#avery loratheus

"It's miserable out here. Not a single hour of sun in the past week." Sulara complained, draping her arms over the balcony's railing. The balcony overlooked the tall, stone city of Markarth that bustled with the afternoon rush of people going about their day. Hanging cloth flags weave between the rails and apartments like colorful ribbons wrapping a painfully dull gift. The sky was grey, the ground was grey, and everything in between was simply grey. Though, Sulara hadn't really noticed something so glaringly obvious until just now at her birds eye view in this cramped apartment in Markarth.

The apprentice mage exhaled a cloud of smoke against the cold air and looked up at the high elf next to her, frowning. "I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised. Shite whether seems to be customary here in this city. But you'd appreciate weather like this, wouldn't you?" When she was met with yet another bout of silence, she stood up right and tilted her head forward to get a better look at the elven mans face, "Professor Loratheus?"

The elven man blinked out of his daze, the purple hue to his eyes fading to his typical emerald. He frowned stiffly and narrowed his gaze at her, flaring his nostrils in the usual irritated manner he did.

"Are you still finding things to complain about?"

"Tsk, I can't help it when I've spent the past couple of days cooped up in the apartment with nothing to do. You said we'd progress onto the next chapter in cryomancy but you've been elsewhere doing who knows what. Can you blame me?" Sulara folded her arms across her chest, using one hand to push up the fox fur collar against her chin.

"What's going on? You haven't really be communicative in the slightest the past couple of days."

Professor Loratheus shook his had, running his hand over his face and stepped back into the apartment through the narrow stone door. "It's really none of your concern, Sulara. But, I've come to a decision and will need you to be flexible. I am being called away for Thalmor business. They require a well studied arch-mage for a conference in Haafinger so you will need to continue your studies on your own for some time."

Sulara followed him in, shutting the door behind her, "Well, why can't I just come with you? I could spend some time in Solitude and visit the Bards college there. There are plenty of talented mages from across Skyrim I could meet and learn from. And I've heard there's an exceptional training field there too."

He shook his head and peered over his shoulder, albeit briefly before he started packing thinks into a travelling pack. "No, I don't recommend being in Solitude while I'm over there. Besides, I won't be in contact and I won't be sure for how long that will be."

Sulara stood in silence as she watched the man pack a bag, a pit suddenly growing in her stomach. "I don't understand. What am I supposed to do here...? The only reason I have this apartment is because you're here. They'll have me out as soon as they realize you're gone!" She balled up her fists and furrowed her brow, resisting the urge to stop her mentor from packing. Gods know that would be a poor decision to get in an Arch-mages way.

"Hence why I mentioned being flexible, Sulara. Markarth isn't the only place a mage can learn magic. Nor is Solitude. You have all of Skyrim and the raw potential that lays out there in the wilds. Experience it. Learn." He looked to Sulara, stressing each point with a gesture of a gloved hand. "You need to pack too. Travel east. Visit guilds. I will write to you when I can, but it will not be safe where I'm going. Do not ask me to elaborate." He spoke sternly, giving Sulara an expression that caused the young mage to hesitate in her continued protest.