This is my newest fan-fic. It is a side-project and The Vampire Prince will still be worked on as well. I know the first chapter's short, as are all of my others I hope you enjoy it.

A Brother's Hope

A dim candle lit up the corner of a room. A man sat hunched over stacks of ancient books and rows of dusty, brittle scrolls. He was writing as though he had all the time in the world. He was a tall and lanky Breton, wearing a bright red, long-sleeved undershirt and a black sleeveless tunic embroidered with golden runes along the hems on his lean torso; along with a boar hide belt looped around the man's waist. A pair of brown leather boots adorned his feet and black trousers tightened around his waist.

This man went by name of Leon Broderick. He was an attractive young man of twenty nine years old; his eyes were the brightest sapphire blue and carried a strange tinge of jade green within them. When he barely even glanced at you, you would feel as though he were staring through your soul.

Dear Brother,

I've heard about you and Marietta. I think it is great you are getting married, even though you are the last person I would imagine getting married. I hear she is quite the pretty one. Is what I'm hearing true? I hope so.

My apprentice has given me my letter of invite to the wedding. I will be there, brother, don't you worry.

I have gotten you a grand gift made by myself. I'm not going to tell you, of course; I don't want to ruin the surprise.

May your marriage be blessed by Dibella herself.

Your loving brother,

Leon Broderick


Leon put his quill down and rubbed his heavy lids, while folding the letter and sealing it with the family seal. After the wax dried, he glanced over to his door and shouted to his apprentice, "Castus! Come get this letter and give it to the messenger."

A small Imperial boy scuttled into the dark room, his face shrouded in darkness. "Yes, master," He answered, taking the letter and tucking it in his tunic. Castus then rushed from the room, a small click resounding from the closing wooden door.

Leon stood from his fine mahogany desk and blew the flame out of his candle, enclosing the room in an envelope of blackness. He sighed gently and laid down in his bed. Leon slowly drifted off to sleep.

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Castus handed the sealed letter to the messenger at door, "Master said to deliver this to Casamir Broderick; he lives in the Imperial City, in his manor there. Get it there as soon as you can."

Castus Brolus was a young Imperial boy of thirteen years old, the customary age for young men to become apprentices. His hair was cut neatly across his brow and it was a rich blonde color. His eyes were deep chocolate brown, specked with lighter brown in some places. He wore the same clothing as his master, though his undershirt was blue, the sleeveless tunic was a crimson red and his pants and shoes were black.

The boy went to his room and went to bed, eager to begin his training the next day.

Well written and i look forward to the next enstallment!!! Just one thing a bit short for my liking but it might just be me being picky...

In this chapter, I give thanks to FC4's informational guide called "The Mechanics of Magicka". I recommend this to anyone interested in writing a story about a mage.

Part Two


Leon rose from his satin bed, grabbed his lesson book, and put his clothes on. He moved throughout his manor with the utmost ease, bobbing and weaving through his many servants who hurried about, telling Leon good morning and the like. He smiled at each of them and said, "To you, too."

He entered the room of Castus. Leon bent down and gave the small boy a mild shake, awaking the sleeping boy slowly but surely. "Wake up, my apprentice. You'll begin your Destruction training today," Leon stated, feeling slightly excited for his apprentice. Leon had always been one to love learning and he was glad he was finally able to do the teaching.

Castus shot up from his bed at the word Destruction; it has been Castus' favorite school of magic not only for the benefit of protection, but he felt all the other schools were for women or girly men. Conjuration had also been one of his favorites, as well.

The Imperial boy rushed out to the courtyard, hopping over several stone benches. But he missed the last one and he fell very hard on the soft grass. A few of the guards laughed and said some disparaging things like, "That idiot. If he wants to be an acrobat, he's got the wrong teacher! Haha, little idiot." Castus felt tears creeping up inside him, but that's when Leon strode up and lifted the boy to his feet.

"You should be more careful, Castus," He consoled and then turned to his guards. "As for you, I suggest you keep your mouths shut unless you want your bones turned to ash. You two are grown men; act like it." The steel-suited guards quit snickering, cleared their throats, and stood at attention. Castus giggled and stuck his tongue out at the men. "Now, we'll start with the basics," Leon announced, the excited tone escaping from his mouth.

Leon started to pluck and weave the threads from the air with small unnoticeable movements in the palm of his left hand. The area around Leon's hand began to chill to an unbearable level and even though Castus was far enough away, he couldn't help but feel a chill run up his spine.

Castus' master released the freezing air at a glossy, red apple. It began to solidify into an arrowhead. The ice-arrowhead hit the apple in its center and it exploded in frozen chunks, raining down on the courtyard. Castus' jaw dropped and he said in astonishment, "You're going to teach me that?"

His master laughed, "No, no. That is too advanced for such a young one as yourself. I was just simply demonstrating what frost magic can do at the right level. Frost magic is what I am most adept at in the school of Destruction. You are going to find out what you are best at today."

"The process of casting a spell consists of weaving and focusing many of the threads of magicka inside your body into a patterned weave that will create a desired effect. Focus on your Destruction abilities and release whatever spell that may come from you. Understood?" Leon queried as he stepped a few paces behind his eager student.

Castus nodded his head and closed his eyes tightly; the threads began to show themselves to him. A ball of fire was appearing in his hand.

Castus looked down at his hand and aimed it at a crate near the ancient oak tree at the center of the courtyard. The small sphere of flame flew from his outstretched hand and placed a burn mark upon the crate, not going deeper than the surface.

Leon clapped his hands proudly and motioned for one of his servants to replace the crate. "Good, my apprentice. Fire can prove a great help with everything from something as mundane as heating cold soup to making an enemy to burst into flame. This will be your signature element from here on out, unless the situation you are in calls for something else entirely," He announced. "Come, let's head into town for dinner. I have someone I want you to meet."

"Who is it?" Castus questioned; his eyes wide.

Leon chuckled and patted the boy on the head. "Now, if I'd wanted you to know, I'd have told you."

The boy pouted his face and muttered, "Fine."


**********************

An hour later, Leon had put on his dress attire; a smooth sapphire blue velvet shirt with silver clasps, a pair of blue velvet pants, and silver trimmed shoes. "Castus! Let's go!" He shouted into the boy's door. "The stagecoach will be arriving shortly."

"Give me one moment, master," Castus shouted back, taking the loop of cloth from his white tunic and putting it around the clasp near the collar. He put on his black leather shoes, grabbed his coat, and hurried out of the door.

Leon and Castus entered beautiful stagecoach, covered in a crimson colored sating that was lined with golden thread. The horses which led it were the hardy white stallions from Leyawiin; they were powerful and could haul a ton of weight.

"Master, please tell who we're supposed to me meeting today," Castus begged after the first fifteen minutes of the ride.

"No, Castus. As I've said before, If I'd wanted you to know, I would have told you an hour ago," Leon said. I was like that once before, impatient and nosy. He'll learn just like I did. Leon thought, opening the satin curtain to see the compacted dirt road lined by the evergreen trees that gleamed in the sunlight of the late afternoon.

They arrived in Chorrol, where they exited the stagecoach at the southern gate and began to pace towards the Oak and Crosier, an inn with a delicious variety of foods from roast pig to a duck flamb?. It's run by a Khajiit named Talasma and it is a wonderful establishment. It was a smoky kind of inn having the aroma of succulent meats cooking. Leon quite enjoyed the place.

Talasma was busy wiping down a glass mug and paid no attention to the presence of Leon. He cleared his throat and she shot a glance up, then she livened up a bit. She began to speak in that raspy voice that Khajiit are known for, "Ah, Leon! Your friend has already arrived and is waiting in the back room." She paused for a moment while she put the glass mug and then declared again, "Follow me, please."

She led them to the hidden room in the back of the inn. Leon entered the brightly lit back room where the tables were made of the finest mahogany and oak.

Leon moved over to the table that another man sat, he was wearing blue robes with golden runes sewn into the cuffs and the hem of the hood. The man was old and had almost white hair. Leon sat, motioned for his apprentice to do so as well, and said, "Hannibal Traven, it is a pleasure as usual."

Castus' eyes widened as he heard the name. Wow! The Arch-Mage! I thought I'd never see him! He exclaimed in his mind.

"Hello there! It is so good to see you again," Traven replied, looking over at the small boy sitting next to Leon. "Who is this, Leon?"

"My apprentice, Castus Brolus."

"I'm sure you will teach him well." Traven outstretched his hand towards the boy and Castus took it immediately.

"It is an honor to meet you, sir," Castus said, hardly unable to hold his excitement back.

"Likewise, young one," Traven said kindly. He then turned to Leon and stated, "I hear that your brother is having his wedding on Tirdas. I was invited, along with Raminus Polus and his apprentice."

The other Khajiit waitress strode up to them and inquired, "What would you two like to eat?"