Once Sotek ‘recovered’ from Aela ‘beating him up’ they both headed to the college to meet the other students who were already waiting in the courtyard. All the mages were surprised to see Sotek in armour but they accepted it. The other students however laughed as they ridiculed him.
“That’s not going to get you far”. The elf stated. She thought Sotek was totally out of his element.
The Khajjit leaned across to the Elf but instead of whispering he talked loud enough for both Aela and Sotek to hear him.
“Well at least this year we have an interesting target”. With that both students laughed loudly.
Tolfdir came out from a side room, gave Sotek a quick glance then collected the students together. He led them into the main hall which was a large circular chamber.
“Now you will be tested on five different areas of magic. When you pass, if you pass, then we will start training on higher level spells. If you fail however then it’s back to novice and apprentice training. Does everyone understand?”
“Definitely, I can’t wait” stated the Elf as she stood tall at attention.
“Yes yes. Higher spells”. The Khajjit was looking forwards to the higher level spell crafting and began gleefully rubbing his paw like hands together with eager anticipation.
Sotek just calmly nodded while Aela sat on a bench to the side and watched.
“The first test is ward spells. You must be able to defend your selves. Now cast your wards and keep them up”. Tolfdir stated as he observed the three students.
The Khajjit and Elf spoke the words and two ward shields of a misty blue haze shimmered as they materialized in front of them and quickly solidified into a solid barrier.
Aela looked at Sotek with a puzzled expression as Sotek who in turn was staring straight back at her. He glanced over to Tolfdir who was tapping his finger against his arm while he waited for Sotek to cast his spell.
“Ward sspellss?”
The master Alteration trainer came up to him muttering loudly as he did so.
“Surely you have been practising ward spells?” The other students laughed loudly trying their best to intimidate Sotek.
“Go home. You’re out of your depth, you are”. The Khajjit sneered.
The Elf just shook her head as she tapped her foot impatiently.
Tolfdir sighed as he shook his head sorrowfully.
“You have to have a basic knowledge of spells. fireballs won’t count for much if you can’t defend yourself. I’ve said time and time again to you students. Safety always has to come first”.
TheElf interrupted him before he entered his whole ‘saftey speach’.
“I’ve been training for this for weeks, I’m not being delayed by a lizard. Send him home”.
Aela felt her hand move towards her bow, she was far from feeling happy. Sotek saw her, and slightly shook his head as he watched her hand.
Tolfdir called over the healer, Colette who was sitting at another bench on the far side of the hall.
“Can you train Sotek some basic ward spells. He has an hour to learn them”.
She took him aside and started training him the most basic of the wards. Within half an hour she started raising her voice as her stress levels went into overdrive.
“N0, no, no! You’re not quick enough. You have got to get the ward up faster...”
Sotek tried again but still the spell was slow to respond to him.
Colette tapped her foot impatiently as she watched him screw up the basic spell yet again.
“One more go... Now!!!”
He started to cast the spell but as it partially formed the blue shimmer faded out before it eventually solidified. In all the basic barrier took over ten seconds to form. By now Colette had enough and she lost her temper with him.
“No... You still can’t do it. It’s no good, its taking way too long”. She stormed over to Tolfdir as she shouted across the hall at Sotek. “He’s struggling with it. He needs more time”.
By now Mirabelle had entered the hall after hearing Colette’s overly loud and somewhat unusual ranting.
“What is the problem? It’s a basic ward”.
She looked across to Sotek as she scoured his ability with the spells.
“I think it’s his casting, he’s sluggish”.
Once again the Khajjit commented on him as he laughed.
“He’s a lizard of course he’s sluggish. Why are we bothering with him?”
“Well if he can’t do a basic ward then he has failed the test. It’s a shame I was expecting great things from the report from Whiterun... Oh well”. Tolfdir exclaimed as he sorrowfully shook his head. The two other students laughed again upon hearing his remark.
All Aela could see was Farkas, Vilkas and herself standing there ridiculing Sotek. She hid it well from the lecturers and the students, but Sotek himself knew her too well. He went up to her, and poked her in the ribs.
“What’ss up?”
“What’s up? How can you stand there and shrug it off? How could you take it so easily? That was us when you came to Whiterun. That prick was me”. She whispered as she singled out J’zargo the Khajiit.
Sotek wiped a tear from her eyes, then gave her a discrete hug.
“Ssoon they will make a mistake. Ssoon they will ssee what I can do rather than what I can’t. just like you did... No tearss. Ssoon we will get to laugh. Ssoon enough... No tears”. He then kissed her forehead and rejoined the others.
The illusion trainer Drevis walked past Aela, and pulled a hanky from her ear making her smile then he placed it in her hands.
“Give Sotek to me. I can sort him out, I know what the problem is. I saw it when he last tried the ward spell”. He called out to Mirabelle with as much authority as he could muster.
Without even waiting for an answer he walked across the yard and beckoned Aela to follow him.
“Sotek, you come with me”. Then they entered a much smaller chamber.
“Your problem is... You”. Drevis stated as he pointed straight at Sotek. He threw Aela a long cloth then barked out his orders. “Gag him”.
“Pardon?” Aela paused as confusion filled her face.
Sotek however was even more confused than what Aela was.
“It’s simple, you’re casting a spell with your mind and with your voice”. Drevis explained.
“But that’ss how sspellss work”. Sotek exclaimed with a hiss.
Drevis nodded in agreement but then he waved his finger enforcing his reply.
“Yes but if there is enough thought, or concentration then you don’t need to say it. But you are saying it. You’re effectively casting the same spell on top of itself. You’re basically screwing it up”.
He then turned back to Aela and smiled.
“Now, gag him before I have to listen to that insufferable hissing of hisss any longer”.
She went up to Sotek gave him a kiss then burst out laughing.
“Ssorry I’m under orderss”. Sotek’s eyes then jestingly glared at her while she tied the gag around his head.
“Right, basic fireball into the wall”. The trainer insisted.
Sotek tried to throw one but it failed almost instantly as he still tried to speak the words of the spell.
Drevis rolled his eyes as he shook his head.
“Forget the speech, just throw it”.
He tried again but this time a fireball formed in his hand and slammed into the wall with a loud fiery explosion.
Aela cheered as she felt the heat from the fireball.
“You did it”.
The trainer joined in as he clapped his hands applauding Sotek and his new found skill.
“Now as quick as you can”.
Sotek threw another one and again and again, faster and faster as each fireball slammed into the wall there was another one already flying towards it.
“Now, ward spell”. Within a few seconds a light blue misty ward shield solidified in front of Sotek. Two fireballs slammed into it but thanks to Sotek’s ward spell, he was completely unharmed.
“Way to go. you got it. Not many get that level of control, your spells are silent to others now. Congratulations, I’m impressed”.
Sotek cast him a quick glance of hesitance before casting yet another fireball. This time he held it in his hand and listened for all he was worth. The hall fell silent as neither he, Aela nor the illusion trainer could hear the crackling of the flames from the fireball. Sotek dispelled the ball of flames as a clapping of hands came from the other side of the room.
Phinis the conjuration trainer had entered the hall just a few seconds earlier.
“Well done indeed. that’s certainly impressive, especially for a student. How is your familiar by the way?”
“Oh he’s happy” Sotek replied as he silently summoned the spectral wolf to his side.
Aela smiled at the conjuration trainer as she approached Sotek and the Familiar wolf.
“So it’s you we got to thank for him. He’s our mascot”. She said with a great big beaming smile.
Phinis chuckled slightly as he walked across the hall towards them.
“Oh you like him do you? Well there are better and stronger summons out there”.
“Yess, but we like him. So I’m happy with the one. We get on well” Sotek assured him.
“Well I got something else to show you, so I’m going to borrow Sotek for a bit”. With that he tugged on Soteks arm and whispered in his ear. “Let’s teach you something that will really impress your girl”.
Half hour later Sotek met Aela who was with the other students in the courtyard. He gave her a hug then whispered softly. “Now it’s our turn”.
Comments
Sotek dispelled the ball of flames as a clapping came from the other side of the room.
The new line is far better.
Sotek dispelled the ball of flames as a clapping of hands came from the other side of the room.
I think this reads far better. Thanks for your help.
*Cries
Considering past experiences, that gag might come in handy at night too