The Council of Tirisfal

The next day, while Drew was teaching Nelson alchemy, a manager from the Alchemist Association brought him some news.

Thomas had come to visit with Archmage Aegwynn's husband.

Drew hadn't expected them to come looking for him before he had a chance to seek them out.

He was a little puzzled. Archmage Aegwynn's husband hadn't attended such a formal occasion the day before, so why had he suddenly come to visit today?

Could it be because of the True Perfect Healing Potion? After all, the banquet the day before had spread word of its effects.

Whatever the reason, Drew would receive them first.

He instructed the staff to bring them to the Alchemist Association's reception room, then headed there with Nelson.

When Drew arrived at the reception room, he saw that someone was already there.

One was Thomas, an acquaintance. The other must be Archmage Aegwynn's husband.

The archmage had shoulder-length blond hair and bright, shining eyes that seemed to glimmer with starlight. He had a high nose and a small mustache above his lip.

He wore a well-tailored crimson-purple mage robe that gave him an elegant air.

He carried no staff; his hands were naturally tucked into the robe's wide sleeves.

Standing there, he exuded a refined air. He was very handsome, nearly as handsome as a High Elf.

Young and powerful—no wonder Aegwynn had chosen him.

After a tedious, aristocratic exchange of pleasantries, Archmage Aegwynn's husband explained why he had come.

As expected, he was here for the True Perfect Healing Potion.

"One of my friends was injured and needs a bottle of True Perfect Healing Potion to treat his wounds. Do you have any left, Master Drew?" Archmage Aegwynn's husband asked.

"I do, but may I ask why you don't take him to a Priest for healing with holy magic?"

"My friend was badly wounded while fighting shadow creatures, and dense shadow energy has gathered in his body.

"If holy magic is used to heal him, it will clash with the shadow energy inside him.

"His body can't withstand such a clash right now.

"If we force the treatment, it won't heal him—and he could even die," Archmage Aegwynn's husband explained.

"From what you've said, your friend must be a high-level combatant.

"Why not try a Healing Potion?"

"I've already tried other Healing Potions, but the shadow energy has made them ineffective.

"I've heard that potions of True Perfect quality have extraordinary effects, so I want to try one on him. The outcome can't be any worse.

"Whatever happens, I'll owe you a favor. Or you can ask for anything you want."

"I've heard a great deal about you, and I've always wanted to be your friend.

"Please accept these two potions as a gift for our first meeting. I hope you won't mind.

"Have him drink the True Perfect Healing Potion first, then take this Excellent Quality Antidote Potion a little later.

"If they don't work, you can come back to me, and we'll think of another solution." Drew handed the two potions to Archmage Aegwynn's husband.

"Thank you, Master Drew. I think we're already friends.

"I'll invite you to my home sometime.

"Please forgive my urgency. I can't stay and talk today." Archmage Aegwynn's husband accepted the potions and rose to his feet, speaking sincerely.

After he left, Drew wondered if the person who had fought the shadow creatures could be Aegwynn.

Probably not. At this point in time, Aegwynn should be invincible. No one and no creature could threaten her.

He seemed to recall from the game's history that Nielas Aran had been a member of the Council of Tirisfal.

The Council of Tirisfal was a secret magical organization founded by the High Elves in alliance with humans and other races. Its original purpose had been to use powerful magic to resist the Burning Legion and prevent demons from harming Azeroth.

Unlike the Kirin Tor Council of Dalaran, which was widely known for studying magical knowledge, the Council of Tirisfal focused more on strengthening and applying magic. It selected a powerful Guardian and imbued that person with extraordinary magical power.

The powerful Guardian Aegwynn was their creation.

In humanity's earliest days, humans did not know how to use magic.

While humans and High Elves fought the Trolls together, the High Elves taught humans how to use magic.

But humans abused magic excessively, creating a breach in the world's natural defenses. Some demons passed through these breaches and entered the world.

As more and more mages used magic, the fabric of the world grew fragile and began to tear.

The scent of the Well of Eternity once again attracted the greedy demon armies.

The demons were gradually drawn to this power, which had first come from the Titans. Although these relatively weak demons did not appear in great numbers, they still caused considerable turmoil in the world.

Most encounters with demons were isolated incidents, and the mages concealed them from the public.

Some of the most powerful mages were sent to capture these cunning demons alive. But they usually discovered that these powerful agents of the Burning Legion, though fighting alone, were far stronger than they could handle.

Months later, superstitious farmers began to suspect that their mages were deliberately hiding something terrible from them. As suspicious townsfolk questioned the motives and actions of the mages they had once praised, rumors of revolution began spreading everywhere.

Fearing that the farmers might rise up and take action against them, the mages had no choice but to seek help from the Elves—their only allies they believed could understand the unique predicament they faced.

The Elves promptly sent their most powerful sorcerers to human lands.

The Elven sorcerers studied the flows of energy in Dalaran, then wrote detailed reports on every instance of demonic activity they witnessed.

They concluded that although only a small number of demons were wreaking havoc in the world at present, the Burning Legion still posed an immense threat that could not be ignored if humans continued to abuse magic.

The High Elves told the humans that as long as they continued using magic, they had to find a way to protect their people from the Burning Legion.

They proposed granting their combined power to the strongest mortal, who would wage an endless secret war against the Burning Legion.

Fearing that the people might riot out of terror and suspicion, they stressed that most humans must never learn of the Guardian's existence or the threat posed by the Burning Legion.

So they established a secret society to oversee the selection of the Guardian and help contain the rising chaos in the world. This was how the Council of Tirisfal came to be. The Guardian was born for this purpose.

Drew didn't think any of this had much to do with him. He had simply given the potions to Archmage Aegwynn's husband and hadn't paid much attention to the matter or the people involved.

He didn't want to get caught up in these affairs either. But Drew didn't know that, in the future, he would become deeply entangled with this organization.