Aether Mirror

All magical creatures had a habit of collecting magical items—element-infused gems, all kinds of magical metals, or enchanted items crafted by mages. They needed these objects to draw magic from them and strengthen themselves.

"Adamantite ingots?" Uther pulled several golden metal bars from the ash of the burned web. The refined golden metal gleamed as brilliantly as gold coins. "Good heavens, these adamantite ingots alone are worth several thousand gold coins."

In truth, these were merely the broodmother spider's least valuable possessions. Large chunks of raw obsidian mixed with vast amounts of earth essence, emeralds, and arcane crystals nearly filled an entire corner. These valuable minerals were worth well over ten thousand gold coins.

"Magical armor?" Korthira was discussing the armor's history with Salorian. It was elven armor, likely close-fitting soft armor worn by a mage. The intricate elven runes upon it had dimmed considerably, and only a single yellow sapphire remained in the gem setting on its chest. But if an alchemy master could reactivate its runes, this precious armor should be restored.

Holding the armor, Korthira explained it to Liadrin. "I believe this was made before that great cataclysm, originating from that ancient empire. It bears many even older elven runes. Other than that empire, I find it difficult to imagine mages using such archaic writing. This is heavy armor, very much in the style of ancient mages."

He said this because elven mages in the past possessed the physiques of night elves. They were not as frail as modern mages. On the contrary, they excelled in both ranged attacks and close combat—Illidan, for instance.

"It should be a relic left here by the first elven mages who founded Dalaran." Salorian turned the armor over, revealing a horrifying gash beneath it. The armor had been completely ruined. He shrugged helplessly. "It can only serve as a keepsake now."

Just then, Ebony Chill flew over. It surged with azure arcane energy, lifted the damaged armor, and formed several elven words in the air.

"Raevserra." Salorian's expression changed. Krasus, who had heard the name, also looked up. Lister walked over. "Raevserra, one of the founders of the Council of Tirisfal. This should be Raevserra's armor."

Ebony Chill handed the armor to Lister. He felt the sharp metal at the damaged section. Even now, faint arcane energy still leaked from it, enough to prove the armor's power. And only an even more terrifying being could have damaged it. He took Ebony Chill, and countless memories flooded into his mind in an instant. A strange word abruptly escaped his lips. "Kathra'natir."

"What?" Uther asked in confusion. That word had sounded more like the murmur of some monster from the abyss. Merely speaking it sent chills down one's spine. "What does it mean?"

Krasus was utterly grave. "He was a great enemy defeated by Alodi, the first Guardian—a powerful Nathrezim. That demon lord was so powerful that he nearly destroyed Dalaran. The Council of Tirisfal had no choice but to gather all their magic within Alodi. Alodi thus became the first Guardian and defeated that demon lord."

"Perhaps Raevserra's armor was damaged in that battle."

Everyone first understood, then shuddered as they stared at Lister in horror.

Could that monster from three thousand years ago still be alive?

"Ebony Chill told me that even that Nathrezim's soul was shattered, unable to return to the Twisting Nether." Lister spoke slowly. "But I suspect he isn't dead—or rather, not completely dead. A monster that powerful must have reached that realm. Perhaps he was once even stronger than Tichondrius."

"Tichondrius? He was also..." Uther asked, struggling to understand these unfamiliar terms. "A Nathrezim?"

"Ancient records state that Tichondrius was the leader of the Nathrezim." Krasus gave Lister a deep look. "But without question, that only means he was favored most by the demon lords of the Burning Legion. There may have been others of his kind stronger than him."

"Regardless, he is already dead." Lister gripped Ebony Chill tightly. "Even if he is alive, he is no more than a ghost—a ghost without a physical body. That ghost is likely searching for a suitable vessel, so it can return to the Twisting Nether and await resurrection."

Unless demons were killed in the Twisting Nether, they were practically immortal. Their souls returned to the Twisting Nether after death, waiting for their next invasion. Kathra'natir's soul had been shattered, so naturally he could not return.

"Pah!" Solanar spat out a mouthful of phlegm. "Who cares what kind of demon lord he is? If we can kill him once, we can kill him a second time!"

"Look, everyone." Liadrin had found quite a few things in the broodmother spider's stomach sac. After Cromie washed them clean with water, they brought them over. "These things."

A strange little mirror glimmered with a faint azure light. No—this was a mirror ground from an entire enormous sapphire. One had to spread both hands to hold the sapphire, which showed just how large it was. Three full rings of fine runes encircled it. To carve those runes required a chisel as small as a needle's point and an entire month of work, without allowing even the slightest error.

It emitted the strongest energy. Krasus took the precious treasure in near disbelief, while Cromie stared at it with delight. She explained to the others, "This is the Aether Mirror. It can communicate with the energy of the void, greatly enhancing a caster's power."

"This is a treasure of the blue dragons." Krasus marveled. Simply holding it allowed him to feel powerful arcane energy flooding through his body. "Long ago, the blue dragon king Malygos possessed several immensely powerful artifacts. This artifact was bestowed upon his daughter, Eredagos. After Eredagos died, it vanished without a trace. Who would have thought this terrible monster had taken it for itself?"

"This is a sacred relic of the Council of Tirisfal." Krasus looked at Lister and handed the Aether Mirror to him, but Lister returned the artifact to Cromie. "Give it to someone named Kalecgos for me."

Cromie and Krasus exchanged a glance. Krasus said, "This is a treasure of Dalaran, and of the Council of Tirisfal. If you do this, the Council of Kirin Tor will object as well. For example, I object."

"Eredagos gave everything to Dalaran, including her life. We should return her relic to her people." Lister firmly handed the artifact over. "The Council of Kirin Tor should have a way to contact the blue dragons."

"All right." Krasus shrugged. The Blue Dragonflight owed Lister a great favor—a very great favor. "All right. I'll contact them."

Uther watched Lister with a smile. Perhaps this was why he liked Lister. He never took what did not belong to him, even when he had the power to claim it. He could easily have seized the artifact by claiming it was an inheritance of the Council of Tirisfal, but he did not. Uther put an arm around his trustworthy companion. "You are truly noble, my friend."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Lister counted the remaining spoils. The elves chose gems. Salorian received an emerald, while the Falon brothers each chose a sapphire. Korthira took a ruby as well as a piece of adamantite, as his magical arrows required those materials. Salorian stored away the armor, intending to pass it on to Kael'thas and see whether he could repair the precious item.

Uther chose the most practical option, the adamantite ingots, and Lister did the same. Krasus obtained the heart from inside the broodmother spider. The crimson heart shone like red crystal. Krasus determined that it could serve as the equivalent of four or five lava cores, rare materials obtainable only from fire elementals.

Cromie and Liadrin each received an Earthstorm Diamond. These precious magical gems were a vital component in forging magical items. In short, everyone received a generous reward. Lister used ice to create a small shelter, and they hid inside for a brief rest. They shared food and discussed the battle. Only one person was unhappy.

Mr. Bigglesworth had finished his dried fish and was venting his frustration in the study. Kel'Thuzad knocked on the door with a grim expression. Melis answered it, and upon recognizing Kel'Thuzad, she immediately turned around, took out a small box, and handed it to him.

"Duke Nalorath said that if you came, I was to give this to you." Melis was very curious. What could Lister have given Kel'Thuzad that required sealed storage?

Kel'Thuzad deftly undid the magical rune lock. Inside was grilled fish, still piping hot. He closed the box and hurried away.