Chapter XXIII: Bards

It took me an uncomfortable amount of time to convince the supremely enthusiastic High King that no, he cannot rush off to hunt random ass reachmen right now.

After calming down and realizing just how foolish he may have looked to a new important subject he made some excuses and left with his now very smug guard, the stoic man even gave me a grateful smile before he left...

Now finished with that... enlightening meeting I left for the city to finally start exploring.

My first destination was the Bard's College, and while I don't remember a thing about it from the game I was curious about how good the musicians were in these lands. Most I've listened to were traveling bards and my own hirelings, who were pretty good in their own right, just not virtuosos.

The college was built in the same style as the rest of the noble district, which was honestly kind of disappointing but to be fair the hideout of the local artists didn't 'need' to be whacky and creative to look good.

As I entered I was surrounded from all sides by the echoes of different musicians practicing their instruments, and while some of them might have actually been good the unholy mixture that could be heard at the entrance almost made me summon Meridia's beacon so I can blow out my eardrums again.

A bearded elf came through one of the doors just in time to see me wince, I could sense his irritation at the bad timing of my arrival as he approached me.

He quickly takes on a practiced cheerful mask and greets me "Ah, Master Reyvin." He bows theatrically "An honor and a pleasure to have the new court mage visit our humble college, I am headmaster Viarmo, at your service." he forces a wince "I do hope that you don't mind the cacophony, our students are rather vigorous in their exercises at this time of day."

Well, at least the ole' rumor mill is still up and running.

I return a polite smile "The honor is mine headmaster."

He nods and signals for me to follow him into another room.

I continue while we walk "Though I am sad to inform you that I am not a master yet."

His own polite smile cracks just a tiny bit and I hear him quietly mutter to himself "Yet I still feel as if you could crush me with nary a thought..."

That seems... untrue. The mer is obviously magically adept, not nearly as myself of course but enough to not get crushed instantly. He did recognize me rather quickly meaning it is probable he wants something from me, one look with my blessing tells me I am right but not exactly what it is that he wants. Might as well play along for now.

"How very perceptive of you." I say and he suppresses a wince, yet now that I pay more attention it seems just slightly forced... as if he wanted for me to hear him.

I continue playing along "If you are able to tell that much then I take it you received some instruction in the arcane?"

His 'mood' shifts and he looks up proudly "Indeed, our college prides itself in all arts, that includes the magical ones."

"Oh?" So some kind of magical request then? "Magic in its entirety, or merely its more artistic expressions?"

"The artistic ones principally" He explains smoothly while summoning the illusion of some small 'fireworks' in his hand "We are after all creators first. Though we do learn how to defend ourselves of course. These lands are quite unforgiving as you know."

"Intriguing..." I hum "So I guess you make great use of alteration and illusion then?"

There is a glint in his eyes that wasn't there before as he answers with well-practiced 'awe' "Truly you are as brilliant as they say, yes we do mostly make use of those two schools for everything from sculpting to theatre to music."

"Right, I can see how that could help." I nod and add conspiratorially "And even if people start bothering you that something isn't hand-made you can always just say magic takes just as much skill and get more patronage that way."

He smiles wryly as we enter a hall leading into his office "I am certain I have no idea what you are talking about."

Time to end this little play of ours "Was there anything you wanted from me, headmaster? I wanted to explore a good part of the city today and we have already chatted for a while."

I notice the slightest twitch in his left eye as he says "I was indeed hoping to acquire your aid in a certain matter."

I wave for him to go on.

"You see..." He scratches the back of his head "My nephew has been struck with a great wanderlust and is constantly pestering me to let him out to travel." He sighs "Keeps telling me that a true bard must experience a worthy tale to actually write anything proper. The thing is he is completely incapable of defending himself save for knowing how to swing a rapier, but we both know that is not enough for someone to ensure survival."

I nod along and casually add my own two septims "True enough, just a pack of wolves can rip apart a lone unarmored traveler, no matter how skilled with a blade."

He seems happy with my agreement "Yes, that is exactly what I have been telling him for the past month, but the fool boy persists." He scowls "I promised his mother I would keep him safe, how am I to do that if he runs off?"

I cross my arms "So what is it exactly that you want me to do here?"

He loses all of his previous theatricality and states seriously "I would like for you to keep him around while you go about your duties during your stay here, take him with you when you travel so he can get experience actually fighting, and most importantly teach him some combat magic so that he can actually survive his foolish ambitions."

I raise an eyebrow and while feigning annoyance ask "While I am impressed by your willingness to let him chase his dreams, what do I get from babysitting someone's weak brat?"

Before he can answer I hear a silent annoyed grunt from behind one of the statues in the hall we were standing in. Viarmo slowly palms his face and says "Come out boy, no point in hiding now."

A young, tall Altmer with long black hair leaves his hiding place with a very annoyed expression, he goes to say something but the sound of Davos sheathing his dagger stops him in his tracks.

Viarmo stares at my follower and turns to me with a worried expression.

I shrug "What? Is it that weird to have a bodyguard these days?"

He shakes his head "No, excuse me." He turns to his nephew "So boy, what exactly do you think you are doing eavesdropping on us?"

The young mer raises his nose at him "You have been looking for someone to shove me off to for weeks now, of course I was going to listen in."

Viarmo shakes his head and says to me "Please excuse him, sir. He is not quite satisfied with anything right about now and tends to forget himself."

"Forget myself now, do I?" The young one scowls and speaks to me mockingly "Should I curtsey as well 'Sir'?"

"No, but an introduction would at least make me not want to launch you into a nearby wall." I deadpan and sense Viarmo still for a second.

His nephew apparently doesn't get the message and continues speaking to him "What would I even learn from the likes of him? He looks as young as I am." He smirks maliciously "In fact, he probably bought his way into his position."

"Very well, I have indulged you long enough." I raise my hand and a green glow emanates from it, before the young mer can react he is up in the air flailing like an idiot and slowly floating toward me.

I tilt my head and ask Viarmo "And what could you possibly offer me that would make me accept someone this spoiled and idiotic under my tutelage?"

He sighs and pulls out a roll of paper and hands it to me.

I open it up and start reading slowly while the floating young mer flails and curses at me, ordering me to put him down, naturally, I treat his words as a passing breeze.

I knew there was something odd with Viarmo the moment he started talking but this just proves it. The note contains a warning about Erikur planning to off me for threatening him, some information about the views of the different factions in the city, and a basic overview of the factions that have taken over the slums.

What truly proved the value of his info however was a tiny warning about leaving my doors open if I sleep anywhere near Sybille.

I burn the note to ash immediately after reading it and turn to Viarmo "You are surprisingly adept at gathering information if you know to warn me of my colleague." He says nothing but there is a hint of surprise in his eyes, I go on "However, if you thought that this is enough for me to deal with this brat for the foreseeable future you are dearly mistaken."

He smiles with just the tiniest hint of smugness "Oh that was just the appetizer. I will provide you one of those each month during your stay in the city if you agree to my request."

Oh? That does seem like a very attractive offer, but someone able to get this information cannot have pure intentions can he?

I decide to look at him with my blessing, only to find that yes he is really just worried about the last of his family and will do pretty much anything to ensure that the boy is happy...

Gods do I love it when my cynical ass is proven wrong!

I hum, pretending to mull it over even if I already made my decision. Viarmo seems to grow more uncomfortable by the minute and I decide to stop tormenting him "Very well, I accept." He seems relieved but I go on "I will teach him to survive and thrive out there but I will not consider coddling him, he will not enjoy it when we start traveling."

Viarmo waves me off "Oh don't worry, so long as he learns to defend himself and hopefully some damned respect I will honor my side of the deal... could you... could you let him down now? I think he is getting a bit green and am quite certain he doesn't have any orcish ancestry so that can't be healthy."

I blink "Oh" and deactivate my telekinesis with a flick of my hand, making the brat crash onto the ground.

Viarmo claps happily "Excellent." And helps the dizzy young mer up "Now my boy, I have secured someone to teach you how to not die, be sure to listen to him or I will be cutting your allowance."

Allowance, really?

His nephew scowls "But I don't want to!"

Viarmo scoffs "My boy, you are nineteen years old you need to stop being so childish."

He exhales "Fiiiiine."

I clap my hands "With that rather pathetic display out of the way I am going to explore the city and am in need of a guide, you will do brat."

The brat scowls at me again "My name is Marco, not brat."

"Yes yes it is your honor to meet me I know, let us go."

His eye twitches, but he appears to be a quick learner so he keeps his mouth shut.

"It was a pleasure meeting you headmaster but we really should be going now." I say to the older mer.

He smiles "The pleasure was all mine I assure you." then says to Marco with a wink "Good luck my boy, and remember to have fun."

The young elf groans and follows after me dejectedly.

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

A chapter for thee and a stone for me.

If you want to support me directly and get access to 28ish chapters in advance visit my patreon page patreon .com/Rastislav156

If you want to discuss the story or just meme about join my discord server: https://discord. gg/4NCXDUzat