Chapter 22: Chapter XI: Change and Lies
The next morning after the torture session disguised as an impromptu lesson passed peacefully, I spent some time chatting with the twins about the holds of Skyrim and the geography of the province, never know when the information might come useful. The two were somewhat knowledgeable but they mostly spoke about Dawnstar and its surroundings.
The rest of the morning I spent trying to finally levitate, and I did manage to get myself a meter off the ground! Only to faceplant a second later after my concentration fell, but progress is progress.
Our first lesson for the day was alteration and defensive magic that Tolfdir was teaching, I remember liking him in the game. I always did find it odd that he was passed over for the position of Archmage after the college questline, from what I learned since coming to the college, a couple of words from a psijik monk is nowhere near close to getting one to become Archmage, not to mention who in their right mind would allow another organization to influence their internal structure?
The alteration tower was a lot tamer when it came to the openly magical effects or its aura, there was a feeling of constant fluctuation and change to it, but nothing too imposing.
We all took our seats and not too long after the old man entered the classroom, he looked much like he did in the game, average height, white hair and beard, the usual old Nord look. But when I looked at him with my ability he felt like a huge and indestructible rock more than he did a human being.
He gave us a cheery smile and started talking in a kindly voice "Welcome, dear students. I am Tolfdir Ebon-frost, the master of alteration and defensive magic, I am glad all of you managed to get up for classes today" At this he looks at the four of us that suffered yesterday, I guess that rumors tend to spread fast in a small place like this. We all nod, traumatized.
After our 'Enthusiastic' agreement, which he seems to not notice he continues "Alteration is the magical art of changing the material world" He takes a coin and turns it into dirt "It is also the school that deals with manipulating elements of a less destructive nature" At this he controls the dirt to form into a needle and uses a wind blast to launch it at the wall.
'Terramancy and aeromancy, I always did wonder why there was no word of them in the game.'
He goes on "The most important in my opinion, is the ability to defend ourselves, alteration is capable of being your armor and your shield" At this he casts an ebony-flesh spell and demonstrates by failing to pierce his hand with a steel knife.
After that, he summons some kind of wind spell around himself and explains with a proud smile. "The wind-ward spell is one of my own making, it makes a cocoon of wind around you and shields you from most physical projectiles"
"You might be wondering why I am showing you all of this, the answer is simple, while I know most of you will never focus on alteration on a more permanent level, being able to survive in this dangerous world will let you actually learn what you wish, you can't do what you want if you are dead. I am not saying this because this is my class, but I recommend all of you to come back again to learn how to protect yourselves."
And I believe him, he really does sound like he just wants us to be safe.
He gives us a couple of seconds to think about his words and resumes the lecture "The other part that I will be teaching in this class is wards. Wards are as you all know magical constructs that are primarily used as a personal shield against magic, I cannot stress enough that you should learn at least a steadfast ward before you leave for any journey. While this part of them is important, know that there is much more to wards than that.
Combining them with ritualism and enchantment wards can be made semi-permanent or even permanent depending on the catalyst, and the effects can range from large shields, to lie detection, to even temporal dilation in extreme cases."
"For today's lesson, I will teach you how to cast the oak flesh spell if you don't know it, and to those that do I will teach you a trick that lets you use it to strengthen yourselves in battle."
The class passes quickly after that, with Tolfdir patiently explaining the novice spell, pointing out mistakes, and showing us how to channel the spell more thoroughly through our muscles.
I leave the class with a smile on my face.
[Alteration-apprentice: Empowering oakflesh]
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We all take a break between classes, and since apparently I am the one with the most experience with becoming a tree man everyone starts asking me for tips about the spell, I don't mind this and help anyone who needs it.
It's a low level spell and they might pay the favor back some day, or not, honestly I don't care all that much. They are a bunch of kids and this might help them not get gutted.
The time soon comes for our illusion lesson. The tower is as trippy as when I first saw it, it is really fucking with my senses, at one moment I am in a tower, the next I am floating above the sea of ghosts. I turn off my perception as to avoid showing everyone what I had for breakfast.
We all sit down, and start waiting... and waiting... and waiting. Until finally a white haired Dunmer appears at the teachers desk and winks at us "Ah good you are all just in time"
Everyone gets annoyed at this and Morrigan tells him, her voice dripping with irritation "We have been waiting for almost half an hour, how are we just on time??"
The illusion professor smirks "You thought you were waiting for that long, but in truth you were sitting there for a whole minute." Many gasps are heard.
"Indeed, this is the true power of illusion, the ability to lie to one's perception." He fake-gasps "Oh by Azura I didn't introduce myself, Drevis Neloren, master of illusion at your collective service" He gives us a mock bow.
'I really don't like him'
"Now let us begin, what is illusion magic?" I almost think he will go the same route as the Archmage did but he quickly cuts off my thoughts "It is the skill of using Magicka to cheat the perception of either the world, or a number of individuals. Indeed, if one is skillful enough, one might convince someone that they are dead and thus make it so in truth." He raises his hand up high, as if he is preaching.
'Fucking drama queen.'
"But you all are much too young for such deeds, so we will start you all of at the basics. Today I will teach to you the two core spells of the illusion school, the calm spell and the enrage spell. One will keep you out of a fight, and the other will help you start them. Come now lets get to it" He snaps his fingers and there is a copy of him in front of every one of us.
Every single 'clone' seems completely autonomous and able to explain things to us, but I note that they don't seem corporeal, still useful tho.
The spells themselves are rather basic, you channel an emotion you wish replicated, basically ram it into a weaker-willed person, profit. We spend about an hour getting the spells down until it is time for us to leave.
Drevis looks at me with suspicion, and a bit of hate. I guess he learned my full name, thankfully he is forbidden from spreading the information or I would be getting visits form the woodsman's guild real soon.
With that encouraging thought I head to do my you master routine in the Hall of Refinement, and after finishing that I check out a novel in the library, might as well enjoy an old hobby.
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A/n: And that is it for this week, there is maybe two more chapters left for the nerdy bit, after that we are going n'wah hunting.
Apparently the upload timer refused to work, in any case this is the chapter for June 16.
If you have enjoyed reading this toss me a stone or a review.
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