Recaps

Lister trained with Belo'vir, who taught him how the qualitative nature and quantity of Arcane mana shaped a mage's power. Belo'vir explained that the Talar rune beneath them could amplify rituals by absorbing ambient mana, leaving Lister to study its function.

• Lister changed into fitted combat clothes and drank a potion before Belo'vir continued their practical combat lesson.
• Belo'vir recalled how his first faulty potion gave him an afro and taught King Anasterian to copy the hairstyle.
• Belo'vir asked Lister about mana, then explained that understanding its qualitative differences had helped him become Grand Magister.
• Belo'vir pointed to Ebony Chill as an artifact infused with Alodi's unique mana and said mastering qualitative change could transform a mage's life.
• Belo'vir explained that the Talar rune strengthened the quantity of Arcane energy by absorbing mana from the air.

Lister created his first magical rune, then dreamed of C'Thun trying to corrupt him before Cenarius, Ysera, and Ebony Chill rescued him. He woke with a spent fragment of C'Thun’s power in the form of an eyeball and decided to study it for his Mage Eye research.

• Lister drew a Talar Rune with Moonlight Ink and completed his first enchanted parchment after staying up through the night.
• Aeldagosa questioned Ebony Chill about Lister and the consequences of granting power to a mortal, then vanished.
• C'Thun tried to dominate Lister in a dream, but Cenarius intervened and Ebony Chill carried Lister back to the waking world.
• Lister expelled a frozen eyeball containing C'Thun’s spent power and inspected it while Uther urged him to dispose of it.
• Lister preserved the eyeball for Mage Eye research, then left before Uther could finish inviting him to the village.

Lister realized the exams were over and invited Modera to Uther's Winter Veil Festival celebration at Valgan Farm. The gathering ended with several guests drunk, while Belo'vir gave Lister a rune-covered ruby.

• Lister discovered that the classroom was empty because the final exams had ended, then invited Modera to the Winter Veil Festival celebration.
• Uther prepared a lavish feast at Valgan Farm, while Lister, Modera, and Astaroth joined the preparations.
• Lister felt sick after learning that the murloc fin soup he had eaten was part of the feast, and Astaroth passed out from drinking cider.
• Kel'Thuzad arrived looking for Lister, but Uther drew him into the celebration, where he drank cider and collapsed.
• Belo'vir arrived and gave Lister a rune-covered ruby, then praised cider chilled by Ebony Chill.
• Astaroth woke, challenged the villagers to drink, and pulled Belo'vir into the festivities after drinking three barrels of cider.

After Winter Veil, Lister analyzed the rune scarletstone Modera explained and learned more about her political rivalry with Ilucia. Modera tried to recruit him for Lordaeron, but Lister refused to become entangled with secular powers and would not support the Barov Family.

• Uther oversaw the cleanup after Winter Veil while Belo'vir woke Astaroth, who eventually teleported away.
• Modera explained the rune scarletstone to Lister, and he analyzed its magical structure and capabilities.
• Lister stored the precious scarletstone inside Ebony Chill and discussed his lack of a personal laboratory with Modera.
• Modera warned Lister about Ilucia and revealed that their interests aligned against her, while Lister guessed that Modera represented the Menethil Family and Lordaeron.
• Modera urged Lister to join Lordaeron and asked whether he would submit to someone else, but Lister said he would avoid secular entanglements and would not help the Barov Family.

King Terenas and his advisers discussed how to keep Lordaeron from losing influence over Dalaran and decided to offer Lister Joel’s knighthood. Meanwhile, Lister finished learning two frost spells, and the chapter ended with him noticing Modera’s grim mood as he prepared to leave.

• King Terenas read Modera’s letter and learned that she had reached an agreement with Lister, leaving Dalaran independent.
• Terenas and Counts Barnil and Solian discussed ways to influence Dalaran and considered supporting Modera as a Kirin Tor councilor.
• Barnil suggested transferring Joel’s knighthood to Lister, and Terenas approved the proposal.
• Jorom noticed that the eye on Modera’s letter seemed to move, but Terenas dismissed his fear as a reaction to the magical seal.
• Lister completed Frost Armor and Ice Arrow, then asked the grim-looking Modera if someone had offended her before saying he could not stay overnight at her house.

Lister completed Belo'vir's combat training, and the Archmage defeated him in a battle before taking him to watch the Windrunner sisters ride through Silvermoon City. Lister wondered which sister Prince Kael would marry, then asked to see the elves' victory celebration.

• Belo'vir used Fireballs and close-range attacks to break through Lister's combined Frost Armor and Arcane Shield and defeat him.
• Belo'vir praised Lister's progress and discussed how he should find an elven wife when he was older.
• Belo'vir pointed out Alleria, Sylvanas, Vereesa, and Lirath Windrunner riding Hawkstriders through Silvermoon City.
• Lister wondered aloud which Windrunner sister Prince Kael would choose as his wife, while Korthira and Falthora noticed him beside Belo'vir from outside the mage tower.
• Lister asked to see the elves' victory over the trolls, and Belo'vir led him downstairs.

After the Farstrider Rangers defeated a band of Zul'Aman headhunters, Belo'vir introduced Lister as his talented disciple, provoking jealousy and rumors among the elves. Darkan grew envious of Lister's artifact and prospects and began plotting to get rid of him.

• Alleria led the Farstrider Rangers to wipe out a band of Zul'Aman headhunters, and the elves celebrated their victory.
• Belo'vir introduced Lister as his disciple, revealing that the nine-year-old could cast more than ten low-level spells and brew Major Healing Potions.
• Vandelor and Liadrin greeted Lister while Ebony Chill guarded him from the crowd's curious hands.
• Korthira mistook Lister for a possible royal child, and Lor'themar tried unsuccessfully to correct the rumor.
• Darkan saw Ebony Chill depicted on a parchment and, envious of Lister's artifact and future inheritance, began plotting to eliminate him.

Lister learned that his elven bloodline came from the Sunstrider family and that his father was Anasterian's brother, Nalorath. The revelation left him facing a royal inheritance and an invitation to claim his father's title and estate.

• Anasterian learned that Belo'vir had taken Lister as a disciple and believed Lister could one day reach the demigod realm.
• Lister traded a Wild Grape Potion for the recipe for the elves' spicy octopus seasoning while Liadrin, Lor'themar, and Galell joined him.
• Galell told Lister that Anasterian planned to find him an elven wife and receive him personally, but Ebony Chill warned Lister that the elves were discussing him.
• Anasterian told Lister that tests had traced his pure elven bloodline to the Sunstriders, and Antonidas confirmed the results.
• Anasterian identified his late brother Nalorath as Lister's likely father and offered Lister his title, roughly thirty million gold coins, and other assets.

Lister rejected King Anasterian’s suggestion that he marry a high elven woman to secure a Silvermoon City council seat, while the high elves worked to establish his political position. The chapter left Lister preparing to meet foreign envoys and Anduin Lothar agreeing to represent Storm City in dealings concerning him.

• Kael'thas told Lister that King Anasterian had suggested a high elven marriage in exchange for a future council seat, and Lister refused.
• Lister trained with Salorian, fought through repeated defeats, and learned that the first Lordaeron envoy would arrive at the Violet Citadel in three days.
• Kael'thas said the royal court's master of ceremonies would teach Lister how to receive the envoys, while Belo'vir remarked on how calmly Lister had taken the news of his inheritance.
• King Anasterian persuaded high elven nobles to support Lister's position in Silvermoon City, and Lister accepted the title of Duke Nalorath without taking a surname.
• King Llane discussed Lister's Sunstrider descent with Anduin Lothar and asked him to travel on Storm City's behalf; Lothar agreed.

Lister welcomed the Ironforge envoys and demonstrated his strength by wielding Muradin’s seventy-kilogram warhammer, then warned Lothar that he intended to use power as a deterrent. The Wildhammer envoys arrived with a precious gryphon egg for Lister.

• Lister greeted Muradin Bronzebeard and accepted King Magni’s arcanite warhammer.
• Lister lifted the seventy-kilogram hammer with one hand and smashed a crater into the marble floor.
• Lister told Muradin he would add frost runes to the hammer and use it to crush his enemies.
• Lister told Lothar that displaying power could prevent future attacks, and Lothar recognized his potential as a ruler.
• Fragar arrived representing Kurdran Wildhammer and presented Lister with an enormous gryphon egg.

Lister learned to brew a Shadow Protection Potion while juggling his duties and the slow construction of his mage tower. He trained with his companions and traded jokes, though he knew their brief peace would soon end.

• Lister brewed a Shadow Protection Potion, and Kel'Thuzad criticized the potion's quality because Lister had not processed the royal blood beforehand.
• Kel'Thuzad carried Mr. Bigglesworth away and fed him dried fish after the cat protested his attempts to control its food.
• Lister reflected on the many attendants and instructors Anasterian had assigned to him and worried that his mage tower was taking too long to build.
• Melis Dawn reprimanded Lister for dressing improperly, but he ignored her and headed to the training ground with Salorian and the Falon brothers.
• Lister joked with Solanar and his companions after improving enough to last five exchanges against Salorian, while privately anticipating the end of their peace.

Lister worked with Uther to address declining newspaper sales by proposing a grand adventure, then studied wolf eyes with Kel'Thuzad and developed an advanced Mage Eye. The chapter ended with Lady Melis ordering Lister to bathe after he emerged from his laboratory.

• Liadrin struggled to chop firewood for Uther while Lister visited Uther at the printing house.
• Lister gave Uther protective potions and discussed falling newspaper sales before suggesting they begin a grand adventure.
• Lister dissected more than a thousand wolf eyeballs under Kel'Thuzad's guidance and studied Kel'Thuzad's anatomical notes.
• Lister designed and refined an Arcane Mage Eye that could move, adjust its pupil, and improve his distant vision.
• Lady Melis threw clothes at Lister and ordered him to take a bath.

Lister led a group into Dalaran’s sewers to investigate the drainage system and discovered fel-corrupted creatures lurking beneath the city. The group prepared to enter a deep sewer junction where larger, unknown monsters might be waiting.

• Lister equipped the group with Ice Barriers and led them into the sewers, joined by Uther, Salorian, the Falon brothers, Liadrin, Cromie, and Krasus.
• The group found a massive grease blockage, and Lister froze and smashed through it, allowing sewage to rush down the passage.
• Lister killed a giant rat and revealed black flesh within its skull; Uther recognized the hostile power as resembling the gnoll’s, while Cromie identified it as demonic fel energy.
• Cromie warned that a deep, spacious sewer junction lay ahead, and Krasus conjured a magical eye to scout it.

Seranas, a starving broodmother spider bred and experimented on in Dalaran, attacked the group in the sewers with her swarm. The adventurers killed her and her offspring, then turned to dividing the spoils and discussing the cost of the magic arrows.

• Seranas charged the group with her spider swarm, and Salorian used Quel'Delar to sever two of her chelicerae.
• Krasus, Cromie, and Lister held back the swarm with fire and frost magic while Korthira shot one of Seranas's glowing eyes.
• Salorian led the warriors into the cavern, and Uther healed him after Seranas smashed him with a chelicera.
• Seranas spat flaming venom, but Lister shielded the group with an ice barrier before bombarding her abdomen with Arcane Missiles.
• Korthira killed Seranas with an Arcane-powered mithril arrow, and the group froze and slaughtered the remaining spiders.
• Lister asked how much the Council of Kirin Tor would pay, and Krasus suggested dividing the spoils first.

Lister and his companions searched the broodmother spider’s hoard, discovering an ancient armor linked to the demon Kathra'natir and the Aether Mirror, which Lister returned to the blue dragons. After the group divided the other spoils and rested, Kel'Thuzad received a sealed box from Lister containing hot grilled fish.

• Uther and the others examined the spider’s valuable hoard, including adamantite and damaged elven armor identified as Raevserra’s.
• Ebony Chill revealed the name Kathra'natir, and Krasus explained that the powerful Nathrezim had once been defeated by Alodi, the first Guardian.
• Liadrin found the Aether Mirror, and Lister asked Krasus to return the blue dragon relic to Kalecgos rather than keep it for the Council of Tirisfal.
• The companions divided the remaining treasures, then sheltered in an ice hut to rest and discuss the battle.
• Melis gave Kel'Thuzad a sealed box from Duke Nalorath, and Kel'Thuzad found hot grilled fish inside.

Lister and his companions explored the sewers beneath Dalaran, fought off dangerous creatures, and reached a waterway where Lister killed an eight-meter crocodile. After venting his pent-up tension, Lister urged the group onward and asked Uther whether he liked crocodile meat.

• Lister used Mage Eye to scout the waterway, but a fast, dark red shark destroyed it and damaged his rune.
• The group followed the clean waterway, killed a giant rat, and identified a nearby corpse as a goblin killed by thieves.
• Lister froze the pipes as an eight-meter crocodile approached, then wounded it with Arcane Missile and Arcane Explosion.
• Lister repeatedly smashed the crocodile with his hammer until it died, then regained his composure and suggested the group hurry on.
• Lister asked Uther whether he liked crocodile meat, recalling their Winter Veil roast pork.

After the battle, Lister rested with the others, learned Krasus's lantern spell, and studied military tactics under Korthira. Their tactical discussions led to the invention of wargame, a tool that would teach countless warriors.

• Liadrin reflected on Uther's power while Lister recognized the need to control her emotions in battle.
• Krasus praised Lister's rapid progress in arcane magic and taught her a lantern spell.
• Lister created a fire lantern by enclosing a fireball in an ice shell, impressing Krasus.
• Korthira taught Lister high elf military theory, and she quickly demonstrated talent for tactical command.
• Lister and the others debated and simulated battles with ice pieces, inventing wargame.

Lister and the others found a wounded Mo'arg demon in Dalaran's sewers and learned that a necromancer had summoned and betrayed it. When the demon revealed itself as Kathra'natir, Lister destroyed it with Ebony Chill, though the weapon's hatred of demons seemed to overtake him.

• Liadrin, Krasus, Salorian, Korthira, and Lister found a wounded Mo'arg demon beside a demon-summoning rune in the sewers.
• The demon claimed a mage had deceived it, and offered Alodi a contract in exchange for help killing the mage who betrayed it.
• Lister accused the demon of being a Nathrezim, and it revealed itself as Kathra'natir and attacked.
• Lister unleashed Ebony Chill, blasting Kathra'natir through the sewers and a tower before the demon's power was overwhelmed.
• After the blast, Lister felt Alodi's hatred of demons stirring through Ebony Chill and admitted he had guessed Kathra'natir's identity by bluffing.
• Krasus questioned Lister about recognizing Kathra'natir, and Antonidas agreed with Lister that deceiving a demon was fair.

Lister's bestselling novel revived Dalaran's fears that Kathra'natir remained alive, while the Council of Tirisfal struggled to organize a search for his suspected necromancer. In Silvermoon City, Lister refused the prospect of becoming a second Guardian, and Anasterian announced a victory reception for the heroes.

• Dalaran Sewer Legends became a continent-wide bestseller, and the Violet Citadel grew alarmed that Kathra'natir might still be alive.
• The Council of Tirisfal argued in Poison Spider Canyon about how to find the suspected necromancer, while Tarsis recorded their discussion.
• Kael'thas and Lister met with Levrethra's descendants as Silvermoon City arranged to restore Levrethra's armor and rewarded Baron Sagnar.
• Belo'vir told Lister that some council members had proposed creating a second Guardian, but Lister said he would not take the role.
• Anasterian invited Lister and Kael'thas to a victory reception, leaving Kael'thas to face the attention of Silvermoon City's high elves.

At a lavish banquet, Lister and Sylvanas avoided the royal matchmaking hints before speaking privately on a balcony about the nobles who opposed him and the dangers beyond Quel'Thalas. Lister offered Sylvanas his support, then returned to the hall, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

• Anasterian joked with Lireesa and Velas about marriage and hoped Kael'thas would eventually find a match.
• Sylvanas and Lister traded barbed remarks at the banquet while Lister dismissed the pressure to marry into the Windrunner family.
• Sylvanas asked Lister to speak with her outside, where she warned that Quel'Thalas's nobles wanted to ruin his reputation.
• Lister argued that noble status offered little protection against the world's dangers and thanked Sylvanas for warning him.
• Lister offered Sylvanas his private friendship and support, then returned to the hall after she briefly touched his hand.

After Dalaran granted Lister a neglected harbor and surrounding land, he began developing the territory with Uther and his attendants. Lister invested Uther and four high elves as knights, binding them to serve the Alliance and share in the land’s resources.

• Dalaran rewarded Lister with an abandoned harbor west of Valgan's Field, where he found gnolls and signs of Silverpine Forest’s natural resources.
• Lister killed a gnoll and displayed its head as a warning, then resolved to turn the forest into a prosperous territory.
• Uther helped Lister and the villagers build houses, and Lister explained that his grant of five hundred hectares could support knights and soldiers.
• Lister offered to invest Uther, and Uther knelt to accept; Lister then called Korthira, Falon, Solanar, and Karel to join the ceremony.
• Uther swore himself to the Holy Light while the four high elves swore themselves to Lister, and Lister invested all five as knights who could use and benefit from his land.

Lister met Aegir, a powerful mage who offered to build a mage tower in exchange for becoming his adviser, and then spoke with her teacher, Lord Prestor. After Prestor promised to teach him earth magic and warned that an influential elven family wanted his life, Lister hired Aegir and set construction in motion.

• Aegir offered to use earth magic to build Lister a heavily defended mage tower and argued that he would need mages as advisers.
• Lister discussed Aegir's power with his companions and agreed to meet her again to arrange the construction of a library and his territory.
• Lister found Aegir with her teacher, Lord Prestor, who offered to teach him earth magic in exchange for Aegir becoming his adviser.
• Lord Prestor warned Lister that an influential elven family was plotting against him, but Lister said he was unconcerned about his reputation or the threats to his life.
• Lord Prestor vanished in a cloud of dust, and Lister hired Aegir and told her to begin construction using Salorian's blueprints.

Lister studied Frost Runes in Elemental Water under Kel'Thuzad, but a summoned water elemental tried to steal Ebony Chill and was destroyed. Kel'Thuzad offered to teach Lister how to summon elementals if he brought back ten sealed Shore Crawler corpses.

• Lister studied water elemental runes, but spilled the Elemental Water and lost his research.
• Kel'Thuzad summoned a natural water elemental to replenish the water for Lister’s experiments, allowing him to complete one rune after a day of work.
• Lister asked to learn how to summon a water elemental, and Kel'Thuzad told him about Shore Crawlers near Lake Lordamere.
• The water elemental tried to seize Ebony Chill, but Lister froze its reaching current and Kel'Thuzad destroyed it.
• Kel'Thuzad gave Lister a magic pouch and promised to teach him elemental summoning if he brought back ten sealed Shore Crawler corpses.

Antonidas explained the dangerous creatures and magical experiments around Alterac to Lister, then assigned him a solo mission to hunt a mutated mountain lion. Lister accepted in hopes of graduating early and escaping Dalaran’s watchful routines.

• Antonidas showed Lister records of Marsh Crawlers and other creatures created or released by mages near Dalaran.
• Antonidas warned Lister that a powerful elemental lifeform and yetis inhabited the Alterac Mountains.
• Antonidas gave Lister an official order to bring back the head of a mutated mountain lion reportedly six meters long.
• Antonidas told Lister he had to complete the hunt alone and promised early graduation if he succeeded.
• Lister accepted the mission, and Antonidas arranged for him to travel with a small team to the eastern marshes.

Lister and Korthira prepared to travel into the Eastern Swamp, with Lister carefully following Antonidas's order to go alone by hiring Korthira as his sole mercenary. They boarded a steamship for the eastern shore, where their swamp expedition awaited.

• Lister registered a mercenary company, hired Korthira for one silver coin, and told Salorian to prevent construction at Aijier until he returned.
• Lister arranged for Karel and Liadrin to follow him and Korthira without Dalaran noticing.
• Lister and Korthira crossed Lake Lordamere, waited at the harbor, and boarded Captain Lawente Firebeard's steamship to the Eastern Swamp.
• On board, Yalos warned Lister about the swamp's dangers, and Lister handed out herbs to freshen the foul-smelling cabins.
• Lister and Korthira settled in to endure the three-hour voyage to the eastern shore.