This Is an Illusion! What Are You Hiding!

Aegwynn began her apprenticeship. Every time she saw her teacher, she could not help but marvel.

It was the legendary Merith Winterwind! Had he not died in battle and been buried long ago? Yet now he stood before her as an undead.

After getting to know him, Aegwynn discovered that this legendary figure was remarkably approachable. He never put on airs because of his status. He kept public and private matters separate; in private, Merith showed none of a teacher's sternness. He could laugh and chat with Aegwynn, and from time to time he would take her sightseeing in Lordaeron City. Of course, Merith always kept himself hidden beneath his hood.

But when it came to training, Merith was exceptionally strict. Aegwynn had many complaints about such harsh, even cruel training. Whenever she dragged her exhausted, battered body back from the forest, she would secretly complain to Alodi.

Alodi would always smile and comfort Aegwynn. "Your teacher has already reduced the intensity of your training because you are a little girl."

"This is reduced? Would people die if it wasn't reduced?"

Alodi's expression turned serious. Looking at Aegwynn, he spoke softly. "No. Back then, your teacher's teacher trained him the same way. And... never let Lord Merith find out that you have shown any disrespect toward your grandmaster, or you really will be dead."

Aegwynn froze. "Merith's teacher... I read about him in books. Was he the legendary Divine Emissary of the God of Magic? I thought that was only a legend."

"No, it was real." Alodi grew serious. "Divine Emissary Hu Feng truly existed. No one could match his magical power, and Lord Merith was personally taught by him."

"Then why doesn't he come help us? We have suffered so much and have so many enemies."

"Because my teacher also has greater threats to deal with. Aegwynn, I hope this is the last time you question my mentor." Merith slowly walked over, his expression stern.

Aegwynn's face went pale with fright. She lowered her head and said nothing, feeling immense fear and curiosity toward the grandmaster she had never met.

And so, the future Guardian Aegwynn continued her cruel, torturous training. Merith copied every method Hu Feng had once used on him and applied it to his own disciple. Even Alodi, who assisted Merith as an instructor, could barely bear to watch. But every time, Merith would shut him down with a barrage of reasons. "Alodi! Do you want a qualified, competent Guardian, or a pampered mage lord? If it is the former, then do as I say!"

Although Aegwynn complained often and occasionally threw little tantrums at Merith, as time passed, she gradually came to understand Merith's good intentions and the benefits of such brutal training. The relationship between master and apprentice steadily improved.

******

Suramar City.

The huntress Saelin was terribly bored. Recently, she had received no assignments, so with nothing to do, she could only wander around Suramar City. Saelin possessed exceptional skill in both ranger arts and magic. She excelled at attacking enemies from afar and loved trapping them with countless control spells before tormenting them to death as though flying a kite. Coupled with her elusive stealth abilities, the beasts and spies who had died at her hands numbered no fewer than eight hundred.

Saelin had a rather casual personality. She never planned her routes, going wherever she felt like going and often changing destinations halfway through. This easygoing nature had caused her to fail to complete missions on time several times. Archmage Elisande found this fierce woman, who was immensely capable but equally flawed, quite a headache. In the end, she decided to temporarily cancel all of Saelin's assignments and make her learn discipline first.

The Divine Emissary also learned of her situation. After some consideration, he made a sweeping decision and reassigned her to patrol Suramar City and nearby Darkshore. Saelin was delighted; at least she finally had something to do.

Saelin moved through Suramar's streets and alleys with her agile pet panther, but no one noticed them. Both hunter and pet were stealthed, traveling only across rooftops and hidden paths.

Hmm... Suramar is too peaceful. There are no enemies. Tomorrow, I should go to Darkshore or Ashenvale and have some fun slaughtering Naga and Water Elementals...

"This is an illusion! What are you hiding!?"

A loud shout rang out, immediately catching Saelin's attention. She sprinted toward its source.

A Nightborne was staring warily at an ordinary Highborne mage, poised to attack. The latter looked somewhat at a loss.

Saelin quickly noticed that something was wrong as well. The Highborne mage seemed to carry the aura of an illusion. Though it was not obvious, his behavior contained subtle flaws.

The Highborne mage stepped forward, seemingly about to explain something. His hand suddenly twitched, and a cloud of black smoke rose up. When the smoke dispersed, the mage had vanished. The Nightborne angrily unleashed an Arcane Explosion and a Frost Nova, but still found nothing.

But this did not stump the huntress Saelin. Her Eagle Eye had already locked onto the High Elf rogue who had used Vanish and was fleeing at high speed while stealthed. Saelin abruptly accelerated and closed the distance. She fired a Binding Arrow, which struck the rogue directly. The rogue was immediately forced out of stealth, his body rooted in place. Saelin's panther pounced, clamping down on the rogue's arm and savagely tearing at it.

The rogue was practically on the verge of tears. Where did this crazy woman come from? She rooted me and started beating the hell out of me... Even stealth didn't work. Was there any justice left in this world?!

Gritting his teeth, the High Elf rogue used Vanish again. Using Vanish twice in a row placed tremendous demands on a rogue's strength and body. The instant he entered stealth, he activated Sprint and Evasion, charging toward Suramar's sewers—the Magic Corridor. The terrain there was narrow and winding. He would definitely be able to shake off that crazy old hag.

The entrance to the Magic Corridor was right in front of him! Closer! Even closer! Victory was just...

Smack!

Another Binding Arrow splattered across his back...

Damn it! She chased me across half of Suramar! Is this crazy old hag ever going to stop?!

Gritting his teeth, he used Shadow Cloak! A trickle of blood ran from the rogue's mouth as he forced himself to stay alert and continued fleeing for his life.

The Magic Corridor remained bustling. The High Elf rogue slipped into the crowd and kept running deeper inside. In his panic, he failed to notice the giant arcane spiders slowly crawling across the rooftops from time to time...

There were fewer and fewer people, until there was no one left. The rogue looked back and saw that the crazy old hag's Flare had arrived before she had.

The rogue slipped past two guards who were complaining about something and entered the deepest hall. This place was a world of pure white.

Huh? Why did the style suddenly change?

Suddenly, the rogue felt his feet go numb. Looking down, he saw that a mass of white spider silk had somehow wrapped around his feet, injecting poison into his body.

The sound of rubbing mandibles came from ahead. The rogue looked forward and saw a giant spider raising her two purple crystalized forelegs, all eight eyes fixed on him with malicious intent.

"Crazy old hag! I'm here! Save me! I'd rather die by your hand!!"

I never want to come to Suramar again!!!

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