The Road Ahead

The Road Ahead

The magic tower before them was entirely white, standing out sharply amid Dalaran's riot of purple. Morris, having received word from the puppet, was already waiting nearby.

"Archmage Modera of the Council of Six wishes to meet Remilia at the Violet Citadel just ahead. Albert, you stay here for now."

Roderick and Remilia bid Albert farewell, agreeing to meet again at the central fountain later. They soon arrived at the magnificent magical palace. Attendants inside guided them toward its upper levels. Though the stairs did not appear numerous, they seemed to stretch on without end. Just as Roderick began to wonder about it, Remilia whispered beside him, "Brother, look behind us."

He turned and saw that the stairs they had already climbed had become a vast sea of stars, silver light glimmering in the blackness of space. Ahead of them, the endless stairs still continued.

As if sensing their confusion, the scene changed the moment they stepped onto another stair. Six chairs appeared in sequence, and a small council chamber abruptly materialized before them. Through the window behind it, they could clearly see the seemingly short white tower outside.

"Are you that child?" A figure slowly emerged on the middle chair, as though stepping out from rippling water, finally becoming a living, breathing mage. "I am Modera, a member of the Council of Six."

"Remilia and Roderick pay their respects to Archmage Modera." Both of them bowed slightly and respectfully.

"Lieutenant, an extremely powerful energy signature has been detected on the target. There are also anti-detection measures, but no..." Every muscle in Roderick's body tensed. This was the most powerful person he had encountered since coming to Azeroth, and his body had instinctively reacted.

"Relax, children. I mean you no harm." Archmage Modera's voice sounded kind. "Remilia, I am willing to teach her personally. What do you think?"

Roderick raised his head and looked at Archmage Modera, whose gaze seemed impossible to focus upon. There was an inexplicable smile on her face. He then turned to his younger sister, and Remilia gave her brother a slight nod.

"Thank you for your kindness, and for Dalaran's goodwill. We will naturally follow your wishes," Roderick replied humbly.

"What an adorable little girl. I will have Morris handle the rest. Farewell." Modera lightly waved her hand, and the two of them seemed to be swept into clouds and mist. In an instant, their feet were on solid flooring again, and they found themselves standing before the gates of the Violet Citadel.

"Brother, I can feel her goodwill toward us. I don't dislike her," Remilia explained.

"Remi will become a great mage someday. I'll be proud of you." Roderick smiled as he walked with Remi toward the central fountain.

"That little girl's talent is quite unusual. But what do you think of her brother?"

"Even you cannot see his future? We investigated him. His background is clean. He is an orphan of the Iron Horse Brotherhood and once joined the Order of the Silver Hand. Nothing unusual was found."

"His future is shrouded in chaos. I cannot see it clearly."

"Once of the Silver Hand... could he become the next Arthas?"

"No. The Scourge will certainly be destroyed. But his will is extremely resolute. Under the pressure I deliberately released, not only could he protect his sister, he even tried to strike back at me. That is not something an ordinary knight could do."

"Go find Chromie. Perhaps only she can solve this mystery. Forget it, notify Krasus instead. Only one of her kind can send her a signal. I will report to Rhonin personally..."

Still shaken by Archmage Modera's immense power, Roderick had no idea that the Kirin Tor Council had begun taking an inexplicable interest in a minor knight like him. The little river of Azeroth's history would eventually turn into another channel.

Albert arrived at the plaza fountain together with Morris.

Before becoming a formal mage, Remilia would remain at the Tower of Stars to study. As a magic apprentice, she would receive several sets of Dalaran apprentice robes, an apprentice wand, a self-recharging Dalaran teleportation stone, and partial access to Dalaran's Grand Library. Morris had no intention of staying. After explaining everything, he drifted away. Seeing Albert grow downcast again, Remilia suggested they have dinner in Dalaran to celebrate, and perhaps look for Kindi, the friend they had met at noon.

Night fell earlier in Dalaran than in Southshore. While the magical barrier provided protection, it also blocked some of the light. After reserving dinner at an inn near the plaza, Remilia stood by the roadside and waited for the streetlamps to be lit. Soon, the lamps at the end of the street lit up one after another, their glow gradually spreading toward her. By the bright streetlights, Remilia saw a male gnome with a white beard and a pointed wizard's hat, walking along and lighting the lamps with his wand.

"Excuse me, are you Kindi Spark's father?" Though the gnome mage was merely working as a lamplighter, the way he brandished his wand made him look as if he were battling a dragon, which was rather amusing.

Wendell turned back in confusion. Before him stood a pretty, unfamiliar human girl. "Has Kindi gotten into trouble again? She really is such a troublesome child."

"No, no, you misunderstand. I only met Kindi at noon. She's a magical genius, and I wanted to invite her to dinner, but I don't know where she lives," Remilia hurriedly explained.

Wendell began to wonder whether there was something wrong with his ears. Kindi, who could never learn the food-conjuring spell, was being called a magical genius? Well, having a friend who liked Kindi could not be a bad thing.

Wendell skillfully cast a spell. Soon, Remilia saw a silver butterfly leading the familiar gnome girl toward them.

"Remilia, we meet again, haha. Father, this is the friend I just met at noon. Her name is Remi, and she came from Southshore." Gnomes seemed to be the race that loved laughter most in Azeroth.

"You girls go have dinner. But next time, remember to bring Remi over to play. I'll have your mother make the best apple pie. I've been delayed long enough, so I should get back to work. Have fun, children." After bidding everyone farewell, Wendell continued on with his work.

By the time Kindi and Remilia sat down, the chef had already brought out all the food: fragrant omelets, pies made with figs and dates, white rice with large slabs of spicy wolf chops, followed by apple juice and strawberry ice cream scoops, the girls' favorites.

"Kindi, I'm a Dalaran magic apprentice now too. We can see each other every day from now on."

"Mm, where will you be studying? My mother taught me all my spells."

"At the Tower of Stars, that beautiful white tower. I'll be studying under Mage Morris."

"Wow, he's amazing. He almost became a senior councilor. Remi, let's celebrate you joining Dalaran. Cheers."

"I like the apple juice here. It's delicious..."

After eating and drinking their fill, they escorted Kindi home. Following their farewell to the welcoming Spark family, the three returned through a portal to the familiar town of Southshore. Roderick had the girls go home first, then he and Albert each carried out a chair and sat in front of the house.

"I have to return there eventually. For a human mage, leaving Dalaran is no different from the end of a mage's life," Albert said in a low voice.

"You've finally come to terms with it, Albert. I know you haven't been happy in Southshore."

"It's not what you think. Life with everyone has been relaxing, and I miss those old days too—performing tricks for Remi, seeing the villagers stare foolishly whenever they saw magic. Roderick, I visited Archmage Antonidas's memorial at noon. The Kirin Tor Council just built it."

"The past is past. Dwelling on old grief will not change anything. I need to become stronger, even stronger. Only then can I finally defeat Arthas's Scourge." The mage's words were filled with fighting spirit.

"I refused Morris's invitation. Tomorrow, I will apply to join Dalaran's battle mage corps. Mages who stay in spired towers researching spells cannot defeat their enemies."

"You don't need to worry about Remilia. Morris is a very tolerant mage, and besides, she has Lady Modera looking after her. Believe me, most Dalaran magic apprentices are easy to get along with, just like Kindi."

"Roderick, this notebook contains the militia Guard management methods I've summarized over the past few days. I will definitely return to take part in the battle to clear out the Murlocs."

Their voices gradually grew quieter. Dalaran was neither too near nor too far, lying just north of Southshore.