Happy times always passed quickly. Taelan Fordring and Jaina had spent a delightful evening together.
They discussed magic and whispered secrets to each other. Taelan Fordring even let Jaina read the sections on Occultism in the Dragon Codex.
There was never such a thing as too much knowledge. They got along so naturally, like family, without any awkwardness or stuffy noble etiquette. She didn't have to lift her skirts to curtsy, and he didn't have to put on the airs of a Gentleman. They helped and relied on each other.
Though Jaina hadn't endured any more hardships, she had met more people and learned about their lives.
She had gone with Taelan to the barracks to visit the Highlord's adjutant, Alton, and listen to his stories about the Orc Wars. She had visited Havinfar at the church and listened to her speak about her path of Holy Light. She had gone to Felstone Farm to visit Janice and hear her amusing stories about farm life. Taelan Fordring's experiences had also opened her eyes to what nobles were really like.
Her surroundings really could change a person. She had seen Taelan's hard work, Tirion's sense of justice, Havinfar's selflessness, and Janice's kindness. She would no longer trust people so easily, nor would she judge anyone carelessly.
She was more mature and stronger than her counterpart in the original timeline. She had become Archmage Antonidas's apprentice six years earlier, become a mage at the age of eleven, and entered the world of magic sooner. She had learned far more about Occultism—the accumulated knowledge of the dragons over tens of thousands of years.
A steady relationship left her with more time and energy to devote to studying magic, instead of wasting it on the push and pull of an unstable one. She also