[Encanto] 16 – Mercenary Work Part 2

It took nearly all day to finish up the eight bandit bounties and bring back anything valuable or worthwhile to the Jarl, but at least the hold had some gold that would flow into its coffers. I brought back multiple sets of iron armor, a rather large amount of weapons and arrows, gold, and gems, and I even managed to get my hands on a few soul gems. The equipment, barring a steel dagger I kept for myself, I gave to the Jarl as 'tribute' and the locations of the hideouts of these bandits. Each location had only a few bandits, the largest of which had only four men.

However, one of these bandit camps was set within a cave with some visible veins of iron and coal. While part of me did not want to reveal the location of the potential mine, I did, hoping to get Jarl's trust despite how little that trust that may be. What Winterhold lacked were ways to earn revenue. With the ship I gave earlier this morning, they could catch fish and various crustaceans, which would be enough jobs for a group of men. On the other hand, a mine would bring in enough jobs for twenty men and more, depending on how big the ore veins were. 

Winterhold already had a mine along the road that led south, but it was small, with few veins of iron. Having another mine would allow for more people to be brought into Winterhold to work. With the gold I had gotten from the bandits, I planned on hiring some guys from Winterhold to build a General Store and hire someone to manage it for me. Winterhold needed it, and having a place where everyone in town could go to sell or buy products, goods, and bits and bobs would make the economy start flowing even more, as Septims would start trading hands.

Once I get enough Spetims, I hope to expand the Midden Garden even more, to the point where the College can start selling alchemical ingredients to the Alchemists across Skyrim for good coin. Then, I want to set up a Greenhouse for Winterhold so they can grow their crops.

Walking up the stairs to the Archmage's office, I wondered why he wanted to see me. Was it because of my use of magic on the people in Winterhold? That would seem like the most likely, but it could also be something else.

Opening the thick wooden door, I found the Archmage sitting right at the center of his quarters, which was a spherical chamber connected to a corridor with stairs on both sides. Every time I saw his quarters, I couldn't help but feel a bit of jealousy. Floating in the air were dozens of Mage Lights that lit up the room; at the center of the room was his own little alchemy garden, and around the edge of the chamber were shelves filled with books and furniture. He even had his own personnel, including alchemy, enchanting, and staff enchanter tables.

Not even opening his eyes but still somehow noticing my presence, he spoke, "Ah, young Salem, how was your day?" 

"Eventful, got some Septims and practical experience, and got Winterhold to like the College and Mages a bit more, even if it was only the townspeople," I answered simply with a shrug, walking over in front of him and sitting down on the floor, or to be more accurate, falling to the floor and catching myself with gravity and floating myself a foot above the ground as if I sat on an invisible platform, something that clearly amused him if the smirk on his face was anything to go by.

"Don't dismiss your actions. You have made more progress with Winterhold than I have had since I first became the Archmage of this school," Archmage Savos spoke with a small chuckle.

"Everything I have done is something any competent mage here in the College could do just as easily as I have done," I waved off his flattery.

"That may be so, but you forget, the College only has a few masters, and few are War Mages," Savos explained.

I shrugged; the College had plenty of Novices, apprentices, and journeyman mages yet lacked expert mages. I could see why Savos and the other Masters couldn't afford to leave the College undefended in these turbulent times, with tensions between the Empire and Thalmor still as bad as they were with the war some years ago. Most of the mages in the college who reached the rank of 'Journeyman' or 'Expert' left the College to pursue mercenary work, work for the Empire or its various guilds, or become adventurers. 

What the College needed, other than funds, was more students. A handful of Colleges were scattered across Tamriel, but the College of Winterhold was by far the weakest, poorest, and least educated. It was hanging on by a thread after the Great Collapse, and if the college didn't get back on its feet, it would likely be abandoned within the century.

It was a shame, and without the Last Dragonborn or my help, the College likely would close down, but since I am here for the foreseeable future, I should be able to get it back on its feet.

"What did you want to talk about, Archmage?" I suddenly asked, interrupting the silence that took place.

"Do you have a Master?" Savos asked pointedly.

"A master? No, unless you count the various teachers of the College and the Augur of Dunlain," I answered, seeing where he was going with this.

"I see. You are a prodigy unlike anything anything I have ever seen. You absorb knowledge like a sponge and are beyond talented. I have seen some of the spells you have created for yourself and I could not help but wonder what heights you will reach in a decade from now at this pace. I believe you will even surpass me, despite the decades I have spent learning magic," He flattered me before looking me directly in the eye, "I would like to teach you."

“Why?” I asked, trying to dig deeper, to see if he had other motives.

“Interest, mostly. At your current level, your unique magic could give the average Archmage a run for their Septims, it’s something so unique that you are one of the few I know of that can use such magic,” He explained, looking off to the distance.

“Like who?” I asked, curious.

“Master Neloth Telvani of House Telvani, Archmage Phicenan Sinlory of the Synod, and a few other figures,” Salvos explained.

“What about the Mage Guild?” I asked, remembering the annoying quest from Oblivion you had to do to join the Guild.

“The Mage Guild? It disbanded after the Oblivion Crisis, becoming the Synod and College of Whispers,” Salvos explained.

“Synod? College of Whispers?” I asked trying to get context.

“The Synod took up the rules of the Mage Guild, keeping the practice of Necromancy banned, the College of Whispers, on the other hand, practice Necromancy and other dark magic, both colleges vie for the Elder Council’s approval, and both seek out our alliance to get an advantage over the other, I of course, chose to remain neutral in their conflict.” 

“What are the other colleges?” I questioned.

“There exists a College in many of the other provinces of Tameriel, and even some run by the Thalmor,” Salvos explained.

I see, the College of Winterhold was already the poorest and weakest of Colleges across Tamriel, but with it being based in Skyrim of all places, with Nords being renowned for disliking most Magic and considering it dishonorable, it was easy to see how Savos had so much trouble trying to grow the College and mend the losses it suffered from the Great Collapse.

Taking a moment to think, I realized I was putting too much thought into this, there was really only one answer, “Yes, I’d like to be your student.”

That got a smile out of Savos.