Butterflies fluttered in the warm breeze, floating above the golden brown fields that stretched to the horizon.
Golden-brown fields, shimmering under the warm breeze, stretched to the hazy horizon where tall, snow-capped mountains pierced the azure sky.
A patch of peace and quiet, of warmth, amidst the coldness beyond.
Butterflies, wings like stained glass, danced on the air above. Coloring the fields in their luster.
A low *muuuu* broke the quiet, the deep rumble of bison grazing, punctuated by the sharp cries of eagles circling high overhead.
/Crunch!… Crunch!…/
The scent of sun-baked earth and wildflowers hung heavy. Nearby, the rhythmic scrape of wooden plows against the soil mingled with the lowing of cattle.
A small village of rough-hewn log cabins and stone pathways nestled in the distance, the feel of rough-hewn wood and cool stone palpable.
People ran left and right as the sun leaped into the mountains. Closing down their homes and lighting up candles in preparation for the dark.
Beyond, tall, grey stone walls, ancient and imposing, led to a larger, bustling village. A small maze of dirt and stone roads leads to ancient yet sturdy wooden and stone houses. Their earthy smell mingling with wood smoke.
Even mightier walls, raised high, encircled a hill crowned by a gorgeous city of cold grey stone and thick, dark wood. Its streets lit by the warm, flickering glow of yellow flames, casting dancing shadows and a comforting warmth that banished the chill night.
A city of myths and legends, yet to be cast aside by the tides of history. Waiting yet again to resurface in the pages of its tale.
Whiterun, the heart of the province, awaits its next chapter in the unfolding tale of Skyrim.
"… I wonder if we'll have stew again…"
Sitting on a rock overlooking the fields was a young boy, no older than seven, in a stale brown tunic. He stared at the bison and chickens as they were recalled to the farms with boredom, his gaze soon attracted by the blinking stars above.
/Din din din din!/
A clear bell chime rang on the farm, and the boy's stomach reacted accordingly, rumbling loudly.
"Baden! Dinner is ready!"
A woman's voice echoed from a large home behind him, her face unseen, but the smoke and lights coming from inside clearly visible, her shadows imprinted on its walls.
"About time!"
Baden jumped from the rocks, landing on his two feet with a faint smile. He ran inside with his arms open wide, as if imitating a bird throughout the skies above.
…
"… Vegetable stew again?…"
"What do you mean again? It's been two days since we last had it!"
"And two days before that too…"
"Boy, stop talking and eat the food your mother cooked."
"Man…"
Inside, a family of three gathered before a small rectangular table. Each with a smooth wooden bowl full of stew, carrots, cabbages, potatoes, and more.
Armed with wooden spoons, they happily converged on dinner every night.
"…"
'… It's not bad; it has grown on me, but… utterly tasteless.'
Baden took a spoonful of the stew and ate it without extra protest, looking around to distract himself as his thoughts ran wild.
The design of the house, or rather, his home, was quite rustic. Old tapestry and candle holders decorated the walls. Several roughly made wooden shelves were visible throughout the house, holding small trinkets and relics from his parents' past.
Behind him, stairs led to the second floor, where their rooms stood. Before him, the colossal head of a bear his father had proudly hunted years ago.
To his right, the entrance to their humble abode. A small lounge with a few chairs and a fireplace, one of the few things in this home that were made out of stone.
To his left, the kitchen. Barrels of ale and mead, together with hanging plants and sausages. He dreamt of eating any of them, but his mother was adamant about his diet. Today, and likely for the rest of the week, he wouldn't be seeing any meat on his plate…
Somewhere in the kitchen, a hatch underneath a heavy fur carpet led straight to the basement, where even more supplies and other secretive items were kept. Or so he thought.
His parents made it clear that the basement was out of his jurisdiction, and with him being locked out of home for most of the day, even if he wanted to sneak inside, there's no way he'd be able to do it with his parents nearby.
In a small home such as theirs, it was almost impossible to hide anything from each other.
/Chomp…/
Baden ate his food with much voracity, knowing very well that if he did not eat it now, he wouldn't have more until tomorrow.
Baden may be a child, but for someone his age, he was extremely intelligent. Knowing how privileged he was in having three meals a day, and above all, someone to make them for him.
"…"
His father watched it all with quiet, sharp eyes. He was a tall and burly man with near-ashen skin, being almost twice as wide as his mother. His long dark hair was unruly, falling at the sides of his shoulders and behind his nape.
His eyebrows were thick, long, and sharp, giving him a constant look of seriousness. As if he was brooding over something at any moment in time.
Below those were two emerald eyes that seemingly shone in the dark, and a strong beard that was uncharacteristically well-cared for.
While he showed little reaction to his son's behavior, or anything for that matter, he smiled a little at his son's responsiveness. He knew more than anyone how much he hated vegetables. But if it meant making his parents happy, he'd do anything.
And that made him very proud.
"… Do you want more, dear?"
His mother, on the other hand, looked gentle and caring. Her long blond hair reached her waist and was extremely smooth. Thin eyebrows and hazel eyes… Thin nose and thin lips… Even for most Nordic women, she was quite pretty.
Though Nordic ideals of beauty were often… Contested… One of the things Baden, and his parents would agree on was how he didn't inherit his father's large nose…
"Yes…"
Baden always ate whatever he was given. After all, with how busy his day was, it was hard to say if tomorrow he'd have the energy to move or not.
Soon enough, with their dinner finished, his father retreated to his chambers while his mother went to clean the dishes. There was no such thing as a sink in these lands. Here, one had to fill a bucket with water and that's' what they'd use throughout the day, that was why their day started early with the sun and ended as it parted…
In the blink of an eye, the whole world was cast in darkness. And before it did, his mother placed the wet dishes outside to dry, retreating back home to lock the doors and windows before night arrived.
Baden would often help her despite her insistence that he not to. But he liked to spend time with her like this. For most of the day, he rarely had time to enjoy any time with them.
After dinner was done, they'd go to their rooms to sleep. Or at least, that was the plan…
Baden often had difficulty sleeping due to how thin the walls were, mostly because of his father's loud snores… One would think his mother had the same issues as him, but she snored just as loudly…
That was why he always ate a lot… It was so he could run and jump all the day long and spend all his energy. This way, once night fell… He too would fall into the world of dreams. And hopefully, it'd be as heavy as a log…
Sometimes, he'd spend some time with his parents in their room. Hearing stories, playing around… While his father was rough and quiet, he wasn't emotionless, and while he'd never say it, he always had time to play with his son.
But everything that had a beginning would eventually end, and once it was time to sleep, he'd not hesitate to tell him to go to bed and sleep.
Baden always answered his father's words… If he didn't, it was because he couldn't. This dynamic made things peaceful around their home. Throughout his life, Baden could count on one hand the number of times his parents discussed to the point of screaming at one another.
A simple life on the farm, that was everything he knew. Once he grew up, it'd' be everything he'd do as well… Or so it should've been…
Baden, now alone in his room, opened his window, undoing the locks his mother put in place to look at the sky.
There, the constellations unfurled before him, twinkling faintly on the horizon.
From this angle, he could only recognize a few… The Lord, The Lady, and The Steed, only a few of the many constellations high in the sky.
In this world, constellations held power, meaning, and even a shard of fate. Civilizations and cultures across the world attach meaning to them, some going even further as drawing power from them…
Baden was born at dawn on the first day of the month of the Morning Star… In other words, the first day of the year.
According to his parents, his birth came over a week ahead of time, which came with great concern as well… Alas, nothing bad came to be as he grew up healthy in the years to come.
People liked to attach meaning to when they were born, especially at the constellation they were born under. Determined by how close it is to the sun when it rises on the horizon.
People consider those born under the sign of the Lady to be kind and tolerant. People consider those born under the sign of the Lover to be graceful and passionate…
People consider those born under the sign of the Ritual to have various abilities depending on the aspects of the moons and planets…
People consider those born under the sign of the Steed to be impatient and always hurrying from one place to another… and so on.
The sky held dozens of constellations, but people know the most famous as the Thirteen Patrons. First would be the three Guardian constellations, those being the Warrior, the Mage, and the Thief, each associated with three other constellations, called their charges.
Each of these twelve constellations corresponds to one of the twelve months of the year. From Morning Star to Evening Star.
Like many, he was born under a constellation, his birth sign. However, his were a little different from usual. An unexpected arrival marked the very first day of that year… The Constellation of the Serpent, the thirteenth Patron.
The Serpent's constellation is marked by four unusual stars that follow no principle, taking whatever shape they desire in the sky. Never following a set route, being whenever they wish to be, and rarely predictable.
What mattered about it, however, was that those born under the sign of the Serpent are thought to have no characteristics in common except being the most blessed and the most cursed.
These interpretations were all individualistic, unique to whatever culture they came from. And as one explores the world and hears them all, they quickly find out that each, no matter how distinct they were, is correct in its own way.
And that was how Baden Wind-spear was born. At the dawn of a brand new year under the constellation of the Serpent.
'To think so much time has already passed…'
Baden held a great secret, something he'd never share even if he was sent to the underworld…
While all believed in the existence of the Soul and few understood its intricacies, only a handful, if not none, could tell what happens after one passes away.
Beyond undeath, beyond paradise, beyond the afterlife… Was reincarnation a fact, or a myth? Maybe only the Gods could answer that… And Baden.
In a strange twist of fate, an irony of creation, Baden kept his memories from his past life. From one life to the other, he left behind who he was before to live as a Wind-spear, a choice he didn't have.
'Tomorrow will make five years since I regained my senses… My sixth birthday… I'm excited to grow up, but at the same time, I've been enjoying being a kid again.'
'Not having to worry about anything, not having to do anything aside from playing around… While it bothers me that I can't do anything on my own… It's a sacrifice I'm willing to take to just enjoy it.'
'… But I know this is just a dream. I cannot be a child forever nor can I live like this until my end days… I suppose I can, but I do wish to burden my parents, nor disappoint them with such thoughts.'
'The world beyond entices me. I want to explore it. To unravel the ancient mysteries forgotten to time before its too late. To become a legend and a myth, to travel across dimensions with nothing but my might… But these thoughts, for exciting as they are. Fill me with dread and fear.'
'I'm no hero, no legend, and most likely, hold no talent either… But sometimes I think of quotes I've heard before… All grandmasters were once apprentices, too. Maybe even a bum like me can become like them if I try hard enough.'
'Well… I can't say I have nothing going on for me…'
Baden looked at the skies above, the constellations reflected in his emerald eyes…
They seemed to respond to his gaze, flickering whenever his eyes went…
'It took me some time to adjust. There isn't much a one-year-old baby can do, especially one that doesn't understand the surrounding people, but I learned it fast. In half a year, I could already understand most of everyone around me.'
'It was also then that I came to understand my situation. My name and heritage, the place I've been born… Baden Wind-spear, son of Hakar Wind-spear and Enfral Blue-hilt. Those names came to be rather quickly. Heritage is quite important, and so is tradition here in Skyrim.'
'Skyrim… My birth in this land came to me as quite the surprise. At first, the warm lands surrounding the farm I grew up in didn't seem to reflect my imagination of this land, but all soon came to me. I was born at the heart of the land, Whiterun.'
'My family, like many if not all Nords, are descendants of the Five hundred companions. Even now, I know little of my ancestors, but my parents' surnames have kept their names alive.'
'Although unfortunately, I only inherited my father's surname. My mother will pass her name only to her daughter, if she has one and wants to. If she has another son, she could pass the surname to him to keep the name alive; after all, that's how many names became extinct.
'Though knowing my parents, this won't be an issue…'
'A brother is already underway… Or maybe it's a sister. Whatever it is, as my parents would say, it's up to the Gods to decide… I'm not corned about any of that though. With or without a brother, our lives won't be any harder.'
'That's because the Wind-spear clan serves the Battle-born clan. Not as actual servants, but as workers to their establishments. But knowing how long they've been in this role, they might as well be.'
'On that note, I've been quite lucky. Born as the eldest heir to a clan that oversees many establishments of one of the wealthiest clans in Whiterun, the biggest city of the entire province.'
'We aren't drowning in gold, but money has never been an issue. We also don't overlook everything and aren't in charge of everything, but I've seen father go downstairs with sacks of gold, never to come out again with more.'
'He chose a simple life, the usual rectangular house with a basement and a sharp ceiling. You can't go more Nord than this unless you live in a tent in the wilderness…'
'I'm happy we have a second floor. And while most of it is just two rooms side by side, that's already enough for me… I can't even imagine how things would've been if we all slept in the same room like many do. Most Nordic homes don't even have rooms…'
'So far, it's been a simple life. I do little aside from watching others and seeing how they do. And I don't think that bothers anyone. Maybe a few of the kids my age and my parents who expect me to run around with them.'
'Truth is, I couldn't bring myself to act like that. Being a child is great, but acting like one is tiring for someone with an adult mind. So that's how I began observing others.'
'Books were a no go during those times. Not because they weren't around, but because I struggled to read anything. You see, it's been almost a thousand years since the printing press became commonplace. There are books everywhere and paper is readily available. And just down the road somewhere in the other villages there is a teaching hall akin to a school to teach children how to read and write.'
'I was just too young for that… Alas, as I showed initiative, my parents began tutoring me themselves and even put me in school. I was far younger than everyone else, but my calmness and seriousness allowed me to mingle slightly. Though I can't say everything was peaceful… Having a three-year-old child attend a class full of eight-year-olds and older didn't exactly click with many, although most just let me be.'
'Either way, I didn't spend too long there. With my parents tutoring at home and the teachers at the hall, I learned how to read and write in just a few months, and before I was four, I was already somewhat proficient in it. To the point I didn't need to go to the teaching hall… At least not to learn those.'
'Because I read and studied so much, my parents began fueling this passion of mine. They borrowed and bought books from nearby stalls and neighbors. And while they were usually simple and without guidelines, my parents tried to procure books a child would need to inform themselves of the world at large.'
Baden looked at a large bookcase near his bed filled with books. Most of them were on common subjects, and ten of them were on Tamrielic, the common language of the continent, but the rest were on other subjects, mostly centered on Skyrim.
History, geography, culture, myths, the empire, the continent, and much more. He had already read them all, which would make him on a par with most Nords. Most of them only learned until a certain point and then stopped, learning only whenever they had free time between working, fighting, and drinking…
Not all Nords were like that though. This kind of barbaric Nord lifestyle would be what other races would like you to believe. Most Nords were honorable people full of culture. Although Baden wouldn't deny their stubbornness… Nords, once they put their minds in something, would rarely change them.
'Once I learned how to read and write, a whole new world opened to me… And I began to devour books left and right. For the first year until I became five, I spent most of my time at the nearest Communal teaching hall reading all of the books available. But honestly, they were pretty boring for the most part.'
'I set aside most redundant books such as novels and stories of fiction and settled for serious and informative documents. It was what I felt the most attracted to. And whenever my parents fetched me from the teaching hall, I'd borrow their books and read them throughout the night before going to sleep. Hopefully before my parents started snoring…'
'I also spent a lot of time reading at the farms and other establishments my parents work at. Sometimes it'd be at the at the Battle-born Inn or their farms. But most of the time, it'd be inside home.'
'Honestly, I've spent much of the last few years cooped inside this place. My parents don't like it, especially my father. He says my eyes are glued to these books or something… But what can I say? Playing with kids isn't my thing. I'm too mentally old to run around ten-year-olds with wooden swords in my hand and to get dirty in the mud. What if I get sick and get an infection? This is the accursed middle ages!'
'One bite from a venomous snake and I'm a goner, and Skyrim has far too many dangerous creatures lying around for my comfort!… That said, I'm not poor, so a stop by the apothecary for a potion would solve my problems, but right now, not interested!'
'Still… I do spend some time with the kids. Otherwise my father would've forced me by now… He isn't the gentlest of souls… He is… In a very Nord dad kind of way.'
"… Sigh…"
Baden moved away from the window, closing and locking it before rolling to bed. It wasn't anything fancy, just a large sack full of hay covered by a thin sheet of warm fur. His pillow was a long cylindrical pillow full of hay. He had two more pillows of varying sizes to accompany this one so he could hug them in the night.
To cover himself with, he had a large blanket made of a mix of animal fur and something else sewed inside a sac like his pillows. It was heavy but warm, exactly what a Nord needed during the chilly nights.
'Honestly… Life isn't bad, but this isn't how I want to live. I don't want to succeed my father as a farm manager or whatever he is. But it's not like I want to become a construction worker or something gritty either…'
'What I want… Is to have an adventure… But before any of that, I want to grow. Become someone capable of defending myself… But not with just a sword and shield like a soldier… I want to explore something most Nords have cast aside…'
'I want to explore the limits of magic... That's what has attracted me the most since I woke up here. To become a mage!'
'Magic isn't foreign to Nords. Their history is long and deeply tied to magic, so much so much of modern magic was written and shaped by the Nords, no matter how much they've forgotten about it.'
'In fact, as long as you give it some thought, anyone can learn a spell or two. But that takes time and practice… I don't want to become holed up in some tower, but it's not like I'm doing anything right now…'
'For the past two years, I've spent much of my time seeking out as much knowledge about the arcane arts as I could. And if not that, then other arts such as Alchemy came to me. One of the first books I came across was one explaining the art of Wortcraft. Eating ingredients to learn their effects to put in simple terms.'
'This book was tucked away inside the house of a neighbor. And being as young as me, most adults don't mind having a child snuck around the place. That was how I got my hands on it. Father and mother often visit friends and family around the city and bring me with them, so I obviously take this time to explore what they have.'
'This built me quite the reputation… Not that I mind, it's just the harmless practice of a child… This has allowed many neighbors to know I like books and so, from time to time, they'll bring me some to read.'
'I often ask them for help in finding certain books and so far, have had mild success in finding anything related to magic, and I'm afraid this has to do with my parents and the Nords' overall fear of magic…'
'That said, I plan to stop holding back and confront them full force! On my sixth birthday, I'll ask them for books on magic!'
With dreams of adventure and grandeur, Baden fell onto the quiet abyss…
…
4th Era - 176
The sun rose on the distant horizon, bringing with it fresh winds and a new year. The people rose from their beds to prepare for another day, a special one…
The New Life Festival, an event that celebrates the birth of a new year and the death of the old year. On this day, Nords would gather and celebrate the passing of another cycle and come together at night to drink, eat, and dance… But compared to the last few iterations of this event, despite the bright sun and clear skies, the atmosphere… Was heavy.
That came as a matter of course. This year marked the first year of the signing of the White Gold Concordat following the Battle of the Red Ring where the Empire retook the Imperial City that fell to the Aldmeri Dominion the year before. A legendary feat to be remembered.
To some, it was a matter of celebration, the end of the Great War, and proof that the Empire still had some power. To others, it was a reminder of the days to come, of the weakening of a behemoth that stood for centuries… They had lost many to boost the Empire's forces, but the time for grieving had already passed. Still…
To the people of Skyrim, it was a bitter day, they had lost friends and family for the sake of this victory, their people now far, some yet to return… Regardless of their victory, the Empire committed an atrocity they would never pardon them for… At least to those who'd call themselves "true" Nords.
The banning of the worship of Talos, the most important hero-god of Mankind. Others may know him as Tiber Septim, Ysmir, Dragonborn, the first Emperor of the Septim Empire.
Tiber Septim conquered all of Tamriel and founded the Third Empire and the Septim Dynasty that would rule it for centuries, marking the beginning of the Third Era. Upon his death, he is believed to have ascended to godhood, a fact most, if not all, Nords accepted with all their hearts.
The ban on his worship came as a shock to many, a ridiculous notion even… And while the Empire wasn't too keen on persecuting those who worshiped him, some still protested loudly, leading only to trouble.
The Empire, standing before the mighty rise of the Aldmeri Dominion and its people's needs, found itself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Choices had to be made, concessions made. A balance had to be achieved… And someone was going to take the short end of the stick.
The Nords learned of this the hard way… And so did the Redguard of Hammerfell.
The White Gold Concordat ceded portions of Hammerfell to the Dominion. Thus, the Redguards, feeling betrayed by the Empire, decide to openly defy the treaty, declaring that they have absolutely no intention of surrendering any territory in Hammerfell to the Dominion, and will continue their war efforts alone if need be.
The Empire, to avoid being dragged back into war, renounces Hammerfell's status as an Imperial province, leaving them all to fend for themselves…
It was the fragmentation of a once mighty empire that covered all of Tamriel…
To Baden, however, it was all just distant ramblings. Whatever happened far away, months away on the roads was of no consequence to him, but it was a reminder of what was to come.
The world would not remain safe for long. If you did not have power, even an Empire can be bent down. The ever so increasing escalation of issues in the world only served to fuel his determination to seek something he could hold on to.
On this day, his parents did not go to work, going from home to home to party with their friends and family. To commemorate the passing of the year and his birthday. Baden went around with them, seeing faces he'd rarely encounter on a daily basis, smiling with everyone as the sun dimmed in the sky.
As the day ended, once they were alone back at home, Baden made his request…
"… I want to learn magic."
He approached his father with little fear, raising his head to stare at him and proclaim his interest. He had learned this was the best way to communicate with him, for he did not partake in redundant chatter.
"… My son, interested in magic?"
His father took his attention from farm tools he was sharpening and turned to him, waiting for his answer.
"Yes!"
"I expected you to pursue the academic and was ready to push on onto said path… but magic? What makes you so interested in such a dangerous craft?"
His father spoke in a firm and coherent tone, scanning for every sign of a reaction on Baden's face. He was a simple man, and when he learned his son was smarter than others, he addressed him accordingly.
He expected an answer most children Baden's age could not come up with. An unreasonable expectation, but one Baden never failed to fulfil.
"I can feel it within me. I've read that it's dangerous to live around something you don't understand and I wish to understand it! The books I've read so far are too simple!"
"… Do you understand the weight of those words?"
"No… But I will in due time!"
Hakar looked at his son with a deeply before putting the farm tools on the table and getting off his seat.
"Come with me. We shall see if what you speak is true."
He reached for the door, putting a coat around his shoulders before grabbing a lamp and igniting it.
"Hm? Where are we going?"
"We're going to Ormid. Enfral! I'm taking Baden to the Lord's Manor."
"I know… Don't take too long, it's getting dark."
"Hum…"
Hakar pushed the door open after unlocking it with an iron key. The frigid wind pushed past Baden's face, causing him to tremble unconsciously.
They were at the height of winter and a small layer of snow had piled up on the ground. While it didn't snow heavily in these parts, it was still quite cold outside. To the point even his father needed a coat. Although if one asked him, he'd likely throw the coat away then to admit he was cold.
Seeing his son shiver, he turned around and grabbed another coat hanging near the door, putting it on him before taking to the streets without looking back.
Baden ran after him as he closed the door, running after him as his short legs struggled to keep up with the long strides of his father.
/Crunch…/
Snow crumbled with every step, they crossed numerous dirt streets and small walls, and eventually, they arrived at the first checkpoint of Whiterun.
Tall wooden gates reinforced with metal beams and bolts stood on their way, guards were everywhere as they patrolled the sloop leading to the city, walls surrounded them, the ancient fortifications that withstood a hundred sieges.
Crossing these walls would lead them straight to Whiterun's lower district, the Plains District where the biggest marketplace stood. Usually, its gates were open all day long for all citizens' passage, but they were closed at night for security.
"… Hail. Coming for the parties? But you don't seem to be going to the Inn, aye?" One of the guards asked as they raised their left hand, stopping Hakar
He looked at Baden on the side, his eyes hidden by his helmet, but he felt the man was smiling as he turned away to face his father.
"It's me, Russ. Hakar."
"Oh! Come right inside then. Unusual to see you with your son. Something's the matter? Has the weather gotten to him and you're going to the apothecary?"
"Always putting your nose everywhere Russ… It's nothing of the sort. I'm visiting Lord Battle-born."
"You're quite hardworking, Hakar, even at this time, here you are… Open the gates!"
/CRUNK!…/
The wooden gates opened slightly, and the two passed by, stepping into the legendary city.
Baden looked around in wonder. He rarely entered the city, usually only on festive days like today.
All houses shone with light. The chattering of people singing and dancing from beyond their walls reached his ears, the smell of food and ale strong in the wind.
His father ignored them all, going along the roads, he greeted a few who recognized him on the way crossed several sets of high walls before stepping onto the next district higher up on the hill.
The Wind district, where most residential buildings are located. It's named after the strong mountain winds that gust through the area.
The area was beautiful, deeply decorated with ancient Nordic architecture and symbolism, stone structures were everywhere, deeply intertwined with the traditional Nordic style. Many if not most notable sights of Whiterun could be found here, such as the ancient Gildergreen, the Temple of Kynareth, Jorrvaskr, and the Hall of the Dead.
Hakar ignored them all, leading him straight to a massive manor of wood and stone, their destination, the Clan house of Clan Battle-born.
"Stay here."
"Okay…"
Hakar left him on the street near a torch post, he stared at him as he approached the large manor and spoke with a guard standing by the door. Baden knew such guards weren't common, but during festive days like these, they likely ramped up security to prevent drunken Nords or worse, thieves from sneaking inside their homes while they're away.
"Baden."
"Coming!"
After a while, Hakar called for him and Baden climbed the stone stairs leading to the manor's entrance. The guard waited for him as he held the door open, wooden shield on his back, longsword on his waist.
Whiterun Guards wore a set of their city's armor, shield and tunic, yellow color. In addition, they wear fur boots but no gauntlets. In winter, they wore an extra layer of clothing, making them look bulky and heavy.
Whiterun guards carried the traditional Imperial sword and Imperial bow. And steel dagger strapped to their waist.
This guard most likely served the Battle-born clan, and while technically under the command of the ruler, Jarl of Whiterun, his workfield was delimited to the Wind district and their territory.
/Clack!/
The main house of Clan Battle born was built like a large hall. Possessing three floors in height, a large attic, and a basement likely just as large. Its shape resembled a "+" sign, with a large open living room and a central bonfire where they cooked food traditionally. Each family branch occupied a designated chamber in the manor, but the clan's size required additional houses around the main house to accommodate everyone.
Those branch families, children of brothers and sisters of past generations owned and operated many important business of the city, contributing to the clan's massive and well-known wealth. Baden imagined that this clan alone might be behind a thousand if not more jobs spread throughout the city, and maybe even more as collateral.
In this city housing tens of thousands, such a number was considerable. It's to no exaggeration to say the Battle-born owned much of Whiterun.
"Is this your child, Hakar?"
An elderly man awaited for them in the quiet living room. He wore long robes to bear the cold winds, and his beard reached his chest. He had no hair left atop his head, but he still had long black hair growing at its back, bound into dreadlocks.
He seemed strange to Baden, but he couldn't quite explain why. A fact the old man noticed quickly…
"Thank you for accepting my sudden request, elder. I've brought my child, for he believes to possess an aptitude for magic."
The elderly man nodded, expecting his words, his faint smile not fading as he replied calmly, "Don't burden yourself, Hakar. Today is a day of festivities. If not for my old age, I would've been down there with my son and grandchildren. Had my brother still been around, he would've certainly dragged me down there as well to drink and dance with the Jarl…"
He turned to look at Baden, but before he could say anything, Baden declared:
"It's my birthday as well!"
Chuckling, the old man patted his head and replied, "I know, child, I visited you shortly after your birth. Although I doubt you'd remember that."
"I suppose an introduction is necessary. I'm Ogny Battle-born, brother of Gram-Battle-born, father of Olfrid Battle-Born, current patriarch of our clan… Was I too quick for you?"
Baden shook his head, but showed surprised. Olfrid was already an old man with children older than him, this old man was likely well beyond his 70s. Which is rare to see.
"I'm Baden Wind-spear! Son of uh… This guy."
"Hum…"
"Hahahaha! Right, if I had a father that looked like this, I too would've been afraid of introducing him to others! HAHA!…"
Ogny burst into laughter before calming down. Meanwhile, his father showed rare embarrassment by coughing on the side. In the end, he patted his son's head and waited for the elder's words.
"With introductions aside, I believe it's time we move along. The night is long and so will be the festivities. I'd rather not take them away from you. They can be tiring to attend but I never regretted being in one… It was how I met my wife, after all."
"Old stories aside, follow me. Our destination is the basement where I keep my tools."
"Tools?"
"Are you not aware, child? Why else your father have sought me?"
"Are you a mage?!"
Baden faked a childlike wonder, he was surprised at the man's identity, having only heard about it from rumors, but now, it was confirmed…
"Not a mage, I'm afraid. I was not cut for that craft… My interests laid somewhere else, close, yet not quite… It began in the family's business of brewing. It drew me during my youth, having me spent countless suns and moons before the brewing chambers where I concocted and experimented with different grains and rations to brew unique ales and meads… Eventually, my father, the patriarch of his time caught wind of my actions and had me tutor under a proficient alchemist."
"You may recognize the name Arcadia. A young alchemist that has recently inherited a shop from her master and renamed it Arcadia's Cauldron. An aspiring alchemist, that one, so young yet so full of ambition… Her master studied under the man that taught me when I was her age as well. A shame he fell ill… Old age gets us all, especially someone who dabbled with who knows how many unknown substances and concoctions."
Ogny led them to the back of the manor, where a set of staircases led to the basement, "As you may have recognized by now… I'm an alchemist. I don't particularly enjoy attention, so I keep to myself, putting my efforts into making concoctions that will aid our clan. Of course, this doesn't mean I'm unaware of the basics of magic. A simple test of aptitude is well within my means."
"What happens if he shows said potential?" Hakar asked as he followed his downstairs
"That is up to you two, then. If your child has average or bellow average potential, those being a series of conditions… Then you could ask for tutelage within the confines of our Hold. The aren't as many as there once were in the past, and their numbers are dwindling, but Whiterun possesses a great deal of spellcasters to choose from and learn. They'd teach your child how to control his innate powers so he wouldn't unknown cause an accident. That much, I believe is the minimum."
"If your child's talent is even smaller than that, an ordinary life won't be too difficult to follow. I would be surprised if problems developed over the years. But who can say for certain what the future holds?"
"Now… If his potential is even higher than average… I'd say going to Dragonsreach to learn from the Court Wizard… But I heard he already has an apprentice. Although he's of age... If he doesn't accept you and you're truly determined to learn the arts thoroughly, then I have only one suggestion."
"The College of Wintherhold. That's the only place where you'll find what you're looking for without putting yourself at too much of a risk. Unless you know of a master wizard hidden somewhere nearby to teach him, or if he has the patience to learn from a more ordinary one before moving around, but I wouldn't recommend it. Time is precious, after all."
"But that is all conjecture, let us see for certain where your child's talent lies."
Ogny led them through the basement and into a room full of strange items. Baden recognized some as soon as his eyes laid on them. But for most of the items in the room, he only faintly recognized them. The rest came as an enigma.
Hanging ingredients and magical tables inscribed with ancient runes, bookshelves full of books and documents… Ogny stopped by a large chest and crouched down to grab a blue orb glistering with light… and dust.
"Cough… It's been quite some time since I took this out."
"… What is that?" Hakar asked with suspicion
"You little need to fear. This is… A kind of catalyst, similar to the pointy end of a staff but without most of it." He turned to Baden, "Your child will hold it and channel his magicka through it, and the catalyst will determine his potential by how brightly it shines."
"… This isn't enough to say for certain how talented your child is, but amidst the many wizards and tales out there, few ever managed to succeed with little magicka inside their body. So I say its a good start."
"Now then… Shall we?" He asked as he held the orb to Baden
"… How do I do this?"
"Hm… You say you can feel the energy within you, have you never attempted to draw it?"
Baden shook his head, "Magic is dangerous. I decided not to try anything until I understood it."
"So you've surprised your own abilities?… All this time?…"
'What foresight for a child… But is this a good thing?'
"If you can feel the magicka within you, the process shouldn't be any harder. Close your eyes, ignore all other senses, and focus solely on this feeling. You don't need to think about drawing it in any physical way. Just thinking about doing something with it. Thinking about your idea of what magic is and… Let it out."
"… I'll try it."
'While my reason for being here was partially a lie to convince father to drag me along, I've not lied about my feelings. I can feel the Magicka within me, waiting to be released. However, I never did it go out, and eventually, the feeling of suppressing it faded away.'
'No more. No more fear… No more hesitation.'
He closed his eyes and searched for these long buried feelings, and slowly, one step at a time, he managed to grasp it.
There was something within him, a small spark of light. He couldn't quite say it was a light or not, but he 'felt' it behaved as such. He reached for the spark and pulled mentally, willing it to move just as he had told it to stay for the many years it has been there.
It didn't budge at first, but under his constant pestering, it slowly trembled, one kick at a time, like a Nord, he pushed the unmovable and reshaped it the way he desired.
'You're free now.' He told it, or rather, himself?
/FLASH!/
""!""
The orb of light flashed with powerful light, lighting up the entire room with such intensity both his father and Ogny were forced to turn around.
However, the orb continued to grow brighter and brighter, to the point it hurt Ogny's vision. Realizing the danger of the situation, he quickly snatched the orb from Baden's hand, only to realize it was boiling hot!
He quickly threw the orb on a pile of clothes on the side so it wouldn't hurt before looking at his red hands in shock. When he turned to look at Baden, he noticed his reddened hands as well, showing signs of burning.
Before anyone could say anything, he ran to a shelf on the side and took a vial with a thick white paste inside, spreading it on his hands to ease the pain before the boy awoke from his trance.
"… What happened?" Hakar asked as his eyes readjusted to the darkness
"… Your son… It seems he's more talented than I imagined."
'He could've kept going if I haven't stopped him, with so much Magicka at such an early age, he'll never run out of it in his studies. If he perseveres then…'
"Urg… Hm?…"
Baden opened his eyes, disoriented. He turned to the two of them in confusion, seeking answers.
"Boy… Why have you never told me of this… Potential of yours?"
"… Everyone seems fearful of magic. I just… Didn't want to be shunned…"
"Hakar, don't be so hard on him. Children will often do ridiculous things for reasons so small that for them mean the whole world… Child, how do you feel?"
"… Out of breath…"
"That's expected. With so much energy trapped within you, the moment you released it all, what was once normal to you must now feel claustrophobic. You'll have to grow used to it, at least until you can seamlessly control it."
"So? C-Can I become a wizard?"
Ogny looked at him and then at Hakar, who seemed lost in thought before replying, "That's for you to decide… Go back home for now and rest, think about what I've said before and tell me what you think is most proper."
"What do you seek in magic? What do you wish to attain with it? How? And why?… Once you have those answers, return to me and we'll discuss the rest."
Ogny turned to the side and went around his bookshelves, taking a thick and old book from one of them. There was no design on its cape aside from a few leathers spelling: Introduction to Magic.
"This is the simplest book I owe. It's not going to make you a wizard, but if you like what's written here, then you likely won't detest what's to come. There's isn't anything special within its contents as it's mostly for contextualization, so I recommend reading it as well before returning."
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"
Baden shook his head, although it seemed Hakar still had much on his mind…
"Thank you for your assistance elder…"
"It was my pleasure. Being here alone is quite saddening, make sure to visit again in the future once everything's in order."
They both nodded and exchanged their greetings. The way back was quiet and silent, and while Baden felt energetic and excited, his father's eyes and thoughts were clearly elsewhere.
Once they arrived back home, Hakar told him to go to his room. Soon after, he called his mother downstairs. Baden tried to listen to them, but they went to the basement and that was the end of it.
Despite his curiosity, he focused on his book, putting it on his table, he began to read it… And before he knew, his parents had returned.
While he didn't know what sort of conclusion they reached, his father told him to take it easy and go to sleep early, which he did… Tried…
Even as the hour passed, Baden was unable to sleep, and going back to his book wasn't possible for turning on the lights would alert them. So despite agonizing in bed, he soon lost his energy and fell asleep, thinking about the future and beyond.
…
Unlike he initially believed, his next day was a calm one. He woke up and had breakfast with his parents as usual, but when he expected his parents to raise the topic of his magical abilities and interests… It never came.
They parted ways as usual, with them going to work and him being left alone to do as he wished. Being six now, he was somewhat old enough to go around the outer reaches of the village on his own. Although most parents only allow it four children playing around where they could see them, but they trusted Baden's intelligence and his ability to not get himself in trouble.
At the same time, Nords took care of each other, neighbors would often look after their children if they could. And while no one expected a working man and woman to stop to look after some children, what this village didn't lack were elderly individuals with a lot of time on their hands.
Guards heavily patrolled the outer reaches of the city, and with how most parents taught their children, most would think thrice before crossing the small fences leading to the wilderness. And even if they did, getting there was another story.
Hunters and guards were everywhere. Missing a child darting past the fields and into the forests was difficult when the entire land was flat and open. At the first sight of a child running off into the distance, the guards at the nearest tower would sound a loud horn to warn others about what was going on.
So… It was pretty safe overall. But Baden had no intentions of leaving. He went back to his room and sat down, continuing from where he had left off.
Baden was a fast reader, having read hundreds of books in the last few years to even before in his previous life. He could easily condition himself to focus and incorporate the book's contents. And as Ogny said, it wasn't that complex of a book, he could read it without paying too much attention.
The book shared with him the lifestyle of a wizard and the many issues and problems they'd find daily. The book also contextualized on the simplest basics of magic, from its history to its uses. Like Ogny said, if he did not enjoy what he read, it'd likely mean being a wizard wasn't what his heart desired, but contrary to that, the more he read, the greater his excitement became.
By the time he finished half of the book and night fell, he was already certain that this was the path he wanted to pursue. Both his mind and body were conditioned to this life and, above all, his will pointed him in this direction.
Baden only stopped reading to go to the bathroom and rest his eyes. And oftentimes, he'd remain there, pensive…
'My innate affinity… I'm afraid it isn't just due to my birth parents. Nords are supposed to have great magical potential, but recent generations have cast aside those traditions, making a culture that once embraced magic into one that downright deplored it.'
'In the ancient times, Eras before this one, the Dragon Priests ruled Skyrim under their mighty overlords, later, generations of powerful mages came and went, some leaving their marks in the history of the whole continent… How did a race of such mighty individuals fall to this degree? Nords were simple people yes, but it wasn't a brutish simplicity, it was a complex culture connected deeply to nature and honor…'
'Doesn't matter. It's all but history now. Whatever genes I possess are likely far too weak to affect me in any way, shape, or form… That leaves only one possibility.'
Baden looked at the skies through his window and grimaced. If keeping his memories from a past life wasn't enough, he also held another secret, one perhaps worse than the previous one…
'When I was younger, because of my lifestyle of being a toddler and doing little, I rarely encountered it but later on, as I interacted with others, this became more apparent…'
Whenever I perform a certain action conforming to a set of parameters, I've yet to properly define, sufficient exposure will lead to what I call an "epiphany." It always happens and it's constant. When it happened once or twice, I attached it to luck and a change of perspective in my thinking, after it happened several dozen times… I was forced to admit something was wrong.'
'I wasn't a peerless genius in my past life, but in this one, something's different… But that isn't all. When enough epiphanies are attained, if I contemplate the constellations above, they'll reward me with a "blessing". This blessing can seemingly improve any expect of my body, very much how it used to be back when… It was just a game.'
'Because of my interests, I've poured every chance of a blessing I had into my magicka… Or what I think it is at least. When night falls and the constellations rise, depending on which constellation I focus on, a different effect will occur.'
'I'm uncertain what'll happen once I tap into the constellation of the Warrior and Thief, but I have some idea what'll happen when I do so for the Mage… I don't know if other constellations can grant me their blessings either.'
'I've tried keeping track of my epiphanies as well. While I'm certain what they likely represent, one may never know… I've written down every single occurrence of this phenomenon, but its not like I need to when my answers lie up above.'
'If I focus on the hundreds of constellations, some of them seem brighter them most. Few would be able to notice the difference between them, and others may attach such events to other meteorologic phenomena, but to me, it means something else… Although it could also be something only I can notice.'
'This difference in Intencity hints at my proficiency in what they represent. This is the answer I've come up to. Many things can induce growth. Reading, observing, thinking, hearing, and anything related to experiencing things first hand.'
'Most of my growth came as not reading but observing and doing things by myself. It's strange to think that but maybe its because most of the books I studied were not devoted to a particular craft depicted by the constellations, not to say an unrelated book hasn't caused a reaction, however.'
'Sometimes, unrelated actions may cause epiphanies in completely different fields, that's why I don't completely shun the idea of reading novels and fiction, I just don't because it's not the most efficient thing to do. But if I had the time or nothing better to do, I would certainly read some.'
'So far, my growth has stable, so I would like to believe… However, it has taken far longer than I would've expected. Many times more even… to where even if I were given the chance to practice a single craft every day, I may not reach its endpoint even after a few years have passed.'
'Starting off with the Constellation of the Mage because it's one I have the least progress in… And its pretty obvious why. None of the books I've read aside from a few even mention magic, much less in detail to the point I can learn anything concrete. Until yesterday, I had never set my sights on a real book on magic and until the same day, I suppressed my magicka so others wouldn't cast aside me.'
'Be it Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Enchanting, Illusion, or Restoration, all of those schools of magic have never once invoked a single reaction on me. But that'll change soon.'
'On the constellation of the Thief, Speech has been my most devoted craft. It rose the fastest through listening and reading, but it often rises in level whenever I speak with others, especially at the market.'
'I often went to the market to buy things, not as an errand or anything, but just to buy myself a treat with my parents. My mother particularly enjoyed seeing me go to a stall and buy something on my own.'
'Because of this, I've detected no less than 26 epiphanies in this field. It likely would've been higher, but I believe what I consider being within the art of Speech likely encroaches onto other areas, hence its level. Still, I consider myself beyond the average Nord in their linguistical mastery.'
'Speech will likely continue to rise on its own for as long as I maintain constant communication with others, especially if I attempt to manipulate them through language.'
'Next one would be Sneak. It rose quite fast due to how often I'd hide from others, in particular my neighbors so I could read some of their books without them knowing. I'm lucky none of them have ever taken things too far, but an angry old man has discipled me once.'
'I've always tried to avoid attention, causing this to rise on its own, albeit that only happened once so I'm uncertain if it happened for the reason I believe it did… Had it not been for my ability to differentiate the intensity of the constellations, I might've been unable to determine where that epiphany was directed at.'
'Sometimes the epiphany can be vague, but most of the time, they're telling and critical enough for me to pinpoint which field it belongs to. Either way Sneak rose fast as I watched my mother work at the Battle-born Inn. I'd usually hide from her and the other guests by sneaking around. Even if I was found, who'd bother with a toddler?'
'Sneak is my second highest skill in the constellation, being 23 in value. Lockpicking comes right behind it at 20. Finally, Pickpocket… Yes, I've practiced it before, numerous times, even.'
'There's no better target than a drunken Nord at the Inn. I'll usually play around by stealing something they don't care such as their boots or gloves before waving it at their face to get their attention. Most laugh, calling the one I pickpocket from a fool or blind, but mother… She was never a fan of it.'
'She quickly forbid me from ever trying it again, and unless I tried to put my hand in crime, then I'm left with a few opportunities to train this field. I still used it on my father and neighbors to play with them, but it wasn't the same as training at the Inn.'
'I also built a reputation with the kids by shoving bugs and toads down their pockets, the girls particularly never licked it… Pickpocket is at 15. Had I been allowed to practice it in peace, it might've reached the twenties, but no matter. I'm no thief anyway, that's just so I may gain more blessings.'
'Alchemy comes right after at a measly 5, and that's purely from me eating things and practicing Wortcraft. I've eaten dozens of items over the months since I learned it, but haven't practiced it diligently for fear of doing something wrong.'
'After that comes Light Armor at 2. The only reason it's not zero is because I've listened to stories of guards and soldiers about their adventures. So I suppose it counts as teaching from a certain perspective. Maybe if I studied it enough and trained with the guards, I would've reached an adequate level, but everything in its own time.'
'For the final Guardian constellation. The Warrior… It's like the Mage, but not as pitiful. I've learned lots from observing and listening to their teachings. It's how most of these crafts grew with time.'
'Archery, one of the simplest and most practiced crafts. What we don't lack around here are Hunters, and father has already taught me lots from his stories. Guards and Hunters often practice in the open, so I always have someone to watch. It's very fulfilling when a drill guard is teaching them how to do things.'
'Thus, despite never touching a bow, Archery has reached an outstanding 13. And for this same reason, Block, Heavy Armor, One-handed, Smithing, and Two-handed, have reached 3, 6, 11, 9, and 12 respectfully.'
'There isn't anything special about those, but Smithing rose surprisingly quickly, and I believe that has to do merely with the knowledge I already possessed. To some degree, many of these fields grew faster than expected because I already possessed prior knowledge of them, and maybe, as I grow older, they'll keep growing fast until I exhaust that knowledge.'
'Lastly, there is also the manner of other constellations that aren't so common. I know a few, but I'm certain others are out there, waiting for me to peer into them… So far, there haven't been any 'unique' epiphanies from those, but the more I'm exposed to, they'll certainly manifest themselves.'
'… That's about it from me. In total, I've had nine opportunities to receive blessings from the constellations above. Which I've all poured into the Wizard Constellation.'
'I originally had no plans to stop this, but did have the thought of eventually investing into the other Constellations. Now that I have a better idea just how "talented" I am, maybe it's time I test out what the other Guardian Constellations do.'
'After the next blessing, marking my tenth, I'll begin experimenting with them to see what they're capable of. I have some suspicions about what they may provide me, but I'm not yet certain of the limits of my current blessings, so I'll explore them all first before diving any further into this rabbit hole.'
'Looks good for now…'
Baden stretched his arms and went downstairs to get some water. He stepped outside without his coat, feeling the frigid wind on his skin, it didn't seem as cold as before.
Maybe unconsciously, even if faint, his body was beginning to channel the Magicka within, morphing it to protect him from the elements.
"Baden? What are you doing outside? Are you waiting for us?"
"…?"
He opened his eyes to see his parents approach from the distance as they returned from work.
His mother hugged him faintly as she gestured for him to get inside. Meanwhile, his father walked past him and got inside.
"… It's getting late, get inside." He commanded, not sparring him a second glance
"Come Baden, let's get inside."
She smiled faintly at him, but he could mildly sense it, the heavy thoughts she had.
Yesterday, once they returned from the basement, his parent's expressions were rough. It seemed they had discussed quite deeply about something, to the point his mother's eyes had turned red from crying.
Something visibly perturbed his father as well. However, as he usually did, he did not show his emotions. Only telling him to go back inside his room once they met on the staircase.
And then, the next day, they barely talked during breakfast before they went to work.
…
Once inside, they all went to their corners. Mother went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, father sat in the living room before the fireplace, and Baden…
"Stay."
"Okay."
Baden went to his father and sat down next to him in another chair. He didn't seem to pay attention to him as he continued to sharpen a series of farm tools.
Honestly, he didn't even know why his father did that. Most of their jobs involved management and rarely did they ever get their hands dirty on the fields. They did work on the fields behind their home, but they only grew produce there for self consumption. There was no need to sharpen so many tools.
'Where does he even get those from, anyway?'
Baden never had the chance to ask properly. He did try to be like a child and ask why his father was sharpening farm tools, but the answer to that was always the same, "Because otherwise the tools will bend and break."
In other words, it was just maintenance, but anyone could tell that…
"Have you read that book?"
"… Only half."
"Do you like it?"
"Yes!"
"… Must you become a Wizard?"
"Yes! It's what I want to do!"
"… Tomorrow we'll return to the Battle-born state and speak with Ogny. Finish your book first and come to me once you do so."
"If you don't finish it by morning, then we'll go at night…"
"Okay!"
Baden ran upstairs without waiting for his father's words.
"Hakar…"
Enfral stopped what she was doing in the kitchen and approached her husband, but he only shook his head in response.
"We already talked about this before. I wish not to entertain this any further. A man is pressed for choices throughout his life, I never expected his to come so quickly, but he has made it."
"But Hakar, he is only a child, barely even…"
"It is up to us to determine if the choices he makes are valid and not merely childish fantasies. And we have determined yesterday that his dreams… Are not childish." He said as he finished sharpening another hoe, "Enough of this. I am hungry."
"… If you think he's not fit for it, go speak with him and see what he has to say… I've already made my decision."
"Yes… Let's eat dinner first."
/CUT!/
She cut the head of a featherless chicken, preparing the dinner they so eagerly awaited…
…
Baden continued his silent session until his mother called for him hours later. Before them on the central table, a small feast had been organized.
A large iron pot full of soup, multiple types of cut bread and cheese, berries and pastes of all colours adorned the table.
"Sit. Your mother has something to say."
"…"
Baden approached the table and sat down at his usual spot next to his mother. In a table of four, he stood with his back to the fireplace facing the stairs leading to the second floor.
With the help of his mother, he made his own plate, but different from other times, she didn't smile as she helped him.
The atmosphere was heavy…
"Erm… Mother?"
Unable to hold himself any longer, he spoke first.
"Your father told me about what happened yesterday. Is it true you wish to become a Wizard and go to Winterhold?"
"That was a suggestion…"
"Answer your mother."
"Yes."
"… Why?… Is something here insufficient?"
"What?"
"Has the life we've provided you, lacking? Is there anything you need?"
"No! I love it here…"
"Then why do you want to leave so much?!"
"…"
"At the first sight of it, you decided, without hesitation, that you want to go all the way to the other side of the province to a desolate place covered in ice and snow?!"
His mother lost her composure, almost smashing the table with her hands as she cried.
"Your father told me… There wasn't a single shred of hesitation. You've been smiling like you've never done so before… Tell me the truth… What do you think of this place?"
"I… I find it peaceful. I like it here… But I won't find the answers I'm looking for on the farms. I'll go to the College and find the answers I want."
"Even so! Must you traverse the land?! Why can't you learn it from here?! I…"
"Enfral."
"… I lost my appetite."
"Enfral…"
Enfral pushed her chair away and went to the second floor. His father tried to stop her, but she walked right past him.
He turned to look at Baden, his eyes heavy before he pushed his chair back as well and went after her.
"Eat well."
"…"
Not long after, the cries of his mother echoed throughout the wood, and Baden's expression soured.
He ate his chicken slowly, but it was tasteless. No matter how much he gulped down, it felt hollow… After eating half of it, he grabbed some bread and went to his room, closing himself inside for the remainder of the night.
Baden did not sleep that day, under the faint light of many candles, sunlight soon rose with the faint cries of rousters in the distance.
/Creak…/
Behind him, the door opened, and his father, his eyes sunken like his, appeared.
"Have you finished it?"
A quiet nod, but his father did not like it.
"Respond to me with words."
"Yes!"
"Follow me."
The same thing happened again; however, this time, the partially open gates allowed wagons and caravans into the city's lower districts, so nobody stopped them.
They went to the Wind district and got an audience with Ogny, who awaited for them with sharp eyes.
"You've returned. Earlier than expected, it hasn't even been two days… I suppose you've made your choice, child?"
Baden nodded calmly, giving Ogny his book back.
"Reading is one thing, internalizing its contents is another. Boy, what do you think the life of a wizard is?"
"… Not as exciting as I once thought."
"And why is that?"
"Because wizards are… Too stuck up their arses."
"Baden…"
His father frowned at the language his son used, he didn't know from whom he learned it from, but merely threw the blame onto the books he read.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Right! Too stuck up their arses! That's exactly it!"
"Child… The life of a mage is like that of any other, shaped by those around them and themselves… Skyrim isn't as fond as magic after multiple disasters… Ever since the Oblivion Crisis centuries ago, we have slowly shunned those attached to arcane in fear of their power."
"Not all are like that, but there are more then enough out there to make even the land you once called your home foreign, you may not understand it now, but with time, you will. You're a intelligent child."
He led them to his small lab as he continued, "… I've talked with the court wizard and as expected, even with your talent, he isn't currently willing to take in students, and his student is far too busy with his experiments to take one himself. So this leaves us with few alternatives…"
"Most wizards in Whiterun are nothing but Novices, few have gone far into their craft to call themselves Apprentices… I'm not too versed myself on those aspects, but common sense tells me they won't be enough to teach up to your standards."
"… And what makes you think that?" Hakar asked, unconvinced
"I've conversed with many wizards, seen even more. And this includes their students. Your son has enough magicka to rival them all. If this isn't enough, what is? The only reason I'm not straight up suggesting he's sent to the College is because of his age."
"I thought that putting him under a suitable tutor for a while before sending him to Winterhold would suffice to build him a foundation, and to help verify his intent… It wouldn't do good for him to waver all the way over there."
"However… I lack a trustworthy wizard to recommend him to."
"Wouldn't just any do? Put him under a Novice or a Master, a child won't be able to tell the difference."
"…"
'That hurts a little…'
"Oh, but he definitely would. Above all, one's first master, the one who opens the path to the Arcane, such a person is of incredible importance to a young mage in training. Any rabble won't do, for they could instill his mind with thoughts difficult to purge later on."
Ogny moved to the side and pulled a backpack from the ground, giving it to Hakar.
"This is why I prepared these… I've borrowed some books from the Court Wizard and a few others from my personal collection, but don't bother about that. These books are all the most simple introductory books every mage will study at one point."
"Study these on your own, memorize and comprehend their contents. I've put them in order so you don't confuse yourself… Finally, once you learn them all, I'll teach you a basic Spell."
"I'm no mage, but I've learned the most basic of magicka manipulation. That'll be your entrance ticket to the Academy. With those in hand, you won't be left stranding once you're there."
"Really?! Thank you!"
"It's nothing special. Just a few old books and some of my time… Now, Baden, if you don't mind, go upstairs while I talk with your father."
"What…"
"Do as you're told, boy."
Baden did not say anything after that. He moved outside while clutching to the old leather backpack. Once he got upstairs, he sat down at an inconspicuous table and opened it.
There were fifteen books inside. And he quickly went over their first few pages so he could understand what they were. Six of them seemed like introductions into the common arcane practices of Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Enchanting, Illusion, and Restoration.
Baden knew that those practices were mostly conventional norms and that other provinces and academies had their own practices, but until he grew enough, he'd ignore those. Not like he could get his hands on those even if he wanted to.
… Two of them were on the history of magic, one broad and the other focused on Nordic traditions. Two others explored history and geography, going into the history of magic and tying it to specific locations such as how magic developed in the College of Winterhold, the Crystal Tower, the Arcane University of Cyrodil, the Mages Guild, Shad Astula, Synod, the College of Whispers, the School of Julianos, the Phynastery, and the many other sub factions scattered throughout the Empire.
Several of those had been disbanded and rebranded over centuries, their histories each worth several books if not whole libraries, so containing so much history within four books was enough for now.
Another book was a complex language book which contained several languages inside. From the common tongue to more complex systems from other nations and even outside their realm…
Such languages weren't meant to be mastered now but only understood since for a more completed mage, they'd soon realize that there's much knowledge hidden behind language barriers. Most mages employ translators to translate documents so they can study them, but most accomplished mages will usually just learn the language themselves. The older they are, the higher the chances of this being a thing.
The last four books seemed to be general books containing multiple details about theories and concepts gathered in a comprehensive manner. They were clearly handwritten in a near shabby manner, and Baden soon understood that those likely came from the Court Wizard. Either from when he was an apprentice or when his student was one.
It was now his time to learn from those insights.
There was a note at the bottom of the books explaining what they each signified and the order he should read them. Baden didn't understand why Ogny put it there instead of the top of the pile, but he didn't question it, grabbing his first one on the history of Winterhold.
With this collection alone, Baden already expected to be occupied for the next few months, and with whatever spells awaited him in the future, then maybe he wouldn't be leaving Whiterun until the next year…
Either way, he had to start somewhere, so with a look full of interest, he began. Around half an hour later, his father returned and led him home. From there, just like the day before, Baden stood in his room all day long studying, writing his insights and questions onto a sheet of paper with a father pen and ink Ogny gave him.
He had told him to come visit often and he sure would. There was much to learn from an Alchemist like him.
While he didn't leave as soon as he expected, Baden was still happy to practice, and while that meant holing himself inside his room, it wasn't like anyone went after him either.
Soon, a day turned into a week and that into a month. Baden tried to strike a fine balance between his studies and families, but deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling learning about magic gave him. Every day, as soon as he'd have the chance, he'd return to his room and continue his studies.
He knew this wasn't healthy and tried to remedy things, and while the sensation of obsession was strong, he felt like he did a good job overall.
A month turned into two and two into four. The papers he'd written could already form a book, and he'd already emptied several ink bottles.
It took skill to write with a feather pen, and while his pen was quite better than most, it was still just a traditional one. If he lost his focus, he'd have a pool of ink on his paper, ruining whatever he was trying to write.
Once per week, he'd go to visit Ogny at the Battle-born clan house to exchange questions with him, and while Ogny coudn't answer them all, he'd take some time to get those answered by the Court Wizard, passing the truth to him later.
This way, it was rare for Baden to have a question unanswered, allowing him to grow quite quickly as he went through the records.
Baden thought his learning speed was unusual, attaching it to his great interest in magic, however, even he understood it was a stretch.
He believed the awakening of his Magicka had brough adverse effects to his body, were they negative or not, he could not tell. And perhaps, it could be that the Constellation of the Wizard was affecting him as well, improving his comprehension.
Two months later, marking half a year since he began studying, Baden finally finished all the books. He spent the longest on the six books of arcane practices. The basic formulas and ideas within confounded him at first, but with time, he grew to understand them.
They were akin to math but with more variables and other strange rules and formulas, growing more and more complex as one dove onto them… Still, much of their contents were left vague and open for interpretation, after all, how does one explain in mathematical terms the feeling of tapping onto your magicka to shape it? How does one quantify it?
Some things were better left vague with simple instructions. However, generalization often meant some were neglected, either in one spectrum or the other.
Baden took it all as a reference and quickly internalized their contents. It was hard to say he had memorized them all, but he believed he was ready to learn magic and embark on his journey.
He returned to Ogny with his findings and was bestowed with two spell books.
Flames from the School of Destruction.
Healing from the School of Restoration.
Baden felt odd receiving those two specific tomes, finding it ironic. However, he knew why it was the case. Healing was a rather gentle spell often associated with priests and the clergy, of all Schools of magic, Restoration was likely the one least frowned upon.
But Nords often expected a priest in long golden robes to heal them in their time of need, not a mage wearing a dark cloak… Fashion was likely also behind prejudice.
Flames on the other hand was a simple concept to understand. Everyone alive had seen a fire burn before and hence, it was the closest concept to all and the easiest to visualize.
Since magic was deeply tied to one's perception of the world, having a clear vision greatly assisted the process, allowing even the most dull of people to learn this simple spell and light a fire, even if a weak and feeble one.
He decided to start with Flames due to that exact reason. It took him five days to go through the entire book, and five more to internalize its contents as he reviewed them. However, he didn't need all ten days to cast Flames for the first time. He only needed one.
After he finished the first chapter of the book, he felt the urge to try it for the first time and successfully cast it on the river far from his home and potentially anything flammable.
Still, the flames he cast were not the same as dictated by the spell book. They were messy and their color was also darker. Baden knew that spells strongly connected to an individual; although they could be taught with minimal variation, most mages probably learned spells slightly differently than their written versions.
He felt great inspiration and pride once he achieved magic for the first time, wanting to do more and try even more ideas. But for the sake of his family and himself, he went back home and suppressed those emotions, choosing to study the book's contents first before trying anything dangerous.
Without guidance, that little stream of fire he created could very so easily turn around and blow on his face, and that wouldn't be the most pleasant of experiences.
After ten days studying, he began practicing, and while he believed himself already able to cast the spell as it was written, he still spent ten extra days training by the river before he began his studies on Healing.
Fire was malleable and dangerous, without control, it was far too easy for one to burn themselves. Flames as written was a simple spell about casting a lengthy stream of flames in the direction it was channeled.
Baden understood that if one had enough proficiency, there was no need to channel the flames through one's hands. Then again, if one reached that level of mastery, would the spell even be the same?… No.
Spells were an idea and so very easy to reshape and mold… At least that was how he saw it. Whenever he looked at the effects of his magicka, he could quickly point out different manners to use them.
He saw it as a manner of fact. After all, if fire burned a certain way through the Spell, what was stopping it from burning it in another way? How much would it take to transform a stream of fire into a wall of fire?
He racked his head for ideas but was stumped, he didn't know. He vaguely felt it was possible but couldn't put it together… Then again, it could've been due to his fear. Experimenting with fire wasn't advised, not without protection.
Thus, after twenty days, he mastered his very first spell. It wasn't very strong and it took a little while to boil water, but if he focused really had, he could force the river the boil around his palms.
Magic marveled him, pushing him further into this unknown path. From then on, he began studying Healing, and like before, within ten days, he finished his studies.
This time, in contrast to his previous spell, he took seven days to properly manifest it. That came from his unfamiliarity with the idea. Healing was an somewhat complex idea and he felt that his thoughts and knowledge were clouding his judgment. It was only after he delved into the theory of the spell that he understood what he was doing wrong, simplifying his thoughts and materializing it.
A ball of golden white light formed above his palm, shining ever brightly with ethereal tendrils of magicka floating gently in the air.
However, compared to Flames, Healing was… Difficult to notice right away. Restoration had many uses, but the Healing spell focused on rapidly infusing the body with restorative energies to accelerate natural healing. To test this, he made a thin incision on his palm with a knife he sterilized in deep flames.
After it cooled down slightly, he cut his palm, letting a single drop of blood streak down from his skin. Feeling the burning pain, he channeled his magicka and formed his spell.
Baden, seated on the floor, pressed his right hand on his left palm. He felt a flare of pain, and then a cool soft pinching and prickle. Before his eyes, the lesion began to mend, flesh binding and blood drying and scabbing before it fell down without a sound.
'A wound that would've taken a few days to heal and a week or two to vanish healed in the matter of seconds… It won't work for more serious or grievous wounds, but this alone can help me if I ever suffer simple wounds that heal over time.'
'Now if I ever get that nasty papercut, I can just heal it and call it a day… It doesn't look that impressive, but it doesn't matter.'
He looked at his hands and then invoked the ball of energy again, it was slightly warm and embracing. It was a different feeling from shooting fire, a warmth like being hugged by a loved one.
'This is cool…'
Baden smiled proudly at his achievements. In one month, he had mastered two spells. And while he didn't spend ten days training healing, he didn't quite want to spend those days hurting himself like that, either.
He looked at the sky. It was barely past the afternoon. This meant Whiterun was still bursting with activity.
Not wanting to waste anymore time, he left his home and ran to the city, wanting to meet with Ogny.
It was time to learn more spells!
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Notes