From: 698cunliffecj@deanery.wigan.sch.uk (Christopher John Cunliffe)
Subject: [PORC] Return of a Friend

Tenaka smiled as he watched Twilight's example to J'layah. Possibly
unnecessary, probably a bad idea to let people know that someone had
arrived, but fun all the same. Somewhere within him he felt a twang of pity
for the young elf. First a broken sword and then this. It really was not
her day. As Twilight marched off towards the gaping gates, Tenaka swept
back his cloak with a dramatic flourish and followed. He was willing to let
her be the leader for a while. It would do nobody any good if he tried to
take over.
As they entered the gate, he looked back and saw the other three following.
Only he saw the looks on their faces. J'layah still had a pale face from
the smell of the rotting corpse and he could easily translate the look Mea
gave to Twilight's back into words. This incident had damaged their
friendship. It was a sad thing when such a simple thing should be so
damaging. The Nord, Pilar, was harder to read. Her look was still icy cold.
Like Tenaka, she cared neither way what Twilight did to corpses she found,
but it appeared she also had a certain empathy towards J'layah. 
It was only a few steps further on when he felt something to make him
forget all of this, however. He and Twilight had entered a great hall,
clearly a greeting place for whoever lived within the Citadel. Indeed, this
person appeared very wealthy. There were tapestries over the walls, and the
ornate candle holders appeared expensive. But it was not the wealth of the
place that caught his attention. He had felt a slight tingling within him.
For a few moments, he struggled to identify the familiar feeling. And then
it hit him. He had been without Magicka for so long that he had forgotten
its feel. But this was it. The real thing. And stronger than anywhere else.
Now he recognised the feeling. It was the same as he felt upon leaving his
Master's Tower.
In order to test his theory he conjured up a small light. Clearly feeling
the drawing of magic, Twilight turned to him with a relaxed smile on her
face, but he could tell that she was in reality a taught as a wound spring.
The smile told him other things though. She had also noticed the return of
Magicka, but had not expected him to. He had impressed her. He now had her
respect. Letting go of the magic, he extinguished the slight flame.
She turned away from him at a slight sound as the other three entered the
room. There were noises coming from the end of the hall. His sharp Elven
eyes could faintly make out large shapes, but nothing more. What he could
tell, however, was that these creatures were not friendly. Looking forward
to the battle, he loosened his Daedric Dai-katana in it's sheath and
tightened his cuirass. Sweeping back his cloak, he summoned up the newly
available Magicka and channelled it into fire. As his cloak blew out behind
him, he leapt to Twilight's side and released the magic. He knew there were
too many for this simple spell to kill, or even injure, all, but it served
other purposes. It evened the odds slightly, and it was the simplest way to
inform the less experienced in the group that the old friend of Magicka had
indeed returned.