"Their souls are like those of beasts; they can be collected by Greater Soul Gems."

    "Huh?" asks Adara.

"Animal souls can be collected into gems to be used to power enchantments, rituals, and some other permanent magical effects," he explains while the back of his mind processes that statement. "The souls of people are much larger and more powerful than those of animals and can only fit inside very powerful—and forbidden—soul gems called Black Soul Gems." And to Erandur: "You're saying Falmer are, their souls are like those of, I don't know, mammoths?"

"Yes."

What the fuck. What the actual fuck. How is that a thing that can happen. How does a whole race lose their souls like that. Hooooly fuck.

"I see," he says, and Adara looks just as queasy as he feels.

But she brightens considerably when Winterhold becomes visible in the distance, and if they weren't going about as fast as they can already she'd probably try to ride ahead of the other two to get there faster. As it is, she's sufficiently filled with excited energy she doesn't want to stop riding for the night and the other two indulge her and continue going until they reach the city just past midnight.

"There's no point going to the College now, though, there will be no one at the gates to register your magical signature and allow you in," Ruby tells Adara.

"What? But! But we're right here!"

"Feel free to try, if you want; you'll be physically unable to get in."

She pouts but she doesn't really have an argument, here.

At this time of night there's no one manning the inn, either, so they do in fact have to camp anyway, but at least the walls of the city keep out the cold, and Erandur and Ruby don't have to sleep in shifts.

But Adara does not give them eight hours of sleep and is up—not literally at the crack of dawn, but still very early. She looks fit to burst with excitement, and as soon as they take down their camp she wants to immediately go to the College.

"I believe this is where we part ways, for now," says Erandur. "I will speak with the jarl about acquiring property in the city, and I can find you later to tell you where I am."

"Sounds reasonable. Thank you for everything."

"No, my friend, I am the one who must thank you. Please never hesitate to call me for any help you might need."

And onwards to the College. Today it is Faralda who is at the gates before the bridge, and she gives Adara a sceptical look.

    "And who's this, then?"

"She is an incredibly talented prodigy I ran into who needs traininng at the College."

    "Is that so?" She looks at the girl. "Show me."

"...um."

    "'Um'?"

"I don't... know how."

"Most of her magic has been based on intuition and emotion. I don't think she's ever cast purposefully."

    "We cannot instruct her, then. A minimum level of skill is necessary."

"What? No! I came all this way! Please, I swear I can do magic, please!"

    "Then show it."

"I... I don't know how!"

"Adara," Ruby says, before she freaks out enough to summon another Atronach. Not that that wouldn't be a good enough demonstration, probably, but it's better if it's under her control. "Breathe. Close your eyes. Look at the frustration and indignation you were just feeling, and find the place within you it was starting to draw from, the same place you have used magic in the past from."

"...okay." She closes her eyes and breathes.

"Think on the times you've cast spells, in the past. Visualise the Daedra you've been summoning, the elemental spirits beyond the veil of Oblivion. Offer them your magicka, and build them a body. There is plenty of ice-aspected magic around here, feel that, too. Even if you cannot draw on it, allow it to ease the path of the Atronach."

    "A Frost Atronach?" Faralda observe. "That is impressive, if true."

Faralda's words tick Adara off again, and she can find it, the place within her her feelings want to use. These instructions are a lot more specific and legible than anything she's done before, but she can use her own intuition to help her along and...

...conjures a Frost Atronach.

    "Well, then. Colour me surprised," says Faralda. "What is your name, child?"

"I'm Adara, ma'am."

    "I believe you will make a fine wizard some day. Can you have your Atronach step onto that sigil on the floor? That way I will be able to key your magical signature into the wards of the College so you can walk in."

She's never actually been able to control her conjured creatures but she tries just—thinking at it—and it works, and she beams with pride.

    Faralda casts another spell into the sigil then says, "Welcome to the College, young lady. I'll let Ruby show you in."

Ruby teaches her how to dispel her Atronach and then leads the way up the bridge and into the main gate of the College. "One of the staff will probably give you a proper tour, but that tower there is the Hall of Attainment, which is where you'll probably sleep, and the main tower over there is the Hall of Elements, where most lessons are held and the staff have their offices. I'll take you to Mirabelle—she's the College's, ah, second in command, so to speak?—and she'll take care of your admissions process."

She can take care of that, sure. Adara is nearly vibrating out of her skin, which Mirabelle finds very endearing, and she dismisses Ruby.

Who finds Sergius to explain what happened.

Or to try to explain what happened.

    "What? Oh, that sword. I don't care, I'm busy."

"...so you don't want the money?" Not that Ruby has any but he assumed the sword was being sold.

    "No, you can keep it. The joy of enchantment is enough payment, blah blah blah, now leave."

Sergius is so very himself. But, well, all's well that ends well, Ruby guesses.