Chapter VIII: A morning in the dorms

A/n: Most likely won't be touching the timeline, as some people wisely pointed out it is not really worth the effort.

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

"So, how is house Telvanni these days? The red year and subsequent invasion was very hard on you all from what I've heard" I ask Edrasa while having my morning coffee.

She scrunches her eyebrows and takes a sip of her own drink before saying "We have been rebuilding in Vvardenfell mostly, thankfully a good number of our masters and magisters managed to survive the invasion by having teleportation spells ready when their defenses fell. The Archmagister and his family however were not as lucky and all died at the fall of Port Telvannis" She seems actually saddened by this, odd considering the usual Telvanni mentality.

"Serves the slavers right" Bor snorts from nearby, his twin nodding in agreement.

The look Edrasa gives him makes it seem like she ready to help his guts experience fresh air, he flames starting to form in her hand remove any doubt.

I turn to him and raise an eyebrow while holding Edrasa's shoulder trying to keep her from attacking "Is this how I should react if your entire clan and hold ever get decimated?"

He seems to regret his words a tiny bit before doubling down, an offended look on his face "So you would equate honorable defenders and Nords to a bunch of slavers?"

I give him an arrogant smile and say "What a grand and intoxicating innocence. The very idea that a bunch of Nords could be equal to a great house of Morrowind would be the funniest thing I have heard all day if it wasn't so gods damned offensive"

Edrasa, who calmed down enough not to commit immediate murder, nods sagely as if it was the most obvious thing in the world while the Nord twins' faces become red in anger.

Things are about to get heated with Bor making a fist, when we are interrupted by Tiberius. "Come now my dear colleagues everyone is equal under the glorious Empire, no need to fight amongst ourselves!"

'Dude sure likes to preach, but seriously the fuck did he just say?'

Everyone turns to him and gives him a heated glare, but the fiery winds of our fury seem to go under his notice as he gives us a proud look, as if expecting praise.

Me and my fellow Dunmer speak almost in perfect sync "Morrowind isn't even a part of the empire you s'wit n'wah" surprised we both nod at each other and resume our glaring at the imperial.

Brienne adds in a sarcastic voice "Ah yes we are all equal, just until you need to throw one of us off the boat to save yourselves" Bor simply glares.

Tiberius seems undeterred however "No matter, the Empire is what unites us all, each man, mer or beast shall prosper under it's guidance. While we have hit a bit of a snag right now, it is inevitable that we shall reunite once more into one glorious state!"

Even Marwyn, who tuned us out earlier, joins in at this point with a tired sigh "Tiberius, be real here. The moment the oblivion crisis started the Empire pulled out of Morrowind." He starts listing off other minor wrongs before getting to the biggest one "the moment they could save the heartland from the Thalmor by sacrificing an entire province and one of our main deities they did exactly that." At this everyone nods in agreement "You have to admit man, the Empire of today doesn't inspire even a bit of confidence, besides, there is no dragon-blood on the Ruby Throne."

The young imperial seems to falter a bit before straightening up again "You are right, of course, but we all need something to believe in! If we let the current hard times take us apart we would undo all the work of the exact god you mentioned and that of his descendants as well."

The Nords and Marwyn seem to actually start thinking about his words and begin muttering amongst each other.

Edrasa and I on the other hand, just look at them like they are idiots. While it is understandable that the best interest of Bretons, Nords, and Imperials is to be united, Morrowind has never fully accepted being under the Septims who had actual power, the Medes shouldn't even dream of ruling it.

I do however, respect Tiberius for not faltering in his belief, it is very difficult for one to hold to ones faith when the facts are very much against you.

The entire conversation is interrupted as Morrigan slams the door of her room open, bags under her eyes, and starts glaring at us "It is seven in the fucking morning, will you all shut up?!" Her currently glowing hands tell us in no uncertain terms that this is not a request.

After a couple of seconds of silence she nods to herself, satisfied that the blessed silence is back, and dispels the magic from her hands "What were you even talking about that got you all so worked up?" she asks in a much more subdued tone this time.

"Oh just a bunch of kids who don't know what they are talking about advancing from casual to competitive racism, nothing too bad" I say with a sagely voice, as I float a cup of coffee to her with my minor telekinesis spell.

Everyone turns to me and gives me the 'Aren't you shit talking yourself right now?' look, but they at least don't seem to want to rip each other to pieces anymore.

Marwyn mutters to himself "The fuck is competitive racism?" while scratching his head.

I shrug, completely ignoring them, and get back to my coffee, everyone else following suit after a bit.

I am soon joined by Morrigan and Edrasa. I turn to said elf and continue where we left off "So before we were rudely interrupted, I was going to ask what made your family decide to come to Skyrim, from what I know your father is a Telvanni master, there should be land in Morrowind for him to rule."

She shakes her head with a exasperated smile "My father got tired of all the blame that was being thrown around in the council, so he just picked up his possessions and moved here alongside our servants, he even called the entire council a bunch of brats, I am not sure how he survived that." She scratches her cheek, a genuinely confused expression on her face "At first the Jarl was very reluctant to give him the rights to grow his tower, but after a good thirty years of honest business and no incidents, and with the previous Jarl's son who is more open to magic taking the throne he could no longer be denied."

I raise my eyebrow at this "The new Jarl doesn't hate magic? I heard all manner of stories, but this one I didn't expect." Seriously, Korir's only dialogue ingame is bitching about mages, I guess he offended someone he shouldn't have?

Morrigan joins in, a lot less cranky after some coffee. "I have heard around town that when the jarl was killed in a bandit ambush a college mage saved him and his mother, he is too young to rule so the mother is acting as regent for now." Edrasa nods, confirming the story.

'Hmmm suspicious, but it benefits me so what do I care' We continue speaking about less serious topics for a bit until it is time for us to get moving, we have restoration and mysticism today.

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

A/n: A bit of a break from the magic for this one.

If you have enjoyed reading this toss me a stone/review.