Lucked out
"I don't care if you're responsible or not! You want to show your worth? That you aren't out to hurt and corrupt us good folk!? FIND THE MISSING DEAD AND BRING WHOEVER RAISED THEM TO JUSTICE! DO IT OR ELSE I'LL MAKE MY CASE IN SOLITUDE TO THE HIGH KING!" he shouts and leaves without waiting for a response.
The Arch-Mage just watches the man leave and lets out a sigh. Afterwards, he turns towards the notice board and summons some parchment from somewhere, writing something onto it and stamping it onto the board before leaving to do his own thing.
Michael, the girls, and many other Apprentices arrive in his wake to see what he'd printed ;
HELP WANTED
TRACK THE RAISED DEAD OF WINTERHOLD AND CAPTURE THE MAGE RESPONSIBLE
REWARD : THREE HUNDRED GOLD AND A YEAR OF TUITION. FURTHER REWARDS WILL BE BASED ON CONTRIBUTION.
IF WILLING, MEET THE ARCH-MAGE AT DAWN OUTSIDE OF THE COLLEGE OF THE WINTERHOLD IN TWO DAYS. APPRENTICES ARE RECOMMENDED TO MAKE ADEQUATE PREPARATIONS FOR COMBAT.
"Heh, gold AND tuition!? I'm all in!" Borvir laughs but gets smacked in the back of his head by his brother.
"We'll be fighting a Necromancer powerful enough to summon the entire graveyard without anyone noticing them. Think about it more before you accept, fool." Rundi grouses.
Yisra who'd been listening to them looks over to Michael and the girls, "Are you guys going to participate? I'm personally not too sure yet..."
"If it's about our deal, do what you want, keep the gold and work for me or don't. It's not like Malyn is gonna bother you anymore." Michael shrugs.
She nods, "T-thanks. You're right." she looks at the board and nods to herself, "I guess I'll be there then..?"
"How about you two? I know we don't really need gold but we haven't really left the College in a while..."
"I'll go if you do..." Tiffania replies.
"You don't need to if you don't want to. I doubt this'll be that dangerous in any case."
"I'll go." Charlotte determines while Tiffania was lost in thought.
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In the end, the group decided that Tiffania would stay back with Maria so Illococoo could accompany them. The dragon girl had been eager to test out her Thu'um on live targets, and since Tiffania didn't really have a purpose for going, she'd stay behind and relax.
The days passed quickly, and soon enough Michael, Charlotte, and Illococoo, along with the other Apprentices were gathered outside the College of Winterhold.
Michael was wearing his Apprentice robes over his ebony scale-mail armour and had Derflinger attached to his waist. The sword had been kind of grumpy to be stuffed into his inventory for so long, but got over it fairly quickly... His inventory stopped or slowed the time for objects inside, so the sword was only upset that he'd missed out on some things.
Charlotte was dressed in her old blue Halkeginia robes and her staff. She was also wearing the magic resistance cloak he'd won from the Dota 2 roulette wheel, the purple fabric resting over her shoulders comfortably.
Illococoo was dressed in her Apprentice robes but wore furs over them to protect her from the weather. The other Apprentices were dressed similarly, Yisra, Borvir, Rundi, and a couple more that Michael didn't know the names of.
The Arch-Mage was already present, standing before everyone with folded arms, after Michael and the girls arrive he glances around for a moment before nodding. "Is this everyone...? Good. Well, you all know your task, get to it and don't disappoint the College." he casually says and gives a short wave before heading back into the College, confusing a few people.
"Ah-, sir!? Aren't you going to help us with this?!" one Apprentice asks causing the Arch-Mage to turn and face them.
"I am afraid not. Scraping my knees at the Jarl's command would set a poor precedent, not one I am keen on reinforcing in his mind. Besides, I wouldn't have you all out here if I was going to take care of it... Hmm, I suppose you do need a leader..." he trails off, standing on his tiptoes to get a good look at everyone, "Ah, Michael, yes you would be a fine pick. Everyone, Apprentice Michael will lead you on this task, listen to what he says and you'll probably come out alive." he states and walks away, leaving Michael to pick up the shit he'd just dropped in his lap.
"Why is that guy the Arch-Mage again?" Michael palms his face, already feeling a migraine from the irritated groans from the more Senior Apprentices.
"No, the question is, why did the Arch-Mage pick you?" a young-looking Breton woman asks in an accusatory tone. "I know you already, besting both Sorkas and Jernil in a duel, but that doesn't make up for your lack of experience. You've been here barely a month and you expect us to listen to you?"
"Are you stupid? I don't want to lead you bunch of retards either you know, but since the Arch-Mage put me in charge, you can either listen and obey or fuck off back to the College." Michael retorts while gesturing at the entrance of said College.
There are a few grumbles in response to him, but all in all, anyone who had a problem decides to stay quiet for now. Which suits Michael just perfect.
Not long after the group stand no far from the cemetery where many graves had been uplifted where the corpses had literally climbed out as if it were a shitty zombie flick.
"But where could they have gone?" one Apprentice asks, causing Michael to send a funny look at him.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe that way where all the tracks and footprints are... No, that's probably just a trick! Those dastardly undead!" he sarcastically says as he walks towards where the tracks were heading.
"You don't have to be a dick about it." the Apprentice mutters in a quiet voice which has a couple of his friends chuckling.