unhurried fashion with his hands clasped behind his back and a look of curiosity on his face.
"Serana Volkihar." She says immediately. People would know who she was sooner or later around here.
His eyes widen just a bit. "Volkihar. Of Volkihar family. I am sorry for your losses." He nods.
"I am too." She says.
"That was quite impressive, that demonstration you gave just now. I have not seen many mages be able to master such things in such a short time." His gaze passes over her companions. "And this is your boyfriend?"
"Friend." They both correct at the same time.
"I'm Vorstag," He holds out his hand for the professor to take. Vorstag's eyes light up with joy and he has that godsdammed smile on his face, that one he always shows around bar patrons. "I'm here for moral support."
"You're doing a good job so far." Tolfdir gives him a slight smile in return. "I am probably going to retire early tonight to begin some research, I can look into this some if you want."
"Please do." She says and briefly wonders if she should tell him about that strange vision she had when first entering the College. But quickly discards it. It faded quickly and it wasn't too unusual. It could very well have been just one of her fantastical daydreams.
"I'll see you two bright and early tomorrow then. I suggest you wear those robes. They help quite a bit with magic casting." He nods to the pile of clothing in Vorstag's hands.
"I'll be ready." She smiles at him.
"Very well then," He nods, taking in the both of them. "I don't want to see either of you getting in trouble so no magic on the main grounds or in the town of Winterhold."
Vorstag's grin widens even further, "That won't be a problem."
Her head was pounding. A roaring headache was coming her way again. All she could do was keep from staring at the flame for too long and it would go away…eventually.
"Feeling better?" He asks before laying a warm cloth on her forehead.
Serana blinks up at Vorstag. "How much did I drink?"
He pauses, mulling over his words. "Hm, probably four or five mugs. When I say mugs, I mean twice the size of a normal glass. You had a lot."
Gods…she couldn't help it. When Vorstag said he was going to the Frozen Hearth to play a round of music she couldn't help but want to come along. She should have gone up into the library and studied some, if anything. But there was this creepy feeling about the place she couldn't shake. She wasn't sure if she ever would. That first impression she got wasn't the best…
"I've never seen you drink like that. I thought you hated alcohol." Vorstag tells her gently.
The cloth was removed, and he slowly pushes a glass of blood to her. She takes it reluctantly. "Just needed something to take the edge off." She says.
"Of what?"
"Here. This. Everything. I was going to just lay it all out for Tolfdir, why we're here, what we're doing but I don't even know if he'd believe us." She downs the blood and lays back into the soft pillow. "I'm not even sure I believe it. It's too strange. A necromancer thought to be dead coming back for me as his bride?"
"If your mother sent a thrall then it was definitely no accident." He leans his forearms on the side of the bed and rests his head on it. "I say we get up bright and early…" He backtracks when he sees her expression. "Or, tomorrow night, we skip the revelry at the Inn and do some research in the library."
"Good idea," She sighs, her head still pounding.
There's a moment of silence, sort of awkward, but also a sort of normal silence before Vorstag breaks it. "I better get some shut eye too. You wake me if the headache gets worse?"
"And where do you sleep?" She watches him in confusion. There weren't two beds and the storm outside would make it nearly unbearable to get to the Frozen Hearth.
A slow grin spreads across his face. "Down here, with the skeevers and cockroaches." He points to the flimsy rug on the ground and the chill cobblestones.
She knows he would do it without much complaint. As he told her before, time and time again, he's slept in more uncomfortable places. But she wouldn't have it. Not after how he helped her get home tonight.
"Here, this bed looks small but there's enough room." She rolls so she's on the far side, at the very edge. Next to the many shelves and drawers littered in soul gems.
He gives her a questioning look. "And how will we sleep soundly Volkihar?" His eyebrow raises.
Her heart leaps to her throat. "Gods, no. I'm not saying that we do anything…" She trails off when she sees that smirk.
He laughs. "You snore. That's what I meant." He plops down next to her unceremoniously. "Loudly."
She jabs him with her elbow. "Turn off the light. We need some good sleep if we're headed to Saarthal tomorrow."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." He reminds her, and once that flame is blessedly extinguished, he lays next to her. They lay there, shoulder to shoulder and thigh to thigh. Well, maybe she was wrong. Maybe this bed wasn't as large as she thought.
Even though it was slightly uncomfortable she found sleep was grabbing her swiftly. "Vorstag?" She asks in the darkness that fit around them like a cocoon. It felt easier to talk to someone like this. Without having to watch their face and wonder what's going on in their head.
"Hm? Want me to sing you to sleep?" He asks dreamily.
"No. I just wonder. Why did you follow me here?" She says it so softly, it should be a whisper.
She immediately regrets that question. He takes far too long to answer. They sit in silence for a few, very long minutes, before he says a word.
"You're just a funny little creature. I want to see what kind of trouble you get in and then figure out how to get you out of it."
Serana swallows hard, she wasn't really sure what he'd say. Or, what she wanted him to say. But that was answer enough, she supposes. Her headache and sleep tinged mind didn't allow her to think on it further. Like heavy clouds reaching out and blanketing her mind, things become foggy. She fell into sleep's embrace without another thought.
Vorstag wasn't lying, not really. He meant it when he said she was funny and got herself into the oddest of situations. He's seen that firsthand these past few months. But her question did make him pause. Why? Why has he followed her this whole time when he very well could have let her go? All so he could go back to Markarth and play at the Silver-blood in for the rest of his immortality?
He hears her breathing move to something deeper. Something sturdier and something that will allow her to heal from the damage she did to herself tonight. If he was honest with himself, he's grown a liking to her in the past few months. He's had fun wandering Skyrim with her. And seeing how bad she was with a sword. He guesses he does want to help her where he can.
Furthermore, if this Mannimarco was back and on the loose, who knew what destruction he could bring? Skyrim was still reeling from the last villain, what if he wasn't around to stop the next one?
But as the night wears on and he hadn't gotten any sleep he wonders. Maybe he just enjoyed her presence, the sound of her voice, the way she fought back with half-hearted quick remarks. It wasn't like verbally sparring with Eve, that girl was a firecracker and knew just what to say to keep you on your toes. But Serana, she had this innocence about her. Like she was always flustered and startled that he even took the time out of his day to pester her about her hair or reading material.
He didn't know where any windows were in this place. He should go look around and make sure he knew where all the exits were to this fortress. But the sound of her soft breathing kept him stable. Soon, the interior of the Hall was filling with the first rays of light and that was when he finally found sleep.
"Hey. Hey, we're going to be late." Someone shakes him roughly. He growls at the intrusion of his blessed rest and the pressure disappears.
Someone's stomping through the room. Walking to the wardrobe, then back, then pacing. Then, finally, that someone grabs him. He reaches behind him, grasping for the dagger he always keeps close but stops when he sees Serana.
"Get up." She pleads frantically, shaking his shoulddrs. "We're going to be late!"
"Ugh, what time is it? By the gods." Vorstag rubs his eyes only to see Serana dressed head to toe in her new robes. "Wow, you look stunning." He says half-heartedly.
"For a mage, sure," She throws some of his armor at him which he is quick to catch. "We have to go now! The others left about a half hour ago."
"Sorry." He grumbles and rises to place his armor on quickly. They both fell asleep in their clothes so there wasn't much changing that was involved.
"You'd think I wasn't the one who drank all night." Serana blows out a breath when Vorstag finally grabs his weapons.
"Sorry, I got distracted." He races to get ahead of her to get the door but she's right there.
"Feel like running?" She turns to glance at him over her shoulder.
He sighs, not one bit liking the thought of getting wet boots and pants in this high snow. "Lead the way Volkihar, I'll be fast on your heels."
Opal was fast as the wind, faster than she thought possible. She decides she wants to get him some good treats for the night. Maybe some carrots. He loved carrots, and the poor thing needed it after how hard they ran him to Saarthal. Vorstag, baby that he was, complained about running after the storm that came through. Serana changed her mind then and thought it might be good to let their horse stretch his legs.
Thankfully, it wasn't far from the College but it was far enough that the horse was out of breath when they walked up the numerous stairs.
"And here we all are. Shall we step inside?" Tolfdir nods at her, not even berating them for their tardiness. She gives a meek smile back.
The other students give her a wary look, but she thinks it's because of Dawn who was now behind her and glowing in the bright sunlight. She wondered where she stayed while they slept last night. It couldn't have been far.
"All right, please stay close to me while we're inside. It should be safe but it's always better to be cautious." Tolfdir explains.
"Hear that Volkihar? Means no running off." Vorstag whispers to her.
"He was looking at you as he said it, he meant it for you since you're not here to learn." She shoots back.
He laughs, "You wound me. And on the contrary, I am here to learn many things. I am just as much a student as you."
She smiles but keeps any quick remarks to herself. She had forgotten how much the mercenary enjoys exploring old ruins. "Come on then, there's going to be a lot to learn down here." And she grasps his hand to pull him along with the others.
It was hard to keep up with all the information Tolfdir sent their way with her hand in his. Vorstag was more worried about when she'd pull away and if it would be on her own accord or not.
Poor Tolfdir here didn't seem to be…well, an expert at traversing these depths. Vorstag, out of instinct, made sure to keep a good eye on any shadow that moved and every coffin they passed. Thankfully, the few corpses that rose were quickly dispatched by the professor or one of the other students.
"Sacked by the elves in the infamous 'Night of Tears,' not much is known about what happened to Saarthal." The professor continued as if a snarling draugr didn't just try to stab him. "Ah, this is an exciting opportunity for us. To be able to study such an early civilization and the magics they used…"
His voice echoes out into the cavernous room they enter, ringing back a thousand voices. Vorstag looks over and around them to find the room has many pockets. Lots of hiding spaces and lots of mazes. Serana keeps a good grip on his hand and jerks when she wants him to stop.
"What do you want us to do, Tolfdir?" She asks him.
Vorsag glances around. He saw when the other students wandered off, but he thought they should stay with Toldfir.
"Ah, Serana. Hmm. Why don't you see if you can assist Arniel Gane? He's one of our scholars, here working on cataloging our finds." He rubs his chin, "I also have to say, I did a little research last night on that spell you performed and unfortunately, I couldn't find much on it. We might have to dig a little deeper."
Serana keeps a cheery smile on her face, only reserved for strangers she wishes to please. "It's no problem, we're going to do some research tonight and figure out more of it…hopefully. We'll go find Arniel Gane."
"Good to hear! I expect Arniel will appreciate some help in locating any additional magical artifacts here in the ruins. Any enchanted items will do; the usefulness of the enchantment is irrelevant. If you find anything, the class can look it over."
This Arniel fellow was a little way up the path, and quite grumpy, but he quickly set them on their way to find whatever artifacts they could.
"Here's a ring." Serana pulled her hand away from Vorstag's to grasp the artifact, they had quite the collection so far. Just little trinkets and bits of jewelry found lying on the dusty ground.
"Tolfdir will be happy." Vorstag muses, he takes his eyes off Serana for only a few seconds, taking the ring she found and putting it in his pouch when he hears it. A snapping of chains, iron bars come crashing down before he could get through. The dammed cavern on the other side held Serana in.
"By Talos! I should have known these traps would be about." Vorstag exclaims and pulls on the bars. "Serana, are you alright?"
"Yeah," She comes around the corner, looking a little shaken but holding and amulet in her hands. "What happened?"
"The bars came down can you find another way out? Or a lever? There's usually another switch in case someone made a mistake and got caught inside." Vorstag remembers this, he's gotten caught in far too many traps in his time in tombs. Thankfully, this one didn't include poisoned arrows.
"What in the world! How did you get in there?" Tolfdir races up to Vorstag. The man stands a good foot below him, but he still has a sturdy build. Vorstag even spies a dagger on his person. Maybe he was too harsh in his quick assessment of the professor before. He did not come unprepared.
"I just found this amulet and took it off, then this happened." Serana mentions.
"Really? Perhaps the amulet is important somehow. Is there some ways you can use it?" He asks.
"Um, let me put it on and see…" The woman does just that. Then, Tolfdir grabs Vorstag's arm. He points.
"Do you see that? Some sort of resonance on the wall. It must be connected to the amulet!" He continues exclaiming his astonishment over such a thing. But Vorstag has his head against the bars, trying his best to peek through and get a good look at just what Serana was doing. She just had to look in all the corners and she'd certainly find the lever for the way out.
In an instant, the bars detach. "By Talos!" He yells again and jumps back in time before the iron scalds him.
Tolfdir just laughs and pats his arm. "Good reflexes, young man. Let's go see what our Volkihar friend has found."
They turn the corner all to find Serana gaping at a giant hole in the wall. "Was that there before?" Vorstag asks.
"No…it just blew open." She says and pulls at her robes.
"Hm, this appears to lead somewhere, let's see where it goes." Tolfdir takes the lead into the maze. Vorstag looks to Serana who just shrugs. She seemed alright. A little shaken but no worse for wear.
He smiles, "You heard the man, after you."
Serana didn't let the others know how bad the ordeal with the amulet scared her. When those bars closed down and the doors were sealed, leaving her captive, she was certain something would happen. Maybe Mannimarco would finally show up, maybe her father would rise from the dead. She knew it wasn't an accident though.
Tolfdir continues his lecture, marveling at the little details in the room. Serana keeps off to the side, letting Vorstag look around for anything that might jump out that them. That's when it happened. It's always when it happens, when she thinks she safe and sound.
The air moves, bringing color and light together until the room is all but devoid of it. An older man stands in the center, dressed in fine mage robes. Serana looks to Vorstag, then to Tolfdir, both are frozen in time.
"What did you do?" She demands from the man. All the while she pulls on her power, ice fills her hands.
He stops her, "Hold mage, know that you have set in motion a chain of events that cannot be stopped."
"I know about him." She grinds out.
He doesn't even blink. "Judgment has not been passed, as you had no way of knowing. Judgement will be passed on your actions to come, and how you deal with the dangers ahead of you. This warning is passed to you because the Psijic Order believes in you. You mage, have the potential to prevent this disaster."
Serana freezes, "What of Mannimarco? Can you tell me of him?"
The man pauses, his head tilts and he gives her the oddest of expressions. "You have become quite powerful, know to wield your power wisely."
There wasn't anything that changed. The man was there one moment then gone the next. In his wake, the colors came back and Tolfdir and Vorstag stumbled forwards. "I swear I felt something rather strange just then." Tolfdir says.
Serana looks to her companions. "I saw a ghost or apparition. He spoke to me."
Vorstag goes still as a board. She knows what he is thinking. "He wasn't anyone I recognized, he had an elaborate robe and said he was with the Psijic Order."
She can feel Vorstag's relief from here. "The Psijic Order? Are you quite sure about that? That's very odd." Toldfir asks, "The Psijics have no connection to these ruins. And no one's seen any of their order in a long time."
"What is the Psijic Order?"
"They were a group of mages with a history that pre-dates the Empire. Very powerful, very secretive. No one has seen them in well over a hundred years. They vanished, along with their sanctuary on the Isle of Artaeum." The professor tells them.
"Behind you!" Vorstag pulls Serana to the side and lunges with his sword at the ready. She falls to the ground but quickly leaps up, pulling on her magic. Flames fly over her, blasting into the draugr. Killing all the undead before they can rise.
Tolfdir is panting, his hands alight with his own spells. "Good thing that Flame Atronach is around. Let's keep going, there has to be more to see."
They wandered for awhile. Vorstag kept at attention and ready to kill whatever came their way. Lucky for him, there were many enemies left in this crypt. Eventually, Tolfdir decided he wanted to stay behind in the most dangerous place possible, Vorstag thought. It was the belly of the tomb and held more coffins than any other room.
Vorstag was more than happy to push ahead. He slices another draugr's head off before lunging for the next one. Serana was at a good distance and throwing spells from where she stood.
"I thought you were here to learn magic." He grunts as another undead comes flying his way with a blade at the ready.
"I am, we just got…well, we got distracted." Serana tells him, she throws another ice spike before switching to a firebolt.
Dawn was at Vorstag's side, taking the brunt of the enemy forces. She threw firebolt after firebolt their way, until there was nothing but ash.
"I feel something up ahead. Don't you?" Serana pants next to Vorstag.
He pauses, wondering how she knew that, but doesn't push further. "Let's go see what this thing is."
It turned out to be something incredible. Tolfdir found them just as they were making their way around the bend. Vorstag still had blood all over his sword and armor, fresh and dripping, but he paid it no mind. Instead, he was awed. Before them a glowing blue monstrosity of an orb sat. It shimmered like it had iridescent skin as it turned. Vorstag hasn't seen anything like this before, not in all his time in dungeons.
"I never imagined we'd find something like this." Tolfdir gasps.
"What is it?" Serana walks to stand next to him.
The man doesn't seem to hear her, "Why is this buried so far within Saarthal?"
Vorstag sees them before they do. Draugr spill into the room with snarling faces and weapons at the ready. Vorstag doesn't hesitate, he jumps into the fray and begins to swing. Each hit takes down another opponent or wounds them enough that they stay down. The mages keep good cover fire from above.
The mercenary groans as he pulls his sword from another pathetic husk, "Give me a real challenge. This isn't enough."
"Not a good enough workout?" Serana questions as they come down the steps in a more civilized manner.
Vorstag grins at her, showing his fangs. "They provide little of a challenge. I'm more adept now."
Tolfdir stops before the thing. Vorstag watches as the blue barrier falls to nothing, leaving the twirling orb in it wake. "What is it?" He asks the professor.
"I have no idea! This is amazing. Absolutely amazing. The Arch-Mage needs to be informed immediately. He needs to see this for himself. I don't dare leave this unattended. Can you return to the College and inform Savos Aren of this discovery?"
Serana gapes, "I, yes we can. But I have some questions…"
"My, what is this?" Tolfdir interrupts. He holds out his hands for Serana's. She gives him a questioning look before she notices it. Vorstag's eyes widen.
On each of Serana's forearms are glowing lights. Like purple and white runes embedded in her skin. They have complex swirls with various imagery within. Snowflakes and stars.
"How much power were you using?" Tolfdir asks her.
"I…I don't know. A lot? Not that much? Just enough to help Vorstag."
"Did you do this to yourself?" He asks her, but his sharp gaze pins her, making Vorstag squirm.
"No." She shakes her head, "What is it?"
"Something that only the most powerful of us can do. This is set to amplify your power. Are you sure you or anyone else did not perform this spell on you?"
Serana is at a loss for words. "I don't know. I was underground for so long…the memories just blend together sometimes."
"I have a lot to research then." Tolfdir whistles. "Quite a lot. Go tell Savos Aren of this discovery."
"Will they go away? Are they harmful?" Vorstag asks for her.
Tolfdir looks between them. "They're meant to amplify power, they won't hurt the mage casting spells."
He can see Serana squirming. She has something to ask but just can't yet.
"Go. Go. We can talk later." Tolfdir hurries them along. Serana looks to Vorstag and he jerks his head to motion to the exit. There isn't anything else to do but head back to the College.
She felt defeated. Instead of getting answers, she only had more questions. So many questions. Looking into Tolfdir's excited eyes, she couldn't just launch into a flurry of questions about Mannimarco or the Soul Cairn. One thing at a time, she told herself.
Good thing the Arch-Mage was just upstairs, as expected. "You are new here, are you not? I have noticed you, but we have not spoken." He raises his head from a book he was reading at a tableside.
"We haven't. I'm Serana Volkihar." She says with a strained voice. There was so much to tell him.
He looks up and she marvels at his beautiful eyes before he speaks, "I am Savos Aren, Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold. I am quite content to see nearly any aspect of magic explored and investigated here." His eyes drift over Dawn who hovered on the edge of their circle. Vorstag kept close to Serana.
"But I do not and will not approve of any research or experiments that cause purposeful harm to your fellow members of the College, are we clear?"
She grinds her teeth. "Yes. I need to speak with you about Saarthal."
"Please don't tell me another apprentice has been incinerated." He begins.
"We found a sort of orb. It glows and hovers, it's, it's incredible." She says, and she meant it. In all her years walking Nirn, she's never seen something like that. Something that large and complex shouldn't just hover and move like that. It didn't seem completely mechanical, either.
"I…see. I trust that Toldfir will provide a more specific explanation." He pauses, "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Since Tolfdir and I are occupied, I would ask if you could do some research on the subject?"
As if they didn't have enough to research already. "I can. I have a question though." She gets out before he can stop her.
"Yes?" He finally looks up from his book, giving her his undivided attention.
"Do you know how to access the Soul Cairn? Someone very important to me is locked in there."
"The Soul Cairn is an untouched magic." He says without missing a beat. "It's part of necromancy since it is technically a way to summon daedra and deal with spirits. Not to mention potentially dealing with Molag Bal himself. It is something the College would allow but would still frown upon."
As if that helped anything. Serana just nodded and turned on her heel, ready to go tear through the library down below for anything she could find.
"Talk with Urag gro-Shrub. He might have a few books or articles you would find to your liking." She hears behind her. She turns but only finds the Arch-Mage is once again lost to his book.
"Let's go." Vorstag who hovered at the edge of the room while she spoke, holds the door for her all with a bright smile on his face.
"I might have something, but it will take some time to acquire." The Orsimer man looks down his nose at Serana.
"Anything you can find would help us." She reminds him. If only she could spur him on further but he was too busy this night to go looking.
"Tomorrow after my lunch break, I'll have some time. Tell me the names again." He brings out a quill and some ink to write the titles down.
Serana bites her tongue but goes on with it. "I don't have anything specific. Just whatever you can find on Mannimarco and on the Soul Cairn."
"Interesting, interesting. Are you working with Phinis Gestor?"
"Sort of." She's not sure how much she should tell him.
"Speak of the daedra." Urag laughs and nods behind her. She peeks over her shoulder to find none other than the professor of Conjuration himself.
"I'm checking in for the night." He waves to them both before settling down with a book at one of the various tables in the circular center. Vorstag sat at the one right across from it, his head resting on the table. She felt terrible after he got such horrible sleep and told him as much. He only reassured her it wasn't because of their cramped situation last night that he couldn't fall asleep. Yet, Serana didn't know if that was the truth. Just the way he said it…
She said sleeping in the bed while she was here would be good, but he refused. He wouldn't leave this library until she did.
"I'll let you know what I find tomorrow." The Orsimer moves to his solitary chair behind the counter and opens his own book.
"Thank you…" She has little left to say. Stumbling over her thoughts she makes the decision. If the opportunity was here, she might as well learn all she could. And since Tolfdir was busy with his own research, there was no one else to consult.
"Excuse me." She smiles down at Phinis when she reaches his table and nearly flinches at his gaze. It wasn't the very dark circles under his eyes that were so startling, but the hollow look within them.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if you had a moment? I have a few questions about things that I am desperate to find answers for." She pleads.
He slowly sets his bookmark in the thick novel he was reading, as if to show her just what she was interrupting. "Go on."
That crushing fear was weighing her down. Not knowing what's happened to her mother, her only living family. Not knowing when Mannimarco will come to Skyrim. Not knowing if tomorrow they will be hunted or sent out on another mission. She has one chance to grab this professor's attention and she wasn't going to squander it.
"My name is Serana Volkihar of Volkihar castle. I, well, I have a lot going on. My mother is locked away in the Soul Cairn and she told me, urgently I should add, that Mannimarco is hunting me. I came here to get a chance to get back into the Soul Cairn to free her and to learn more about Conjuration. I need to know all that I can." She doesn't pause for breath and finds herself gasping at the end of it.
His eyes are wide. Shocked. Phinis Gestor stutters but finds himself at a loss for words. He only waves to the empty seat across from him. "Please, sit down, Serana. I won't need to retire to my room for quite a few hours and it sounds like you and I have a lot to talk about."
He flinched in his dream. Maybe it wasn't his dream. It was that dammed time spent between sleep and waking. Waiting to fall asleep while your mind was active enough to conjure its own daydreams. But not enough to fall into a graceful and fulfilling rest.
Ancano shifts to his side, thinking that might be a better way to sleep. He clutches his amulet from Arkay, he bought it from a passing Khajiit traveler the other day. It was said to help with spirits and dreams but he knew little of Arkay's influence on such things. So he couldn't say for sure if he would help him.
There's been no time to go into the library to get such information, either. Mirabelle has had him on his toes the whole time he's been here. The hoops she makes him jump through…sometimes he wishes he could call in the Dark Brotherhood and deal with all of them. Then, it wouldn't be such a hard fight.
That nagging feeling came back, as it has the past few months. When the Dragonborn was reigning terror down on the citizens of Skyrim…oh, it would have been the most wonderful time for the Thalmor to get a grasp on this place. It would have been harder with Ulfric. But with a new Emperor that was no better than a puppet and restored Imperial forces, it would have been easy. If only they didn't make an enemy of the Dragonborn so early on. The gravest of mistakes.
His mind shifts again. Thinking of tomorrow's events and just how he was going to speak to the newcomer. He saw her and immediately recognized her. Even though he had never seen her face before. She was beautiful, as the Altmer said she would be. Skin pale as the snow, eyes bright like amber glinting in the sun, hair fit for a raven. There was no mistaking that was Serana Volkihar.
And it appears she noticed him too.
He toils with those thoughts before sleep finally pulls him under and puts his doubts to rest. The mist parts again. He knows he has the amulet good and clutched in his left hand, but it looks like it was doing no good.
In the haze, he sees the throne with the great necromancer seated upon it. Those bright eyes brim with frustration and he clutches the edges of the armrests with such strength.
"Have you spoken to her?" His words are clipped. Skipping any formality in greeting.
Ancano gives a mockery of a bow. Then thinks better of it when Mannimarco's hands clench tighter. "I have not. Do you wish me to? She seemed to recognize me when I saw her." Ancano nearly spits. He was more annoyed that he was back here than he was scared…which was refreshing to say the least.
The necromancer's lips thin. "Not yet. If you bump into her do not hesitate to say something. But don't seek her out."
The silence is heavy. Ancano shifts on his feet. "Why did she recognize me? I am not in any books or any posters or such things she would see me. Not many people in the province know my name or appearance."
Mannimarco looks on him with new curiosity. That is, before a devilish grin breaks out. "It is nothing to worry about Ancano. It is quite good. It means my spell is working. And if it is affecting her that much in one brief glance, then things should run quite smoothly from here on out."
Ancano shifts again, his left hand clenching the vacant air. "You don't need me anymore, then?"
The necromancer laughs. "Oh no, quite the contrary. I'll need you now more than ever. Get ready because the next few weeks shall be very busy for you." He grins again. "Sleep well, I'll see you in the next night and will have further instructions then."
He jolts awake. His sheets are soaked with sweat, even though the room wasn't as cold tonight. His heart was leaping out of his chest, and he clenches his left hand again. Only to find nothing to hold onto.
When Ancano looks across the way he sees it. The amulet torn to pieces and orange and red beads scattered across the far wall. It was more of a warning than a blessing. A stern one.
A/N: Thanks for all the support and views! I'm going to try to edit and get the next chapter out on Tuesday or Wednesday!