After Faralda had rescued me from the mean Khajiit's bullying, I was welcomed by the archmage's assistant herself, the 2nd most influencial person in the college, the master wizard Mirabelle Ervine. She was the one who showed me around on my first day and explained to me the basics about how things worked in this magic academy I had just applied to. While she walked and talked I looked around obviously. And let me tell you, Winterhold's college was all I could have imagined in my wildest fantasy and more.

 

 

It was really a mysterious and magical place. As for its residents, well, they were like I would have imagined I guess, men and women of power going around with an air of purpose and wisdom but... Well, let's say that I had not imagined the women to be dressed as they were. In such a freezing weather, they had some rather light clothing, ones that I would have pictured more easily on the shores of the Topal Sea or the Gold Cost than here on the shores of the sea of ghosts at the extreme north of Skyrim.

Master Wizard Mirabelle explained to me that the wizards clothing's color were used to differentiate between the novices, who were student of the college without a mentor, apprentices who had a mentor, mages, senior mages and scholars which were the five ranks of the college. Above of these were the master wizard, and then the archmage. As for why the women were dressed as they were, Mirabelle appeared surprised when I asked about it and said that it was the tradition and had always been the case. I couldn't help but think that it must have been a decision from a particularly lecherous male archmage at one point in time but kept that opinion to myself.

 

 

Another thing she explained that I had not known when I came, was that the way Winterhold's college wasn't like the other magical university that I had heard about, without entry fees or hard screening to get in, was also the cause for a really different way of doing things there than in the rest of Tamriel. There were no proper class there, the accomplished mages would sometimes hold some lectures or even teach the "young ones" like me, but there was no established cursus for the novices and apprentice. In place, all had access to the library to study and to some apparatus to practice magic, but if one wanted to learn something, he either had to pay for private tuitions from the available masters, or to get a mentor which would give him the title of apprentice. An apprentice was supposed to obey his mentor, on the other hand this one must provide for him food and teachings. The thing was that, eventhough lodging and access to the library was free, without proper tuition and only a lecture when one of the senior felt like it, it was pretty hard to become a powerful mage. Also, food wasn't free and even without having to pay for a room, one had to eat and so needed some income. As such, many novices were here just once in a while to study, but lived elsewhere having to earn a living. There were some odd jobs that one could do at the college itself that were available from time to time, but not enough to get by, so if I didn't get an apprenticeship, I'd have to find a way to make some money.

 

 

These things she explained while we were in my room where she had me change into my new uniform.

"That's why, as a newcomer, I'd advise you to submit yourself to a screening tomorrow with all of the master mages once they've been made aware of the presence of a new novice. Not only will you no longer have to worry about earning some coin for your food, but those who study under a master get better quicker, and have a much better chance to earn their certificate." said Mirabelle Ervine.

"Err, sure I will be happy to be screened by these master mages. Will they test my knowledge, should I prepare in any way before I meet them? By the way, what is this certification you just mentioned?"

"Well, I doubt that you can really improve that much in just one day, you better rest. Each master has his own criteria of screening when they search for a student. Also don't worry if nobody takes you as an apprentice tomorrow, most new comer is generally a novice for at least a few month before a senior mage or a scholar offers him an apprenticeship. As for the certification, well that's a document that you'll need to show if you want to be recognized as a Winterhold College graduate if you seek employment as a mage. Now, do you have some other questions?"

 

 

"Well, I get that we have to wear some kind of uniform in the college but... Aren't they a bit... immodest?" I finally asked.

"Some have complained about it, but not much. In skyrim, women have always dressed lighter than men. I mean, I guess that you could ask for an exemption if that really disturbs you, but that would clearly set you apart and I wouldn't recommand it."

"I... No that won't be necessary, I was just a bit surprised to see that women here dressed like that but that won't be a problem. Thanks for your time."

"Sure, I'll let the mages know that a new novice is here. I am sure that you'll see most of the senior mages tomorrow. Keep in mind though that most of them will test you to see your abilities but that doesn't mean that any of them is actually looking for an apprentice. The screening is also there to help you know more about your own latent abilities. Today, you can get your bearings and study in the library if you wish. Also, I'll have a meal delivered to your room since it doesn't look like you came prepareed but don't expect it anymore after that. if you aren't apprenticed, you'll be expected to fend for yourself. Good luck tomorrow, and welcome to the college."

"Thank you master wizard."

With that, she left me in my new room, alone with my doubts...

 

 

However, I didn't stay long. I had been waiting to get to this place for so long, now that I was here, I was not going to spend my time moping in my room. Putting my doubts aside, I went and started to explore.

And the place was truly magnificent. Skyrim might be a babaric place compared to High rock (at least according to the bretons), but this place had been founded by Shalidor himself, and magic was all around, I could almost taste it in the air.

 

 

I visited the mushroom farm underground..

 

 

The glass house, heated enough to have luxurious vegetation in the cold climate of Winterhold...

 

 

Then I went where I really had wanted to go since I had arrived, the arcaneum, Winterhold's huge library.

 

 

It was even bigger than I had imagined. Obviously, a lot of the books were locked away and you had to ask the arcaneum's master, an intimidating orc named Urag, to get to them as had told me Master Wizard Mirabelle, but with the hundreds of scrolls and books already available I was like a little girl in a candy shop.

 

 

I was reading a book on Camlorn story, my own birthplace, when I realised that there were some weird noises I could hear. To be honest, I guess that I had perfectly understood what they were, after all, I had spent many evenings hearing these very kind of things from my mother's room, but I guess that I didn't expect to hear that kind of things here in the arcaneum.

 

 

Getting closer, my suspicions were confirmed, what I could hear was definitely sucking, what in Quagmire?

 

 

Things were dark, and I didn't dare get any closer, but if I was not mistaken, there was a pink haired lady on her knees taking care of two gentlemen, and I was pretty sure that one of them was grey furred. J'Zargo? Well, apparently whatever punishment his mentor had devised for him hadn't been enough. What was wrong with these people doing it here, in a place of learning? What would I feel in her place, oblivious to my surroundings, only thinking of pleasing my two lovers while I would know deep down that people around would hear, and know what I was doing... I'd probably be so ashamed I'd want to disappear...

A moan louder than the other brought me back to what was happening and I hurried away, not wanting to be caught peeping on my first day. Yes, that was pretty wild but I guessed that it wouldn't be the last wild things I'd see (and how right was I). Refusing to be bothered by it, I went back to my reading until it was time to go to sleep. Next morning, my interviews with the many master wizards would begin.

 

The next day, I started my interviews with my potential mentors early in the morning. As tradition went, I would first meet the 5 scholars of each school of magic, then, if none of them had wanted me as an apprentice, I'd maybe meet some other senior mages  if they were interested.

I started with Faralda, the scholar of the school of destruction, in the Hall of the elements.

 

 

"Well, here we are girl. Now, as I told you yesterday, I won't take you as an apprentice. However I'll still test you to see your potential. Are you ready to begin?"

"Yes, mas... Mistress?"

"I am not your master as you are not apprenticed to me, as for mistress, you sure are pretty, but I don't swing that way. Faralda will suffice, or you can call me scholar if you wish to adress me formally. Now, let's see if by guiding you I can lead you to produce a flame."

"Master, I... I mean Fa... Scholar. I Think that I understood how to make some fire. I read about it yesterday in the library and I think that I have the hang of it."

"Oh really? Please do show."

 

 

I visualised a flame and placed it in my hand, searching deep in my belly for my magicka, letting it trickle in my hand to take the shape, smell and sound of a flame. Almost immediately it was there floating lightly above my hand.

"You taught yourself that? With just a few hours in the library and some practice alone?"

"Yes mas... Scholar."

"OK, let's make little test, can you throw it out of your hand? Let's say on the hovering light there, don't worry, it won't damage it or the wall behind."

I turned towards the light she had pointed to me, extended my hand, and fed the flame some more magicka.

 

 

When the ray of flames got out of my hand to start licking at the well of light I almost panicked and lost control of my spell. However, knowing that I was being tested right now, I managed to keep it under control and kept feeding it magicka, trying not to think about what would happen to me if i let it run wild.

 

 

Faralad watched this in silence for a few more seconds before saying:

"OK girl, that's enough."

 

 

Shutting the magicka from my hand, I let the flames subside before standing straight back up, a bit breathless.

"Well, as for your light spell, that was sloppy as Quagmire, but considering that it was your first try... I'll admit that you've impressed me. If you're telling the truth. You are, right? You wouldn't dare lie to me girl, nobody taught you that, right?"

"I... No I swear. May Mara marry me to a pig if I lie."

"Mmm... I think that I believe you. Let's make another test. For most people, fire is the easiest of the elements to generate, let's see if we can make you do something else..."

She then started to explain to me what was the nature of electricity. She went on and on, talking about things I couldn't understand, with some theoretical vocabulary that I had never heard. Actually I had read some of those same words yesterday when I was reading on the nature of fire and I didn't think that it had helped me much. Doing my best not to show that I wasn't really listening, I concentrated on the image of lightning, on the sound of thunder, of the feel of the storms that would sometimes wake me up at night back home... I tried to fit it in my hand, and when it felt too big for that, I both of my hands...

 

 

"What in Oblivion?" Exclaimed faralda as some kind of light appeared in my hand with a sound like the buzz of many bees. "Did... Did you just do that like that? I wasn't even done explaining. How did you do that?"

"I... I just pictured a storm in my head, and placed it in my hands..."

"What? That is most bizarre. Any way, same, let's see you direct it at that light there."

 

 

Joining my hand, I let the magicka surge towards my hands and lightning poured out of them with a deafening roar. I could feel myself getting lightheaded when faralda tapped me on the shoulder, signaling me to stop.

 

 

She let me catch my breath a little while before asking:

"Nobody taught you that?"

"No scholar."

"What is the difference in the nature of fire and lightning?"

"I... I don't know scholar."

"And yet, you can generate either of them, without understanding what they are."

"I... Yes scholar."

"Most intriguing. I am pretty sure that Mirabelle, Colette, Phinis or Arniel do magic the classic way, but still, maybe that is because of your breton ancestry. After all, I doubt that the forsworn or the witches of the wyld study the nature of the elements the way we do and they do have powerful destruction mages. So, on one hand, you have huge potential, and apparently an almost instinctive way to do magic. On the other hand, you lack a lot of basic knowledge about magic and I think that you'll need to learn it anyway if you don't want to be stuck with a very basic and wastefull use of your apparently huge pool of magicka. As I told you, I won't take you as an apprentice, I already have one, but I'll tell you this, you may have an even bigger potential than J'Zargo, and he is, despite his crappy personality, the best student I ever had. So study hard, and you may do great things."

And with that said, she turned on her heels and left me there..

 

Next I met with Tolfdir. Unlike the scary Faralda, the scholar of the school of alteration was a sweet old man with a gentle attitude. However he had asked that I go to the arcaneum to study a specific text on the nature of reality before he got there. So after what felt like an eternity unsuccessfully trying to decipher some convulated and abstract text full of weird diagrams, when he showed up, I could kind of guess that things wouldn't go much better than with Faralda.

 

 

"So Shanilia,  care to tell me what you make of what you read?"

"Err, Scholar, to be honest, not that much."

"Didn't find it interesting? You know a curious mind is the stepping stone to knowledge."

"I... That's not it. Just... I think this book is too hard for me, it refers to many things that I have never heard about. I think this is just... Too advanced for me."

"Surprising. Faralda told me that she's seen you call forth fire and lightning, and also light. I'd think that to do so one needs to have a proper understanding of the fundamentals about this world's reality and it's interaction to magicka. Mmm... Did you not study before coming here?"

"I read a few books that I managed to acquire but I don't think that I had what you'd call a proper education. My mother taught me how to read and count, and then she gave me an allowance to buy some books, so I am mostly self taught."

"Oh, I see child, forgive me. Since you could do some magic, I assumed that you had some theory down, but apparently you're more on the instinctive side. Well, it's never too late to learn. My own apprentice Onmund, didn't know anything about magic before he came here. I wouldn't call him an erudite yet, but he has improved much, I am sure that you can too given time."

I felt my hopes dim when he said that. He already had an apprentice too, and he valued knowledge, which I didn't have. And I thought that getting to Winterhold would be the hardest part.

 

 

"Now child, why don't you show me that light spell of yours"

Well, maybe it was litterally my chance to shine!

I stood up, concentrated, opened my magicka well, and poured some of it in my hands. This time I made sure to control the flow, not wanting to make too bright a light as I had done with Faralda outside.

"Interesting" Muttered Tolfdir, watching me. "That's not the proper way of doing it but, well, I guess it should work."

 

 

Finally, I let go. Flooding the place with bluish light and "attaching" the ball of light a bit above me.

 

 

"Well, that spell isn't exactly as I'd have done it, but it works, you used a lot more magicka than necessary, but I guess that means that you have a big pool of magicka on hand already, which is a good thing. I can see that you're self taught, your spell could be better but on the other hand, learning to do this by yourslef means to you definitely have the capabilities to learn. I am sure that you'll make a fine apprentice."

"Does that mean that you'll take me as your apprentice?" I asked, unable to hide my hopes.

 

 

"What? Oh no, sorry child, I din't mean that. I am too old to have two apprentices, and I am pretty sure that having you around Onmund would distract him to no end, reducing his ability to study to zero. Already, whenever Brelyna is around he turns into a mumbling fool, adding you to the mix would probably turn the poor boy into a simpleton."

"I... I see. thank you for your time Scholar."

"Now now, don't despair child. You have talent, I am sure that someone will want to mentor you. Colette and Drevis don't have apprentices right now, and if not them, probably some other senior mage. If worse comes to worse, I could teach you once Onmund has passed his certification in a few months."

A few months, what could I do to earn my living for a few months? But he was right there were some other potential mentors left. Trying not to worry too much, I went to my next appointment.

 

I went then to Colette Marence's room, the scholar of Restoration. Since it was the only school of magic in which I had actually been taught a proper spell, I felt a bit more confident than in the other domain. Also, restoration is often affiliated with the idea of healing, a benevolent magic if there was any. In the novels I liked to read, restoration school practitionners were always kind persons. And Finally, both her name and surname were of Breton origin, maybe a common background would help endear me to her.

Knocking on he door, I came in when she called and went to stand in front of the chair she was sitting in.

 

 

However, as soon as I was there, after a very quick glance I just couldn't hold her gaze. Ther was nothing wrong with her eyes. She was actually much prettier than I had thought, as for Mirabelle Ervine, I had not expected prominent mages to be anything else than crones, which they weren't. Maybe they used some kind of magic to stay young and pretty, Dibella knew my mother clearly did. But no, the problem was her "make up", if you could call it that.

"So you're the new novice. Shanilia right?"

"Yes scholar"

"Hah respect huh? How refreshing. So you're here to learn magic? Or you just thought that this was a good place to find a husband? If that's the case, let me tell you, you came to the wrong place. Men in the college are as crass and rude as those outside of the wall."

"I... Yes scholar. I came here to study magic, that's all I have ever wanted to do."

"Good good. Now tell me, you consider restoration a valid school of magic, worthy of study, don't you? Don't you?"

Oh by Dibella, Why was she getting angry at me? And why did she have those horrible things on her face, and apparently on the rest of her body?

"Of course it is scholar."

"Good, good. Not that I require validation, of course. There are just some, and I shan't name names, who would disagree. It can make life difficult when one's colleagues fail to recognize the research one engages in. Now girl. you appear to have some difficulties looking me in the eye am I so intimidating?"

 

 

"No scholar. I mean yes, maybe. I am sorry."

"Is that my make up? Don't like it?"

"I... Yes I do it is... Pretty..."

"Pah, pretty... Do you take me for a fool? Well, let's adress the mammoth in the room. Are you from Skyrim girl?"

Oh by the Eight! That wasn't going well. At all.

"I... No scholar. I am from High Rock."

"High Rock huh? We might go go back to that. I knew you couldn't be a nord, too small and dainty, and anyway, nord women are even worse than men when it comes to magic and its value. So, I take it you're surprised by what's on my face, right? Well that's one of Skyrim's newest and nicest tradition. See, a few years back, someone found a recipe for an ink that would perfectly fuse with skin, making painting on the skin, if not permanent, at least really long lasting. Now, what did nords make of it? Some new art? A cultural thing of beauty? Of course they didn't. No, they thought it a perfect new way to shame women. Whoever is now considered to be an easy lay will probably end up with insulting scrawling all over her. Now, before you go having improper thoughts about me, I didn't lay with anyone. It's probably one or another of the men here, or maybe even a woman, who found it fun to scribble all over my face when I was asleep."

Saying nothing, I couldn't help but let my gaze wander down to her chest.

"Yeah, right, my face, and the rest. I sleep in the nude, is that a problem with you? This place is so well isolated that it's almost tropical, and I keep my door closed, so there should be no problem, are you judging me girl? Think that you are better than me? Well you aren't, let's see if you still find it funny when you're the one covered with more filth than a tavern's restroom!" She suddenly hissed at me.

By the Eight, that woman was crazy! I needed a mentor, but did I really want to be her apprentice? Well, on the other hand, I guess I would be pretty annoyed to have been defaced like she had, maybe she wasn't like that all the time.

"Err... And how long will it take to go away?" I asked, trying to divert her anger.

"Well, depends on the quality. Lowest quality ink should go in about a week, the purest would be almost life long. Of course, I can remove it, just have to burn the skin and regrow it, but even for a master in restoration that is a long and painful process, and since it is the third time this year, I decided to wait a bit to see how fast it faded before going through it one more time. Anyway, enough about me. Where are you from in High Rock?"

 

 

"I hail from Camlorn, in Glenumbra."

"Oh I come from Shornhelm in Rivenspire. I heard that Glenumbra is very pretty, though I also heard that the swamps south of Camlorn were pretty horrible."

"It is rumored so. I never went there actually, I am more of a city girl."

"Good for you. I myself am not fond of gallivanting in the wilds. Too much danger, and also too many horny fiends, men or beasts, who'd want nothing else than to take advantage of pretty girls like you and I."

Well I had no idea what she was talking about, but at least it seemed to be going better than I could have hoped considering the start of our interview.

"Now," she continued, "Let's see about your magical abilities.

 

For the next half hour, she guided me through some exercises. It was complicated, but not nearly as complex as what Toldir and Faralda had tried to explain to me. Actually, her approch to magic seemed to be much more instinctiive and closer to the way I had been doing things up to now.

"And now that you have gathered all that magicka, let it flow out of your palms, but keep it there a while to stabilize it." She said.

 

 

Now that was some understandable explanation. Not like the weird mumbo jumbo the others had talked about.

"Good! Good! Nearly there!" She said enthousiastically. "Now, let it go, but don't let it disperse, try to reabsorb it through all of your pores.

I did as she told me and I could feel the magicka get back into me as a soothing golden light.

 

 

"Incredible! You really are gifted! I don't think that I have ever seen someone with so much raw talent. That was one of the most basic self healing spell there is. It won't heal anything serious like a disease or a broken bone, it is more like a rejuvenation process applying a little bit of healing to the whole body. But still to learn it so quickly, you have the best raw potential I have ever seen!"

"Thank you scholar." I said beaming.

"Call me Colette, child, no need to be so formal. Now tell me, you never practiced restoration magic before?"

 

"I never did any healing, but I did learn a spell that my mother taught me, kind of a light shape shifting I guess. I wondered if it was restoration, illusion or alteration but the feel is very similar to what we just did, so I guess it must be restoration."

"Shape shifting? Now I am curious. If it indeed is it is very advanced, no wonder you could learn a basic self healing spell."

"I don't think that is very advanced, it is just a small spell my mother has learned and she is not a learned mage. Actually, I do it better than her, she never could do the kind of variations I do, but still I think that it is pretty basic."

"Well, don't keep me hanging, show it to me."

 

 

Well, that was the only spell I had been taught, and a pretty easy one to use. Now I was in my element and things were finally going my way. Concentrating, I gathered my magicka, and sent it back in me.

 

 

I went all out, going for something drastic. First I changed the nature of my hair, making it go from my natural black to a light blond. Then I changed its form, making it longer in the back, shorter in the front so that some of it escaped from my pony tail.

 

 

Once the light from the spell had dissipated, I looked at Colette to see if she was impressed. Well, she didn't lokk impressed, at all...

 

 

After looking at me for a few very long seconds, she finally talked.

"Yes, when you said that your mother taught you some shape shifting spell, I had no idea what you were talking about. But now I see, yes, I know of this spell. And you are right. It is indeed shape shifting, albeit on such a small scale that it would be more proper to call it cosmetic. And yes, it is a restoration spell."

"Is... Is there a problem, Colette? You sound angry."

"It is improper for a novice to call her betters by their name, I am the scholar of Restoration."

"But you... Forgive me scholar."

"Now, that spell was invented by the prostitutes of the Summerset isles to be able to fit their client's tastes better. I know that their counterparts in Valenwood had started using it too but I didn't know it had traveled as far as High rock... Now tell me wench, You said your mother taught you this spell, is your mother a whore?"

 

 

"Sholar, I don't see how... I mean, she is a courtesan in Camlorn, but a respected one, and she has mostly noble and educated patrons..."

 

 

"I didn't ask you about the proper way to call a woman who spreads her legs for money, nor how much coin she makes bouncing on dicks. I asked you, is your mother a whore, yes, or no?"

"Y... Yes scholar."

"And she taught you the tools of her trade. Then what, you wanted some new gimmicks to please the customers better, that's why you came here, to be a better whore?"

"No! She taught me that spell to train me at magic, not to become a prostitute. And I came here to learn magic, I want to be a mage, not a whore!"

 

 

"Right, keep those lines and your fake tears for your sugar daddy. Considering the pigs dressed as mages who are living here, I am sure that you'll easilly find someone here who'll be happy to teach you spells to make your tits bigger and your cunt tighter between two romps. But that won't be me, now get out of my room you mean little slut!"

Holding back my tears, I fled from her room.

"What a bitch! I may be a whore's daughter, but I am not a mean hag! Maybe that's why someone painted your face!"

Of course, that would have been more effective if I had had the guts to tell that to her face rather than mumble it once her room's door had closed behind me. But then I was sure that she would have done her best to have me expelled from the college, and not just from her room...

 

Going back to my room, I was lost in my thoughts that I actually bumped in someone while I hurried away from my last interview.

 

 

"Oh by the eight i am so sorry, I..."

Taken aback, I started to apologise only to stop mouth agape seeing who I had collided with.

 

 

"Hey, no worry pretty! I got some padding!" She said, gigling in a bubly voice.

She was in a state of undress that could not be considered normal, even considering how flimsy our robes were, and she smelled like my mother's room after she had entertained many patrons, like some expensive and heavy perfume and... Something else... And she was covered in... But that couldn't be...

 

 

As if nothing was out of the ordinary, she struck a pose highlighting her massive asset while continuing, still bubbly and giggly:

"Don't think we've met. Coulda forgotten, like, that happens all the time, but I think not cause you're so pretty, and I remember pretty! I am Livvy, you're new here?"

"I am... Err... Yeah, my name is Shanilia."

"Kay! That's gonna be Shani for me. Shanilia's too long, I like my names with two sybab... Sylaboo, two sounds, easier right? Are you, like, a new mage?"

 

 

"Yes I am a novice here, I arrived yesterday."

"Oh, good for you! You'll like it here, everybody is so nice! Well, mostly the men, girls, not so much, they're kind of jealous cause i've got, like bigger boobs and ass than them, but don't you worry, your tits are, like, kinda small, but you're super cute, I am sure that every body will love you!"

"Well thanks. So... You live here too? You're also a mage?"

I mean she couldn't be right? Even if she had the clothes of the order.

"Of course I live here silly, I've lived here, like, forever. I used to be a mage too. I studied curse, and the like. But the one day, one of my cursed jewel went, like, poof in my face! then my tits got bigger, my ass too, and it became, like, very hard to think. But it's okay, cause now everybody is super nice to me!"

"So... If you're not a mage anymore, what exactly do you do?"

"I suck cocks silly, and I fuck. I just spent all night in the guards barracks, in town. They were, like, so happy to see me! We fucked like, all night, more than that in fact cause it's afternoon and I went there in the evening!"

"And... Aren't you tired?"

 

 

She just turned to me and starting wiggling her sizable behind at me.

"I am! But I am horny too! I want a big fat cock in me, I want it to fill me up, and like imbreg... Pregman... Make me a mommy! With even bigger tits and yummy milk! Well, it can't cause I got some magic thingy that says no no spermy, no baby! But it's been so long since my last dickie! Well not that long, but I want iiit! Say, wanna come with me? Heard the jarl's wife went on a pilgrimage in Windhelm, Kory must be so lonely! He says I'm his favourite mage in the whole world! If you come with me maybe you'll be, like, his second favorite!"

"Err, no thanks, I got... You know..."

"No worry sexy girl, next time, see you around!"

And just like that, she turned tail and went back out of the building...

 

After that, needing some calm, I went back to my room. A letter had been slid under my door saying that my next interview would be at night with both Drevis Neloren, the scholar of Illusion, and Phinis Gestor, the scholar of Conjuration since they were both busy with some experimentation. It was past noon, I was starting to feel pretty famished, but I didn't want to waste coins on a meal at the tavern. If I didn't get a mentor, what little money I had left would feel precious indeed. Since I didn't feel like studying, I took one of my favourite adventure romance novel out of my bag and lost myself in the story of Jandirra, the proud  fighter monk of Rimmen and her impossible love with the lieutenant of the akaviri invaders.

In my book Jandirra had gotten captured by some akaviri soldiers who were about to interrogate her. I knew the story, having read it many times before, but still, I couldn't wait to read about the obscene things she was about to be subjected to in order to get her to talk when there was a knock on the door. By Dibella's tits, Couldn't one have a moment for herself after having been rejected and humiliated by 3 persons in a row? Still, maybe it was important...

 

 

"Come in"

The bosmer who entered was, I must say, quite dashing. He had a kind of mischevious air to himself, almost of danger.

"Hum. Hi?" I said.

"Hello young lady, I came here to..." He stopped mid sentece and looked at me. "Wait, are you Shanilia, the new novice?" 

 

 

"Well, yes that's me, and you are?"

"Oh, sorry about that, I am Enthir, one of the senior mages here. I was told that the new novice was a cute dark haired breton. You sure are cute, but with mer ears and blond hair I thought I might have the wrong room."

"Oh, I am breton, at least on my mother's side, and as for the hair." Remembering Colette's reaction I hesitated, but well, it was pretty hard to lie about that, I intended to turn my hair back to what they were before. "Well, I changed them with a spell."

"Interesting, they were right about you."

Well, I had no idea who they were, and what they had told about me, but I didn't want to antagonize another person on my second day here.

"And... Err, what can I do for you sir?"

 

 

"What do you say we talk about it around an ale and something to eat?"

"I... I don't know if..."

"You won't have to pay for it of course. Listen, I can quite imagine your situation, believe it or not, those of us who didn't come here with the support of nobility or wealthy family began like you. You have a dwindling sum of money, you haven't been apprenticed yet, and you are wondering how you'll get by. That's partly to talk about that that I came to see you. So what do you say?"

"I... Sure."

"Good, come with me."

 

I followed him out of the building, then of the college to go back to the tavern where I slept my first night in skyrim after getting out of the boat. That was two nights ago. That felt like an eternity.

Enthir brought us to a table, then he ordered enough food and drinks for 4 persons.

 

 

"So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, trying to push away the smell of food from my mind.

My stomach growled. By the gods, did he hear that?

"Look girlie," he said "I get you. You don't want to accept favor from the suspicious bosmer without knowing what it entails. So I'll say it, nothing. Think about it as my first, and probably last act of kindness towards you. Believe me when I say that later, all our interactions will be about business, but not today. You probably have had only the one meal that Mirabelle provided you since you arrived yesterday morning. You're about to pass out, so eat. This meal comes with no strings attached, there is no poison in the food, and nothing more in the drinks than good old fermented grain and fruits."

I hesitated one more second, then I started wolfing down all the food I could, Sweet Mara, it was so good!

When I finally felt full, I sat back in my chair, blissfully drowsy.

"So, feeling better?" Asked Enthir.

"I do. I can't thank you enough."

"It's all right. first, and probably last, remember? As I told you before, I am a businessman, so let's do business."

 

 

"What kind of business?" I asked, feeling suspicious again.

"Nothing shady, except if that is your speed. but first, let's get some context. You've seen three masters out of five. Didn't get an apprenticeship, did you?"

"I... How would you know that?"

"Tolfdir and Faralda already have an apprentice, as for Colette, she's a bitch, she even has it written out on her forehead for all to see."

"Are you the one who..."

"Wrote it? No, but who cares, that's true and everybody knows it, probably even herself. She's a whiny, ill-tempered, paranoid, envious and sullen mean bitch! Now that leaves just two of them who, if they do things the way they actually do, will see you together tonight. Now Phinis already has an apprentice also, so that leaves Drevis. He might take you as an apprentice, but he isn't an easy man to please, I know it for a fact, I used to be his apprentice."

"Then there are the senior mages."

"Right, I know that, I am one of them."

"What are you saying?"

"Wait, let's keep exploring. In the senior mages, Urag already has an apprentice, Arniel might have taken you if you were a dunmer since they know quite a lot about the dwemmers, but you're not. Sergius is too busy trying to prove that enchanting services can make us appreciated by the nords to teach anyone anything. He might take you on, but you'd end up as a courier, not a mage. There used to be Lyvelia, but she all she could teach you today is how to suck dicks. Arabella's a nice girl, bright and rather kind. However she went away a while ago and hasn't been here for at least a month, who knows if she's coming back. And then, there is Alanna, who's an even bigger bitch than Colette and has never taken an apprentice."

"Right, ok."

"Now let's talk about you. Something tells me that you don't even have enough money to go back where you came from, so you're stuck here. Do you know of any trade you could make here, in this ghost town? Or are you maybe a strong warrior? If that's the case there are a lot of work for the mercenary types around here, it is after all a pretty wild and dangerous place as soon as you step out of the city. So I can see two job possibilities. Either serving tables here. You'll survive, you'll scrap by, but you'll study on your own, you won't have enough money to pay for any tuition from anyone. Or you can work here also, but in the rooms, you'd make some money that way. Not that much, but some. However, this isn't High Rock, most of your money would go to Dagur, the inn keeper, and before that you'd have to pay for a prostitution licence from the jarl, and believe me, those don't come cheap here."

"Right... I still don't know what you're asking."

"Simple. If nobody takes you as an apprentice I will. I'll treat you good, feed and dress you well, teach you magic. I am a very powerful destruction and conjuration mage and a rather good  alteration practitionner. I am crap at illusion and restoration, which might explain why Drevis and I didn't click, but I can pay for your lessons with other if you want to."

"I... So you'll take me as your apprentice! Then yes of course, I'd be happy to!" I said excitedly.

"Yes, I'd be your master by day, and you'd be my mistress by night. That... Is the deal." He concluded looking at me in the eyes.

 

 

All this talk, all those preambles, to explain how inevitable it was that I'd be his! What a jerk!

I got up without a word, but he quickly stood and went in front of me to block my way.

"Let me pass! I am not a... I won't be your..." I said through clenched teeth, torn between the desire to lash at him and the knowledge that to do so might give me another enemy in the college.

 

 

"Now, now, calm your tits girlie. As I told you I am a businessman, I won't force you or coerce you. I expected you to say no, and then there are no hard feelings on my end. But know that my proposal is still on the table. Something tells me you haven't really known hardships before. Well, you're about to. So when you tire of greasy drunken men, either as a tavern wench or a prostitute, or when you tire of cleaning Drevis's underwear if he takes you as an apprentice, cause yes, this stingy old man had me do his laundry when I was his apprentice, then remember what I offered you. That's all I am saying."

"You want me to fail so that I come back crawling to you!"

"I wouldn't mind you crawling if that's your thing, but no. What I want is to get in your pants. You're pretty lass, more than that in fact, you're gorgeous. Many men will want to get between your legs, I just happen to be the one who's offering you the best deal for it, now think about it."

Then he moved out of the way. Not so much angry as mortified now, I stormed out of the tavern to go back to the college. Well, At least I wasn't hungry anymore...

 

I spent the rest of the day in my room in the College. I didn't want to chance an encounter with Colette, or Enthir, or J'Zargo... By the Eight. I was at the place where I had wanted to come and already, the place I had dreamed about since many months, and already, in just two days, I had been harassed by an apprentice, asked to become the mistress of a senior mage, and called a slut by one of the scholar. I was clearly off to a good start. The worst part was that, I couldn't help but wonder is Enthir wasn't right. I hadn't refused to become like my mother in Camlorn to become a tavern whore in such a backward ghost town, so what, if nobody took me as an apprentice, serve table for a few septim a day? To be able to eat and pay for an hour of tuition from a senior mage maybe once a month? I'd get nowhere. Or should I try to become an adventurer? I mean, only  with today I guess we could say that I knew a little of battle magic, I could heal myself, generate fire and lightning, well, to a certain extent. Was that enough? And well, it was all exciting and romantic in my books, but the prospect of being face to face with an armed bandit or an angry troll suddenly was less appealing when one thought about doing it for real...

Those were my thoughts all afternoon, and later, when night had fallen and I went to the room in which I had been told that I'd meet Phinis Gestor, scholar of Conjuration, and Drevis Neloren, scholar of illusion.

 

 

"Good evening young one, so you're the one making all the tongues waggle since yesterday, I guess. Shanilia, Right? And I understand why, so pretty you are. My, If I was a few decades younger I wouldn't let such a beatiful girl go without trying to court her!" said the dunmer. Drevis I guessed.

By Dibella, was I about to be asked for some more improper things? Maybe in a way Colette was right and all the men here were actually more interested by my womanly charms than by my ability to learn magic.

"Will you stop you old lecher!" Exclaimed the other, probably Phinis. "you'll scare the poor girl away. And a few decades? make that a few centuries. Now girl, sorry to call you here at such a late hour but our experimentation could not be delayed. Now, If I am correct, your name is Shanilia, from Camlorn. Am I right?"

"You are scholar."

 

 

At least one of the two seemed serious enough, but of course, according to Enthir, that was the one who already had an apprentice. He continued:

"Now, from what I have heard from Faralda and Tolfdir, you have an innate talent for magic, even if you lack proper training. Do you know of any conjuration or illusion spell?"

"No Scholar, I am sorry."

"No worry child, we have a way to test you that won't require you to know anything, like that we'll know if you are worth teaching. However for that, we'll need to put you under a mild hypnosis spell, would that be all right with you?"

By Mara's motherly love, what was that all about. Put me under an hypnosis spell, that sounded scary, and a highly suspicious way of testing someone. on the other hand, these two were two of the five scholars of the college, I could hardly refuse, and, they were supposed to be respectable members of the college, I should be able to trust them, wasn't I? 

Seeing my hesitation, Drevis spoke then:

"I know what people say about hypnosis child. They say you can make someone into a proper doll, or a slave, make them subservient to you, or change their personnality, that is true, it is possible, but it is a long and grueling process, I wouldn't be able to do something like that without you noticing and it would take me days, maybe weeks. Now, what we have in mind is something easier, and much less scary, just a little trance."

 

 

"I see, but... Forgive me for asking, why is it necessary?" I asked.

"Well, you see, the schools of llusion and conjuration are, for different reasons, considered the two hardest to learn, or teach." Answered Drevis. "I assume that Tolfdir and Faralda went through some quite complicated explanations to test you. Well the thing is Alteration, destruction and illusion all are based on the same principles, but to compare it to something more concrete, if destruction was like hammering, then illusion would be like embroidery, or needle work, a much finer use of energies since it affects mostly the mind, or some rather subtle things, like one's own shadow."

"And as for conjuration." Continued Phinis. "It is a completely different principle  of magic. It is about opening the doors to the oblivion planes to call forth things or beings. You need to know what you are doing, what to draw out, how to protect yourself against it and how to bind it in a way that it'll do what you want and not the other way around. You can't brute force it, and you can't afford to make any mistake. So for that reason, it would take days to have you ready to perform some conjuration or illusion magic, and to take so much time to realize after that that you have no talent for it would be quite a waste of time, for you, and for us. So what we want to do is put you in a light trance to try to harness your own powers, but with our mastery, like that, we'll see if you have a natural talent for our schools of magice without wasting time or putting you in danger of being gutted by a xivilai if you mess up an invocation."

"Well... When you put it like that..."

 

 

"Yes, good, so now just relax." Said Drevis, standing up and extending a hand towards me.

I did my best to. For a while nothing happened, I was about to ask if I needed to do something particular for it work when I felt myself drift, as if I was falling asleep...

 

 

I came to, lying on the cold hard floor of the room in which I had been. Wat, what had I been doing? Some one was next to me. Talking... To me?

 

 

"Shanilia. Can you hear me?" Was saying, probably actually repeating, Phinis who was kneeling next to me.

At the other end of the room, was Drevis who sat on the ground, watching me, and looking dazed and kind of... Scared? What in Cold harbour had happened. They had talked about needing to put me under a hypnosis spell, I agreed. I guess that DRevis did put the spell on me and then...

"Err... Scholar? What happened?"

"First of all, how are you feeling Shanilia?"

"I... All right I guess. A bit disoriented, and I don't know what happened..."

"Well, If you're feeling all right, maybe you ought to redress yourself properly." He said, a bit dryly.

 

 

Looking down, I saw that one of my breasts had gotten out of my dress.

With a yelp, I jumped back up and put things in place as best I could. What had happened, my dress was all messed up, the straps weren't attached as I had put them on this morning, What in Dibella's name had happened here? Even my shoes were off my feet, lying in one corner of the room.

I kept apologising as I redressed myself up while Drevis got up groggily to sit on the available chair. Finally, I was dressed in a decent and tolerable manner. Standing in front of the two scholars, I asked again.

 

 

"Please tell me. What happened."

They looked at each other, and finally Phinis spoke.

"Well, we tested you. The results were actually quite... Surprising to say the least."

"Surprising, how?"

"Well, you do have the gift for conjuration, at least for the daedric kind. The necromantic yelded absolutely no result. On the other hand, I'd be very careful when studying it if I were you. You... Actually summoned a scamp when I was testing you. And it was totally uncontrolled. Had I not banished it, who knows what it could have done, to you or someone else had he escaped."

A scamp, but wasn't that a really nasty creature, one that used to burn houses and men alike, to rape women during the oblivion crisis?

"Sweet Mara! I am so sorry."

"Well, not your fault. I think." Said Phinis. "But still, no conjuration unsupervised until we are sure that you know what you're doing."

"I... Yes masters... I mean scholars."

They both looked at each other.

 

 

"Now, about the illusion magic, there was something weird also." Said Drevis. "It was potent, but somewhat... Tainted."

"Tainted? I don't understand." I said.

"Actually, I don't know if the problem lies with the conjuration and the illusion magic." Continued Drevis. "I am guessing that it was the first time someone used a hypnosis spell on you, right?"

"I guess so."

"Do you know something of... I don't know how to say that. Are you always... That nice, and docile?"

"I... don't know if really am that nice and docile, as you say but... I guess? Faralda said that I should have more backbone, so does my mother actually. Is that the problem, my personnality?"

"No, no, you're personnality is fine as it is girl." Said Drevis, sounding frustrated. "But, well... If it is always the same... Maybe... In your dreams, are you like when you are awake?"

"I... Yes... Mostly..." I answered lookig at the floor and feeling myself blushing."

"It is important Shanilia." Said Phinis.

"Well... I don't think that I am mean or anything in my dreams, maybe a bit bolder..." I said.

"Bolder? That's it?" Asked Drevis. "Bolder how."

"Well... Maybe much bolder when... When..."

"When what girl, spit it." Said Phinis.

I felt myself turn crimson.

"When it comes to boys... And naughty things... That one does with boys..."

By Dibella, did they want me to spll it for them? And anyway, what was wrong with that? Eventhough I had matured a bit slower than the other girls, probably due to my elven heritage, I was at an age wher most girls my age, had already had a fiancé, a husband or a lover. And even if my mother had tried to shield me from it, I had grown up surrounded by the idea of sensuality. Still, Drevis and Phinis looked at each other as if I had said something very significant. Great, two more who would see me in a sensual light from now on. 

"And so, what happened?" I finally asked again.

"What? Oh, you had some kind of a fit. Nothing serious but I would stay away from hypnosis magic if I were you from now on." Said Phinis.

I might not be the courtesan that my mother was, but I was pretty sure that they were lying, or at least hiding a part of the truth. Had they had there way with me? Was that why I had been in this state of undress? But they didn't look like kinky old men who had their way with a girl, they looked, afraid. What in Quagmire was happening?

"That will be all, Shanilia, you should get some rest." Said Phinis.

Well I didn't know what had happened, but clearly, it hadn't gotten me an apprenticeship.I wished them a good night and I left. I was tired, physically and emotionally. Well, they were right, time to sleep. On the morrow I'd need to consider my options. Feeling dejected, I went back to my room to sleep.