We spent the following three days just relaxing within the sanctuary. There was no training, no research on the residual magic in the air, just... chilling.
The peaceful atmosphere did wonders for my mind and I finally managed to deal with the constant tension created by my lifestyle. Say what you will about standing defiantly before the very gods of this world but doing so repeatedly was going to chafe on any mortal, no matter how arrogant or protected from their influences.
I was not the only one to benefit from our short stay there, most of those who followed me seemed far more relaxed and motivated than before but the one who probably needed this more than even myself was Minthara.
The young demi-god was growing more and more frantic in her rush to prepare for the coming dragon crisis that she sometimes even decided to forgo sleeping in its entirety. Something I put a stop to the moment I returned from my Daedric trip but the damage had already been done and the young woman spent most of her days in a daze, unless she was chasing goblins, apparently.
The presence of Kyne seemed to have a profound effect on those with the soul of a dragon, shifting their usually aggressive and dominating instincts into a more contemplative state. I guess that explained how Paarthurnax mastered his nature, as sitting down atop the mountain where 'Kyne breathed life onto the world' was most assuredly a drug of a whole another level when compared to the sanctuary.
Our return to Winterhold was for once not a rushed one, and we managed to reach the city about a week before the college started accepting new students, just enough time for me to get back into the rhythm of my projects as I prepared to take on my own teaching position.
That is correct! I was indeed offered to help some of the masters with their own classes! Mostly Sergius and Faralda as I was already a master enchanter and I felt it in my very bones that mastery over the elements was not far off.
I would, of course, usually not waste my time on something as boring as teaching a new batch of students if not for one little fact: The excavation of Saarthal had begun a couple of months ago and with a small army of automaton spiders I once more rented to the college it would take a far shorter amount of time to unearth the entrance to the first Nord city of this continent, and I sure as hell wasn't about to give that Thalmor twat Ancano even the slightest of chances of touching the Eye of Magnus.
Preparations would have to be made of course, something to mask the eye's presence and dampen its energies while I searched for the Staff of Magnus and I would have to make sure the college's defenses were running properly just in case the Thalmor decided to do something funny like say, an all-out attack on the college by Thalmor agents while he usurped the eye or something equally disgusting.
I would also have to find some way to fuck with the Psijiks, they might be well intentioned but I had no way to confirm that, besides they were a mostly Altmer organization, and my very blood boiled at the idea of letting them get something like the conduit to the very sun.
And then there was convincing Savos not to let himself get offed...
Gods damn it all, not even a week after I left the sanctuary and I am already tense as all hell!
I sigh tiredly as I slump into my armchair, before taking a deep breath and getting up "Well then, moping sure as hell isn't going to solve my problems so I might as well get to work."
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My first destination was, surprisingly, Shalazar's tower. The insane mystic was probably aware of more than I could fathom at this point so asking him would at the very least not be a bad idea.
Though I did make sure to temper my expectations.
Just as I was about to knock on the door to his office I heard his squeaky voice from within as he yelled at someone "Flee you poor boy! Begone!" There was some rustling within before I felt the space twist and the doors open on their own.
The tiny Argonian looked at me with excitement in his eyes "The legendary lockpicker graces me with his presence" He spreads his arms in greeting "This little one is honored by the presence one so bold."
I chuckle at his jape, completely unsurprised "And it is my utmost pleasure to see you once more as well, Master Shalazar" I look around the room and notice a pair of chairs positioned in such a way as to imply a guest was here recently, I go to ask who it was out of curiosity but a large piece of cheese on the table quickly dissuades me from my quest.
Focusing back to my original goal I bluntly ask Shalazar "Is there any advice you could give me for what is to come?"
The Argonian squints at me before barking out "Zap!"
"...Zap?" I ask dumbly.
Shalazar the Mystic nods rapidly "Indeed my most glorious of students" He raises his hand and snaps his finger causing the smallest bit of lightning to dance between his fingers "Zap!"
Understandable "My thanks for your brilliant guidance, great Shalazar." I give him a respectful bow and turn to leave.
Not before he gives me one additional piece of advice "To save the great man from his great sin he must face it himself yet by the side of others." The lizard wizard's expression turns soft, almost as if he doesn't believe his own words but he returns to his cheerful self within the same instant.
I still, my mind a whirl, before slowly nodding "Understood." And leaving the tower, the plan within my mind evolving ever so slowly.
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I did my rounds around the college, giving vague warnings to my fellow Masters whom I knew were powerful combatants. They did not need much further explanation as I was trusted and my clairvoyance was already a known factor among the great mages so my warnings were easily attributed to that burgeoning talent.
Tolfdir specifically had to be held back from simply pasting the Thalmor 'Advisor' across the walls but I decided the slimy little shit could be used in better ways so I advised him against such rash actions.
Speaking of slime, I was currently approaching said Altmer with a letter folded into a scroll held firmly in my right hand.
His unsubtle skulking around the college stopped suddenly as his eyes zeroed in on mine, like most Altmer he was tall and golden haired but his skin was sickly and while his face was one of noble sharpness it was marred by the massive amounts of stress the infiltrator was no doubt subjected to on a daily basis.
He held back a flinch as my unguarded magical presence slammed into him, he was somewhat more powerful than Elenwen herself but I knew for a fact that he was lower on the ladder due to some massive mistake he had made in the past.
"What do you need from me, Master Reyvin?" He asks, though his pathetic attempt to hide the sneer while using my title did him no favors.
My eye twitches as my gaze intensifies, practically ramming the little shit with fear. I proffer the letter to the shaking Altmer and with the most brilliant smile I could muster tell him "Please bring this message to Ambassador Elenwen personally, I believe its contents will be of great interest to her."
He takes the letter and nods rapidly, his shivering intensifying as my presence receded.
"Begone" I command and he is out of my sight within seconds.
I walk out onto a nearby balcony and summon my familiar while offering him another letter "Bring this to Sybille with instructions to give it to the King, do not burn it."
The glorious bird himself bobs his head rapidly "Sure thing pops" Grabs the letter into one of his claws and launches himself west with ridiculous speed.
Wasting no time I head back to my home, I had to make sure everyone was equipped for the task at hand.
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The following days I spent crafting superior equipment to all those that participated in the goblin hunt, just as promised I would do most of it free of charge as they did save me a good two weeks with their rapid culling of the goblin settlements.
To my guards I gave magic absorbing necklaces and rings that bolstered strength and speed, an all round buff to their most basic function was always a good idea and the trio of brothers agreed happily, though they did try to protest as I had already given them priceless artifacts when they swore themselves to me.
Naturally, said protests were ignored.
For Davos I had a master blacksmith craft an orichalcum repeating crossbow, enchanted to be easily drawn and to burn Magicka on a hit, his ability to crack through magical shields was now dangerous even to myself.
Edrassa merely requested rings for her alteration which I provided with ease.
Nightshade had her robes thoroughly enchanted, nothing too unique but even some of the more wealthy wizards of High Rock might go green with envy with the utterly overcharged basic Magicka regeneration and absorption enchantment I placed upon it.
My students were far simpler to satisfy as both requested weapon enchantments. Well, Minthara wanted a hammer that ignored even those protections that still worked against hammers so I made it weigh about three times more while still keeping balance.
Marco wanted his lute to finally be properly enchanted so now the rune covered instrument, that was likely worth as much as a small town, shone with blue and gold runes empowering his sonic blasts and healing magic.
And finally we come to yours truly.
I spent four entire days just drawing the damn runes on the many artifacts I had crafted over the past year, and the enchanting itself took an entire room being retrofitted and two additional days of constant channeling, but the effort was worth it in the end!
Before me stood another set of ten rings, they looked much the same as my previous set except this time there was no artistic representation on them, they were just bands with amethyst runes running through the ebony metal. This did not take away from their looks as the runes were organized in such a fashion to practically radiate mastery.
[The Ten Rings: A set of synchronized rings created by a true master of his craft
The Greater Hand of Magnus: Provides two additional units of Magicka per every one held by the wielder (Up to 2500)
Rings of Sun And Shade: All magic is 50% cheaper to cast]
I held no doubts wars would be started over these... Too bad they were soulbound!
My staff was leaned against a nearby wall, its wooden handle replaced with a proper ebony one enchanted to be as light as a feather. The previous blade was reforged into a proper vicious glaive-head and the previously red color scheme now fitting in with the rest of my black and purple theme.
[Hag Bane: A weapon much changed, yet the blood of fallen foes still clings to its form out of sight. All spells intended to harm are 25% more powerful when channeled through this staff. The blade erupts with disintegrating fire and lightning when striking a foe.]
And finally my new set of robes. I decided to forgo the Telvanni inspiration for this one as it had proven a bit too cumbersome for my stile of combat so instead I focused on a more armored yet maneuverable form.
The robe itself was simple yet elegant with swirling arcane runes glowing in light purple yet not so much to be jarring to look at, with some more in Dunmeri and Dovahzul sprinkled in between for good measure.
On the robe's back stood proudly the emblem of the sixth house. I no longer cared about concealing my station and any who recognized the emblem would also recognize the fact that they could not do a thing against me.
The Star of Azura lazily hanging from my hip at all times ensured that.
Under the robe was an ebony chestplate emblazoned with yet more runes and with my sash permanently attached to it. An entire set of high quality leather covered by segmented plates of ebony was made in such a way to be completely unnoticeable under my robes with only a simple yet elegant set of bracers and boots remaining visible.
It's power was nothing to scoff at either.
[Grand Regalia of Dagoth: A suit of robe and armor fit for a demi-god, it shall protect the heir of Dagoth better than any army ever could.
Lightened ebony plate
Self-cleaning, self-repairing, heat-regulating
Obscures clairvoyance or other methods of scrying
Magicka regeneration: 500%
Magicka absorption: 250
All bolstering spells are thrice as effective
Emergency effect: Uses up all of the robe's energy to force the wearer to turn ethereal for a single second when their life is threatened, renders the robe powerless for a day]
Habitually, I snap my fingers and find myself clothed in an instant. My new set of regalia fit snugly around my body, almost as if I was wearing nothing yet still enveloping me with a sense of security no set of full plate armor would ever give me.
I place my old, more imposing, set on a mannequin within my treasury. A fine addition to my hoard of wealth if I do say so myself.
I stand before a mirror and nod in satisfaction. Instead of merely looking like an imposing lord of destruction, my new robes, coupled with my recently bolstered appearance and height, carried a sense of elegance as well as danger, my crown still fitting with the robe's aesthetics perfectly.
Now if only I could waste my entire day being a narcissist instead of listening to a damn lecture...
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Gib me ein stein!
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