Chapter 72 - Nefertiti

I found six cats in a cage.

Two were hurt and the rest were fine. But they were mostly afraid except for a little black kitten.

They were even planning to experiment on such a little thing!

This is... unforgivable!

These fucktards are actually this bold to use the College's Sentry Cats as experimental material?

These assholes.

I am infuriated from how brutal this experiment was.

They wanted to train on Illusion and healing on cats?

Some evidence even pointed to a Necromancy research but it is a widely known fact that Necromancy doesn't work on cats.

Aren't there skeevers and rats all over the place?

More than that, isn't it against the rules to even adopt the Sentry Cats let alone harm then? They are part of the security in the College as I heard.

I once requested to adopt one but I was told that only a 'Scholar' and above in rank can adopt them privately.

Yet those criminals wanted to use them in experiments.

Fine!

No good deeds go unrewarded, no bad deeds go unpunished.

My undead have secured all the criminals. They are mostly 'Apprentices' like me. Four of them in addition to the Evoker Guard which I punched before I enter the Midden.

"Now! What should I do with you?"

"Bastard! I dare you show your fac... UAAAAAGH!"

Bugs should not speak. They can only be stepped on.

Their thighs had arrows but they didn't bleed that much. A kick was perfect to caused more pain.

"Which team you shitheads are from?"

They remained silent.

Fine!

I evoked a spell and they got alert, when I cast it, void distorted and a figure emerged.

"Mortal, be done with it!"

Sigh! A cocky one, I don't know why Dremora Churls like him make a such a fuss even though they are nothing but weaklings.

I even had to 'Banish' four of the eight Bonemen to bound him better.

"Gods! Is that..."

"Conjurer can summon a Dremora? Is he a Scholar?"

"Dremora! You mean those daedra?"

They got terrified from a mere Churl.

Churls doesn't dress themselves in the usual game's Daedric armor, they are just the rabble of the Dremora clans so they just wear a plain black armor that is less sinster.

"Sheath your blade, and use your fists! Beat them up until they start singing!"

"What! No killing?"

"Let's see about it when they tell me what I want!"

I left the Churl with these five and walked back to the place I left the cats.

I started putting some effort into healing them.

<Hostile Detected!>

"What is going on here?"

I heard a voice, it was a girl's voice.

What now! Even a girl was involved in hurting cats.

Sigh! Such a cruel world.

I was already done with the cats so I left them in the cage and went to see who came.

"Senior save us!"

"He will kill us!"

These wimps started crying to a girl! Hopeless!

When I looked at her I saw two other boys with her and I started to recognize her.

"Nirenil you shithead! These were your club members after all!"

Should have known!

"Who are you?"

She didn't recognize me, of course I was wearing a hood.

Nirenil was the Breton girl who tried to invite me to her team back in the Rank Up exam, she started to say some bullshit about 'Elitism' and whatnot. I had to kick Orthorn's balls to make a statement around the College to avoid that kond of headache.

This was the first and the last time she involved herself with me.

I knew that she has a very troublesome personality and she likes to disregard the rules more than anything.

"Are you aware that your club members were experimenting on the Sentry Cats?"

She looked at me carefully and looked at the Dremora I conjured. She was trying to come up with the best plan for battle.

"And what's it to you?" She replied with a stare.

"Nothing, I just like cats!"

"Look, you seem like a good guy but don't overestimate yourself! Jst because you can conjure a Dremora Churl and found few skeletons around doesn't mean you can do anything. You are alone and there is little you can do against the three of us. Why don't you just leave and we will pretend this never happened!"

Seriously now?

Acting like this with me?

Fine! I'll play along.

"Okay! I'll take the cats and leave!" I said that then turned around exposing my back to her.

And just like the idiot she is, she tried to take the chance and attack me.

Just when she cast 'Ice Spikes' at me, I was already covering my back with a 'Reflect Ward'. When the spell landed, it got reflected back at her but she avoided it nimbly.

"Cute! Is that what a so called elitist student can do?"

"Together!" Nirenil and the two goons accompanying her started casting all sorts of spells at me!

It may overwhelm me if I faced them without using a trump card, but if I used one, my identity may get exposed. I don't want to cause a mess anyway.

I only put the Ward ahead of me and retreated behind a corner then ordered the undead to stall for time, I also had to 'Banish' the Dremora hastily as I can barely command him anyway.

"We will teach him a lesson, don't let him run and be careful, he is powerful." Nirenil started making her plan.

"Oh! I am being put in high regards. I don't think I can just play around anymore, can I?"

Of course going all out here will result a disaster. If I used my new spell 'Thunder Cookie'. I will cause a big destruction. It's an 'Expert' level spell and my strongest spell after all.

Even though I was behind a corner, they can't just go after me blindly, so I didn't feel any pressure against them.

I'll just cast 'Aura of Madness' again.

Upon doing that, they felt it was an Illusion attack and retreated hastily. I followed them with 'Frenzy' spell that blasted on the five boys I fought before.

Just as it landed, their eyes turned insane and started using their arms to beat each other forgetting about the healing process the were in.

"No! Quickly dispel it!" Nirenil saw that and commanded one of her goons to help their fallen comrades. This was the opening I needed.

I changed to 'Chain Lightning' and cast it on the other goon beside her as he was clearly distracted. The 'Chain Lightning' landed on him and bounced on Nirenil then the other goon.

That was boringly easy.

I quickly conjured the Bonemen and comnanded them to surround the fallen newcomers.

"Was that all the elitism you have? I was prepared for more you know?"

They were looking at me with fear but Nirenil was looking with hate, this girl is full of darkness.

"Who answers the questions politely will take less beating." I said as I started cracking my fingers.

It didn't take long! The already said everything.

Nirenil, however, didn't utter a single word and kept looking at me as if I am the murderer of her kin or something. Her darkness is something to behold.

After finishing up with them I went back to the cats and carried the cage, leaving those lowly faults of creation behind.

A few minutes later I arrived above ground. It felt as if I was coming from a grave.

"Okay ladies and gents, it the end of our ride. Here you go!"

I opened the cage for the cats and got them out. Ah! I was getting healed.

The last cat was a super cute black kitten. I know right, black cats are hardly seen cute by most cultures and beliefs but this one has big blue eyes on a big head and a small body. She was just so flipping cute.

She, however, had no number collar like the other College cats. She probably is still young so they left her without one. But she was undoubtedly a Sentry Cat.

Strange thing is, the Mage Sentry Cats are not this black, I can tell she is one because of her big ears. The Sentry Cats are very similar to the Egyptian Mau breed in the terms of color and personality, the only difference is their large ears that are similar to the Devon Rex breed.

Before I even do anything, this kitten just ran from the cage and clung on me.

"Yes, heal me more! Such a good girl. I would give you some milk and dried fish if I have any."

"Meow!"

"I hope I can little one! It's just that the College will bust my ass if I openly broke the rules."

"Meow?"

"Your hooman? Hmmm! If it is like that then we will fight them together. Don't worry, your hooman won't let them harm you ever again!"

"meow."

"You are welcome, hehe!"

This cat said some nice words of encouragement to me, even if it is 'Alduin World-Eater', I'll kick his spiky ass no problem right now.

Anyway, I am still not done, I have to go and file a request for adopting to this kitten and report what happened in the Midden.

It will be a bit of a mess but I will solve it no matter what, me and the kitten agreed on this.

Now that I think about it. Did this cat just talk to me?

She said I am her hooman after all. I guess it makes sense.

Still, I feel that I missed something somewhere or somehow. Something just felt like it was strange.

I'll just go report the incident of today.

I went to the place where they house the cats and take care of them, it is a small office near the 'Hall of Countenance'. It was already late at night but they were still open.

I excused myself and talked with the staff. They complained about me going out at the curfew time and carrying the kitten.

I don't know what is wrong with these people! This kitten said I am her hooman, isn't this enough for them?

The argument continue for at least an hour. They finally said that they will take the request but will have to get permission for it from the higher ups.

Like I care!

Apparently she is two months old, had no mother, didn't get a collar or a number, and a very playful one, that's why she got caught when she strayed around the College.

Anyway, after I reported the incident down in the Midden, the atmosphere turned serious and they made me sign on the report too.

I reported the numbers of the cats I found. Their numbers were written on their collars so it was easy to remember them.

It seemed there have been some similar incidents.

Well, I'll just take the kitten and go now. I want to clean this little one and feed her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jull's reaction was priceless. She kept looking at the kitten as if she found her archenemy.

When I went into my room, I kept looking for some stuff for the kitten. I found some dried fish and water, a pot to wash her and all.

She was just adorable. I know how moody cats can be but this little one is just too good. I started thinking about a good name for her.

"So, what do you think, 'Cleopatra' is it good?"

"Meow."

"No? Okay, hmmm! 'Isis', 'Nebit'?"

"Meow?"

"Pretty one? You're so picky."

"'Hebony'? 'Amnti'?"

Still no.

She doesn't like Pharaonic names.

"Fine, how about 'Nefertiti'? And will call you Titi for short?"

"Meow!"

"Well, that's it then!"

She agreed to it.

Couldn't help but pat her few times.

Titi is so easy to converse with, unlike some humans and most elves.

"Were you talking with it just now?" Jullanar asked.

"Titi is a she, and yes, it is easy, try it."

"I don't think I can!"

"Why? This is really easy!"

"But she was just meowing!"

"No, she was talking!"

"How can a cat talk?"

"Meow!"

"See, like that."

"That was meowing!"

"No, she just said 'get away from my hooman!'"

"What is hooman?"

"Me!"

"Meow?"

"Don't worry Titi, Jull is not bad people!"

"Meow."

"Fine, just keep eating!"

"....."

"Julls, you okay?"

"Hmm! I am not sure, my head can't just go around that. Let's sleep anyway."

"Give me a second!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next morning I took Titi to Nurina.

Apparently, it seemed that Titi ignores the rest of the people and talks only to me.

I don't know why Nurina was giving me that look.

Anyway, I assured her about my meeting with the Augur and told her the parts she can believe anyway.

Getting the help of the Augur is already unbelievable enough, let alone his full cooperation.

Laaneth joined us later and told us about the incident with the cats, as well as the eight injured students that were dragged by the College guards this morning.

Nirenil's team was disbanded and she was given a final warning. It seemed that she has quite a long history of ignoring the rules.

I would have just expelled her if I was them.

"So brat, what are you going to do about the matter of your Vitality?"

Nurina was in her boss lady mood while going around some papers.

"I'll wait until next month for the Rank Up exam of Sun's Height (July). Until then I'll just research new spells and put effort into training myself and Jull. No Magicka training anytime soon. After the exam, I'll take Jull and Titi south. I'll visit some places around Skyrim and hunt some trolls to train on them. I'll come back for the Rank Up exam of Morning Star (January)."

"You will wander for half a year?" Laaneth was taken aback.

"Shouldn't Evokers go around the land and take inspiration for their research from the outside world?"

It was a common practice for Evokers, that's why it is also called 'Journeyman' rank.

"Yes, but the outside world is dangerous and you don't really need inspiration! Your ideas are already good enough for you to rank up as a 'Scholar'." Laaneth was still arguing.

"It's okay, he can go." Nurina said, "But whatever it is, you should come back before Morning Star (January), your coming of age ceremony will be held then."

Hmmm! Hilda will be coming.

"I understand!"

"More importantly, do you have a plan in mind or you are just going to wander aimlessly!" Laaneth asked.

"My focus will be on my and Jull's training. I will take some time off-road to avoid any unwanted disturbance. And of course I am teaching Jull how to conjure a Fire Mare, we will travel at full spead between the touring points!"

"Which places are you visiting?" Nurina asked lazily.

"Hehe! First, the Shrine of Azura."

She looked at me with a lazy but sharp gaze then sighed.

"Just whatever it is, don't do anything stupid! Then?"

"Mount Anthor, I heard there is a Dragon wall there, I am definitely going to study it for some time."

"Just be careful there! I heard that some Dragon walls are considered sacred grounds for the Hidden Clans." Laaneth said.

"Those idiots! Four years from now these places will be the most dangerous places in the world!"

"Wha! Why is that?"

"Dragons!"

"Again with Dragons?"

"Wanna bet?"

"No, I am fine!"

Laaneth never believed in my Dragon prophecy anyway.

"Next, I want to go to the Nightgate village, there is some Nordic ruins that I really want to visit over there."

"Nordic ruin? Just train on Sun magic properly from now then!"

"Got it! My next destination will be Windhelm, I'll check the city out then hit the road to Whiterun!"

"Why not just go to Whiterun from the Nightgate village. It's just directly to the south. If you go to Windhelm then you will head east, south, then west."

"I am only doing some tourism and adventuring! I will also meet with Ongeim there and for some business in Windhelm."

"What business?"

"Secret."

"And what will you do into Whiterun?"

"I'll visit Akara and Ysolda, look for a place to hunt trolls, if I didn't find any, I'll go south to Helgen and Falkreath. By that time at least four months should be passed, I'll come back then."