So, I had finally made it to the College of Winterhold. Way behind schedule, but I made it. I felt that no matter what happened things would only go up from here.
There really wasn't much ceremony to my induction. I started classes the very day I arrived and was elevated to Adept within the week. Granted, I had been practicing magic for nearly two decades at this point so if anything I wasted a few days doing work that was below me.
You're already aware of my ability as a Shadow Mage. It should come as no surprise that uncovering the secrets of this often overlooked and largely unexplored form of magic is what drove me to study magic in the first place. Well, no, that's not accurate. It was Azra Nightwielder's work in general that inspired me, but mastery of the magic he pioneered was my goal.
He was a very accomplished mage. Back in my...in the Second Era, his teachings are commonly used among many professions. I think Hates-White-Rats mentioned she might have even met him once, or something like that.
Oh, how I envy you and your friend.
We can arrange a meeting!
No no, that's alright. After all he might not be...around. But that's another story for later. Possibly.
Shadow Magic doesn't fit neatly into any one of the modern schools of magic, but it does intersect with some of the concepts in Conjuration, Restoration, both of which also extend into the older school of Mysticism, and Illusion. While I didn't expect to learn more on this form of magic here, I did expect to be able to apply that knowledge in new ways.
And I was. Not long after becoming an Illusion Adept, I was able to create a more, hmm, practical use for it with the help of Drevis Neloren, the resident Illusion Master. At the time it was only a shadowy cloak that protects the caster from harm. I'm sure your Argonian friend has already mastered a similar spell.
So what of Alois? Did you see much of each other?
Sometimes. He was still something of a novice, so he was placed with the previous group of apprentices. I was mostly studying independently with some aid from Drevis and the Conjuration Expert, Phinis Gestor. Occasionally I'd run into him when consulting Faralda, the Destruction Master. There was also an...incident.
When we arrived, his sister Genevieve had been out on an assignment from the Archmage. The day she returned I found them catching up in the Arcaneum. Not the place I would have chosen. Then Alois spotted me.
"Hey mang! Come on over!" I must stress that this was a library. I don't know if my embarrasment showed, but his sister was visibly annoyed. She jabbed him in the ribs, which got him to sit down at least. Feeling everyone's eyes on me, I shuffled as quietly as possible to the exit.
Later I ran into them later in the Hall of Attainment, where Genevieve was fiddling with some sort of magical array. At the very least Alois apologized for his behavior. I think Urag, the Arcaneum's curator, probably needed the apologies more than I did.
"Anyways, this guy!"
"Don't touch me."
"We got him to thank for me making it up here, right M'aza?"
"Aza-jo." I corrected. I had earned the title, so I took it the moment I arrived. Also it was in the documentation.
"Ugh, right, I'm sorry. Aza-jo."
"Hi. So you're the one that's been enabling my brother's behavior." Alois laughed from his corner. "No, but seriously thanks for looking out for him. I'm Genevieve."
"I know. I heard your name going around the College. You're the one that found that orb put up in the Hall of the Elements, correct?"
"Yeah, that thing from Saarthal." She barely took her eyes off her work. "Don't know what it is yet, but we're working on it."
I've seen something like that Orb before. In the Elden Root Orrery. Interesting.
"Well, this is garbage." She said to Alois. "It's only one-way, and the spell is very primitive."
"It's some sort of transportation system?"
"That's right. I was thinking of putting it back up but there are some issues with it. It's fine, though. I can probably come up with something better." She turned back to Alois and handed some scrolls to him, speaking slowly. "Till then, use these. This one--the blue one--sets up an anchor, and these--orange--will take you back to it."
"I'm supposed to pick something up for Sergius Terrianus in Kynesgrove," Alois explained. "Hey, if you're not doing anything, you should come with!"
I considered it briefly. When I first arrived I didn't want any distractions, in spite of the ruins and barrows that littered the islands around the College that most likely held Word Walls. However, a short experimental trip to a filthy village in the middle of nowhere wasn't my idea of fun.
"No thank you."
"Another time then. As for me, I'm kinda sick of being cooped up here."
"I'm not going to waste my breath and ask you to stay out of trouble, so instead I'll ask you to be less of an idiot out there." She still wasted breath but... "Don't take too many risks, okay?"
"I'll be fine. You know I always am."
He unsealed the blue scroll and recited the spell inscribed in it, then touched one of the orbs on the teleportation device and he was whisked away in an instant. I swear that for a moment, Genevieve looked exhausted. She never took her eyes off of him. She straightened herself up as soon as he was gone.
"Well, I suppose I should get back to it." She didn't even look my way. "It was a pleasure."
» Tue Feb 16, 2016 6:07 am 
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cause ya know I can soooo see that happening!! 