This was a secluded forest, home to a mysterious demigod.
The trees were ancient and lush, and the animals gentle and friendly. Hippogryphs and Faerie Dragons flew through the sky, while moonkin and black panthers roamed among the trees.
Three young Night Elves walked through the forest, heading for a mysterious place to seek its guardian.
Over the past few years, they had already met that being. He had tested them and decided to teach them abilities unlike traditional Arcane Magic.
It was a wondrous ability: freeing their minds to commune with nature, opening their hearts to understand its creatures, communicating with them on the level of the soul, and learning to understand and wield nature's power.
All three young Night Elves worked hard to learn this ability, for it was truly extraordinary, a marvel unlike anything they had ever seen.
They called it the "Druidic Path."
Yet despite their intelligence, they did not all progress at the same pace.
Of the three, the youngest, Illidan, was considered the brightest. His speed at mastering traditional Arcane Magic ranked among the highest of all the Night Elves, perhaps even first, surpassing both his older brother Malfurion and his beloved Tyrande.
People believed he would become one of the greatest Elves, like the great Queen Azshara and her close adviser, Xavius.
All three of them had assumed Illidan would learn the fastest.
That being had thought so too.
In reality, however, Illidan progressed slowly.
He was lively and cheerful, with dark blue hair and amber eyes. As Children of the Moon, almost all Night Elves had silver eyes. Those born with amber eyes were destined to become great Elves.
Illidan had a bad temper, cared too much for play, and could never sit still. Druidic magic, however, required a quiet mind and