First Meeting

Not long after, a ship bearing the royal crest of Lordaeron docked at the pier. The old mage flicked his wide sleeves and stepped forward slowly to welcome the visiting King.

"Welcome to Dalaran, your esteemed Majesty Terenas, and your two royal highnesses."

The old mage performed a mage's salute to the King, then turned his gaze to the two children trailing behind him—

Arthas struggled to puff out his chest, his youthful face set in a solemn expression as he tried to appear dignified and composed; Alvin, half a head shorter than his brother, blinked his bright, intelligent eyes, looking at the strange mage before him with undisguised curiosity.

Mystical arcane power was the first thing Alvin had wanted to touch upon learning the nature of this world. Unfortunately, aside from Dalaran, the other major human kingdoms held the same prejudices toward magic as Stromgarde had years ago (even if almost every great noble kept their own magical advisor).

Though he was merely the second prince of Lordaeron, in the eyes of the public, he was unlikely to inherit the throne, and Terenas would never allow him to become a "renegade" mage.

Currently, among the major human kingdoms, very few noble children with actual rights of succession went to Dalaran to study magic; only those noble daughters who were destined to never inherit titles and were unwilling to accept the constraints of the Light's teachings would go to Dalaran to become mage apprentices.

Therefore, while Alvin's birth provided him with great convenience and easy access to the knowledge of this world, it also severed any possibility of him becoming a mage who wielded arcane power.

Now that such an opportunity had arrived, facing two white-haired old mages, he was eager to see how these mages of Dalaran differed from the magical advisors in the royal palace of Lordaeron.

"Prince Arthas is truly worthy of being the heir to Lordaeron; I can already see the majesty within you."

At this, Antonidas reached out to pat Alvin's small head, a kind smile on his face: "I can feel the rich power of the Holy Light within you, Prince Alvin, as excellent as the rumors suggest. A pleasure to meet you, I am Antonidas, a mage who seeks the truth."

"Arthas Menethil, Prince of Lordaeron." Without hesitation, Arthas perfectly displayed the results of his etiquette lessons, returning the salute with elegance and confidence.

"Alvin Menethil, a priest who seeks the path of the Holy Light."

Following suit, Alvin also used his actions to show his respect for the mage. Unlike Arthas, however, he used a gesture similar to the mage's own, rather than the formal introduction his brother had used.

The unconventional boy caught the attention of Khadgar, who stood behind the old mage. He raised an eyebrow, glancing at the child who barely reached his waist, but said nothing. At the same time, the boy's father also glanced sideways at his son, his thoughts unreadable.

After the introductions were complete, Antonidas turned to the main topic, "Your Majesty Terenas, regarding the recent news, Khadgar here will recount the details for you."

"As for the two princes, my apprentice will act as a guide to show them the sights of Dalaran," the old mage said, waving a hand behind him, "Kel'Thuzad, you and Jaina shall accompany the two princes to see the scenery of Dalaran."

The King nodded, approving the arrangement, "Then we shall head to the Violet Citadel first."

He then turned to his two sons and said, "One day—a reward for your diligent studies over the past year."

Leaving a small squad of guards to protect his children, the King departed with the two mages in a carriage bearing the crest of the Kirin Tor, leaving behind an Arthas struggling to contain his excitement and a dazed Alvin.

The boy had not yet recovered from the shock of seeing so many historical figures at once when the young mage in purple robes, who had been standing behind the old mage, pulled a golden-haired little girl forward.

"Your royal highnesses, please follow me."

The mage named Kel'Thuzad led the two boys into an exquisitely crafted carriage, following the one that was already disappearing from view as it headed toward the city of Dalaran.

Because Khadgar had returned to Dalaran with the news that Medivh's great library had been destroyed, Kel'Thuzad was not in high spirits. However, due to the diplomatic ties between Dalaran and Lordaeron, and the request of his respected teacher, he fulfilled his duty as the guide for the two princes.

Although he knew this was an opportunity his teacher had secured for him—now that he had just become a member of the Council of Six of the Kirin Tor—to make contact with the future King of Lordaeron and his brother, the mage, whose heart was set on the path of the arcane, did not take the matter to heart.

The taciturn young mage, the contemplative Alvin, and Arthas, who was taking in the strange surroundings, all remained silent, making the atmosphere in the carriage quiet and awkward. In the end, it was Jaina, brought along by Kel'Thuzad to fill the numbers, who became the catalyst to liven up the mood.

Since being sent to Dalaran last year to become an apprentice to Antonidas, the only peer the little girl had for a playmate was Vereesa Windrunner, a half-elf. Jaina was filled with curiosity about these two noble and seemingly well-mannered boys.

The little girl squeezed between the two brothers, looking left and right, ignoring Arthas's stiff expression as she pointed out the window: "The architecture of Dalaran combines majesty, grandeur, art, and mystery; the most famous structures are the four tall mage towers."

As she spoke, Jaina held out her fair, small palm and began to count: "That one is Master Antonidas's, the tower next to it inscribed with golden runes belongs to the high elf master Kael'thas, the one further away is Master Krasus's; and the last one in the Violet Citadel is where the Council of Six of the Kirin Tor deliberates. By the way, do you know about the Kirin Tor Council..."

Inside the Violet Citadel, the white-haired Khadgar stood in the center of the hall, speaking righteously to the five members of the Kirin Tor Council and Terenas: "My teacher, Medivh, the Guardian of the Tirisfal Council, has betrayed this world. He opened a portal for the orcs of another world."

"In the initial clash, the Kingdom of Stormwind relied on the sturdy walls of Stormwind City to hold out until the end, but according to news sent a few days ago by Sir Anduin Lothar, the supreme commander of the Stormwind forces, those bloodthirsty orcs have regrouped at the borders of the Kingdom of Stormwind and are beginning to brew the next war. I believe that having failed once, they will not be making a futile effort."

Having said this, he looked around, his expression resolute, and declared passionately: "I will depart immediately for Stormwind City to join the ranks against the orc invasion. If the Kingdom of Stormwind falls, then the next to face them will be the various kingdoms of the continent of Lordaeron."