Chapter 39 - Novel 14-Stepping outside

He climbed the stairs leading to the Arch-Mage's room, but something was strange, the College was too quiet…

/Whispers…/

As he reached the top, he noticed voices coming from Savos' room, it seemed someone had arrived there prior to him.

'Someone's talking with the Arch-Mage?'

He cautiously stepped into the hall, trying to sneak a peak into the conversation. He peeked his head through the corner, but was immediately met with several gazes.

There, at the round-table were multiple wizards with Savos at the center point directly facing the hallway. He recognized most of them, the Senior Scholars of each discipline of the College, Urag, the Librarian, an old man who's in charge of the underground herb gardens, the old Dunmer he met when he first entered the College, responsible for the handling of materials coming and exiting the College.

There were also a few others he rarely saw, such as two mages in dark blue robes. They were the guardian mages of the College, specializing in combat magic regardless of the school. They were often underground, maintaining many of the defensive magicks of the Academy while also assisting the professors and other advanced students in other more complicated rituals. He met them a few times during his study sessions with Savos.

Mirabelle was also there, looking tired as always.

"He's here. Approach us, apprentice." Savos commanded as he waved his hand, causing a gust of air to blow behind him, pushing him outside the corner and into the hallway

"Erm… Hello… Sorry for disturbing your… Meeting…"

"Don't worry apprentice, you aren't interfering with anything." Tolfidir, the sole Nord in the room, said as he gestured for Baden to approach

"Now, this won't take long. I have an announcement to make. I'm taking this child, Baden as my disciple." Savos said as he gently placed his hands on the table

Urug caressed his beard, unimpressed, "Wasn't that already the case?"

Mirabelle shook her head, replying:

"If I'm not mistaken, the Arch-Mage had previously said the boy was to undergo a year of studies to acquaint himself with the College's routine. Though I'm surprised by this development as well."

She turned to the Arch-Mage, "Do you plan on making him the next Arch-Mage?"

"Master Wizard, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Such conversations are better left a few decades from now. I still have many years ahead of me… Though it would be a lie to say I haven't considered it."

"It may not look like it, but he has already become a Novice in the Schools of Alteration, Restoration, and Destruction. Some of you can already attest to that. I believe that with his growth, an Arch-Mage will eventually rise in College again."

One of the guardians nodded faintly, surprised, "Trully, if he has reached this level within a year, then within ten more, he might become the leading apprentice in a given field. A few more decades and…"

The elderly mages all nodded faintly in agreement.

"It seems there is little disapproval. In that case, Baden."

Baden approached the Arch-Mage, standing next to him. He gave him a small ring decorated with seven gems. It felt slightly off, the energies within chaotic.

"This ring was once gifted to me by my master. It partially represents the authority of the Arch-Mage but now, it serves little purpose to me. It'll prove far greater in your hands than mine."

"The ring contains ancient enchantments to assist in the study of the elements. But is far from all-powerful. Use it well. Remember what it represents. Don't lose it."

"Thank you!…"

Baden looked intently at the ring. The other mages didn't know but Savos knew the boy was inspecting the magic within the ring.

They didn't know just how sensitive he truly was. If they knew, they would likely be in utter disbelief.

"You don't have to have to inspect the enchantment so closely. We have the documents of its creation within our archives… Now, we must continue our yearly meeting."

".. Professor…"

"Its Master now."

"Master!… Can I stay and listen?"

"Hum… Sit down on the side, do not disturb us."

"Yes!"

"With this matter concluded… Master Wizard, where were we?"

"We were discussing about this year's yearly expenditure and budget allocation Arch-Mage."

"I see, I remember now. Is there anything that requires my attention compared to last year? Do the others require a reminder of what we discussed?"

Tolfdir shook his head, "I fear not Arch-Mage, its been the same discussion every year for the past few. Our expenses aren't exactly the most diverse."

"Uhum, proceed them Master Wizard."

"Compared to last year, our budget has increased by about 22%. This mostly comes from the lack and type of experiments performed last year. We've seen far more successes and fewer failures. This has led to lesser materials being procured."

"We've also had fewer disciples join compared to the year prior. But on another note, because of the war on Hammerfell, we've been having difficulty procuring materials from the region, the prices of some materials have risen as much as 1000%."

Faralda shook her head in anguish, "These wars… One after the other driving prices sky high…"

"We've been seeking alternatives for many common resources, but to achieve the same quota, we may have to allocate up to 60% of our budget to buying these materials. A 200% increase compared to twenty years ago 20%."

Tarid nodded faintly. As the one in charge of handling everything that comes in and outside of the College, he knew those things very well.

"Hum… Truly, conflict has been brewing in every corner of the land. If the Great Collapse wasn't enough, now we're denied to spend our wealth where it matters. Continue."

"For the allocation… As a precaution, I've separate half of our budget for the acquisition of materials and emergencies. We can always allocate more if needed. The usual division is 40% for the acquisition of materials and 10% as emergency funds."

"I plan to follow the same scheme as last year and allocate 25% of the budget for financing the experiments of apprentices and scholars. 5% for the maintenance of infrastructure. 10% for logistics, and 5% as fluid funds."

"And lastly, 5% for the taxes. Although if you give the order, we could potentially do the same as last year and pay the taxes in the form of services for the Hold. I still believe it's the best use of our budget."

"… Finally, the reminder of last year's budget has been added to the treasure as usual."

"… Can the 40% of our budget cover the increase in costs of material acquisition?"

"Probably? There has been a slow increase in the demand for enchanted products, mostly weaponry. We could increase our production in that department and cover those without problem."

Savos nodded faintly, turning to another scholar.

"Sergius, would it be too taxing on your time to perform this task? There will be proper compensation of course."

"No problem. The apprentices needed some practice anyway, especially that kid... Better this than whatever experiments he's been doing."

"Excellent. This should cover things, you can consult with Mirabelle after this meeting is over, I give you my full authority to proceed on this matter."

""As you will, Arch-Mage.""

"… Erm…"

Suddently, Baden's thoughts escaped his lips.

"Disciple, have I told you not to interrupt us?"

Savos showed his disappointment, but deep down, he'd been expecting him to speak. This was an excellent way to discern his disciple's wisdom.

"Sorry! I… Isn't the budget for financing experiments the same as the acquisition of materials? Why are they put together?"

"It's simple, really. These 'materials', are in fact a long list of supplies needed to run the College. There is a long and complex list that simply takes far too much time to go over. Hence, we simplify it as that."

"The Academy offers these materials for free to all students use provided they keep it within common sense… Excessive use without reporting, when found, will lead from the apprentice's funds for experimentation being deducted, plus a taxation on the inconvenience of diminishing our calculated supplies."

"If the apprentice shows interest in consuming significant amounts of materials, they may contact me or the respective senior scholar to request an appropriate budget."

"Meanwhile, the budget for experimentation is exactly that. We finance the apprentice with gold so they may procure their own materials. Be it funding an expedition, the acquisition of materials outside of our lists, or the manufacturing of items within our outside College grounds."

"Truth is, our budget is a direct reflection of the wealth of the Hold. For its economy is entirely dependent on us."

"I see!… But isn't the budget for the acquisition of materials still too high?"

She sighed, "It's what war causes. It can drive up the prices of certain products but that isn't a one-way street. In the past, the values I presented were inverted. Most of our budget went to the experiments of the apprentices rather than replenishing our stocks of common goods."

"Those robes you wear are amidst those goods. That's exactly why we request a small entry fee for all students…"

"Fee?"

'But I paid no fee!'

"Your case was unique to you and brought most of what you needed to remain in the College. The initial fee pays for the expenses of a student throughout their first year, such as housing, food, and clothing."

'It also covers a few classes. Most apprentices are required to perform duties for the College so those classes can be justified… But that may be a bit much.'

"If a student cannot pay the fee, they can keep it on a tab with the College and repay it as services, most students do so within a year or two without issue."

Baden frowned faintly before reaching to his robes pockets and removing a few golden coins, putting them on the table as he tiptoed.

"Here."

"What are these for, child?" Mirabelle asked as a soft sigh escaped her lips

"Food, housing, and clothing!"

"Sigh, child…"

"Take them Master-Wizard, if the child wishes to contribute to the College, let him do it." Savos said with a faint smile as he waved his hand in the air

"… Understood… Then, here. A single golden coin is enough."

Baden nodded and smiled.

"Now… Let us proceed. And disciple, no more interruptions. I hope your curiosity was sated, but if you wish to ask questions, leave them for later. Everyone here is busy and tired. Let us not hold them back any more than necessary."

"Yes!…"

Time passed, and their meeting ended soon after.

…

"… Now that the meeting is over, do you have any questions, disciple?" Savos asked Baden after everyone left

"Is the Academy is financial trouble?"

"On the contrary. We have too much gold to spend. Even if the war, our coffers expand… Doesn't mean we'll spend it on anything. Be it a fraudulent research or overpriced goods, we won't let ourselves be fooled… But unusual conditions harbor controversial solution."

"… What now?"

Savos caressed his beard at his student's question, he knew what it meant, and he had an answer for it.

"We'll proceed just like last year. Come to me to ask your questions and requests and I'll answer them. You're still too young to join others in most classes… But I'll allow you to listen to the lectures. You shouldn't have any issue understanding them."

"Thank you!"

'Listening to others can raise my experience. It's something I greatly lacked throughout last year. It's a shame I can't directly take part in them, but I can understand. Throwing a little kid in the middle of multiple adults hauling spells left and right isn't right, no matter how competent the child is.'

'That factor is also holding me back. There are so many things I can do with what I learned, so many experiments to increase my experience… All locked away because of my age… But I can't blame them for this either.'

'Many experiments often require test subjects, especially the kind I want to do. And there's no one with reason who'd give a child access to such subjects. Besides, I don't think I'm ready either… Ready to do what must be done…'

"Then… Can I ask my questions?"

"Of course, but let us have a meal first. I haven't had much to eat recently."

"Professor…"

"Call me Master."

"Master… Don't you have spells and wards to combat hunger and tiredness?"

"Indeed I do, many even. It's no different to the others, albeit in far lower quantity and quality… Still, wards may reduce my need for sustenance, they do not remove it."

"Let us eat first. The rest can come later."

"Okay!"

The first day of the new year and Baden's 8th birthday! The one of many he'd spend in the College…

"Oh. I may be mistaken, but isn't today your birthday, disciple?"

"Yes! I'm eight years old today!"

"Congratulations. Let us hope and pray it be the first of several, many dozens." Savos replied with a faint smile

Baden had never thought about that, but maybe he'd go to live centuries, maybe even a millennia… Who knows what life had in wait for him?

Growing taller every day, two years flew by in a flash.

…

/Two years later…/

The seasons passed, apprentices joined and left the College, the tides came and went, carrying giant icebergs into the distance…

While the period of "peace" following the White-Gold Concordat was still in effect, a few major tales reached Baden's ears.

He didn't pay much attention to minor manners, but kept them in mind, writting down on a diary so he could keep track of events going on around the world.

Of the major events, a few were noteworthy:

4E 180, as a follow-up to the White-Gold Concordat, the Second Treaty of Stros M'kai was signed, which results in the Aldmeri forces withdrawing from Hammerfell. A victory few had expected. The Redguards had won, protecting their province without the assistance of the Empire.

4E 181, while Raven Rock's Ebony Mine completely dries up. And with it, much of prosperity of Solstheim. It was expected that in following years, the island is to grow poorer and poorer. But for the College, the only thing that mattered was that the supply of Ebony ore was gone.

To them, this meant that Ebony ore was likely going to jump up in prices, and that maybe other byproducts of the island would diminish in price as an attempt of the government to recoup their losses.

There were many other interesting bits and pieces of information, but they weren't anything worthwhile to keep in mind. Right now, there was an overbearing peace in the air, but he knew it wouldn't last long.

Baden continued his studies, pressing himself more and more to achieve excellence. And after three years of constant study, he was finally given a lab of his own where he'd be able to experiment to his heart's content.

Baden had learned and consumed a lot, but produced very little. A child like him wasn't expected to contribute much to the College, but he wanted to do something, no matter how little. It wasn't just because of a sense of belonging. He knew that if he wanted his position and authority to rise, then he needed to show all that he was worthy of it.

After much work, on his tenth birthday, his master was forced to accept it. Despite his age and "inexperience", Baden deserved a place to call his own.

Thus, if not in the Hall of Elements listening to the lessons, with his master, or in the Arcaneaum, Baden could only be found in his lab performing his experiments.

…

"… Master Wizard, excuse me for a moment."

"Yes, Arch-Mage. Is there something you need?"

"My disciple, have you seen him anywhere? I've looked all around yet I couldn't find him."

"He's in Winterhold."

"Winterhold? What is he doing down there?"

"Have you not heard of it?"

"… It seems something has eluded my ears…"

"I apologize Arch-Mage, I was under the impression you knew…"

"Its of little consequence now. Tell me why he's down there. The Hold doesn't appreciate our kind. Who let him go there by himself?"

"As far as I know, it began with his habits. As you know, he writes letters to his family every month, but one day, he helped a sick man recover, ever since then, he's been helping others like this."

"The people of the Hold don't seem bothered by his presence, either. Don't ask me why though… We've tried to provide healing services before but those folk are hard to please. I have no idea how he convinced them. But as far as I know, he helps them for free."

"You're telling me my disciple goes all the way to the Hold just to heal them and for free? Does he have such free time?… No… Knowing him, he'd say it's an 'experiment'… He might've even be using them to test his spells…"

When he thought of this, Savos had an intense headache.

'If he causes trouble down there, we may receive complaints or worse from the hold. Baden is smart enough to not harm anyone, but are those fools as smart? He wouldn't hesitate to defend himself at all.'

His eyebrows furrowed, Savos turned to the side and left the Hall of Elements.

"I'll go after him, there's something I'd like to discuss with him. If you need anything, wait for me to return."

"Do you need someone to accompany you, Arch-Mage?"

"No need. I have no intention of leaving for long. Especially given their attitude towards us, if they find out that me of all people have descended, they might associate another natural disaster with the College again since that's everything they can seemingly do."

"Understood, safe travels."

"It'll barely be a jog."

…

Savos stepped down from the College, passing by the gatekeeper and into the city. The moment he did so, the combination of his robes and race caused many to frown and throw gazes of suspicion in his direction. Some even spat as he walked past them.

'Nords are brutes.' He thought as he looked around, 'It takes ten thousand to make one rational Nord.'

It didn't take much for Savos to find his disciple, he merely sought the waves of energy and where they converge. Soon, he found his disciple.

He was inside a large Inn, The Frozen Hearth.

'I know this place. One of the few establishments that recognize the worth of the College. Most pilgrims wishing to join the College and even our apprentices stop by here to rest as they come and leave the Hold.'

Savos entered the inn without minding the gazes, and what he saw inside shook him for a moment.

A large crowd of people gathered over the bonfire as music was played by a bard in the corner. Nothing unusual for an Inn. However, what he soon realized was that they weren't surrounding the bonfire but rather a little boy in black robes.

The little boy stood on a chair, his hands on an elderly woman as he healed her body with restorative energies. Bringing back the redness to her otherwise pale face.

As he finished his procedure, the elderly woman slowly moved to kiss his forehead, thankful. On the side, her son deeply thanked Baden, calling him a blessed child to assist the needy.

Savos soon understood what transpired based solely on what he heard from the crowd. It seemed the elderly lady had been sick for weeks without recovery, and the family, too conservative to seek assistance from the mages, tried everything in their power to cure her, but to no avail.

'A simple disease, much less a cold, is nothing for my disciple to heal… These stubborn people. They'd rather die than to consult the College. It's no wonder this Hold grows poorer and weaker every season, these fools are too stuck in their old ways to see reality for what it is.'

'Nords are too slow to adapt. They hate change… Rather than reflect on the past and move on, they cling to it fiercely, even if it means death.'

'Fools.'

Interested in seeing things for a while longer, Savos enveloped his body in magic, turning invisible as he blended into the crowd. A simple spell to make others disregard him, child's play as his disciple would've said.

Speaking of him, after helping the old lady recover, he shared what he knew about her condition, including methods to prevent it from recurring, and once they thanked him again, they gave way to a desperate couple holding a feverish child.

With a single gesture, Baden overflowed the child's body with energy, bringing back his usual complexion before sharing what he believed was the reason for the child's condition. It was just a cold.

The parents knew of that, and they cried as they recounted how their child lost its footing and fell inside a tub full of freezing water as he played in their garden.

Like before, after they profoundly thanked him, another man approached him, this time in much worse condition. The man's hands were blue and half frozen, symptoms of frostbite.

This fool was akin to a beggar. After drinking all night, he fell unconscious in an inconspicuous place, only to wake up freezing the day before. It's a miracle he was even alive. He should thank his ancestors for his resilience.

Baden told him to be more careful as he prepared his magic. This time, with a more complex spell yet no different from the others from the commoners' perspective, he slowly pushed out the cold from the man's fingers, bringing them back to life.

The beggar thanked him deeply before leaving with his hands clasped in a prayer motion. Was he finally going to be responsible and stop drinking himself to unconsciousness? No way.

"…"

Savos stood there for the next ten minutes, seeing his disciple heal one after the other, and it was only when he healed his twentieth person in a row since he entered he stopped.

There were no more people to heal.

Baden looked with a small smile, thanked the innkeeper, and grabbed a meal for himself. The man in charge, an old Nord with blond hair and a long beard, welcomed him with a smile, serving him free food.

From his perspective, Baden was a beacon for business, always attracting dozens, if not all, of the possible clients he could have. Even if only a few ordered something, that was already enough business for the day.

Once Baden thanked the Nord and left, Savos went after him… Stopping only when they arrived at the College gates.

"How long are you going to ignore me, disciple? Do you know why I'm here?"

"… I'm sorry, master. I meant to tell you, but…"

"You forgot. Uhum… You've told me that numerous times before. I'll listen to your excuses in my room. Meet me there once you rest, for I'm certain you're tired."

"Thank you, I won't take long!"

Baden ran to his room without turning back, leaving Savos behind as he sighed faintly.

'This child alone made more for our reputation than many of us in decades… I've never bothered about his experiments. Practical experience is one of the many things I believe in, my only worry is that he's pushing things too far.'

'He seems to be seeking more and more subjects to test his magic on, only to be frustrated. At his rate, one day, amidst the constant frustration, he may reconsider his morals and aim for that which is prohibited… I've seen it happen far too many times for it to count.'

'I must do something before it's too late. At least until he can procure his own test subjects with no need to break his vows.'

"He's been given his own lab for a while, so I expect he'll be making some requests soon."

'I'll keep an eye on it.'

…

Meanwhile, inside his room…

"Phew… Another tiring morning."

'I've been doing this for half a year and everyday has been quite stressful. Thanks to it though I've increased my experience quite a bit.'

'Winterhold is one of the most remote and undeveloped Holds of Skyrim and that comes mostly from the disaster half a century ago. They lost far too much and those in charge are far too incompetent to do something about it.'

'Because of this, every day there's someone getting hurt, sick, or hungry. No less than 20% of its inhabitants are mages or travelers that won't remain here for long.'

'I can count in my hands the number of children in this hold, and the city itself is riddled with abandoned and broken houses. Because the population isn't increasing, it's decreasing.'

'In a century or two, Winterhold itself may disappear if things remain like this, although none of that is my problem… I care little for the Hold, but I know it isn't right to condemn those people for being ignorant.'

'I started healing people when two drunkards fought in the Inn when I went to deliver my letters. I go there every month so it was about time I met something like that. The next day, someone approached me warily asking if I could help them, and I did.'

'Ever since then, the number of people requesting help has been increasing. And because of that, I've healed thousands. Some people, multiple times even. The most common issue here is sickness from the cold and hunger. Even to a Nord, if they don't have the resources to remain slightly warm, this cold will kill them.'

'Winterhold is poor and lacks the resources for continuous procurement of materials such as wood. Through magic, I can heal them from those diseases, help them persevere through hunger, and give them the energy to continue their days.'

'I initially thought about collecting fees, but realized it isn't necessary. What I want is quantity of people for whatever minor issue they have. If I put a bar, then those unable to pay will be filtered. It doesn't matter what they think of this, so long I can progress my magic.'

'Practicing magic on others is usually what rises my crafts the most, but given restoration is one of the few things I can get the consent of others to perform, it's the School of Magic I have the most familiarity with. Surpassing even my other specialty, Alteration.'

'After six months helping others, the attitude of many of the citizens has changed, but they still greatly dislike the College. I believe they originally trusted me because of my age… I'm just a kid and a above all, a Nord with a story to about my birth. Not only that, I'm a descendent of the companions.'

'When putting it all together, even for these conservatives Nords, it makes them rethink their opinions of me at least once. So I'd say they went from dislike to tolerating my presence with animosity. Although I still believe most see me in a positive light.'

'As for the other Schools, practicing them has been somewhat difficult. With my lab, the number of things I can do has expanded, but it hasn't been that long since I was given one. So I'm still setting things up.'

[

The Mage: Alteration 63, Conjuration 34, Destruction 47, Enchanting 27, Illusion 20, Restoration 72.

The Thief: Alchemy 39, Light Armor 12, Lockpicking 25, Pickpocket 15, Sneak 34, Speech 38.

The Warrior: Archery 16, Block 9, Heavy Armor 11, One-handed 15, Smithing 20, Two-handed 17.

]

'As my competency in some crafts increases, it becomes harder and harder to determine the area my epiphanies belong to since those areas seem to blend into one another, granting me insights often into multiple areas at once.'

'That said, I've gained many Blessings over the last two years, almost doubling what I had before. I've greatly experimented with them, especially as I grew older. Wizards are expected to grow their inner talents as they grow older and in competency, and I've been recording all of the changes within me with a keen eye.'

'When I grew enough Blessings, I began my tests and invested them on the Constellation of the Thief. My conclusions were that the Thief increased my five senses, my dexterity, my creativity, and my wisdom in a manner different from the other two Constellations. A kind of "sagacity of the low-born" if I could put it in words.'

'After experiencing what this Constellation could offer, I changed my plans slightly, altering my ratios from 2:1:7 to 3:2:10. I believe this ratio would provide me the greatest benefit in the long run, especially as my body develops.'

'I believe that these blessings will directly impart my growth and that investing in them early will wield even greater results over time. My Master has already told me multiple times that my talent for magic is so abnormal that there may not even be proper records of individuals like me appearing.'

'Of course, there were several before. The closest one I can think of was the disaster of the Augur. An apprentice so talented and hardworking that his search for power became his undoing… I'll try not to fall on that same path.'

'So far, my investment of my Blessings has been 5:5:19. Not exactly the ratio I initially wanted, but the one I got after my experiments. It'll likely take me a while to balance them again, but I'll get there eventually.'

'I must only be careful not to raise it too high, there were mentions of individuals whose very power engulfed them like the Augur, if I create too much of an imbalance, who knows what may happen?'

'Leaving that aside, my crafts… The reason my restoration rose the most was obviously due to my acts with the populace and due to the wards my master taught me. Right now, I'm sustaining over ten wards with relative ease, but that's not something I can sustain constantly outside, especially with other spells active. I can only maintain them inside the College thanks to the abundant energy in the surroundings.'

'These wards are meant to protect me from physical, magical, and even mental threats. Assist me in recovering from fatigue, energy loss, and disease. It isn't different from the ones I learned two years ago, but they considerably more complex.'

'Alteration rose constantly due to the Spells I keep around me while in the College. However, I've been practicing the most with Telekinesis, one of the most energy-intensive spells I know. Maintaining it takes a lot of focus as well, so much so it can cause my wards and spells to go berserk if I don't pay attention.'

'Maintaining all of this spells at once takes its toll on me, but I've found my own ways of maintaining them. Every mage does it, otherwise they can't progress.'

'I like to think of magic as a sea of circuits and spells as bundles of wires. I am the power source, powering those wires, and my body is the circuit to deliver them energy. Spells are machines to power and maintain. That's how I see things.'

'I am a grid of multiple interconnected wires, that is how I see my magic. And it has served me well so far.'

'I believe that at this rate, within another year, I'll become an Adept of this School, which is more than enough to bec recognized as a high-ranking or senior member of the College. If not for my age, my room would've likely been moved to the Hall of Countanence where the other seniors live.'

'Perhaps once I become an Adept in two Schools, the others will be forced to admit my capabilities and grant me the room I deserve!… That said, I'm not in a rush. I don't need a bigger room anyway… nor the attention… I already receive enough as it is.'

'For the other Schools, there isn't much to say. I've been raising them mostly through studying and listening to classes, hence why their levels are lower. Illusion is a prime example of this, as this School specializes in tricking the senses of others, which is a great infringement in someone's privacy… This School will likely remain the lowest one for a very long time.'

'However, I have plans to change that. Now that I have built a good relationship with the people of Winterhold, perhaps I can slowly expose them to magic and convince them with a few "tricks". Illusion doesn't often need to be about causing someone to faint from fear or to make them think you're their mother… You can also trick the senses to perform the simplest of "party tricks".'

'But that's just a concept for now.'

'Conjuration has been rising steadily, but it's quite the complex School. I expect its growth to rise in speed as everything will now that I have a laboratory of my own, but within the next six to seven years I gave myself to become a master, it's unlikely it'll grow that much in time.'

'Besides, there's something I noticed. No matter how great my knowledge in a School is, it doesn't mean I'm omnipotent. To put in other words, there are thousands of people performing highly unique and specific researches throughout all corners of the continent. Just because I've become a master in a field, it doesn't make me all knowing of all those ideas.'

'However, it does make me more inclined to understand and participate in their research without confusion. And Conjuration is a great example of that. I've barely tapped into Necromancy, yet I can easily study basic and more complex tomes due to my higher understanding of the School.'

'Subjects are all part of the same weave, Schools of Magic are nothing but mortal constructs, hence why being a master in a field can make you understand others with greater ease than others.'

'Finally, Destruction is the one School I've gotten the most out of the rest because the Arch-Mage presses me quite a bit to master it. Likely because of some concerns he has… Maybe he wishes for me to have the ability to protect myself.'

'Who knows?'

'As for most crafts falling under the Thief and Warrior, I've raised them mostly from hearing the other Nords talk and share their stories with him. Some fragments of insight have also made their way to him during his studies as he came across manuscripts containing such details.'

'Alchemy rose because it's a major subject in the Academy, and Smithing rose as an investment on my part. I know that one day I may need to craft my own items, so I took some time to read and study the art of crafting.'

'One of my plans is once I raise my standing with the citizens of the Hold more, I'll try to ask for their insights in their given fields. Oftentimes, the first few classes someone can give about their subject, the insights they've accumulated throughout their lives, is what gives me the most experience of it all.'

"Now that I think about it, I don't know what to do after I… well… become a master."

'I wanted to grow strong so I wouldn't be swept away in what was to come, to protect my family from war and the other threats from this realm… This may take more than just power though.'

'It seems my original ideas of building a force will be necessary… But where do I start? It's not like I have the time to build a force or the possibility to get a backing… Haa, I'll think about that later.'

'My master is waiting for me… Let's hope he isn't too upset about that.'

…

"… and that's why I was there."

"I already got the gist of it. I do not blame you for your actions, active practice is paramount for any wizard. I only ask that you enforce caution. Not all will listen as well as those people did. Of course, this was a result of months of slow exposure, but there are also decades of culture behind them."

"Out there, others won't accept such open forms of magic. Few are those willing to listen, even fewer are those that continue to listen after being exposed to it."

"Now, today marks your third year in the College. I gave you permission to own a laboratory yet haven't heard news ever since. I'd like to understand what do you plan to do from here on to improve and develop your magic."

"My plans?… Erm… I was thinking of using Conjuration to call forth simple creatures to use as test subjects…"

"That is a valid approach. Anything else?"

"No? I go to the lessons, I study the archives, I compile my questions and practice with you, I also practice my spells on myself and the willing… Now I'm adding conjured test subjects."

"That much I know. What I'm asking is if you have any interest in performing your own experiments. With a lab, you must now report to the College the progress of your research. There's no need to share that which doesn't need to be shared, but the College must understand the underlying intent of your research before providing assistance if needed."

"As the supreme representative of the College, I offer the final word regarding any approval. Is there truly nothing you need to say directly to me?"

"Erm… If there was such a thing I would've said it, Master… But… I've been thinking about some projects… If I can even call them that…"

"Anything's a start. Tell me, let's see how viable they are."

"Well… You know, it's been a while since I visited my family. But it takes quite a long time to get there."

"Yes, I'm aware. If you need to return, plan it so you may go with the College's convoys. They often move around the province to collect materials."

"That's the problem… It takes too long… I uh… I wanted to try to make a portal…"

"A portal? To ask me this, you must be aware of the logistical issues, no?"

"More so… I wanted to try and make one, even if temporary."

"Teleportation shouldn't be beyond your current knowledge, why be so defensive?"

"I do know how to teleport to places I can see within a short range… But all the way to Whiterun? And making a portal? That I don't know… Although I haven't read any specific books on the subject either, it was only an interest of mine…"

"You haven't answered my question."

"… It's dangerous."

"… Sigh."

'There is the annoying habit of my disciple, his extreme caution… If only he could evenly spread it across lacking areas, then my complaints would vanish.'

"I'll assist you with this experiment of yours. However, the College dropped all attempts at creating gates connecting Skyrim long ago. There used to be some, but they vanished to time and whatever little record of them likely disappeared with the waves of the Great Collapse."

"Has no one tried to recreate them? Wouldn't it be for the College's benefit to be in control of a teleportation network throughout Skyrim?"

"If only. The past few centuries haven't been kind to magic. Sometimes, I wonder just how many ancient relics, artifacts, and ruins were destroyed by the collective assaults of commoners that either feared or rejected the arcane."

"I won't deny your experiments, but keep in mind the facts I've warned you about. Nords would prefer to waste years on the road than to tread across a portal once."

"… I know."

"Very well… What was that other experiment of yours? I hope it can be kept within College walls this time."

"… From a certain perspective it will?"

"… Sigh… What is it?"

"I want to fish out the ruins of Winterhold!"

Savos reached to his forehead. This disciple of his stressed him in a way he couldn't quite explain…

"… Let's start from the bottom…"

"That's where I want to be!"

"This isn't the time to jest, disciple."

"… I'm sorry sir…"

"Explain to me what you want to do. I'll determine its feasibility after."

"Well… It's not something I want to do now but rather something for the future… Close future… I know the College was once much larger, and so was Winterhold. My goal was to try and reach out to those ruins underwater and retrieve those fragments."

"And if possible, in the same way the College maintains itself, reinforce the structure of Winterhold and possibly even recover portions of its land!"

"Hum… It's not impossible… I understand what you want to do… It'll take a lot of research to tune the spells needed, it'll take quite some time, this is the kind of spell that will take a lifetime to complete."

"I have time!"

"Ha… Very well then, but one thing at a time… I also suggest that you find some simpler experiments to run in the meantime, yours are… Too grand."

"For now, show me your progress, I want to see how refined your magic has become since a month ago!"

"Yes, Master!"

…

Like that, the sun and moon danced in the skies. The seasons passed, and in the blink of an eye… Four years passed.

"… Everything's ready."

Atop the Hall of Elements, a young teenager Baden held a strange-looking staff akin to a form, a yellow crystal glowing at its center.

Around him, a complex magical circle had been etched on the stone below, five metal pylons above half his height spread across the circumference of the circle, oozing faint gas.

"Focus, remember the ritual." Savos proclaimed behind him, his arms behind his back

Baden wasn't alone atop the tower. Savos, together with several scholars, awaited nearby, all silently waiting for his ritual.

"I know."

/Clang!/

Baden slammed the bottom of his staff at the center of the circle, causing it to flare with power.

"I'm starting!"

"Understood."

Baden raised his right free hand into the air and felt the lingering trails of magicka. He grasped at the invisible and tugged at the untouchable. Slowly, the rules present in the world twisted under his fingers, and he began to impose his will onto the cold world.

He declared for it to move and return! Return to its previous shape! Rise from where it had fallen and become whole once more!

/Shaaank!/

Tendrils of dark-yellow energy jumped high into the air, curving above the skies of Winterhold before falling down like lightning bolts in a thunderstorm.

The waves grew chaotic, splashing high into the cliff. The sea bubbled, as if it was about to part again!

/SPLASH!/

From the distant sea, something rose from its depths. Stone… Bricks… Ancient rocks covered in sand and algae. They were hurled into the air, defying gravity!

Pulled by the yellow bolts, they flew across the air to the College, crashing against its base, making the whole land shake!

/BOOM!/

/BOOM!/

/BOOM!/

One after the other, these massive boulders crashed against the College, binding as they slowly showed their true purpose!

From the sea to the land where the College stood, the large boulders formed another large pillar behind the Hall of the Elements, expanding the area of the College!

Wisps of energy flowed between the crevices of the found rocks like a weaver's tread on fabric. They bound everything tightly as if a giant spider had tucked them together.

However, Baden wasn't done yet. The materials had only been put in place, they now needed to return to their original state!

/CRACKLE!/

Sparks of yellow light escaped his hands, making their way down toward the stone. A massive force fell down on them, crushing them tightly as light was released from their crevices.

/FLASH!/

When the force reached its apex, a flash of light blinded all and in its place, the pillar of wet stone remained. There were still faint cracks in its form, but Baden believed it to be stable enough for now.

"It's done. It's a success… Let's continue!"

"Ahem… Another day, perhaps… This much is enough for now." Savos proclaimed as he took a deep breath

"We must ensure the stability of the foundation and compare it to the previous one. It must not just be like it was before but stronger, otherwise, another strong storm will wash it away like it did during the Great Collapse."

"If the foundation is acceptable, then we can extend the College's protective magicks to further reinforce it, preventing it from being washed away in the event of another geological anomaly."

Savos turned to the Senior Scholars and proclaimed:

"Let us focus our attention on studying the stability of the restored foundation, until further notice, other activities of the College are hereby halted!"

""Per your order.""

Following this historical act, many of the scholar and senior mages went to consult with both Savos and Baden before proceeding to the pillar of stone. Some too fearful to step above.

They had much to discuss and if everything went as intended, today would mark a revolutionary day in the College's history.

Baden's spell was simple yet complex to some. The spell was about finding the natural state of a broken item and restore it to that state. However, when dealing with a small mountain that cracked open due to a storm, how does one define "natural"?

Baden found the solution pretty simple. When an item broke, it released energy as it changed forms and states. In this world, all items contained energy. Thus, every item could be used as an alchemical product, be it air, dust, glass, or something even more vile…

The idea of the spell was to lock onto this energy within an item and then create a tread that would bind another item with similar energies to it. In other worlds, it would bind the pieces that had broken off from the whole. And if enough energy was provided, even undo the changes the elements had caused to it.

Of course, the spell wasn't perfect, evident by the many cracks and imperfections in the stone; however, as long as it was strong and stable, stronger energy could fill those cracks, creating an even stronger binding force that'd secure them all in place.

This little spell of his increased the College's total area by about 30%, even so, that wasn't Baden's original intention.

He looked at the fragments on the stone, and his eyes sharpened. 'Ruins.' He thought as he investigated them.

The College of Winterhold was once much bigger than its current form. While its core remained intact, the whole of Winterhold was once built around it.

The College possessed many buildings to supply its demands, much of it now drenched who knows how deep in the ocean. Still, Baden could feel the energy of some items of considerable power through scrying rituals. If he could bring them back to the College and restore it to its former glory, then a new golden age would dawn upon it.

His goal was to expand the College's size and restore many of long-lost items and the city of Winterhold itself. Although he had begun to reconsider whether or not to follow up with those thoughts.

The city of Winterhold was ruled by a narrow-minded individual, and as a mage, he wished not to give him any more power. And restoring Winterhold to its former state would grant him unimaginable authority, especially since the College wouldn't be able to claim such a large area as its own… They didn't even need such space to begin with.

Maybe some experiments could be performed on such wide space, but the citizens wouldn't be happy to have the mages take over what they once believed was rightfully theirs. If they did so, it wouldn't be beyond the rulers to just claim the mages caused a disaster, so they could claim such area later on.

After all, over half of the students of the College were Dunmer, and they tend to live well over 200 years. 50 to 70 years of preparation isn't much in their long lives.

'I don't need to think about that for now. What matters now is understanding the imperfections of this ritual and improving it so I can increase its scale and effectiveness. If I do things right, it wouldn't take long to recover most of Winterhold within the next few years at all.'

'I've experimented with this spell in contained experiments, but now that I've cast it for good I can already tell some of the mistakes within. Fixing them shouldn't take long though. I'll do it after this is over.'

"What has taken your thoughts, disciple?"

"This spell is incomplete. There's much left to correct…"

"Of course there is, but you shouldn't pursue perfection. Restoring this much of the terrain is already a miracle, to do any more… You'd have to alter time itself."

"Focusing on the present is already enough. Your actions today have built great merit within the College… It seems its time for you to graduate from your apprentice status."

"You mean…"

"We shall officialize this later, but under my authority, you're now a senior mage of the College of Winterhold, and this grants you the right to participate in some of the decision-making policies of the College."

He put his hands on Baden's shoulders, "Let us first resolve this issue. Once the protocol is formulated, we'll use it as your entry into the ranks of a Master."

"Stand proud, for you have reached a level many strive their wholes lives to achieve. Do not forget the privilege that is being able to wield and shape magic as effortlessly as you do."

"I never will."

"Hum… I trust you… Now, let's join them. This doesn't seem like a task that will end shortly, so we better finish our investigations before nightfall."

"Understood!"

Baden jumped from the top of the tower without a care, floating down with a faint smile as he joined the others on the ground below.

Savos watched him with a calm and collected expression, his emotions hidden behind his dull eyes.

The day passed quickly as the wizards collected their data. For the rest of the night, they remained together in the Hall of Elements to discuss what had to be done to secure the structure of the stone, and after brainstorming for the whole night, they finished the rough schematics of their plan before dawn.

On the next day, they began reinforcing the structure and integrating it with the rest of the College, filling the cracks of the stone by manipulating it with arcane forces. Molding the stone like clay, fusing it all together like one singular block.

After seven days, with magic flowing through it like blood inside their veins, this foundation of stone was now even stronger than the one below the College.

While Savos did not allow for construction or mining to be performed on the structure given he wanted further research into the foundation, he allowed for another pillar to be erected and fused to the main structure of the College, and Baden already knew where the second one would remain.

His goal was to raise a pillar right beneath the floating bridge of the College, a sight that appalled him for years. But while he prepared for that, he focused his attention elsewhere.

"… These ruins… According to ancient maps I found in the Arcanaeum. The College once had a dozen Halls for a multitude of purposes."

'The original structure of the College was that of multiple rings connecting at the center tower that is the Hall of Elements. Around these rings, the Halls are constructed with wide open space inside. However, because of the Great Collapse, the backside of the College fell into the ocean with everything, including the apprentices inside.'

'And that was only a portion of it all. Winterhold possessed further facilities that were part of an ecosystem with the College at its center. Many of those facilities should still be down there, and while I have no intention of recovering them, the materials they possessed are still highly valuable.'

'The reason why the back portion of the College fell into the ocean was because those regions weren't protected by the ancient magicks put in place by the College's creator, Arch-Mage Shalidor. Otherwise, they'd still be around.'

'If I focus my attention on these ruins, I'll definitely be able to recover the lost sectors of the College… But first I should try to create the foundation so they don't remain floating in the air.'

'That may be difficulty to maintain even with my abilities. If I'm given time I may be able to make a few large houses float for a while, but I haven't exactly studied such magic… I don't even know if there's any like this in the College.'

'As I advance further in the fields I realize that I'm beginning to reach points where there is no conclusive answer. No further research, only ideas and theories and no proved theorems.'

"… It seems the time for me to leave is fast approaching."

'There is much to find out there. If I can source materials and items to the College, I'll be able to continue my research in the future. If I raid a Dungeon out there, I won't have the time to sort through ancient books on my own. It's best if they're left off here with the College… But I'm thinking a bit too ahead of time.'

'My abilities have grown, yes. But am I strong enough to face what's out there?…'

Baden thought of his abilities, his progress so far:

[

The Mage: Alteration 91, Conjuration 72, Destruction 81, Enchanting 50, Illusion 56, Restoration 93.

The Thief: Alchemy 62, Light Armor 23, Lockpicking 25, Pickpocket 15, Sneak 45, Speech 52.

The Warrior: Archery 21, Block 13, Heavy Armor 14, One-handed 32, Smithing 38, Two-handed 27.

]

'It took me seven years to accomplish this, its power beyond that of most mortals, yet I know it's only the tip of the iceberg.'

'There's still much to learn at the College, but unless I want to remain bound here for another one hundred years, I don't think I'll be able to get what I want. Maybe never. The amount of power I'd need to survive in the future… Or rather, to directly intervene in it…'

'This much is already enough to survive, I wager, but is that enough?'

'Is just surviving what I want?'

"…"

'… No matter my progress, I'll leave the College to go on my journey either in two years at the earliest or three at the latest.'

'Besides, to finish my major project of creating a portal outside of the College, I'll need to leave and mobilize local forces for the construction of an appropriate platform… But that part of the project is still being developed.'

'Either way, no matter how much theoretical knowledge I gather, I still need to supplement it with some practical exercises. Lab work doesn't count. It may be too soon, but life in the College is growing stale. I'm tired of seeing white every day when I look outside.'

'The College has been dwindling everyday. Maybe with this success, more mages will be attracted to the College, but as of now, ever since I enrolled, we lost over twenty members. Many of them experienced apprentices.'

'There have been many senior mages that have joined the College, but they rarely remained for long. I usually consider those that remain for less than two years mere passerby.'

'And amidst those, I've seen all kinds of strange and psychotic individuals. Some were outcast for performing extremely dangerous research, others weren't right in their head, others felt the College's rules were too tight… Honestly, their arguments have merit, but most of them were just batshit insane.'

'Not many can remain for as long as I have. If they do remain this long, they usually remain for decades. Those that don't either leave and abandon magic for the most part, or they settle down somewhere to either continue their studies or just to make use of what they know, although in one way or another, they always continue their studies.'

'And of course, the rest… Died. Every year, I think one or three apprentices die in their studies. It's always a shame to see, especially when it's someone you know.'

'That's why I didn't try to build close connections with others. However recently, things have changed. I'm not the youngest mage around, nor is my age that different from some of the more recent apprentices.'

'Because of this, I've become the center of attention among them. I don't particularly enjoy it, but I do not reject it either. I don't want to become one of those mages that are antisocial. But it can get distracting and I suppose that with time, I'll grow tired of it all.'

'All that said, my initial goal has been reached and I still have three years left before I complete ten years since I've come to the College… And I think that'll be my next goal.'

'Once I get outside… Sigh… There's just too much to do.'

"For now… I have to finish this Spell, and after that… Finish my other projects."

'I took many smaller projects in these years, but most of them were around helping the professors in their research. Most of my own research was all about making spells to assist me in raising my crafts after, so its not entirely something I'm interested in. It's just about the efficiency… Although there have been some side projects of mine…'

'I've been making use of my abilities to try and create simple mechanisms. My recent creation was a simple mechanical clock that I made in my spare time, but the mages have called it "revolutionary"… I have kept most of the research hidden for now and the others don't seem too interested in it for now, but its something that may be worth investing some time over in the future.'

'Overall, I don't utterly dislike how things went, but had it not been for these efforts, I wouldn't have gained so many blessings. Right now, I've distributed them as I originally intended four years ago, making them 9:6:30.'

'And the results are showing, my magical growth has already surpassed all mages except the Arch-Mage, but I believe I'll surpass them as well. Not nearly enough to beat him in a direct confrontation but still.'

'Master says my energy is like a powerful bonfire in the dark. If I don't control it well, any mage would be able to notice me no matter where I am. And that could prove dangerous.'

"… Baden!"

"Hm?"

Looking at the scenery, Baden was unable to tell as someone approached him from the side. It was a young lady with pale, yellowish-golden skin. Her ears were sharp and long, and her golden-platinum hair reached all the way to her knees.

She ran around the walls of the College as the frigid wind cut through her hair, yet she showed little discomfort.

"Rinima. What brings you here at this… GUGH?!"

Before he could even finish, she rammed into his stomach, almost sending him flying through the edge of the wall. If not for his magics, he'd likely be falling through the precipice by now.

"C-Cough! Why the hurry?…"

"Can you stop speaking like those uncles? It makes you look old. I've had enough of it with my older brother already." She replied with a snort as she looked up at him

Being around his age, she was still half a palm lower than him, and Baden was tall for his age.

Nords were usually tall and muscular, but so were the Aldmer. If Baden wasn't an unusually tall teen, then he'd be overshadowed by this little girl.

"I was looking for you all morning! Are you casting those spells without me again?!"

"Rinima… It's my duty to perform them. I…"

"BLA BLA! Arch-Mage's disciple and whatnot, I heard that talk before! Let's do something else, this is boring!" She exclaimed as she held onto his hand

"Well… I'm already done here, but I was planning on eating something…"

"We can eat later! Magic comes first! Besides, with all the wards and spells on you, do you even grow hungry? I often see you studying deep in the night for multiple days straight! Do you even sleep?"

"I do Rinima, I like sleeping and it's good for my growth… I can't…"

"Can't get smaller than me, I know!"

"That's not what I was trying to say…"

"Less talking, more running!"

She pulled him to the edge of the walls and jumped into the courtyard. Despite her age, she effortlessly glided down while Baden did the same.

When they landed, a senior mage saw them and frowned. He knew their identities, especially Baden's, but this was no excuse to break College rules. So he went after them to reprimand them for their acts…

"RUN!"

Rinima's hands turned translucent as white light downed her skin, turning her invisible to the naked eye… although her feet still left clear traces in the snow.

Baden rolled his eyes, turning around momentarily to bow to the senior mage before running after her. They ran all the way to one of the many floating pillars Baden had risen and fused to the Academy. They were all prohibited to apprentices like her, but that didn't stop the unruly girl.

Rinima was a young Aldmer who recently joined the College last year due to the increasing pressure from her household. Due to the harsh policies of the Aldmeri Dominion, her family, a countryside nobility, was forced to make concessions as the Dominion's influence expanded.

To avoid getting her into the changes within the family, her father sent her to Skyrim as far away from them as he could to avoid forcing him into something she didn't desire… Forced marriage.

The Dominion valued bloodline purity and certain features in the body. Her family had followed those rules for generations now. Still, it didn't mean their family was ready to sell off their daughter to some noble just because her features, when combined with his, would make for more genetic perfect and pleasing descendants.

Many thought like them, most were killed or exiled. If you did not conform, you were eliminated. That was the Dominion.

She did not come alone, her older brother, just shy of 19-years-old, came with her as well as a guardian. Arrogant and full of himself from learning magic from a young age, he was soon humbled when faced with Baden, who quickly convinced him to become his "lab-rat". In truth, Baden needed someone proficient in defensive magic and wards to become his… target practice.

Driven by his sense of superiority, he volunteered to receive his spells… Only to be faced with Baden's might assault. Ever since then, he was unable to recover from his humiliation, every once in a while offering to become his target dummy to prove his magical superiority.

Even after a whole year, he has yet to prove that fact… Meanwhile, his sister grew to idolize him. As the one closest to her in age, he represented much of whom she wanted to be. A follower of the magical arts, unbound by laws and expectations.

Truth is, Baden was faced with much expectation but often overlooked it or ignored it. To him, his progress was most evident to himself. But it wasn't like he didn't understand her.

Since they were close in age, he'd go around with her in her many adventures, especially since it'd help him practice magic he'd either neglect or be too mature to use, and be something he hasn't been able to be… a kid.

Rinima loved to cause trouble and was hyperactive. Her brother disliked those features in her, thinking they were beneath someone of her stature, but she couldn't care less. She believed magic was about removing limitations and going with the flow, something her brother lacked dearly.

She even believed if he wasn't so stuck up on those aspects, he'd be able to greatly improve his magic. Though if that'd be enough for him to catch up to Baden, that she didn't know.

"Rinima… what brings you to me now? Another one of those "experiments"? Is it turning snow golden? Change the size of all socks in the College? Replace a professor's notebook with the lusty argonian maid again?"

"I… That second idea isn't so bad actually… and forget about that last one! Ahem… I've just been thinking… about the future."

"… So much for calling me old."

"Oh, shut up!" She exclaimed, stomping her feet on the ground like a child

"I just… soon enough, I'll become an adult and then… I'll likely have to return."

"At first, I really wanted to. This place is cold, boring, bland, the magic is half decent, the people aren't welcoming, the sky is just as bland… did I say boring?"

"Yes you did."

"Good, I'll say it again… This place is boring!"

Her voice echoed in the precipices below, vanishing amidst the waves.

"But at the same time… I don't want to return… I don't want to marry an old man that's as dull as my brother… not when he already has another wife."

"So you'd marry him if he didn't have one?"

"EWW NO!" She retorted with a chuckle, raising the snow on the ground with levitation and throwing it at him

Baden effortlessly grabbed the ball and threw it back at him. They kept doing this for a good while until Rinima threw the ball aside, tired.

"I… want to go outside… and do something else. I want to explore, see the world… Baden, have you ever thought about going outside?"

"I did and I will."

"Yeah, I thought you'd prefer to remain… wait, what?! You really mean it?!"

"Stop screaming. You're so loud they might hear us all the way from Winterhold…"

"I don't care if they hear us! What do you mean by leaving?!"

"Well, it's simple isn't it? I'll become an adult soon as well. And my plans remained the same ever since I joined the College. I'd give myself ten years to study magic and then explore the world, that was the promise I made myself when I was six."

"For one year, I studied on my own, and now, it's been seven since I joined. In two more years I'll become an adult and complete thar promise. And it just so happens I'm finishing my project as well. To put it in practice, a respective site has to be constructed across two points, so before that, someone has to get there."

"My plan was to leave with my research as a reason when that time came. But recently, I've been thinking of just staying a year longer to complete some other side research before doing so… I've recently begun to study other languages so I don't find myself lost out there… well… I've always studied them in my free time, but I've been putting effort into them only recently."

"Languages? Research? What's that all about?!"

"… Sigh… It's nothing secretive. My main research aside from what's beneath us, is teleportation. I plan on reactivating the College's warp system that was destroyed and abandoned during the Oblivion Crisis."

"WOW! Is that a thing?!"

"I suppose not many know… The College used to be the main authority on magic in Skyrim with the Mages Guild overseeing magic in general across the Empire."

"After the Oblivion Crisis, due to the immense anti-magic sentiment brewing throughout the empire due to the invasion, the Guild was disbanded and the College was forced to retreat to its central land within Winterhold where the sentiment was diminished from the generations of mages and the culture of the city."

"This led to most of the infrastructure the College and the Guild supported throughout Skyrim to collapse in the short span of a few years. And that's not considering the extreme damage caused by the invasion, most of it has yet to heal if it'll ever."

"Skyrim is riddled with those old wounds, the thousands of ruins scattered around are proof of that… anyhow… those systems were left behind with none to repair leading to a whole array of issues which only led to greater distrust between the common folk and mages."

"Still, the College endured. For decades, they remained confined to the College leaving rarely if ever. And as time passed on and the people with greater distrust… well… died from old age. The College resumed some operations. Trying to reclaim contact with the province."

"But then the Great Collapse occurred, as if waiting for the most opportune time to strike. Over three-fourths of Winterhold fell to the sea with much of the College's sub structures and the little trust the people of Winterhold had for mages."

"Ever since then, nearly half a century later, little has changed, and it doesn't seem it will. At this rate, Winterhold will vanish before their resentment. I don't blame them, only their ignorance."

"Thus, here's my goal. I want to explore what was left behind, to go outside and complete my research and revitalize what was forgotten! That I think is worth doing… because let's be frank. I think my ass is turning square from all the sitting."

"… woah… I didn't think you'd have put so much thought into it… I feel… quite stupid for worrying so much."

"Rinima. There is no stupidity in worrying about the future. All do, even sages… Gods too. I worry too, that's why I work so hard."

"You worry about the future? What's there to worry about?"

"… Everything."

"Everything?… Oh, of course! You always worry about everything!"

"Not that again… Rinima, I'm not a worry heart, I'm just cautious…"

She smiled, clenching onto his robes.

"Then, once the time comes for you to leave, bring me with you!"

"… If you can learn the basics of self defense and complete the classes as I told you to. I might consider doing that. But as you're now, it's a solid no."

"Then I will learn it! I'll learn everything, but you'll bring me with you!"

"You'll have to convince that brother of yours too, so you better train your tongue too, ha!" Baden joked as he pulled her after him

"Now, if you want to do an experiment, I just have something in mind. Professor Laaneth promised to teach me the incantation to conjure a Dremora. If you promise to remain quiet and preferably far away from the ritual zone, I could attempt to convince her to let you watch."

"Please! I promise not to make a squeak! I'll be as quiet as the snow falling on the ground in Winter!"

"Ha… The same snow you enchanted to make squeaky noises when stepped on?"

"That was a joke!"

"Haha… Fine, but we still have some time. Let's eat first… I'm famished."

"What about after? What's the plan?"

"After what? Do you think conjuring a Dremora is easy? This may take days of continuous effort!"

"Please, don't joke with me Baden, you probably already know how to do it but are too fearful to do it, so you convinced a professor to teach you so you can do it with confidence."

"…"

"I knew it."

"I didn't say anything!… But tonight I was planning my research on the ruins found on the 'Bound Pillars' I've raised. So if you don't mind some field work, then be my guest."

"Yay!"

The two went on their way to find a warm meal, something they do numerous times again as they already did in the months prior.

Others would continue to come and go like the seasons of the year, and before they knew, another three years had passed, and the promised time had finally…

Arrived.

…

/Three years later… Ten years since Baden joined the College of Winterhold…/

"… Disciple. Today is the day you leave, isn't it?"

"Yes, Master. We scheduled the day for the first day of the year."

"Uhum, I remember now… I apologize for my lack of awareness, you know how things have been recently. Ever since the success of your spells three years ago, the College has been incredibly busy."

"Reconstruction is at an all time high… Cataloging and assisting with the containment and repair of old relics has taken quite its toll on me… Overseeing it all has left me with little time to do my experiments."

"… I apologize once again…"

"You shouldn't. This is an excellent problem to have. For many decades the College has been unable to recover, much less think about what was lost during the Great Collapse… now, we've recovered much of it."

"There's still much to do if we wish to restore the College to how it was prior to the Oblivion Crisis, but it is a start… The smell of of the sea alone is quite strong and while most have grown used to it, some still complain."

"Remind me again… What exactly do you plan on doing outside?"

"As we've been discussing, my goal is to check upon some, if not every, branch of the College that was either abandoned or destroyed in the last two centuries, and secure any potential relics and items while containing any disturbances and anomalies. If impossible, I am to report them upon my return."

"At the same time, I am to check upon apprentices whose fate is unknown so we can add them to our records. And as I make my way across the province, attempt to create deeper diplomatic ties to the Holds of each region and possibly even receive their endorsement for the creation of portals connecting the cities to the College."

"If not possible, then a simpler deal should suffice."

"I remember it all now, yes… Rumors must've spread throughout the province by now, disciple. All must know of the College's efforts in restoring the land and that has attracted a great deal of attention to us… be it positive or negative."

"This is the prime time to renew our connections to the Holds. We've been secluded for far too long, and while I disapprove of shacking our status as a neutral force, the College is, at the end of the day, part of Skyrim."

"If we are to connect with a force, then it has to be a local one… and we need it. We lack materials and the unexpected influx of disciples has left us in dire need of basic resources. We shouldn't be having an issue anytime soon, but having more options to tug at is necessary."

"I only ask you to be careful of your position. Out there, your authority will be akin to mine, a representative of the Academy, the ring in your hand is proof of your identity… do not let me down."

"I won't, Master. I know the responsibilities my position and power carry."

"Excellent. Be mindful that this is a period of extreme tension. As a Nord, others shouldn't have much of an issue looking at you, even if they distrust magic… as the next-in-line for this position, building connections with the leaders of each Hold is paramount."

"I expect not that you'll build a similar connection as you did to the citizens of Winterhold, but as long as they respect us… you… all is well."

"The Holds procure our services. Enchanting mostly, but they do not respect us. Individuals may, but the whole does not. They often make ridiculous requests, not understanding what magic is about."

"… I often like those requests, Master. It makes me think if it's actually possible." Baden replied with a chuckle

"You're a rare one, disciple. Most mages frown upon the ignorant, you smile and help them understand the truth. This patience and understanding… keep it in your heart… because most discard it. I included."

"I wouldn't consider myself patient, master… besides, you taught me, didn't you?"

"Humph, calling what I did teaching… A true master would've dedicated far more time their disciples. Your talent allowed you to outdo my expectations, but any other would've built resentment to my lack of care."

"Now, the past has already passed, and the future awaits…"

Savos walked to his personal lab on the second floor of the room and returned with a large box floating behind him.

"Here is what I've prepared for you. Inside, you'll find all relevant documents pertaining everything I've requested of you. Maps of the province, the permits, identity scrolls…"

Savos named an extra dozen items before finishing with a set of clothes:

"These robes were made to be more in-line with traditional Nordic clothing. I've added metal plates and similar adornments to make it more akin to armor than the traditional robes of the College."

"Nords respect this kind of attire, no? At least more than our robes… Think of it as battlemage robes. They've been enchanted with protective magicks including those you've formulated by both me and the senior scholars of the College."

"I wanted to give you more, but I know you have your own equipment. So instead, I made scrolls and other defensive items if you ever need them… and this."

Savos pulled a large metallic staff with a glowing orb at its tip from the ceiling and gave it to him.

"This is… a relic of the College… This was Arch-Mage Shalidor's staff."

"… Master… this could be a bit much… This staff is too powerful for me. I'm not going to war against half of Skyrim…"

"The staff's true power has been lost to us for a long time. Now, it remains mostly as a curio and a representation of the College's identity. I studied it long ago but cast it aside in time… I believe it's your turn to give it a try."

"… Sigh… I'll accept it. I don't have a proper staff anyway."

"Good… I believe this is all… I believe today was your birthday, correct?"

"Yes, Master. I'm seventeen today."

"Time sure passes quickly… Hm? Why are you looking at me? Shush it, will you! I'm not giving you anything extra!"

"Thank you, Master… I'm off now."

"Don't get yourself in trouble, and think twice before trying to teleport yourself back to the College."

Baden smiled, leaving the Arch-Mage's room as he descended to the Hall of Elements with the box floating behind him and Shalidor's staff in hand. There wasn't anything more to do aside from leaving. He had already said his goodbyes to all days before.

His hand condensed dark energies, opening a rift to a dark void… there, he threw both the box and staff inside before walking away without giving the space a second glance.

He walked to the College's entrance, now far different from before. Much had changed in the years he'd been there.

The precipice between the College and Winterhold was now gone, replaced by a narrow stone pathway with towers built on both sides, and the area of the College had more then tripled in size.

Much of the ruins and structures peaking from the sea had been lifted from the icy waters, now visible from afar. Everywhere, mages could be seen floating up and down from those ruins, studying and repairing them.

Baden was satisfied with his progress, he had changed the future of the College, and maybe it wouldn't be now or even in a century, but one day, it would recover the grandeur it once had before the 4th era came to be.

[

The Mage: Alteration 115, Conjuration 96, Destruction 101, Enchanting 78, Illusion 89, Restoration 109.

The Thief: Alchemy 91, Light Armor 36, Lockpicking 25, Pickpocket 15, Sneak 59, Speech 72.

The Warrior: Archery 41, Block 21, Heavy Armor 20, One-handed 47, Smithing 74, Two-handed 39.

]

Baden thought about his mastery in magic, he knew he wasn't far from it, soon, even his master would have to accept his level… In a few more years of effort, he'd be promoted to Arch-Mage.

While it had been centuries since the College of Winterhold possessed more than one Arch-Mage, in recent years, some had begun to consider that such a fact wouldn't remain for long.

Baden's progression was meteoric, to say the least, and different from the other talents who destroyed themselves in the search of greater power, Baden was far too careful to fall into disarray.

All of his schools reached a considerable level of mastery so high, Baden began having difficulty finding answers to some of his questions. He wasn't quite there yet, but in some areas, he had already surpassed his master.

In another ten years, he might reach him, but that was still far. And that was exactly what this adventure was meant to accomplish.

Baden wanted to explore the world and experience things books couldn't provide. He wanted to gather raw materials so he could push his skills to the next level.

He spent far too long in his lab conjuring beasts and creatures and experimenting with them. Having them attack him so he could test his resilience, his spells, his combat acumen… It was time to put it all to practice and get some well-deserved practice.

And at the same time… begin setting the cogs in motions for his future.

'The more I experience, the more valuable each epiphany is… I've noticed that every ten levels, I received a greater epiphany, and when they reached 100, I received an epiphany like none before. A reflection of my life and my studies. Enough enlightenment to make me ponder a lifetime without ever running out of things to do.'

'The quality of each epiphany rises with my level of competency in a given craft, so it's of great importance I experience what this world has to offer. My power right now should be sufficient. I'm stronger than some heroes in fairy tales, so as long as I keep my head steady, I will persevere.'

'This is also a good chance to pursue other schools of magic and crafts the College was unable to provide… I'm particularly interested in a few schools, some darker then others…'

'In no particular order, first would be Auramancy, its an arcane art that involves evoking memories from the auras left behind on objects by individuals' emotions. Here in Skyrim where what we have most are ruins and the like, it seems like a type of magic that would come be of considerably use… a shame much of its practitioners have vanished.'

'Only little mention of this exalted craft remains.'

'Second would be Blood Magic, a dark and ancient form of magic often used by vampires belonging to powerful bloodlines… I'm most interested in its connection to the body. On that same note, Flesh Magic attracts my attention, an obscure and ancient form of magic, believed by some to be older than the world itself. It is characterized by what practitioners call the "sixth element", otherwise known as Flesh.'

'I have no intention of gutting people open to understand this element… but am intersted in understanding the arcane forces within the physical body.'

'Next would be Dark Magic… often associated with the Daedra, so it's considered an evil craft… not like necromancy is any better, but it's something to keep an eye on. Magic tends to corrupt the wielder, I have no interest in being swayed by magic.'

'I want to understand it mostly because the world is deeply connected to the Daedra, what is Dark Magic if not another side of the same coin?'

'… Also considered evil, Mind magic… an arcane art that involves the manipulation of the mind and memories of living beings… it comes without saying. Much knowledge is held secret by those unwilling to share it… and while I'd be willing to work to be worthy of inheriting them, many would rather keep it secret even if it meant dying.'

'I'd say Illusion falls partially under Mind magic, so my competency in it isn't insignificant.'

'Meanwhile, also touching upon similar sensitive subjects is Soul Magic, an obscure form of magic focused on the manipulation of souls and vestiges. It is connected to Conjuration but diverges quite deeply somewhere along the line just how Mind magic does to Illusion.'

'Moving on from those… The Sight, sometimes referred to as divination and scrying, is the ability possessed by some individuals that allows them to divine information through visions and prophecy. There's no need to say anything more. It's one of the most influential types of magic out there that is seemingly connected to everything.'

'I'd love to study it if possible, but I fear I may not have the necessary to pursue it…'

'But there is one thing I'm certain I have the talent for… The Thu'um… Of course… how can a Nord not be interested in the masculine breath? This magic is inherent to all Nords, no matter how little they believe in it, and magic in general.'

'The power to manipulate reality with one's voice… How can I abandon such an exoteric art? I've been studying the Dragon tongue for years with that sole purpuse in mind!… And also because much of Skyrim's ancient magic in is written in a similar tongue.'

'And perhaps the one I'm interested in… Shadow Magic… An obscure but powerful form of magic originally harnessed by Azra Nightwielder, who was the first to discover that shadow was not simply an absence of light, but a reflection of possible worlds created by forces in conflict.'

'Shadow magic is likely within the easiest to learn of my list, but amidst the most dangerous since shadow magic has a tendency to betray the wielder when used excessively…'

'There are many others as well, such as Time Magic, Tonal architecture, Varliance or Star Magic of the Ayleids and so on.'

'It might be greedy for me to set my sights on so many fields, each enough for one to pour a lifetime of work into, but I can't help it.'

'So far, my progress in these areas has been minimal. Only a few can be considered their own rather than extensions of another craft. The way I determine that is not solely through my knowledge but with the help of the constellations in the sky.'

'There are hundreds of constellations beyond just the traditional ones. They remain hidden from sight but they're there, less influential, but they exist. I've noticed that when my competency in a field reaches a certain level, I'll grow an affinity for its respective constellation.'

'Most of these constellations aren't that well known, if at all, so it could be something I'll seldom be able to share with another, but it doesn't matter.'

'To me, when I look at the night sky, I only see a few extra patterns most neglect, that's all.'

{Extra Constellations: Blood Magic 20; Dark Magic 5; Mind Magic 8; Soul Magic 12}

'There's still much to learn… Just how many types of magic are there hidden in the world?'

He turned around to look at the College of Winterhold one last time before stepping back and leaving.

"I'll be back… in a few years."

He went down the bridge and said his goodbyes to the gatekeeper and everyone he met on his way, stopping at the entrance to Winterhold where a few people clad in thick robes waited under the snow.

"… Hm?… Ha! There he is!"

The first to react was Rinima, waving her hand at him energetically. Next to her, a man just as tall as Baden, her older brother, his arms crossed as he rested with his back to the wall.

Next to them, an older woman waited.

"Rinima, Darigus, and professor Laaneth?"

"Took you long enough, Baden. I hate this accursed cold." Darigus added as he brushed off the snow off his shoulders

"It's been years brother and you can't get used to it, get a grip!"

"Ahem… apprentice… although I wonder if that title even fits you now." Laaneth asked as she approached him

Laaneth was a Dunmer like many others in the College. Despite her looks, she was well over sixty.

"It's just a title professor, besides, it's not a wrong one either. I'm an apprentice through and through… but may I ask what brings you here? I'm afraid I was about to depart."

"That's why I'm here. I heard you were going to pass through the Holds, right? I'm planning to visit a friend in Whiterun. Is there room for one more in your venture? I'd rather not travel alone."

"That's actually pretty good, professor! I was thinking things would be boring with this guy around!" Rinima exclaimed as she looked at her brother

"I think you're the one who's just overly active, sister. How about you start acting your age for once?"

"Humph!"

"Well… they don't seem to have an issue so nor do I. Welcome aboard!"

Baden looked at the distance, smiling.

"I was thinking of going there first anyway."

"I heard you had family there. Isn't that right?" Laaneth asked as she turned to the road

This attracted Rinima's attention.

"Yes, I was raised there, and it's about time I went back to visit my family. I've been taking with them through messages and even sending money back home, but most of it just ends up coming back… So I thought it's a good time to see how they're doing."

"There's nothing like family, right? So yeah… it's about time I went there to visit my parents. What about you?"

"Just a friend, as I said. It's a good opportunity to decompress from the College, the silence is good but even that can grow stale on me… besides, they College has been quite active recently, so even that isn't a thing anymore."

"Haha… I apologize for that…"

"You've sure caused quite some trouble since you joined. But that's another issue. Should we put our foot on the road, or is there anything left to do?"

"We can depart anytime, unless someone has something left to settle."

"I've been ready for weeks!"

"We can depart anytime, Baden."

The brother and sister due said their lines. Everyone was ready.

"Then…"

"Let's see who gets to the nearest Village first!" Rinima exclaimed as she ran through the gates

"Rinima! Now's not the time to act like a kid!"

"Hahahaha!"

"Urg… Sigh… I'll go after her." Darigus added as he channeled magic around his body, rushing after the distant girl

"… Quite energetic aren't they?"

"It's more like the girl who's overflowing with energy…" Baden replied as he sighed faintly

"This will occur quite a few times throughout our journey, I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all. It brings back some memories. I prefer it this way… Should we start running too?"

"Ha… Let's take the simpler path."

Baden raised his right hand and flicked at the air. A ball of lightning formed on his finger, piercing at a bolder nearby.

Lightning burst from the impact crater, creating a swirling vortex akin to a storm… A portal!

"This will lead us straight to the village a few kilometers down the road."

"You've grown quite a bit Baden… I still remember when you were this small. You're now taller than me… and more proficient as well."

"Hahaha… you jest professor. I still have much to learn in your field… now, shall we? I'd rather not get there before them. Rinima won't shut up for days if that happens."

"Sure."

They stepped through the portal, the swirling gate closing moments after.

…

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.

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Notes