The Lost Era

Chapter Three [Lianna]

"What the-" I jolted up. No one was around. Where was... Oh, this was my room. None of my candles were lit. I snapped my fingers and some flames danced across them. I grabbed the candle on my nightstand and lit the wick.

I was still in my robes and all of my belongings were thrown against a chair. When I checked, my bag still had everything in it. I was considering what I could do and my stomach grumbled. My internal clock was off, so there was not a way to tell if I'd missed dinner. I poked my head out in the Hall and everyone's doors were closed. The blue Mage lights illuminated the lobby. I cursed. That meant it was after dark.

It isn't exactly frowned upon to go out without a reason from school... But it's preferred that students don't. There are many bouts of students getting drunk and destroying things.

I have only ever gone out for scheduled reasons or with my elder sister Astrid forcing me out. I'd never been to the Tavern myself. I had always heard it changed some students' lives. Either they found the appeal as a battlemage and were hired on or burnt down a building. There was no in between in the stories, so one can see the enigma of it all. But it was the only place to be fed so late.

I changed out my robes for a black, hooded tunic and grey trousers. I realized I looked quite like a man, so I grabbed my silver circlet and fitted my curls around it. Next I threw on my cape. My entire outfit was as dark as night, just what I needed to not appear as a College member.

Very few people roamed the Hall. I had to appear at the desk downstairs. It was strongly suggested that when we leave alone, you make note with a sentry or the head of the Hall. It wasn't hard to fall in Winterhold and when students disappeared, families held the school accountable, but many a time the College had no lead as to where the person went. Stupid technicalities, in my opinion. But still I participated. I signed the parchment and went off. No one was at the desk, it was that late.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Twenty minutes and a chilling to the bone later, I was at the Tavern. It bustled. The light, golden, was pouring out of the window up front and I could see friends singing together and casual discussion around the room. I went in, because why not? It seemed inviting enough.

At first a few people looked at me, but it wasn't more than a handful. Within a couple breaths all their attention faded. A stewardess walked near me and begged of me to wait. I did, just taking in the environment. One drunk was awkwardly hitting on a woman at the bar, others were slamming food down their throats. And-

"Oh, here miss! I think your party is over there." The stewardess pointed towards a large group of men in all black, sharpening swords. I couldn't help but laugh. I was so conspicuous that it was funny.

"I'm sorry, I'm not with anyone." The lady seemed flustered. Despite this she plastered a smile on her face and had me wait longer. Some more eyes began to find me. Eventually she came back, her greeting a sharp yank at the elbow. I turned and followed. She was going on about how odd that I was alone, just a young girl. She had found a table in the very back, almost a dark corner.

"You stay here. Girls like you do not belong out so late," she insisted. I was going to ask what changed her mind but she skirted away and flagged another worker down to serve me. An older man started for me but she shooed him off, and after a few had tried as she wished, she finally nodded. Why was she so concerned with who interacted with me?

I was watching her when I was spoken to. I hadn't seen who the stewardess had flagged or where they'd been, so I jumped in shock. "Oh," the waiter spat out, holding in a laugh. I got a good look at him and answered.