Secret Deliberations of the Tirisfal Council

Dalaran.

Violet Citadel.

A group of mages who might have been the finest and most elite in all of the Kirin Tor and half of Silvermoon City had gathered here.

They were in the most secluded space at the very top of the citadel, a place known as the Guardian's Sanctum.

Antonidas, one of the newly appointed members of Dalaran's Council of Six, a student of the old Chairman Andrew, and the youngest recipient in history of the Kirin Tor High Wisdom Ribbon, held a small signet ring as he faced the others.

"This is his creation."

"A magical signet ring made with highly advanced Enhancement and Transmutation spells."

"It can greatly enhance the wearer's physical strength, even allowing them to control certain aspects at will..."

"It sells for ten thousand Dalaran gold coins, with only three available each month. So far, twelve such rings have entered the market. Some nobles are even willing to spend fifty thousand Dalaran gold coins to buy one."

"Of course... what we are discussing today is not this ring's abilities, nor how much money he has made from these rings."

"What we are discussing is..." Antonidas paused here, looking toward the eldest high elf present before continuing softly.

"Lord Leifusela. As I said when I called this gathering, what I must point out is that I found traces of Guardian magic on it!"

Leifusela, one of the founders of the Tirisfal Council and a high elf mage who had held great authority within the council for three thousand years, looked at the earnest Antonidas.

"There is Guardian magic on it? My dear Antonidas, you are still young. You do not know the temperament of our Guardian. She would never casually allow her creations to fall into outsiders' hands, much less use her abilities to make something like this," Leifusela said gently to Antonidas.

The council members present all basically knew what this remarkable signet ring could do.

That was why Leifusela did not believe that the woman human with the most outstanding talent he had ever seen, proud beyond measure, would create such a thing.

"Lord Leifusela." Andrew, Chairman of Dalaran, suddenly spoke.

"I believe Antonidas does not mean that this little trinket was created by our Guardian. Am I right, Antonidas?"

"That is correct." Antonidas hurriedly nodded, looking at his mentor and the elf Leifusela. "What I mean is that these signet rings use the Guardian's knowledge or power, but they were not created by her. Someone else made these rings."

At this moment, none of the mages qualified to meet within the Guardian's Sanctum were unintelligent.

Leifusela's pale brows rose. He said softly, "You mean that Orendo Seferosa, the creator of these rings, is connected to Aegwynn?"

At the mention of Aegwynn's name, the dozen or so mages present grew noticeably more tense and all looked toward Antonidas.

"That is right!" The archmage nodded firmly. "He is too outstanding! Outstanding to an unbelievable degree! This is highly abnormal. He received the Kirin Tor High Wisdom Ribbon three times in a single year! How could that possibly..."

"How could it be impossible, my dear Antonidas?" A gentle voice suddenly cut in, interrupting Antonidas before he could finish.

It was Kael'thas Sunstrider, the representative of Silvermoon City's royal family in the council and the heir of Quel'Thalas.

The prince said mildly, "It is indeed outrageous for Seferosa to receive the Kirin Tor High Wisdom Ribbon three times in one year. But please do not forget that you received the Kirin Tor High Wisdom Ribbon at the age of twelve, which was even more outrageous. And you have received the Kirin Tor High Wisdom Ribbon eleven times in total, far more than Seferosa."

"Since a genius like you can exist, how can you say that Orendo Seferosa is impossible?"

"Your Highness..." Antonidas neither humbled himself nor acted arrogantly as he looked at Kael'thas. "Are you saying that you believe Orendo Seferosa has no connection to the Guardian?"

"I never said that." Kael'thas's voice remained as gentle as ever. "I merely wish to emphasize that the child may simply be a genius like you."

Antonidas frowned, and Leifusela spoke at this moment.

His voice was mild. "Your Highness, that child truly is a genius, an exceptional genius. But that does not prevent him from having a connection to the Guardian. I believe it is precisely because he is outstanding enough that he drew the Guardian's attention and came into contact with her."

Seeing Leifusela speak, a senior figure whom even his father had to respect, the prince merely shrugged and fell silent.

Leifusela smiled at the prince before turning to the youngest mage lord of Dalaran.

"Antonidas, continue with your discoveries and opinions."

"Yes, my lord." After responding to Leifusela, Antonidas looked toward the members of the Tirisfal Council.

"I used divination and detection spells on his residence, yet found nothing. I am not saying he lacks the ability to block my spells, but that is clearly somewhat unreasonable. I admit he is exceptional, but he is still young."

"Afterward, several mages and I also saw some of the Guardian's knowledge and power in his creations. Therefore, I believe the Guardian we have been searching for may very well be near us. And it is also very likely that Orendo Seferosa is closely connected to her."

"Those are my findings and my conjectures. I am finished." Once Antonidas finished speaking, he did not ramble at all and immediately stepped back behind his mentor, Chairman Andrew.

For a moment, the Guardian's Sanctum was quiet, with only the swishing sound of magical brooms sweeping the floor.

"What do you think?" Andrew, Dalaran's current chairman and leader of the Kirin Tor, asked Leifusela softly.

"Suppose, and I mean suppose," Leifusela said as he met the mages' gazes, his voice old but gentle, "that Orendo Seferosa truly is connected to the Guardian. Or even that he is simply her student. What do you believe the council should do?"

"How about using him to threaten the Guardian? Hehe... I think that could work." Prince Sunstrider chuckled softly as he looked around at everyone. "Do not look at me like that. It is only a suggestion. Everyone may share their own thoughts."

Antonidas could not help glancing at him.

Before the other mages could speak, Leifusela immediately waved a hand. "Aegwynn is the most powerful Guardian and wielder of the staff I have ever known! She is also the most hot-tempered and unruly. I fear a single Orendo Seferosa would be unable to threaten her and would instead provoke her wrath."

"It was only a suggestion." Hearing this, Kael'thas shrugged.

The room immediately fell silent, and Leifusela grew somewhat irritated.

Aegwynn, unruly and too powerful for anyone to restrain, truly infuriated him.

The silence continued until a somewhat shrill yet quiet voice suddenly rang out.

"I have a bold guess!" Magnus Manastorm, a gnome mage and one of the council members, hurriedly voiced his thoughts when everyone turned to look at him.

"Could it be that the lady Guardian intends to choose her own successor? And that the successor she has chosen is our Mr. Orendo Seferosa?"

Hearing Magnus's bold conjecture, Leifusela, Chairman Andrew, and several other high-ranking council members exchanged looks.

It was not impossible.

If that was the truth, what should the council and the Kirin Tor do?