This trip the Dragonborn decided that Fort Kastav, the old fortress blocking the way through the pass from Windhelm to the ice plains south of Winterhold, needed to be cleared. It was said to be the home to a dozen or more necromancers and their minions. Unlike most bandits that blocked thoroughfares, the necromancers didn't take tribute and allow folk to pass. No, they wanted souls and bodies. The citizens of the region bypassed them through the mountain foothills to the north of the fort. Inhospitable land filled with predators; it took a toll on travelers. Feeling emboldened by taking down Fellglow Keep, she was ready to challenge the evil that inhabited that fort.

 

Nora, Eldawyn and Sofia had all looked at the two skill books they had liberated from Fellglow, all advancing in Destruction and Conjuration. Nora had been reading the books she recovered, learning much about the orb they had, definitely the Eye of Magnus. The text had left her chilled. This was an object of immense power, much too strong for any one person, or any group, to have in their possession.

 

They stopped about a mile from the fort, leaving the horses under the watchful eyes of Elesia and Lydia, and crept forward. Nora had her rifle for this mission. She planned to use it sparingly, but it would open the battle with a bang. They of course spotted the necromancers well before they were in danger of being seen. She set up on the side of a hill to the north of the fort and sighted in.

 

There were maybe four mages out in the open. One on a wooden platform, one by the gate, and two more in the courtyard. She counted at least a dozen skeletons, mostly archers. And some bodies on stakes at both gates, long dead but not decayed due to the cold, expressions of pure horror on their faces. The feeling of evil coming off of the site were enough to sicken the Dragonborn, but she held in her gorge and sighted in on the necromancer by the gate.

 

The cross hairs were right over the head of the woman. Nora estimated the range to be five hundred yards. Long for the rifle, but not for someone who had trained in sniping from Robert Macready, the best long-range shot she knew. The man was a master, and when they had been lovers he had taught Nora everything he knew about the art. They had remained friends, and she had periodically taken him adventuring with her.

 

A squeeze of the trigger and one evil bitch of a mage was on her way to Oblivion. Nora quickly moved the rifle and sighted in on the one on the wooden platform, who was yelling, gesturing, and pointing in Nora's direction.

 

No you don't, thought Nora, sending a round into the head of the man, taking out the one mage who had spotted them. Two more ran out of the gate, fire playing on their hands while a squad of skeleton archers followed. Nora shot the mages in turn and their minions collapsed around them.

 

“We go,” said Nora to her team. “Kill all the necromancers, but if we find any citizens make sure to spare them until I get a look at them.”

 

Nora wasn't sure that all the mages in the fort would be robed, but she did consider that they might have captives. The party overran the courtyard and the outside of the keep in moments, taking down two remaining necromancers with arrows. The lower door of the keep led into a prison, and moving with stealth the party took out the two mages down there. Another heard them coming and sent a fireball their way. Nora and Eldawyn blocked it with Steadfast Ward spells, while Sofia sent Chain Lightning into the man. They found a dozen people in the cages under the keep. Two turned out to be vampires, dispatched quickly. Nora looked over the others, getting no feel of foulness from any of them. They made sure the people had food, weapons, warm clothing, and something to get them started wherever they were bound, then let them go.

 

The upper keep was deserted, but they found some objects of great worth up there. Including some armored mage robes that radiated great power. Eldawyn looked them over with a smile.

 

“Master Mages Robes of Destruction,” said the elf, handling the garment with reverence. “These will boost your power and magicka regeneration considerably.”

 

“No, they will do that for you. They're yours.”

 

“But..”

 

“You're primarily a destruction mage, while I have other resources to fall back on. So you will have it.”

 

They found an enchanting table, and Eldawyn helped Nora learn the enchantments from many of the weapons, armor and trinkets they had found in the keep and on the dead mages outside.

 

“We can sell many of these objects,” protested Nora. “And don't you know most of the enchantments these carry.”

 

“Yes,” said the Altmer, nodding. “But you don't. And the only way you're going to learn them is through disenchanting.”

 

“But, the money..”

 

“Do it, Nora,” said Sofia, the others around her nodding and smiling their approval. “After all, as you’ve said, we're not on this journey to become rich, though we won't turn it down if it happens. You need to progress so that we have a Sovngarde to go to after death. So disenchant away.”

 

Nora stood at the glowing table, a short sword of power lying on the flat surface, her hand upon it. She repeated the words to the spell that Eldawyn had taught her, and the object flared, then turned to dust. And the fire damage enchantment was in her mind, to be used in the future to enchant her own items. Nora worked for a couple of hours, all her mind could handle for the moment, and left the keep knowing over twenty enchantments. Some seemed silly, like the enchantment that gave a tiny little chance to flip an enemy into the air. Why bother with that when you could just kill him. But most were actually pretty useful.

 

Nora had noticed that the energy of her life force had been increasing steadily while she was on the road. She had become much harder to kill, or to curse. An arrow to the heart or a severed head would still kill her in an instant, but wounds that weakened and spells that sapped life would have diminishing returns on her. And her stamina was also increasing. She could fight for longer periods of time without tiring. Nora seemed to be slowly developing more resistance to the forces of magic that would have harmed her. Her skill with sword and buckler were noticeably improved, and she was much smoother with the bow, faster and more accurate. She could move more fluidly in her armor, which didn't seem to weigh her down as much. And the Sole Survivor had come to this world with terrific sneak skills, and she would have bet that they would improve no more. She would have been wrong, as she was finding herself walking with softer steps, instinctively seeking the shadows and striking from them.

 

She was pushing her body, mind and spirit; and they were responding by giving her more resources. At the fortress, after killing the last of the mages, she felt another surge of life force and stamina. Then another surge as a great store of magicka entered her body. And she felt as if some of that magicka was seeping out of her and into her followers, giving them more strength while not weakening her in the least. Her mages had agreed, feeling like they were getting a boost while in her proximity.

 

They pushed the horses over the one hundred and sixty miles of road from the fort to Winterhold in just under four and a half hours. Nora let her followers see to the horses while she and Eldawyn walked quickly into the College.

 

“You're back,” said gro-Shub, greeting them at the entry hall of the Arcanaeum. “And in one piece.”

 

Nora pulled the books from the satchel she had carried them in, handing them over to the Orc librarian.

 

“And more importantly, the books are,” said gro-Shub, frowning at the book with the scuffed cover. “What happened to this one?” The orc was holding up Fragment: On Artaeum.

 

“We had a bit of a battle, Librarian,” said Eldawyn in a peevish tone. “You're lucky you got them back at all.”

 

“Of course. Of course. And did either of you have time to read them.”

 

“We both read all three of them,” said Nora, her face serious. “And I must say I found some of the content disturbing. I think we have a massive bomb waiting to go off in the Hall of Elements.”

 

“I thought as much,” said the orc, frowning. “But try telling that to Tolfdir. It's his new toy, and he wants to play with it, no matter what. Maybe you should go tell him what you found.”

 

Nora resolved to do that, just as soon as she delivered the notes to Olivia, along with the news that her apprentice was dead. She found the mage deeper in the library, going over the books in yet another case.

 

“You are back,” said Olivia, closing the book and standing there.

 

“Jadro'Ra is dead,” said Nora, bowing her head.

 

“He was a good mage,” said the woman in her haughty, unemotional voice.

 

“That's all you have to say of someone who died on the mission you set him to.”

 

“When I say he was a good mage, I am paying him the highest compliment I can. Do not presume to think you can eulogize my apprentice better than can I.”

 

“Sorry. It just bothered me to find him alive and not be able to save him.”

 

“What do you mean?” asked the older mage, raising an eyebrow.

 

“He told me that a Dunmer mage stabbed him with a Daedric blade. It poisoned him to his soul, and none of the healing we sent into him helped at all. I held his hand while he died. But he told me where he had hidden his notes.”

 

“He was a fool to follow a dangerous mage into a cave,” said Olivia with emotion, her eyes showing how much losing the young Khajiit hurt. “And thank you for being there for him.”

 

“Here are the notes he kept. I read them, but without some prior knowledge they didn't make much sense.”

 

“I taught him that skill. I'll look these over tonight, and then I may have another task for you.”

 

Nora walked away not sure that she wanted more tasks. Didn't she already have enough to deal with? Wasn't saving the world while taking on its evil enough?

 

“Master Tolfdir,” said Nora, walking into the main hall of the central tower. The mage was looking at the orb, and appeared with his tired eyes to have been lacking sleep.

 

“You're back,” said the old mage in a fatigued voice. “Isn't it beautiful. If you have a minute, let me give you some observations about our find.”

 

Nora noticed that Ancano was also present, on the other side of the orb, his own eyes haunted as he stared at Magnus's work.

 

“Do you feel the power? It's like nothing I have ever heard of. It does not appear to be Elven, Daedric or Ayleid. The colors are like nothing I have any experience with. They seem to shift, sometimes something familiar to the eye, other times having no name.”

 

“Master Tolfdir. I found the books that Master gro-Shub sent me after. I read them all on the way back. And Night of Tears was particularly disturbing.”

 

“Is that the one about the elves attacking Saarthal to get something under it?”

 

“Exactly. And it calls this thing the Eye of Magnus. Something of immense power. And ultimately dangerous.”

 

“Dangerous? Preposterous. It's an object of fascination and nothing more.”

 

Nora realized that the old mage was under a compulsion, probably from spending so much time in the proximity of the Eye. The same might be said of Ancano. And if it could influence the minds of two powerful mages, there was no telling how many people it might end up controlling before all was said and done.

 

I have to do something about this, thought Nora. Of course, knowing she had to do something and knowing what to do were two different things.

 

Nora went to class the next day, anxious to find out how far she had fallen behind. And to her surprise finding that she had actually advanced much further than the other Adept level students. She had actually cast two Expert level spells, Sleet Storm from Destruction and Paralyze from Alteration. She didn't think any of the other Adept students could cast those spells. After her training session that evening she asked Faralda about it.

 

“Unprecedented,” said the Master Mage, looking at Nora with wide eyes. “Show me.”

 

Nora cast Sleet Storm, feeling the impact on her magicka as she sent a stream of ice daggers into a target. The wood and straw flew apart and Faralda whistled.

 

“Now, cast Paralyze on me.”

 

“Are you sure. I don't want any harm to come to you.”

 

“Don't worry. Hit me with your best.”

 

Nora cast Paralyze, feeling a drain of magicka, and the colored lights of the spell enfolding Faralda, who looked back at Nora, not paralyzed at all.

 

“That didn't work?”

 

“Oh, it worked. I could feel the compulsion, but I'm too powerful for it to have an effect. Something to think about when casting it. But still, you are progressing at an ever-accelerating rate.”

 

That left Nora with much to think of. She felt too damned tired to hike back to the inn that night, and invited Eldawyn to share the bed in her dorm room. They were really starting to enjoy themselves, calling out their passion, when a loud knock on the door interrupted them.

 

“We're not decent,” said Eldawyn, holding back a laugh.

 

“I had pretty much figured that out,” said Faralda, opening the door and walking in. “The other students need their sleep. So...”

 

“We'll stop,” said Nora, frowning.

 

“But your nightmares,” protested Eldawyn.

 

“I don't need you to stop,” said a smiling Faralda. “Just relocate. My quarters are much more private, and soundproof. And I don't want our prize student to have nightmares tonight.”

 

“You already knew?” asked Nora, sitting up in bed.

 

“Of course. You told Brelyna, and that is like telling everyone. If you don't want me joining you, you can still use my bed and I'll sleep on my sofa.”

 

Nora looked over at Eldawyn, who gave her a nod and a smile. “You are welcome to join us. Just let us get some clothes on, then we'll follow.”

 

An hour later Nora was lying in Faralda's bed, trying to get her breath. High Elves were incredibly good at sex as a group, and Faralda was no exception. Being worked over by two highly sexed Altmer was an experience she was glad she hadn't missed.

 

“You are so surprising, my sweet,” said Faralda, lying beside Nora and using a finger to play with the Dragonborn's raven hair. “Is there anything you're not good at?”

 

“Well,” said Nora, using the Altmer tongue she had been learning from the now sleeping Eldawyn. “My Altmer still needs work.”

 

“Wonderful,” said Faralda in the same language, clapping her hands together. “Yes, you need work. But very few humans ever try to learn our tongue. Any reason?”

 

“It's a beautiful tongue,” said Nora, trying to say what she wanted to properly. “But I have other motives.”

 

“You want to be able to listen in on the Thalmor, yes?”

 

“Yes,” said Nora, looking away, not wanting to meet the gorgeous eyes of the elf. “Look, I know they don't represent all of your people, but they are my enemy. And I see them walking down the roads chatting in Altmer. If Elda is with me she translates. But I can't always have her along, especially if I am on an infiltration mission.”

 

“You don't need to explain, love,” said the Master Mage, leaning over to kiss Nora. “I know you are no bigot. A lot of my people look down on humans, thinking them beneath them. If they had as much exposure to human wizards as I have had they might change their tune. All know that the Bretons, like Mirabelle, can have great command of magic, and most Altmer would say it is because of the elf blood in them, but I think it is the fine blending of blood.”

 

“I had a question for you,” said Nora, looking back at Faralda.

 

“Ask away.”

 

“I know the classroom and training time is important, but I seemed to have progressed more on the road, fighting real battles, than I do here.”

 

“Well, some of my colleagues wouldn't agree with me, but I think you are right. There is no purer form of magic than that we call up when the stakes are high. To remember the spells, gather the resources, and release, with the knowledge that at any moment you might be hit, focuses the mind wonderfully.”

 

Nora laughed, and Faralda gave her a quizzical look.

 

“A famous man, from the country most of the people in my nation originated from, said something about how facing a hanging concentrated the mind like nothing else.”

 

“A wise man,” said the laughing Faralda. “Very bright.”

 

“Intelligence and wisdom are not the same thing, Faralda. We had brilliant people who made decisions that doomed billions to death.”

 

“Billions,” said the master mage, tasting the word. “More than ten times the total population of Tamriel. All dead in hours, from what you said. Unimaginable.”

 

Yes, thought Nora. It is. But it happened.

 

“Well, my love. I need to get some sleep. And you will have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow I am sure.” Faralda turned away and was soon breathing the soft rhythm of sleep. Nora felt herself fading and was soon with her. She expected to have a dreamless sleep, but images of the Eye of Magnus intruded on her sleep throughout the night.

 

*     *     *

 

“I looked over Jadro'Ra's notes last night, and I think I know where the pages have gone,” said Olivia Meronin, catching Nora as she came through the door to the Hall of Elements in the morning.

 

All Nora had in mind was getting to her classes. She had learned much, faster than anyone had believed possible. But there was so much else to learn. She was sure this mage wanted to send her out on the road again. While that could be desirable, especially after her talk with Faralda last night, she wanted to get some more technique and theory under her belt as well.

 

“Can this wait, Master Olivia? I have to catch up on my studies. You know, what I fell behind on doing that last mission for you.”

 

“I really need this done as soon as possible,” said the woman, sighing. “I'm not an adventurer, but an academic. And none of the other senior mages at this College want to help. You've proven your worth before, and I trust that you will do a good job with this one as well.”

 

“Just how important is this?” asked Nora, a sinking feeling in her chest telling her that she would agree.

 

“These pages have new encoded spells from Shalidor,” said Olivia, her voice on the edge of pleading. “Those spells could be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands, which these assuredly are. I hate to think of the havoc they could cause.”

 

“If these people are so dangerous, and the spells they are trying to release so hazardous, why do you think I will succeed?”

 

“Oh please, Dragonborn. You are right on the verge of being named an Expert Mage. You and that lethal little party of yours is exceptionally good at getting rid of problems, and you have the means to travel faster than just about anyone in Skyrim.”

 

“And what's in it for me?” Nora really didn't like asking that question. She was here to help people, and stopping mages from unleashing magics they had no conception of fit the bill. But she really needed to keep advancing, and a mage asking her help should be willing to give some in return.

 

“How about a dozen spell books, all tomes you haven't read, including a few not taught here.”

 

“Well, I...”

 

“And some more books on metamagic, so you can continue advancing your body and mind while you're on the road.”

 

“Okay. I'll do it. But let me take a couple of days to talk with the faculty about what they want me to do as far as exercises go. Good enough?”

 

“Good enough. Here are my notes on the locations Jadro'Ra discovered. And if you want, I can give you advice on how to handle each of the mages you will encounter.”

 

Olivia spent about fifteen minutes going over what Nora should expect. Nora felt she had a good handle on it, and ran off to her first class, already late. Tolfdir didn't seem to notice her coming into the Adept class, meaning his attention was elsewhere, and Nora knew exactly where that was.

 

As she left the classroom she found Ancano waiting for her in the hall, Faralda standing nearby.

 

“You need to come with me,” said Ancano, giving no explanation.

 

“Not until you tell me what this is about,” answered Nora, spreading her feet in a stable fighting stance, open hands at her side.

 

“A member of the Psijic order has come to the College asking for you by name, Adept. And I want to know why. So, we will meet him in Savos Aren's quarters and get to the bottom of this.”

 

“I'll be with you, Nora,” said Faralda, stepping close.

 

“That's like a wolf trying to defend a saber cat,” said the scoffing Ancano. “But come along, my Altmer wolf. And let's see what this renegade mage wants.”

 

Nora found Aren already waiting, trying to engage an Altmer in the Psijiic robes in conversation. The man looked up as Nora entered the room with Ancano and Faralda to either side. Then the colors in the room shifted and everyone but Nora and the visiting mage froze in place.

 

“Please do not be alarmed,” said the mage, taking a step forward. “I mean you no harm.”

 

“What happened to them? Are you stopping time?”

 

“How perceptive. You are everything we thought you would be, Nora Jane Adams of Earth.”

 

“And what do you want with me?”

 

“I merely wish to talk to you.”

 

“I think there's more to it than that. But you seem to be in charge here, so speak away.”

 

“I've given us a chance to speak privately, but I'm afraid I can't do this for long,” said the mage. “We must be brief. The situation here at your College is of dire importance, and attempts to contact you as we have previously have failed. I believe it is due to the very source of our concern. This object... The Eye of Magnus as your people have taken to calling it. The energy coming from it has prevented us from reaching you with the visions you have already seen. The longer it remains here, the more dangerous the situation becomes. And so I have come here personally to tell you it must be dealt with.”

 

“What does this have to do with me?”

 

“You set this chain of events in motion at Saarthal,” said the mage. “You must understand, the Psijic Order does not typically... intervene directly in events. My presence here will be seen as an affront to some within the Order, and as soon as we have finished, I will be leaving your College. I'm all too aware that my arrival has aroused suspicion, especially in Ancano, your Thalmor associate. Nevertheless, my Order will not act directly. You must take it upon yourself to do so.”

 

“And why should I trust anything you say?” asked Nora. “I don't know you or your order.”

 

“I presume you refer to Ancano's distaste for the Psijic Order? The Thalmor see our Order as a threat because we have power, and we will not allow them to control us. I assure you that we mean you no harm.”

 

“I figured you were here because of the Eye,” said Nora, still wondering why they had contacted her and not someone more senior. “I'm worried about it myself. It seems to be having an unnatural effect on people here.”

 

“As you may have learned, this object... The Eye... is immensely powerful,” said the mage. “This world is not ready for it. If it remains here, it will be misused. Indeed, many in the Order believe it has already... Rather, something will happen soon, something that cannot be avoided.”

 

 “Okay. You contacted me for a reason, so you obviously expect I will do something about it. But I'm not sure what that is.”

 

“We believe that your efforts should be directed towards dealing with the aftermath, but we cannot predict what that will be.”

 

This is just great. They expect me to handle it, but even they don't know what I should do. Wonderful. “I will do what I can, but I don't know what to do.”

 

“Unfortunately,” said the mage, “the future is as obscured to us as it is to you. The overwhelming power of the Eye makes it difficult for us to see.” The mage stopped speaking for a moment, looking anxious. “I fear I have already overstepped the bounds of my Order, but I will offer this: seek out the Augur of Dunlain in your College. His perception may be more coherent than ours.”

 

“Who is that? I have never heard of him.”

 

“He was once a student here at the College. Now he is... something different.”

 

That sent a chill up Nora's spine. Something different. On this world that could mean all kinds of horrible things. “How do I find this, something different?” she asked, not sure if she wanted to find him.

 

"I... I am unsure,” said the mage, shrugging his shoulders. “He is somewhere within the College. Surely one of your colleagues must know his location. I am sorry I cannot provide you with further help, but this conversation requires a great deal of effort on my part. Now, I am afraid I must leave you. We will continue to watch over you, and guide you as best we can. It is within you to succeed. Never forget that.”

 

The time spell ended, and the world returned to normal around them.

 

“What's going on?” exclaimed Ancano, looking as confused as Aren and Faralda.

 

“There was a mistake,” said the Psijic mage. “I shouldn't be here.”

 

“You asked for a student at this institution by name, and here she is. So what did you want with her?”

 

“I don't need anything from her. I will be taking my leave now.”

 

“You're going nowhere until I find out what you are about.” Ancano walked toward the stairs with the Psijic mage beside him, the Thalmor demanding answers that the other mage kept denying him.

 

“Archmage Aren,” said Nora, approaching the Dunmer. “Have you ever heard of the Auger of Dunlain?”

 

“Where did you hear that name? Has Tolfdir been filling his students’ heads with nonsense again. I told him he was not to talk about that.”

 

Bingo, thought Nora. Tolfdir was the man she needed to ask.

 

Tolfdir was where she expected to find him. Still fascinated by the damn Eye. She wondered how much sleep he had been getting. Not much from the droop of his face and his stumbling steps when he moved. She glanced around the room for a moment and didn't spot Ancano. There was that, at least.

 

“Master Tolfdir,” said Nora, looking into the man's face and getting no response. “Tolfdir,” she yelled.

“What? Oh, Nora. I was just studying our wonderful find. What can I do for you?”

 

“I need to talk to the Auger of Dunlain,” said Nora in a forceful tone of voice, hoping she got through to the man.

 

“Oh, the Auger. I think he's still in the Midden,” said Tolfdir, the words rushing from him. “Not that he would move. He can't, you know. But yes, deep in the Midden. Please tell him I said hello.”

 

“Who is the Auger?”

 

“He was a brilliant student, an accomplished wizard,” said Tolfdir, a faraway look in his eyes. “Delved into magic in a way none had seen before. But, I think, he became too focused on just how much power he could acquire. That's what led to the accident.”

 

This was sounding more horrific all the time, and Nora was about to ask for more information when she noticed that Tolfdir's mind was no longer with her. Tolfdir's attention was totally focused on the Eye once again.

 

None of Nora's people were readily at hand, but she figured that the caverns under the College couldn't be that bad. Could they? It wasn't, compared to some of the places she had been recently. A novice or apprentice student going into it on their own were more than likely to not come back. But a Dragonborn?

 

The Midden proved to be a maze of tunnels and medium sized rooms with stairs. There was a section that had a forge, a smelter, tanning rack, grindstone and an armor workbench. Another room had an enchanting table. There were summoning circles and ancient forges. Glowing gems and rooms in almost total darkness. And skeletons. Many skeletons. They were easy opponents for the Dragonborn, but she could see how a young mage of limited experience would be dead meat. There were rooms, tunnels and raised walkways covered in ice, as cold as the outdoors. And Ice Wraths, hard to see, hard to kill, though an Unrelenting Force shout blasted them out of the air and made them easy targets. Finally Nora got to a locked door. She tried to pick it, then realized it had an enchantment on it. Without the permission of whomever had locked it she was not getting in.

 

“There is no solace in knowing what is to come,” said a voice that was no longer human. “There is no help for you here.”

 

“I need to speak with you.”

 

“Your perseverance will only lead you to disappointment.”

 

Nora continued to wait, hoping the being would eventually let her in the room.

 

“Still you persist? Very well, you may enter.” The door clicked, then opened of its own accord, revealing a small stone chamber with a round fount in the center, glowing with blue energy.

 

“Welcome to the Midden.”

 

“So, you're the Auger of Dunlain?”

 

“I am that which you have been seeking,” said the gurgling otherworldly voice. “Your efforts are in vain. It has already begun. But those who have sent you have not told you what they seek. What you seek.”

 

“And just what is it I seek?”

 

“You seek that which all who wield magic seek. Knowledge. You shall find this: Knowledge will corrupt. It will destroy. It will consume. You seek meaning, shelter in Knowledge. You will not find it. The Thalmor sought the same thing, and it shall lead to his end as it has so many others.”

 

“I'm not the first to seek you out?” asked Nora, her senses telling her that Ancano had beat her here.

 

“No, though you may be the last,” said the chilling voice. “The one who calls himself Ancano has sought my knowledge as well, through very different questions. Your path differs from most. You are being guided, pushed towards something. It is a good path, one untraveled by many. It is a path that can save your College. I will tell you what you need to know to follow it further.”

 

 “What do I need?” asked Nora, feeling that she was finally closing in on the answer, and ready to get by this cryptic bullshit.

 

“You, and those aiding you, wish to know more about the Eye of Magnus. You wish to avoid the disaster of which you are not yet aware. To see through Magnus' Eye without being blinded, you require his staff. Events now spiral quickly towards the inevitable center, so you must act with haste. Take this knowledge to your Arch-Mage.” The light in the fount faded and the presence of the being was gone.

 

“Can't you be a little bit clearer?” asked a frustrated Nora. There was no answer, and she realized that was all she was going to get from this thing.

 

“Archmage, I have important news for you,” said Nora to Aren, finding him in his chambers.

 

“Really?” asked the Archmage in a voicing dripping with frustration. “And what might that be?”

 

“We need to find the Staff of Magnus. It's vital to the safety of the College.”

 

“I'm sorry, what?” asked Aren, confusion warring with some other emotions on his face. “Well... I'd certainly love to have such a powerful staff, but I'm not really sure that any of us need it.”

 

Nora had the impression that the archmage knew something about this that he didn't want to discuss. “It is connected to the Eye sitting in the center of the Hall of Elements.”

 

“And how do you know this?” asked Aren with a hint of fear in his eyes.

 

“I spoke to the Auger of Dunlain. He told me I needed to find it.”

 

“Did you really?” asked Aren, raising an eyebrow. “And he specifically mentioned the Staff of Magnus? I... I'm impressed with your initiative. Of course, someone will need to follow up on this.”

 

“You mean me, of course.”

 

“I certainly do,” said Aren, eyes narrowing “Since you went so far as seek out the Augur for advice, I thought you'd be more enthusiastic. I could send someone else, of course, but I think you and your lethal little crew will have better luck than just about anyone.”

 

“I'll do it.” What was one more mission to save the world, after all.

 

 “Something as specific and ancient as the Staff of Magnus... I'm not sure we'd ever find something like that... I seem to recall Mirabelle mentioning the staff somewhat recently. Why don't you see if she can tell you anything? I'm quite pleased with your progress, you know. You've certainly proven yourself to be very capable Nora. You are well on your way to becoming a mighty mage. Well done. This circlet once proved invaluable to me. I hope it can be of use to you now.”

 

Nora looked at the circlet, which radiated a great store of magicka. If not for her, maybe Eldawyn or Sofia could use it. Aren waved some dismissive fingers at her, indicating that he didn't want to discuss it further. Nora left with the feeling that the archmage knew more about this than he was letting on. Disturbing, but there was nothing she could do about that at the moment.

 

“The Eye of Magnus?” asked a surprised Mirabelle. “I can appreciate that this... thing, this Orb... It's very impressive. Very unique, and definitely worth studying. But let's not jump to any conclusions, or assign it importance beyond what we're certain of.”

 

“The Auger of Dunlain told me it was very important. That the survival of the College was at stake. I have a feeling that it goes even further than that.”

 

“The Augur? Just what have you gotten yourself involved in?” asked Mirabelle, eyes narrowing “Whatever is going on, whatever you're up to... Be very careful”

 

“I need to know where to find the staff, Mirabelle. What do you know about it?”

 

“Well, it's said to be very powerful,” said Mirabelle, eyes distant in thought. “Has the capacity to store an incredible amount of magical power, as the story goes. But it's more myth than anything at this point. I've no doubt that it actually exists, but no one has seen it in what, decades? Longer? I'm not sure. The only time I've heard it mentioned was when those Synod characters showed up some months ago looking for it.”

 

“The Synod. What's that?”

 

“Mages based out of Cyrodiil. They fancy themselves the Imperial Authority on magic these last few hundred years. My understanding is that all they really do is make noise in an attempt to curry favor from the Emperor. Lots of politics, little magic. I was quite surprised to find them on our doorstep. They seemed amiable enough, but their line of questioning made me... uneasy. It became clear they're trying to hoard powerful artifacts, looking to consolidate power.”

 

“Does no one know where the staff is?” asked Nora, not really interested in the politics of rival groups of mages.

 

"No one here does,” said Mirabelle, shaking her head. “The Synod seemed convinced it was somewhere in Skyrim. They inquired about the ruins of Mzulft, but that's all I remember. It sounded like they were heading there, though they were rather secretive about why. I suppose if you're intent on looking for the staff, there's a chance they might be in Mzulft yet. Just don't expect them to be cooperative.”

 

“Can you mark the location of that ruin on my map.”

 

Mirabelle took the map and laid it open on a bench. She said some words and pointed to the map, and a symbol appeared, just over a hundred miles south of Windhelm, about halfway on the road to Riften. Nora didn't like that location, in Eastmarch, Ulfric's territory. But it was where it was, and not liking it wasn't going to change its location.

 

“Can you tell me anything more about the staff, Mirabelle?”

 

“I'm not really sure,” said the Master Mage, shaking her head. “Made and used by Magnus himself, if you believe those sorts of things. I believe I've heard it said that it's the only thing that could adequately contain his power. The sort of embellishment wizards of ancient times loved to make.”

 

Nora left with the feeling that the mages of the College didn't assign much importance to the staff, but the Auger seemed to think it was important. If she could trust him. However, it was the only lead she had. There were still five hours of daylight left, and they could pack and be on the road in an hour. This sounded like a seriously dangerous mission. She would leave it up to her people as to whether they wanted to come along or not. Nora could only hope she didn't have too many defections.