Lord Prestor

The power of magic exceeded everyone's expectations. A female mage named Aegir had somehow received word of this and had come here with her apprentice Korla specifically to help Lister.

They both had thick, jet-black hair, a rare mark of nobility in the human world that signified truly noble blood flowing through their veins. Lister welcomed their arrival and sincerely thanked them for the help they were willing to offer.

"We will help you build a magnificent mage tower. A very, very magnificent one, with astonishing defenses." Aegir sat carelessly on a black rock. Astonishingly, the rock was floating halfway in the air. This powerful mage clearly possessed some little-known power—the power of earth.

"So, how much will we need to pay?" Lister's question was simple and direct. "I would be delighted to have your services, and I would be equally delighted to offer you a generous reward. Two hundred thousand gold coins—how does that sound? That is the price of a village. You could buy yourself a territory with that much money."

Aegir smiled faintly and brushed back her black hair, dark as stone. Her slightly pale face shifted. Every one of her features was exquisite, yet at that moment they seemed oddly discordant, as though some terrifying monster lurked beneath them. "This is what I ought to do as your mage adviser."

"I am a mage myself," Lister replied calmly. "I do not need a mage adviser."

"You do not need one now, but you certainly will in the future." Aegir spread her hands and began to walk slowly. She wore light sandals, and the cold wind against her body seemed like nothing at all. "You know very well that you need the help of more mages. Many experiments require specialists, not warriors." She glanced at Salorian.

The High Elf captain of the guard involuntarily tightened his grip on Quel'Delar.

"Rangers are fine when dealing with beasts, but clearly they cannot conduct magical research."

Korthira's facial muscles tightened slightly, and his hand moved toward the dagger hidden in his clothes.

"Rogues? The kind with nowhere to hide beneath the power of earth?" Aegir looked toward a patch of shadow. Karel slowly emerged from the flattened darkness, his expression none too pleasant.

"I shall await your answer, Duke." She performed a rough curtsy and turned to leave. If Melis's fury could rival that of Ragnaros, lord of the fire elementals, Aegir would already have become ash.

"An invisible force just swept over me." Karel's voice was calm, but his deep wariness was impossible to conceal. "This mage truly possesses some formidable power."

"She said it was the power of earth." A trace of disdain appeared at the corner of Korthira's mouth. "What do you think, my lord?"

"Her power is interesting." Lister toyed with the alchemist's stone in his hand. "It is very similar to the power within... this. It reminds me of some very interesting... things."

"Her power truly is interesting, and worth studying." Lister's words made everyone frown slightly, but they were not difficult to understand. Mages were all interested in unfamiliar powers, and her ability to manipulate rock was indeed extremely useful. "I will speak with her again at noon. With her help, we can quickly build a library of our own."

"Not merely a library—your territory," Melis corrected Lister. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Though she always emphasized matters of etiquette, she could always help him out of a difficult situation when it mattered. "Your future subjects will need places to live as well. Earth magic can help you quickly build an entire city. It may not be large, but it would be enough to provide weary travelers with a place to rest. If built normally, even just a library would take at least five years."

Lister irritably rubbed his hair. He had been like this ever since coming out of the sewers, often feeling restless, and it tormented him more and more. "I know, I know. Master Kel'Thuzad's lesson is this afternoon. I need to settle things with her quickly."

Aegir was standing behind a rock, with her apprentice beside her. Yet unexpectedly, there was also a stranger standing there.

Pale skin, deep black pupils, a pitch-black coat, and two ruby-like eyes set in a steady, broad square face. It was as though flames burned within them.

None of the three seemed surprised by Lister's arrival. He stepped forward. "Master Aegir, and this is?"

"This is Lord Prestor from Alterac, and he is also my teacher." Aegir stood behind him with respect bordering on humility. The sturdy middle-aged man's fiery gaze fell upon Ebony Chill at Lister's side, then swiftly withdrew, revealing a twisted smile.

They had appeared openly before the elves, which put Lister at ease. At least it was not some conspiracy. No one would bring a conspiracy out into the sunlight.

"I heard from Aegir that you are very interested in this special power." Lord Prestor's voice was steady and powerful, remarkably penetrating, calm and wise. Even in their first exchange, his words carried great persuasiveness. "This is an excellent sign. As a qualified mage, you are full of curiosity toward unfamiliar power. Hmm, that is what any mage would do."

"Yes." Lister did not deny it in the slightest. "Arcane energy can be transformed into intangible fire and tangible water, but I have never figured out how to transform it into the more intangible wind and the more solid earth. There are too many kinds of magic, and we have no time to study this knowledge passed down among barbarians. But I am different. I am very interested."

Lord Prestor patiently listened to Lister. His warm smile made one feel as though bathed in spring breeze. "Yes. That is why only a small number of exceptionally outstanding mages notice this. I am glad, my friend. You are one of them."

"I will teach you how to use this power. In return, I hope Aegir can obtain a position as your adviser. After all, you need mages as well. And as far as I know, your relationship with the elves is not particularly good. Through certain special channels, I learned that an elven family"—Lord Prestor chose his words carefully—"a very influential family, is plotting how to frame you."

To his surprise, Lister showed no reaction at all upon hearing this news. His expression did not change in the slightest. "Reputation is worthless to me."

The other man smiled, revealing teeth as white as ivory. "Of course. Reputation is worthless to strong people like you and me. But they want your life."

"Too many people want my life." Lister remained perfectly calm. "Ever since I stripped the Council of Tirisfal bare, the Seven Kingdoms have known they are a bunch of useless fools. What useless fools want most is to make the person who exposed them shut up forever."

"I like your frankness." The other man's smile widened. He gave a slight bow, then straightened. "Then you agree?"

"I would be very happy to have your friendship." Lister held out his hand. The other man did not shake it. He merely smiled, then turned into a cloud of dust and vanished into the air.

A sudden hurricane swept through the towering trees in the distance, as though some enormous creature had risen into the sky from within the currents. Pine needles fell like a waterfall, and every tall tree bowed its head humbly. At the same time, the clouds high overhead changed rapidly. The unbroken cloud cover was first split in half by some force, then scattered at great speed into wispy strands that stretched all the way to the horizon.

"You are hired, Mage Aegir." Lister looked at the smiling Aegir. "Salorian has the blueprints. Please begin construction as soon as possible. They will supervise you for me. When I return tonight, I will ask you to teach me earth magic."

"As you wish."