Theocritus

A while later, a mage in his fifties pushed open the door and walked in. His expression was cold, and he didn't look very pleased.

As soon as he entered, he saw Rick get up to greet him. "Rick, old friend! Didn't I tell you not to bring people here? I don't welcome outsiders, and that includes you! Why aren't you fleeing around Westfall? What are you doing here? You..."

Theocritus hadn't finished speaking when he suddenly noticed Shawn. He paused in surprise, then furrowed his brow and asked, half inquiring and half certain, "A novice mage?"

All spellcasters could sense the magic energy drifting around them, and they could judge another person's true strength from the fluctuations of mana around them. Of course, it was difficult for a low-rank mage to judge the strength of a High-Rank Mage. But Theocritus was a Mid-Rank Mage, and he could tell Shawn's level at a glance.

Naturally, he wouldn't simply say, "You're just a novice mage." That would be impolite. Though he lived far from Stormwind City, Theocritus had once spent decades in the Mage District, and he still knew mage etiquette well.

Rick glanced at Shawn, surprise flashing in his eyes.

He'd already suspected as much, but learning that Shawn really was a mage still shocked him.

He had spent so long at Saldean Farm, and he was certain no one there knew Shawn was a mage.

He was genuinely amazed and impressed by Shawn's ability to keep his nature hidden, and by all the mysteries surrounding him.

Shawn hurried to his feet, gave Theocritus a mage's salute, and said, "I'm Shawn, a freelance mage. It's an honor to meet you, Lord Theocritus, Mid-Rank Mage."

He stated his identity outright: a freelance mage.

Theocritus disliked Stormwind City's government, and naturally had no love for court mages or battle mages who served it. He might feel more at ease with another freelance mage like himself.

After all, the mages at the Tower of Azora hadn't always been so numerous. Many had come later, drawn by its reputation, to seek out Theocritus and devote themselves to studying Arcane Magic.

Sure enough, when Shawn introduced himself, Theocritus's expression softened. He returned the mage's salute and asked, "What brings you to the Tower of Azora, Mage Shawn?"

They were getting to the point!

Shawn cast Eye of Insight on Theocritus, but couldn't see his exact level. The Mid-Rank Mage was clearly powerful, and might even be close to becoming a High-Rank Mage. Shawn quickly replied, "Well, I'm a freelance mage, and I only advanced recently, so I haven't gotten to know any other mages yet. I'd like to meet you and the other mages, exchange supplies, and help one another improve."

Theocritus nodded.

That was what he'd expected. Mages usually dealt with one another this way. They pursued truth and knowledge, and didn't care much for money or other worldly possessions. They were interested only in things related to magic.

Still, Theocritus suspected Shawn's background might not be so simple. He could be the student of a Mid-Rank Mage or even a High-Rank Mage. The badge on Shawn's chest and the ring on his right pinky finger were no ordinary items. Both carried strong mana fluctuations and seemed to have been enhanced with sophisticated enchantments.

Even Theocritus himself owned only a few things like those.

After a moment's thought, Theocritus decided not to call the other mages over. Instead, he invited Shawn to sit and asked directly, "What did you have in mind for our exchange? Don't worry, I have pretty much everything a novice mage might need. The question is, what can you offer?"

Theocritus was clearly nothing like schemers such as Argus and Grian. His temper might be short, but he was just as straightforward. Shawn found it much easier to deal with someone like that. At least he didn't have to worry about being taken for a ride.

Come on, Shawn was the king of sweet talk. How embarrassing would it be if he let other people fool him all the time? He couldn't live that down!

After thinking it over, Shawn picked up his pack and set it on the table, indicating that Theocritus should open it.

Theocritus looked at Shawn in confusion.

The pack was large. It had to weigh several dozen pounds. He didn't know what was inside, but the strong magical fluctuations told him it held some kind of magical items—and they were probably quite valuable.

Was this young mage planning to trade them?

After a moment's thought, Theocritus opened the pack.

The first thing he saw was a staff.

It was an unusual design, only as long as a forearm—not at all suited for human use. Theocritus picked it up and studied it for a while before looking at Shawn in confusion. "This is... a staff used by Murlocs, isn't it?"

Shawn nodded with a smile. "You're certainly well-informed, sir. This is a staff used by a Coldlight Oracle. It's not as good as a human mage's staff, but it's still a staff. Would you be interested in it, Lord Theocritus?"

Theocritus nodded. "It's small, but very well made. It's definitely a fine piece of work. Any novice mage could use it, and even an ordinary Mid-Rank Mage would find it useful. It's too short, but you could mount it on an ordinary staff. Mage Shawn, are you really offering it in trade?"

Shawn smiled and nodded.

Theocritus was a little puzzled. Why would Shawn be willing to trade away something this fine instead of using it himself? But he didn't ask. He simply nodded, set down the staff, and opened another bundle.

In fact, aside from the staff, there was only one other thing in the entire pack. It had all been wrapped together.

When Theocritus opened the bundle and saw what was inside, he drew in a sharp breath.

Rick, watching beside him, nearly jumped out of his skin. His heart pounded as he thought, I've been traveling with Shawn for two days, and I had no idea he was carrying something so valuable! Otherwise, I might have risked everything and fought him for it! Even if I died...

That was right. The pack held dozens of pounds of nothing but pearls—pearls from the sea!

Theocritus narrowed his eyes slightly, picked up a pearl, and rolled it between his fingers.

The pearl held a faint trace of Water Elemental energy, along with a little Arcane Energy. In other words, these weren't ordinary pearls. They were magical items. Each one might be the lowest grade of magical item, but there had to be several hundred of them. Perhaps even a thousand?

A thousand magical items would be worth an enormous amount—far more than money could measure.

And Shawn had no intention of trading the pearls for money. What he wanted in exchange was something he wanted more than anything, something he had never managed to obtain.