Mikael sat back in his chair as he set aside the test he had finished marking adding it to the rather large pile of papers at the edge of his desk any normal person might find such a load overwhelming although if one thought leading a guild of thieves would be an easy task, they couldn't be any farther from the truth, at times the job required a lot of bookkeeping tracking income from businesses under the guilds control along with client activity and the payments they received from the more... special jobs that could take one of their members outside of Skyrim's borders.

In all honesty, it reminded him of his youth, most of his days he'd spend his time leaning over a dusty old tomb from one of the libraries inside the walls of the Arcane University, the University grounds were restricted to none members, although family members did have some limited access he could still see the surprised face of the aging scholar that watched over the archive. That Argonian acted like she'd never even seen a child let alone one that took such an interest in the book stored within the archive.

"Uhh... hello Professor" the voice pulled Mikael from his thoughts, turning his attention to the door his eyes resting on the nervous form of one Blake Belladonna standing alongside Glynda Goodwitch.

"I thought I would escort Miss Belladonna to you " Glynda commented lightly, one hand resting on the Faunus shoulder, the young woman next to her seemed rather frustrated having to be escorted to the detention like a common prisoner.

Mikael sighed setting the test sheet in front of him aside "I don't think that was necessary Glynda, never the less I'll take it from here." Mikael said.

"Very well then Mikael." The woman replied relinquishing her hold on the girl, as the doors opened allowing her to leave Mikael spotted a certain red-cloaked girl standing across the corridor sky blue meeting silver, tentatively their owner waved before stiffening as Glynda turned to address her "Come along Miss Rose." Ruby bowed her head as she followed behind the blond combat instructor glancing back at those present in the classroom with a pleading look before the door closed behind them.

Silence followed as Blake took her seat in the front row, her eyes glanced to the bookcase's behind him having been dragged here from her lesson with Oobleck she had nothing really to pass the time the fact Oobleck had also assigned them an essay on the great war only frustrating her more, Mikael raised an eyebrow following her gaze and simply nodded.

Blake rose from her seat making her way towards the nearest bookcase scanning over the titles some books on Aura, Dust, world history a few stories here and there, autobiographies and some she didn't recognize. Blake grabbed one of the history textbooks, a copy of the man with two souls and out of curiosity two of the older looking tombs before heading back towards her seat.

"Mind telling me why is Miss Rose will be spending the day with Glynda?" Mikael inquired as Blake returned to her seat opening the rather large textbook.

"It's her punishment" Blake responded, "The morning after we got back the others each received their own punishment, Ruby rushed in without calling for backup endangering herself and Miss Autumn in the fight, so she is spending the day as Miss Goodwitches assistant." Blake said.

"I'm surprised Ozpin didn't suggest sending her here, so I could keep an eye on the both of you." Mikael said without looking up from the papers in front of him.

"From what Yang told me Professor Ozpin saw that as more of a reward." Blake said making Mikael pause in his work before Blake continued "In case you haven't really noticed Ruby admires you."

"She shouldn't." Mikael replied. The statement made Blake pause as she looked up at him in confusion.

"Why?" Blake asked. "You're a huntsman let alone a professor at Beacon that speaks volumes about your experience and skill."

Mikael sighed "I'm not exactly the best role model for someone aspiring to be a huntress like Ruby. I've done things I'm not proud of and made many mistakes, mistakes that cost good people...close friends their lives. "He said thinking back on a few of his companions over the years who didn't make it back from their adventures Kodlak, Lydia, Karjo, Rayya, Storn... Adrianna

"...Your team?" Blake asked making Mikael pause, it made the most sense she would associate it with his Huntsmen title given by the school but in reality, she couldn't be any farther off

"They were more than that, to me they were family." Mikael muttered his voice barely a whisper

"I'm sorry." Blake said having heard the statement, her bow twitching slightly. A downcast expression settling on her face after bringing up memories that would rather be put to rest.

"Don't, you didn't know." He said turning back to the test papers in front of him.

After some time had passed Blake looked up at the clock, she still had around two hours to go before she was allowed to leave, setting aside her book having finished it moments ago, her gaze turned towards the two older tombs she had taken one with dark black cover an ornate silver emblem in the shape of a dragon present on the front. The other being a dark violet the spine and edges of the book bearing elegant gold markings.

Deciding on the violet tomb she picked it up examining it closely she ran her finger over the edge of the pages finding them more brittle and rough 'Parchment' Blake realized razing her eyebrows in slight confusion and shock for holding a book that at the very least must be a few hundred years old and yet it looked pristine despite some signs of waring along the spine showing it had frequently been read.

Opening the book to the first page and found it almost completely blank, except for the three lines of text. Her eyes ran across the small lines of text widening in shock as the title reverberated through her mind.

The Nightingales: Fact or Fiction?

Blake looked up over the top of her book at Mikael, a man from what stories she had heard, by his own words claimed the title of Nightingale. It could simply be a coincidence and yet this book seemed to focus on trying to prove or debunk their existence, slowly her eyes moved back down to the violet tomb flipping to the next page.

Mention the word "Nightingale" to any thief worth his salt and he'll laugh in your face. He'll tell you that the supposed avengers of the Daedric Lord Nocturnal are nothing but fictional characters who live nowhere else but within tales designed to scare young footpads into doing what they're told. But are they fictional or simply misunderstood?

'Nocturnal?' Blake wondered before glancing up at Mikael hoping he didn't notice what she was reading before turning her attention back towards the book in front of her.

While it's true that most scholars would scoff at the notion of a holy sect appearing within the normally unethical and unorganized rabble that is the Thieves Guild, evidence suggests that such a group existed at the time within the borders of Skyrim. One hundred and twenty years before the publication of this tome, a corpse was discovered wearing a strange suit of armor that was described as "forged midnight." The tattered armor bore a crest of some sort, the symbol of a bird embracing a circle of undetailed blackness. The remains and the armor were taken to the College of Winterhold for study but mysteriously vanished only a day after it arrived.

Once again, she glanced up after flipping to the next page.

The crest from this armor was circulated around Skyrim for years but identification proved almost impossible. Then the most unlikely of sources, a prisoner incarcerated within the mines of Markarth, claimed that it was the mark of a group of thieves who called themselves the Nightingales. When pressed for more information, the prisoner claimed that the Nightingales were warriors of Nocturnal and performed her bidding without question. He claimed his source was someone he knew within the Thieves Guild of Skyrim, but he refused to identify them by name, so his story was quickly dismissed.

The second piece of evidence pointing to the existence of the Nightingales exists to this day just outside of Riften. Discovered at the terminus of a short pathway off of the main road stands a stone of unidentified blackened material. Carved into its face is the same avian symbol previously found on the dark suit of armor. To those that subscribed to the existence of the Nightingales, this was thought to be some sort of meeting place. To others, this symbol was once again dismissed as a hoax or simply a diversion created by the Thieves Guild. The final and most controversial sample of evidence is a passage found scrawled on the inside of a cell wall in Whiterun. The cell had previously been occupied by a Dunmer named Lorthus was incarcerated for murder and was set for execution. After the deed was performed, and Lorthus' cell was examined, the following was found etched into one of the stone blocks: "Take my hand Lady Nocturnal, for it's my will to serve you. As a Nightingale, I'm born anew. Let my past echo our triumph."

'Ok, that last part was a little creepy' Blake thought 'And what's a Dunmer?' maybe some sort of derogatory term she didn't know and was too engrossed to question it any further

This is the first and only time that a solid connection between Nocturnal and the Nightingale has been made. The unusual nature of the passage, the religious connotations towards Nocturnal made by a career criminal, kept discussions lively for years regarding the possibility of this group actually existing. Sadly, since not a single passage of evidence beyond this has surfaced to date, this exciting discovery faded into obscurity and the debate subsided.

With these scant samples of evidence, conclusions are difficult to formulate. All we're left with are more questions than answers. Can religion and thievery coexist? Does the Daedric Lord Nocturnal have active agents roaming Skyrim with a no-doubt nefarious purpose? Does the Thieves Guild have extensive knowledge of the Nightingales, but remain sworn to secrecy? Perhaps one day the answers to these questions will be revealed, but at present it falls to you, the reader, to decide whether the Nightingales are fact or merely fiction.

As the book came to a close Blake set it down among the others her mind mulling over the implications. A secret order of thieves dedicating their lives to the service of this Nocturnal. In all honesty, it sounded like one of the fairytales she had read as a child and yet some shred of proof towards the authenticity of the story sat only a few feet in front of her.

Mikael Salmon.

"Miss Belladonna" Blakes head shot up as she hid the book below the desk.

"Yes." she replied calmly.

"It would seem our time has come to an end, your free to leave." Mikael said as he looked up at her setting aside the final piece of paperwork, taking its place among the others on three equally large piles, The Nightingale hummed in some amusement it had taken three students to carry in this ungodly amount of paperwork, he could swear Ozpin got some sort of kick out of this.

Standing from her seat Blake set the books she had taken down on his desk, before making her way towards the exit in some haste, Mikael raised an eyebrow at the cat girl's actions brushing it off he turned towards the piles of papers on his desk, now came the hard part.

Outside Blake quickly rounded the corner glancing back towards the classroom, Blake pulled the violet and black book from inside her blazer staring down at them in curiosity, for a moment the rational side of her mind berated her actions, it was a book a story nothing more, she hadn't even heard of these places Markarth, Skyrim alongside that was the secret order of thieves living right under the world's nose, such thing could only be found in fairytales. And yet she couldn't help but feel there was something more to it all, her eyes drifted to the dark black cover with the silver dragon, maybe the other would tell her more.

/

'Elsewhere'

Four figures stood before the intricate stone archway in the monasteries courtyard leading to the summit of the Monahven the pathway before them blocked by a wall of mist and gale-force winds.

"Well, that's just great. What now?" Brynjolf asked turning his head to look at the others, Karliah simply looked at him while Serana rolled her eyes. Arngeir stepped forward taking a moment he drew in a deep breath

"Lok Vah Koor!" He shouted, a blue shockwave bursting forth the strong winds that would surely have thrown them from the pathway and quickly to their deaths calmed, the biting mist dissipating leaving the pathway clear.

"You were saying?" Serana said

"Step lightly, the journey to the summit is still treacherous. "Arngier said beginning their ascent up to the summit, the pathway ahead blocked by numerous walls of mist and ice each cleared by Arngeir's voice or face falling to their doom. After some hours of trekking up the frozen pathway quickly dealing with the occasional Ice wraith that impeded them before finally arriving at the summit.

"Past here lies our leader, Paarthurnax. I will go no further, be warned we are placing our utmost trust in you, do not make us regret such a decision." Arngeir said as he sat down beginning his meditation. Serana Brynjolf and Karliah continued on climbing a small hill before finally reaching their destination their eyes resting upon the forms of three dragons, two she recognized, while the third remained a mystery.

The first sat perched atop the ancient word walls it's body showing clear signs of great age by the tattered skin on his wings and tail, broken and chipped horns and chin-spikes, dulled color in his skin and eyes, and several teeth missing.

The second a beast of equal size large spines stretching down from the neck to the tip of the tale his scales a vibrant red with a snow-white underbelly, long slightly curled horns and rows of serrated teeth capable of tearing through flesh and bone.

The third being the most unique compared to the others its body more serpent-like body and head with light grey-blue scales covering its body a blue frill running down from the nape of its neck leading down it's back into small spines that could be mistaken for daggers.

The third unidentified dragon turned its head to the new arrivals before addressing his Kin " Fin Joor Lost Bo, Ol Prodah." The dragon rumbled causing the others to shift their attention to the new arrivals. Serana stepped forward bowing in respect to the ancient being's "Odahviing, Paarthurnax it is good to see you again"

"Drem Yol Lok, lady Volkihar." Paarthurnax Responded, " Who are these Joor you have brought with you?" Paarthurnax said the ancient dragon focusing on Serana's companions most importantly the emblem they bore "Ah, Zu'u Koraav, Zein Do Fin Deyra. Followers of Nocturnal like the Dovahkiin. Tell me Why have you come here? Certainly not just for Tinvaak, with the Dovah."

"No grandmaster, from what we've been able to learn Mikael has been taken from Nirn by Hermaeus Mora, the college in Winterhold believe they have a way for us to bring him back. Hopefully, before there's a chance for bloodshed." Serana said "Which brings us here"

Karliah turned her attention to Odahviing "We know Mikael gave you the Elder Scrolls, we believe they may be the only thing capable of helping him return, we need your help."

"The Kelle, Kruziik Ahrk Suleyk. Ancient and powerful relics, but also Tahrodiis. Dangerous and unpredictable, such is the reason my Thur had the foresight to hide them." The Dragon rumbled "Zu'u Los Gro Wah Dii Rot, I am bound to an oath that cannot be broken, but I will help you."

"Than-" Serana began.

"But the Kelle will not leave my sight." Odahviing finished.

Serana was quiet that could very well be problematic seeing as the scrolls would be handed off to the college for the apparent ritual they had planned, which also raised another question how did they intend to use them. Serana recalled the time she and Mikael had spent many weeks searching for one of the few individuals said to be capable of reading an Elder scroll, a Moth Priest.

A pang of guilt struck her as she recalled the man's fate, blinded in his attempts to aid their quest for Auriel's bow in hopes of stopping her father's plans to bring that damned prophecy to fruition, idly her hand slid back running her fingers across the edge of the legendary weapon strapped to her back, at times fate was a cruel thing.

Looking back up at the dragon she knew there would be no arguing with the ancient being, despite the terms in which Mikael gained his loyalty the dragon was rather dedicated she dared say Odahviing respected the man he called master.

"Hold on" Brynjolf said stepping forward "Are you sure this is wise lass, bringing a dragon into Winterhold let alone the collage."

"If it means he'll give us the scrolls then we don't exactly have a choice in the matter." Serana said her hand on her hip as she stared down the Nightingale, she didn't like the idea anymore then Brynjolf, in reality, there was nothing stopping the dragon from burning the hold to the ground if the people attacked or offended the ancient being.

"Mikael put his faith in Odahviing, it time we do the same Brynjolf" Karliah said stepping forward to address the Dragon "We accept your terms."

"Humph." The dragon hummed in return. "Vahlokdoyol and I will retrieve the scroll. Zu'u Ov Nust, Fent Kos Kod Onik. I trust they will be used wisely."

"Thank you." Serana said. The dragon spread its massive wings taking to the sky disappearing into the clouds above. Serana let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, turning towards the ancient Wyrm purchased atop the word wall she bowed her head in respect before turning to her companions. "Let's make our way to Winterhold, I think the others will want to hear the good news." Serana said

/

Blakes' eyes moved over the lines of text as the final paragraph came to a close, sighing she closed the violet tomb in her hands tucking it away between her bed and the bookcase to her right alongside the black book she had finished reading a few hour prior, despite her original ideas the second had been little more than a story describing some famed hero destined to save mankind from an apparent devourer of worlds. While the story may have been interesting she simply wrote it off as a simple fairytale after the first paragraph.

Lying back resting her back against the wall she glanced down at her scroll, she had run a quick search on the mysterious book only to find no other copy in existence nor evidence of its publisher. Granted its age could be the reason behind that, like much of the knowledge pertaining to the history of Remnant, such things had been lost to the ages and to the Grimm.

Glancing over at the digital clock by Weiss, it was coming close to midnight. Blake sighed she had classes in the morning, staring up at the bunk above her before she let out a long sigh. Then there was the White Fang the group her father had built with his own two hands and the one she had followed and would have gladly given her life for if it meant they were one step closer to their goal, and now, now they sided with scum like Torchwick. It explained so much the rise in robbers and SDC cargo shipments being attacked over the recent weeks. But one question remained unanswered. Why? What could they possibly need that much dust for, a weapon maybe?.

Yet again, more questions that she didn't have the answers too. Blake rested her head on her the pillow the stress of the last few days finally catching up to her, Blakes amber eyes blinked closed as she drifted off into sleep unaware of the large golden eye that watched her from the shadows. The great eye narrowed as it scanned over the sleeping forms of the four girls focusing on one in particular.

A dark void opened above the top bunk, a single tendril moved forth towards its objective, a chuckle slipped from him like a guttural hiss. As it grew closer a pair of silver eyes slowly opened their owner roused from sleep by the strange noise, before widening in horror at the mass of darkness that hovered over her, she opened her mouth to scream just as the tendril made contact with her forehead, then there was only darkness.

(To be continued)