It was a cold night, the icy winds howled blowing down from the mountains to the west washing over the three travelers, the landscape around them was covered in a layer of snow all except the road that sported a slight dusting. Three figures clad in black, amber eyes stared out from under the leader's hood scanning the horizon for any possible threats.
Serana reached down to her saddlebag depositing a small satchel she'd taken from the body of a Bandit chief, he and his little group of friends had attempted to ambush them on the road, she shook her head slightly a small smirk appearing on her face while recalling the look of sheer horror on the Nords face after realizing the mistake he'd made.
The fight had been over in minutes those who survived the small skirmish retreating into the mountains, deciding to take a page from Mikael's book she look over most of the bodies for anything that might be valuable or possibly some information on why they'd been there in the first place, it wasn't the first time a small encounter with a group of bandits had turned out to be something beyond simply robbing them, especially when it involved Mikael.
It wasn't the first time some high-ranking Thalmor agent or politician growing weary of the possible threat the Dragonborn could pose, sending a small group of assassins or mercenaries to deal with him, it usually ended with those unlucky souls never being heard from again and the pay they'd received for the job ending up lining their targets pockets.
"Lass" Brynjolf said pulling Serana from her thoughts.
Turning to the Nightingale she asked "Yes?"
"I've been meaning to ask; do you know what the college is planning to do with the scrolls after we've left?" Brynjolf asked, it was an honest question and a good one to bring up. She doubted the college would attempt to keep the scrolls after the ritual was complete especially with Odahviing and Vahlokdoyol present at the time, but it wasn't the first time the college had come into possession of such powerful artefacts in the past.
The event's following the discovery of the eye of Magnus was still fresh in the minds of the college resident's and the people of Winterhold. True things had calmed down since then though there were still rumors floating around that the college were the ones to blame for the event, although few believed them. If anyone was to be blamed for what happened that day, it was that Thalmor Ancano, so many had died because of the actions of one man and his lust for the power the eye had offered.
Serana pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind deciding it was best not to bring up that man, or risk souring her mood and reliving memories that she'd rather forget. Serana turned her attention back to Brynjolf saying "Tolfdir is no fool, once we have Mikael back they'll be returned to Odahviing, Tolfdir respects Mikael and I'm certain he'll under his reason for wanting them hidden."
Brynjolf hummed in agreement turning his attention back to the road ahead, the group continued down the path for another ten minutes before stopping at the peak of a small hill, ahead of them was a small stone archway a slightly torn and ragged banner hung from its walls past the archway was a gathering of thatch houses lining the streets.
The once desolate and dying hold was now alive again and growing in size with every passing day. Even at this late hour, the streets were filled with many passers-by some merchants, travelers looking for a place to rest their head for the night or aspiring mages that had come to study at the prestigious college the city was known for.
Even a recluse such as herself marveled at the very sight of the revitalized city. Over the years the hold had received a generous sum of gold from an anonymous account in the cloud district, that income had slowly but surely aided the reconstruction and revitalization of the hold helping to bring back some of the glory they had lost after the events of the great collapse.
Serana couldn't help it as lips curled up slightly, she had a pretty good idea who that 'Mysterious Benefactor' was.
Arriving at the Frozen Hearth Inn the trio tied up their horses before continuing on foot towards the base of the ramp leading up to the bridge. "Halt, who comes this way." A confident voice demanded from them, Serana rolled her eyes glancing up at the archway portion of the bridge. There standing in the shadow of the archway was a thin, short figure that was just now coming into view.
"Wait is that you Serana?" she asked in some excitement.
"Who else would it be?" Serana replied with some mirth as she started making her way up the ramp.
"Tolfdir said we should be expecting you, he and our other guest are waiting for you in the Hall of the Elements. We had hoped you'd have arrived sooner than expected " Feralda said before her face shifted to one of confusion asking, "Where are the scrolls?"
Before they could answer a number of startled gasps and cries of panic echoed from the city behind them, all eyes turned skyward as two large shadows passed by overhead the beasts arrivals announced by a monstrous roar while they flew overhead. Serana could do little more than let out a nervous chuckle while rubbing the back of her neck "Yeah, about that..."
Feralda let out a long sigh turning towards Serena's companions, hoping for an explanation. "It's for the best you don't ask." Brynjolf said patting the Altmer on the shoulder offering whatever sympathies he could. Before Feralda could utter a reply, her attention was quickly shifted to a group of four or five guardsmen making their way through the small crowd that had gathered near the edge of the town watching the ancient beasts as they circled the college.
At that moment she dreaded the amount of paperwork and honeyed words she'd be required to fulfil in order to smooth this over, all the while sending a small glare towards Serana, who seemed to be keeping her eyes on anything other than the angry mage she'd strolled past innocently.
/
After crossing the bridge, a feat some might call daring due to its overall state, they entered the college passing under the front gate and into the courtyard. The college courtyard was relatively small and appeared to be locked in a state of eternal winter, although at the same time looked as if someone had deposited a more beautiful portion of Skyrim's landscape here, the snow seemed to only highlight this more.
The main building stood proud towering over them with a shaded walkway around the open space. In the center of the courtyard was a statue of a mage his robes billowing in the wind behind him his arms outstretched ready as if he were mid-way through casting a spell. In front of said statue was a well of pure Magicka, the glowing embers rising high into the sky above, casting the area in an ethereal glow.
"I still find it rather hard to believe Mikael would have turned down the opportunity to run the college" Karliah mused any mage worth their salt would undoubtedly accept if offered.
"Mikael always said there were those better and experienced than him to fill that role." Serana replied before continuing on towards the large double doors leading to the Hall of the elements.
"J'zargo was beginning to wonder when the three of you would arrive." The familiar voice of the Khajiit mage greeted them upon entry, said Cat-man leaning back against the wall beside the entrance to the Arch-mage quarters obviously having been waiting for them. "J'zargo would be wise to believe the incident outside is assurance you have the scrolls, yes?"
"Yes and No" Serana replied.
"Hmm" J'zargo hummed "This one would be appreciative if you were to explain."
"Mikael entrusted the scrolls to the dragons Odahviing and Vahlokdoyol, they will be overseeing the ritual the college has planned." Karliah explained receiving a nod in understanding from the Khajiit.
"J'zargo sees" he replied turning towards the large ornate gates behind him opening on their own accord allowing the mage entry to the grand hall, two figures occupied the center of the room one they recognized as Tolfdir While the other remained an enigma. The man judging by his figure was clad in a long flowing robe with burgundy linings, the cuffs of his sleeves and shoulders bearing intricate markings of the same color, beneath his robe he wore a dark blue tunic and pants, the traditional garb of a Psijic Monk.
Their conversation paused upon noticing the new arrivals the Altmer's hazel eyes watched them closely from beneath his hood "These are the ones you spoke of?" He asked the Arch-Mage.
"Yes" Tolfdir replied a gentle smile gracing his feature greeting the newcomers "Serana child"
"Tolfdir" Serana replied nodding to the Arch-mage, before turning a questioning look towards the Altmer mage.
"Ah yes." Tolfdir said recognizing her look of concern "This is Dorian Tavan, a monk of the Psijic order he and his compatriots are making their final preparations for the ritual, tell me were you successful in retrieving the scrolls "
"Yes, although there may have been some...complications." Serana replied.
"Of what sort child?" Tolfdir inquired
"Odahviing has agreed to turn over the scrolls to us, so long as he and another dragon Vahlokdoyol are present to oversee the ritual and that you ensure the scrolls will be returned to them after its completion." Serana explained before turning her attention towards the Psijic monk "And forgive me for asking but...I was under the impression the Psijic order didn't like interfering in situations like this. "
"Your assumption is...correct." Dorian continued "While under normal circumstances the Order would leave the task of making contact with Dragonborn in the hands of this college, my very presence here may be seen as an affront to some within the order. But under the circumstances, the council has ruled that we offer to you our aid, though neither myself nor our order can interfere with the events that shall follow soon after." Dorian then gestured to the four of them "That task must fall to you and your companions lady Volkihar."
"Define these...events" Karliah inquired with a raised eyebrow
"While the Dragonborns intentions may have been pure, his bargain with Hermaeus Mora has set in motion a chain of events that not even the order could have foreseen transpire. We have faith that Mikael will set things right, though your own intervention may aid in reaching such a favorable outcome." Dorian replied as the gates leading into the hall opened once more allowing a Young woman with dark grey skin and blood red eyes, garbed in the usual attire of one of the college apprentice's entry.
"Introductions aside." Tolfdir said noticing the arrival of one of the apprentices the monks had asked to aid in their preparations. "I believe the preparations required for the ritual are done, it would be wise not to keep the others waiting. " Tolfdir said
"Of course," Dorian replied respectfully
/
Mjoll leaned back against the castle's balustrades her arms folded over her chest as she watched the two monks making the finishing touches to a large diagram of intricate symbols and runes into the stonework of one of the towers. She'd received word from Tolfdir three days prior informing her of their discovery, Frea her companion for most the time she'd spent on Solsthiem had been thrilled by the news, although was forced to remain behind, her responsibilities as the Skaal shaman and her people demanding she stay.
Mjoll sighed she missed Frea, she was a skilled warrior and a kindhearted individual to boot, a sharp contrast to the man standing a few feet away from her "Oh... Oh! And here's the best part! He says to the man, ahem! 'That's not a horker, that's my wife!" The mad fool flung his head back howling with laughter and for a moment she wished one of the beasts currently circling the college would come and end her torment.
The mad jester sat against the wall cross-legged humming a small tune in hopes of passing the time, although what unnerved her the most was the emblem of the black hand present on his clothing. She knew why Mikael had gotten involved with those killers even if she didn't approve at the time.
The lioness closed her eyes letting out a calming breath, she didn't want to think about that day. Mjoll was pulled from her thoughts when the door leading out onto the college rooftops opened, Mjoll spotted Serana and the others following close behind Tolfdir and the Monk. The Altmer stopped beside his peers kneeling down he analyzed the set of runes, nodding in satisfaction he looked back towards the others.
"We're ready." He nodded
"In that case." Serana said turning her gaze skyward signaling to the beings flying above, a monstrous roar soon followed as the two dragons descended from above, Odahviing beat his wings coming to a stop above the college, while Vahlokdoyol perched himself atop the main tower looking down on them. Odahviing hovered a few meters above the mages a steel chest grasped tightly in his talons.
Depositing the chest in front of them the dragon beat his wings climbing back into the open sky. "Kos Ahtiid Kro. Be warned mage, do not test my promise to lady Volkihar." He rumbled the dragons' emerald eyes narrowed focusing on the three monks in particular.
Dorian turned his attention towards the steel chest in front of him, kneeling down he opened the lid reviling the contents inside. Despite a layer of dust coated the gold casing surrounding the legendary document the casing seemed to shine in the sunlight as it was lifted from the confines of the box. Dorian moved away from the chest allowing his brethren to retrieve the remaining two scrolls.
"Tell me?" Dorian asked turning to look at Serana "When you arrive, how do you intend to find him?"
Serana could only smirk "Knowing Mikael he'll have already started making a name for himself, we follow the stories, we find Mikael." She replied
Satisfied with the answer Dorian nodded to his brethren signaling for them to take up their positions "Then let us begin." Dorian said the others stood aside watching as Dorian took a position at one of the three corners of the runic outline alongside the other Psijic monks. Closing his eyes Dorian took a slow calming breath, opening his eyes he opened the scroll slowly instantly his vision was bombarded by constellations forged by the elder scroll, now was the time.
The world around them grew quiet as he began to speak one by one the monks followed, their voices unnaturally low as they chanted in a long-forgotten tongue. The snow billowed and swirled around in the center of the diagram floating up into the sky. A mass of dark storm clouds began to form above gathering in a spiral formation directed towards the ritual below thunder and lightning locked in an eternal battle, each fighting for dominance over the other.
The ground beneath their feet shook as a faint glow spread across the runes growing brighter by the second bathing the rooftop in an eldritch glow, at the very center of the runes the energy pooled before shooting up into the darkened sky above, forging a tower of golden light.
"By the nine" Tolfdir muttered under his breath. "It worked
"The gateway is open!" Dorian called out to them "But I do not know for how long, you must hurry."
"Then there's no time to waste" Tolfdir said turning to face the group "It's up to you now."
"We'll find him Tolfdir" Serana replied and with that, the unlikely group of adventurers approached the center of the ritual. With one final glance to one another, they stepped forward into the pillar of golden light vanishing from sight.
"May the nine watch over you all" Tolfdir muttered under his breath he could only wonder what awaited them on the other side, Tolfdir was thrust back into focus as the college shook beneath his feet the light at the center of the pillar growing in intensity expanding outwards violently. There was no time to warn them, let alone dodge what was coming, Tolfdir alongside the monks were blowback away from the pillar. The scrolls remain still, hovering in place as the pillar began expanding outward consuming them within.
Two roars sounded from above "Faal Kelle!" The voice bellowed in what seemed like alarm. Tolfdir raised his head skyward a small trickle of blood flowing from the small gash present on his forehead. His miss-matched eyes watch as the two beasts disappeared into the dark clouds above quickly followed by a bright flash of golden light.
With the scrolls gone along with their allies, the eldritch glow of the runes died down as the tower of pure light flickered before finally being snuffed out like the light of a dying ember. Tolfdir rolled onto his back staring up at the sky, the dark cloud slowly receding casting the light of the fading sun on the scene around him. The door leading to the stairwell burst open as several figures rushed out onto the rooftop.
Urag Gro-shrub the college's librarian and longtime friend of the Arch-mage knelt beside him slowly shifting him into a sitting position while Brelyna and Onmund tended to Dorian who lay a mere few feet away from him.
"Tolfdir, snap out of it old man." Urag said gently shaking the ageing Nord "By Malacath what happened here?"
Tolfdir blinked coming back to reality, staring up at this old friend he replied. "I fear we have made a terrible mistake."
Dun Dun Dun! Disaster strikes once again, those elder scrolls always so unpredictable even in the hands of those with the knowledge to use them. There we have it, the next chapter of shadows rising is out, our friends from Tamriel are making their way to the land under a shattered moon, what fate awaits them on the other side, who knows? (I do) Until then, leave a review favourite or follow if you like and remember watch the skies travellers.