Bloodline

"Oh? Really?" Even Anasterian perked up at the news. "Belo'vir took on a disciple? A half-elf, at that? Whose child is he?"

"It's that Blood Warrior." The courtier's words made him pause, then he burst into laughter. "I knew it. He wouldn't stay sunk in despair forever. Back then, he was even more formidable than I was. How could he possibly not consider his own legacy?"

He really was a cunning old fox. The king swallowed those words without letting anyone hear them.

The elves treated the matter like a joke. Oh, that child was called Blood Warrior. He had once defeated a powerful knight in single combat. He had earned Ebony Chill's recognition. So what? Did any of that affect the lives of elves? They had the Sunwell. What did humans have?

Yet Anasterian knew Belo'vir's strength. He stood only a hair's breadth away from the demigod realm. The only reason he had never accepted disciples was that he was an Archmage; it was exceedingly difficult for any disciple's future achievements to surpass his own. Now that he had taken Lister in, it meant only one thing.

Belo'vir believed Lister could one day challenge the realm of demigods and become the first mage to reach demigodhood without inheriting a Guardian's power. Only such a person was worthy of becoming his disciple, worthy of having his name recorded in history, never to be forgotten like Dath'Remar.

Liadrin took Lister around to sample elven snacks: fried octopus. Tender, silky chunks of octopus were fried to a golden brown, then the elven chef scooped them out and sprinkled them with lemon juice and seasonings. Lister was speaking with the chef. This seasoning was interesting, very similar to mustard. I need to get my hands on it. Then I can make it myself when I get back.

"The seasoning is simple. Octopus itself is wonderfully tender and salty, but it loses quite a bit of salt during preparation. That is why the seasoning needs salt, soy sauce, pepper, and Emperor's Blood Grass root mixed together."

"Emperor's Blood Grass itself contains a small amount of toxin. It gives a numbing, spicy taste, but the toxin can be destroyed by heat. We repeatedly wash the roots in hot water to neutralize most of the toxins. That way, we do not completely ruin the numbing heat while keeping it within acceptable limits. Then we simply grind it into a paste and mix everything together." The chef patiently explained it to Lister, who gratefully handed him a purple potion sealed inside a crystal test tube. "Thank you."

It was a vial of Wild Grape Potion, completely vacuum-sealed, with even the stopper reinforced by a small ring of runes. This vial was worth six hundred gold coins—more than enough to warrant such treatment.

"Thank you!" The elven chef happily accepted Lister's payment. Liadrin's eyes widened. "You gave away a vial of Wild Grape Potion just for a seasoning recipe?"

"Worth every penny." Lister picked up a golden piece of octopus, dipped it in the sauce, and put it into his mouth. It was indeed refreshingly spicy and wonderfully springy. After taking a sip of lemon water, he reached for another piece. "Oh my heavens, it's simply impossible to stop eating."

Liadrin pinched Lister's chubby little cheeks. He swatted at her fingers, but it was utterly futile. Lor'themar finally spoke up. He had taken the chance to sneak several pieces of octopus and was still savoring the flavor. "Don't do that. He is a mage. We all know that. Respect a mage's dignity."

"But he is also a little fellow." Liadrin's mischievous side rose up. "Oh, look at his little eyes. They're practically spitting fire."

"Heavens, Liadrin, he's going to get angry." Galell walked over, skillfully speared a piece of octopus, dipped it in the golden-green sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth. "I just overheard the king's conversation. Guess what I heard?"

"How would I know His Majesty's will?" Lor'themar smacked his lips as if still savoring the octopus. Lister finally managed to escape Liadrin and went to buy another serving. During that time, Liadrin settled down and cocked her ear. "I'm not even a councilor of Silvermoon City."

Galell lowered his voice deliberately, his lips moving swiftly. "The king wants to find him an elven wife."

Disbelief appeared on Lor'themar's face. The deep lines beside his mouth twitched. "Really?"

"The king believes it is necessary to build good relations with a powerful mage. In fact, he intends to receive this mage of boundless promise personally tonight." Galell straightened up quickly. He was still only an apprentice priest. "I hear you are already an official mage, little fellow?"

"I'm not that little, and I'm only an apprentice—still an apprentice. I still have a long way to go before I become a mage." Lister approached with a large platter of octopus and fruit. Ebony Chill flew out from beneath the table and drifted to Lister's side. Wisps of blue ice mist streamed into Lister's ear. The expressions of the three elves changed. They seemed to have forgotten a weapon they should never have forgotten.

"Let's continue our earlier conversation." Lister placed the platter between the three of them. Ebony Chill had told him everything. "How are they plotting against me?"

His left hand tightened around Ebony Chill. Frost spread over the surrounding glass windows. "Or against it?"

"It is not a plot." The elderly king sat across from Lister, his white hair gleaming and pale as if forged from mithril. Kael'thas and Belo'vir were both present, along with a strangely featured elf. "In truth, this is an effort to find your ancestors."

This elf looked strange because he resembled a night elf. He had a head of emerald-green hair, yet his skin was not the purple of night elves; like the high elves, it was ivory-white. He carried an unusual aura, healthy and fresh like nature itself.

"This is Brak Bearskin, from Theradane—what humans call Silver Crown Forest—the heir of Silver Crown Forest." The king noticed Lister studying the guard by the door. A uniquely shaped greatsword hung at the guard's waist. The king smiled. "Salorian Morningwalker, a warrior of exceptional skill. Perhaps you can learn the art of the warrior from him."

"It would be my greatest honor." Lister took the initiative to salute the honored warrior. "You are a great warrior."

After the Scourge invaded Quel'Danas Isle, this warrior had led the royal guards in a bloody battle, fighting to the death to cover the civilians' retreat. He was worthy of his name. Salorian returned the salute. As everyone exchanged glances, something unusual flickered in their eyes, as though they had everything under control.

"According to our tests—don't look at us like that. We had to determine your origins." Anasterian wore a confident smile. "This was also a requirement of the Council of Tirisfal. They did not wish to see another powerful mage beyond control. We compared your blood and ultimately discovered..."

"Your elven bloodline comes from..." The king looked into Lister's eyes. There was something unusual in his gaze, while everyone around them wore solemn expressions. Even the air seemed to freeze solid. "The Sunstriders."

Lister's eyes widened, and he clenched Ebony Chill. That small movement made everyone raise their hands. Kael'thas spoke first. "Relax, my brother. Do not get agitated!"

"This is not a lie. It is the truth. According to our tests, your Sunstrider bloodline is very pure." The king looked toward the Archmages who had arrived by teleportation. Antonidas, Krasus, and Alex were all there. "Our testing methods were completely open, with no tricks involved. Archmage Antonidas can testify to that."

"The Council of Kirin Tor inspected it as well." Antonidas's expression was complicated. "I can guarantee that there is nothing wrong with the king's words."

Lister swept his gaze around the room, his voice brimming with aggression. He desperately needed an outlet. "So you mean that my father or mother was a Sunstrider? A pure-blooded elven royal? Could my father be Kael'thas?!"

No one around him laughed. Anyone who dared laugh at a time like this would be dead for sure. Kael'thas's face fell, while Antonidas looked smug. In a sense, the Council of Kirin Tor was deeply bound to the elven kingdom. At the very least, the Sunstrider family could not possibly allow its bloodline to remain adrift outside—and if they wanted to dispose of Lister without anyone noticing...

Only a madman would do such a thing.

"After learning this, I immediately investigated every noble bearing our family's bloodline. They all swore that they had never had relations with a human woman or man. Only one person remained possible." The king wore a bitter smile. "My brother, Alodi's close friend, Nalorath Sunstrider."

"He died three years ago, wasted away. Perhaps he carried guilt in his heart as well, unable to care for you. After all, half-elves, like Alodi, were not welcome." Anasterian said no more. He sighed. "If you wish, you may go to Quel'Danas Isle and visit him. He rests beside our father."

Lister gripped Ebony Chill tightly. The cold made his fingers turn an unnatural pale white, and a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his lips. "So I should thank you? My... uncle?"

"I know this is difficult to accept, but it is the truth." The king clasped his hands behind his back. He, too, had found it hard to believe upon hearing the news. But considering that his younger brother had indeed been fond of human women, it was not impossible that he had slipped out before his death and fathered an illegitimate child with one. Now, it seemed that was the truth. "If you wish, you may inherit your father's title. He also left behind a substantial inheritance before he died, saying that he was waiting for someone. It seems that person was you."

"How much?" Lister's cold tone brought a smile to Kael'thas's face. At least he knew that Lister had accepted the truth to some extent.

"Approximately..." Anasterian named a figure impossible to refuse. "Thirty million gold coins. That figure is rough, because he accumulated many magical items whose exact value is difficult to determine. I can only estimate that they are worth about that much. That does not include his fixed assets: dozens of estates, a horse ranch, two vineyards, and a fleet made up of several ships. Since his death, these assets have remained under royal trusteeship. If you wish, you may claim them at any time."