Elenwen sat across from Cura at her desk, and glared at the Half-Elf in distrustful disbelief. She sat upright in her chair as she fiddled with the quill pen held between both of her hands. She was very clearly not in good spirits, and would tolerate little deviance from her point. "One of my men was slain by your hand at the College. Would you care to explain?"

The question hung in the air like a sharpened plumb bob on a weakened thread before Cura mustered up an answer to it.

"Two, actually. One at Labyrinthian and Ancano." Cura leaned forward and took a Boiled Creme treat from the silver platter rested upon her desk and calmly took a bite as she recounted events. "He really shouldn't have done what he did. I did ask you to keep him away from us."

"What happened, Cura?" Elenwen demanded firmly as she clenched the quill tightly between her finger and thumb. Her hand was shaking above the paper report lain upon her desk. Whatever occurred would surely be a disaster to report; and the High Archon despised incompetence from his Emissaries.

The Dragonborn readjusted her seat and moved forward. "He killed our Arch-Mage. He killed our Master Wizard."

As Cura brought these points up, Elenwen's eyes opened widely, revealing great surprise. "He... no. Such insolence! Do not play games with me, child!"

Cura finished the Boiled Creme Treat and reached out for another habitually. "I'm not playing games with you. You asked me to explain, and I am. Ancano murdered Arch-Mage Savos Aren and Master Wizard Mirabelle Ervine in cold blood. He set an entire horde of magickal anomalies upon the city of Winterhold and even summoned a Dragon to slaughter the people."

Elenwen turned her face in disgust and slapped herself in the forehead. The stresses of this job on some days outweighed the rest of the year. Though, frankly, ever since Cura and herself met at that party, these stressful days only seemed to crop up more often. "That fool! What was he thinking?"

Cura finished her second Creme treat. She did not believe Elenwen's ignorance. She sent men to bring her here, after all, so she had some knowledge of the whole fiasco, at least. "Well, if you'd be so gracious, I'll tell you what led up to his demise."

"Please, go ahead." Elenwen gestured with her hand to tell Cura to go on.

Cura twiddled a third Boiled Creme Treat between her index finger and thumb. "Okay, so, I'd just been attacked by a Thalmor sycophant who worked under Ancano, and then I returned to the College..."


The College of Winterhold was in shambles when Cura returned. As soon as she set foot on the main courtyard she was greeted by a very saddened and greatly angered Tolfdir.

"Tolfdir - "

The old Nord picked up his pace and stood directly before Cura, and noted the Staff held in her hands. "You survived! You have it, then? Let's hope it's as powerful as the Psijics believe it to be."

Cura knew the answer already. Just seeing Tolfdir standing here all by his lonesome spoke volumes. Plus, what Savos Aren's spirit hinted to her. Swallowing hard, she hoped that even still, she was mistaken. "Where's Mirabelle?"

"She... She didn't make it. When it was clear we were going to have to fall back, she stayed behind and made sure the rest of us were all right." Tolfdir expressed mournfully, turning back to look at the barrier-coated entry at the Hall of Elements.

Cura held a hand over her chest and looked away as the sorrow settled in. She knew it. She knew that she wouldn't return on time. But if Savos was correct, and he and Mirabelle were watching over her, then she would know she was about to be avenged.

"Why are you all the way out here?" Cura wanted to know. After all, if Mirabelle's sacrifice gave them a second chance at survival, why come back to the lion's den?

"Look for yourself. Ancano's power is growing." Tolfdir gestured towards the forcefield, as well as the banner of light above the college building. "We can't crack whatever magic he's using to shield himself. I hope your trip to Labyrinthian was worth it."

Cura nodded. "It will, I promise. Let's get in there." She walked forward and raised the Staff. Now, all that she had accomplished, and all that she and her friends had suffered culminates into this one crucial moment.

"I'll be right behind you, Cura." Tolfdir exclaimed as he followed behind his student. He trusted in the young Dragonborn's judgment.

"Great and powerful Magnus, I, Champion of your child Meridia, ask this of you: help me vanquish he who would profane your artifact like so!" Cura prayed to the god of magic as she stared down the barrier before her. Touching it would prove fatal, and so she remained a respectable distance away.

Cura felt Dawnbreaker pulsating on her hip, and she lifted it off of her body. It began to react in tandem with the Staff of Magnus.

"My sword shall cleave the barrier; strike it against the Staff and slash the great energy."

Cura heard the distant voice of Meridia and her heart leapt in her chest. She obeyed, drawing Dawnbreaker and holding it horizontally on the Staff of Magnus. As she slowly ran the flat of the blade against the coarse metal of the staff, sparks of turquoise energy began to coat the Daedric Blade. Then, the blade adopted a luminous, otherworldly glow unlike anything Cura had ever seen before in her life.

Tolfdir looked on with great awe as he witnessed the spectacle. "Just what are you...?" he found himself muttering.

"HYYAAAAH!" Cura roared as she spun around and drove Dawnbreaker horizontally through the barrier coating the doorway, dissipating it entirely.

"Incredible!" Tolfdir exclaimed as he followed the path Cura created.

Cura took a few steps into the Hall of Elements, and immediately noticed Mirabelle's dead body on the western half of the wrecked room. The sight of it enraged her, especially noting the large hole through the poor woman's midsection.

Biting her lower lip, Cura turned her gaze to the Eye of Magnus: the large monstrosity that started it all. Or rather, the artifact being manipulated by the large monstrosity that started it all: Ancano.

"By the Gods, you're persistent." Ancano spat as Cura's glare fixed upon him. "It figures that I couldn't trust Estormo to properly deal with you."

"Estormo is worm food now." Cura stated plainly. "And you - you're... well..." she was too flustered to come up with a clapback, so she decided it was best to speak clearly and simply. "I guess you'll be sharing tea with whichever Daedra it is you're worshipping. I really hope it's Molag Bal. Imagining how he would play with you is such a fun thought, you irredeemable bastard."

"Now, is that any way for a Vigilant of Stendarr to talk?" Ancano mocked her. "Or is this the Dragonborn? Either way, you're but an ant before me and your threats are meaningless. I am a god, now! How can you kill a god?"

Cura shook her head. "Controlling the power of a god does not make you one. However, containing the power of one within yourself..." she placed a hand over her own chest. "it gives you some advantages, I'll admit it."

"Your big mouth is not going to save you." Ancano spat. "I'm going to kill you, and all of your wretched kind. And even your traitorous bitch of a mother."

Cura growled and Tolfdir placed a hand on her shoulder in attempt to calm her. "Ancano, you have much to answer for!"

Ancano laughed arrogantly. "You think I don't know what you're up to? You think I can't destroy you? The power to unmake the world at my fingertips, and you think you can do anything about it?"

Tolfdir immediately cast a large Firebolt at the proud Altmer, which fizzled out upon impact. "What..."

Then the snobbish Thalmor agent burst into great laughter. "I am beyond your pathetic attempts at magic. You cannot touch me." With a flick of his wrist, Tolfdir was stuck with a verdant light and brought down to the floor.

"TOLFDIR!" Cura exclaimed.

"Use... the Staff, Cura..." Tolfdir winced as he attempted to get back up. All the while, he had a clear view of Mirabelle, laying limp across the room from him. He sobbed painfully as he continued to try and pry himself up. "The Staff, Cura! Hurry!"

Cura snapped out of her rage-induced stupor and channeled Magnus' Power against the Eye. With a great buzzing noise, part of the outer energy field surrounding the globule object burst, causing Ancano to fall backwards.

The Eye was opened, now, and light cracked out from its various slopes. Magic Anomalies flew out and surrounded Cura and Ancano.

The High Elf caught himself and snarled. The Anomalies were dangerous, as they swarmed him, in particular. "Still you persist? Very well. Come then. See what I can do now." He clapped his hands together and a great, white shockwave swept the room, eradicating the anomalies.

Tolfdir fell unconscious, and Cura went flying backwards into a pillar on the western half of the room. When she landed, she found herself adjacent to Mirabelle. That was when she noticed her strangely peaceful expression.

Ancano bleated from the other side of the round room: "You dare approach me here? Are you mad? You cannot hope to defeat me! I will cleanse this world of your filth!"

"Now, isn't that a novelty! I was about to say the same thing!" Cura responded in kind as she unsheathed Dawnbreaker. It was supposed to be reserved for vampires and the undead, but Ancano was as much of a bloodsucker, so there was no question that it was appropriate. "WULD NA KEST!" came the Shout that propelled her forward. As soon as she regained her footing, Cura spun around and clashed Dawnbreaker against Ancano's Bound Sword.

Ancano maneuvered himself around a pillar and blasted Cura with a Lightning Bolt, and the Breton fumbled backwards and rolled across the floor as her heart raced from the sudden shock.

Ancano took the opportunity to charge up the Eye of Magnus once again and launched a bolt of pure magickal energy at Cura. "Die, insect!"

Fortunately, the Dragonborn was quick on her toes, and even though her senses were overwhelmed, she managed to roll along the length of the floor and dodge the first and subsequent bolts of energy before finding cover behind a ruined column.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are." Ancano laughed once Cura disappeared from his sight. "The mighty Dragonborn, cowering like a Skeever. How fitting. The Nords have misplaced their hopes. Like them, your time in this world is over! Elven supremacy is the only truth; and I will show it to the world by carving the words upon your corpse!" With magic itself in his grasp, he raised the ruined columns to expose Cura, but to no avail.

Cura continued to crawl nimbly among the wreckage as she searched for a good vantage point to strike. Bolts of energy struck the walls as she maneuvered cautiously.

Then, she saw an opening; an area that Ancano seemed to ignore, in the northwestern half of the room. She would go for it. She cast Muffle and Invisibility on herself as she traversed the small battlefield unseen by the menace who blew apart the rubble ahead of him. "You cannot escape me!" Ancano screamed shrilly and with great disdain. "I am a GOD!"

He clapped his hands together and fired white missiles of energy around the room in a spiralling vortex. One struck Cura in the left shin, causing her to stumble and almost lose her footing. Her invisibility broke, and she was forced to dive down behind a large piece of ceiling stretched across two column bases. From there, she reworked her strategy as she cast a silent Healing Spell.

Ancano continued to taunt her as he swept the area with more powerful gusts of energy. "Come on out, you coward! My power is supreme!" He summoned a four-streamed moving arc of lightning that traced his circular perimeter.

From a safe distance, Cura blasted the Eye of Magnus once more with the Staff, and it created another small explosion that pushed back herself and Ancano.

"Weargh!" Ancano wailed as he flew backwards into another column. His eyes opened with a grim realization. "No! You will not deny me this! I will lead the Aldmeri Dominion!"

"I deny you everything." Cura stated as she fired an arrow into his stomach with a Bound Bow.

Ancano gasped as he felt the great energy pierce his form. "N-no..." being ethereal in nature, he could not pull the arrow out of him. The arrow remained in place; burning him from within in a great searing pain.

Cura stepped into view, and held her bow in his direction.

"You- you bitch!" Ancano snarled through gritted teeth. "You cannot take this away from me!" He reached out his left hand in attempt to establish another connection to the Eye, but only received a piercing arrow through it instead. "GAHHH!"

With his right hand, Ancano held his left in place and looked upon the arrow driven through his left palm. "No... no... this... this can't..." he took a step backwards in attempt to flee, but slipped on a small pinky bone and fell backwards.

Cura stood over him, and he attempted to shield his face as he lay on his back. "N-no more! I yield! I yield!"

"No more, indeed. Yield to the gods!" Cura growled as she lowered herself down to his level and drove Dawnbreaker into his chest.

"Noooo...!" Ancano choked as the life slowly crept out of his body.

Then Cura stabbed him again, and again, and again.

Rage consumed her as she plunged the sword in him several more times for good measure.

Good people would die all the time; why should a wicked rat like him continue to plague the world? The world deserved so much better than that.

"He's dead, Cura! Control yourself!" came Tolfdir's soft voice from behind her.

Cura heaved and huffed as she sat on the floor near Ancano's lifeless corpse. She wiped some of the sweat from her face and leaned back. Her heart was pounding like a marching snare within her chest and her breathing was rugged. Burns covered her robes, a memento of his point-blank lightning bolt.

"That went quite well, all things considered." Tolfdir remarked as he cast a healing spell on himself and Cura. "I saw Ancano fall; did you place a paralysis rune on the floor?"

Cura shook her head. "No, I... I didn't. He just slipped." Then she looked to the floor and noticed near where he stood, there was a small bone. She crawled over the tiles and picked it up off the floor. "I think he tripped on this."

"By Shor, how did a bone get here?" Tolfdir shuddered.

Cura shrugged. "It's a hand bone, to be certain..." she and Tolfdir slowly looked over at Mirabelle's body, and then at one another.

"Wow."

The Eye of Magnus seemed to react with a luminous glow as a figure materialized beside it. A Psijic Monk appeared before Cura and Tolfdir both in the flesh, nearly giving the elder a heart attack.

"Psijic!" Cura exclaimed with surprise.

"We knew you would succeed. Your victory here justifies our belief in you. You have proven yourself more than worthy to be the saviour of this land." the Psijic Monk expressed.

Cura stood up once more, coated in blood. "Thank you, but what do we do now?" She staggered lightly, and Tolfdir held her for support.

"The Eye has grown unstable. It cannot remain here, or else it may destroy this College and this world." the Psijic expressed his concerns. "It must be secured. Ancano's actions prove that the world is not ready for such a thing. We shall safeguard it… for now. You now have the opportunity to maintain your College, and carry on with your lives. You have our gratitude, Dovahkiin."

Cura nodded, wanting to push ahead with a question of her own. "How did you know I'd be able to defeat Ancano?"

"A great many things obscured to you are quite clear to us. We have long believed you would prevail." the Psijic Monk expressed.

"And do you think I will be able to defeat Alduin?" Cura asked aside as the monk summoned three others of his kind. Each monk held out their hand to the Eye of Magnus and a fuchsia-coloured light enveloped it. They slowly began to levitate with it.

"You will defeat Alduin, and you will do so much more." the Psijic confirmed to Cura. "Be strong, and never falter."

And with that, the Monks all collectively vanished with the Eye in tow, and with their vanishing, so too did the energy that supercharged Dawnbreaker, reverting the beloved sword to its natural state.

"Like it or not, you are a shining example to future generations of College Mages." Tolfdir complimented Cura. "I... wish I had taken you more seriously down in Saarthal."

"I only wish I could have done more, Tolfdir." Cura expressed her regret. "What will become of the College now? There is no Arch-Mage, and no Master Wizard."

Tolfdir placed his hands on Cura's shoulders like a proud father. "Indeed; this is a unique circumstance in our College's History. Though, seeing as you've saved us all, I believe you can decide going forward. We will allow you to be the one to name the new Arch-Mage and Master Wizard."

Cura paused for a second. She gently removed Tolfdir's hands from her shoulders. "Okay. Gather everybody and bring them to the field beyond the Southern Gate tomorrow morning at 10:00. I... need some time to rest. If Inigo, Serana, Lucien, Onmund, J'zargo and Brelyna return soon, please let them know."

Tolfdir nodded. "Of course, Cura. Godspeed."

Cura rested the night at the Inn, though it was greatly crowded with students and members of the faculty, who occupied the beds. Cura ultimately pulled out her bedroll and laid it out in the corner next to the Alchemy table and rested for a few hours. By the next morning, she was approached by a couple of Thalmor Agents, requesting her presence to speak to the First Emissary.


"I've heard enough." Elenwen expressed as she stood up from her desk to pace the floor a few steps before returning to her chair. "So, Ancano, that traitor, abused his position as a Thalmor Agent to accrue power for his own desires. He discovered our connection, and in his rogue action, he intended to kill me and take over my position, and even potentially usurp the High Archon's position further down the line."

Cura nodded firmly. "Yes."

"Then I suppose I should be thanking you." Elenwen mused as she dipped the nib of her quill inside the inkblot a few times before setting it upon the paper. "You have spared us all a preemptive war."

"I have no doubt." Cura remarked. "He was unhinged. He was going to bring the world to complete and total disaster."

Whether the Ambassador ordered him to do this, or he did this on his own accord, it did not matter. A Thalmor Agent murdered innocent people. Cura knew they were not to be trusted, but this added a new dimension to it.

"So it would seem." Elenwen scribbled her signature at the bottom of the page.

Cura stood up from her chair and sucked the frosting from her fingers, one by one. "May I leave now? I have much to attend to..."

"Yes, by all means; you're free to go. And on behalf of the Aldmeri Dominion, I thank you for stopping that vainglorious fool." Elenwen informed her daughter cordially. "But, Cura?"

The Dragonborn halted at the doorway and turned her face to the Altmer, saying nothing.

Elenwen continued. "I must admit, I am impressed. With the Eye of Magnus at his disposal, one would think Ancano to be invincible. And yet here you come along and stomp his ambitions into the ground. It is really quite fascinating."

"No, it really isn't." Cura furrowed her brows. "Anybody who threatens the people and the land I care about shall meet my fury; no matter what lengths I have to go to to stop them. That's all." Her tone dropped icily cold. If Elenwen hadn't known better, she would think it to be a threat from Cura.

"Yes, like the Black Dragon." Elenwen turned her attention towards Alduin. "Tell me, Cura; do you believe he can be slain?"

"I believe anybody can be slain." Cura finished the conversation and moved out through the halls like a brewing storm. The Thalmor Agents of the Embassy seemed to instinctively move aside to allow her passage.

It was the next morning, and the exhaustion was plastered over Cura's face. Her eyelids were sunken and her skin paled. Her eyes were thick with red veins and her head ached as she looked upon the sun when she opened Elenwen's Solar's entry door.


Once outside, Cura Fast Travelled back to the College of Winterhold. It was deathly silent, as everybody was in the city at this time. Cura headed inside the college and saw Urag Gro-Shub there, kneeling over Mirabelle's body.

"Urag! Where in Oblivion have you been?!" Cura demanded to know.

The sullen Orc looked at her sadly. "I was in the Arcanaeum, guarding some of the students and the books."

At that moment, Orthorn entered with other students. "The Master Wizard is dead... I can't believe it."

"And the Arch-Mage." Urag informed the rogue student. "Tolfdir's put Cura in charge of naming the successors."

Cura gestured to them. "Come along, the... ceremony, I suppose you could call it... is outside the Southern city gate. I'm only doing it once."

Urag stood up. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"I hope so too." Cura kicked Ancano's lifeless body one last time before walking out the door.

"If the Caller were alive, I'd give her his body." Orthorn spat. He was fortunate enough that Mirabelle was willing to allow him reentry on the condition that he spend a month of community service within the college. He looked back at the Breton's body. "She really didn't deserve that. Neither of them did..." he sighed sadly as he followed the Librarian and the Dragonborn.

Once outside the city, Cura immediately noticed the large group of Students and Faculty present. Among them, she saw Lucien, Inigo, Serana, J'zargo, Onmund, and Brelyna.

"There she is!" Brelyna immediately noted Cura's arrival.

"My friend!" Inigo rushed up to the morose Vigilant and embraced her. "You are just incredible! Tolfdir has told us all about how you sent Ancano to Oblivion!"

J'zargo added in, standing tall beside Inigo. "Maybe this one will tell us all about it in greater detail later, yes?"

Cura nodded. "Certainly."

Serana hugged Cura when she approached, and the Breton happily reciprocated the embrace. "I'm glad you're all right, Cura."

"I will be." Cura responded as she slowly released her friend.

Lucien tapped Cura on the shoulder. "You've really gone above and beyond, Candle. I never doubted you for a second! ...Even if the odds reaaaaallly didn't look to be in your favour."

"Thank you, Lucien." Cura responded dryly.

Onmund waved it off. "It's been a wild ride, huh? But now it's over, hopefully."

Cura more than agreed. "I hope so, too. It's... been rough."

"Good, you've come! Now we can begin taking our first step towards healing." Tolfdir expressed his joy upon seeing Cura's arrival.

Faralda, Colette, Phinis, Arniel, Nirya, Drevis and Sergius stood in their positions as faculty, and Tolfdir gestured for Cura to stand before them. He stood beside Cura.

"Students of Winterhold: what we have gone through was nothing short of great tragedy. In the span of one day, we have lost our Arch-Mage and our Master Wizard. Such an occurrence is unprecedented in our College's History..." Tolfdir began.

A few of the faculty members mourned Savos and Mirabelle, honouring them with their heads lowered in a moment of silence.

Tolfdir continued. "...now we stand without leadership here, in this frigid climate, due to the Hall of Elements being no longer adequate for reception. The blame can be placed on Ancano, the Thalmor associate who dwelled the grounds beside us for these many months. Now, however, he lays dead; his plans of genocide and grandeur foiled for good, thanks to the efforts of our own Cura."

Everybody let out a loud cheer and expressed their gratitude to Cura through thunderous applause.

"I couldn't have done it without my friends, and all of you." Cura shifted the applause back to the faculty and her friends. "Thank you to everybody who risked their lives in the Containment battle of Winterhold."

Her allies cheered loudly.

"Without further ado, Cura will name the next Arch-Mage and the next Master Wizard." Tolfdir proclaimed and tapped her on the shoulder. "The Psijic monks trust your judgment, and so too shall we."

"Stendarr grant me wisdom." Cura muttered under her breath as she rubbed her hands together, causing some of the students to chuckle lightheartedly. Cura touched Tolfdir on his right arm. "All right. Tolfdir, I name you the Arch-Mage."

Everybody gasped, and the old man flinched with surprise.

"What?" Tolfdir expressed his shock. "Me? The Arch-Mage... I never would have thought..."

"You're wise, and you have lots of administrative experience, having worked closely with the Arch-Mage and Mirabelle." Cura explained her choice, "I think you'd know the position best, and you do love the College, so you would work in its best interest."

"I... I would be honoured, Dragonborn." Tolfdir lowered his head and touched his chest respectfully. "I will do my best." Tolfdir looked at Nirya. "Nirya, you could take over my position as the Alteration Professor. You're very resourceful and a quick thinker - I'm sure you'll grasp the teaching profession."

Nirya nodded. "As you wish, Arch-Mage. I suppose it will grant me the opportunity to bury my nose in Alteration books again."

"And who do you name as Master Wizard?" Tolfdir asked Cura.

"I will leave that decision to you, Tolfdir. You will know who is best-suited for the position." Cura stated honestly.

"Serana." Tolfdir looked directly at the Vampiress, to everyone's surprise, including her own.

"What? Me?" Serana expressed her surprise and she looked at Inigo, Lucien and Cura for a reaction.

"Yes; you may appear young, true, but you are far wiser than many here." Tolfdir explained. "You are quick to grasp instruction, and you are very dependable. Ever since you've come here, you've molded into our College quite nicely, and helped instruct the other students. You've become an important presence among us, and I feel you could handle the mantle of Master Wizard quite nicely."

Cura almost felt like Tolfdir did it to spite her for shifting the choice onto him, but ultimately, she could see his point.

Serana stepped forward and approached Tolfdir and Cura, and addressed her friend. "Cura, what do you think? Would I be a good Master Wizard? Should I accept the invitation?"

Cura nodded gently. "Yes, I think you would make a good Master Wizard. You have a lot of patience, and your threshold for tolerance is far greater than many others."

Serana laughed. "Well, I had a lot of practice being with you, Lucien and Inigo all this time."

Cura let a chuckle escape. "Yes, that's for sure."

"But you're sure I should?" Serana asked for confirmation. "This may be the last time we travelled together..."

As she said it, sadness welled up within Cura, but that sadness quickly warmed itself with relief. She knew Serana would be safer here than going forward, if anything. "But it won't be the last time we spend together. I promise." Cura informed her friend. "We'll come and visit, and maybe sometimes you could hang out with us, if you get time off."

Serana paused and gave it some thought. "You remember the conversation we had so long ago, concerning my fate in the college?"

"Like it was yesterday." Cura responded with a cordial smile. "Have you made your decision?"

Serana nodded and happily turned to Tolfdir. She harbored no resentment towards Cura for allowing her to leave, but she was still a little sad to be leaving the group. "I'll do it. I'll be the College's Master Wizard."

The student body and faculty applauded her decision, but the sight of Cura, Inigo and Lucien clapping warmed her unbeating heart the most.

It was all so bittersweet.

"And that concludes it." Tolfdir called the event to an end. "Winterhold has a new Arch-Mage and Master Wizard. All that remains now is to bury the dead with dignity, and reverse the damages done to the college and to the city. With magic at our fingertips, it should not be so difficult."

Serana immediately launched into her position. "Everybody will get a few days to rest first, though; we've already gone through so much. I think we should be properly rested before rebuilding anything. Tonight, though, we'll have a funeral for Savos and Mirabelle."

Arch-Mage Tolfdir nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think that would be best." He turned around and walked through the city with some of the faculty and Serana following him from behind. She turned around to look at her friends and smiled.

It was exciting, having an official position at a magickal college.

Lucien scoffed. "With Serana at the office, maybe they'll finally implement sensible entry procedures."

"She really is the most sensible person I know." Onmund remarked. "Also, despite her Vampirism, doesn't everyone find it funny now how the two leading heads of the College are technically both Nords?"

The group fell silent. Strangely, nobody noticed this until he had mentioned it.

Onmund appeared relieved to see it. "I feel less alone now..."

Brelyna scratched her chin. "What does it mean? Do you think Winterhold will tolerate us a little more now that their people are leading us?"

"I doubt it." Onmund expressed. "But it sure would be nice if they did."

Cura agreed, as well. "The Nords are stubborn, and the Eye of Magnus incident will surely become ammunition for years to come, but I hope they remember that it was the College that saved their lives."

Inigo stepped in and pointed to the Staff of Magnus, which had been fastened onto Cura's back next to Auriel's Bow. "So, what do we do now, friend? What do you intend to do with that Staff? I am sure it would fetch a pretty septim."

"No, I'm going to bring it to Stendarr's Beacon." Cura said firmly. "This staff is going in the Vault, right beside the Staff of Ruunvald."

"Oh, you poop on a lot of parties, don't you." Inigo scoffed as he sulked.

"It was connected to the Eye of Magnus, and that's gone." Cura explained. "The Vigil will understand the importance of this."

"If you say so, Candle." Lucien accepted the facts. "But I'm curious; what do you plan to do next? Do you think you're ready to confront Alduin?"

Cura nodded. "I'm ready to talk to Delphine and Esbern again. I'll find out what they've discovered regarding that Shout mentioned on Alduin's Wall. Then the World-Eater is going to perish."

"Big words, even for this one. But this is not an insult; J'zargo hopes she can do it." the gray Khajiit expressed as he headed into the Inn.

Brelyna had to ask: "Are you leaving right now? This very second?"

Cura shook her head. "And miss the funeral? Of course not."

"All right." Brelyna noted as she followed J'zargo, and then Onmund back inside.

"I think I'll have myself a drink. What do you say, Inigo? Want to try a little Colovian drinking game?" Lucien spoke humorously.

"Oh, yes, and I will win." Inigo asserted as he followed the Imperial to the Inn's door.

Before closing it, Lucien looked to Cura. "Well, what do you say, Candle? Want to join us?"

Cura shook her head. "No, that's all right. I'm not really in the mood for a drinking game right now."

"Fair enough; suit yourself." Lucien shrugged as he pulled the door shut behind him.

Cura stood out in the streets and looked up at the gentle snowfall, forlorn. She began to feel hollow as she watched her breath rise in the frozen air. She hadn't bothered to wash the blood off her robes, and it stained the off-white fabric with rusted brown splashes at the bottom.

"It's cold out here. You're going to catch cold!"

Cura flinched and turned to her left to see Colette Marence leaning against am outdoor pillar holding up a balcony of one of the buildings.

"Colette. What..." Cura asked before she was pulled into a very enthusiastic hug.

"Darling, you are the greatest student I have ever had!" Colette expressed her fondness very tightly. "You've shown all those idiots that Restoration is incredibly valuable!"

"Actually, I think that was your doing," Cura scrunched herself up in the professor's grasp.

Colette slowly released her. "I knew you could do it, you know! The others, they doubted you. But I didn't! Not for a second! I knew you'd whup that Ancano good!"

"Er... thank you?" Cura asked as Colette quickly grabbed her hand.

"Now, before doing anything else, we've got a date with the Augur." Colette reminded her as she began to drag her towards the bridge. "He is going to teach you his special technique, or I'm going to pester him for every waking moment of every day of every week - well, you get it."

Cura and the professor reentered the ruins of the courtyard, where they saw Savos' corpse still laying there, and Cura could see the destroyed Hall of Elements even from here.

"The Augur is going to test you for himself, but you'll pass it. For sure." Colette comforted her student. "Whatever he throws your way, you'll be just fine. Just have to be diligent, that's all."

They headed down the trap door and into the Middens, where Colette brought her back to the Augur of Dunlain. Standing outside the door, she gestured for Cura to head inside. "All right, dear, you're up! Good luck!"

"Thank you?" Cura said with uncertainty as she passed through the wooden door. It did not take very long for the spectral entity to make himself manifest before her again.

"Once again you have come seeking something. The circumstances differ. This time I have what you seek. Are you prepared?" the Augur cut to the chase immediately, though it was no surprise. He most likely heard Colette's rambling.

Cura looked around. It was a small round room with a magickal well at its center. "Prepared for what?" she found herself asking. What could he really test her with in such a small space?

"Colette has already told you. You must be tested before knowledge can be imparted to you." the Augur reinforced the professor's words.

Cura outstretched her arms. She had gone through so much already. "I'm ready for anything."

"Arrogance will serve you poorly. Your worth must be determined before knowledge can be bestowed upon you. And so you shall be tested." the Augur saw fit to admonish her pride. He did have a point; arrogance was what destroyed Ancano, after all.

"So... what does this test entail?" Cura asked, resting a hand on her hip as she awaited explanation.

"You will rely on your skill as a mage. Not on your belongings, not on your scrolls and potions. Only what lies within." the Augur explained. "Survive, and you are worthy. This is the test put before you. Will you accept?"

"I accept." Cura stated. "Let's begin."

"Knowledge is power. Knowing spells can be powerful, but applying that knowledge is key. You will be called upon to rely solely on your Restoration spells." the Augur preluded before beckoning to her. "Step into the light, and your test begins."

With that, the Augur faded away and the magic well lit up with a light blue hue. As soon as Cura planted both feet on it, her weapons, her satchel, her armour, and her robes were stripped away. She stood there in her modest undergarments; scars lain bare for the world to see, as well as her flesh. Thankfully, she kept the dignity of a loincloth and her brassier. Her face flushed red once the realization set in that she was essentially naked in the middle of a small room. "What...?"

Immediately, two spectral warriors appeared and began to attack her.

"Gah!" Cura exclaimed as a ghostly sword rended the flesh on her right thigh and the next cut her left abdomen. Quickly, she cast a Healing spell. The onslaught went on and on and on, it seemed, with relentless slashes and stabs from various angles. Cura held firm, however, mediating the damages with her healing magic.

More warriors joined them, casting Unbound Fire and Welling Blood on her.

Through the excruciating pain, Cura clenched her teeth as the pain seared her from within. She held fast, overcharging her healing abilities to overcome the intense damage being done to her.

Soon after, the onslaught came to an end, and Cura managed to keep herself alive and standing there on the well. The ghostly warriors abruptly vanished, and the Augur of Dunlain returned, hovering above her.

"You are worthy. The knowledge is yours." the Augur spoke proudly as he imparted his power upon her through magical light that surrounded her.

Suddenly, knowledge filled her mind, and Cura could see numerous undead being torn to pieces in a massive wave of golden energy, exploding outwards like a bomb. Her hands began to glow with luminous golden energy, and she mimicked the motion from her vision, and thrust down her hand, creating the powerful explosion.

Bane of the Undead.

It certainly would have been useful against the Volkihar clan.

Cura found herself breathing loudly and she simply stared at her right hand. The sparkling magicka subsided before her very eyes. Swiftly, her armour, robes, satchel, and weapons were returned to her body, as if they'd never left.

Looking up at the Augur, Cura bowed her head. "Thank you, Augur."

"Go forth, and bring peace to Skyrim, Dragonborn." the Augur blessed her as he vanished once more, leaving her there alone.

It took her a moment, but Cura left the room, and found Colette there, waiting. "Oooh! I heard everything. Congratulations, dearie! Now you're a Master at Restoration! Doesn't hurt too badly, I hope? Why, I remember when I took the test, myself - it hurt! A lot! People really need to learn to respect the art of Restoration - it is not a skill easily cultivated!"

"Now they finally will." Cura reminded her.

"I'd love to have Drevis take that test. Is that wrong?" Colette asked as she walked with Cura to the surface. It was a short walk, all things considered, but with Colette it became that much longer.


Hours passed, and the curtain of night fell upon the land. It was time for the funeral, and Tolfdir led the service. The students casted Candlelights to light the darkness and watched as Mirabelle and Savos were buried in coffins inside the Hall of Countenance's wall, and sealed with plaques inscribed with their names and positions.

"Here rests Savos Aren, beloved Arch-Mage; fought bravely to the very end to protect his people from the threat of the Eye of Magnus, by the Thalmor Agent Ancano, 4E 203

may he rest in peace"

"Here rests Mirabelle Ervine, very diligent, esteemed Master Wizard; sustained fatal wounds protecting her fellow faculty and students against the Thalmor Agent Ancano,

4E 203

may she rest in peace"

Tolfdir laid his hands upon their seals. "We will do our best to honour their memories and bring the College forward in this difficult time."

The crowd scattered, and Cura stood there, looking at the graves. She lowered her head sadly and mourned their loss. It all happened to suddenly, and dreadfully. She touched their plaques. "Stendarr grant them peace."

At the very least. she was able to give the former Arch-Mage closure in his past; allowing him to move on from this world. And Mirabelle too could rest easy now, knowing that her murder has been avenged.

"I'm sorry I won't be here to save you."

The words rung hollow within Cura. They sounded quite presumptuous in hindsight, for could she have done anything without the Staff of Magnus to begin with? Likely not; she probably would have gotten killed beside her had she not been able to break Ancano's control.

If only they'd never gone to Saarthal, then all of this could have been avoided.

If only.

In the case of Aranea Ienith, Brelyna, Cura, Lucien and Inigo gave her a private funeral by the Shrine of Azura, burying her on its hallowed ground. The Vigil of Stendarr would have fumed at Cura for giving funeral rites to a Daedra worshipper, but Aranea deserved to be buried the way she would have wanted.

Being a Dunmer from Morrowind herself, Brelyna knew the proper words and procedures to perform the rite and lay her to rest.

Ancano's body was recovered by Agents of the Thalmor and brought back to the Embassy for the Elves to do as they would with it; not that anyone at the College cared to ask, after all the horror he'd wrought upon them all.

A few days of rest passed and Cura was found in her cell within the Hall of Attainment, packing up her things. J'zargo approached with Onmund and Brelyna, and they witnessed this action.

"This one is leaving now?" J'zargo asked.

Cura zipped up her satchel. "Yes; it's time for me to depart. I have to ready myself to fight Alduin."

J'zargo nudged her arm with his fist. "You are going to defeat this flying lizard. This is assured. J'zargo does not worry for you."

"I just wanted you to know that you've inspired me, Cura." Brelyna expressed her gratitude. "After meeting you and seeing how you rise to every challenge, no matter how daunting it is - I've decided to double down on my studying. I will return to House Telvanni far greater than they could imagine! Adter Saarthal and Labyrinthian, I'm not afraid of them anymore. I don't care what expectations they have for me; I'm going to meet my own expectations, and I'm going to improve at my own pace."

"That's great, Brelyna." Cura smiled as she hoisted the satchel over her shoulder. "I don't doubt it; you can do whatever you set your mind to. You too, J'zargo, Onmund. Never give up on what you want to achieve."

Onmund shook his head. "Of course. And what about you, Cura? Have you given your own future any more thought?"

Cura shrugged. "I think I'll travel beyond Skyrim. See where destiny takes me."

Onmund scoffed. "Well, fair enough, I suppose. But you will come back to visit us, right?"

Cura looked at Onmund, J'zargo and Brelyna, and noticed their wistful expressions. "Of course I will! Winterhold has become a second home to me - of course I'll come to visit."

The three students engaged in a group hug with Cura, and she gripped them tightly.

"If you ever need help, we'd be happy to." J'zargo informed her. "Do not be a stranger."

Cura agreed. "Of course. Take care, now." She slowly released them and headed towards the door. Outside, she was met by Drevis, who she almost walked into.

The Dunmer looked depressed as he meandered the courtyard. He turned to Cura. "Have you seen Mirabelle around? I know she's dead, but I thought... Well, I thought she might stop in and say hello anyway."

Cura lowered her eyes. "Drevis... it's done. We have to move forward, no matter how much it hurts."

"I know that..." Drevis sighed sadly as he continued walking towards the Hall of Elements. "The Eye of Magnus. Here, but lost. Slipped through our grasp. Oh, what we might have learned. I wonder what we could've done with the Eye, had it been put to better use?"

Serana came out onto the courtyard, garbed in Apprentice Robes. She was with Lucien and Inigo, who came to meet Cura. Serana embraced her friend. "Good luck on your journey, Cura! You'd better promise me you'll come back safely."

Cura held her friend tightly. "Of course, Serana! I'll do my best! You know I will. Take care of the College."

"I'll only take care of the College if you take care of your life." Serana slowly released her and extended a hand forward. "Deal?"

Cura laughed and shook her hand. "It's a deal."

Lucien stood beside Cura and turned to Serana. "I must say, it's going to be odd, travelling without you."

"Well, I'm sure you're going to sleep better at night." Serana jabbed a finger towards him and Inigo.

"I will admit that my neck will be less tense." Inigo stated. "But the rest of me will be blue without you here."

"But you are blue." Lucien pointed out the obvious.

"Blue in the metaphorical sense, my friend." Inigo explained. "It was fun having you around, Serana. I mean it."

"It was great travelling with you too, Inigo. You always know how to brighten our days." Serana complimented him, making the cat blush.

"And what about me will you miss?" Lucien asked out of curiosity and a desire for validation.

"I'll miss your insight, honestly." Serana told him. "You always seem to know everything about anything, It was fun hearing a hundred facts about Minotaurs."

Lucien laughed. "It was fun learning a hundred facts about Minotaurs! ...Except for the horns. Ugh." He cringed upon recalling a horrific memory.

Faralda left the Hall of Countenance and saw Cura and her friends out in the courtyard before the entrance. She immediately approached the group. Cura, in particular. "We all have you to thank for saving the College. Very well done, Cura. I'm impressed."

"You're welcome, Faralda." Cura expressed.

"Tolfdir as Arch-Mage. Serana as Master Wizard. Certainly didn't anticipate that." Faralda mused. "And to think, Mirabelle questioned my allowing you into the College. I can just imagine the look on her face now."

"Harsh." Lucien shuddered.

"I should hope she's happy. And at peace." Cura redirected the topic. "Take care of yourself, Faralda."

"You as well, Cura. It was a pleasure to teach you. Good luck on your journey." Faralda commended her and her friends as she walked down the bridge.

"CURA! CURA, WAIT!" Colette Marence came running outside like a madwoman, knocking a few students aside in the process.

"Oh, no..." Cura groaned. Was she about to keep her there in an hour-long lecture?

"I'm glad I caught you right before you could run off!" Colette exclaimed, and Lucien lightly slid behind Cura for safety.

"She scares me." Lucien confessed to Inigo in a side whisper, who got a chuckle out of it.

"I have a gift for you. Well, it's from me and Sergius." Colette confessed, pulling out a new pair of Apprentice Robes.

"Apprentice Robes? But I already..." Cura silenced herself as she looked down and saw how disgusting and tattered hers were.

"Yes, yes, I know. But you're the Hero of Winterhold! No way in Oblivion was I going to let you leave here looking like... like that!" Colette pointed directly at the bloodstains. "So gauche! So garish! So... so.. unmannerly! Didn't Carcette teach you anything about self-presentation? Or do you Vigilants not mind looking like Butchers?"

Cura's robes had seen better days. They've taken lots of punishment over the years, she could admit. But she did feel sentimental towards them. Though, perhaps Colette was right. It was time for a change. She accepted the new Robes and swiftly changed them there on the spot. Wearing her armour beneath, there was no shame in doing so.

"See? Now you look like a warrior of Stendarr!" Colette insisted. "And I have seen plenty of them in the past!"

Cura wrapped her old, decrepit robes and placed them inside her satchel. "Thanks, Colette."

"Don't mention it, dearie. These new ones have a superior enchantment compared to those old rags." Colette explained. "The enchantment Sergius and I weaved onto it will boost your Restoration magicks, making them less taxing onto you, and it will also help your body regain magicka. And health. These robes will close your wounds on their own. Now, to your enemies, facing you alone is a nightmare, but with that - that's just a coup de grâce. And remember what the Augur taught you!"

"I will. Thank you." Cura looked over her left shoulder to the bridge behind her.

"I pity anyone who tries to stand in your way! Why, even before I taught you how to perfect your Restoration -" before Colette could go off on a tangent, Serana decided to show mercy on her friend.

"Colette, part of the main hall looks like it's about to collapse. Maybe you should check it out?" Serana suggested quickly.

"Ah, yes! Right away, Master Wizard!" Colette quickly turned her attention there, but paused to look back at Cura. "Good luck, dear! Send that big black Dragon to Oblivion! Good luck! Good luck! Good luck!" She resumed running back to the Hall of Elements.

Cura and Serana both chuckled. "Thanks for that."

"Anytime, pretty girl." Serana teased.

"Well, this is goodbye, everybody. Take care of yourselves!" Cura waved to the students of Winterhold, and to Serana, who happily reciprocated.

It was bittersweet; but a necessary action. The fate of the world was at stake, after all. If there were tragedies that could be prevented, Cura would prevent them. Were there any that occurred, she would remedy them.

Dragonborn, Dragonborn, by her honour is sworn, to keep evil forever at bay.

Cura, Lucien and Inigo exchanged a nod and embarked on their new journey, leaving the college behind them, but looking back at it one last time as they crossed that bridge.