'Well at least I still had my little brother. It's a fucked up situation, but I can't bring myself to hate K. As infuriated and trolled he is sometime, he still my best friend. Also being reincarnated into her gave me some closure to K, as this character was made by him for me.
With a chuckled, I start heading for the big door, to the Hall of Elements to start my first lesson in the College of Winterhold and then to start my life here in Skyrim.'
As I'm walking toward the door to the Hall of Elements, a window pop up before me.
'Hello my child. This's my one and only message that I can send to you. When I reincarnated you into Skyrim's world, as your request I use your pre-made character from your save in your computer as your new body. I'll not judge you for what you choose, I've seen stranger thing before...", I winced at this. I can imagined the god's chuckled from here, and mumbled 'Damn you K, if not that I think of this character as your way to protect me, even when it's not your intention, I'd curse you to death'. "...As I said before, the Requiem Skyrim world is very dangerous and difficult to live in. Although you said you're fine with it, I can't help but worried for you as you're now out of my reach. Therefore, I'll include a last gift for you. After this message, you'll find a ring inside your pocket a ring with a little of my power. This ring will help regulated your body temperature to help you feel warm in the cold, cool in the heat and a spell that block one fatal attack, either from physical damage or magical damage once per day. After that you'll need to wait 24 hours for the spell to recharge. That's all I can help as my power held little influence in that world.
The last thing I need to inform you is that, as an existence that's not suppose to be in that world, you can live your life freely, but you can never have a child yourself there, as it's not natural. I'm sorry that I can't change this.
Goodbye my child, live well.'
'It's fine I guess. I've never intended to have a family or children before, as it's not my main focus. Sure if it happened naturally then I'd welcome it, but I'm not going to go and look everywhere for a perfect partner. I like children too, but not desperate to have one... Guess I'm one the the odd one back then'. I mused and chuckled to myself.
After finished reading the message, the window faded away and I felt something hitting my robe's right pocket. I reach in and pull out a simple Ebony ring with an amethyst grafted on it. Smiling to myself with a gratitude to the god in my mind, I put the ring on my left index finger, I felt the ring's working as warm start to overflow inside my body. The cold did not bother me anymore, all I felt is the cool temperature surrounding me.
Thinking about the saving spell of the ring, I intend to forget about that as if I relied on that too much, it'll only bring me misfortune. That spell should be forgot and only appeared when I'm in the most dire situation and can't get out, and I should do everything to not be in that situation.
Walking through the door and enter the Hall of Elements, I realized that the things I saw when I play the game is indeed nice, but nothing beat seeing everything with your own eyes. Between the hall and the door on both side is the stair that, if I remember correctly, the stair to the right from the main entrance door should lead to the College's library. The stair to the left from the main entrance has two set, one leading down to the basement, the other set leading up to the Archmage quarter. Entering the main hall, I can see the space is huge. Wall with window running around the Hall. Under each pillars that supported the Hall, there're many stone chair for students to sit and listening to lectures. In the middle of the hall is a fountain with a blue light column of magic that stretch high and touch the roof.
"Welcome, welcome. You must be the newest and last student that just joint us. We were just about to start, why don't you find a sit next to the other 3 new students and we can begin the lesson." Said a warm voice of an old man that smiled at me while pointing to a number of chair that have only 3 students sitting there.
"Thank you, Master..." I smiled at him for the welcoming and trailing off.
"Tolfdir my girl, now come on quickly as the others seem to be eager to start the lesson." chuckled Master Tolfdir while waiting for me to come and sit down.
I nodded at him and start heading to the 3 new students. It's quite strange to be called a girl when your whole life you're a man, but I should get use to it as it's my new life now. While heading to the chair, I look around and see there're only a few of students as I assume my senior there. Thinking about it, I deduced that maybe this lesson is for new students that repeat every time so other senior are not attend. After I sat down in a chair, I look at the 3 new students beside me. The first one next to me is Brelyna, a female Dunmer. Next to her is a J'zargo, a male Khajiit. The last one is Onmund, a male Nord. I nodded at them as a greeting and they nodded back at me, then continued looking at Tolfdir with eager eyes.
As expected, some of the other senior continued to reading their book or do their own thing, while only 1 or 2 looking at Tolfdir, waiting for him to speak. Tolfdir's focus is on the 4 of us.
"Now, shall we beginning with the lesson? The first lesson you all should heed and learn is that, magic is, by its very nature, volatile and dangerous. Unless you can control it, it can and will destroy you-"
Until here, I noticed the other 3's face looked disappointed, then before Tolfdir can continued, Brelyna cut in.
"Sir, I think we all understand that fairly well. We wouldn't be here if we couldn't control magic!"
I sighed and remember this bit. Those 3 are too impatient. Before Tolfdir can replied and escalated more, I cut in.
"Please let Master Tolfdir continue first guys. I don't think that as a master of his craft, the things he spoke is less than what we should listen to."
The other 3 looked at me and frown, but not saying anything. Master Tolfdir looked at me with surprised, as I can deduced that he had to deal with impatient new students all the time, then smiled and said.
"Thank you my girl. Also I'm sorry but I didn't ask for your name yet..."
A name popup in my mind as I answer, "It's Zorah, Master Tolfdir".
He nodded at me, "Thank you Zorah. Now, I see that all of you are eager to get practical rather than listening to an old man's ramble, We'll continue this lesson with a spell practice. In continuing with our theme of safety, we'll start with Wards. Wards are protective spells that block magic. I'll teach you all the ward spell, and we'll see if you can successfully use it to block spells, all right? Would you mind to be my partner in the demonstration of the spell, Zorah?" He finished looking at me.
"Not at all Master Tolfdir." I agreed and then heading the to opposite direction of Master Tolfdir.
"Now please cast the ward spell and keep it up. I'll fire candle light spell at you. Please tell me when you're ready."
Now normally, a guy that suddenly asked to perform a magic spell when his past life has nothing even close to it, panic is the normal reaction. As for me, maybe because I was reincarnated into this body, the knowledge of the arcane arts are already inside my head. Reaching out to my magic core, I felt a warm feeling inside my subconscious. It's an odd and familiar feeling at the same time for me. My magic core felt like a tank that hold water that I can direct it to every corner of my body. Tried to control the flow of the water into my left hand, I call upon the knowledge of the ward spell and hold out my left palm. A simmering transparent shield-like appeared before my palm. I then nodded at Master Tolfdir.
"I'm ready Master Tolfdir."
"Alright, hold still, I'll cast the spell now."
He then proceed to cast the spell. A small ball of bright light racing toward my ward, then disintegrated into nothing. I canceled the spell then.
"Thank you Zorah. That's all for now. Everybody should practice the ward spell until they can subconsciously call upon it as a reflex. It's a dangerous world out there and the ward spell will be your best friend, so be sure to master it. Everyone can seek out the other instructors for lessons and advices. Most of the study here at College of Winterhold is self-study. We occasionally hold lectures like this for anyone interested in to attend. If there's something big happen, we'll post it on our College's board next to the main entrance. Thank you everyone."
Almost everyone start to go and do their thing. I tried to go too, but saw Brelyna heading my way.
"Why did you cut me off before?" She asked me with a frown.
I sighed and replied, "Because I want to get on with the lesson and not wasting time. Also I think Master Tolfdir has a point. I know everyone just want to learn magic spell, but ignore the safety is no no. Imagine When you're doing an experiment and things gone wrong, a simple ward spell can save you from harm, maybe even certain death. Magic is a wonderful thing but it's also a dangerous thing, to the enemies, yourself and everyone around you."
Brelyna kept frowning at me, but I can felt that she known what I said is true, so she just grunt and gone her way.
I shook my head, then heading to the basement. I intend to find out the ability and limit of my body.
Walking down to the basement, in the opposite of the stair is a barred door that I'm pretty sure lead to Midden. Turn right, the interior looked just like the above hall, except there're no stone chair. Instead the space around the basement divided into 6 part. 2 large space that take up 25% of the space each dedicated to do Alchemy to the right and Enchanting to the left. 50% of space left is divided into 4 equal part that's the same, which each has a stone dummy to practice spell.
Continued walking, I noticed a large, full body-size mirror hanging on the wall to my right. Looking into the mirror, I saw who's looking back at me. A tall, 1.9 meter or 6'3, looking back at me. I have pale-skinned, almost snow's color, purple eyes. My hair is short, ending at my neck, silky smooth and a bit wavy, with the right part tug behind my ear, the left part cover half of my left-eye and cascading down my face. At the base of my neck, there's something like tattoo just barely appeared. Curious, I looked around and listen for a few second to see if there's anyone around. Finding no one, I sighed and resolved to do the deed. It's my body now so I need to get used to it. I started to unrobe to see what's on my body. A linen wrap is wraped around my chest. Below I wear a tight short pant, which can be considered a boxer brief in modern-day. A bulge right there reassured me again that I still has a man's function. A flash gone through my mind, as I reach down into my pant, specifically between my schlong and backdoor, I found no hole that's supposed to be there on any women's body, but found the pair that ARE supposed to be there, I nodded with satisfaction. Don't get me wrong, I respected women, but I'm not going to want to deal with the 'once per month' and all that. Also noticing that my schlong is pretty ok, more than above average which is a welcome sight. I don't know if I ever got a chance to use my little brother for anything beside pissing, in case that IF I got any action at all, it'll not be an embarrassment as my past life, which my little brother is emphasized by the word 'little'. Sure I have experienced and technique and all that, but in the end it all come down to the size. It's a men thing.
My eyes continued to roam my body, the tattoo now appeared fully in all its glory. Intricate swirling tattoos all around chest, both of my arms and both of my legs. My body is pretty good for a mage too, leaning toward a slim but muscular body. If I have to compare, my body is like a professional swimmer athlete. That was good, as no matter how powerful of a mage you are, if you're so frail, all it take is 1 hit and you're dead.
Clothed myself again and finding a chair inside the enchanting area, I sat down and start to organize my memories and thought.
I've never read the background of Zorah before, as the only time I touch her is when K trolled me. Memories started coming back to me as I sat there, eyes closed.
It seems that I'm an orphan in this world too. It's also surprised me as Knight-Paladin Gelebor is my adopted-grandfather. He found my when I was a baby around 1 or 2 years old, sleeping in a basket with only a blanket on me, right outside a temple he's living in, The Chantry of Auri-El. Somehow, in the cold temperature of the north, surrounded by snow, I'm still alive. Gramp said when he found me, there's a simmering aura that cover me from the cold weather and snowfall. Turn out, even as a baby, I'm quite powerful. My magic somehow manifested into a shield that protected me until gramp found me. He took me in, nursed me as best as he could and found out about my Snow Elf's heritage. As one of, if not the last Snow Elf left, he found closure to me and adopted me as his grandson. Yes I remember he adopted me as a grandson, not a grand daughter because, well I have a schlong. Later on he found out and confused, as I turned out to be a female and not male, but with male's functioning and not female's. That confused him as heck, but he just doesn't care, as male or female or something else, I'm his precious kin. He gave me the name Zorah, took care of me and taught me many things. He know that one day I'd go out there, explore the world and live my life in a dangerous world, so he prepare me as best as he can. Everything he accumulated in his long life, he pass onto me.
First is fighting. I prefer katana on one hand, other hand free to utilized in any situation that called for. I'm a fast learner and quite hardworking too, and it took around 10 years for me to learn almost everything he has to offer. I win 2 out of 10 spars with Gramp, as he said I'm quite skill, but lack experiences and it'll fix itself in the future while I adventuring outside.
Second is Alchemy and Enchanting. Gramp is not an alchemist and only know the basic of Enchanting, but there're lots of books contain the knowledge of those 2 art for me to study. Many secrets to the Enchanting art is lost through time or hard to come by. The best thing I found in the library is how to enchant 2 enchantments into 1 item, which not only required knowledge but also a good enchanter and powerful mage to boost.
I learn how to make pretty good potion and even how to extracted the negative effect of the ingredients out of my potion. There're knowledge of making poison too, but I'm not focus on that. I'm only learn what each poison does so I have the counter for it if I ever get poisoned. Also cure poison spell in Restoration art is godsend too.
And speaking of Restoration, my talent is truly in the arcane art. I can learn pretty much any school of magic easily, but my talent and focus is on some schools in Spellcasting and Shehai. Spellcasting is widely known everywhere and common in Skyrim, consisted of many schools, seven which are widely accepted over time as: Destruction, Restoration, Conjuration, Alteration, Illusion, Mysticism and Thaumaturgy.
My focus is on Destruction, Restoration and Alteration. I learn Destruction to compliment and support my close combat style, imbued my weapon with elemental and made me a battlemage. I can cast range spells too, but I prefer to fighting close as a fighter. Also my Snow Elf's heritage means that my Cryomancy and resistance to frost is higher compare to other elements. Restoration is self-explain, which required to healing wound, cure poison and disease and most importantly, sun spell which is the archenemy of undead. Alteration is versatile, which I mainly used to boosted my physique. The best thing about Alteration is the wind spell, which can do anything in my opinion. I can use wind to boost my speed to charge at enemies, retreat when needed, staggered my enemies, boost my jumping height. One thing I can do with wind spell is that I can float in the air too. I tried wrapping the wind around my body to flying back then and it worked, but it drained my magicka reserve really quick I basically can only fly for about 10 seconds, so it's not combat ready in anytime soon. That'll tell you something, as my magicka's reserve is pretty large according to my gramp. Good thing that there's a breathing exercise, a rare technique that I got from a book inside the library, combine with keep draining your magicka's reserve and let it recover naturally will increase it in time.
It's one of thing thing I felt grateful to K too, as my heritage of Breton combine with Snow Elf mean that my magicka's regen rate is pretty high. Now I can fly for 5 minutes nonstop at my top speed of 300km/h or around 180 miles per hour until my reserve's empty, after all those years of painstakingly hardwork. If I lower it down to the regular speed of 100km/h or 60 miles per hour, I can maintained it for around 30 minutes. Yes my Magicka's reserve and regen rate is pretty monstrous, even to a Snow Elf's standard according to my gramp.
Now, Shehai, or Spirit Sword. Now this's a surprised to me too, as without very gifted, Shehai can only be form by Ansei warriors. All sword-singers need intense training and meditation in the Way of the Sword to be able to create Shehai, and not every swordsman was successful in becoming an Ansei. Guess I'm very gifted that I can created a Shehai from a young age with no training at all. It happened when I contemplated if I should use physical weapon or conjure one. Conjure bound weapon is convenience, but I really don't want to have anything to do with Daedra, as it's an act of binding a Daedric spirit into the form of a weapon. As I was contemplating that, somehow a pale, misty, insubstantial, as if it was made of light katana appeared in my hand. I panicked and running straight to gramp, which after a while of astonishment, informed me that I just form a Shehai. I can create a magical weapon from my soul through my sheer willpower. The stronger my soul and will power, the stronger my weapon. Gramp told me that, according to history, there was an individual that wielded an extremely powerful Shehai that was capable of producing shockwaves and magical storms. From then on, one of my focus is to master my Shehai. My Shehai katana can now cut through almost anything physical that's not a heavy and thick armor, and ward spell can block or mitigated part of the damage too. If I imbued my Destruction's magic in my Shehai, I can create an air slash up to 5 meter or 16 foot, of the damage is whichever element I imbued into. Mind you that created a Shehai take a toll on my magicka's reserve and exhausted my mind and body too, as it's from my own soul. It's really strong, but the downside is pretty big too, so for now I opt to use a physical weapon and reserve my Shehai as my trump card.
All in all, I'm pretty strong for this world's standard. Not at the top, but definitely on the high's side. I still need to be careful though. I can kill almost anything easily, but things can kill me easily too. For example, a saber cat can sneak up on my out of nowhere and pound on my ass if I cannot detect it. Draugr is ok, but some of them can used Thu'um which can be quite devastating if I got hit with it. Giant spiders and Falmers with their nasty poison. Giants is slow, but they hit hard and can 1 shot me if I'm not careful. Mages is squishy, but magic is always dangerous, as are vampires and werewolfs. Nothing need to be said about Dwermer Automatons, Dragons and Dragon Priests.
I sighed. Even if I'm strong, one mistake is all it take to end my life here. Gramp found me in 4E-171, which is 30 years until the start of the even of Alduin attacking Helgen. Now is 4E-200. I started training when I was 5 years old, assume that i was 1 year old when gramp found me, which gave me 24 years of trainings and practices, now I'm 29 years old, almost the same age as my past life when I died. It seem a lot of time, and I got pretty strong, but strong does not equal to immortal, as I can still easily die if not careful.
Gather my thoughts, I head for one of the stone dummy and start to practice to make sure my muscle memories is still all there.
For the next few days, I nodded in satisfaction as nothing wrong with all my abilities from my memories. There're not much new spell here in the College that I don't know, as gramp's library is big, not as big as the College's, but still big enough and contain some of the knowledge even the College's library doesn't have. The spells and knowledge I truly don't know is not available for new, or even senior students until you have more good reputation and prestige with the instructor and the College, as no one want an impatient student to suddenly want to cast cool spell and blow up themselves and everyone around.
Next few weeks, beside my browsing of books in the library and sometimes seeking advices from the instructors, I dedicated my time to help out other instructor's request if any and taking requests from the College's bulletin board. The missives on the College's bulletin board is divided into 2 categories. One is request from the College, as in the Masters and students. Other is from outside of the College.
First missive is Colette Marence's, a middle-age woman, who really taken a like to me, as I consider Restoration is one of the most important school in my repertoire. Truly, even if you got talent and gifted, wisdom and experiences is something you must gain through time and practice. After I helped her exterminated a few skeletons and draugrs that somehow pop up out of nowhere in The Midden. After exterminated the undeads and exploring a bit, I came to a locked door that lead to Augur of Dunlain. I knocked and wait for a few moments, but it's seem he does not wish to meet me for now, I gave up.
After reporting to Colette, she thanked me and show me a few trick on how to cast Restoration's spell more proficiently, reduce the cost of magicka and raising the potent of the spells.
Next is Faralda's. She asked me to deal with some nests of Skeever that appeared near the Winterhold. Every years, many nests pop up and terrorized the citizens by attacking the life stocks, which already few as it is. Skeevers are easy to deal with, but their small size combine with they're always in a pack of at least 3-4, it's hard to hit them. I just write some fire rune on the ground and lure them to it. I have to say though, charred Skeever's corpse does not smell good. After dealing with them, I found their nests and burn them all to crisp, then buried them under snow.
Just like with Colette, I learn how to minimized the spell's cost and maximized my spell's magnitude from Faralda and thanked her.
Now, Sergius Turrianus, a grumpy old man. The Master Enchanter of the College of Winterhold. Due to other students is only novice at the Enchanting art, he's the one that needed to fill all the enchantment request coming to the College. That's the reason he's so grumpy and almost mean to every students. Well, except me. When I striked a conversation with him, he looked irritated, as he expected to be bother with questions and all that. But to his surprised, I asked him if he need any help or is there any Enchanting request needed to be done. As there're no students that can enchant items for request that meet his expectation, all the missives for Enchanting go directly to him and not one on the bulletin board. After testing me, he's surprised again, as the quality of my work is almost to his level. If he's the Master Enchanter, I can be called Adept, even almost to Expert level, Enchantress, as he told me. He's happy to pin most of the missives for Enchanting request back in the bulletin board, only kept some of the hardest one that only he can make for now. He encouraged me to keep working hard and I'll be able to be on his level in the near future. He even smiled at me and hummed happily while walking to his quarter, which drew some wide eyes of some students that saw him. Some instructors chuckled and gave me a thump up, which I returned. I even saw the Archmage, Savos Aren looking at Sergius and me with amusement.
Once I finished and deemed nothing I can learned for now in the College, I applied for a leave to go adventure outside of the College and the surrounding landscape.