Chapter XXXII: Graduation

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As I run up the college bridge I am stopped in my tracks by a very annoyed-looking Morrigan.

"Oh look who decided to get up finally." She drawls out upon seeing me.

"I am not late am I?" I ask while taking deep breaths, say what you will about having high vitality but sprinting while dead tired will leave one breathless no matter the situation.

She lets out a relieved sigh "No, you came in just in time, what were you even doing that made you of all people sleep in? You are usually the one pestering everyone else about being on time."

I shrug "Ehh I was finally getting my set of enchanted jewelry done and it took a bit longer than intended... and by that I mean it took me almost an entire day of mind-numbing work"

Morrigan looks at me unimpressed "And what pray tell, made you wait for the last possible day to do it?"

"It was symbolic!" I grin.

She rolls her eyes and turns toward the college "Whatever, let's go the ceremony is about to begin"

I catch up to her and mutter "Thanks for going to get me in any case." and add with a teasing voice "I am so glad you care!"

She huffs and keeps walking without another word.

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We all take our seats in the Hall of Elements, the atmosphere is a combination of excited and somber, the somber part mostly coming from some of the Masters who are probably getting reminded about the soul crushing realization of how fast time passes right about now.

My colleagues start whispering among each other and I drift off into a half asleep state, after a bit I finally start relaxing and my eyes finally start resting from the absolute torture I subjected them to last night.

Just before I am about to fall fully asleep I hear a loud BOOM right next to me, making me cast defensive spells and jump on the table on instinct.

Lets just say Faralda's training was very thorough.

I blink myself fully awake and notice the Archmage holding the tip of my blade staff between his fingers, looking at me with his usual amused gaze "Oh, how nice of you to come well rested and fully prepared for this important occasion Reyvin!"

I unsummon my staff and sit back down while grumbling "One day Aren, one fucking day!"

My colleagues start snickering at me and Savos gives me a playful smirk and mutters back "Oh, do bring it on Dagoth, I would love to see what you can cook up." before walking to the center of the podium.

The Archmage claps his hands, making a far louder sound than one would think, and speaks "Welcome once again students, I am glad that all of you I met last year are still here with us."

The fact that he has to say that is very telling when it comes to apprentice mage mortality rates.

He continues with a smile "You have all gone through many challenges to be here, some through intellectual and others through more... practical, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that for a while now, you all went beyond being mere apprentices and stepped into the ranks of true magi!" He spreads his arms dramatically. "We have all gathered today to honor your efforts and grant you all your well deserved new titles."

He pulls out a scroll of paper and reads it for a bit before turning back to us.

He nods at Marwyn and speaks "Marwyn of Daggerfall, after evaluating your effort and accomplishments, the college grants you the title of Mystic, bear it with pride." and then levitates some documents to him.

He goes on to name everyone else, with the twins being named Battle Mages, Morrigan named an Alchemist, Edrasa a Healer and Tiberius a Conjurer.

Finally he turns to me "Reyvin Flame-tongue of house Dagoth" I hear gasps around me coming from those who were unaware. My eye twitches and Savos gives me a very infuriating smile "You have caused the college a lot of trouble with your little assassination stunt"

Ah so this is how he gets his revenge for getting out of line, cool cool... If I didn't actually like the man I would totally planning on stabbing him right about now, and he probably knows it.

He must have noticed something in my expression because his smile grows wider "On the other hand you have also brought the local population quite a bit closer to us, so I will graciously ignore your stabbyness in favor of your good deeds and grant you the title of Expert Enchanter, bear it with pride"

I glare at him and pick up the documents he sends me, immediately tossing them into my oblivion storage. Not a second later I am swamped with questions from my colleagues, with Morrigan and Edrasa all but pulling out popcorn in enjoyment of my torment.

After finally answering all of the inane questions and making everyone swear not to reveal my secrets willy-nilly I relax into my chair while pretending not to see the far too amused expressions of my teachers.

Savos chooses this exact moment to speak again "Now that you are done with the puni- *Cough*, distraction"

I am so kicking his ass once I am strong enough.

"It is time for you all to finally choose what you will be doing from now on. When you joined us, I said that this college prides itself at the freedom of its members and this statement still holds true, you will now be able to take jobs more freely and even leave for however long you like."

"Since not one of you failed to reach the level of an adept, and big congratulations on that!" He seems genuinely proud at this, and continues in a cheerful tone "You no longer have to pay tuition to stay here, seeing as you are no longer mere students."

Just as some of my colleagues let out relieved sighs and I even hear Marwyn let out a celebratory 'whoop', Savos continues with a shit eating grin "You now have to pay rent!"

I am surrounded by groaning and the sound of faces hitting tables, seeing the situation I start chuckling at their misery, dumb peasants still need to pay rent... real mer pay land taxes!

The teachers laugh and I even hear the dead man cackle from the edge of the room.

Savos wipes a tear from his eye and calls for our attention again with a fake cough "All jokes aside, you are now granted more freedom with the only caveat being that the college will take a percentage off any earnings you make while doing business in the college's name."

He turns to me with an exasperated look just as I am about to raise a hand "No Dagoth, you own your own business and don't have to pay us."

I shrug, not at all embarrassed. If I didn't ask then I would have remembered it like a year later and he would laugh at me for it.

We spend about an hour longer going through the usual administrative work one has to deal with when getting any kind of title or recognition but blessedly it is finished quickly and efficiently.

After that is done the Masters take their time to congratulate us, Sergius calls me his best student ever, and Faralda whispers an invitation for later.

Savos calls an end to the meeting and the rest start leaving the room. I stay and wait a bit before approaching the Archmage, he notices me and gives me a curious look "Ah, I did hear something about you looking to leave Winterhold for a bit, already tired of your new home Reyvin?"

I glare at him "First of all, fuck you!" he laughs at me "Secondly, yes I am looking for a change of pace, something which will have me spend some time in another hold, preferably in the west of Skyrim, and for the love of all the gods make it a place where things are actually happening." I ask almost begging, the monotony was really getting to me.

Savos gives me a knowing look "Oh I know that feeling, staying in one place can get rather dull I agree." He pulls out a scroll "Luckily for you I heard of your wish to go out from a little bird, so as the great Archmage that I am I already prepared your task."

Smug asshole.

He senses my annoyance and his smirk grows just a bit "You are to go to Solitude and provide assistance to the court wizard with all the recent tensions there... something about uppity reachmen? I think."

I raise an eyebrow "I was quite certain that the Reachmen got decimated by Ulfric in the Markarth incident, how did they gather enough strength to even be a nuisance so quickly?"

Savos shrugs and gives me an uncaring look "I have no clue, this is your job to find out. Besides your main job is still being an assistant to the court mage."

I stare at him with annoyance "You already know don't you?"

He smiles and says nothing, making me even more annoyed with him.

I grumble a 'well I am off to prepare' and turn to leave, but hear from behind me "Oh and Reyvin, nice rings you got there."

I chuckle "Yeah, thanks for the sample old man" And leave to prepare for my trip feeling actual excitement for the first time in months.

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A/n: And so ends arc 3!

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