Taking a Master

Andy held his bow in his arms, sitting behind Hilar, completely oblivious to the howling wind rushing toward them.

Hilar controlled the Hippogryph while sensing the emotions of the young boy behind her; he was no longer weeping at every turn like he had been the night before. Perhaps the boy was still young, whereas people like her had long grown accustomed to such scenes of bereavement, simply because they possessed lifespans far exceeding those of ordinary humans or other races, even if her own life was not yet that long.

The half-day flight passed in the blink of an eye, lost in Andy's daze.

"Andy, you should still go see the High Priest; perhaps the High Priest can offer you some guidance." Andrew turned his head to Hilar and said, "Hilar, take him over there. I won't go; the teacher has been away for quite some time, so I'll go see if he has returned."

Hilar nodded, took the initiative to hold Andy's hand, and walked toward the Temple of Elune.

Andy glanced at Hilar, noticing a slight flush on her face. Andy smiled bitterly to himself; this Hilar really was just a young elf girl. With his own child-like appearance but adult mentality, he was far beyond what Hilar could fathom. Although Andy was deeply saddened by his father's death, it was merely an excess of grief.

"Sister Weiwei, we're back. I think the High Priest will want to see Andy," Hilar said, looking at Andy.

Weiwei glanced at Hilar, thinking to herself, Why is this little girl acting so strange today? Weiwei looked at Andy, who had a large cloth bundle strapped to his back that was taller than he was. What is going on? Didn't he go back to save that father of his? Why is he back already?

"Hilar, take him back," a young priest said as he walked out.

"Ah?" Hilar asked, puzzled. "Is the High Priest not going to see him?"

"The High Priest says that since things have reached this point, it is best if he resolves his own inner knots," the young priest replied. "The High Priest also said that rather than giving him a bunch of comforting words now, it is better to let him reflect on his own." After the young priest finished speaking, he turned and went back inside, leaving Hilar feeling utterly deflated.

Andy's lips curled into an imperceptible smile. He looked up at Hilar and said, "Let's go."

Hearing Andy's words, Hilar was momentarily stunned; why was this child's tone so mature? Andy's voice was still quite youthful, but his calm and steady tone was not something a child should possess.

Hilar followed behind Andy, staring at him intently for a long time, unable to fathom how he had changed into a different person after such an ordeal. Just a few days ago, when she first saw him in the forest, he had been trembling at the sight of a small wild beast.

"Sister Hilar, you lead the way. I don't know the path to your place," Andy said, stopping and turning around.

Hilar was lost in thought and nearly collided with Andy, startling herself. "What did you say?"

"Sister Hilar, are you even listening to me?" Andy pouted, seemingly reverting to a little boy. "I said you lead the way; I don't know the path!"

"Oh, right!" Hilar didn't know what was wrong with her; why did she keep feeling so absent-minded?

"Senior Brother, we're back," Hilar said upon entering the door.

"Hmm, the teacher is back," Andrew said. "But he doesn't seem very happy. I told him about Andy's situation. You've returned at just the right time; he wants Andy to see him."

Andy glanced at Andrew. Meeting Malfurion—this is a big shot, someone who has lived through several eras.

"Teacher, Andy is here!" Andrew said, stepping aside.

In Andy's mind, Malfurion should have been covered in green, adorned with striped totem tattoos, and perhaps equipped with a pair of small wings to signify his status as a Great Druid.

However, the Malfurion before him had brown hair, dark green eyes, and a slightly sallow complexion. His long, pointed ears stood upright, and his eyes shimmered with the light of wisdom.

"Master!" Andy said, bowing his head.

Malfurion scrutinized Andy carefully before finally speaking: "You are the boy Tyrande mentioned?" Malfurion's voice was majestic, carrying an air that commanded involuntary respect.

"Yes, I have already seen the High Priest," Andy replied, still keeping his head down.

Malfurion nodded, stood up, walked over to Andy, and placed a hand on his shoulder. He walked around him in a slow, silent circle before returning to his chair under Andy's puzzled gaze.

"Sigh, it won't work," Malfurion said, shaking his head.

"What!" The first to grow anxious was not Andy, but Andrew. To be precise, Andy had no idea what Malfurion was doing, and even Hilar was completely bewildered.

"Teacher, this child is very pitiful. Why won't it work?" Andrew asked urgently.

"Fool, I wasn't talking about his background. I am saying he has no talent for becoming a Druid; I cannot feel a shred of natural magic within his body!" Malfurion said slowly. He glanced at the confused Andrew and continued, "To put it bluntly, even though he is of the Elf Race, he belongs to those born without any magic, unable to sense even a sliver of the power of nature!"

Andrew was completely stunned. How could this be?

The most bewildered of all was Andy, the person in question. He finally couldn't help but ask, "Master, may I ask what you are talking about?"

Before Malfurion could speak, Andrew interjected, "I was asking the teacher to take you as a disciple, but unfortunately, you have no talent."

"Oh, is that so?" Andy smiled, his tone very flat, as if it were a matter of course. Of course it was a matter of course; it would be a miracle if there were natural magic in his body—he was just an outsider wearing an elf's skin, after all!

"What is that on your back?" Malfurion noticed that Andy had been carrying a large cloth bundle since he entered and refused to put it down.

"This is the only thing my father left me when he passed. It is a bow," Andy said, his voice filled with a gentle tone.

Malfurion glanced at the hesitant Andrew and beckoned to Andy. "May I see it?"

Andy unslung the bow and handed it to Malfurion.

Malfurion untied the bag and pulled it down, revealing a long, pitch-black bow. A moment later, Malfurion said with shock, "This... is this the Eaglehorn Bow? How is this possible?"

Andy looked at Malfurion, clearly sensing the importance Malfurion placed on the bow, but he still couldn't grasp what was so special about it.

"Sigh, the former glory of this bow has now been completely buried," Malfurion murmured. "Sigh, never mind. Regardless of how you obtained it, I hope you use it well."

"Although you cannot become a Druid, I will send you to see an old Ranger hunter in Darnassus. He should be willing to take you as a disciple for the sake of this bow."

Andy was truly speechless. To get someone to take him as a disciple, it wasn't for the sake of this world-famous figure, but rather for the sake of a bow.