Chapter 4: First Lessons

Stryger looked around the dimly lit room of the College's main hall, admiring all of the glowing blue streams of magic that gave this room life. He could see the other three students all lined up opposite of an old man who was no doubt Tolfdir. Mirabelle had mentioned him during the tour, and Stryger could tell from his age that he was very wise. Wishing to join his fellow students he walked up and stood next to a young Nord student.

Tolfdir saw the robed elf and stopped his speech. "Ah, I see a new student has arrived."

"My apologies for being late. I only just arrived at the college a few minutes ago. I hope I haven't missed much."

"Oh, not at all, boy. We had just started." Tolfdir faced the whole group. "As I was saying, the first lesson that every mage should learn is that magic in itself is powerful and dangerous. Precaution and safety should always be taken before practicing magic. Otherwise a lot of people can get hurt."

"But we already know about safety." A female voice spoke. Stryger looked over the Nord's shoulder to see a young Dunmer woman had spoken. She wore a hood like he did, but he could see plenty of her facial features from the blue light that surrounded the room. Gods, she was beautiful. Stryger had heard the other students join along and talk about how they already wanted to begin practicing spells, but Stryger wasn't paying much attention.

"You've been awfully quiet, newcomer." Tolfdir spoke towards Stryger, catching his attention. "Do you agree with your fellow pupils, or do you perhaps have a different opinion?"

Stryger rubbed his chin. "I agree, I am as eager to learn as they are. But I've had enough experience outside the college to know that safety should always be considered beforehand."

"Well, I'm glad to see such a bright student knows how to follow a teacher's example."

"Come on." A khajiit complained. "We already know how to prepare for using magical talents. Let's try something."

"Very well. I guess we could try to combine my lesson of safety with something practical. I guess we'll take some time to discuss wards. Wards are very useful barriers of magic that can be the line between life and death. Why don't you help me with this experiment, Altmer."

"Very well." Stryger stood on the large emblem on the floor. "My name's Stryger, by the way."

"Okay, Stryger. Do you know any ward spells?"

"I've been practicing the steadfast ward recently. I used it successfully to stop a bunch of necromancers a few miles away from Winterhold."

"Really?" Tolfdir motioned for his students to step back. "Just in case of an accident, students, I want you to stand behind me. Stryger, go ahead and throw up the ward."

Stryger allowed his left hand to glow white and his right hand to pulse a fireball spell. He didn't plan on fighting back, but he always was prepared in case of emergencies. When the other students got behind Tolfdir, Stryger got another good look at the dark elf woman. He kept it brief, though, and he cast the ward. Tolfdir tossed a fireball at his ward, and they smiled as the magic dispersed along the barrier.

"Excellent." Tolfdir smiled. "I hope that served as an example to you pupils about the dangers of magic. I think now may be a good time to study some of the history of magic. The College is digging up the ruins of an ancient Nord city known as Saarthal a few miles nearby. Meet me there in a few hours, and we'll get started.

The students dispersed as Tolfdir headed for the main doors, followed by the woman Stryger noticed. Wanting to make her aquaintance, Stryger began to follow. He didn't know what it was about her that attracted him, but he was hoping to at least be her friend at the college.

Stryger ran alongside her as she exited, and she caught notice of the tall elf that had demonstrated his magic.

"Before you go asking any questions, yes. I am the only Dunmer here, no. I'm not intimidated by the Nords, and no. I am not going to just sleep with everyone here at the college just because I'm the only student here that is a woman."

"Uh..." Stryger rubbed his neck. "I wasn't going to ask to sleep with you. I just wanted to introduce myself."

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't mean to snap like that. J'zargo just wouldn't take no for an answer today. He asked me five times today if I wanted to know how it felt to be with a sex cat like him."

"I'll, uh, steer clear of him, then." He put out his hand. "I'm Stryger Myron."

The Dunmer woman gripped his hand and shook. "Brelyna Maryon of House Telvanni."

"A pleasure, milady. I've heard the Telvanni mages are among the most powerful in all of Tamriel."

"Indeed. I pretty much had a place made in the college for me immediately after I was born. There's a lot riding on the expectation that I will become powerful, but no one from Morrowind is here to pressure me to practice too hard. That is something I am thankful for."

"I myself have been training since I was eighteen years old. My greatest skill was restoration. I've given healing to perhaps hundreds of people across Tamriel for a hundred and eighty years. I also took the time to practice more schools of magic where I could. I'm an expert in destruction magic and I can conjure a few weapons and allies from the planes of Oblivion."

"I myself normally use destruction magic, too. I can conjure familiars and I try throwing up an oakflesh spell before being forced to fight. I try to stay in a fight for as long as possible, but I normally get knocked down quickly." She turned out of Winterhold and Stryger followed.

"Have you tried enchanting some armor or clothing to give you an edge in combat? If you wore a suit that increased your health pool, you might last longer in a fight. For me, my stamina is not that great. I normally try sprinting short distances if I need to, but mainly I stand and fight. I have a record of killing seventeen-hundred bandits either while travelling or performing bounties for some holds in exchange for knowledge from court wizards. Quite recently, I helped this Imperial jester get his wagon fixed to transfer his mother's coffin to Falkreath from Bravil."

"So you use your magic to help people?"

"As should we all. Magic is a powerful tool granted by the divines, and none of it should be used lightly. If I use my magical talents to help others, I can sleep happily."

"So you're not with the Thalmor like Ancano?"

"By the eight, no! The Thalmor are power-hungry mongrels, wanting every subject within Tamriel to bow to their command. I've already lost so much of my past because of them." Stryger pulled out a fireball spell and threw it at the wolf approaching Tolfdir.

"Sounds like it's personal." Brelyna spoke solomly, nodding her head in case he didn't feel like discussing it any further.

Tolfdir turned around and faced them along the snowy path. "Nice to see you two can get to know each other while keeping an eye out for trouble. It's always nice to see bright students that pay attention to every detail."

Stryger laughed as the old man turned around. "I guess I have a personal vendetta against the Thalmor, but I'm not making the first move just yet. I don't really want to get into it right now, but perhaps if you want to practice a few spells later, I'll gladly talk more about my past."

"Maybe if we can keep that Thalmor conversation away from Ancaro, I'll think about it."

Stryger smiled. "Good. So how about later tonight? Maybe after this whole excavation thing."

"Sure." Brelyna smiled and continued walking in silence. Stryger didn't speak, either. He felt he said everything that needed to be said. A few minutes afterward, they arrived at Saarthal with Tolfdir and patiently waited for the other two students to catch up.

Within the halls of Jorrvaskr, Akira could feel a sense of belonging within the walls. Some of the people themselves weren't so welcoming as of yet, but she hoped that would change if she became a member of the Companions. Akira walked up to the Harbinger's room, where an old man was speaking to a younger man.

"My brother and I are with you, of course." The younger man spoke. "But I don't think the others will go along with it as easy."

"Leave that to me." The older man, who had to have been the Harbinger, assured before he faced the young woman that entered the room. "A stranger walks within our walls."

"Hello." Akira bowed. "I've come all the way from High Rock to join the Companions."

"Would you now? Here. Let me have a look at you. Yes, a certain strength of spirit."

"Master," The other man interrupted. "you're not truly thinking of accepting her, are you?"

"I am nobody's master, Vilkas. And last I checked, we had some empty beds in Jorrvaskr for those with fires burning in their hearts."

"Apologies, but perhaps this isn't the time. I've never even heard of this outsider."

"Sometimes the famous come to us. Sometimes men and women come to seek their fame. It makes no difference. What matters is their heart. "

"And their arm."

"Yes. How are you in battle, girl?"

"I can hold my own." Akira spoke, proud that her old master trained her well.

"That may be so. This is Vilkas. He will test your arm. Vilkas, take her out to the yard and see what she can do."

"Aye." Vilkas muttered, likely not amused at having to be the one that did this for her. Akira followed the man out into the courtyard past the rest of the Companions. The sun was out and warmed Akira's bare arms. Her chestnut brown hair blew around in the breeze, and the sound of a sword being unsheathed caught her attention.

"Kodlak told me to test your might, so that's what we're going to do. Go ahead and give me a few swings with that axe of yours. Don't worry, I can take it."

"All right." Akira pulled her battle axe off of her back, preparing it for a mighty swing. She put as much force into her blows as she could, staggering the bulky Nord three times as her axe pounded on the man's shield.

"Not bad, but next time won't be so easy. You might just make it. But for now, you're still a whelp to us, new blood. So you do as you're told." He removed his sword and sheath from his belt. "Now, take my sword to Eorlund to be sharpened. And be careful. It's probably worth more than you are."

Akira frowned at the man's remarks, but took the sword anyways. She turned around and began to head up the hill, noticing a familiar man going down the steps of Dragonsreach. Zacharius turned a bit to see Akira staring at him, and he raised his hand to wave at her. She kindly waved back to the Nord with the iron helmet. There was something about him that reminded her of her old teacher; the Nord warrior Askar the Bold that saved her life from that painful and heartbreaking night eight years ago. She lost her whole family (and more) to a group of bandits that fled when Askar came and slaughtered half of their band with a battle axe as white as the snow of his home.

She had cried for three nights after that.

When her wounds had healed, Askar took her into his band of mercenaries, training her in the ways of combat. While she wasn't much for archery she could use a bow, and her hand-to-hand combat was far better than it had been before. Her best techniques came from using a battle axe. Askar had taught her everything he could about the two-handed weapon, and she tried her hardest to be patient with him. When he taught her everything, he told her she should join the Companions in Skyrim where she could find a true family that would never fail her. At first she was sad to be asked to leave the mercenary group, but Askar stated that she had more potential with them than with him, and he promised he would visit the halls within a year's time if she chose to go there.

That was two months ago.

As Zacharius continued down the steps, Akira continued up to the Skyforge, where the old blacksmith Eorlund Gray-Mane worked. Akira had heard much about the man from Askar, whose axe was forged by Eorlund on his very forge ten years ago. His hair and beard were very grey, but like many Nord men, his muscles were still strong. Compared to the Breton's tiny arms, Eorlund looked like he could crush a giant's head with a skyforge steel warhammer.

"What brings you here?" Eorlund asked the young Breton woman as she approached.

"Vilkas asked me to drop off his sword so it may be sharpened."

"I'm guessing you're the newcomer, then?" He took the blade from Akira's hands as she held it out to him.

"Does Vilkas always send out the new recruits to perform errands like that?" Akira's tone was a bit serious, but the old man shook his head with a smile.

"Oh, don't worry about it. They were all whelps once. They just might not like to talk about it. And don't always just do what you're told. Nobody rules anybody in the Companions."

"Somebody has to be in charge, though."

"I don't know how they've managed it, but they have. No leaders since Ysgramor. Kodlak is the Harbinger, and he's a sort of advisor. But every man is his own; every woman her own."

"So are you a Companion?"

"Not actually a Companion, but none of them know how to work a forge properly, and I am honored to serve them. My name is Eorlund Grey-Mane. I work the skyforge. Best steel in all of Skyrim. All of Tamriel."

"I actually know who you are. You made a battle axe for Askar the Bold. Do you know him?"

"Askar? Why, I haven't heard that name in ten years. Yes, he was once a potential Companion. But after some time, he left Skyrim. I assume you traveled with him, then?"

"I did. He took me in eight years ago and showed me the way of combat. I owe him my life, in fact. Anyways, I should probably head back inside."

"I have a favor to ask of you quickly."

"What is it?"

"I have a shield I made for Aela. My wife is in mourning and I have to get back to her soon. Could you bring the shield to her for me?"

"Sure. I'm happy to lend a hand."

"That's a good woman." Eorlund handed her a steel shield and she began to walk back inside, noticing a few Companions sitting outside. They seemed to eye her as she entered the doors into the great hall, but Akira did not think they were bad looks. She couldn't see Aela upstairs so she headed back downstairs and looked in the rooms. Akira found that the Nord woman was speaking to a Nord man with no hair and the same armor as Kodlak and Vilkas in a room with a closed door. Akira opened the door and was glad she didn't barge in during anything truly important.

"Ysgramor himself wouldn't have the patience to deal with all the rabble around here." Aela spoke towards Akira when she stopped next to her.

"I have your shield Aela." Akira spoke cheerfully, hoping that Aela's welcome would be better than Vilkas's.

"Ah, good. I've been waiting for this... Wait. I remember you. So the old man thinks you have heart, I guess."

"You know this one?" The man asked. "I saw her training in the yard with Vilkas."

"Ah, yes. I heard you gave him quite a thrashing."

"Don't let Vilkas catch you saying that."

"Do you think you can handle Vilkas in a real fight?" Aela directed her question towards Akira.

"I'm not really one to boast about my combat prowess."

"Ah! A woman of action. Here, let's have Farkas show you where you'll be resting your head."

"Farkas!" The man shouted, bringing the attention of the Nord man that had been at the farm fighting the giant with Aela. Akira caught sight of him before he saw her, and the memory of his child-like stare sunk back into her head.

"Did you call me?" Farkas asked.

"Of course we did, icebrain." Aela replied snidely. "Show this new blood where the rest of the whelps sleep."

Akira nearly became infuriated when they referred to Farkas as an icebrain, but the man seemed to let that slide.

"New blood?" Farkas actually looked at Akira, and his facial expression seemed to change back to the one he had on the farm. "Oh, I remember you. Come on, follow me."

Akira did as he bid, but waited to speak until after she left the room. "Do they always call you names like that?"

"Skjor and Aela like to tease me, but they are good people." Farkas said cheerfully. "They challenge us to be our best."

"I figured they just liked being mean, but I'll go along with your suggestion."

"Nice to have a new face around. It gets boring here sometimes. I hope we keep you. This can be a rough life."

"My life's been rough enough already. I crave to be with honorable warriors who would seek adventure and companionship. I've been alone for two months travelling all the way from High Rock."

"A great distance, I assume." Farkas nodded. "The quarters are right here. Just pick a bed and fall in when you're tired. Tilma will keep the place clean. She always has. All right, looks like the others are waiting to meet you. Come to me if you want any jobs to do."

"Do you have anything I could do right now?"

"Eager to get started immediately?"

"I figure 'why not? I can start immediately to get warmed up for the whole experience.'"

"All right. We've got a report of bloodsuckers hiding out near Riften. Think you've got what it takes to clear them out?"

Akira had never fought against a vampire before. Askar's tales of vampires were frightening to say the least. But they die like any mortal being. "I think I can handle it." She was glad there was confidence in her voice, thank Kynareth.

"Good. Head to Blood Fang Cave. But be careful. One bite from them and you might end up as one of them. If that happens, drink a potion of cure disease, or find a chapel and pray. The divines bless those who follow their example, and they can cure diseases inflicted upon their followers."

"I'm glad Kynareth smiles upon me, then. I'll be back once those bloodsuckers are defeated." Akira bowed towards Farkas and headed out, ready to prove herself to the Companions.

Farkas could hear his wolf speak to him inside his mind.

She is strong. But she hides something from her past.

What? What is she hiding?

I don't know. Perhaps it is something painful. We should watch her carefully.

Why? She doesn't look like she's in pain.

Use your instincts. She has suffered. She seeks a family to replace the one she lost. We can give her that family.

Are you saying we should become her mate or something?

Consider it a suggestion. You control us even as the blood calls you to take my form. If you decide to take an interest in her, it will be your choice. But trust me when I say she is your perfect mate.

Fine. I'll keep an eye on her and befriend her. But there will be no talk of mating unless she and I actually want to become mates. Understand?

Very well, Farkas. I will speak no more of the subject.

Farkas smiled as the wolf submerged itself within his conscience and became silent.

Along the path to Riften, Errick couldn't hear the shouts for 'Silly-Mask Willie' to get off of that stolen horse anymore. He guessed the Whiterun guard stopped chasing after the infamous horse thief a mile away from where he was now. Laughing his head off he took off his glamour mask, feeling the fresh air hit his face. Silly-Mask Willie was a renowned horse thief across all of Tamriel. What everyone doesn't know, however, is that the mask is enchanted to make whoever wears it Silly-Mask Willie. It was like the Gray Fox's cowl for the Thieves Guild's 'immortal' leader. Errick himself actually stole it from the last owner in Cyrrodil, and he was surprised that it was a orc woman who liked to eat horse meat.

Opening his enchanted jacket he slipped it into one of its many inside pockets, pulling out his enchanted dwarven goggles from another pocket before closing up his jacket. The goggles he found in a dwarven ruin full of bandits that were clearing out a falmer problem somewhere along the borders of Skyrim, and their special charm was their ability to see through locks and machinery, which gave him an edge picking locks on safes not many other thieves could pick. He rarely ever lost any of his picks using those goggles.

"Thank those goody-two-shoes divines and the devilish-and-dastardly daedra that I am the best thief in the business. And all of my gadgets are cool, too."

"I'm'a let you finish," A strange voice spoke near Errick, causing him to look around. "but the Gray Fox is the best thief in all of history, and he did that without gadgets."

Errick looked at the horse. "Are you talking to me?"

"Am I talking to you? No shit, thief! Who else is there to talk to on this fucking road?!"

Errick shook his head. "I'm not drunk on the job again, am I? I mean, I did have a bottle of ale before I stole your black horse ass, but I don't remember getting drunk beforehand. Maybe that rock that crazy Nord threw at me screwed up something in my brain."

"No shit, your mind's screwed up if you stole a daedric horse."

"A what?"

"Come on, now. Don't you have the common sense not to steal from a daedra? My master figured you'd learn by now after you swiped that blade from our realm."

"Hey, first there's no proof I swiped anything from a daedric realm. And second, after I swiped that blade, I couldn't return it because it won't leave my presence. Third, spoiler alert, everyone!"

"Exactly. And you already hear the voices from them telling you to take a life. But despite your black heart, thief, you're about as much of a goody-two-shoes as those divines you don't care about. So not only are you mentally screwed over by those daedra in that thing, but you'll also be physically screwed when my master finds me again. He'll rip your skin off your body and force you to suck his cock before he splits your head open!"

"Okay, I get your master is an unforgiving daedra, and I'm'a let you finish, but Molag Bol is the greatest dominator that has ever existed in the planes of Oblivion. And your master is obviously not Molag Bol because he would've stopped me before I stole you. So if you think I'm afraid of a daedric whelp, you're sorely mistaken."

"How- how dare you! You would slander my owner in such a way, thief?! My master will torture your soul in Oblivion forever!"

"I don't think that's going to happen because I'm one of the main characters of the book and I get to do amazing things like break the fourth wall and lots of other cool shit!"

"What the- what?! What in Dagon's name are you talking about?!"

"Exactly! So shut up and when I'm fifty meters away from Riften I will feed you sugar and send you back to your master. Okay?"

"Fuck off."

"Okay. Thieves rule. Horses drool." Errick drove the horse to ride faster, wanting to be rid of it before he ended up chopping it open and selling its meat to the markets of Riften. The horse grudgingly obliged, but rather wanted to throw Errick into a tree so he could just die. A travel carriage was in front of them with a Dunmer in the back, and Errick knew it was headed to Riften.

"Here's some sugar for your return trip, horsey." Errick slipped it into a small pocket on the satchel, and stood on the horse's back before jumping into the carriage as the horse stopped running. Errick landed gracefully in the back, startling the driver but not the Dunmer.

"Are you here to rob us?" The carriage driver asked.

"Is this the ferry to Riften?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm here for a ride." Errick handed twenty gold to the driver.

"What about your horse?"

Errick saw the horse running the opposite way now, heading back to Whiterun. "I borrowed it from a friend so I could catch up. I just missed you when you left. Besides, there's something wrong with that horse."

"Uh, okay." The driver turned around and continued bringing them to Riften. Errick looked at the Dunmer, who continued staring at his feet. His brown hood blocked his face from Errick, which reminded him how much he hated hoods when stealing things. When it was on travellers or mercenaries it was far worse. It made them seem less of a target and more of a threat.

"We're travelling awfully fast for a carriage, aren't we?" Errick asked the driver.

"My other passenger asked me to make haste to Riften. He said something about his grandmother was dying and he urgently needed to see her before it happened. The carriage can't handle too much, but my horse is strong enough to pull it fast enough for us to make it to Riften before sundown. There should still be daylight across Riften by the time we're there. Thank goodness there hasn't been any bandit attacks on the roads."

"Bandits can be dispatched in seconds." The Dunmer spoke coldly, sending a chill down Errick's spine. "If any are stupid to try and attack us, I will handle it for you."

"All right." The driver nodded, continuing with his job again.

"So, what brings you to Riften, horse jumper?" The Dunmer spoke towards Errick, who put his comedic personality back together.

"Horse jumper? I should use that. Anyways, I came to help an old friend with a problem."

"What sort of problem?"

"Business problem."

"I see."

"What about you, mercenary? What's your grandmother dying of?"

"Stress."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah. A bunch of children being troublemakers outside her house made her trip and crack a few ribs. The healers did everything they could but they're afraid she might not make it."

"Damn. My father died the same way. Got drunk one night and fell off a building. Well, actually it was the white-gold tower about a month before I was born. I was his bastard son and pretty much grew up doing what he did."

"Which was?"

Errick smiled. "Fishing." He lied, but at the same time he was telling the truth. He fished for people's coin purses and personal belonging inside their homes.

The Dunmer smiled back with an evil grin. "Fishing." Errick could tell the Dunmer knew he was lying, but neither of them said anything else about it after that. Instead, the rest of the ride to Riften was quiet, which set the mood for what was to come next.

"So what was that about Errick talking to a daedric horse and 'breaking the fourth wall?'" Ronan asked.

"That's what he had written in his journal." Zacharius stated. "I think it makes telling the story a bit more funny. Why? Do you disagree?"

"Nah, I was just wondering if it was going to be a repeating theme."

"Right. Anyways, Stryger and I were actually doing the same thing around the same time: slaying the undead draugr in ancient Nordic tombs. Both tombs held secrets that were preserved and hidden for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. And both of these secrets marked our destinies as the dragons rose from their graves."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yes, Errick breaks the fourth wall.

Anyways, I hope that was a good chapter. I somehow found a way to throw everybody in so congrats to me. And yes, I'm making it obvious that Akira and Stryger are to get hitched to Farkas and Brelyna, respectively. They were the other two names to be on the list of characters besides Dragonborn/Dovahkiin and Lydia. And there are many secrets that all of the characters carry, which will be completely revealed in the time to come.

Also, if anyone who ends up reading this story that beta-reads for anyone else, I would like your help. I'm not asking for beta-readers for my stories, but I have a friend that's new to the site that would like to know how to send someone his chapters to beta-read. I have created a beta-reading account to do that for him, but I myself am not sure of how he is to send me chapters to beta-read. If anyone knows how to do it, message either myself or Zombarbment on this site so he can release his Fallout story after I beta it for him. I would like to help my friend make his mark on the site the way he wishes to do it.

Now, I think I'm going to work on the other story for a bit.