The Fool of Hearts [A Skyrim Fanfic]

Chapter Three: Wizards and Warmth

The fire warmed my back as I ate breakfast. In one hand, I held a loaf of bread and in the other, charcoal. I promised Mother before I left that I would write her a note and confirm my safety. The charcoal scratched against the yellowed paper, leaving streaks where my hand smudged it.

When I finished, I handed the letter to the innkeeper, along with some coin, and directed her to give it to a courier to deliver to my mother. She nodded, remembering my orders. I thanked her and left the inn for the college. It wasn't a far walk, but it was cold. Colder than Dawnstar, I thought. I'm going to need some warmer clothes. I shivered and climbed the ramp to the college, only to be stopped by an elf. The woman stiffened and glared as I approached. "Cross the bridge at your own peril. The way is dangerous and the gate will not open. You shall not gain entry."

Well that's a bit harsh. "Why are you out here?"

"I am here to assist those seeking the wisdom of the college. And if in the process of my presence helps to deter those who seek to do harm so be it. The more important question is, why are you here?"

I had come here for Illusion magic, and I told her so. "I desire to bend the will of those around me."

"Yes, the school of Illusion can be quite influential. Kings have risen to power because of it, and empires have been razed with it. Although, I prefer destruction." She seemed to mutter the last part to herself as she looked me up and down. "It would seem that the college has what you seek. But what can you offer the college? Are you worthy of entering? Perhaps a small test should be in order. Pick one."

She spread out the few tombs she has. I chose the Fear tome, hoping it would help me in the future. After handing her thirty gold, I read just the spell to memorize it. Nothing else. I wasn't there to impress her, just to prove myself. I held my hand to the emblem beside her and whispered metus. My arm tingled with chills. A ball of red shot out of my hand and hit the emblem next to the elf. It absorbed into the ground, the color disappearing. The woman looked from the ground to me, her face lighting up with excitement. "Well done indeed. Unthinking pull be a superb addition the the college. If you'll follow me, I'll unlock the gates. Once you're inside you'll want to speak with the master wizard, Mirabelle Ervine." The woman walked across the bridge. At each well-looking spots, she castes Magelight. If I were skilled in Alteration magic, that's what I would learn first. Her hands were pointed to the wells and she tightened her body. A sphere of shining light flew out of her palms and stuck in the middle of the huge bowl, a column of light shooting upwards. Her arms glowed with the sticky white light. She brushed it off and the flexible shards fell to the ground. I wanted to pick them up and touch the magical light- I had when I was a boy. It was like clay. The Magelight molded in your hands and formed into whatever shape you could make. I remember I played with it once and my hands glowed for days after.

I followed the elf up the bridge. After lighting two more of the wells, she unlocked the gates. The college's signature emblem, and eye inside a star, was on the metal gates. They swung open and I was greeted by a Breton. "Aha! I'm Mirabelle Ervine. You must be the new student- I saw the lights castes by Faralda. It's her way of impressing the newcomers. I'm surprised at how many of you there are lately. Well, first you'll need these." She handed me a set of robes, a matching hood, and a pair of boots." While you're not required to wear them, you may find them more to your liking than your current clothes." I looked down at myself. I was dressed in my armor. I didn't look bad, but it's chilly. "I'll give you a brief tour, and then we'll get you to your first class. Are you ready to begin?"

I nodded. "Sure."

"Wonderful. Please follow me, and don't wander off. The College of Winterhold has been a fixture in Skyrim for thousands of years." She stopped in front of a great hall. "The prominent feature here is the Hall of the Elements. It's our primary location for lectures, practice sessions, and general meetings. The Arcanaeum is located above the hall, and the Arch-Mage's quarters above that. While technically in charge of the College, the Arch-Mage's responsibilities often keep him occupied. Thus, I run the day-to-day operations. Now, if you'll please follow me, I'll show you the living quarters." The short, confident woman turned and escorted me to my new quarters.

"This is where you'll be staying." She paused briefly and stopped near the door. "Our newest members are housed here in the Hall of Attainment. I'll ask that you please keep your voice down while inside, as others may be working on research or... delicate experiments." This sounds dangerous... "Now I'll show you to your quarters. You're going to be sharing space with your fellow Apprentices, who you'll meet shortly." Mirabelle walked to a room on the far right of the hall. "This is where you'll be staying. This bed and desk are yours. Please try and be considerate of others. Now, let's go back to the Hall of the Elements, where most of the members gather for lectures and study sessions. I'll be outside. You can change if you'd like."

I did so, awkwardly. It wasn't normal changing in front of strangers. There was no door to my room. After I finished dressing, I attached the odd dagger to my hip and met the master wizard outside.

"Initially you'll be learning from Tolfdir, one of our most esteemed Wizards." We walked back to the courtyard's statue. My feet were no longer freezing, thanks to the warm fur boots. "Tolfdir is likely already addressing the new Apprentices. Go on in, and if you have any problems, let one of our senior members know."

"Thanks. I'm happy to be here." With that, I entered the huge hall. Another emblem is on the gate. Behind it is an old wizard and three students. A Khajiit, a Nord, and a Dunmer. I can't see their faces from here, and I don't think they noticed me. The teacher was lecturing the students on safety in a raspy voice. All attention turned to me when I go to stand by the other Apprentices. Only one caught my attention, though. The beautiful Dunmer.

__________________________

Yay! I finally got around to writing this (I know it's more of a filler, I'm sorry)! Honestly, I wasn't planning on updating this for a while, but thank you @MipperMipperdoo for encouraging me to write! :D I forgot how much I enjoy this story. XD Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed!!