I'm Really Not the Dragonborn.

Leaving Ancano fuming, Ibnor sought out Mirabelle Ervine. He found her organizing scrolls in the Hall of Countenance.

"Mirabelle," he said, approaching her. "I need to speak with the Arch-Mage. It's urgent."

"The Arch-Mage is quite busy, Ibnor. Unless it's a matter of utmost importance…" Mirabelle looked up, her brow furrowed with concern. 

"It concerns the College directly," Ibnor interrupted, his voice serious. "And its future."

Mirabelle's expression changed. She studied Ibnor's face, sensing the urgency in his tone.

"Very well," she said finally. "I'll see if he's available."

She led Ibnor through the winding corridors of the College to the Arch-Mage's quarters. The room was spacious and filled with arcane artifacts and bookshelves overflowing with tomes. Savos Aren, the Arch-Mage, stood by a large window, gazing out at the snowy landscape.

"Ah, Ibnor," Savos said, turning to greet him with a warm smile. "It's a pleasure to finally meet the Dragon Rider in person. I've heard quite a bit about you. Your… acquisition of Dawnstar, and its subsequent development, is quite remarkable. And I'm particularly intrigued by the reports of the Magic Tower. I would very much like to discuss the research you're conducting there at some point."

Ibnor returned the greeting with a polite nod.

"Arch-Mage Savos," he said. "Mirabelle. Thank you for having me in such a sudden manner. While I appreciate your kind words, I'm afraid I'm here on a matter of grave importance, one that concerns the college and ultimately, both of you."

This piqued their interest. Savos raised an eyebrow, and Mirabelle leaned forward, her expression attentive. Ibnor took a deep breath.

"It concerns a prophecy," he began, "regarding the Orb you've recently uncovered in Saarthal." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "A prophecy in which… both of you are destined to die."

The room fell silent. Savos's warm smile receded, replaced by a thoughtful, almost melancholic expression. Mirabelle gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth. The air in the room seemed to thicken, the crackling magical energy now tinged with a sense of unease.

Savos turned away from the window, his gaze now fixed on Ibnor. His eyes, though aged, held a deep well of wisdom and understanding. He placed a hand on a nearby lectern, his touch light and steady. When he spoke, his voice was calm and firm, but with an underlying current of sadness.

"Ibnor," he said, his tone gentle but resolute, "such pronouncements… they carry a heavy weight. The threads of fate are not easily seen, nor should they be lightly spoken of. To know a potential future is not to change it, and sometimes, the knowledge itself can become a burden."

He paused, his gaze drifting towards the many tomes lining the walls of his quarters.

"We mages of the College dedicate our lives to understanding the arcane, to unraveling the mysteries of the universe. But even we know that there are forces beyond our full comprehension. Forces that shape events in ways we cannot always foresee."

He turned back to Ibnor, his expression now tinged with a hint of resignation.

"If such a fate is meant to be," he continued, his voice softer now, "then it will be. We cannot avoid what destiny has decreed, but we can face it with courage and with wisdom. To dwell on such things… to attempt to fight against the very fabric of existence… it can lead only to despair."

Mirabelle, still visibly shaken, found her voice.

"But… Arch-Mage," she stammered, "if we know… shouldn't we at least… try to understand? To prepare?"

Savos placed a reassuring hand on Mirabelle's shoulder.

"Understanding is always valuable, Mirabelle," he said gently. "But there is a difference between understanding and interfering. Some things are best left to unfold as they will. To tamper with the flow of time and fate… it is a dangerous path, one that can have unforeseen consequences."

Before Savos could elaborate further, Ibnor spoke, his voice clear and direct.

"You die," he said, his voice grave, "in order to protect the College."

The room fell silent once more, the weight of Ibnor's words hanging heavy in the air. The unspoken question hung between them: What could possibly threaten the College so greatly that the Arch-Mage and one of its most respected mages would have to sacrifice themselves?

The impact of his words was palpable. Both Savos and Mirabelle were visibly shaken. 

"To protect the College?" Savos repeated, his voice laced with disbelief.

"What could possibly threaten the College so greatly?" Mirabelle asked, her eyes wide with concern.

Ibnor then revealed the core of the matter.

"The Orb," he explained, "the Eye of Magnus. It's an ancient artifact of unknown origin. It possesses immense magical power, power that can be manipulated with the Staff of Magnus. And right now, in order to gain such power, Ancano," he continued, his voice hardening, "is trying to take control of it."

The room fell silent once more after Ibnor revealed Ancano's intentions. The weight of the impending threat settled heavily in the air. Suddenly, the magical energy in the atmosphere began to fluctuate violently, the air shimmering and crackling with uncontrolled power.

"What is happening?" Mirabelle exclaimed, her eyes wide with alarm.

Savos's expression hardened.

"Ancano," he said grimly. "He's doing something with the Eye. We must stop him."

They rushed from the Arch-Mage's quarters towards the Hall of the Elements. Upon reaching the entrance, they found the large, ornate doors leading to the room containing the Eye of Magnus sealed off by a shimmering, translucent barrier.

"Tell me that is what I think it is." Ibnor said.

"I don't know," Mirabelle said, examining the barrier closely. "It's like a ward, but… who's casting it? Is it Ancano? If he is, then how?"

"I don't care what it is," Savos retorted, his voice filled with urgency. "I want it down now! I want to know what he's doing in there!"

Savos and Mirabelle began casting Destruction spells at the barrier, bolts of fire and ice impacting against the shimmering surface, but the ward held firm. Ibnor approached Savos. 

"Arch-Mage," he said, "Maybe I can help."

Savos turned to him, his eyes filled with a mixture of worry and determination.

"We need to know what Ancano is up to," he said. "Anything you can do to bring this down would be invaluable."

Ibnor was just about to agree when Harin arrived, drawn by the commotion. By the look of her condition, it seems like she had just returned from her assignment. She approached the Arch-Mage, her brow furrowed with concern.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Ancano," Savos replied, his voice tight with anger. "He's in there, doing… something. We don't know what. We're trying to get in now. I will have his head for this, I assure you. Help take this down, will you? We're throwing everything we can at it."

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Harin joined the others in attacking the ward. A cacophony of spells being fired towards the door. However, Ibnor had another idea.

"TIID!" he shouted, invoking the Slow Time Thu'um.

The world around him slowed, movements becoming sluggish and drawn out. Using the slowed time to his advantage, Ibnor rushed towards the enchanted door, slamming his fist against the barrier with all his might behind it, the force amplified by his Enhanced Condition. While time was still slowed, he barraged the door with a series of powerful blows.

As the Slow Time effect ended, all the accumulated force from Ibnor's blows exploded at once, the combined impact shattering the enchanted door and causing it to burst open. With a soft murmur, the magical barrier dissipated immediately after.

With the way now clear, Mirabelle and Savos immediately rushed into the room.

"We need to find out what Ancano's up to," Mirabelle said to Ibnor as she passed, enlisting his help.

They found Ancano standing before the Eye of Magnus, arcane energy swirling around him. He seemed to be physically connected to the artifact by streams of light, his form radiating immense power.

"What's going on?" Mirabelle exclaimed, her voice filled with alarm.

"Ancano!" Savos shouted, his voice ringing with authority. "Stop this at once! I command you!"

"Don't go near him!" Mirabelle warned.

Ibnor stepped forward, placing himself between Savos and Ancano. "Leave this to Harin and me," he said firmly.

Turning to Harin, he outlined his plan. "Harin, I need Dismay, Bend Will, followed by Unrelenting Force," he instructed.

"Alright," Harin replied, nodding in understanding.

Harin unleashed her Thu'um.

"FAAS RU MAAR!" 

"GOL HAH DOV!" 

"FUS RO DAH!"

Ibnor, timing it perfectly, invoked the Slow Time shout once more. 

"TIID!"

Using the same tactic as before, he launched a barrage of attacks against Ancano's midsection, the slowed time allowing him to deliver a rapid succession of blows. Finally, he delivered a powerful kick, timing the impact to coincide with the end of the Slow Time effect, maximizing the accumulated force.

As time resumed its normal flow, Ancano was launched backwards like a cannonball, crashing into a nearby wall and bouncing off it before falling unconscious. The streams of light connecting him to the Eye of Magnus dissipated, the arcane energy swirling around the artifact subsiding.

Savos and Mirabelle stared at the unconscious Ancano, then at Ibnor, their expressions a mixture of shock and relief.

"By the Divines…" Mirabelle breathed, her voice barely a whisper.

Savos stepped forward, cautiously approaching the Eye of Magnus. He examined the artifact closely, his brow furrowed in concentration. 

"The energy… it's still immense," he murmured. "But the connection… it's severed."

He turned to Ibnor and Harin, a look of gratitude mixed with a deep weariness in his eyes. He then glanced back at Ancano, his expression etched with disappointment. 

"I had hoped… I had hoped he would prove otherwise," Savos said, his voice heavy with regret. "We extended him our hospitality, believing that even the Thalmor could value the pursuit of knowledge. It seems I was mistaken."

Mirabelle shook her head, her voice filled with a mixture of sadness and disbelief.

"I still can't believe he would do this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "To so blatantly violate our hospitality... to exploit the Arch-Mage's trust like this... it reveals his true nature."

"He was never here to learn. He was here to take." She looked at Ancano with a mixture of disgust and pity.

Savos nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the Eye of Magnus.

"The Thalmor's influence is insidious," he murmured. "They seek to control all magic, to bend it to their will. Ancano was merely a tool, a means to an end. He saw the Eye not as a source of knowledge, but as a weapon to further their dominion."

He sighed, the weight of recent events settling heavily on his shoulders.

"The Eye..." he said, his voice low and thoughtful, "it's too dangerous to remain here, even with Ancano neutralized." He turned to Ibnor, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. 

"Ibnor, you have proven yourself a true friend to the College. Would you be willing to assist us further? We need to find a way to secure this artifact, to ensure it can never be used for such destructive purposes again."

Mirabelle nodded in agreement.

"We cannot risk another incident like this," she said, her voice firm. "The Eye's power is immense, and it could fall into the wrong hands again."

Ibnor considered their request. He knew the Eye of Magnus was a powerful artifact, capable of great destruction if misused.

"I will help," he agreed. "But I am not familiar with the Eye's nature or how to contain it. What do you propose?"

Savos stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"There are ancient texts that speak of the Eye," he said, "legends and prophecies that hint at its origins and its potential. We need to delve into those texts, to understand the Eye's true nature and find a way to neutralize its power or perhaps even harness it for good."

He turned towards the exit, beckoning Ibnor and Harin to follow.

"Come," he said, "we have much to discuss. The fate of the College, perhaps even the world, may depend on it."

As they left the Hall of the Elements, they passed the unconscious Ancano. Mirabelle paused, a flicker of anger crossing her face. 

"What should we do with him?" she asked, her voice laced with contempt.

Savos looked at Ancano with a mixture of sadness and resolve.

"He will be dealt with," he said firmly. "The Thalmor will be informed of his actions, and they will face the consequences. But for now, our priority is the Eye." He then cast a spell to bound him. 

They continued through the College, heading towards the Arch-Mage's quarters. The atmosphere was heavy with the weight of recent events, but there was also a sense of renewed purpose. The College had faced a grave threat and emerged victorious, thanks in no small part to Ibnor and Harin. The future remains uncertain, but they were determined to protect the College and ensure that the Eye of Magnus would never again be used to threaten the world. 

The group gathered in the Arch-Mage's quarters, the air still thick with the aftermath of the confrontation with Ancano. The Eye of Magnus, its swirling energies now subdued, sat silently in the Hall of the Elements, a constant reminder of the danger they faced.

"What should we do?" Mirabelle asked, her voice laced with worry. "If the Eye falls into the wrong hands… Ancano is a prime example of what could happen. We can't simply leave it like that."

Savos Aren sighed, rubbing his temples wearily.

"You're right, Mirabelle. It's too dangerous to simply study. People are afraid of the unknown, and fear can lead to rash actions. But taking risks with something of this magnitude…" He trailed off, his gaze fixed on the tomes lining his shelves. 

"How do we know what to do if we don't even understand what we're dealing with?"

"You mentioned something about a staff," Mirabelle interjected, looking at Ibnor. 

"Arch-Mage, you know more about that than we do." Ibnor replied.

"Very well." Savos sighed again, a deep, weary sound. 

He reached into a drawer and produced a small, intricately carved torc.

"Here. This grants access to the deeper levels of Labyrinthian. I'd like to tell you to be careful, but you have proven yourself to be more than capable."

"Labyrinthian?" Mirabelle asked, her brow furrowed. "What's in it?"

"The Staff of Magnus," Savos explained. "Legend says it can control the Eye. If we can retrieve it, we might have a chance of understanding, perhaps even containing, its power. Bring it back, and we'll see what we can do about this… thing." 

"And you didn't think to tell us about this sooner?" Mirabelle asked. 

"It's an old and long story," Savos Aren sighs. "One that is for another day."

"I'll go," Harin volunteered, taking the torc. "This shouldn't take long."

With a final look at the group, she departed. The room fell silent once more, the weight of Ancano's betrayal still heavy in the air. 

"What about him?" Mirabelle asked, gesturing towards the unconscious Thalmor agent. "What do we do with him?"

"I have something to say about that. You're aware of the current political situation, yes?" Ibnor stepped forward, his expression serious. 

Savos nodded. "Of course. We try to remain uninvolved, as is the College's tradition."

"I know you do," Ibnor continued, "but are you clear on what's really happening? The true enemy here is the Thalmor. Ancano's actions have revealed some of their true intentions. If you present them with their representative, they will deny everything. They'll claim Ancano acted alone. Even now they are undermining Skyrim."

"What's your point, Ibnor?" Savos asked, his voice laced with concern.

"My point is," Ibnor said firmly, "Ancano is too dangerous to be let go. And you should not accept any more offers from the Thalmor. Whatever they say, they have hidden intentions. This artifact is too alluring for them to resist."

"We are not naive, Ibnor. We understand the nature of power." Savos gave a curt nod. 

"As do I," Ibnor replied, a glint in his eye. "Which is why I know the Thalmor won't simply walk away from this. We all have our reasons for being here, Arch-Mage. Me included."

"Is that so? Care to tell us?" Mirabelle asked.

"One, it's to prevent your death." Ibnor stated bluntly. Mirabelle winced, a chill running down her spine. 

"And the other… let's say it's complex. But for now, our interests align. The Eye cannot fall into their hands." He continued.

"What do you propose, then?" Mirabelle asked, her eyes fixed on Ibnor.

"He must be dealt with… permanently," Ibnor stated, "and keep everything that's happened here a secret. If the Thalmor inquire about him, by the time they do, we should have the Staff and a better understanding of the Eye. We can simply tell them what happened. Like I said, they'll deny any involvement and claim he acted alone. His death won't be on our hands."

"And what if we haven't figured out what to do with the Eye by then?" Mirabelle countered.

"Then we delay," Ibnor replied. "This shouldn't take long. And… if you hadn't noticed, the Psijic Order is watching."

"The Psijic Order?!" Mirabelle, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Oh… I didn't tell you?" Ibnor asked. Mirabelle simply deadpanned.

Ibnor shrugged, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

"My bad," he said without a trace of remorse.

"Don't worry about it," he continued. "If shit hits the fan, they'll interfere."

"I'm sorry, the what now?" Mirabelle asked.

"I mean in the worst case scenario, they will show themselves. They won't simply let something that could destroy the world remain unchecked." Ibnor explained. 

"And you know this… How?" Mirabelle asked, still sceptical.

"One has just been to the college earlier, right?" Ibnor said, looking at Savos Aren.