Chapter III: Exploration and some practice
The levitation spell made for an interesting read, like most mysticism spells it is based almost purely on Magicka control. It consists of creating a platform of semi-solid Magicka beneath your feet and using it to float in the air, while it doesn't offer great speed or stability of flight it is still immensely useful, and only a fool would refuse to learn it because of some retarded law. I managed to understand the main principles of casting it but one night of reading wasn't enough to attempt to actualize it, it was enough however to give me something.
[Mysticism-basic]
Getting access to an entirely new school of magic is a pretty damn good way to start the day, after taking a moment to make myself look proper I leave my room.
It seems I woke up very early because most of the other rooms are still closed with a slightly glowing rune floating in front of them, the only other person awake is Marwyn, who seems to be drinking something, he gives me an unfocused wave and goes back to his drink, I sit next to him and ask him what it is.
He seems kind of shy, likely being unused to talking to new people, especially of a different race "It's just some coffee that came in from Hammerfell, the prices went up like mad after the war, or so I hear, but the college gets a batch from time to time" He has been here for a good two weeks longer than us so it is unsurprising that he knows such things.
He points me to the small sack in the kitchen and I quickly get to making myself a strong cup. Ah the holiest of drinks, how I have missed you.
We chat about our travels in Skyrim while drinking before I get an idea "You've been here for two weeks already right?" He nods, now far more lively than when I found him "I was planning to explore the place a bit, would you care to show me around?"
He nods quickly "Sure, I was going to visit the library and practice ground in a bit anyway, might as well take a walk first."
I think about waking Morrigan up but we were traveling for a fairly long time and it is very early so I might as well leave her to rest.
---------------------------------
The college courtyard is mostly empty at this time of day, there are some night guards walking around waiting for their shift to end but everyone else is still inside, remembering my own student days I guess that most people here like to sleep in after long nights of study.
We take our time seeing the alchemy gardens surrounding the buildings with Marwyn telling me about some plants I don't recognize and their use. The gardens are sectioned in such a way that allows the plants that work best alongside each other, kind of like an organic food farm. There are runic circles around the more fragile ones protecting them from the harsh climate, or adapting the air around them to best help them grow.
We also visit the two circles to the east and west, with them mostly mimicking the central one being made from large stone blocks with the tower entrances enchanted with symbols respective to their schools of magic. There are also statues of all the Archmages situated between said entrances, but none of them are even close to the size of Shalidor's statue back at middle of the college.
------------------------------------
After touring the place a bit more and looking at the frozen landscape to the north, Marwyn leads me to the library which is situated in the northern section of the college above the practice grounds. It seems kind of irresponsible to have a library above the place where people practice blowing shit up but the ungodly number of wards around the place reassure me that they have it covered.
The library is far more lively than I expected at this time of day with a lot of older students still likely cramming their assignments, there are even some that fell asleep. One was about to start drooling on a book when he was lifted in the air and tossed beyond the doors of the library, a gruff old looking Orc slightly growled before picking the book up and looking at us.
"Welcome to the Arcanaeum, which might as well be my own plane of oblivion, I am Urag gro-Shub the keeper of this place" He turns to me specifically, likely already having met the bookish Marwyn "Some of this collection can be dated back to the second era, you will respect the books or...." he waves in the direction he just yeeted the poor student.
I nod at him not at all surprised, Urag was always a favorite of mine, either because he was an orc mage breaking the stereotype or just due to his serious demeanor. "Of course not sir, I wasn't raised in the streets, the books will be safe when in my hands" I say in a fake-offended voice.
He snorts at my pompous response "Eh good enough, now was there anything specific you were looking for or were you just taking in the sights?" Guess that newcomers tend to do that "Keep in mind I would recommend waiting for the start of the lessons so you don't take on too much material at once"
I take a second to think about my response and finally answer "I was looking for techniques that might improve the control and reserves of my Magicka, the spell books provided in my room will keep me occupied for some time but expanding my foundation is best started as soon as possible"
He nods at this pleased "Good, most fools just want to learn how to throw fireballs, and then you tell them they have to actually not suck first" he snorts "Follow me"
He leads us to the back and hands me a book titled {Arcane Ascendance} "This is the most used technique among the college mages, at first it might seem simple but that is for good reason, every mage modifies the process to further improve their chosen fields with the benefits growing the more you personalize and perfect it. Make sure to be very careful of how far you decide to push yourself, overdoing the exercise will hinder you more than help you."
I thank him and with a nod he returns to whatever he was reading before we arrived. Marwyn grabs a book on Nordic enchantment techniques, as I start reading the manual.
The application is as simple as the resident Orc librarian had said, you take in Magicka from the atmosphere and suffuse your entire being in it essentially adapting your body to containing more of it, while also having to keep control of any outbursts which will hurt, a lot. It is recommended that one doesn't spend more than two hours a day practicing it as any more leaves one lethargic and unfocused until they rest.
I reread the diagrams a couple of times and after informing my new friend headed to the practice area.
--------------------------
The inside of the now named 'Hall of Refinement' is very simple looking, once again being a large circular room surrounded by more rooms intended for practicing specific kinds of spells.
I quickly notice one intended for my training in the mysticism section of the room, and enter it, inside there is a small instruction manual explaining that the room will alert me after two hours have passed.
After calming my mind I sit down and start practicing the technique without using my third eye as an experiment, controlling the flow of Magicka outside of my body is very easy as always, but the moment it enters me it feels like trying to swim through sand, sighing at my perceived failure I activate my third eye and try and look within myself.
The experience feels very unnatural, I can't quite see the inside of myself but I can definitely feel it, using the eye as visual aid I try guiding the Magicka again and this time I manage to, while still with some difficulty, properly cycle it through my body.
The process is not quite painful, but still feels very weird and uncomfortable, I quickly notice that the space behind my forehead is taking up the lions share of the Magicka and sigh. I guess that even a great gift has some drawbacks, but then again this gives me hope that the eye could be improved with enough refinement.
Time passes incredibly quickly and I find myself woken from my trance by the flickering light of practice room, guess I got too into it. Checking my progress I am pleasantly surprised:
[Mysticism-novice: Arcane Ascension (beginner)]
[Vit: 8.2 => 8.5]
[Mind: 15.5 => 16]
[Mag: 133 => 140]
------------------------------------
A/n: Thank you all for reading, if you have liked it do toss me a stone.
I tried to make the whole "cultivation" thing more sensible with the time limit and a lack of rigidity, and before you ask no he won't advance this much daily, this is just the first push.