The morning mist had not yet dissipated in Theramore, and the cries of seagulls sounded particularly crisp in the damp air.
Suddenly, a dazzling Arcane Light tore through the morning mist, as if an invisible hand had ripped open space, and azure energy ripples spread outwards. When Antonidas stepped out of the Portal, his signature white beard was blown upwards by the spatial turbulence, resembling the tail of a startled sheep.
"Ahem." The old mage coughed twice, straightening his wind-blown robes. Today, he had specially changed into the purple robes he only wore on the most formal occasions—the robes were embroidered with Dalaran runes in Mithril thread, and the Arcane Crystal inlaid at the collar shimmered in the morning light. The crystal at the tip of his staff was also polished to a spotless shine, refracting a colorful halo.
"Teacher!" Jaina had been waiting at the entrance of the Mage Tower for some time. Seeing Antonidas arrive alone, a hint of surprise flashed in her sea-blue eyes. "You didn't bring any attendants? Not even Master Krasus?"
The old mage waved his hand, his white beard trembling slightly with the movement. "The matter of the Guardian," he lowered his voice, as if worried the sea breeze might overhear, "... the fewer people who know, the better." He looked up at the towering top of the Mage Tower, his brow furrowing involuntarily, his staff tightening involuntarily. "I can feel her. Like the low pressure before a storm."
Jaina followed her teacher's gaze. To an ordinary person, it was just an ordinary tower top, but in a mage's Arcane vision, it was shrouded in a layer of emerald green magical light. The light was sometimes as gentle as the surface of a lake under the moonlight, and sometimes as violent as lightning in a storm, with countless tiny runes faintly visible flowing within it.
Antonidas took a deep breath and pulled a bottle of pale blue potion from his robes. Jaina recognized it as a high-grade Calming Potion —a precious magical potion that could keep the caster absolutely calm, said to be worth a thousand gold pieces per drop. Without hesitation, the old mage uncorked the bottle and drank it all in one gulp.
This left Jaina completely bewildered. It was impossible for her not to be nervous about her teacher coming to see the former Guardian, but to be so nervous as to drink an entire bottle of Calming Potion —this was far from ordinary nervousness. Did her teacher, Antonidas, have some secret he was keeping from her?
"Let's go." After the potion took effect, the old mage's voice became unusually calm, even the trembling of his beard stopped. "Let me meet this... this legendary senior."
Jaina noticed that when her teacher took a step, the staff left not ordinary footprints on the ground, but tiny Arcane runes that disappeared immediately upon contact with the ground—this was an unconscious spellcasting that only occurred when Antonidas was nervous.
The reception room at the top of the Mage Tower had been meticulously decorated by Jaina. The scattered planetarium and experimental table had been moved to a corner, replaced by a rustic oak round table. On the table were three tea sets of different styles:
On the left is Dalaran's newest Magic Crystals cup, its walls inlaid with runes that change color with temperature; in the middle is Theramore- style Seashell Teaware, each seashell sourced from the purest shallows of the Endless Sea; and on the right is a set that looks like Bronze Vessels just unearthed from some ancient ruin, its surface covered in green patina, yet faintly radiating magical energy.
Deren was already seated at the table, sipping his tea. He rose and bowed to the " Upside Down " Archmage who entered.
Antonidas and Deren were acquaintances, so it wasn't surprising that he met this advisor with Jaina.
Aegwynn stood before the French windows, her back to the door. Morning light streamed through her slender figure, casting a long shadow on the floor. As Jaina led Antonidas in, she slowly turned around, the sharp glint in her eyes seeming to lower the temperature of the entire room by several degrees.
" Antonidas Kirin Tor." Aegwynn's voice seemed to come from a great distance, or perhaps it echoed directly in her mind, "Chief of the Council of Six of Dalaran. The most outstanding Arcane master of our time." With each title she uttered, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
The old mage stepped forward, placed his right hand on his chest, and held his staff horizontally across his chest with his left, performing an ancient mage's salute—a salute so ancient that even Jaina had only seen it in illustrations of ancient books. His movements were so precise, as if they had been copied directly from an ancient text, down to the exact angle of his bent fingers.
"A tribute to the greatest guardian in history," Antonidas's voice trembled slightly, "May the light of Arcane forever illuminate your path."
Aegwynn nodded slightly, then suddenly raised his hand and shot out a beam of emerald green light. The attack came so suddenly that Jaina didn't even have time to cry out. But almost simultaneously, Antonidas erected an Arcane Shield —not an ordinary hemispherical shield, but a perfect dodecahedron, with different protective runes flowing across each face.
The two spells collided in mid-air, producing not ordinary sparks, but countless tiny fragments of runes. These fragments formed a brief star map in the air before slowly dissipating.
This sudden Arcane exchange startled Deren; the magic was unleashed without a word—it was terrifying. Fortunately, Jaina reacted quickly, immediately casting a spell to envelop both of them within a magical barrier, thus avoiding being affected by the clash between the two legendary Archmage.
"Good response," Aegwynn commented, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Did you create the dodecahedral shield design yourself?"
"Yes. Your magical skills are astonishing," Antonidas sincerely, his white beard trembling slightly with excitement. "That Deconstruction Ray contained properties from at least seven different schools of magic."
Jaina stood between the two, her palms sweating with nervousness. She cleared her throat, her voice eight octaves higher than usual. "Lady Aegwynn has offered to mentor me in my magical training during my time in Theramore. Teacher, I assure you this will not interfere with my duties in Dalaran."
Aegwynn abruptly interrupted her, her voice as clear as ice. "I want to take Jaina as my apprentice." She looked directly into Antonidas's eyes, her pupils seemingly sparkling with stars. "Not temporary instruction, but a formal inheritance. To pass on all my knowledge. What do you think?"
The air in the room froze instantly. Jaina's lips trembled slightly, her eyes filled with pleading and unease as she looked at Antonidas. Her slender fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her robe, her knuckles turning white from the force.
The old mage's expression turned strange; his lips beneath his white beard moved, but no sound came out. His aged fingers unconsciously rubbed the gem at the tip of his staff, his knuckles turning white from the force. Jaina could even hear her teacher's accelerated heartbeat—unbelievable for a mage who had just taken Calming Potion.
Aegwynn narrowed his eyes, his expression turning dangerous. "You have a problem with that?"
First update.