Chapter XVIII: The Staff

(Reyvin's pov)

"Ugh" I grunt as I drag myself from the destruction tower, my everything ached something fierce as I barely managed to crawl on.

One day Faralda! One day it will be you getting your shit kicked in, mark my words!

I make my way to the dorms and plop myself into an armchair, drifting off into a light sleep.

My impromptu nap is interrupted by Morrigan sitting down on the chair across the table from me, looking as mentally exhausted as I am physically.

I blink myself awake and ask with a smirk "Aww, is the young alchemist regretting her life choices again?"

She lets out a tired groan that radiates desperation "Please, I just had to listen to the virtues of properly processed moon sugar for six hours, I really don't need your childish jokes right now Reyvin"

I snort and raise an eyebrow and say with a tone of dramatic mockery "But Morrigan, think of the money you can earn!"

She slumps deeper into the chair and clutches her head in her hands "Yes, but is it even worth it?"

I let out a surprised breath "Wow, that bad huh?"

She groans again "Worse"

I leave her to rest for a bit while I grab some coffee and snacks.

After I sit back down, receiving a muttered thanks, I ask "Seriously, I get that the man is a genius, but what is the point of that if he can't even teach properly?"

Morrigan shakes her head "He can actually teach, that isn't the problem, everything he says is actually right in its own unhinged way... But the man is so obnoxious with his bullshit that it takes all my mental energy to dig the actual lesson out from the wall of advice about going to la la land with the help of different herbs."

We sit in silence for a bit before I mutter "Man, the Khajiit must love him"

Morrigan laughs at this "Oh they do, out of all of his customers the Khajiit are by far the most numerous, the man managed to reduce the harmful effects of moon sugar... they almost worship him at this point"

I sigh at this. Farm tools, am I right?

She turns to me now "And why do you look like a mammoth just had its way with you?"

I scratch my cheek "Well, I may or may not have accidentally offended Faralda and she decided to reward my audacity by giving me extra lessons..."

She gives me a mocking smile "Aww, is the young battlemage regretting his life choices again?"

My eye starts twitching.

Now a gleeful look on her face she continues "But Reyvin, think of all the people you will defeat!"

"Boo." I say in a deadpan tone and meet her eyes while channeling some Magicka.

She jumps over her chair and gets behind it, I start laughing my ass off.

She gives me a murderous look and hisses like a scared cat "What the fuck was that?"

I tone down my laughter, but my voice is still filled with mirth "Modified fear spell, works with eye contact"

Now her eye starts twitching "You are so lucky I can't turn you into a popsicle in the dorms"

"As if you'd even be able to hit me" I raise my nose at her.

She gets even more annoyed now "Oh really?"

I give her a mocking smile "Really."

She slams the table "Fine! Get your ass to the training grounds right now!"

I shrug and get up, following her.

The next hour was spent with her trying to penetrate my defenses with predictable results, even if she by some chance got through my wards, none of her spells were strong enough to get through the absolutely busted enchantment on my robes.

Well, they were busted at our level.

She left the training ground in defeat, not without me oh so generously giving a couple of tips about destruction.

------------------------------------------

(general pov)

Later that day, as Reyvin was finishing up with his final enchantment order, he was interrupted by someone.

Turning from his work he noticed a Dunmer, wearing what looked to be the gear of a Telvanni lawman.

After thinking for a moment Reyvin spoke "What does Master Dyrren want?"

The other Dunmer takes out an elongated wrapped up package "The Master has, at his daughter's request sent you one of his staves" his tone filled with an utter lack of interest.

Reyvin nods "Yes, I will make sure to give her a copy of the notes later today then"

The lawman nods and leaves, not even introducing himself.

'ass.'

Reyvin unpacks the staff and looks it over, it is made of what looks to be charred wood and covered in dunmeri runes, it lacks the usual ornamentation but at least the color scheme complements his robes.

The runes themselves seem to have been made to allow for better channeling of pyromancy specifically, but there is one extra set that Reyvin is unable reocgnise.

Not touching the staff just in case and taking some time to read through a dunmeri rune catalogue in the library he is at the same time furious and horrified.

'Of fucking course, just when I think 'hey maybe these Telvanni aren't so bad' the world has to remind me that: Yes the dunmer mages are retarded on purpose and not even good sense will protect you from it! Thank fuck I am paranoid...'

Throwing the staff, now identified to hold a constant mental suggestion for the wielder to want to serve the maker, against the wall with telekinesis Reyvin starts muttering "So this is how you want to play it eh you old fart? Fine then, I will show you what happens to Telvanni retards that dare fuck with a Dagoth!"

At this moment Sergius walks in to the scene of a young Dunmer's angry muttering "Are you doing alright there Reyvin?"

Said elf turns sharply to the teacher "No I am not doing alright." then takes a deep breath and starts talking more calmly "Apparently our resident staff maker isn't nearly as genial as he portrays himself"

The old Imperial asks with some trepidation "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

Reyvin points to the staff lying on the ground, still intact and warns his teacher not to touch it but examine it.

Sergius takes his time looking it over, his gaze growing more furious by the moment, he calms himself and says "Good, I am glad you had the good sense to check the enchantment, this one is particularly dangerous, if you started using it any thoughts of rebelling would just be removed from your mind without you noticing"

Reyvin continues with his muttering "I am going to end his pathetic life"

Sergius goes to interrupt what he sees as someone suicidal but Reyvin raises a hand "Don't worry I am not an idiot, I will remove the mind-control from the staff and pretend that he succeeded, behaving as a docile little servant when he wants it. When he least expects it I will show him in great detail the teachings of Mephala."

Sergius blanches a bit at the mention of the Daedra but still nods "If you need any help with this, know that the college has your back"

Reyvin nods "Of course, if I fail I will naturally need someone to save my foolish self" making the Imperial chuckle "Now lets get to modifying this damn staff, I don't want the 'wise master' to suspect something"

They get to work and Reyvin starts spinning plans on how to punish the audacious Telvanni, his thoughts are interrupted by a notification.

[Mephala watches your actions with great interest]

Reyvin groans 'Me and my stupid mouth'

----------------------------

If you have enjoyed reading this donate a stone for the reconstruction of the sixth house.

If you want to support me directly and get access to 20ish chapters in advance visit my patreon page patreon .com/Rastislav156