One Year Later Part Two

If Dalaran had a popularity ranking, Orendo Seferosa's name would definitely be near the top—perhaps even first or second.

The young mage from the central Hillsbrad Foothills had spent only one year making his name known throughout the entire Kirin Tor and among half the mages of Quel'Thalas.

Orendo Seferosa.

Dalaran's newly risen, dazzling star! At just fourteen years old, he had received the Kirin Tor's Ribbon of Supreme Wisdom three times—the highest honor a mage could receive from Dalaran.

It was said that Silvermoon City was even discussing whether to award him an honor no human had ever received before: the highest honor of elven mages—the Silvermoon Medal.

In Dalaran, Seferosa was not the youngest recipient of the Ribbon of Supreme Wisdom. But if he obtained the elves' Silvermoon Medal, he would undoubtedly be its youngest recipient—no elf could possibly receive Silvermoon City's highest honor at the age of fourteen.

Just look at what he had done in Dalaran over the past year—

Five months after becoming an official mage, this genius mage published his first magical paper in Kirin Tor Monthly, <An Analysis of the Spell Model and Energy Arrangement of Orendo's Energy Bolt>. He had contributed both a new spell and a new way of thinking about spells.

It was this paper that made him famous throughout Dalaran and among mages, earning him the title of genius overnight.

That same month, the genius mage ordered his servants to open a magical creations shop named [Severosa Fine Goods] in Dalaran's busiest commercial district. The shop primarily sold all manner of magical products he had invented or created, and its sales for the first month alone were said to have exceeded one hundred thousand new Dalaran gold coins.

The following month, which was also Orendo Seferosa's seventh month in Dalaran, he published another paper in Kirin Tor Monthly—Making Our Bread More Delicious!

In the paper, the genius mage Orendo solved a problem that had plagued mages for thousands of years! Magical bread that pigs would not even eat in the past could become delicious after using his improved method! Seferosa improved the Create Food spell, requiring only a tiny amount of added ingredients to turn something pigs would refuse into a delicacy.

That same month, [Severosa Fine Goods] released a product that countless male nobles went mad over. The sales of that product alone reached eighty thousand Dalaran gold coins within a single month.

At the same time, because Orendo Seferosa had improved the Create Food spell, Kael'thas, the elven prince and a member of the Council of Six, proposed that he be awarded the Kirin Tor's Ribbon of Supreme Wisdom for his contribution.

The proposal was unanimously approved in the Kirin Tor's internal vote, making him the second-youngest recipient in the award's history.

For a time, Orendo Seferosa became a genius mage known to everyone in Dalaran, and his name began reaching the upper nobility of Silvermoon City and the many human kingdoms.

Then, in his eighth month in Dalaran, Sir Orendo Seferosa published another new paper—<An Investigation into the Effects of Collision Coefficients Among Elements of Different Ratios>. In this paper, he put forward a bold hypothesis.

The paper received an ordinary response among regular mages and was not as popular as the two spells in his previous papers.

Yet among high-ranking mages, the hypothesis in this academic paper caused a tremendous uproar. If the spell envisioned in the paper could truly be created, it might become the most powerful creation in history—whether used for attack or other purposes.

And so, relying on a paper ordinary mages could not even understand, Sir Orendo Seferosa received the Kirin Tor's Ribbon of Supreme Wisdom for a second time, an unprecedented achievement!

Over the next few months, Sir Seferosa published three more papers in succession: An Exploration of the Charm of Void Tide Patterns, which lit up the eyes of Astromancers and Void researchers; <An Analysis of Elements Affecting Surface Mechanical Properties in Mechanical Operations>, which gnome mages regarded as a priceless treasure; and <The Relationship Between Bloodthistle, Bloodthistle Products, and Magical Addiction, and Ways to Address It>, which shocked Silvermoon City.

Incidentally, Sir Orendo Seferosa received the Kirin Tor's Ribbon of Supreme Wisdom for the third time because of the paper <An Analysis of Elements Affecting Surface Mechanical Properties in Mechanical Operations>.

Because of that paper, the gnome mage community—which was actually quite influential in Dalaran but had always kept a low profile—strongly demanded that he be awarded another Ribbon of Supreme Wisdom.

The Kirin Tor could not outargue the gnome mages, who were normally low-key but could not be swayed from anything they set their minds to, even by a hundred oxen. Left with no choice, they awarded Orendo Seferosa the Ribbon of Supreme Wisdom for a third time.

Then came his most recent paper, The Beauty of Constructing Magical Biodiversity, as well as the [Severosa Fine Goods] magic shop, which was rumored to have earned several hundred thousand Dalaran gold coins in half a year.

In short, discussing "Orendo Seferosa" had become fashionable in Dalaran.

Among mages, Sir Seferosa's papers had become a guidepost for many mages encountering difficulties on their path of magical exploration.

That was why Kirin Tor Monthly, whose sales had once been mediocre, had seen explosive sales over the past few months. Mages now made sure to get the latest issue of Kirin Tor Monthly every month.

All so they could see the genius's new ideas and new theories.

Thus, when such a super genius emerged from his mentor Solarian's mage tower and headed toward the apprentice dormitory, mages constantly greeted and saluted him along the way.

"Good day, Mage Orendo."

"Ah! Sir Seferosa, I am the son of the Count of Tarren Mill. May I..."

"Could I discuss some of my views on <An Analysis of Elements Affecting Surface Physical and Mechanical Properties in Mechanical Operations> with you?"

"Over here, Sir Seferosa! I am a court mage from Lordaeron. Would you be interested in speaking with me?"

"..."

Being a star was glorious, but mage stars had their own troubles too. Like now... there were too many real fans and fake ones alike, too many people with ulterior motives hoping to get close to him.

Orendo's response was... to smile all the way, activate the "Altered Mana Shield" he had learned from Prince Kael'thas, and deal with them as he headed for the apprentice dormitory now reserved solely for his use.

Every official member of the Kirin Tor could apply for a free property in Dalaran to use as a mage's residence, laboratory, and mage tower.

As a three-time recipient of the Kirin Tor's Ribbon of Supreme Wisdom, he naturally had that right. At his request, this sizeable apprentice dormitory had become his laboratory and residence.

The purple fatties were still guarding the entrance, except there were now two instead of one, and they were more intelligent.

"Master, welcome back." The two purple fatties spoke in unison.

"Don't let anyone in," Orendo ordered them.

"Your will." The two purple fatties answered in unison again.

Only then did Orendo enter.

The apprentice dormitory was quite spacious. By Earth's measurements, the square, hollow-centered castle was over forty meters in both length and width, with each floor covering more than 1,600 square meters.

It had three floors of interior space and a rooftop terrace. Excluding the fourth-floor terrace, each floor below had thirty-three rooms, enough to accommodate nearly a hundred apprentice mages.

But it now belonged solely to Orendo, and its interior had been slightly remodeled. Every room on the first floor had been opened up, turning it into a vast hall.

The first-floor hall was brightly lit, but apart from the furnishings, it was completely empty. This was where the mage entertained guests.

Only the second floor and above contained the laboratories, bedrooms, and workshops.

Orendo climbed the stairs, but instead of stopping on the second floor, he headed directly to the third.

When he saw the figure lazily reclining in a lounge chair on the third floor, he smiled.

Orendo walked over. "Good day, Mentor."

The languid Guardian glanced at him from below. "Back already? Heh. Looks like your aunt still has a little sense of shame."

Having grown familiar with her and learned her personality and boundaries, Orendo merely smiled without concern. "We did not do anything. We only slept while holding each other. You said I was not allowed to engage in reproductive behavior with other females before coming of age..."

"Good that you remember." She suddenly rolled out of the lounge chair and stood before Orendo, who was nearly as tall as she was. "I need to go out for a while. There are some things I need to tell you."

"You are leaving?" Orendo froze. Of course, he knew that when the Tirisfal Guardian said she was "going out," she did not mean leaving home for an ordinary stroll.

"A divination spell," she explained softly. "Somewhere in the Twisting Nether, a large number of demons are gathering. I need to see what they intend to do. If they mean harm to our world, I will scatter them."

Orendo immediately stopped trying to persuade her.

This was her duty, and also her bottom line. No matter how disliked Aegwynn was by Tirisfal and the Kirin Tor, no mage over the past several centuries had the right to say she had done poorly in the Guardian's duties.

Yes, he already knew that she was Aegwynn, that incomparably powerful and immensely proud Tirisfal Guardian!

He already knew the personality and past of Magna Aegwynn, who had spent a year with him and was, in truth, his real mentor!

Thinking of what had happened a year ago, he still found it somewhat surreal—who could have known that a mage apprentice's Fireball would knock a Guardian out of the sky?

And who could have known that a chance meeting in Dalaran would make him her student?

As Orendo reflected inwardly, he saw Aegwynn extend a key to him. "Take it. It will allow you to enter the Karazhan Library. But remember, Karazhan is extremely dangerous. Only the library is safe. So while I am away, do not leave the library when you are there!"

Orendo nodded and accepted the key. He did not ask how he was supposed to reach the Karazhan Library; this was not his first time going there.

"I will be back soon." She looked at Orendo.

"Remember. Without my permission, you are not to engage in reproductive behavior with other females. And if they come and I do not return in time, take the key and hide in Karazhan."

Orendo nodded again.

"Mm, that is all." Aegwynn had nothing more to say. Without any visible movement, she merely turned and vanished into the void.

Leaving Orendo standing there, feeling lost.