Our return to Winterhold was welcomed with great celebration, almost everyone we passed on our walk to the Jarl's keep congratulated or thanked us, it felt pretty good.
After depositing the ridiculous amount of loot at the guard house we entered the 'palace'.
Inside awaited the young Jarl, his mother the regent, the court wizard, and finally the Archmage.
Hjolmir was the first to speak up, describing the entire second part of the expedition, the first having already been explained by the guards that returned earlier. Thankfully my levitation or brutal execution of the Thalmor Justiciar wasn't mentioned.
The young Jarl, barely a teen if my guess is correct listens patiently and when the Captain is done he stands up and speaks with a barely hidden lack of confidence "Winterhold is honored to have such valiant protectors, we will hold a celebration to honor your success and the victorious dead tomorrow." he seems to have rehearsed the little speech many times with how mechanical it sounded.
No one pays it any mind however, the Jarl's position at the moment was ceremonial at best. Some more grandiose proclamations are made and the boy leaves us to do the real work.
The regent mother now speaks up "Since your deeds were to the benefit of the hold as a whole we will forgo the Jarl's share of the loot, but due to the importance of the discovery of such a site you will naturally forgo any claimant rites to the college's benefit." The negotiations seem to have been finished before we even arrived, fucking diviners man.
The Archmage adds "Naturally each and every one of you will be given generous compensation for this, and the families of the fallen as well." He turns to us "As for you brave apprentices I will personally help Master Sergius in enchanting personalized high-grade robes for each of you."
We all nod, very willing. I could have probably milked the discovery for more, but powerful robes and tons of good will will do.
The regent turns to the twins "Sadly since the two of you are from a Dawnstar clan I cannot offer you land rights in the city, I will however declare your clan a friend of Winterhold if you wish it."
The twins whisper between each other for a bit, Brienne soon gives the answer in a surprisingly well-practiced official tone "We personally would be honored, but we must ask permission from the clan head first."
The regent nods, probably having expected this, and then addresses me "Reyvin Flame-tongue you have done great deeds in the name of Winterhold, so in my power as Jarl-regent I grant you permission to purchase and own property within the hold"
The Jarl's steward enters from a side door and gives me a signed document however something far more important is on my mind at the moment
"Flame-tongue?" I mutter with a great deal of confusion.
Before the regent can answer the Archmage cuts in "Seeing as you do not wish your real family name used, it was decided that your new epithet will be used in Skyrim"
After thinking for a bit I facepalm hard in realization and sigh heavily "It took them an entire three seconds to tell everyone and anyone I can shout didn't it?"
I hear Bor and Brienne snickering from behind me.
The Archmage gives me a wry smile "Indeed, almost the entire city has heard of Reyvin Flame-tongue using the thu'um to protect the hold's people. Honestly, that topic is far more widespread than the mass kidnapping which has actually made everyone calm down, good job!" He even gives me a thumbs-up...
I groan and Savos laughs out loud.
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(general pov)
The talks in the keep last another three hours, promotions were handed out to the guards, the dead families visited to have their share of the loot given to them, and so many gods damned documents had to be signed.
Reyvin was certain that he left the unnecessarily complex bureaucracy behind in his last life, but apparently the saying that nothing is certain beyond death and taxes is true even in magical fantasy land.
The young dark elf did ask if there were any pieces of land on sale, but due to the current hectic situation the steward told him he will have a list by next week.
'Oh yeah offer me land rights and then just tell me to fuck off, nice going Nords!' He grumbles before leaving.
The other two apprentices also left the keep with him while carrying the absolutely massive amount of loot they secured with them, they were all about to start discussing the situation when the Archmage suddenly appeared out of nowhere and started walking with them.
Brienne jumped in fright and the two male students didn't really know how to react, but thankfully the awkward atmosphere was broken when Savos spoke first "I left a similacrum back in the keep, if you think listening to reports or signing documents ever gets more bearable let me ruin that expectation for you, it gets worse!" He groans surprising the apprentices.
"Why not leave it to someone else then?" Reyvin asks as if it were obvious.
Savos sighs "I usually do, but this was too big for the Archmage not to show up, and I was in the middle of trying to summon a Daedroth when I got the news, do you know how hard it is to summon those? Now I have to start over." He slumps his shoulders, almost looking like a kicked puppy.
The students all share an incredulous look before shrugging, they walk for a bit until Reyvin speaks up again "So about those robes, can we chose the design or?"
"Yes, just send the details as quickly as you can, we want to get them done quickly" Savos says with 0 interest.
Reyvin thinks for a bit and gets an idea "Actually, would it be possible to watch the process?"
The Archmage stops for a second and scratches his beard before saying with a look of faux cunning "Certainly, if you explain how you can see Magicka, that is" giving the young Dunmer a wide smile.
Bor mutters while punching his hand "Fucking knew it" with Brienne giggling at her twin.
The young Dunmer on the other hand simply shrugs and says "Sure, not like I can teach it to anyone anyways."
Savos waves that detail off "No matter, I am just curious about that specific bloodline, who knows, I might even be able to replicate it with some effort"
Reyvin is about to interject but the older Dunmer merely laughs at his concerned look "Don't worry I won't dissect you for your secrets, as I said I am merely curious, maybe, probably... I'll think on it."
Reyvin knows the old man is just fucking with him so he ignores it and they go on.
As they continue walking he asks the Archmage for some tips when it comes to Arcane Ascension, the older mer after thinking for a bit explains that while it is a gradual process it can be sped up by using different reagents or items that are connected to the individual practicing. Savos surmised that someone of Reyvin's bloodline might benefit greatly from heartstones if they could actually get their hands on some.
They soon arrive at the college gates and after saying his goodbyes the Archmage simply blinks out of their sight, the students get out of their stupor and head to the dormitory to finally get some proper rest.
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