Becoming an Apprentice

Andy sat behind Hilar with the bow in his arms, oblivious to the fierce wind rushing toward him.

As Hilar controlled the Hippogryph, he sensed the little boy's mood behind him. He wasn't like last night anymore, bursting into tears at the slightest thing. Perhaps the kid was still young. Most of them had grown used to scenes of death and parting, simply because they lived far longer than ordinary people or other races—though Hilar himself didn't have quite such a long life.

The half-day flight passed in the blink of an eye while Andy sat lost in thought.

"Andy, you should still go see the High Priest. Perhaps she can offer you some guidance." Andrew turned to Hilar. "Take him there. I won't go. It's been a while since our teacher left, so I'll see whether the old man has returned."

Hilar nodded, took Andy's hand, and led him toward the Temple of Elune.

Andy glanced at Hilar. Her face was a little flushed. He gave a wry smile inwardly. Hilar really was just a little Elf girl. With the outward appearance of a child but the mind of an adult, Andy was far beyond what she could see through. He was deeply grieved over his father's death, but that was all—he was simply grieving a little too much.

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

Weiwei looked at Hilar, wondering why the girl was acting so strangely today. Then she looked at Andy, who had a huge cloth bundle strapped to his back, taller than he was. What was going on? Hadn't he gone back to save his so-called father? Why had he come back already?

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

"Huh?" Hilar looked puzzled. "The High Priest doesn't plan to see him?"

"The High Priest said that things have come to this, and all that matters is that he works through it himself," the young priest replied. "She also said that instead of giving him a long speech full of comforting words, it would be better to let him think things through on his own." After speaking, the young priest turned and went back inside, leaving Hilar utterly deflated.

A barely perceptible smile tugged at Andy's lips. He looked up at Hilar and said, "Let's go."

At Andy's words, Hilar froze for a moment. How could a child speak with such maturity? His voice was still rather childish, but his calm, steady tone was not something a child should have.

Hilar followed behind Andy, staring at him for a long while. She couldn't understand how he seemed to have become a different person after what had happened. Just a few days ago, when she had first seen him in the woods, he'd been so frightened by a little wild animal that his legs were trembling.

"Big Sister Hilar, shouldn't you be leading the way? I don't know how to get to your place." Andy stopped and turned around.

Hilar was lost in thought and nearly walked right into him, startling herself. "What did you say?"

"Big Sister Hilar, are you even listening to me?" Andy pouted, almost like the little boy he'd been before. "I said you should lead the way. I don't know the way!"

"Oh, all right!" Hilar wasn't sure what was wrong with her. She kept finding herself distracted.

"Senior Brother, we're back," Hilar said as she entered.

"Mm, our teacher's back," Andrew replied. "But he doesn't look very happy. I told him about Andy, and you came back at just the right time. He wants Andy to go see him."

Andy glanced at Andrew. Meeting Malfurion—that was a big deal. He'd lived through several eras.

"Teacher, Andy's here!" Andrew said, then stepped aside.

In Andy's mind, Malfurion should have been green all over, with tattoos of stripes and totems covering his body, and a pair of little wings to show he was an Archdruid.

But the Malfurion before him had brown hair and dark green eyes. His skin was a slightly yellowish hue, his two long, pointed ears stood upright, and wisdom shone in his eyes.

"Greetings, Master," Andy said, lowering his head.

Malfurion studied Andy carefully. After a long while, he said, "You're the boy Tyrande mentioned?" His voice was even more commanding, carrying a force that inspired respect without anyone realizing it.

"Yes. I've met the High Priest," Andy replied, still keeping his head lowered.

Malfurion nodded, stood, and walked over to Andy. He placed a hand on one of Andy's shoulders, then slowly and silently turned around once. With Andy staring at him in confusion, he returned to his chair.

"Ah, no good," Malfurion said, shaking his head.

"What!" The first to grow alarmed wasn't Andy, but Andrew. Andy had no idea what Malfurion was doing, and even Hilar was completely baffled.

"Teacher, this child has suffered so much. Why isn't he suitable?" Andrew asked anxiously.

"Fool, I wasn't talking about his background. I meant that he has no talent for becoming a Druid. I can't sense even a trace of natural magic in his body," Malfurion said slowly. He glanced at Andrew, who was just as confused, and continued, "To put it plainly, although he's an Elf, he's one of those people born without any magic at all. He can't sense even the tiniest bit of nature's power!"

Andrew was dumbfounded. How could this happen?

But Andy was the most confused of all. He finally couldn't help asking, "Master, may I ask what you're talking about?"

Before Malfurion could speak, Andrew hurriedly explained, "I was going to ask our teacher to take you as his apprentice, but unfortunately, you don't have the talent."

"Oh, is that so?" Andy smiled, his tone calm, as though it were only to be expected. And, of course, it was. It would've been strange if they could sense natural magic in his body. He was just an outsider wearing an Elf's skin, after all!

"What's that on your back?" Malfurion had noticed the large cloth bundle Andy had carried in from the moment he arrived, and that he hadn't set it down.

"This is the only thing my father left me when he passed away. It's a bow," Andy said, his voice gentle.

Malfurion glanced at Andrew, who seemed to want to say something, then beckoned to Andy. "May I see it?"

Andy took the bow off his back and handed it to Malfurion.

Malfurion untied the bag and pulled it down, revealing a longbow that was black from end to end. A moment later, he said in astonishment, "Th-this is the Eaglehorn Bow? How is that possible?"

Andy looked at Malfurion. He could tell how much the man valued the bow, but he still couldn't understand what made it so special.

"Ah, the bow's former glory has long since been buried beneath the earth," Malfurion murmured. "Ah, never mind. However you came by it, I hope you'll use it well."

"Although you can't become a Druid, I'll send you to meet an old Ranger and hunter in Darnassus. He should take you as his apprentice for the sake of this bow."

Andy was at a loss for words. The man wasn't going to take him as an apprentice because of his reputation in this world, but because of the bow's reputation.