Into Skyrim, Elder Scrolls 8 Nirn's Beta-Chapter 106: Winterhold!

Teleportation was a very, very rare spell. I also now understood why. It worked very... interestingly. I picked Viree up out of the snow while the others dragged themselves up. Winterhold was relatively empty except for a single guard standing underneath the room of the Inn.

He called out to us, "Who are you?"

I waved, "Just some heroes on a quest. I presume the College is having some difficulties?"

He scoffed, "I have no idea what those mages are doing, but they are causing more problems. If the Legion attacks us now, we are doomed. What if they see this as an attack and slaughters everyone in the city."

I stared at the guard and back around Winterhold. It was honestly hard to call this place a city. I wondered if I could buy the land here too though. Viree patted me on the back, "Don't we have places to be?"

I smiled, "Be safe random guard."

I started marching toward the college. Oh the prizes I would get from this. I could already see it now! Stephan spoke behind me, "You aren't planning anything dangerous right?"

I laughed, "Why would I do anything like that? I want a long life!"

Illia spoke, "That was my first time ever experiencing teleportation. How exactly did we get here? It's like I traveled here, but forgot the journey."

I stopped just before the large barrier erected around the College of Winterhold. I frowned as within I saw dozens of wisp like entities flying around the college. In the distance I could see magic being used.

I responded to Illia's remark though. "The Teleportation spell is a master rank alteration spell. However one needs extensive knowledge on conjuration to use it as well. To make said spells into scrolls is even harder. Though that is just one version of teleportation. Portals and platforms were the most common. The spell we used altered our location rather than moving us to the location."

Viree stared at me, "What does any of that matter?"

I smiled, "Because if it was a portal I am pretty sure we would've exploded from the influx of magic in the air. Isn't that fascinating?"

My party stared at me, so with a shrug I went to open the barrier with the staff of magnus. However I paused before the barrier. Stephan looked at me, "Besides you saying we could've just died. Why did you stop?"

I laughed, "You feel that thickness of the air? That is magic condensing, the reason we could've exploded. The inside of the barrier is double that. Those things flying in the sky were magic anomalies. Good chance if I open the barrier they will react and move to the area with lower magic." That sounded reasonable, right?

Stephan frowned, "Like Air in a Vacuum. So what do we do?"

I gave a nod, "Illia and Kyne should stay back. Defend Winterhold if the magic anomalies attack it."

The two party members nodded, Kyne was the one to respond. "Leave it to us, we will protect the citizens if needed."

Illia nodded, "That and we will have decent coverage as a mage and a warrior."

I smiled, "Good luck." I turned back around quickly as they got into position as I peeled back the barrier.

We began crossing the bridge and Viree spoke. "So what is the real reasons you want to leave them behind."

She really was getting good at reading me. Stephan on the other hand looked confused. So I explained my intentions, "Kyne is a hero, destiny or not. He will do what is right. Illia is similar in this regard, righteous, though criminal. We recruited her after killing her coven. So it is safe to assume she would stop me from my actions."

Stephan frowned, "And what actions are those? What about me? What about Viree?"

This time Viree responded, "Vek is suspicious of everything. I don't know what he will do, but it will likely work out or have some over all greater purpose. As for myself I don't really care what he does, I just know it will have some kind of benefit."

I added on to what Viree was saying. "In your case Stephan you aren't a hero, you aren't righteous. You just feel guilty for the sins you could commit. So what about you? You already proved you could commit terrible deeds at personal gain."

He stopped on the bridge as I came up on the second barrier. He was looking down at the ground, and he shook his head. "You are right." He looked up, "So? What are you thinking? I assume you left them behind because you know something about the games I don't?"

I looked at Stephan and patted his shoulder, "It's okay, Kyne needs someone like you. Otherwise he will be a slave to a daedric god in time. Sometimes heroes need a little bit of help. As for what I am thinking."

I turned back to the barrier it was hard to see inside. The magic had already doubled, looking up Magic Anomalies were swirling around. I peeled open the second barrier and took a deep breath as I felt like my weight had doubled. A pressure held firm around me as I made my way to the third barrier.

Viree whistled, "I feel like I'm heavier."

Stephan nodded and I twirled the staff of Magnus in my hand. "After this barrier we will likely meet the mages of the College. As well as another player, according to some info I have they are named Gwenn.

Stephan and Viree nodded and I peeled back the third barrier that blocked the gates into the college proper. I pushed open the gate and was greeted by several people pointing magic at me. "Wow, what a greeting!"

It was Tolfdir who spoke, "Who are you?"

I bowed, "I am Vek, this is Viree."

Stephan rolled his eyes when he wasn't introduced, "I'm Stephan, we are here to stop whatever is going on. This is mostly on, uh, him to explain. I'm just here to help."

Tolfdir looked at his fellow mages. Only 4 of them were standing out here. "How can you help?"

I raised the Staff of Magnus and Arniel and Phinis reacted by raising their hands in readiness. Tolfdir waved them off, "Is that the Staff of Magnus?"

I nodded, "Is it not the exact tool you needed?"

I twirled it in my hand, the staff would likely reject me soon. It reacted poorly to those who used it to grow too powerful. I wanted to handle this all cleanly. Waiting for Tolfdir he gestured and the other mages lowered their prepared spells.

"Several are trapped in the Arcanaeum. Can you save them first?" Tolfdir seemed a little sweaty. I looked up in the sky at the magic anomalies swirling around.

"Are you fighting for your lives out here?" They winced as I spoke.

Faralda pointed to one of the dorms. "Half the school was injured in the shockwave. Colette is trying to heal everyone injured. The problem is two barriers are blocking us from getting to Ancano and 4 people are stuck in the library."

I nodded, "Is an apprentice named Gwenn up there?"

Stephan looked at me briefly, but he didn't say anything. His reaction though seemed to twist something in Tolfdir. "Yes, She is. The Psijic Order was telling her to acquire that staff you are holding. She was mid preparation to head out to acquire it."

I nodded, so she was the type to prepare for a quest. It just happened that she got stuck because of it. I gave Tolfdir an appraising look and I laughed. "She's a child, isn't she. That is why you look guilty."

His eyes went wide, but he nodded, "She is only 15, still just a child. For the Psijic Order to send her into a dwemer ruin just to find the location of the Staff of Magnus."

Another noob? A child this time instead of someone who just never played skyrim? I twirled the staff in my hand again, "Move out of the way. I will go to the Arcanaeum."

Stephan interrupted, "Hey, look..." He dropped into a whisper, "I get you want to meet this other player. However shouldn't we stop whoever is causing this magic bomb thing?"

I nodded, "Normally yes, however I can't use the Staff of Magnus for long."

He looked at me, "Why? Is it that powerful?"

I shook my head, "Kind of, I've been using the staff to siphon off some of the ambient magic." I twirled the staff to emphasis my point.

His eyes widened, "It isn't the staff, it's you?"

I nodded, "Siphoning the magic has been helping ward off those anomalies. I lied to Illia and Kyne earlier. Magic anomalies are made of magic, they go to magic. So siphoning the magic has kept them away. That is also why the scholar's here have been struggling."

I gave a half shrug, and continued. "The siphoning has benefited me too though. As I've increased my own mana pool by leaps and bounds. Which is why the Staff is likely to reject me soon. So I wish to go get the player mage apprentice. You could use the staff, but it would be better if used by a mage."

He nodded, "Will we run into any obstacles in there?"

I paused, "Not really, no. Just the guy causing this shit storm."

Viree interrupted our whispering with a yell. "Are you guys just gonna discuss what to do or are you going to do it?"

We stopped whispering, "Sorry, we were a tad worried about the condensed magic within the college itself."

The Mages of the College nodded, while Tolfdir explained. "You don't need to worry to much about that. Several glyphic wards are set within the college to prevent any dangerous spell use. They suck up the magic, though they may be reaching their limit by now."

I nodded and turned to the barrier blocking my way into the college halls. As I opened the way more anomalies began coming down from the sky. Stephan froze, "I will stay out here. Killing these anomlies will be good exp."

I smirked, "How lame, if you want to say you want to help them. Just do it, I won't stop you from that. In fact that is why I brought you up."

Viree stepped through the hole I made, "Can you guys not have... Whatever this is? I am feeling a little anxious about all this."

I nodded and got to moving. As I moved up I stopped and passed the Staff of Magnus to Viree. "I can't hold it anymore. Just keep it safe while we get to the Arcanaeum."

She nodded and I went for the stairs. I frowned to discover they were collapsed. I looked up the stairs and found it was collapsed from the Archmage's corridors. "How inconvenient. We will have to go up to the Archmages corridors and back down to the Arcanaeum."

Viree followed behind me up the other staircase and into the Archmage's corridors. At the very top of the stairs was Savos Aren. A knife was in his stomach and blood pooled around him. Viree whistled, "Wow, proof that mages suck."

I frowned, "You know I am technically a mage."

She rolled her eyes, "Eh, no comment."

I laughed, but I kicked Archmage's corpse. I grabbed the circlet and bracelet off of him. I paused and quickly looted the room of several Soul gems, One of the Spare Archmage robes, The stone of Barenziah, and finally a pair of boots that provided 40% shock resistance.

I paused to tie the boots together though. Viree looked at me, "What are you doing?"

"Huh? Oh, the guy we are gonna fight uses lightning. I am going to beat him to death with these shoes if needed." I gave her a smiled.

She smiled back, "The chance to beat someone with a pair of boots? Can I do the honors?"

I nodded and she took the boots from me. With that we skipped toward the stairs. I jiggled the door handle of the Arcanaeum and frowned. "Of course it is locked."

I sighed, "Open the door! We are here to help!"

I waited a second and started pounding on the door until I heard a voice. "Like, who are you? I don't recognize your voice."

I looked at Viree and shrugged, "I am a fellow Player. The college really made a shit show here and I acted to stop it."

She scoffed, "It was Ancano who caused all this. Besides we can't stop him without the Staff of Magnus."

Viree raised it up, "We have that."

The voice, which obviously belong to the player Gwenn, spoke again. "Who is she?"

She shrugged, "I'm Viree, the person who spoke before is Vek. Can we talk?"

She shouted back, "We are! Why are you not stopping Ancano if you have the Staff?"

I sighed, of course she thinks this is talking. I rolled my eyes, "Teenagers."

Viree punched me, "Vek can't use the staff anymore because he was using it to suppress and siphon the magic that was filling the air and creating those wisp things."

Gwenn paused, "Why can't you?"

Viree nodded like that was a good question. "I don't know how magic works. Using the staff is possible, but I can't be sure if I can do it. I'm not a player either so I'm not special like you or Vek."

Gwenn went silent on the other side. However the door snapped open, "You can come in. Does Vek know healing spells."

With the chance open I studied the young girl. She had purple hair and eyes, even her skin was a light pinkish. She was some kind of Mer, but I couldn't tell which. Viree smiled at Gwenn though, "Nice to meet you face to face."

I whispered, "Nicely done." I spoke aloud once more, "Who needs healing and why didn't you learn any?"

Gwenn winced, but pointed toward Urag. The old orc was being healed by both Breylna and J'zargo. I shook my head, "Stop healing him, he has mana poisoning!"

I ran over and looked over the old orc. I slipped a key out of his pocket before the others noticed. Gwenn came over just after I acquired the key. She yelled, "We, like, know! We can't do anything else though. He also had a heart attack!"

I nodded, i looked at Gwenn. "How old were you?"

She frowned, "Same age as I am now."

I sighed, of course she was. "Viree, follow my motion. Do it on the orc's chest." I pointed to J'zargo, "You Khajiit, how good are you at shock spells?"

I refrained from using his name, but he still seemed shocked. "J'zargo is decent. Why do you ask?"

I pointed, "Press here and here and use the sparks spell. However instead lower the output of mana you put into it."

He paused, but followed my advice. I sighed, "Dark Elf, grab his head and raise it up. Gwenn, grab the staff of Magnus there."

She paused and nodded taking it from where Viree put it down. Finally i motioned, "Feel the staff's power. Feel how it wants to push that power out. Reverse that flow and begin siphoning the magic from the orc. That is how you will cure him of the mana poisoning."

She nodded and got to work. I looked around the library and took it in. It was well sorted, Viree watched me out of the corner of her eye. However she helped distract the three apprentices. "I feel your sparks in my hands lower the pressure."

I snuck backwards and unlocked one of the bookcases. I shuffled through the shelf and emptied it out. I did this to two other bookcases before I returned to the apprentices. Acquiring spell tomes costed money, and I considered saving the lives of others a fair payment.

"Stop siphoning the magic. You got most of the problem. Anymore and you will starting sapping of his own mana." I also pulled J'zargo back and stopped Viree from doing compressions on Urag's chest. I kicked the old orc in the side.

Gwenn shouted, and pointed the Staff at me. "What are you doing!"

Urag spoke, "Oh, that was one hard kick. Was that really needed?"

I nodded, "When you keep your eyes close I'd say so. What would have happened if Gwenn kept siphoning?"

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He waved my words off as he tried to pull himself up. "Ah, I would've stopped her. I think the girl there broke my ribs though."

Gwenn hugged the old orc. "Thank god!"

He patted the young woman, "I'm not dead yet! Get off."

She nodded and stepped back, Urag looked at me. "Are you the one who collected the Staff of Magnus."

I nodded, "Got some beef with the Thalmor, might cause a scene down stairs. May or may not kill more people than just Ancano."

He stared at me while the other mages looked shocked. Urag seemed to catch my words though, "Once he is defeated the Psijic Order will likely step in to take the Eye of Magnus. Are they the ones you might kill?"

I nodded, "Depends on my suspicions. Lazy bastards who can stop time, fade in and out of Mundus, while making others do their dirty work." I looked over at the teenage girl, "Combine that with them telling a child to do this. Well, let's say if I don't like their answer I am going to turn your lecture hall into a blood bath."

My words seemed to stop the apprentices from their surprise at my suggested of murder. Especially J'zargo and Brelnya were stopped as their eyes wandered to the young girl they seemed attached too.

I got up, "Gwenn should come along, I'll try not to traumatize her with a murder scene."

Urag nodded, "You two should stay here."

J'zargo disagreed, "They want to stop that Thalmor bastard! Why shouldn't we join them?"

He put a hand in his pocket and sighed, "Because you can't stop him. Can I have my key back?"

I dropped the key into his hand. Viree agreed as with Urag as I began to step sway once more. "Vek, can be very determined in collecting certain things."

Urag spoke on last time as Viree joined me by the stairs. "That can be seen when he stole some of my books."

I scoffed, but he wasn't wrong. I just didn't like the way he said it. Speaking of, I pulled out one of the many tomes I grabbed. Deep storage was a spell constantly mentioned when the Inventory was used.