Fire mages, frost mages, and arcane mages—the legendary three disciplines of magic.
If a mage was highly attuned to both fire and water, loved studying Arcane Energy itself, and, by some happy coincidence, had exceptional magical talent, was clever and hardworking, and was lucky enough to have one or even several excellent mentors—if all sorts of coincidences came together, then... Well, that would be Khadgar, the triple-specialization archmage, a living legend. Don't get obsessed with him...
Shawn closed his eyes and used his mental strength to sense the dense fire and ice elements around him. He easily realized that his affinity for water and fire seemed... pretty good in both cases?
"As expected, as the one and only transmigrator, the destined protagonist of Azeroth, my elemental affinity... is as amazing as I thought! If this room were filled not only with fire and water, but also earth and wind, I'd definitely attract the attention of every element!"
"I'm destined to be a man with top-tier affinity for all four elements!"
Shawn gave himself 10,086 thumbs-up in his mind.
But Shawn's body was not yet fifteen. He wasn't a man—just a boy.
He soon noticed that the water elementals around him were rapidly dwindling...
No, it wasn't that they disliked him, or that his affinity was too poor. There was just someone nearby whose affinity for water was so incredible that those adorable—no, detestable—water elementals had abandoned the protagonist and gone flocking to...
The little miser, Meryl Winterstorm!
"Is it just because his surname is 'Winterstorm'? What does winter have to do with water? And there's 'storm' in it, too. Shouldn't that mean he has an affinity for wind instead?"
Shawn grumbled inwardly.
Actually, he knew this was perfectly normal.
As one of the first hundred human mages—and the most famous of them—Meryl Winterstorm's elemental affinity was bound to be exceptional. Besides, Meryl had been the mentor of Alodi, the first Guardian of Tirisfal, and Alodi was a famous legendary frost mage. Just look at his staff, Ebonchill—the frost mage's ultimate weapon.
Like student, like teacher... Was that how the saying went?
Never mind. The point was, Alodi was a frost mage, so his teacher, Meryl Winterstorm, must be one too... There, settled.
All right, Meryl Winterstorm's water affinity outshone Shawn's, and the Elf Sorceress was immediately stunned.
The Elf Sorceress felt as if she'd gone out to pick flowers and stumbled upon a diamond. She was overcome by an excitement unlike anything she'd ever felt.
"Good heavens, such a powerful affinity for water! I've never seen anything like it! You could search all of Quel'Thalas and still not find someone like him! He's sure to become an outstanding frost mage one day. Perhaps he won't stop at becoming a High-Rank Mage. He might even become an archmage, or... a legend!"
The Elf Sorceress imagined even more.
If Meryl Winterstorm really did become a distinguished legendary mage someday, then as the one who introduced him to magic and served as his mentor, she would naturally rise in status and earn everyone's respect...
What woman didn't love to daydream?
The Elf Sorceress was no exception.
She started drifting off into fantasy, and more fantasy, and more...
"Ahem. Mentor? Mentor? How's our elemental affinity?" Shawn asked for the twelfth time, finally pulling the Elf Sorceress out of her reverie.
Her pretty face flushed slightly. The elven mage soon regained her mentor's solemn air and nodded with false gravity. "Well, Shawn, you truly are a descendant of the Feathermoon family. Your affinity for both water and fire is high. You're sure to make a name for yourself and become an excellent mage."
Hearing the mentor praise Shawn, Meryl quickly asked, "What about me? What about me?"
The Elf Sorceress's eyes lit up. "As for you, your affinity for water is exceptional—unprecedented and never before seen! If you study hard, you'll surely surpass me one day, perhaps even stand alongside the legendary figures. But don't let it go to your head. Remember, success is ninety-nine percent hard work and one percent talent..."
The Elf Sorceress suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her expression turning strange.
Meryl Winterstorm was counting on his fingers, muttering to himself. "Hmm, the mentor's a High-Rank Mage, and she's so rich—richer than a knight, even. She's got so many books, such beautiful clothes, and such a pretty staff. I'm destined to surpass her someday, so I'll definitely be even richer! Then I can buy lots of pretty clothes, lots of nice staffs, and lots of bread. I'll eat one and throw the next away..."
Shawn covered his face.
The Elf Sorceress groaned.
The two exchanged a look, then ran out of the room in unison.
Forgive them. They really wished they'd never met Meryl Winterstorm.
That little miser!
A little miser who sullied the dignity of mages!
After learning about Meryl Winterstorm's phenomenal water affinity, Shawn temporarily suppressed his yearning for an adorable water elemental minion and turned instead to the noble path of the fire mage...
When all was said and done, fireballs were the true romance of mages!
And from another perspective, Shawn could already summon a Water Elemental, so it was time to start studying fire. After all, powerful Conjuration magic could summon powerful fire elemental creatures. Hadn't Prince Kael'thas of the Blood Elves summoned a phoenix named Al'ar?
Shawn had no interest in summoning some fire phoenix. His grand ambition... er, grand wish, was to summon the Fire Elemental Lord Ragnaros as his pet!
The road ahead was long and arduous. Shawn would have to take care of himself...
His future was boundless, but there wasn't much light just ahead.
Night had fallen. Shawn lay in bed, surrounded by darkness.
His consciousness sank into the Space Garrison. The long-forgotten status screen had changed a little.
Name: Shawn Feathermoon (This is no ordinary surname. It once belonged to a legendary figure whose name will go down in history, though she has yet to be recorded in its pages. You've found a few clues. Keep investigating, young man!)
Race: Half-human, half-elf (A medium-sized intelligent race with half human blood and half elven blood. In plain terms, a "Half-Elf." Your mixed heritage has given you talent, but also prejudice. Neither elves nor humans like you.)
Attributes: Strength 5, Agility 7, Stamina 10, Intelligence 12, Spirit 19 (Assessment: You are an abnormal minor. Your Spirit is off the charts!)
Main Class: Mage (Apprentice).
Secondary Class: None.
Skills: Common (Beginner), Elven (Beginner), Cooking (Beginner), Farming (Beginner), Engineering (Beginner).
Equipment: Kobold Shaman Wizard Staff (White quality, Common equipment), Dalaran Apprentice Robe (White quality, Common equipment), Fine Iron Dagger (White quality, Common equipment).
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