Back at the inn, they met Kjeld, Iddra, and other familiar faces again, and the inhabitants there were ecstatic to see them. Iddra immediately provided them a meal of hot beef stew and insisted that it was on the house, but Danielle and Onmund wouldn't hear any of it and pressed some Gold upon them anyway. They were also almost convinced to take a room for free, though, but as they wanted two separate rooms, they agreed to pay the full price.
Onmund slept very lightly and fitfully that night, worrying about the "time of trial" that was allegedly going to occur at the College the next day. He tossed and turned all night, but at one point he must've fallen into a deep sleep because he suddenly awoke to a knock on his door. He opened his eyes and groggily asked, "Who is it?"
"It's Danielle," he heard the soft voice reply. "I'm sorry to wake you, but we should probably head back to the College now."
He rubbed his eyes and replied back, "Right. No problem." He got up and splashed some water from the basin in the corner onto his face, and then he quickly got dressed in his mage robes. He put on his quiver and satchel and then went out of his room and saw that the main room in the inn was deserted save for Danielle. She appeared as if she hadn't slept well either, but to Onmund, she still looked beautiful. They couldn't exchange smiles or light jabs at the moment, though, as their minds were on other, more pressing matters. They went out of the inn into the cold, dark morning. They lit another torch and began making their way north to Winterhold. Danielle asked him if he knew anything about the Labyrinthian and Onmund told her everything he knew about it, including how it used to be a great city where the Dragon Priests convened and that it also contained a labyrinth called Shalidor's Maze.
At last, they reached the town of Winterhold and they walked up to the College. It was like coming home from a long journey, albeit a troubled home. Onmund was nervous as they crossed the bridge and entered the campus. A knot was beginning to form in his stomach, and he began to sense that something was wrong. The courtyard was empty, but that wasn't necessarily atypical for this time of day. Just then, the door to the Hall of Elements opened, and Phinis and Arniel hurried out, wearing frantic expressions on their faces. Upon seeing Onmund and Danielle, Arniel urged, "I'm sorry, apprentices. The training hall is closed right now. In fact, you'd better stay in your rooms until you hear otherwise."
"Why? What's wrong?" Danielle questioned worriedly.
"We have a…situation here," Phinis replied. "We're trying to find the Arch-Mage since he isn't in his quarters. Just…stay in your rooms and sit tight for the time being!"
With that, Arniel and Phinis ran off into the Hall of Countenance.
"What was that all about?" Onmund questioned.
"I don't know, but something…something's wrong," Danielle said.
They stood there for a few seconds, wondering what they should do. Onmund wondered if they should heed Arniel and Phinis' instructions to go back into the Hall of Attainment or not.
Just then, they noticed some motion on the southeastern side of the courtyard. The door to the Hall of Countenance opened and two people ran out. It was Savos Aren and Mirabelle. They ran straight toward the door to the Hall of Elements and disappeared inside, having not even noticed the two apprentices standing outside.
Danielle looked up at Onmund and urged, "Let's go see."
Onmund nodded and together they hurried into the training hall. As they opened the doors and entered, Onmund and Danielle stopped short. They saw before them, the training hall engulfed in a huge bluish whirlwind of energy. The Arch-Mage and headmaster were standing in front of it, exchanging puzzled and worried looks with each other.
"It's like a ward, but who's casting it?" Mirabelle asked. "Ancano? How?"
"I don't care what it is, I want it down now!" Savos urged. "I want to know what he's doing in there!"
Mirabelle immediately began casting Frost spells on the whirlwind barrier, and that was when Savos noticed Onmund and Danielle. "Danielle! Onmund! What are you doing in here? You should be-" He then quickly shook his head. "Never mind! Help us take this barrier down!"
Without another word, Onmund and Danielle ran up to the barrier and began casting their Shock and Fire spells at it. Savos joined in with his Shock spells and shouted, "I don't know what he's doing, but he won't get away with it!"
"Savos!" Danielle cried, not ceasing her casting. "Onmund and I know where to find the Staff of Magnus!"
He looked over at her, still casting his spell. "You do? Excellent! I'd suggest we go retrieve it immediately, but right now we have more pressing matters. Ancano has somehow locked himself in the hall! He's up to something, and I intend to put a stop to it! I'm glad you and Onmund are here to help us get through this. We've got to throw everything we have at it!"
What could that no-good Thalmor agent be up to? Onmund wondered as he channeled all of his strength into his Shock spells. Through the barrier, he could barely make out the Eye of Magnus still floating in the middle of the training hall, and there was indeed someone in there with it, undoubtedly Ancano.
Finally, the barrier gave way and de-materialized. Savos and Mirabelle ran into the training hall. Onmund and Danielle gave one last look at each other before going in, too. Danielle gasped when she saw Ancano standing on the other side of the room, casting some sort of spell on the Eye. His facial features were furled in deep concentration and determination. He looked at the four mages who had run in and declared, "This Eye! This glorious Eye! It gives me power beyond anything I've ever imagined!"
Has he gone mad? Onmund wondered fearfully. He saw that the Thalmor's yellow eyes looked fierce and wild. If he had looked creepy before, it was nothing compared to the look that he had now.
"Stop this at once!" Savos yelled and began channeling Shock spells in his hands again. He then approached the Thalmor agent.
"Don't go near him!" Mirabelle cried.
Ancano laughed loudly and sardonically. "You College mages think you can stop me?" he scoffed. "My power is insurmountable!"
"If you do not stop this this instant, I will blow you to cinders!" Savos yelled angrily.
The Arch-Mage then took a step towards Ancano. To Onmund, it was if everything started happening in slow motion. Just as Savos unleashed his spell on Ancano, he saw Mirabelle run towards him, yelling, "Nooo!" He then saw the bright, jagged bolts of lightning leave the Arch-Mage's hands and fly towards the Thalmor, and with a great thundering boom both of them lit up in an explosion of light that filled the entire room. Onmund was knocked off his feet by a strong force and he flew backwards a bit before coming down hard on the floor on his back. The back of his head also came in contact with the hard floor. He remembered feeling an intense sharp pain and then everything went black.
When he slowly came to, he heard Mirabelle's voice ask, "Are you all right? Can you walk?" It was off to his right, where Danielle had been standing earlier.
He groaned and opened his eyes. He was still in the training hall, and before him, the blue whirlwind barrier was raised once again. There was a large hole high on the southwest side of the room where the window was, and a pile of broken glass lay near it. He looked to his right and saw Mirabelle helping Danielle up to her feet. He started to sit up.
"Onmund! You're awake!" Mirabelle cried. "Both of you. I need you on your feet. We're in trouble here."
Onmund's head was pounding, but he otherwise felt okay. "I think I'm okay." He looked at Danielle, who seemed to be okay, as well. However, he noticed a large black spot on Mirabelle's robes, where she had somehow been burned.
In that instant, Danielle noticed it, as well. "Mirabelle!" she exclaimed. "You're…you're injured!" She put her hands on her fellow Breton's shoulders.
Mirabelle waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about me. I'll be all right." She then looked back at the barrier and said, "Ancano is doing something with that thing…the Eye. We can't stop him! I haven't seen Savos since the explosion. He must've been blown clear, and he may be injured. I need you two to find the Arch-Mage, and I need you to do it quickly. Get moving!"
"B-but…but you're injured, too…" Danielle started.
"I'll be fine," Mirabelle insisted firmly. "I just need a moment to catch my breath. Find Savos!"
Danielle and Onmund had no choice but to obey her. Onmund took one last look at the Eye and heard the Thalmor's voice within the barrier shout, "You puny mages are no match for me!" He then let out an evil laugh.
"This isn't over yet, Ancano," Onmund vowed under his breath as he followed Danielle out of the hall.
Outside in the courtyard, Onmund saw that the same southwest section of the Hall of Elements wall had been destroyed. A huge pile of rubble and broken glass lay in front of it. He also saw the other residents of the College, and they were gathered near some bushes. Everyone appeared solemn and worried. Onmund saw Tolfdir in the crowd who then saw him and Danielle. Tolfdir hurried over to the two. "Are you all right?" he asked frantically. "What happened in there?"
"It's Ancano," Danielle responded. "He's done something with the Eye!"
"By the Nine…" Tolfdir uttered. "Is he responsible for this? The Arch-Mage, dead?"
"Savos is dead?!" Onmund exclaimed. As he had spoken that, he just then noticed a large, limp form in the bushes near where the other mages were gathered.
"Savos…?" Danielle questioned, her voice and expression beginning to falter.
Tolfdir, Onmund, and Danielle walked over to the Arch-Mage's body lying on the ground. He saw Brelyna, J'zargo, Phinis, Enthir, and many others gathered around in mourning. Brelyna's face was wet with tears. She met Danielle's eyes, and Onmund saw Danielle quickly unravel and break down, walking up to the bereaved Dunmer and taking her in a hug. As she held her, he saw Danielle's shoulders begin to shake, and Onmund felt a pain in his chest. He slowly turned to his professor. "Tolfdir…" he spoke soberly. "Mirabelle…is still in there. I think she's hurt."
"Mirabelle?" Tolfdir questioned. "Oh, no…" He then turned to Phinis. "Phinis, will you go tend to Mirabelle in the training hall immediately? I will join you shortly."
"Will do," he said and ran off.
Tolfdir then turned back to Onmund and began in an urgent tone, "Onmund, I know these are trying times, but I'm afraid there's more."
Onmund looked at his professor, concerned, and asked, "What is it?"
"Something's happened to Winterhold," Tolfdir explained. "It must be whatever Ancano did. You need to get out there and make sure it's safe."
Onmund gave him a questioning look and Tolfdir waved his hands toward him and urged, "Quickly now, quickly! I'll find Mirabelle and see if we can't put a stop to this!"
He stole one last glance at Danielle, wondering if he should tell her what Tolfdir had told him, but she still seemed to be in the throes of grief, still comforting and being comforted by Brelyna. With no time to lose, he left her with the group and went on his way towards town. He went out of the front gates and onto the bridge, not knowing in the least what to expect. It was there where he ran into Faralda.
"What's going on? What happened in there?" the Altmer sorceress asked.
"Something went wrong," Onmund answered. "Winterhold may be in danger. Can you help?"
"It 'may' be in danger?" she questioned. "Take a look. I don't think there's much question. Let's get down there. We have to do something."
Onmund followed Faralda across the bridge, where they then ran into Arniel.
"We're here, Arniel!" Faralda yelled to him.
Arniel took one look at her and at Onmund and was appalled. "This is it?" he questioned. "Where's everyone else? We need all the help we can get!"
"Never mind everyone else," Faralda quipped. "We've got to stay focused. Come on!"
Arniel shrugged and followed the two mages down the ramp into the town. To Onmund's horror, he saw that the town seemed to be overrun by a bunch of glowing wisp-like creatures. They flew up and down the street and between the buildings, sending ice and bits of frost everywhere in their wake.
"Hit them with Fire spells if you can!" Faralda shouted and he and Arniel charged into the town.
Onmund watched as Arniel summoned a Flame Atronach and they began attacking the wisps. The wisps were very aggressive, pelting the mages with Frost spells and ramming into them. Onmund took the chance to shoot Lightning Bolts at them from afar. One of the wisps was struck, and then he saw it begin flying towards him.
"Agh!" Onmund cried and took off running. He stopped at the bottom of the bridge and unleashed another Lightning Bolt, which struck it. He then ducked as it flew over his head and he ran back towards the town. The wisp pursued him down the middle of the street and he ran up the steps of the Frozen Hearth. He then turned around, and when the wisp appeared before him, he hit it with another lightning blast, and it exploded, sending hundreds of little ice crystals flying in every direction. He threw his arm up to protect his face as the ice crystals flew at him and then he saw that he had taken care of that problem. One down…he thought as he stepped back into the street and observed the chaos. Many to go. The wisps were all concentrated near the other end of the town, and Arniel's Flame Atronach was burning some of them while Arniel himself was fighting one off with Lightning Bolts. Faralda was also attacking them with her Shock spells and weaving her way through the trees.
We need more Fire spells! he knew, and he thought of Danielle. She had been so overwhelmed with Savos' death that she probably hadn't heard Tolfdir's solicitation for help, and no doubt she was now going to be needed to tend to Mirabelle's injuries. But I sure wish she was here right now!
Onmund was suddenly hit with a cold blast of Frost as one of the wisps flew over him and he had to snap back to the present situation. He turned around and saw the wisp that had blasted him and he shouted, "You're as good as dead!" He then fired his Lightning Bolts at it as it turned around and began pursuing him like the last one did. He took off running again and ran around a large spruce tree to the other side of it. The wisp ended up colliding into the tree, sending a heap of snow falling over Onmund's head. He quickly shook it off and jumped from behind the tree and zapped the wisp before taking off running again in the opposite direction. "Whoa!" he cried as he nearly ran straight into another wisp and immediately zapped it, as well, stunning it. Now, there were two wisps hot on his tail as he ran down the center of town. He ran back up the steps of the inn, hoping to take the wisps by surprise like he did with the first one, and as soon as he saw the flash of white, he zapped it and it exploded into a cloud of ice crystals. But just as Onmund opened his eyes, he saw the second wisp appear right before him and he ducked as soon as it flew at him. He quickly stood up and brought his right hand up, ready to cast Lightning Bolt on it, but the wisp was too quick for him and rammed straight into his hand. Onmund cried out as an excruciating pain shot up his whole arm, and when he looked, he saw that his hand and forearm had become frozen solid. Now with this right hand completely disabled from using any spells, he ducked again to avoid the wisp's charge. He scrambled back down the steps in a panic and ran back up the street with the wisp pursuing him, his right arm dangling completely useless at his side, covered by his robe. Suddenly, he tripped and fell headlong onto the cold, cobblestone floor, sliding a few feet on his stomach. Despite feeling like the wind had been knocked out of him, he quickly rolled over and with his left hand, threw up his ward which blocked another icy blast from the wisp now hovered over him. The wisp kept ramming his ward, and Onmund soon knew that his ward was going to break and he would be left defenseless and at its mercy.
Just then, a fiery explosion landed a couple of feet away from him, completely obliterating the wisp as well as his ward. He threw his left arm up over his face to shield himself from the flying ice crystals, fearful of what was to come next, but suddenly he heard a familiar voice say to him, "Onmund, are you all right?!"
He put his arm down and opened his eyes, and looked up to see Danielle and J'zargo standing over him. "Why didn't you tell us there was a party going on down here?" J'zargo shouted.
Immensely relieved and overjoyed to see his two friends, Onmund couldn't help but break out into a ridiculous grin. He climbed to his feet and retorted, "Am I glad to see you two!" "We came as soon as we could," Danielle said. "I'm sorry we didn't come earlier. We wondered where you had run off to!"
"J'zargo will turn these creatures into powder!" J'zargo exclaimed, and ran off to take on the wisps.
Onmund urged Danielle to follow, as well. "Come on."
As Danielle followed Onmund towards the wisps, she suddenly stopped and asked, "Onmund, what's wrong with your arm?"
"Oh," he stopped and removed the covering from it, causing her to gasp when she saw that it was covered in a layer of white frost and frozen solid. "One of the wisps got me. Don't let them touch you. I should still be able to cast fine with my left hand, though. But your Fire spells will be more effective against these creatures!"
Danielle didn't have time to respond, as one of the wisps appeared to have noticed them, now. "Look out!" Onmund cried.
The creature started charging towards them, and Danielle immediately cast Flames at it, which not only burned it but also held it back as it floundered from the heat. Onmund began simultaneously striking it with Lightning Bolt from his left hand, and in a couple of seconds, it exploded, sending up a cloud of ice crystals like all of the previous ones.
"Yeah!" the two apprentices cheered.
They went on attacking the other wisps like that, and combined with the efforts of J'zargo, Faralda, and Arniel, as well as Enthir and Drevis who had joined the fray late, they exterminated all of the wisps wreaking havoc in the town of Winterhold. All was quiet again.
It was Faralda who first made noise. "Hurrah!"
The others followed suit and jumped up and down, cheering, and exchanging high-fives.
"By the divines, what were those things?!" Enthir questioned.
"Some kind of Magic Anomalies, caused by that power surge that killed Savos," Drevis responded.
"We'd better head back to the College," Arniel urged. "Maybe Tolfdir and the others have found a way to deal with Ancano. Either way, they'll need our help again."
With that, the seven mages all started walking back to the College.
As they crossed the bridges, Danielle stopped, turned to Onmund, and said to him, "Onmund, let me see your arm."
Wordlessly, Onmund turned towards her and uncovered his frozen right arm.
He watched curiously as she gently took his arm and clasped both of her tiny hands around his large hand, which had frozen into a near-fist. Her hands then began to glow with a white light as she cast a healing spell. Onmund watched in amazement as the frosty layer covering his arm began melting away, but nothing prepared him for the intense burning sensation that followed. "Agh!" he winced in pain as his hand and arm began thawing out, but the pain only lasted for a few seconds before being replaced with a milder, tingly sensation and then finally, no pain at all. All feeling had returned to his right arm and hand.
Danielle moved her hands away, and he saw that his right arm looked completely normal again. He moved his fingers and rotated his wrist with ease. Looking back at his friend, he said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she replied with a smile.
"Never thought Restoration spells could be used for thawing," Arniel broke in. "I must add that to my research notes."
Onmund blushed. He didn't realize that they had an audience.
"Can you heal J'zargo's sore paws, too?" J'zargo joked.
Danielle was about to say something to him when Onmund cut in with, "Don't listen to the cat and his crazy requests."
"Are we done jabbering here?" Faralda asked impatiently, crossing her arms. By now, everyone had stopped to witness the healing spectacle, momentarily stalling their return to the campus.
Taking the hint, everyone immediately shut up and followed Faralda across the bridge to the College. When they entered the courtyard, they saw Mirabelle. Everyone else had gone, and Savos Aren's body was no longer there.
"Mirabelle!" Danielle cried. "You're all right!"
She turned around, and Onmund saw that her face was stricken with sadness and mourning, no doubt over the fate of the Arch-Mage. Her eyes were still moist from tears. "Oh, Danielle…everyone…is everything out there all right?" she questioned.
"Winterhold is safe for now," Faralda answered.
Mirabelle reached up to wipe a tear from her eye and replied, "Oh. That's good news. Wish I could say the same for us, though. Tolfdir and Phinis are trying to keep that situation in the training hall contained. Drevis, Arniel, and Faralda, I want you in there, as well. The rest of you please go back to your rooms and stay inside until this situation is taken care of."
As everyone began heading their separate ways, Mirabelle spoke, "Danielle and Onmund…I wish to have a word with you two."
"Looks like you're in trouble now," Enthir quipped.
Mirabelle ignored him and waited until everyone else had gone inside. Onmund and Danielle stood ready for the headmaster's words. She started by addressing Danielle, "Danielle, did I hear you say earlier that you and Onmund know where the Staff of Magnus is located?"
"Yes," Danielle answered. "It is in Labyrinthian."
"What?" Mirabelle uttered in surprise. "Are you…are you sure? The staff is there?"
Danielle nodded. "We found out from one of the Synod mages."
Mirabelle put a hand over her mouth and said to herself, "That can't be a coincidence." When Onmund and Danielle gave her puzzled looks, she explained, "Savos. Before…before he died. He…he gave me something just a little while ago. He told me it was from Labyrinthian, and that I would know what to do with it when the time came. I think…I think he meant it for you, then. Come. Let me show you."
The two apprentices then followed their headmaster into the Hall of Attainment and on up to the second floor to her room. She went over to her chest and brought a couple of things out of it and showed it to the apprentices. They were a metal torc and an amulet. She held the torc up in her hand. "There was something very personal about this for him," she remarked, handing it to Danielle. "I'm not quite sure I know what it is or why he had it, but you can have it now. Also…" She picked up the amulet and showed it to her. "I think you should take this amulet. It belonged to Savos, but I think would do you guys the most good for now." She handed the amulet to Danielle, who looked at Onmund hesitantly.
"I think you should do the honors of wearing it," Onmund said.
She nodded and put it on. "Thank you, Mirabelle."
Mirabelle nodded. "Now both of you, hurry to Labyrinthian. Bring back that staff before Ancano brings the whole College down around us. I've got to stay here, to see if we can get to Ancano and stop this somehow. But without the staff, I'm afraid we'll be powerless."
"We will find it and bring it back as soon as possible," Danielle promised.
"I know you can do it," Mirabelle assured. Then, with a strangely pained look on her face, she said, "Safe journeys." She then saw the two apprentices off.
It wasn't until Onmund and Danielle began packing their things when he realized that night had already fallen. It had been a long and eventful day. They lost their Arch-Mage, a crazy elf had taken over the Hall of Elements, and who knew what he was going to do next. However, they had at least saved the town of Winterhold from those wisps. And now they had to go find the Staff of Magnus and put a stop to Ancano's madness as soon as possible. He and Danielle consumed a stamina potion to help them get through the night and packed a couple more in their satchels and then they were on their way.