บท 21: Chapter X: Dueling and insane Elves
[General pov]
Getting themselves together after experiencing what must have been a creation of Sheogorath, the apprentices left to spend the rest of the day studying or relaxing.
Reyvin was about to go do his daily Magicka grind when Bor interrupted him with an interesting offer.
"Hey Reyvin, I heard you got into some fights on your way here, you think we could get some practice in?"
Said elf raised an eyebrow and asked "And what would this practice entail?"
"There is a dueling room in the Hall of Refinement that allows us to have a magic fight without risks, I hear the wards stop any lasting damage."
Reyvin nodded in realization "Yes the Archmage did mention something along those lines, I am not surprised there is a room for it. Besides, the more combat-oriented among us need somewhere to get experience."
"Precisely, so you in?"
"Sure"
The two were quickly joined by Brienne and Morrigan who were curious about who would win, the Nord girl was sure that Reyvin was about to get turned into a popsicle, but Morrigan scoffed as if the idea was ridiculous.
They got to one of the combat halls, and just as they were about to begin an annoyance filled voice interrupted them "And what exactly are new apprentices doing in here? It hasn't even been a week, and you already want to blast each other to pieces?"
Behind them, at the door of the room was standing Faralda, the Altmer master of destruction.
Reyvin quickly responded to stop any misunderstanding "No, we came here for a bit of exercise, learning new spells is good, but if we cannot use them in battle they are useless"
The tall elven woman nods with a satisfied expression "You would be surprised by the lack of students who share this opinion, all of the idiots think that if they have enough Magicka they can just win without issues, well until someone stabs them that is. In any case I am curious as to your capabilities so I will stay and watch, do give me a good show" The smile she gave them implied that failing would not be wise.
The two nodded and turned to each other, slowly raising their hands.
[Reyvin pov]
As I was getting ready to blast my fellow student I was surprised by a quest prompt.
[Quest issued: Defeat Bor decisively][Reward: Str 0.4, Dex 0.6]
I was going to start going on morning runs and training anyways, but this is a nice bonus.
Well, no holding back then, I quickly cast oakflesh and prepare to make wards with my left hand, in my right I start summoning Scorch.
When Faralda signals us to start we both spring into action.
Bor summons his wolf and starts throwing ice shards at me, trying to conserve as much magic as I can I block them with the smallest wards possible, using my third eye to predict their path better.
This exchange goes on for a bit, his wolf seems to be holding back and waiting, I send Scorch to fly above them and start throwing firebolts to make them forget his presence.
We go back and forth, exchanging spells, I take the time to slowly get closer, until I decide to finish this and launch a wide flame spell to blind them both, Bor quickly shields himself and his familiar, but that is all the time I need to summon my saber and charge him, wanting to prevent any retaliation.
As I rush him he starts casting frostbite at me to slow me down and commands his wolf to attack, but at that moment my fiery companion that they thankfully forgot about, launches himself at them and detonates in a large fireball.
The wolf is dispelled immediately and Bor staggers back, but that is all the time I need to put my sword on his neck.
[Quest completed]
He seems irritated that he lost but still raises his hands in surrender.
We hear a slow clapping sound behind us, and turn to see Faralda with a satisfied smile on her face "Good, you both have some skill, at least enough not to shame us outside."
After she says this she gives us a bit of criticism "Bor, you need to show more aggression and use your familiar more, it cannot really die so better to use it like your colleague did. Reyvin you did mostly all right, but that last charge was unnecessarily risky, it would never be justified in a real fight, you might have cast some defensive spells, but all it takes is one lucky shot and you are dead."
I nod, if it wasn't for the quest I would have just ambushed him with Scorch when he got tired out, but it did require a decisive win.
Faralda tells us to sit at the side of the room, and turns to the girls "Now the two of you should give it a go, since I am here I might as well see what you can do"
Brienne is about to protest but the smile that covered the Altmer's face as soon as the thought entered her mind makes her shut up.
Their battle is far more drawn out, and not to toot my own horn, a lot less exciting.
Morrigan is able to keep Brienne and her wolf at bay with her cryomancy and entangling spells, but her own familiar is not very combat-oriented so she is basically fighting two-on-one. they exchange spells for some time until they start to get tired and Morrigan is quickly ambushed by the wolf, making it her loss.
Faralda gives them some criticism as well, mostly about conserving their strength and making distractions, so they don't just throw blasts at each other.
After she is done with them she calls us all back to the center of the room and speaks in a calm but ominous tone "You have all shown at least some promise in combat magic, so I will give you a free lesson that all battlemages must learn."
A sadistic smile spreads on her face and I know we are fucked "Your first lesson is.... dodging"
And the whole room explodes into a storm of spells.
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Two gods damned hours! She kept blasting us for two whole damn hours, poor Brienne looks traumatized, Bor is too tired to say anything and Morrigan regrets ever leaving her cave.
Thankfully none of us were actually hurt, since the room was made for this purpose, but we all felt every blow. We did actually start dodging a bit at the end, but I am sure that this was more for our 'dear' professor to blow of some steam than it was for our benefit.
The damn destruction mage gives us a cheery wave as we leave the dueling room, fucking madwoman.
I turn to my companions and say with the last bit of energy I have "I think I will recommend some dueling practice to all the rest of our class, if we suffered this the rest aren't getting excluded." Everyone shares a devious smile and Morrigan cackles a bit madly.
We quickly get back to the dormitory and, ignoring our friends' worried looks all rush to our rooms and crash into our beds.
Why is half of the damn college filled with madmen? What should I expect next, a fucking muscle wizard?
Before I close my eyes I check on my progress in the past couple of days
[Str: 7.1 =>7.5]
[Dex 9.4 =>10]
[Vit 8.5 =>9]
[Mind 16 =>16.5]
[Mag 140 =>145]
[Destruction-apprentice: +Sparks]
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A/n: there is a couple of chapters left for the college introduction, after that there will be a small timeskip and our boi will start adventuring.
If you have enjoyed reading this toss me a stone or give me a review.
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