Hello again! With jobseeking taking up most of my time now and stressing me the hell out, I decided to take a break from it all by once again returning to this little sideproject. It's fun! and it entertains and gives my girlfriend something to do also. I mean, I write the skeleton and then she just magically transforms the entire text into something more, something alive. It's hard to describe but I am always impressed when her final text arrives. So, here's the next letter.

Tirdas, 4th of Sun's Dusk, 4E201

Dear Beloved, It did not take long for more incredible things to happen after I had handed my letter to the nearest courier. I convinced Savos Aren that we needed to find the Staff of Magnus - keeping from him the slight detail of the Psijic Order, of course - and he told us both that we should speak to Mirabelle, who had previously been questioned by some Imperial mages about the same subject. Mirabelle recalled that these Imperials were from the Synod, and that they came to the college to question the members about the Staff. When they were turned away empty-handed, their secondary plan was to head towards the sprawling Dwemer ruins of Mzulft, which apparently held a derelict observatory that would somehow help them locate the Staff of Magnus.

My Khajiit companion and I headed off towards the ruins, ensuring our armour was fitted and my pack was filled with supplies - she had an almost motherly, demanding tone of voice when she urged me to ensure I had everything I needed. It only worsened my homesickness as it reminded me of you. After a decent, tiring trek and a uncomfortable night's rest, we finally reached Mzulft and cautiously entered the ruins. Almost immediately we found a wounded Imperial mage named Gavros, who was ambushed while trying to reach the Oculory where another member of the Synod, Paratus, was safe and secure. Before leaving our mortal coil he shakily told us that he was bringing a focusing crystal to the observatory, but it was stolen by one of the Falmer lurking in the ruins. I laid him to rest, wrapping him in his robes and closing his eyes. My companion murmured a prayer to Mara before we headed deeper inside Mzulft.

I wish you could be here to see these incredible places, my love. The expressions of sheer wonder on my friend's face is a joy to behold, and I would love to see your own. We finally found some Falmer dwellings, as well as the creatures that lived there. Our attempts to sneak around them were in vain, and we were forced to cut them down. My companion remarked to herself in awe that the Falmer have incredible senses to make up for their blindness - I am amused, to say the least, as every step into these ruins brings her more and more delight.

One of the Falmer had the focusing crystal, so we pocketed it for when we found the Oculory. Upon arriving, we knocked on the door, and Paratus, thinking we were his friend Gavros, opened it - his expression changed to fear and surprise when he saw us both standing there. We calmed him down and learned that he was the last survivor of the Synod party that came to Skyrim due to the strong magick of the Eye. They were going to use the Oculory to find it using methods I am mostly ignorant of, as they had no knowledge of where the exact location was. After helping Paratus focus the crystal with frost and fire spells, the Oculory displayed a giant map of Skyrim on the walls.

All of us were in awe at the display, but only Paratus changed his tone to aggression as he became suspicious of the College of Mages and their intentions. I did not tell him about the Eye and instead shifted the topic to the Staff, and after a quick glance he told me it was in some unknown part of Skyrim called Labyrinthian. I said my goodbyes to this mage, who was clearly going insane from the time spent in solitude in this ruin. We headed back to the college, and since I am running out of paper to write on, I must end my story there for now.

Do not panic, dear. When I make remarks about my travelling companion, it is not out of lust or attraction; it is merely out of amusement and curiosity, as she reminds me of you with every trait I learn about her. My heart remains loyal.

-Wuulfräd