-Cultural Clash-

[Class is now in Session (2)]


[5E, 42, 15th of Sun's Dawn.]

Following their enlightening encounter with J'zargo the 'Khajiit' which, as explained by Louise, is the dominating race of a Province known as Elsweyr, geographically located on the other side of Cyrodiil and bordered Valenwood, known for their Diversity in 'Furstock', or Breed in a more casual term, leading to them having a hard time imagining an entire country ruled by Cat-people, the Tristainian were brought inside the main building, a Spacious Chamber referred to as the Hall of Element, where a Class is currently being held, with a large number of robe-clad individuals collectively sat down on what appeared to be a table set made from some kind of purple energy judging by their simmering, transparent appearance as their undivided attention is completely allocated to their Professor, an Imperial wearing a set of patterned robes, signifying his status, who is in the middle of a lecture, writing down Strange Symbols on the surface of an artificial wall made from the same type of substance as the furniture everyone is using, drawing the attention of the Group, watching them with fascination. Well, mostly Colbert, particularly with the letters that were being etched onto the board.

They seem to be a language of some kind, but none that he could recognize. Must be the native tongue here. He should definitely pick up how to comprehend them if he were to understand whatever it is that these students were being taught. Something called 'Oblivion' and "Daedric' going by the few words he managed to overhear from the Professor in patterned Robes, as well as figure out what the see-through furniture the class is employing, seeing that they are clearly magical in nature. But first, they needed to dress the part, considering their clothes made them stand out like a sore thumb, even more so with Kirche who actually looked like a sore thumb, not to mention thoroughly ill-suited for their environment, something that was soon rectified when from the door by the side of the hallway, an Mountain of a Man stepped out from it, towering all saved for Faralda in term of height, with muscles that are clearly visible even in his large set of clothes that obscured his form, making the Germanian girl among them to grew flustered at the well-developed feature of this bearded hunk.

"Fine Greetings to you, Louise. I came here as fast when Brelyna told me of your arrival." Much to their surprise, for this man who is comparable to a wild bear with his grizzled visage, his voice was absurdly gentle and quiet, no different from a soothing wind despite his appearance that suggested a raging storm. At his reception, Loiuse offered a nod of acknowledgment in return, before stepping aside, allowing the new arrival to get a better look at the group hiding behind her, "And you must be the students she recommended. My name is Onmund Sky-sunder. Practioner of Alteration school of magic and Master-wizard." The newly-christened Onmund introduced himself with a clenched fist to his heart, an action they figured to be the local gesture here, to which the balding professor of Tristainian attempted to replicate in return out of respect.

"It is an honor to meet you, Mister Sky-Sunder. I am Jean Colbert." Usually, he would have professed his status as a fellow educator himself, but Colbert realized that it would bring needless complication in explaining their circumstances, on top of the fact that if the Book of Magnus that brought them here in the first place were to believed, they are in an entirely different world, where their word and positions hold no weight in, what he has silently agreed with Karin and Centurion on, resulting in them deciding to stay their tongue when it comes to personal information, "And Might I ask, what is Alteration? I read it a few times in this book, but the concept still eludes me." Not wasting any time to jump at the first chance to acquire knowledge, he presented the Nord with the Tome Louise gave him earlier today, specifically on the first page that contains the general information of the aforementioned school of Magic, where the excerpt of the first page goes something the line of 'Reality is a Dream and we can control it'. He initially had half a mind to ask the writer of the book herself, but upon recognizing that his Former Student was in a foul mood, Colbert decided to refrain from asking it, but this encounter could potentially be the first chance to learn more.

"Ah, an aspiring Alteration Practioner. I'd be happy to teach you everything I know. But first, please put these on." Presented to them was a folded stack of robes that was practically gleaming with a strange glow to their surface, drawing the attention of the group at the sight, "You may need them. It is not required, but I reckon that it is better than...Whatever it is that you are wearing." Not trying to sound offensive, but in Onmund's humble opinion, the clothes that this strange group is wearing barely cover anything, especially those younger-looking ones, with their exposed top and capes that seem to be just there for looks without any practical purpose. In contrast, these robes are enchanted with Frost-resistance, particularly useful in this frigid location, as well as blast protection, and fire negation, along with the ability to change its size to adjust to its user, so they would not have to worried about getting the measurement since the magic imbued to these set of clothes could just handle that part. However, the fact that it was not very fashionable, being designed with utility in mind, is something that Kirche seems to be having a problem with.

"No way! How would I show my beautiful body with these things?"

" You don't. This is a School, not a Brothel." At her complaints, Louise merely snorted, having expected the Zerbst to act completely shameless as always, eliciting a barely suppressed snicker from everyone nearby, students and passing professors included, "Well then, Onmund. I entrust you with these people. I'm off, needed to go visit Sofie." Completely disregarding the fuming and flustered Kirche, the Former Arch-mage just walked off to a different other, the opposite of the one the Nord just emerged from, bidding her farewell before slamming it shut, violently so, causing all of the students to briefly flinch at the volume, and the Master Wizard to cringed at the aggressive display. Having been her classmate for many years, Onmund could tell what was going on inside Louise's head when her expression failed to convey any sort of emotions, and in the short time he along with two other students joined her in one of her adventures, sharing a bottle of liquor at an Inn after retrieving some missing books, they learned just how deep her issues run, especially with her feeling of inadequacy, making them sympathized with her. If what J'zargo and Brelyna had just told him a moment ago is true, then this group is from the same place as she is, some uncharted land known as Tristain, they might have made her recall those unpleasant memories, agitated her greatly. Hopefully, Sofie would be there to comfort her.

"...W-Well then! Please put these on, and do hurry, the next class will start soon. Don't want to miss it."


Despite being the Arch-mage for the College of Winterhold, Sofie found herself more inclined to the art of Alchemy than that of Magic. While her Prowess in the clever craft is nothing to scoff at, there are reasons why she became the head of this organization at the tender age of twenty after all, brewing potions is where her skills truly shine. Using the knowledge she gained from reading various books like An Alchemist's Guide to Skyrim and The Song of the Alchemist lent to her by Urag, as well as her preexistent know-how with reagents when she was an orphan selling flowers, the Nord can concoct the finest healing potions or the deadliest poison with a couple of rudimentary ingredients growing in the Garden of her Quarter, which she frequently sold to the Valliere's Trading Company, a family-owned business operated by her Brother Alesan and by the far among the largest supplies of everything one can think of in Skyrim, Cyrodiil, and Hammerfell, and that is before she gets into the more exotic components her mother gave her during her journey across Tamriel, like a Gleam Blossom, a plant found nowhere else in the world save for darkened cave where these plants are the only natural light source, or Sacred Lotus seeds, found nowhere in any Provinces but the Hearthome of the Empire.

With the potency of her Alchemical Products, they are always in high demand, leading to Sofie spending more time brewing potions than running the College, forcing her to relegate the Duty to her Master Wizards and the rest of the Faculty, much to her displeasure, as while she does enjoy the task at first, it has starting to become a chore, but if it means bringing more coins to the Valliere Family, then she is willing to concoct a million potions to sell, for this is how she will be paying back the perceived debt she and the rest of her siblings owed to their beloved Mother and Father, who has taken them in, giving them food, shelter and love, adoring them as if they are their own flesh-and-blood even though they have no obligation to all those decades ago. Indeed, Sofie will never forget the kind couple that always purchased the flowers she offered any time they came across her in the city of Windhelm, who would go on to adopt her and give her a loving home, shared by multiple children that gain the same affection, especially their Mother, who treated all Ten of her Children with the equal amount of warmth, allowing them to grow up into fine adults that go their separate way, contributing to society like Louise wanted them to.

If only she could meet her Mother or Father again more often, but duties called. Oh well, maybe some days, like during a yearly Family Gathering, she is definitely going to reserve a spot in her schedule when that day comes- "Guess who~?" All of a sudden, her world was shrouded in darkness, and from the formless world, a voice called out, causing her to gasp. There is no mistaking that voice for anyone else, not when she grew up hearing it for a large part of her life. And there was only one person she knew that greeted her in this way.

"Mother!" Casting aside what dignity she has as a wise and refined Arch-mage, Sofie immediately removed the pair of arms and leaped toward her assailant, pulling her into a tight embrace, as if letting her go would make her disappear, "It's so good to see you again! Did you come here to visit me?" She must have, her Mother usually would come to the college for either that or to consult with her colleagues, and since she has likely already done that, there is nothing left but to check up on her daughter, who could not be any more happy to see her again. Now that she got a good look, Sofie could confidently say that the one that covered her eyes a moment ago was truly her Mother, for she was the only one that she knew to have such bright pink hair.

"Of course I did, Sofie." Returning the hug one moment, with the next shifted to patting her daughter on the head, a gesture that most of her children loved, though with varying reactions. Sofie, Blaise, and Doetnel, her Bosmer daughter, enjoyed it the most, while Lucia and Alesan pretended to act indignant at being treated like a child, though never actually stopped her. Obgrub Ruby-eyed, her Orc son, on the other hand, does not enjoy what he regards as an embarrassing display of affection in the slightest as an adult, the same goes for Rakasha, mainly because her Khajiit daughter doesn't like to be treated as a housecat. Her adopted Dunmer and Altmer Sons, Valsei and Viarir used to like it, but have since grown out of that phase too, and Bramman, her Argonian child never liked it in the first place. Mainly because his scales are quite sensitive to touches, "How are you doing as of late, dear? Need your mother to help you with anything?"

"Actually, There is." Now that her mother offered it, Sofie recalled one request that the Jarl had sent her earlier today that requested assistance from members of the College with an issue. Although she planned to take care of it herself at some point, now her Mother is here, an experienced Mage that surpassed her, she might as well told her about it, hoping that Louise would help, "Jarl Miradr recently informed us about a disturbance and sighting of what supposedly a magical anomaly in the sea of ghost, near a ship wreckage. Considering the Wolfskull's incident and Potenma's near resurrection, not to mention the eyes of Magnus' issue all those years ago, he told us to send someone to investigate it soon." At least people are finally taking these reports seriously rather than writing it off as superstition, but then again, this is the City of Mages, everyone knows that these occurrences are more often than not compared to other holds.

"Hmm...Anything more than you can tell me?" Another rift perhaps? If so, she needed to retrieve the staff of Magnus to close it.

"Well, they do say something about people but weird hair colors. But I think that is nothing to be concerned about. Probably the Hunters were seeing things again."

"Huh..." ...Hopefully it is not what she thinks it is, "Alright, thanks for telling me, Dear. I know I can count on my Daughter."

""DAUGHTER?!"" Just when Louise was about to pat her daughter's head again, a sudden shouting interrupted it, spoken by two voices that Sofie was not familiar with, but painfully so for Louise, for turning around she could see the faces of her Parents peering through the wall they are hiding behind, an expression of disbelief adorned their face.

"Oh by the Nines..."

"Uh, who is that, Mother?"

""MOTHER?!""

"Damn you Molag Bal…" Louise cursed the Daedric Prince of Domination, unaware that for once, he was not responsible for her suffering. In fact, he never was, for...


In another Location…


"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Haskill! Bring the popcorn, and make it cheese flavor!"

"Yes…Lord Sheogorath…"


To be Continued...

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