Shandris introduced them. "This is Kairana Windwhisper, and this is Shawn Feathermoon. Kairana, Shawn wants to learn alchemy from you. Would you be willing to teach him?"
Kaelanna had had no idea what was going on, but when she suddenly heard that she was being asked to teach Shawn alchemy, her eyes lit up. She looked him up and down for quite a while before finally saying wistfully, "Someone actually volunteered to learn alchemy? What an idiot... Oh, oh, I mean, it's so wonderful to be young!"
Yes, it really was wonderful to be young: curious, fearless, willing to try anything, unafraid of failure or tedium.
She had been full of enthusiasm herself, once upon a time. But hadn't she lost interest in the end anyway? After all, Night Elves weren't humans. Their lives weren't nearly so short. Over the long years, passion and enthusiasm were worn away. Aside from calm and peace, all that remained was tranquility.
No longer fearing death, no longer loving life, no longer looking forward to anything, no longer curious about the world...
Those druids had the right idea. Whenever they had nothing to do, they went to sleep and explored another world in the Emerald Dream, forever curious, never growing weary...
Kaelanna sighed and glanced at the Half-Elf mage before her. You have human blood. I've heard humans have endless curiosity about everything, and more enthusiasm for learning than any other race. Maybe you'll actually stick with it? If that happens, won't I finally be free?
At that thought, Kairana felt enthusiasm fill her heart for the first time in centuries.
"All right, Shawn, was it? I know you. You're General Shandris's nephew. Study hard, okay? I've got high hopes for you!" Kaelanna patted Shawn on the shoulder. There was something indefinable in her