I took one more look around the College, my time here was…short but I enjoyed it. The casualness of the institute dedicated to magical knowledge. I compared it once to the clocktower, just more…whimsical. Perhaps I exaggerated a bit, the clocktower was much more cutthroat, death and worse were a real possibility everyday that one studied.
No lords here that hoarded everything substantial, new blood was welcomed and even desired. I could understand the differences between needs that each world had, but I couldn't help but admire this place more.
Oh, and I was not looking forward to the overt racism at the Clock Tower. Something told me I would need to quite thoroughly establish the pecking order once I return home.
"Archmage, I wish to speak." I said, walking the courtyard idlily. I could feel the magics take hold of me and I didn't resist as I was teleported.
"Wilhelm." The Archmage greeted, as my vision opened up to his quarters. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I suppose there are a few things I wanted to speak to you about." I flicked my hand, retrieving the Staff from my ring. "I got this thing, I assume this is what you were speaking about?"
"Marvelous." He admired, I could see his magicka pulsate every so slightly, truly taking in the sight of the staff. "The Staff of Magnus, just as powerful as I remember it." He sighed, moving his hands as various objects, books, and materials began to sort themselves around the room. "I assume that you found out the truth then…."
I tilted my head in confusion. "Pardon?"
"You don't have to spare me your thoughts, I'm well aware of my own sins." He casually waved me off but I still confused.
"I really have no idea what you're talking about."
He seemed to understand that we were on different wavelengths. "You traveled through Labyrinthian, did you not?"
"Kinda?" I gave a sheepish look.
He let out a long sigh. "What exactly happened when you went there?"
"Fought a skeleton dragon…..some undead mage started talking to me, tried to drain my magicka so I cut off his hand and took the staff while he was trapped in a stasis spell powered by a couple ghosts."
He just stood there for a moment and blinked before erupting in laughter. "I see, truly you do not do things as one predicts." He wiped a tear from his eye. "Those ghosts were my old colleagues, my school mates back when I was a novice mage."
"You ventured into those ruins when you were a novice?" I mean, I cleared it easily, but as a novice…..well that was a deathwish for him.
"I was young, foolish, and arrogant beyond measure. The same as all those who went with me, we all thought unlimited power awaited us there and we started to lose member after member." He looked distant, reminiscing of the past. "I was a different person back then, I was willing to do nearly anything for more power, more knowledge. The school was the same, it wasn't uncommon for another student to turn up dead in the morning and no one bothered to do anything past a minor investigation." He shook his head.
"Why did you get the staff all this time then? Surely you are powerful enough now?" I didn't know how strong the undead mage was, but the Archmage was definitely a powerhouse, with time and preparation I don't think he would lose out.
"Those two 'ghosts' they were the other two survivors that reached the end, what awaited us was that 'undead mage' as you called it." He Pursed his lips. "A dragon priest, a terrifyingly powerful mage who existed in the era where dragons ruled the world. To add onto that, he possessed the Staff of Magnus."
"Those ghosts, your former schoolmates…they didn't willingly stay back, did they?" I eyed him.
"They did not." He didn't even deny the accusation. "As I said before, it is both my sin and my regret. I won't bore you with my life story, it was after that incident that I vowed to be better. I studied, I gathered power and knowledge, but no more did I lust after some unattainable concept as 'unlimited power' or such other nonsense. I did it all with a purpose, I became Archmage and forced the College to change with me. I would not allow any new students to suffer like I had or those who had been buried in the shallow graves outside these walls."
"Why tell me anything of this, why tell me where this staff was?" I was rather confused here.
"When you first came here, I thought you were the same as the me from back then. I saw your potential, and it terrified me. I wanted to make sure you didn't walk the same path as I did, I thought a kind hand reached out would remove any need for malicious thoughts." He gave me a genuine smile. "I suppose I was just seeing my old demons in you and got blinded." He shook his head, a small laugh escaping his lips. "You were just a young man trying to find his path in the world, one who was extraordinarily talented so I kept an eye out for when you needed help. I cut off the potential of so many mages, perhaps I thought it was a way to even out my sins by helping your potential blossom."
A multiple of emotions washed over me, I felt bad for suspecting him. "Thank you." I said quietly.
He put a hand on my shoulder. "I said it before, you are a member of this College and I will always be on your side." His smile changed to something more neutral. "Now, what is the true reason you returned?"
"Am I that easy to see through?" I sighed. "I wanted to say goodbye, I'll be disappearing for about a month and didn't want anyone to worry."
"I see, I hope you aren't in any trouble then?"
"Not particularly...I'm going to seek out my grandfather for training." I ran a hand through my hair. "I fought a dragon over at Whiterun." I decided to just be blunt about it.
The Archmage paused staring at me intently. "Wilhelm, that was an exceedingly stupid thing to do."
"I know, you don't have to tell me that." I was annoyed, not at him but at myself. "I had to though, my friend was in danger."
"You're still alive, I'm assuming you were successful?"
"I was, but not without cost and I revealed a few too many of my trump cards. I was made aware that I've drawn a bit of attention I didn't want to, I managed to avoid most 'questions' but I thought it best to disappear for a bit and get stronger."
"You are not a child; I don't think I need to chide you too much. I'm sure your lady friend will do that more than enough." He gave me an evil smirk and I couldn't help but wince. "A dragon, first Riften and now Whiterun, I'll need to speak with the Jarl of Winterhold and prep the college for potential combat." He didn't look too thrilled."
"My friend I mentioned, apparently he is a 'dragonborn'" I didn't think the Archmage would abuse this knowledge.
His eyes widened. "Truly?" He looked rather excited as well. "This changes matters." He stroked his beard intently. "I will need to get in contact with Whiterun then, yes it makes sense now. I heard the call from the Greybeards, no doubt he is up there training now. The dragonborn was supposed to be a natural at magic, I'll send him some books to get him started."
Well, I guess I don't need to explain anything about that topic then. "I would suggest ramping up production of potions and get ready for large scale battles on the horizon. The casualties were high, and the Dragon didn't even attack the city, just a watchtower."
"Indeed, you raise a good point. We have large stocks of supplies for emergencies just like this." He nodded to himself. "Not to mention I have that wheel of cheese that just keeps repopulating from Sheogorath, I can probably use that to supply a good amount food to help out during attacks."
"Thorum is a nice guy, perhaps a bit naïve. Also he tends to learn better by experience, he also said he was having trouble with the restoration branch." I gave a small smile.
The Archmage looked at me his gaze softening. "I'll make sure your friend is taken care of. Since a Dragonborn had popped up with the return of the dragons..... that old prophecy might be in full swing, no it must be. I'll get in touch with all my contacts, we can pull our resources and weather this storm together." He reached out, grabbing ahold of my hand, the one with my ring on it. He did something that caught me by surprise. "A going away present." He smirked
My mouth opened slightly, utterly surprised at the ease in which he accessed my storage ring and filled it with all manner of supplies and resources. "I don't know what to say…." When had I ever had someone so nice to me other than my mother?
"How about you tell me you won't die before you get back."
"I don't think my grandfather would risk my life –"
"I was speaking of Meridia."
"Oh….right." Well, I guess I'll need all the luck there. "Thank you again, I have a goddess to appease."
"I would say, may the divine bless you, but I doubt even they want to get involved here."
Yeah, that's fair.
***
I had cut open a portal, pathing my way through dimensions until I found myself in a strange place. I knew I had arrived, but my 'location' wasn't something I could determine. I believe this realm was called the 'Colored Rooms'. Perhaps named after the Aurora-like lights that constantly flowed overhead. It was rather pretty, something I would expect of Meridia.
It was almost like floating islands in the void, yet there didn't seem to be any set direction that I could point and call 'up'. There was land upside down above me, but the plants and such acted as if the gravity there was normal for their orientation.
Truly a strange place.
Land began to form infront of me as I approached the end of the little land mass I was on, urging my in a specific direction.
I don't know how long I walked, or if I was even 'going' anywhere. I think Meridia already knew I was here, in fact I would put money on it, and she was mad at me.
"Meridia…." I said with a sigh.
That seemed to be all it took as the scenery around me shifted and I was then standing before a large throne with her staring down at me, displeasure written all over her face.
"I'm sorry." She didn't answer, and I continued. "But I also can't guarantee that I won't get in more fights like that." I had no doubt she knew what happened, probably watched it through whatever means she employed.
"Your apologies need work." She snorted, crossing her arms.
"I won't ever lie to you and say something like 'This won't happen again.'" I took a step forward, she and turned her nose up, but my steps weren't impeded.
"Stupid man." She hissed, standing up. "You stupid, stupid man!" She took large strides forward, getting right close to me and hitting my shoulder. "Do you have any idea how much I worried, watching you fight one of Akatosh's children!?"
I wrapped my hands around her, even as she continued to pound her fists into me. A goddess in strength, but they were light as a feather. "I'm sorry." I just continued to whisper.
"I couldn't intervene!" She spat out. "There were others watching, that Dragonborn being shown for the first time. That damn prophecy that may be the end of Nirn has everyone looking at what will happen." She calmed her anger and looked me straight in the eyes, poking me in the chest. "And then theres what YOU did."
"So even you were troubled by that…." I winced, only realizing recently the repercussion of using Ddraig's balance breaker.
I could understand her stance. Ddraig used to fight gods, and win. He was one of the strongest things in the world he originated, that kind of power draws attention even if I only used a fraction of it.
"OF COURSE!" She shouted. "Do you think I was the only one as well? A being suddenly awoke, shouting its name to the heavens and the world SHOOK." She quieted down looking at me intently. "You are keeping a great many secrets."
"I am." I answered without hesitation as I grabbed her hands in mine.
She just snorted, accepting my gesture. "Would you tell me if I asked?"
"I would." I replied without hesitation.
"…..I want to know, but I want you to tell me of your own volition." She said quietly. "Stay in my realm, you will be safe here."
My gaze softened as I saw her worry. "I can't."
"Stupid." She spat out, pulling away. "What will you do then? I fear that it isn't only just the other Daedra that will seek you out, perhaps even the 'Divines' will also make an appearance."
"I was going to disappear for a bit, seek out my grandfather for training." I didn't hide my plans from her.
"And you would be safe there, undiscovered by those that wield the same power as I?" She raised an eyebrow, allowing her presence full flow out.
I steadied myself as I basked in her full presence. "I'll be fine." I cupped her cheek, bring my face up to hers. "I can guarantee they won't be able to reach me."
"Fine." She turned her head away. "I will trust you on this….and I will be most upset if you betray this trust of mine....how long will you be away?"
"No more than a month." I was certain that I could return before that much time passed in this world. "And I promise to tell you everything when I get back."
"Never before had I ever had to contemplate the passing of such a small figure of time. I have lived longer than this world and yet…..suddenly something as insignificant as 'days' brings me heartache." Her words were quiet, only spoken for me to hear. It was rare for her to be so open about her affections like this.
I didn't know what to respond with, what words to answer her affection, I could do the only thing I knew how. I gently pushed my lips against hers to convey my feeling physically. She reciprocated, wrapping her hands around my neck as I held her waist.
"I will miss you every moment." I whispered as our lips parted.
She was unwilling, I could tell by the look in her eyes and I knew the feeling all too well. "Go, leave my realm." She finally said, putting distance between us. "…..do not return until you have succeeded in your objective and you intend to stay with me for an extended period of time."
I could only smile sadly as I slashed open another portal. I had long prepared the required calculations to fix the issues I had when I first came to this world. No fanfare, no huge mess this time a simple portal and I would be back home.
"I will miss you as well….my dear." She said ever so quietly, like a whisper, the small breeze almost obscuring her voice, I looked back in surprise only for her to use her power and push me through my portal.