Connections

With that, Michael and Megumin were expelled from the College, forced to stand on a boulder of stone so the Arch-Mage could levitate across the abyss which the bridge had once been. Megumin was still too out of it to understand the severity of this, but in all honesty, Michael knew it was only a matter of time before something like this occurred.

Tiffania, Saya, and Maria were still members of the College, so Michael intended to use them to access the facilities through them if needed. In the meanwhile, he'd take Megumin and stay at the inn until his property is built.

As he was carrying the drunken girl to the inn, however, he's greeted by the small crowd of people that composed the entire town of Winterhold, all of them circling the scorched entrance of the College with looks of fear and surprise.

"Michael! What happened here?! Has the Arch-Mage finally decided to pull down the College!?" Korir, the Jarl of Winterhold asks, his eyes scanning the unreachable College entrance with a large amount of glee.

Michael hefts Megumin on his shoulders, "Er, we kinda blew up the bridge so, we got kicked out. We'll be staying in the inn for the meantime..."

...

"Hehahahahahahahahahaha! Hehahahahahahahaha!... Wait, you're serious?... Hehahahahahahaha!"(Imagine the J. Jonah Jameson laugh... Or search it?)

Michael shakes his head, deciding to take advantage of the Jarl's good mood to ingratiate himself more with the man. "Yeah, bridge couldn't handle it when we launched a spell at the Thalmor as he was running away."

...

"Y-you killed that Thalmor? And he was running away?" the Jarl presses, looking as if he'd faint from happiness.

Michael nods, deciding not to place the target on Megumin, "Yeah, beat him up, cut his arm off, was about to finish him off but he got away... He went with the bridge."

Korir gives a toothy grin, stepping forward and clapping him on his shoulder, "Then you've done Winterhold-no, Skyrim a service. " the man pauses before nodding to himself, "You know, I need more men like you, how would you like to be my Thane? I know you've already begun to build your residence." he points his thumb over his shoulder towards the mountain that already had stone steps built into it. "But I think being a Thane would suit you... You brought me the Helm of Winterhold already, that would've been enough... But killing a Thalmor?" he spits on the floor, "You've truly earned it."

...

A few of the townsfolk murmur to one another at this, excited to have Michael involved in the running of the town. As small as the place is, they hoped that he could bring the place back to it's old glory days.

Michael lets out a sigh, "I... I can't accept it..." he says, causing Korir to frown.

"Why? You'd receive an annual stipend, the honour to serve the people, the right to have a say in how Winterhold and Skyrim is run..."

"I just. Don't want the responsibility. If I want to help, I'll help, I don't want someone telling me I need to, or obligated to..." Michael trails off, finding it difficult to articulate his feelings. "Plus, making me Thane would put Winterhold first on the Thalmor's shit-list."

Korir scoffs, "You think any of us give a fuck what those scum think?"

Michael nods, "Not right now, but when they send bandits, the empire, even their own troops to raze this place? You will. Just leave things as is, Korir. I'll reconsider once the Thalmor is a none-threat. Deal?"

Korir huffs, "Fine. Deal. But we'll get back to this, eventually."

Michael smiles, "Right, I'll be taking this one to the inn, she fell headfirst into a barrel of ale if you know what I mean." he says, walking past the group and to the inn.

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"Sooo... What are we going to do now?" Saya asks as she and everyone else sit around a table in the Frozen Hearth inn in Winterhold.

Michael shrugs, taking a moment to snigger at Megumin silently sipping a flask of water while massaging her head, first time hangovers do that to you... "Nothing'll change for you guys, me and Megumin'll just have to find something to do until the tower is done. You guys can continue your studies as far as I'm concerned... Plus, you can borrow books from the Arcaenum for us if we need something."

"I'm not going to be your gofer..." Saya deadpans, "Just getting in and out of the College now is difficult enough..." she states, referring to the slippery frozen, ever swaying rope bridge that'd replaced the previous stone one...

Tiffania shakes her head and smiles at Michael and her familiar, "Don't worry, I'll help you with anything you need. I'm sure Urag wouldn't notice me slipping some book out through a Teleportation Gate... Just make sure to return them, otherwise I might get kicked out too."

"Thanks, love." Michael smiles.

"What's this mean for the two of you though...? You aren't going to teleport away every day for a 'quickie', are you?" Saya asks, causing Tiffania and Megumin to blush.

"Ain't nothing quick about it." Michael retorts while folding his arms, only making it worse. "Anyway, you guys should be wary, we're pretty well known in Skyrim so the Thalmor'll probably come knocking for you once they get word of Ancano's death. Be wary of any elf that approaches you, or is new to the College..."

"Are you going to..." Tiffania trails off, but everything gets her meaning regardless.

"Eventually, we'll see what happens, or if the Thalmor makes me move up my plans to remove them from Skyrim. By the way everything's going though, I might end up having to ally with the Stormcloaks..."

"Will the loyalists not help if you asked? We've helped most of the Jarls..." Tiff says.

"Most Holds wouldn't risk helping us. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens."