The Book of Azora!

After a long while, Theocritus finally looked up and asked, "Mage Shawn, what are you looking to trade for? A staff? Robes? Accessories? A ring? A pendant? Magical equipment or spellcasting materials?"

Shawn chuckled. "I'm looking to trade for a spellbook."

Theocritus wore an expression that said, "I knew it."

In truth, he could have guessed as much.

Someone willing to trade a staff that even a Mid-Rank Mage could barely use couldn't possibly be short on ordinary magical equipment. What he needed, of course, was something more precious than a staff and more important to a mage: a spellbook!

After thinking it over, Theocritus said, "Mage Shawn, the things you've brought are certainly worth more than a spellbook for a novice mage. As for spellbooks used by Mid-Rank Mages, it's not just that your items aren't valuable enough—I couldn't trade one to you even if they were. I need them myself, after all... This puts me in a difficult position."

Spellbooks were indeed extremely precious magical items. Making one required not only rare Magic Materials and profound magical skill, but also a great deal of time, effort, and mana. So, generally speaking, a mage would make only one spellbook in their lifetime, and it would likely remain with them for the rest of it.

Trading for a spellbook was no easy matter.

Fortunately, Shawn wouldn't put Theocritus in a difficult position, because he hadn't intended to trade for a genuine spellbook.

Shawn smiled, rose to his feet, and said solemnly, "Lord Theocritus, you misunderstand. I'm not looking to trade for a genuine spellbook, but for a copy of one. It doesn't need to be an actual magical item. It only needs to record the entire contents of a genuine spellbook. Of course, an ordinary copy probably wouldn't be worth as much as the items I've brought. So the copy I'm looking for must be valuable enough—at least..."

"A copy of an advanced spellbook. Or, to be precise..."

"A copy of the Book of Azora!"

The Book of Azora!

At those words, Theocritus sprang to his feet, unable to hide his shock and confusion.

Though he wasn't carrying a staff, waves of potent Arcane Energy gathered in his hands, ready to unleash a deadly attack at any moment.

He stared at Shawn, a startling gleam in his eyes. "Mage Shawn, how did you know I had the Book of Azora?"

Shawn smiled faintly. Theocritus's sudden outburst didn't surprise him in the least.

He made no move. Now that his suspicions had been confirmed, he felt much more at ease. He slowly sat back down and said calmly, "Lord Theocritus, there's no need to be surprised. In truth, I was only guessing. I never expected that the High-Rank Mage Azora had really left behind a spellbook, and that it had actually fallen into your hands."

Shawn explained his reasoning.

Generally speaking, a Mage Tower was named after its builder or the person who lived there. Karazhan, for example, was also called "Medivh's Tower" because Medivh had lived there.

That was why Rick had said that, according to rumor, the Tower of Azora had been built by a High-Rank Mage named Azora.

Shawn was more certain of this than Rick because not only was the Mage Tower named after Azora, but so was the precious magical item at its summit.

So it was almost obvious that this Mage Tower had been built by another mage.

Shawn couldn't yet guess what rank that mage had been, but he could say with certainty that they had been at least a High-Rank Mage.

Wouldn't anyone capable of making such a wondrous magical item as the Eye of Azora have to be at least a High-Rank Mage?

Shawn had no idea whether Azora had left behind a spellbook. That part really was just a guess. If she had, then by the usual custom among mages, it would naturally be called the "Book of Azora."

Rick had mentioned that Azora had disappeared long ago. Then, one day, Theocritus had come to Elwynn Forest and taken over the Tower of Azora.

That raised a question.

Why had Theocritus been able to take over the Tower of Azora?

Any Mage Tower would be protected by its builder and resident with all sorts of safeguards: runes, guardian constructs, and other defenses. How could Theocritus, a Mid-Rank Mage, have so easily taken over a Mage Tower left behind by someone who had been at least a High-Rank Mage, with defenses sure to be so formidable?

Perhaps there was some relationship between Lord Theocritus and Azora that was difficult to explain.

Had Theocritus really left Stormwind City to escape its government? Or had that only been part of the reason?

Perhaps he had left Stormwind City and come to the Tower of Azora to inherit it.

Who could guess the truth behind it all?

Shawn couldn't.

But there was one thing he could be sure of.

Since Theocritus had been able to take up residence in the Tower of Azora, if Azora had indeed left behind a spellbook, Theocritus was the most likely person to have obtained it.

That was only Shawn's guess.

He had merely been testing Theocritus with a bluff.

He hadn't expected his guess to be right.

Theocritus really did have the Book of Azora!

On the main road through Elwynn Forest, Shawn and Rick rode their horses side by side, slowly heading toward Goldshire.

Along the way, Rick tried several times to speak, then stopped himself.

Shawn ignored him and opened the sheepskin book in his hands, a satisfied smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Yes, in the end, he had obtained a copy of the Book of Azora, and he was very pleased.

This thick sheepskin book recorded more than thirty practical spells, from low-level Frostbolt, Arcane Missiles, and Fireball to Arcane Explosion, Blink, and Counterspell, and even more advanced Polymorph and Spellsteal. It was a thorough and comprehensive collection.

Of course, like most mages, Azora didn't have Khadgar's triple-specialization advantage. She had focused solely on Arcane Magic. So from the intermediate spells onward, the book contained almost exclusively Arcane spells.

Even so, Shawn was very pleased.

For Shawn, who so far only knew Arcane Missiles, Fireball, and Frostbolt, this copy was incredibly important. It would pave the way for his future spell studies.

It was true that he had lost the Coldlight Oracle's Staff and an entire box of pearls in the trade.

But it was worth it.

How could worldly possessions compare to knowledge?