The Archmage's Decision

Nobo had not slept well at all the previous night. First, a gale had blown his carefully tidied room to pieces. After spending half the night cleaning it up and finally getting into bed, a racket broke out in the corridor. Annoyed, he opened the door, only to find Krasus and the other teachers standing outside. Wisely, he immediately shut his mouth.

Then he saw Lister, holding a strange ice staff, heading downstairs with several mages. Unable to stop himself, he called out, "Lister, where are you going?"

That one sentence drew every sharp gaze onto him. He could not help shrinking his neck. Lister smiled. "I'll be back soon."

"Let's go." The old man with the long beard walked beside Lister, accompanying him slowly downstairs. Kael'thas and the others followed behind with solemn expressions.

Security at the Violet Citadel had been raised to the highest level. Lister walked alongside them, slowly passing through the complicated gazes of the people on the streets. He carefully sensed the power within Ebony Chill. Who would have thought that such a frigid divine artifact could be so warm within? It had been created for one purpose only: to protect humanity.

Antonidas opened the door beside him. Accompanied by the others, Lister came before him. The forty-year-old archmage warmly extended his hand. "Welcome to the Violet Citadel."

Lister tightened his grip on Ebony Chill. Everyone around him jolted and instinctively assumed defensive stances. His face turned pale as he forcibly broke free from the surging azure magic of Ebony Chill. It felt as though he were holding not an icy staff, but a red-hot iron bar. The moment he loosened his grip, the tense Alex immediately caught the staff and let out a long breath.

The next instant, a terrifying ice storm erupted from Ebony Chill. To his horror, Alex discovered fine, dense frost spreading from the point of contact, beginning with the hands gripping Ebony Chill. Antonidas immediately raised a hand. A dazzling flame appeared out of nowhere, smashing the dark-blue tendrils at precisely the right moment. Lister extended his hand, and Ebony Chill, which had been about to fall, voluntarily flew into his grasp.

"Your Highness, are there any records among the high elves that explain this phenomenon?" Antonidas clapped his hands. Countless pastries, roasted meats, fruits, and wine flew out from the stairway. Tables and chairs appeared on their own. All the elves naturally took their seats. The human mages understood as well that there would be no fighting tonight. Relieved, they too slowly sat down.

"Sit down, child. The facts prove that you have no desire to possess this divine artifact. It is the one that has taken the initiative to draw close to you." Antonidas sighed as a mage applied frostbite ointment to Alex. "Your Highness?"

"In our people's records, divine artifacts possess wills of their own. Many masters proficient in alchemy can attest to this. However, there is only one circumstance in which they will voluntarily acknowledge someone." Kael'thas took a sip of red wine to calm himself before slowly continuing. "That is when the wielder's magic highly matches the artifact's own magic, and the wielder's will is very similar, very close to that of the artifact's creator."

"So Lister's magic and temperament are very close to those of Guardian Alodi?" Antonidas's question threw Kael'thas into brief thought. After a moment, he nodded with difficulty. "I'm afraid so."

The mages around them, who had already lost all interest in eating, cried out in alarm. This world had beliefs in reincarnation. Could it be...

"Judging from the current situation, Ebony Chill must belong to Lister. Trying to force the issue will only lead to unpredictable consequences." Antonidas looked at Alex, who nodded reluctantly. "Yes. So, Antonidas?"

Antonidas stroked his chin. The relationship between the apprentice before him and Ebony Chill was better than that of any mage and staff recorded in history. He could wield a divine artifact as effortlessly as an extension of his own arm. It was simply unbelievable.

Antonidas knew very well that he was in the prime of his life, which gave him ample energy to handle many complicated matters, so long as they did not involve the Guardian. But now, this involved the Guardian.

The most fitting explanation at present was that Lister was Alodi reincarnated. But if that were the case, Medivh would probably explode. After all, this would be the most direct challenge to the legitimacy of his position as Guardian. Although his own status as Guardian had no legitimacy either—his power had been forcibly seized—he was, regardless, the current Guardian. The two would have to fight to the death. So would Dalaran support the current, uncontrollable Guardian Medivh, or the reincarnation of the first Guardian?

That would mean an internal split within the Council of Tirisfal. Anyone with sense would reject that option. After Aegwynn left, she had left behind a massive bomb: the uncontrollable Medivh. If it had been another Guardian willing to communicate with the Council, this most convenient and straightforward explanation might have worked.

But now, he could not take such a great risk. The deadly part was that he had to give everyone a reasonable explanation right now, immediately. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Lister."

Lister, who was battling two chicken legs, looked up. Antonidas looked at him. "Your teacher once reported this matter to me. I had thought it was baseless, but it now appears that you truly possess talent beyond all imagination, just as I did back then."

"So, my suggestion is that you come study under me instead." Antonidas's words stunned everyone, but they soon showed looks of understanding.

Antonidas also knew that Lister did not like the rigid and harsh Alex. Tarsis's report had confirmed this. By saying this publicly, he was also preserving Alex's dignity. After all, having a family-inherited divine artifact reject its master and run off with an outsider was disgraceful anywhere. But first, he established that Lister was Alex's student and had only come into contact with Ebony Chill because of that.

It was a masterful move. First, Lister belonged to Alodi's lineage. Whether he or Alex wielded Ebony Chill, it would be an internal matter of Alodi's lineage. No mage outside that lineage would be allowed to covet the divine artifact.

Second, Lister was exceptionally gifted, and even the divine artifact acknowledged him. Alex lacked the ability to teach him, so Antonidas had to personally take charge of his instruction. This would ensure that the six members of the Council of Kirin Tor formed inseparable ties with Lister.

Third, if he personally taught Lister, then Lister would be Antonidas's disciple. Anyone who gave Lister trouble over this matter would be making an enemy of Antonidas. This would also shield Lister from Medivh and make the latter wary of acting.

Fourth, the Council of Tirisfal needed someone capable of counterbalancing Medivh, ensuring that the situation could be controlled if Medivh went out of control.

The first three points could still be linked to personal motives. For instance, Antonidas might be taking the opportunity to seize the divine artifact of Alex's lineage, using his powerful position to bring Lister, such a trump card, into his sphere of influence early. But the final point concerned the shared interests of every Council of Tirisfal member and even of Dalaran itself.

There was no other reason. An uncontrollable demigod was a Sword of Damocles hanging over everyone's heads. Medivh had no connection whatsoever to Dalaran. He had been entirely "created" by Aegwynn. Lister was different. So long as he grew up in Dalaran, built his mage tower, and became a ruler of Dalaran, he would be controllable. He could communicate with the Council of Tirisfal and take Dalaran's interests into consideration. That was what a proper Guardian should be.

Since Lister had displayed talent comparable to Alodi's, then as long as Dalaran spared no expense in piling resources onto him, they could quickly gain a weapon capable of counterbalancing Medivh. That was precisely what Dalaran needed most right now. Furthermore, Lister was a half-elf. At the very least, he could live for four or five hundred years. Even after stepping down as Guardian—the Guardian's term was one hundred years—he could continue serving Dalaran and leave behind a lasting legacy.

In fact, Dalaran had been breached several times precisely because it lacked a supreme powerhouse like the Guardian. If a demigod-level Guardian had existed, Arthas would have been blasted to death by a single Pyroblast the moment he arrived beneath Dalaran's walls to look for a way to breach them. A Guardian could simply teleport before Arthas, fire off a Pyroblast, activate Ice Block, then teleport away. If one blast did not kill him, they could keep doing it. No one could endure that kind of decapitation tactic.

Lister's greatest threat was not to Dalaran, but to Medivh. Dalaran's interests were completely aligned with Lister's. The Council of Kirin Tor had to protect Lister at all costs! And Antonidas, Dalaran's strongest mage, had to take the lead!

"I'm willing." Having figured this out, Lister immediately nodded and bowed. "Teacher."

Antonidas nodded in satisfaction and looked at the other mages present. "What do you all think?"

"I agree." Kael'thas spoke first, and the high elves immediately followed. Among the human mages, Krasus also nodded in agreement. Before long, everyone reached a consensus.

"Lister has taken your Ebony Chill. I will compensate you." Antonidas comforted the heartbroken Alex. "My private library will be open to you at any time."

"Really?!" The heartbroken Alex's eyes immediately lit up. He asked in disbelief, "Really?"

"Of course." Antonidas's assurance sent Alex into raptures. He immediately followed an invisible servant toward Antonidas's library. Even his thumbs were trembling with excitement.