The boy ran into the library and found several dictionaries.
"Comprehensive Dwemer Language", "Quick Reference Notes for Beginner Old Nordic, "Learn High Elven with the Arch-Mage"…
The elemental power he obtained from Faralda looked very thick, but upon opening it, he found it contained only one page of content, just nine short lines, each in a different language, which was clearly designed to be difficult.
As Jonas was searching for a copy of "The Wonderful Languages of the Khajiit, he suddenly found a note on page 230. It had a passage written in Khajiit. Out of curiosity, the boy translated it using a dictionary.
"To the junior (or junioress?) who finds this, I presume you are also here to pursue the so-called 'ultimate mystery' of Destruction magic, ah ha, how delightful! Alright, alright, to be honest, this is just a prank by those unscrupulous instructors. I'll give you the content for the first page (attached on the back). After this, you'll definitely have to run all over the place, and each time you unlock a page, you'll have to return to this cursed library. Oh, I'm so fed up with that Orc elder's unfriendly gaze, hehe, but when I think of you all suffering through this hardship, a genuine sense of pleasure rises in my heart…"
The last few sentences of the note were blacked out, and then there was another handwriting in Redguard language. Jonas frowned and went to find a Redguard dictionary to continue translating.
"This senior is a scoundrel. Never go to the instructors to argue; they will never admit it and will only tease you. By Magnus, I swear if I find this senior, I will definitely warm him up with a Fireball spell!"
On the back was a passage in imperial language, a translation of the first page of elemental power.
"Northern ghosts drift,
Wandering along the sea,
Southern Dwemer,
Life is hard and toilsome,
A place of utmost simplicity,
To craft a shield with a map.
In this place,
Practice the mage's art,
Its fervor can command the ocean to burn."
Jonas held his head, feeling only the world's immense malice.
…
Two days later, Jonas still couldn't solve the mystery. Staying at the College was stifling, so he went to Winterhold to play with Dilo.
The Nord lad was now single-mindedly honing his forging skills. He had opened a blacksmith shop in Winterhold. As long as customers brought raw materials, he could make weapons for free. Of course, as a beginner, the quality of his work was only passable; as long as it was usable, it was fine.
"Hey! Jona! Come in, have a drink. I'll finish this shield first." Dilo stood by the iron stand, hammering away.
"A shield, oh, how annoying… Didi, are you still struggling with these iron lumps? If you ask me, come with me and learn some magic; it's much less trouble than your brute force."
"Hmph, I'm a Nord, why would I learn magic? That stuff is quite frightening."
Jonas shook his head and went inside to sit at the square table. The fireplace was burning hot, and candles were lit, making the room bright and warm.
There was a map on the table, and an opened bottle of vodka. He pulled out a tin cup from the dirty cabinet and poured it full, almost to the point of overflowing, with a bulge of liquid at the rim, before he stopped.
Jonas put his mouth to the rim of the cup and sipped the cold liquor, his gaze wandering over the map on the table.
He had deciphered part of the nine maxims.
"Northern ghosts drift" should refer to the Sea of Ghosts.
"Southern Dwemer" indicated that there was a Dwemer ruin south of the destination.
But the phrase "A place of utmost simplicity, to craft a shield with a map" truly stumped him.
What place was famous for cartography?
Jonas carelessly stared at the map on the table and found that it was very incomplete. Only the sections for Winterhold Hold, The Pale, and Eastmarch Hold were relatively intact.
He looked at each location, but Jonas found nothing. He slowly drank his wine until he was tipsy. Dilo pushed open the door, carrying a steel kite shield, shaped like an inverted triangle. The overall shape was complete, but it still lacked the emblem patterns.
Dilo looked at the red-faced Jonas and shook his head, smiling, "You kid, your alcohol tolerance isn't good!"
Jonas, however, stared intently at the kite shield. He looked at the shield, then at the map. The symbol for Dawnstar looked exactly like a kite shield. What was near it? To the south, there was a Giant Camp, and to the southwest, a Windhelm Ruins. Further south? There was a symbol for a Dwemer ruin, but it was crossed out, which was the Tower of Mzark, taken by Simon.
Near the coastline, with a Dwemer ruin to the south—now it was very clear. The destination must be Windhelm Ruins!
No wonder he hadn't found the target on the College's magic map; it turned out that the book elemental power was outdated!
As expected of an ancient lineage, it should have the inaccuracies of that era! Jonas once again felt a sense of solemn respect.
…
At this time, Faralda was conversing with the Arch-Mage A-Ran.
A-Ran was a Dark Elf whose exquisite skill was admirable. His light purple skin was well-maintained, covered in a lustrous sheen, and his rose-colored eyes were deep and wise. He wore the dignified and magnificent Arch-Mage's robes, with a handsome goatee under his chin, appearing energetic and giving an impression of stability and reliability.
A-Ran: "Hmm, Master Faralda, have the contents of elemental power been corrected?"
Faralda: "Of course, the Tower of Mzark mysteriously disappeared. The sight of such an earthquake was terrifying from afar."
A-Ran nodded, "So that line'Southern Dwemer' has been changed, right?"
Faralda smiled, "Of course, it's been changed to'Southern Mountain Pass, Giants Roam.' No student should misunderstand."
A-Ran sighed, "Your thoroughness always puts one at ease. I wonder how many students will follow this path this time. There aren't many mages who can cast such large-scale forbidden spells anymore. If there were more of us, casting together, we might be able to recreate the glory of the ancient masters in razing cities and capturing strongholds."
Faralda: "Are you referring to back then…"
"More or less, more or less."
…
Jonas arrived at Windhelm Ruins, which was a stone shelter similar to a Wolf Pack Resting Place. When he arrived, a female brown bear was occupying it. Jonas beat her with a flurry of punches until she cried out and fled in a panic, carrying her cubs.
Inside the ruin was a short black stone pillar. Jonas placed elemental power on the pillar and pondered for a while.
"In this place,
Practice the mage's art,
Its fervor can command the ocean to burn."
The boy carefully cast a Flames spell at the stone pillar. A powerful surge of magical energy erupted from it, and a torrent of flames shot skyward, like dense clouds. elemental power glowed with a bronze light amidst the golden-red, scorching mist.
The boy opened the book again, and new content appeared.
Eight sentences, eight languages—excellent, a truly familiar formula.
The boy reverently put the book away and hurried back to the College.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"