[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220729/023912a75a8a9b16c801799640a60148.png[/img]

[b]Word Count:[/b] 941
[b]Level 11 Roxas:[/b] 63/110
[b]Exp Gained:[/b] +2
[b]NEW EXP Balance---[/b] 65/110

[h3]College of Winterhold - Archmage’s Quarters[/h3][/center]

[color=gold]”Ugh…”[/color] Roxas groaned as he came to his feet, [color=gold]”Someone get the number of that runaway wormhole?”[/color] He mumbled dryly to himself. He heard a small whine nearby and went to give Scamp some comforting pets, [color=gold]”You okay buddy?”[/color] He asked, and after the moment the Boltund calmed down and began to sniff around the unfamiliar surroundings. Meanwhile Roxas patted himself down, counting off his Poke Balls. 1… 2… 3… 4, good they were all still with him.

Wherever this was, it looked… well, magical. A few shelves contained books and scrolls as well as what looked like an obviously magical staff. A display case contained a dagger of some kind and Roxas also saw a pair of boots that might have been enchanted too but he lacked the ability to tell whether or not they were. Should he take them? They did probably belong to someone and whoever they were probably wouldn’t be happy about it. And nearby there was a garden of some kind growing all kinds of weird plants and mushrooms. This whole room was practically screaming “wizard” at him. But eventually he noticed the painter standing near the garden. Since there was no one else here, Roxas had to hope he could answer his questions.

[color=gold]”Excuse me, um, sir?”[/color] Roxas said, trying to mind his manners and not make himself seem threatening, [color=gold]”I’m kinda lost… can you tell me where this is?””[/color]

Somehow, even though the other man had clearly seen Roxas already, he managed to be taken by surprise. Or maybe he'd just been cooped up in wherever-this-was long enough to be supercharged with nervous energy. "OH! Hey. Hi. Sorry. This is Winterhold College. The Archmage Quarters, specifically. But I need help too. I feel like I'm going mad..."

He took a deep breath. "I...I'm Frederic. Fred's fine, though. This is going to sound crazy, I know... but ever since I made THAT painting... my life has been turned upside down." He shook his head vigorously, squeezing his eyes shut. "My paintings have come to life. I made a series of portraits... but they escaped their canvases. They are prowling around the college. They are plotting something. I KNOW they are. I can hear their thoughts in my head. It's driving me insane." His voice became increasingly despondent, as if he were fraying at the edges. "Please, can't you do something about them? Any of them, even just one. Here, here."

Frederic dug in his pocket, then handed Roxas what looked like a fancy black doorstop with gold edges. "The layout in here isn't right. Always changing. When a door closes, it'll open somewhere else. Unless you keep it open with this."

Roxas tilted his head in curiosity. Magic paintings were not the strangest things he'd ever encountered. But paintings that plotted and that the painter could hear in their head? Admittedly that part was pretty weird. Still, he wasn't mean enough to just ditch the guy and not at least try to help him.

[color=gold]”Sure, I can try. Um, my name is Roxas.”[/color] Roxas answered, accepting the doorstop. [color=gold]”So rooms really just change a lot? Man, how's anyone supposed to get around without being late all the time?”[/color] Meanwhile Scamp sniffed at the doorstep and then leaned forward to sniff curiously at Frederic.

[color=gold]”What should I do when I find one of those paintings?”[/color] Roxas asked, [color=gold]”You want me to, like, destroy them or something? Do you know if there's any in here right now?”[/color]

Frederic looked around nervously. "No...I don't think there are. But keep an eye out. Chances are, they'll be hiding somewhere. From the voices. They can hear them, too. And we all want the same thing. Please, don't listen to them...destroy them."

[color=gold]”Got it.”[/color] Roxas said, [color=gold]”Find the paintings, destroy them, and don't listen to them. Thanks for the tip about the doors!”[/color] After that Roxas decided to go open a door. If none of Fred's paintings were in this room, then he wanted to try checking another room for them.

[color=gold]”C’mon, Scamp.”[/color] Roxas said, patting his leg for Scamp to follow. Together they approached the door and Roxas pushed it. It was heavy, almost too heavy, but the Nobody managed to get it open.

[center][b]The Kitchen[/b]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/pl6ckKy.jpeg[/img][/center]

Roxas blinked at what was on the other side. [color=gold]”Is this a… kitchen?”[/color] He asked, almost recoiling when he spotted the carved up hog, [color=gold]”Ugh, or maybe it’s a butcher shop?”[/color] Regardless, he quickly knelt down and shoved the doorstop underneath the open door. From what Fred said, if he let the door close then it would lead to another room the next time it opened. Of course, Roxas only had that one doorstop. So he’d have to get creative if he wanted to figure out how to keep other doors open.

[color=gold]”Eyes peeled, Scamp.”[/color] He told his Pokemon, [color=gold]”If you smell something, let me know.”[/color]

He shuddered at the sight of the bloodstains on the floor. Hopefully that was from a butchered animal and not from… a person. The rest of the room was pretty normal as far as kitchens go. Lots of shelves, cabinets, and pretty much all the necessary cooking and eating implements. He also noticed three other sets of doors besides the one he came through. One was straight across the room on the opposite side. The other two were on balcony levels that could be accessed by climbing up steep metal slat-stairs. But the most relieving thing Roxas spotted was a familiar figure.

[color=gold]”Geralt!”[/color] He called, already starting to jog over to where the Witcher was standing, Scamp bounding behind him at his heels. [color=gold]”Have you seen anyone else?”[/color]