Winter in Winterhold

Kato and Rhavaniel just beat the snow to Winterhold. Only a few days after they had returned the roads were blocked off by the heavy snowfall. It didn't bother them. They both had research to do and inventions to perfect.

19th of Evening Star, 4E 205.

Kato looked up at the strange orb they had found in Saarthal. Something about it made all the hair on his body stand on end. He didn't like it. They still had lessons in the Hall of Elements where the orb had been placed so he had spent his fair share of time in the same room as that orb. The orb in itself wasn't good or bad. It was just a magical orb. Still, it made him uneasy. He looked back down at the book in his hands. It wasn't a very interesting book. The author was monotone and very boring, but Colette had wanted him to read it so he did.

Slowly, he rose from his seat in the Hall of Elements. Then he headed outside. He needed some kind of change of environment and pace. He looked up at the cloudy white sky and just stood there as little snowflakes landed on his face. It snowed a lot in Winterhold. He kind of liked the snow. He was good enough at destruction Magic that he could keep himself warm so the cold didn't bother him. His breath rose from him like a cloud of tiny crystals shimmering in the light from the torches. He closed his eyes and sighed. He would miss all of this.

Kato eventually walked back to the Hall of Attainment and sat down with his research again. He sorted through everything and looked at his progress. He had come to the conclusion that gems could hold power. Now his biggest problem was getting them to hold a charge and only releasing that charge when needed. He also had the problem that the gems seemed to combust whenever they felt like it. There had to be a solution to that problem as well.

He would figure it out.

23rd of Evening Star, 4E 205.

"Kato, could you help me with something?"

Kato turned to look up at his classmate. "What do you want help with Brelyna?" he asked. He still didn't really get along with the others, but it had been going better lately. He figured that they'd gotten over whatever moronic ideas they had in the beginning. At least somewhat.

"I need to test a spell out, and I'm wondering if you'd be willing to help me," Brelyna said.

"Sure what do you need help with?" Harry said.

"I have this spell that I have been working on and I need a test subject to try it on…"

"Excuse me!"

Kato turned his head. It was Rhavaniel. "You can't do tests on another student without supervision. No spell may be used on a mage at the College unless it has been approved by one of the teachers," she said. She looked over at Kato. "I don't recommend accepting something like that. It can go horribly wrong," she told him.

"I wasn't going to," Kato said calmly. He turned to Brelyna. "Rules are rules," he said. "You better make sure you know them before trying something like that again. You could get thrown out of the College if you break them."

"Excuse me but I need you to come with me immediately."

'What is it with people and walking up behind me,' Kato wondered as he turned to face the College Thalmor. "What is it Ancano?" he asked.

"There is a man here that is claiming to be from the Psijic Order. I want to know why he is here and more specifically why he is asking to speak to you," the Thalmor said.

Kato stopped himself from rolling his eyes. He turned to Rhavaniel. "Would you accompany me please?" he asked her. She had been there the last time he'd spoken to a member of the Order. It only seemed right to him that she would be there now as well.

Rhavaniel nodded. She was interested in what the Order had to say.

"Rhavaniel has not been asked for. She will not attend," Ancano said. "You will speak to this Monk and then he will be removed from College grounds."

Kato gave the man a flat look. "Rhavaniel will come with me because she is involved. You will shut up or I will throw you out of the College. Then you can try surviving the wrath of Queen Katla. Don't think you can make me roll over for you just because the Arch-Mage has given you sanctum," he told Ancano before turning to Rhavaniel. "Shall we go?" he asked as he held his arm out.

Rhavaniel took his arm, and they headed out of the training hall. Kato cast clairvoyance as he focused on the feeling of the man they'd met last time around. A blue streak spread out before him and led them to the Arch-Mage quarters. He opened the door for Rhavaniel and walked in behind her.

They made their way up the stairs and up to the tree in the Arch-Mage quarters. A man much like the one that had appeared before them in Saarthal was standing in front of the tree. They couldn't tell if it was the same one or not though.

"Please do not be alarmed. I mean you no harm," the man said.

A blue shimmer spread through the room.

Kato reached out quickly and grabbed Rhavaniel's hand just in case the Monk only wanted to speak to him for some reason. He turned to look behind them where Ancano and Arch-Mage Aren had frozen in time. Rhavaniel seemed fine though so he let go of her again. She smirked at him and he stuck his tongue out at her childishly.

"You wished to speak to me," Kato said as he straightened and got serious again.

"I did. I have given us a chance to speak privately. But I cannot hold the spell for long," the Monk said. "The situation here at your College is of dire importance. And since you reacted badly to our previous method of contacting you, we chose this route instead. It was also an easier way of handling things now that the Eye of Magnus as your people have taken to calling it is here at the College. The longer it remains here the more dangerous it becomes. And so I have come here personally to tell you it must be dealt with."

"I don't understand why we are the ones that have to deal with this," Harry said. "Not to say that I won't. It just perplexes me."

"You two set this chain of events in motion at Saarthal. You must understand that the Psijic Order does not typically … intervene directly in events. My presence here will be seen as an affront to some within the Order. As soon as I am finished here I will be leaving the College. I'm also aware that my presence has aroused suspicion, especially in Ancano your Thalmor associate."

"I honestly don't care what he thinks, sir," Kato said. "Why don't you simply get to the point, please?"

"Either way my Order will not act directly. You must take it upon yourself to do so. As you may have learned this object… the Eye is immensely powerful. This world is not ready for it. If it remains here it will be misused," the Monk said. "Indeed, many in the Order think it already has, or rather … something will happen soon something that cannot be avoided."

"I guess we'll have to be ready then," Rhavaniel said. "Is there nothing you can say to help us?"

"Unfortunately the future is as obscure to us as it is to you. The Eye makes it difficult for us to see. I fear that I have already overstepped the boundaries of my Order," the Monk said. "But I will tell you this seek out the Augur of Dunlain here at your College. His perception may be more coherent than ours."

"We will," Kato said.

"Now I must leave you. We will continue to watch over you. It is within you to succeed never forget that," the Monk said.

The bluish air dissipated.

Kato looked over at Rhavaniel. "Let's get out of here before these guys wake up properly," he said. As they made it down the stairs they could hear Ancano exclaim, "What? What trickery is this? You are not going anywhere until I find out what you are up to."

"I'm not 'up' to anything. I apologise if I have offended you in any way," the Monk said.

Harry pulled the door open and they walked out. "Are you up to finding out who or what Augur is?" he asked Rhavaniel.

Rhavaniel nodded. "It sounds interesting," she said. She could use some time away from her research for a bit. "It is also good to be more than one person involved in something like this. It is easier to discuss what needs to be done if you have someone to discuss it with."

Kato nodded. "Speaking from experience I take it," he said. He smiled as she rolled her eyes at him. "So the first thing we need to figure out is where to find Augur," he said after that.

"I have heard Tolfdir speak about it," Rhavaniel said.

"So the easy way to find out about it is to go ask him then," Kato said.

"Most definitely."

Kato walked into the Hall of Countenance. He had spoken to Tolfdir. He and Rhavaniel had decided that he was better off talking to the old Nord. The man liked him better. It had been easy to get him to talk about Augur. "He or it or whatever is down in the Midden," he said as he sat down next to Rhavaniel. He reached out and grabbed some bread from the table. Then he grabbed a knife so he could cut some cheese off a big wheel.

"Should we head down there now?" Rhavaniel asked. "I don't have anything else to do at the moment. My latest try was destroyed by Sandra earlier. I'll have to start all over again."

Kato looked up at her. "Is she still alive?" he asked.

"It was going badly anyway," Rhavaniel said as she shrugged.

"We might as well go now," Kato said to answer her earlier question. He ripped his bread open and placed the cheese between the pieces before standing up and grabbing a bottle of Honningbrew Mead. "Do you have any idea where we can enter the Midden?" he asked before he started eating the sandwich.

"This way," Rhavaniel said and pointed. She led them over to the stairs. There was a hatch in the floor there that she opened up. Kato placed what was left of his food in a pouch and followed her down the ladder.

It was dark down there.

Two orbs of light joined in the air as they both cast candlelight.

They had gone down under the College with no armour or weapons, but since they were both seasoned mages that probably wouldn't be a problem. Especially, since Rhavaniel was capable of summoning her weapons if she needed them. Besides what could be down there?

"So what is your experiment for?" Kato asked. He couldn't recall her ever telling him.

Rhavaniel shrugged. "I'm trying to cure Lycanthropy. I was a member of the Companions in Whiterun…" she said. "It's back some five years ago or so. The Companions aren't just great warriors; they are cursed to be Werewolves, and so was I."

"I see?" Kato said. He looked down at a skeleton on the ground. They had come to a fork and decided to take a left.

"So you know about the moon children?" Rhavaniel said. Her eyes narrowed. She had heard a hiss. Fire spread along her fingers. A serpentine elemental appeared among the pillars holding the ceiling up. She fired off a fireball at the Ice Wraith. It melted into a pool of shimmering blue liquid. She looked back at Kato.

"I do," Kato said. "We have them on Earth too. One of my father's best friends is one."

"The Companions are very careful about who gets to know about them," Rhavaniel said.

"I won't tell anyone," Kato said.

"I don't doubt that," Rhavaniel said. "Which is why I'm willing to tell you. So Werewolves exist back where you are from too. That is interesting. I could certainly send you back with vials of the cure if I manage to finalize it before you leave."

"I would like that very much," Kato said.

In the room they had just entered there seemed to be light streaming down from the ceiling. It illuminated a large circular stone dais.

"There is a symbol here," Rhavaniel said. "It is the same one we use for Conjuration – Oblivion."

Kato looked down at the book he had picked up. "It is called the Atronach Forge," he said. "You can basically summon things with it. This guy doesn't understand it. He spent most of his time with it just blindly experimenting." He walked up next to Rhavaniel. "That looks like it is Dwemer made," he said and pointed at a small box placed in what looked like a pool of magma. He handed the book over to her, and she skimmed through it. "It is interesting," she said. "But we can always come back for it later. It is not like it's going to move."

Kato looked up and raised an eyebrow. 'So it isn't light from outside,' he thought. The light came from the dais itself and reflected against the dome of the ceiling. "Yeah, we might as well keep moving," he said.

"So this wolf uncle of yours, aren't people afraid of him? I know that is the most common reaction," Rhavaniel said.

"They are but dad and his friends weren't like that," Kato said. "They did their best to make his life easier. He is one of the gentlest people I know."

"I didn't think werewolves usually came in a friendly version," Rhavaniel said. "The Companions aren't what you'd call friendly."

Kato shrugged. "He doesn't want to be a werewolf. He hates hurting people," he said.

"Stop," Rhavaniel said.

Kato looked at her for further guidance.

"There is someone up ahead."

He nodded and moved out of the way.

Rhavaniel summoned a bow. She placed an arrow on the string and pulled it taut. She released the conjured arrow. It flew across the room and embedded itself in the chest of a draugr.

"What is that doing down here?" Kato asked. "This isn't an old Nordic ruin." He shook his head. "So you were a werewolf, but you aren't one anymore. Then there is a cure?" he asked.

"No, I was rid of my own lycanthropy through a ritual, but it isn't a viable option for everyone. I want to make an easier cure. I have contacts in the Companions that would really like to have it. Some of them are really proud of their beast forms but true Nords, for example, aren't," Rhavaniel said. "You see they can't go to Sovngarde when they die if they carry the curse," she explained. She raised her bow once more and fired an arrow at an Ice Wraith.

They passed through a thick stone arch and walked up to a locked door.

"Your perseverance will only lead to disappointments," a hoarse voice said. "Still you persist. Very well… you may enter."

A bright shining light filled the small room they walked into.

"So you are the Augur of Dunlain?" Harry said. He wasn't surprised really. He hadn't expected a person to be down there.

"I am that which you have been seeking. Your efforts are in vain… It has already begun. But those who sent you have not told you what they seek. What you seek," the being said.

"Story of my life," Kato said. "I know that is true, but we didn't have much of a choice no matter how much we dislike it."

"Indeed. And so you have come looking, though, you do not know why. Like others before you, you blindly follow the path to your own destruction. The Thalmor came seeking answers as well unaware that they will be his undoing. Your path now follows his, though you will arrive too late."

"So Ancano has been down here as well," Rhavaniel said.

"Yes, the Thalmor has sought my knowledge through very different questions. Your path, however, differs from most. The two of you are being guided, pushed towards something. It is a good path, untraveled by most, one that can save your College. I will tell you what you need to know to follow it further," Augur said.

"So what do we need?" Kato asked.

"You, and those aiding you, wish to know more about the Eye of Magnus. You wish to avoid a disaster of which you are not yet aware. To see through the Eye of Magnus without being harmed by it you require his staff. Events now travel quickly towards an unavoidable centre so you must act with haste. Take this knowledge to you Arch-Mage," Augur said and then he disappeared.

Kato turned to Rhavaniel. "So that was uplifting," he said.

"I wonder how good his sense of time is," the Bosmer said. "Are we in a hurry or can we take our time?"

"I think that as long as we keep an eye on Ancano we can take it pretty calmly," Kato said. "Maybe I should have taken Naya's offer of taking care of him." He sighed. "Too late now. "We're going to have to discuss this with the Arch-Mage."

Rhavaniel nodded. "So we should get out of here now then," she said.

"Yeah, definitely."

"So I told you what I do," Rhavaniel said. "What are you trying to do with your experiments?"

"Create a way to enchant without the need for souls," Kato said.

"Now that is interesting. Most people wouldn't even try that. It is probably your upbringing in the other world that gives you that other perspective," Rhavaniel said.

"Maybe," Kato said.

"Will you make a set for me? I don't know how to enchant, but I could help Katla out I guess," Rhavaniel said.

"I'll leave Katla quite a few sets and I guess I can give you the method for making them once I have figured it out. Someone needs to be able to make them here after I'm gone," Kato said.

Rhavaniel nodded. It was strange to talk to someone who knew their entire existence in a place would end soon enough. Especially one so young.

...

When speaking to Aren the following day, they came to the conclusion that they would keep a sharp eye on Ancano. They couldn't leave to go looking for the staff though. They were snowed in. There was no travel from Winterhold in winter. Though, they did agree that Rhavaniel and Kato would go search for the staff once spring came. In the meantime, they would learn as much as they could about the staff and its location.

They were told to speak to Mirabelle who they were informed had some knowledge of the Staff of Magnus. At least that set them on the right path.