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Available from the point where you join the College.
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Speak to Tolfdir and choose “What was it you were missing?” if available. He seems to have lost his Alembic, which is an alchemic still (two vessels connected by a tube). You won’t get a quest marker, but here are the places it can be found:

• Top floor of the Hall of Attoinment, in the room directly across from the stairs, on top of a barrel.
• Top floor of the Hall of Countenance, in the chamber with the Arcane Enchanter, under a display case.
• Ground floor of the Hall of Countenance, in the room with the large cask, on top of a crate.
• Once you’ve found it, return it to Tolfdir and he’ll give you 30 Gold Coins and a Random Soul Gem filled. How nice of you, Tolfdir.

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This is a repeatable quest that you can do once a day. Also, you can find the item before even taking the quest, which can be handy. And yes, he really losses that once a day. How bad of a memory would THAT take!?
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