The Council That Played Ostrich

Orendo, who was preparing to embark on his great money-making venture to support the extravagantly expensive path of a mage, had his very first request for payment rejected.

The editor-in-chief of Kirin Tor Monthly unexpectedly refused his request.

"No mage has ever asked for compensation. Being able to publish your research in Kirin Tor Monthly is itself the greatest honor, the greatest reward!"

Those were the exact words of the editor-in-chief sent over by Kel'Thuzad.

To some extent, that was not wrong. For ordinary mages, publishing their academic findings in the monthly was indeed a great honor. It could also easily draw official attention and earn them preferential access to Kirin Tor resources.

Orendo had published his research findings every month before this, precisely because he wanted fame and hoped to receive preferential treatment in official resources.

But half a year had passed. He had achieved fame; now, throughout the entire Kirin Tor and half of Quel'Thalas, any mage knew the name Orendo Seferosa.

Even many human rulers and nobles who had nothing to do with mages knew the name and deeds of this young genius mage.

Yet the preferential allocation of Dalaran's official resources that he had imagined had never arrived. So far, the only thing Orendo had received from the Kirin Tor was this castle that had once been apprentice housing. He had not received a single bit of resources or money.

That was why, as the first step in his plan to make money, he had tried to test Dalaran's official attitude.

He had not expected that editor-in-chief to refuse so decisively!

Orendo was furious.

Kel'Thuzad received ten thousand Dalaran gold coins in research funding every year, yet he, a genius even more famous and outstanding than Kel'Thuzad, did not get a single coin!

What exactly was Dalaran trying to do?

He did not know that the reason Dalaran had not given him preferential resources had nothing to do with him.

It was still the Violet Citadel.

Guardian's Sanctum.

The upper ranks of the Tirisfal Council had gathered once more. This time, only a few giants were present:

One of the council's founders, an heirloom of the Saronar Family of Quel'Thalas, the high elf mage Leifusela Saronar.

Also one of the council's founders, and likewise a high elf, Novan Sunwalker.

The chairman of the Dalaran Council and leader of the mages, Master Andrew.

The Tirisfal Council's gnomish mage representative and Gnomeregan's representative, Magnus Millhouse.

Around three thousand years ago, the council itself had been an arcane assembly jointly established by high elf mages, human mages, and gnomish mages. Unfortunately, human mages and gnomish mages did not possess the long lifespans of high elves. Thus, while the two elven founders were still alive, the human and gnomish founders from that era had long since died.

The two high elves, whose power was unmatched and whose seniority could not have been any greater, naturally became the council's administrators and those in power.

"Aegwynn should be in Dalaran. Though she left for a while some time ago, she seems to have returned here several days ago."

Among the council's giants, Leifusela was the first to speak. "We only confirmed this information through the Guardian's Forge in secret. She really is nearby."

This news left the council's giants speechless for a time.

After a long while, Magnus Millhouse's somewhat shrill voice rang out. "Then, since she is nearby, is there a need to reactivate the Tiris Secret Society?"

The Tirisfal Council and the Tiris Secret Society had very similar names, but they were not the same thing... The Tiris Secret Society was an offshoot of the Tirisfal Council, something renamed and established on the council's foundation.

However, several years ago, the Tiris Secret Society had been declared dissolved because it could not fulfill the purpose for which it had been formed.

The purpose of the Tiris Secret Society was to gather Dalaran's elite mages and some elven mage guards, creating an organization to hunt down Aegwynn should she break free of control.

The hunt had failed.

The Tiris Secret Society had then faded into obscurity, and no mage had mentioned it again.

The Tirisfal Council had not found Aegwynn's whereabouts for many years, yet now they discovered that she was nearby. That was why Magnus asked whether they should reactivate the Tiris Secret Society.

Reactivating the Tiris Secret Society... The council's principal leaders looked at one another, rendered speechless.

Would it be useful?

The Tiris Secret Society of that time had been little more than a joke before Aegwynn! The hunting party formed from more than a dozen of the Tirisfal Council's strongest mages had been effortlessly toyed with by the Lady Guardian.

That was only because Aegwynn had not been particularly murderous. She had not dealt them a fatal blow, merely mocked the members of the Secret Society before letting them go.

If Aegwynn had been even slightly more ruthless back then, whether these people could still be standing here and talking would be a question.

Only after the Tiris Secret Society incident did the council realize the difference between a Guardian and mages like themselves, and the difference between Aegwynn and the previous Guardians and champions.

Magnus's proposal was ignored.

Hunt down Aegwynn? Who would go? And who could guarantee that the reactivated Tiris Secret Society would still receive Aegwynn's mercy?

"She is too powerful." Leifusela sighed. His faintly blue-glowing eyes were filled with helplessness and reminiscence. "Stronger than any previous Guardian or champion. As long as she has not lost the Guardian's power, no one on Azeroth can do anything to her."

"I oppose reactivating the Tiris Secret Society." Chairman Andrew, Dalaran's leader, spoke steadily. "It would be far too dangerous."

"I also do not support reactivating the Tiris Secret Society," Novan Sunwalker said softly.

The three actual giants all opposed reactivating the Tiris Secret Society. Magnus, who had only mentioned it in passing, shrugged and said no more.

"Very well. Then we are back to the original question." Magnus looked up at the three giants.

"How should the Tirisfal Council, or Dalaran, treat Orendo Seferosa, who likely has an extremely deep connection with Aegwynn?"

The three giants fell into contemplation again.

Leifusela was still the first to speak. "There are no more than three choices."

"First, expel him without leaving any trace, because we do not know what the Guardian is seeking in Dalaran."

"Second, win him over and use that to drive a wedge between him and Aegwynn. But if this is what the Guardian wishes to see, I fear she intends to control Dalaran."

"Third, ignore him entirely. Act as though he does not exist, and as though Aegwynn never came to Dalaran."

"The three choices have different benefits and different drawbacks."

After Leifusela finished, he looked at the other three and decisively raised his hand. "As before, let us vote. To be safe, I vote for the third choice."

His good brother, good friend, and good companion Novan Sunwalker also raised his hand. "I support the third choice as well. For now, let us simply act as though they do not exist."

Magnus hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand high. "I think we might try to ease our relationship with the Lady Guardian. Therefore, I vote for the second choice!"

After voting, the three turned to look at Chairman Andrew, Dalaran's true leader.

Andrew stroked his whitening beard and said softly, "I abstain."

Magnus shrugged again.

Leifusela then said solemnly, "The third choice has two votes, the second choice has one vote, and there is one abstention. No one wishes to expel Seferosa and provoke the Lady Guardian's displeasure."

"Then... it is decided."

"For now, we will act as though they do not exist. We will continue doing what we should do, but we must make some preparations in advance to prevent her from doing anything extreme."

"Agreed."

"I have no objection."

"You are always right."

"..."