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The day following his conversation with Viarim, Gellos found himself reading over the books the altmer had sent to his room. They were all interesting in some form or fashion, but he found himself re-reading one book in particular.

_Tonal Locks and Keys: a Study, _had caught his eye at first, and he found himself almost enthralled with the pages. They talked about the tonal locks, dwemer-made locks that were used as a high-grade form of security within some of the ancient ruins found throughout Skyrim. The book also talked about an item called a tonal key, which was made from a raw substance called 'Aetherium.' Gellos had heard of it before, and also knew that the last known source of Aetherium had disappeared four years ago, shortly after Jarl Vignar Grey-Mane took over as Lord of Whiterun, following Skyrim's Civil War.

Walking down the hall that would led him to Viarim's study, Gellos still found himself preoccupied with the same book. He had memorized a passage about the tonal keys, and remembered they, along with the Aetherium, had mysteriously vanished a few years ago. Down the hall and around the corner, Gellos went down the stairs, and stopped at Viarim's door.

He knocked, and heard Viarim's voice say,

"Enter," and Gellos stepped inside.

The office was cool, like it had been the other day, and Gellos walked into the room. Viarim sat behind his desk, his hand under his chin, and nodded to Gellos. "A pleasure to see you again, young master," he said as the Imperial stepped up to his desk.

"Likewise," Gellos nodded. Viarim waved a hand, and a chair appeared in front of his desk like it had the other day. Gellos sat down, and Viarim laid his hand on his desk. Now Gellos saw, on the desk, was what could have been a tonal key. Noticing what he looked at, Viarim said,

"Your right. This," he held it up now, "is a tonal key." It was a golden disk with blue lines in the middle, and Gellos could feel the slight magical radiance it gave off.

"So these unlock a sort of door, right?" Gellos asked.

"Yes," Viarim nodded.

"If I can ask," Gellos said, "Where did you find that one?"

"I kept it," Viarim replied, "After I hid away Visog's Face. That is what I've been sent here to find again. Visog's Face is a magical artifact, capable of bending the fabric and laws of time. I've used it myself," he paused, "but only when the situation called was dire. A dear friend of mine, a powerful mage named Therrol, was the one who originally found the Face the first time, when the Knights called for its aid," Viarim paused again, "I haven't any desire to see such a powerful artifact again, even after all these years. Therrol gave his life twenty years ago when he found the mask the first time, and learned of it's power."

"You couldn't go back and save him?" asked Gellos. Viarim looked at the young Imperial, then sharply said,

"It was dangerous enough that I used the artifact to travel back in time to hide it away. It would have been even more dangerous still to try and use it to save Therrol," Viarim replied, "besides, I don't think the world was ready to see something as grand as that mask in the hands of one man."

"So you let Therrol die?" Gellos asked.

"I had to," Viarim laid both his hands on his desk, "it was either let him die in vain trying to destroy Visog's face, or step back in time, and let him die of natural causes," Viarim said. "Even with all I know, I can't save someone from death, and the pain of letting him die once was to great to live through again," he paused, then quietly said, "he went peacefully, when he died."

Gellos starred at the altmer, then looked away to the window. Cloudy rays of sun drifted to touch the floor, and the Imperial asked, "So why do the Knights need it now?" and looked back to Viarim. Viarim looked back at the boy, and said,

"They need Visog's Face to travel back in time, and recover a soul urn."

"A what?" Gellos had never heard the term before, a looked at Viarim.

"A soul urn is used to hold souls," Viarim explain, "assuming you have an enchanted weapon or know the spell that can trap and seal souls within an urn or a soul gem, you can take peoples souls. This is why the Knight's need to go back, so they can recover the soul urn that holds Elder Vux's soul. Without the other half, he cannot ever hope to die. He will remained here, within the plane of Mundus, trapped between life and death."

"His soul?" Gellos asked. He looked at Viarim, then asked, "but that will kill him. won't it?"

"It will make the Elder's soul whole again, and allow him to rest," Viarim said, a small frown on his face, "but yes, he will die."

Gellos starred, but then he nodded, understanding. Looking at the tonal key on Viarim's desk, he asked,

"Where is the door that Visog's Face is in?"

Viarim gave Gellos the smallest of smiles before he said,

"A tomb underneath Solitude. I can take you there, but after," Viarim stood up, "you will be on your own."

"Very well," Gellos stood up, then paused as he opened his mouth. He glanced at Viarim, then looked away to ask, "Who took Elder Vux's soul?"

Viarim frowned, but said, "A witch hunter, named Sirino. He's an old man now, but ten years ago when he was in his prime of age, he was credited with killing more then two Clans of witches with the help of only two other men. He also has the title of Lord in Solitude's courts, so he has some small immunities, which is why he's still alive now."

"Then I have to defeat him," Gellos said. Viarim looked at the boy, and Gellos looked back at him. "To save the Elder."

Viarim nodded. "I wish you luck, Gellos," he said. Holding out his hand he said, "It was more than an honor to bring you up here. I hope that when we met again," he paused to give the boy a small smile, "we'll be able to turn the tables in our favor."

Gellos nodded, and Viarim held out the tonal key to the young boy. he took the key, feeling the quiet flicker of energy the object put off, and Viarim said,

"Before you go, there's one more thing I'd like to let you know."

"What is it?" Gellos asked.

"I heard a rumor two years ago, about a certain staff. It was called a Staff of Veluth. Veluth was a mage, equally as powerful as Elder Vux, who carried a staff that was said to increase the powers of any mage beyond the normal limits. When Veluth died, she sealed away her weapon in a crypt underneath our Fortress. it's said she set up a ward around her tomb that would kill anyone with a weak will who got close to the tomb," Viarim paused, looking at Gellos, "but something tells me you could find a way around it, if you like."

"You've got me interested," the young boy said. he glanced at the tonal key, then reached and tucked it into a small bag on his waist. "Let's get to Solitude," said Gellos, looking back to Viarim.

The elf nodded, then said, "before leave, I'd advise you to pack all that you might need. Once we visit Solitude and locate the door, I feel it best that you alone collect the remaining Tonal Keys. When that is done, come to Fort Greywatch, where the Knights of Kell call home. It's a fortress, located in the hills of a mountain that overlooks Dawnstar. To get to the Fortress though, you'll have to walk the Dark Path."

"What will I find on the path?" Gellos asked.

Viarim only shook his head, and stepped to the side of his desk. "That's not for me to so," he replied. "Every mage or spellsword has a different experience on the Path, so I don't know what you may see, or what you may face."

"Then I'll face it to the best of my ability," Gellos said.

Viarim nodded, then walked for his door. Gellos followed the altmer, and Viarim asked,

"I must ask, although I feel I already know. Where has the suddenly-seeming change come from?" he looked at Gellos as they stopped at the door. Gellos looked at the door, and replied with,

"Because, even when I was young, something inside me has hungered, almost starved, for power. For a sense of accomplishment to be found in victory, and to rise far above the average limits of any normal human," he looked at Viarim, and said, "Because I have no desire to lose anyone else. My family was already enough."

Viarim looked at the boy, but nodded. "You have a equal thirst of revenge, and a hunger for power. Be careful that you don't let the two forces intertwine."

Gellos nodded. "I won't," he said.

* * *

Minutes later, Gellos carried a bag over his shoulder, and his staff on his back. In his hand he lead the reins of a horse, who bore two more larger bags, filled with the various scrolls, books, and gold that Gellos had come by and amassed over the last years. He walked the horse to the bridge, then stopped when a voice called out his name. He turned, but had already recognized the voice.

Alaver jogged to a stop by Gellos, and stopped to catch his breath. The other boy stood up, then said with a huff,

"Your leaving."

"Who told you that?" Gellos asked. He narrowed his eyes at Alaver, who replied,

"Nobody did," he touched the side of his head, "I felt it."

"You read my energy resonance," Gellos said, a look of slight shock coming to his face.

"I..." Alaver stopped, "I knew something was wrong with you. I had to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine," Gellos said. He pulled at the reins of his horse and started walking again.

"Your not," Alaver started after his friend. "Something's wrong with you, Gellos."

"I'm fine!" Gellos turned around, his voice sharpening. On his back his staff flared. Alaver stopped, looking at his friend. His expression was soft, and Gellos looked back at him. "Don't worry about me," Gellos said, "I'm fine."

As he turned, Gellos heard Alaver call,

"Something's changed in you, Gellos!" but the Imperial kept walking, starting across the bridge. He didn't turn as he walked on, a slight wind snaking past him. Instead Gellos pulled up the hood on his robes, and walked with his horse over the bridge.

Over the bridge Gellos swung into the saddle of his horse, gave the animal a quick pat, then whipped it. The horse snorted but picked up a fast trot that quickly turned into a steady walk down the windy slope that led away from the Castle. As he moved away, Gellos didn't pause to look back at the Castle. It had taught him much over the past years and let him see much, but as he looked briefly back on the seven years at the Castle, a part of him felt that he had learned enough here. The other part of him thought that Greywatch Fortress would teach him more.

Down the winding path from the Castle, Gellos whipped his horse, who snorted but left her trot to come to a gallop down the main road. He knew that Riften was to the east, over a stretch of woodland. Solitude was, at best, a two days ride. As his horse picked up speed and they began moving down the road, Gellos thought briefly of what Alaver had said. But only briefly.

* * *

By nightfall, Gellos was just outside of Rorikstead. The Castle had been nestled just over the Jerral Mountains, overlooking Falkreath. Gellos opted to ride far away from the Castle though, and put the thoughts of what he would leave behind to rest. His horse was tired by the time he could see the soft lights of the small hamlet, and he swung from the saddle. He stopped the horse and pulled a water flask from her saddle, then let her drink. She did so more than happily, and Gellos ran a hand down her short mane. Taking the water flask back to her her saddle, Gellos took the horses reins and walked along her as he came to the small houses and the sole tavern.

In the town he walked to the tavern, where he could just hear the sounds of music. At the tavern Gellos lopped the reins of his horse around a post, and ran another hand down her mane. He tied his bag to the back of her saddle, and the horse gave a snort as Gellos walked up the short steps and to the tavern. Pushing open the door, he stepped inside.

A long pit of fire dominated the tavern. Human and Mer alike sat around the fire, eating, drinking, talking or simply sitting. In the right corner two bards stood, one singing and the other playing a lute. Gellos walked from the door to the left though, up to a counter. He didn't look at the other patrons, but could feel the eyes on his back. At the counter, he asked the man behind it for a room.

"Sure," he nodded, "Got on here on the left. It'll be ten septims for a night."

"Your not going to let him stay here are you, Mralki?" asked a nord by the fire.

"Quiet, Theli," said the barkeeper. "Sorry about him," he looked back to Gellos, his hand out, "Doesn't like the magic users, sorry to say."

"No trouble," replied Gellos. He dropped ten septims in the bartenders palm. "I'm used to it."

"It's the second one, here on the left," Mralki gestured to the room.

"Thanks," Gellos nodded, turning to the room. Stepping inside he closed the door. The song, music and light chatter died some, and Gellos pulled the bag from his back. Dropping it by his bed he took his staff from his shoulder, and laid it against the wall. Even during night, Gellos could feel the warmer air. It had always been cold in the Castle, because it was situated in the mountains. in the plains though, where Roriskstead was. Gellos found he liked it more than the Castle already, as if some light fog was lifting from his mind. Sitting down on the bed he rolled over, and closed his eyes.

* * *

The next day Gellos ate quietly in the tavern, then paid the bartender for his meal, and stepped outside. The sun was warm on his face, and Gellos ran a hand through his growing hair. It and been getting long over the past few weeks, and he had opted against keeping it short. He walked down the steps of the tavern to his horse, who shook her mane at him. Gellos stroked the animal, his finger-less gloved hands running down her soft muzzle. He had dressed in a sleeveless leather vest, and a hooded dark grey, shorter-sleeved shirt. His loose pants were tucked into his boots, and Gellos swung into the saddle of his mare. He tied his knapsack over the back of her saddle, and tugged her away from the tavern. His staff was secure around his chest and lay on his back, and the pouches on his belt jingled quietly with money. The larger bag held the tonal key, and was secured shut with a small magical seal.

Down the road he kept his horse at a steady gallop. The day overhead was cloudy, but the sun shone down on the roads and the stretches of plain. It would take him the better part of the day to get to Dragon Bridge, the last stop before he reached Solitude. He rode down the roads, moving the solitary trees and the distant, reaching tops of Skyrim's many mountains. A warm wind blew past him, and Gellos slowed down his horse, who snorted happily.

Gellos walked his horse down the road until the sun was touching the tips of the mountains, and kicked her into a gallop. She snorted but picked up her speed, and Gellos pulled up the hood on his thick shirt. He took his hands off the reins briefly to pull at his gloves, then he took them back.

The sun lowered over the mountains, and as nightfall swept over Skyrim, Gellos slowed down his horse to a walk. He swung from the saddle and began to walk beside her, and pulled down his hood. Reaching into a pouch on his belt he took out a leather band, and pulled back his hair from his face. He looped the band twice, then tucked the remaining hair behind his ear. He had a sudden thought of how strange this would look, if someone were to ride down the road. A young boy, just coming to the age of sixteen, walking a horse laden with bags full of books, while the boy carried a magical staff and a knapsack of his own.

"This would look strange indeed," he said aloud to himself. Beside him his horse snorted, and Gellos glanced at her. "Well, you'd know what was going on," he said.

* * *

The same time that night, he rode into Dragon Bridge, a town just down the road from Solitude. The town was quiet as he rode in, but at the tavern, he saw it by it's swinging sign, he saw a cluster of horses. He saw they had a unique tassel that hung from the saddle. A small metal symbol, a sword that crossed a nordic warrior helm. It couldn't have been larger than a septim coin.

"What are all those horses doing here?" he asked a passing guard.

"The ones with the tassels?" asked the guard, he turned, looking to the tavern. he carried a torch that made his shadow stretch in the darkness, and said, "Those belong to Clan Beltroth. Best witch hunters in the world if you ask my opinion."

"Witch hunters," Gellos said. He glanced at the guard, then back to the horses. "Do they take kindly to mages?" he asked.

"Such as yourself?" the guard looked at Gellos, and met the young boys gaze. "To me, you look like a young boy who carries a staff that has magical power. Clan Beltroth hunts mages like they hunt witches, and if I were you, I wouldn't take chances. So no, they don't take kindly to mages."

"Hm," Gellos nodded, and gently kicked his mares sides. She snorted and moved off, heading to the tavern.

Gellos walked his horse up, then, just as the tavern door was flung open, saw a small brown horse outside the tavern, opposite the tassel horses. The small horse had a bag on the back of it's saddle, and as Gellos looked to the tavern door, he met eyes with a man who could have been a barkeep.

"You!" he called out to Gellos. "Your another mage, are ya?"

"Who's asking?" Gellos fixed the man, a nord, with a sudden glare.

"You probably know the elf!" the barkeep barked at Gellos' narrowed eyes, "you best get in here and fix this before someone gets hurt, or my bar gets destroyed!"

"You hold on," Gellos swung from the saddle, pulling his staff from his back. Stepping quickly up to the door he passed the barkeep, and threw open the door.

It took him all of three seconds to see four heavy-set nords, all wearing metal gear, thick clothing and helmets, and Viarim. The elf was against the bar counter, and as a nord took a swing for the elf he ducked, electing an disappointed sounding "oh" from the watching patrons. Viarim saw Gellos from across the nords, and winked at the boy.

"You blasted witch lover!" one nord shouted, and drew a sword from his hip.

"No!" Gellos heard himself shout, and thew out both hands, his staff falling to dig its curved end into the wooden floor. The man with the sword slowed down, and Gellos felt the metal of the weapon. The swing slowed down, then stopped altogether.

"Einfur, what..." one of the other nord started to speak, but as Viarim raised a hand, he stopped. The elf looked at all the nords, one hand raised, then snapped his fingers. A soft white shimmer floated across the space between the warriors and the mage, and the four nords blinked. The one with a raised sword lowered his arm, and Gellos slowly did the same.

"You were on your way, I believe," Viarim addressed the nords. There was a moment of silence that seemed almost tense, but then a nord in a horned helm said,

"Come, let's be on our way," and the four brutes turned from the elf. Viarim lowered his hand, and Gellos stepped away from the door. The nords left the tavern, and just before the door shut the barkeep came back inside, his eyes wide and starring. He looked around, then, saw Viarim. He opened his mouth, paused, then thought better and closed it again.

A steady drift of music came into the tavern now, and the assembled patrons all milled over to either the fire pit in the center, or a table laid with food along the wall. Gellos looked at Viarim, and the elf held up a hand.

* * *

A hour or so later, when many of the taverns patrons had left or gone to pass out from their drink, Gellos and his elf teacher sat near the fire. Gellos watched the flames dance in the stone pit, and Viarim sat beside the young boy, his hand under his chin.

"When did you get here?" Gellos asked after a moment.

"Maybe an hour before you did," said Viarim, "Those witch hunters that showed up came inside only five minutes before you. Lucky you showed up when you did."

"I suppose I was in the right place at the right time," Gellos mused.

"Nothing wrong wit that," Viarim said to the fire, "you could save a lot of people a lot of time of you kept that up."

"Hm," Gellos only nodded, looking at the fire.

* * *

The following morning Viarim left his staff at the tavern, although Gellos took his as a cautionary measure, and took their horses up the road. The day was cloudy like before, but patches of blue dotted the sky as rays of sun shone down. The ride up the road to the city was short, and by early mid day the two mages came to a stable that was just outside the city. They left their horses there, and walked the remaining distance up the hill. As they walked, Gellos asked Viarim,

"Has anyone ever tried to take that staff from underneath the Fortress before?"

"A few mages have tried," he said. Glancing at Gellos he added, "but none of them succeeded."

"You said it was guarded by a ward," Gellos thought aloud, "what kind of ward?"

"A ward that Veluth designed and practiced herself," Viarim said. The walked under a guards archway now, two soldiers on top looking down at the mages, "she didn't ever teach the spell or inscribe it to a scroll or a book. From what I read about the ward though, it used a kind of magic that sapped mages of their energies, and slowly killed them if they couldn't resist."

"What makes you think I can get past the ward to the tomb?" Gellos asked.

Viarim smiled as they came to the doors of the city, which swung open with a groan of metal, in front of the mages. "You have a stronger mind than some mages I've fought with, or against in certain cases."

Through the doors the pair walked into the city, and Gellos looked around. He had visited other cities before, but after staying within the Castle grounds for so long, he felt like the city alone was a completely separate world. He heard the call and talk of the nearby market stall, the music that came from the nearby tavern. he could see the light drifts of smoke that left the stacks on homes and shops, and the smell of rich food and wine caught his nose.

He followed Viarim through the market and the shops though, and down a short slope. There were houses here, and further down the street Gellos could see a large palace with blue roofs. A hawk screech made him look up, and the even the clouds and patches of blue sky looked different here. He looked back to Viarim though, and followed the mage to the left, then down the street. There was a large manor home in front of them, but Viarim moved past the home, and up a short flight of steps.

They came up to a tall stone building with a tower on the left side of the roof, and Viarim put a fist to the door, knocking once, twice, then twice more in quick succession. Viarim stepped back, and he and Gellos waited.

The wait was momentary though, as the doors of the building were pulled open, and a high elf stood facing Gellos and Viarim. The elf was just as tall as Viarim, with short, just greying hair and a well-kept beard around his chin and upper lip. He saw Viarim, then smiled as he said,

"Viarim! It's good to see you little brother."

"Greetings, Viarmo," replied Viarim with a small smile.

"What can I do for you?" asked the other elf.

"We just need to get to the door," Viarim said.

The other elf expression darkened some, and he asked his brother, "Your going to find the mask again, aren't you?"

"The Knights need it again, brother," Viarim replied. He folded his arms over his chest, and said, "It will be different this time, I promise you. Were going to use the mask to move back time, and end Elder Vux's suffering."

"Because you think it will help you, as mages, be more liked by Skyrim," Viarmo.

"And to stop Clan Beltroth, in their fight against the Witches of Red Hallow!" Viarim's voiced picked up slightly. Viarmo looked at his younger brother, and Viarim glanced away. "I don't mean to shout, brother. But the Witches, as well as the Knights, must be protected. You know as well as I do that Clan Belthoth only appeared to aid against the witches, and in result became involved in hunting and killing mages."

"Because the Vigilant of Stendarr has decided they won't stand for mages. Not since Sevori broke away from their ranks, and attacked the Elder. The Vigilant doesn't see mages as good anymore, and still believe that Sevori was corrupted and tempted into studying the Dark Magics, and cursing Elder Vux. The Vigilant don't see mages as needed, aside from the healers that have been loyal to the Lords of Skyrim," Viarmo said.

"The Vigilant and Clan Beltroth are our enemies," said Viarim, "they have been for the past twelve years, and that will not change anytime soon," he stopped, looking at Viarmo, "so let me take recover the mask again. Doing so I can bend time once more, saving the name-sake of all mages in Skyrim, and ensure that both the Vigilant and Clan Beltroth will not cause us any further harm."

Viarmo looked at his brother. Gellos had been quiet, but he could see the brothers were alike in many ways. Their height, eye color and hair. But Gellos felt the rift that was between the brothers, but he heard Viarmo say,

"Very well brother." Gellos looked up now, and Viarmo glanced at him. "Your a brave one, to accompany my brother on such a foolish errand."

"We're doing what we feel is right," Gellos said boldly. Viarim glanced at his old student, and Gellos said, "Whats right for all mages."

Viarmo looked at Gellos, then looked back at his brother to say,

"This way," and stepped away from the doors, his brown robes swishing around him.

Gellos followed Viarim into the building. The walls were lined with books, and a staircase that was just head lead up. Viarmo went to the right through, where two tables and a clutter of chairs were. "Are all the other bards away?" Viarim asked.

"Most of them, yes," said Viarmo. "The College, I sadly feel, is going to see the end of its days soon. The world is always looking for joy and merriment in its darker times, but now that bards are numerous enough to live in most of the major cities, there ins't any need for them to be taught here."

"I'll be sad to see this place go," Viarim said quietly. They moved through a doorway, into a small bedroom.

"As will I," Viarmo replied. They stopped in the bedroom now, and Viarmo walked over to a bookshelf filled with scrolls and books. He ran his finger down the spine of one book, and stepped back.

The bookshelf shuddered, then split down the middle, sliding away to reveal a hidden door that was behind it. Viarmo stepped to the side, and turned to look at his brother and Gellos. "I'll leave you here," said the elf, "you tasked me to guard this artifact and the knowledge of it's location, and I have done so. I feel it only just, as long as you have no qualms, that I step down from my position as Temple Guardian."

"I absolve you from your duties, brother," Viarim nodded. Viarmo stepped away from the hidden door, then paused to rest a hand on Viarim's shoulder. Viarim put his own hand over Viarmo's, and the older brother nodded, turned, and moved away. Viarim glanced behind him to see his brother go, then looked back at the wooden door.

Viarim glanced at Gellos, then stepped forward towards the door. He pushed it open, and Gellos followed the altmer mage. Viarim went down a set of stairs, then paused and held out his hand. He muttered a word that sounded foreign to Gellos, and a small ball of white light appeared above his hand. Lowering his hand the ball stayed where it was, and as Gellos and Viarim started down the steps, the ball of light followed just above the elf's head.

The steps led down, and wound around, and Gellos followed Viarim and his ball of floating light until they came to a door. The steps were cold and the passage was colder, and at the door, Viarim took a small ball from his belt. He held it up, the soft white light throwing shadows over his face and the walls. "This is an attunement sphere," he said "it used to be that they were used to open passages around Skyrim to Blackreach, but they can also be used to open doors like this one," he turned now, and moved the small ball to a hole on the bronze-colored door.

The ball fit perfectly into the door, and as Viarim took it back, the door clicked several times, and a blue series of lines appeared. Gellos saw them a moment before they faded, and the doors split from the middle. Viarim stepped through the newly-made doorway, and he passed the small stone to Gellos. "You'll more than likely need this to get through more doors like that one."

Gellos took the ball quietly as he followed Viarim down a passage. At the end of the passage was a wide door, colored gold. The same lines that had been on the small door were on the door ahead of them, and Gellos asked,

"This is where Visog's Face is?"

"Yes," Viarim nodded. Gellos looked at the altmer, then asked,

"When we were still at the Castle, you said you were searching for ways to find Visog's Face, when you knew where it was the whole time?"

"I know how this may seem, Gellos," Viarim looked at the boy, "I only wanted to make sure I could secure your trust."

"I've trusted you from the day you came and brought me to the Castle," Gellos said. Viarim looked at the boy, and Gellos said, "There hasn't been a minute I didn't trust you."

Viarim looked at the boy, and Gellos saw the hurt that came to his face. "Then I resent ever lying to you," he said. Gellos looked at him, but nodded, and reached to his belt and took out the tonal key.

Looking at the wide door he saw it would open at the middle, and one either side of the door were six circles. On the door was the same series of lines that were on the smaller door. A line down the middle, a symbol that looked like an F on one side, and and an F that was done backwards on the other side. Gellos looked at the lines, then stepped up to the door. He set the symbol in his hand against the door, and the glowing blue lines flashed as the key touched the circle. The tonal key slid back, lining up with the door, and Gellos heard a click. He stepped back, and looked at the door.

Viarim looked at the boy, and Gellos looked back at him. A moment of silence passed, then it was Gellos who asked him, "Your leaving me now, aren't you?"

"I have taken you as far as I can," Viarim replied. He looked at Gellos eyes, then said, "I must return to the Fortress, and report the events of the past days to the Council. They will be displeased that I have not come back with Visog's face, but they will no doubt be just as pleased that it's being found."

Gellos nodded, looking at Viarim.

"You've..." the elf paused, glancing away. He looked back at Gellos though, and said, "You've been almost like a son to me, Gellos. I know I'm not your father, and probably will not ever measure up to the man he was. But just know that whatever happens in the next few weeks, months, or maybe even years, I will view you no differently."

Gellos starred at the elf, and looked back at the door. "I'll find them," he said. He looked back at Viarim, then blinked away one tear that touched his eye. "I'll find them, and I will come back with Visog's Face. Then, the Knights can save Elder Vux."

Viarim nodded, then took a step back from Gellos. "Go to Blackreach," he said to Gellos. "You can find and entry way there from a Dwemer ruin that is just east of here. In Blackreach, you can find a tower, where you can focus a Dwemer-made device that will reveal the location of the rest of the keys...." he stopped though, and he and Gellos both looked up.

The ceiling had shaken gently, and a shift of dust fell down. Viarim and Gellos looked back at each other, and the elf said, "I have to go. Find the oculory, and find the keys, Gellos," he paused, "you may be our last hope to save the Elder," then with the snap of his finger, Viarim vanished in a flash of grey smoke.

Gellos watched him go, the ball of light vanishing with him. Gellos starred at the spot, but his trance was momentary as he heard a banging, and looked back at the smaller door. He saw it shake, then give in, the metal doors falling inward to land on the stone floor. Gellos held up his hand and muttered and thought of light, and same the same hovering light appeared above his head. It floated up, and Gellos heard, then saw, a torch flare to life down the passage.

Four figures came down the passage, all carrying swords, and Gellos saw with a slight sense of dismay that it was the same group of witch hunters. Members of Clan Beltroth, and enemies, now, of Gellos. The young boy watched them walk up, the nord with the horns on his helm carrying the torch. Before the torch carrying witch hunter opened his mouth, Gellos thought to himself, this coincidence doesn't look good.

"You, mage," said one of the armored nords.

"What are you doing down here?" Gellos asked, taking his staff from his back.

"We could to ask you the same question," asked another brute.

"None of your business," as Gellos replied, his staff flared.

The nord with the torch sneered now, and dropped the torch. He pulled out his sword, a thin but sharply-made blade, and the other three did the same. The torch flickered and vanished, and Gellos watched the four nords all step closer.

The witch hunter with the torch swung first, and Gellos stepped away from his swing, and swiped his staff along the ground. A bolt of lightning came from the ground and hit the nord on his arm, and he stumbled back with a snarl. Gellos ducked a swing from another witch hunter, and swung his staff against the mans helmeted head. A flash of lightning ran down his body, and Gellos turned into another swing, then struck the man in his chest. He was lifted from the ground briefly, then fell back to the ground in a heap. The other two hunters stopped, looking at their now dead comrade with slightly fearful looks on their faces.

"Don't mind this trash!" the nord with the thin sword barked. "Kill him!"

The shout seemed to reinforce the two, and they turned to Gellos and lunged, one after the other. Gellos ducked one swing and jumped away from another, then turned and ran his staff along the ground. Both hunters stepped forward, where Gellos and run his staff, then the mage clenched his fist. The nords froze, and as one shot a fearful look down, shocks and rushes of lighting run up their armored bodies. Their cries echoed off the stone walls, and as the lightning faded they both fell back.

"You bastard!" the last hunter snarled at Gellos now, swinging his sword around in a circle. "Animals like you don't deserve to live!"

"People like you shouldn't abuse such great amounts of power," Gellos said with a glare at the hunter.

The nord snarled, then jumped forward, swinging his blade. Gellos pulled his staff up and blocked the swing. The sword dug against his staff, and Gellos dropped to a knee. The nord grinned at him, pressing his literal advantage, his blue eyes piercing into Gellos own light yellow. Gellos felt his arms move back, and with a howl of,

"No!" the orb on his staff flashed from blue to green. The witch hunter snapped a look to the orb, then as he looked back to Gellos, saw the boys own eyes had gone from yellow to a dark gold.

Gellos gripped his staff, and came up from his knee, and the nord snarled at him. Gellos stood up, forcing the hunter to his own knee. He flexed his fingers on his staff, the orb a shinning green now, and the streaks of lighting ran from his fingers to strike the hunter. He howled, the arcs running down his metal-covered body, and Gellos yanked back his staff. The hunter stayed on his knee for a moment, his blade falling to touch the ground, and Gellos swung his staff. The wooden curve dug into the mans chest, and Gellos pulled him upwards. He came to his toes, and Gellos let another blast of lightning run down the hunters body.

He turned now, and flicked his staff forward. The hunter came forward with the momentum, and the body hit the far wall with a crutch, and fell to the ground. Gellos let his staff rest against the ground, the green orb now shinning enough to illuminate the space around him. He looked at the body, then realized his staff was green. He closed his eyes, taking a breath of cold air, and opened them again. His staff slowly faded from green back to blue, and his eyes retook their light yellow color. He took another breath, then straightened up and put his staff to his back.

The leather strap came to buckle around his chest, and Gellos tuned back to look at the other dead bodies. He walked over to one, then crouched down and pulled off one of his gloves. He pulled off the hunters helmet, and put his bare hand to the mans bare face. Closing his eyes Gellos imagined the mans face in his mind, and quietly said,

"Show me how you knew."

In his mind now he saw a flash, then a series of quickly moving images. He saw the hunters, all four of them in front of an office desk. A bag of coins made it into one hand, then he saw a grinning face. Next he saw another face, one with long scars on the left side and a man with a missing eye. Gellos stopped, looking up with a small gasp. He paused, memorizing the mans face, then closed his eyes again. He saw the hunters in the bar, and Viarim coming in. The hunters challenged the elf, then the images got foggy. Gellos took his hand from the dead hunters face, opening his eyes. The memory reading spell that Gellos had taught himself two years ago never stopped to impress him, and as he stood up, he closed his eyes again.

He imagined the tavern that was back in Dragon Bridge, and his horse tethered outside the place. He put his hands together, and felt his magical resonance stretch out. He saw the tavern again, then felt the ground under his feet. Opening his eyes Gellos quickly clapped his hands together, and the scene before him vanished. For a second all he saw was darkness, then a new scene jumped to meet his eyes.

He saw the tavern, and his horse still tethered to the post outside. A few citizens and two guards gave him strange looks, but Gellos ignored the looks as he stepped over to his horse, and ran a hand down her muzzle. She snorted and stamped her foot at his touch, and Gellos let out a sigh.

* * *

Later, when night had come back to Skyrim, Gellos came back outside from the tavern, and stepped up to his horse. He pulled the reins from the post and pulled her away from the tavern, then swung into the saddle again. He left his knapsack on his back as he pulled up the hood of the combat coat he wore. A pair of thick gloves were on his hands, and he wore a thicker set of pants and boots than the earlier day. He swung into his horses saddle and, as he remembered he was looking for Dwemer ruins to the east, he whipped his horse and quickly left Dragon Bridge.