As we stepped inside the Mages Guild, the heavy wooden door let out a loud creak. A musty scent of old books mixed with the lingering magic of countless spells filled my nostrils. I breathed it in, feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity, but that was fleeting. The news we carried was too grave to be ignored.
I was accompanied by Arnovia and Alawion. We had just discovered that I, a white-haired female mage, was being targeted by the notorious King of Worms. It seemed that anyone else who shared my unique features was also at risk. which were few overall but still it would be better to let them know
"Ellehish, Alawion! You're back," one of the mages exclaimed, her eyes widening when she saw our grim expressions. "What happened?"
"Where is the Arch-Mage, I have some news I need to share with him. It is important." On that note she guided me towards the office of the guild leader, I had made sure that the person that had given me the quest for the ruins.
As we ascended the tower towards his office, we passed by numerous guild members, each engrossed in their work. The door leading to his office was adorned with ancient and intricate runes, hinting at the power and knowledge that lay beyond it. With a nod of approval, we were granted entry into the sanctum of our guild leader.
The moment we stepped into Hannibal Traven's office, the door closed behind us with a barely audible whisper, creating an ethereal atmosphere. Hannibal, a Breton, was seated behind his desk, his face bearing the marks of a long and distinguished life devoted to the study and mastery of magic. His features were etched with deep lines, each marking a milestone of his magical journey. His robes, elegant and richly embroidered, were a deep shade of blue, befitting his rank as the Arch-Mage of the Mages Guild. Resting on his desk was a staff made of a dark Welkynd Stone crystal, pulsating with a mystical energy that hummed in the air, emanating an aura of power and authority.
Hannibal's silver hair cascaded down his shoulders like a river of molten silver, and his piercing brown eyes seemed to hold the secrets of the universe. As the Arch-Mage, he was revered for his vast knowledge and unmatched expertise in various schools of magic and his unwavering opposition to necromancy. His calm and composed demeanor belied the immense magical power he wielded, and his aura commanded respect and admiration.
He looked at us expectantly, his eyes filled with the wisdom of countless years as if waiting for us to share our purpose for being there.
"The King of Worms is hunting mages," I stated, figuring it would be better to get to the point.
"Ellehish, are you certain?" asked Hannibal, As he lifted her hands to his face. "This is... unprecedented."
"Unfortunately, yes," I replied, my tone resolute. "I've seen it firsthand." Handing him the note that the others had found. " I managed to kill the necromancer that had targeted me thanks to Arnovie and Alawion."
"Ellehish is correct," chimed in Arnovia. "We cannot allow them to continue targeting innocent mages."
"Necromancers," spoke the woman who had guided us, I had honestly forgotten she was here. I turned my head to look at her and noticed her serious expression. "This kind of danger is not to be taken lightly."
"Agreed," said Alawion, Despite her motherly demeanor, she was one badass huntress druid.
"It seems like they have spies in the guild as the one that had given me this quest seems to be on the king of worms' side." I made sure to throw them under the bus, hopefully, they would be tortured.
'Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Please feel free to choose any three spell books and a staff of your choice.' As he pulled out a quill and a scroll and gestured to the mage who had guided us to this place to take care of it. "oh and do capture the one that had given Ellehish this quest for the ruins." he said as a mage appeared in the corner of the room. And bowed, leaving the room before us.
Nodding as we bowed to him and left, the female mage guided us toward the library "Are there any spells you are interested in?" She asked while walking behind the desk. She pulled out a book with a list of spells.
"Hmm ah Okay so for the first spell tome I want it's called Open Very Hard Lock," I said with a smile, i remembered looking at it before and it was expensive so this way I'd get a utility spell for free. The lady mage had a tak appear on the top of her head and I did my best not to laugh. I looked at the list she had in front of me for spell books. " Okay but please refrain from asking for any more high-priced Spell books." She said a bit annoyed.
" for my second spell I'd like Summon Flame Atronach and lastly Spark" After a few moments, she returned with the books and handed them to me. "Now for the staff, A turn undead staff"
"Not a bad choice after what you had to deal with" She commented. I'd rather not spend money on learning that spell when it was cheaper to get the staff version and what's cheaper than free?
Two weeks had passed since our harrowing encounter with the King of Worms, and I found myself in the library of the Mages Guild, pouring over a dusty tome. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment, sweat, and the faintest hint of lavender. It was a comforting aroma, and during that time I had learned the spells I had gotten. Thankfully the books didn't get destroyed so I had them in my inventory.
"Ellehish!" Arnovia's voice rang out from behind me, jolting me from the pages of the ancient book. Her short black hair framed her face perfectly, emphasizing her piercing blue eyes. She clutched a crumpled piece of parchment in her fist, her chest heaving as if she'd sprinted here.
"Arnovia, what is it?" I asked, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest. I could only imagine what news she brought.
"New information about my sister," she said, thrusting the paper into my hands. "She's been closing Oblivion Gates, Ellehish."
My heart swelled with relief and pride for Arnovia's sister, but I couldn't shake the gnawing sensation in the pit of my stomach. This wasn't going to be easy. I glanced at the parchment, noting the hastily drawn map and locations where her sister had closed the gates.
"Damn," I muttered under my breath. "We can't ignore this. We have to help her, Arnovia."
"I know," she replied, determination etched across her features.
"Let's gather Alawion," I said, placing the book back on the shelf. "The sooner we act, the better our chances of success in meeting her."
As we strode through the halls of the Mages Guild, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement it was time to leave the capital and make our move.
"Ellehish, Arnovia!" Alawion greeted us as we entered the main hall, her deer-like horns casting an imposing shadow across the floor. "Is everything alright?"
"Better than that," I replied, brandishing the parchment. "We've got a lead on Arnovia's sister."
"Count me in," Alawion said without hesitation, her eyes flashing with resolve.
"Thank you," Arnovia whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you both."
"Never doubt that we're here for you, Arnovia," I reassured her, clasping her hand tightly. As our fingers intertwined. Now we would head back to meet up with the theaves guild.
The dim, flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows on the walls of the Thieves Guild's secret hideout. The room was filled with an air of anticipation and hushed whispers as I, Arnovia, Alawion, and several other guild members gathered around a large wooden table. At the center of the table lay a worn yet meticulously detailed map.
"Alright, everyone," I said, taking a deep breath as I tried to quell the simmering excitement in my chest. "Let's get down to business."
"Here are the locations where we've confirmed Arnovia's sister has closed Oblivion Gates," said a masked Thieves Guild member, tracing her gloved finger along the parchment.
"Interesting," Alawion muttered, her eyes narrowing as she studied the markings. "There seems to be a pattern here."
"Really?" asked Arnovia, her voice tinged with hope. "What kind of pattern?"
"Hard to say," Alawion replied, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "But it could give us a clue about where she might head next."
"Or what she's trying to accomplish," I chimed in, unable to shake the nagging feeling that there was something more to this than met the eye.
"Maybe she's trying to protect people?" suggested one of the thieves, earning a few nods of agreement from the others.
"Perhaps that's why she is working with the blades," another added, his voice heavy with conviction.
"Whatever her reasons, we need to find her before she gets herself into even deeper trouble," I declared. "And we'll do that by figuring out her next move."
"Ellehish is right," Arnovia agreed, her eyes burning with resolve. "We can't afford to waste any more time. Let's work together and figure this out."
The room buzzed with energy as we poured over the map, our minds racing with ideas and theories. The scent of musty parchment filled my nostrils, mingling with the aroma of burning candles.
"Hey, look at this," Alawion said suddenly, pointing to a series of markings on the map. "It seems like she's been avoiding areas near the border and seems to be moving south."
"Could it be a coincidence?" I mused, the gears in my mind turning rapidly.
"Alright, let's keep that in mind and focus on finding a pattern," I said, refocusing our efforts. "If we can anticipate her next move, we'll be one step closer to reuniting you with your sister."
As we continued scrutinizing the map, I couldn't help but steal glances at Arnovia. Her face was flushed with determination and excitement, beads of sweat forming on her brow.
"Let's take what we've learned and come up with a plan," I urged, my voice firm yet hopeful. "Together, we can close these Oblivion Gates, find Arnovia's sister, and put an end to this chaos once and for all."
After hearing the plan, everyone in the room agreed with enthusiasm. We felt like a united team, driven by our common goal and a determination to succeed. We were ready to face any challenges that lay ahead, and nothing could stop us from achieving our objectives.
[ could I get help on how to make a character info tab for the beginning of the book? I've noticed other books doing it and it does add to the amount of chapters]