Drink Good Water, Drink Water Well

Deren finally recovered from his strange state and cleared his throat. "Excuse my bluntness, Professor Aegwynn, but can you create artifacts?"

"What do you suspect?" Aegwynn's sharp gaze turned to him.

"I have a Guardian's spare staff, the one you usually see. Actually, it's also an artifact, crafted from materials I gathered over countless years. Now, in addition to this bottle of water from the Eternal Well— "

"Deren," Aegwynn's voice said with absolute certainty, "An artifact that can replenish almost infinite mana. If we encounter that Malygos again, demanding the Eye of the Storm like last time, I'll send him straight back to the Nexus."

Deren nodded excitedly. "Excellent! The Dragon King should learn to respect your status as a former guardian."

Jaina stepped between the two. "So, when shall we begin?"

"Now." Aegwynn picked up the first vial of the Eternal Well Water and expertly divided it into three portions. "I'll demonstrate the correct way to drink it first— Jaina, maintain the protective barrier; Deren, stand by the door, just in case."

Aegwynn stood in the center of the magic circle, holding a delicate crystal goblet half-filled with Eternal Well Water. She took a deep breath and looked at Jaina: "Remember, no matter what happens, do not break the barrier."

Jaina spread her arms wide, Arcane Energy flowing between her fingertips. "Ready."

Aegwynn tilted his head back and drank the liquid in his glass in one gulp.

For the first few seconds, nothing happened. Then--

A golden light burst forth from Aegwynn's body, and her long hair instantly stood on end, as if pulled by an invisible force.

The magical energy in the air began to spin wildly, forming a visible vortex.

The items inside the sealed room floated into the air, the pages of books rustled, and crystal objects collided with each other, producing a crisp sound.

Jaina gritted her teeth, feeling the pressure from the barrier suddenly increase. She adjusted her hand gestures, channeling more magic to maintain the barrier.

With his back against the wall, even though he wasn't a mage, Deren could feel the almost tangible magical pressure in the air.

The Eternal Well truly lives up to its reputation as the essence flowing from Azeroth.

Aegwynn hovered in the center of the storm, her body completely enveloped in golden light.

Her silhouette began to change—her back became straighter, her skin firmer and smoother, and her figure seemed to have undergone some kind of adjustment—the kind that could beat Chromie. She radiated vitality from head to toe.

But this change quickly stopped, as if deliberately suppressed by some force.

"She's controlling the rate of evolution," Jaina murmured in surprise. "Most mages let magic modify their bodies, but she's precisely channeling every ounce of energy."

The storm lasted for about ten minutes, then stopped abruptly, just as it had begun suddenly. All the floating objects gently returned to their places, and the magical vortex contracted back into Aegwynn's body.

The former Guardian landed slowly, letting out a long breath. When she opened her eyes, Jaina gasped—those eyes were no longer just the eyes of a human elder, but shimmered with an eternal light like stars. After a while, Aegwynn returned to her normal human form.

"Congratulations, Teacher Aegwynn," Jaina said sincerely. "You look as young as I do."

Aegwynn looked down at the smooth back of her hand, gently clenching and unclenching her fist. "No, I've only regained a portion of my vitality. The real change is internal—"

She raised her hand, and a pure Arcane Energy condensed in her palm, forming a perfect miniature galaxy. "My magical reserves and control have returned to their peak."

Deren cautiously approached. "How are you feeling?" He held a robe in his hand and draped it over Aegwynn.

The former Guardian casually pulled up his shirt, repeatedly checking himself over with both hands. After a while, he said, "The empty bottle is full of water again." Aegwynn's voice was full of youthful energy.

"But more importantly, the Guardian Aegwynn is back." He truly speaks only with the strength he possesses.

Feeling the surging magic within him once more, he shed the image of someone who, despite regaining his youth, was always somewhat hesitant and conflicted. Not only did his aura change with every gesture, but his brows were also filled with heroic spirit.

She turned to Jaina, "Your turn, but given your special circumstances, we need to be more cautious."

Jaina sat in a specially made magical chair, a crystal goblet containing a quarter of the Eternal Well Water on a small table in front of her. She gently stroked her abdomen, feeling the faint but steady pulse of life within.

"Remember," Aegwynn stood beside her, her voice serious, "Just a tiny sip. Then we'll observe the reaction and decide whether to continue."

Deren stood a short distance away, watching this scene with a complicated expression. Jaina nodded, picked up her cup, and carefully took a sip.

The moment the liquid entered her mouth, she felt a warm current spread from her throat throughout her body, and then—

"Ah!" she gasped softly, instinctively covering her abdomen with her hands.

"What's wrong?" Aegwynn immediately tensed up. Deren looked at Jaina with even more anxiety.

"Magic! Magic is converging into my abdomen!" Jaina's eyes widened in surprise. "The fetus is absorbing it!"

Aegwynn swiftly cast a diagnostic spell, a pale green light scanning Jaina's body. The old mage's expression shifted from worry to shock, finally settling on unbelievable joy.

"This is incredible," she whispered. "A significant portion of the magic was indeed absorbed by the fetus, and the way it was absorbed shows an extremely high magical affinity. This child... Jaina, your child may be born with a powerful magical talent."

Tears welled up in Jaina's eyes. "Is it because of the Star Soul's blessing?"

"More than that," Aegwynn shook her head. "It's a perfect combination of bloodline, timing, and destiny. The magical talent of the Proudmoore family that you possess, coupled with the various powerful energy sources you were exposed to during your pregnancy, and the blessing of the Star Soul —this child's potential may surpass all of our imaginations."

"Shall we continue to drink from the Well of Eternity?" Deren asked. He wasn't sure whether his and Jaina's child, with its exceptional magical talent, was a good thing or a bad thing.

Jaina nodded. "It's alright. I think I can take another sip to raise my energy level to my limit before breaking through. Teacher Aegwynn, can you help me maintain the barrier?"

She took another sip after speaking. Another magical storm swept through the room, and Jaina and her child were at the center of this storm.

In a distant, unknowable space, filled with yellow sand, the grains of sand flow slowly in a certain pattern. Each grain of sand projects an image of a time period.

Nozdormu seemed engrossed in observing the flow of the River of Time, his gaze fixed intently on its endless expanse.

Only out of the corner of his eye did he catch a glimpse of Deren intently watching Jaina's grain of sand, without showing any surprise at what he had discovered.

Everything was normal. Yes, everything was normal! The old Dragon King's face seemed calm, yet there was also a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

Second update.