Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver was a human who knew how to reflect on his mistakes. Even though Dalaran stubbornly refused to admit its wrongdoing, he understood that Dalaran was actually to blame for both Orcish Wars.
He could not let the human mages of Dalaran's Kirin Tor continue down their greedy, selfish path. That would spell disaster for all of Azeroth.
Long ago, Dalaran's forebears had left Stromgarde to establish Dalaran. Now Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver had decided to lead the human mages of Dalaran's Kirin Tor back to Stromgarde.
It had all begun when the human mages left Stromgarde, and so it had to end there. Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver would become the first human archmage since Dalaran's founding to voluntarily propose placing human mages under restrictions again.
But when Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver explained that joining Stromgarde would mean restoring the restrictions on human mages' use of Arcane Magic, those mages immediately balked.
"I never imagined this, Ansirem Runeweaver. I had intended to celebrate your contributions to Dalaran, but now it seems there is no need. You have forgotten the very reason Dalaran was founded. Our forebears fled Stromgarde so they could freely study the mysteries of magic, unfettered by restrictions. Yet you would render thousands of years of Dalaran's efforts meaningless. You no longer deserve the title of archmage." A human female mage with snow-white hair at her temples slowly approached. Judging by her appearance and voice, she seemed only around thirty, but the white at her temples suggested that her true age was far greater.
At the sight of her, Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver's eyes widened. "Modera, you're still alive?" he asked in disbelief.
Archmage Modera was a member of Dalaran's Council of Six, with far greater seniority than Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver. Her age was an even greater mystery. He had believed that she had fallen in battle alongside Archmage Antonidas, the head of the Council of Six, but apparently that was not the case.
"Of course I'm still alive, Ansirem Runeweaver. If I were dead, you would destroy Dalaran. I cannot allow you to do that!" Archmage Modera knew that the three thousand Dalaran Kirin Tor mages under Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver's command were their finest. For Dalaran's sake, she could not allow him to take those mages to Stromgarde.
"We use magic without restraint and draw endlessly upon the ley lines. Haven't we paid a high enough price? Modera, do you dare let everyone know the truth?"
"The truth? The truth is that you are a traitor to Dalaran, bent on destroying the efforts of countless generations!" Archmage Modera countered sharply, refusing to give an inch.
The two human archmages seemed on the verge of fighting for their beliefs.
Then Archmage Modera's aura abruptly dissipated, and she said coldly, "Now, in the name of Dalaran's Kirin Tor Council of Six, I strip you of your membership in the Council of Six and your title of archmage."
"You alone cannot speak for the Council of Six, Modera. You have no authority to do this." Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver had never expected Archmage Modera to try to expel him from Dalaran outright. Her actions enraged him. His attachment to Dalaran was too deep to sever. He wanted to restore restrictions on the Kirin Tor mages of Dalaran, but he had never considered leaving the Council of Six or relinquishing his title of archmage. After all, he had spent half his life working to earn them.
"And I stand with her, Ansirem Runeweaver." A blond, blue-eyed male elf appeared as well.
"Krasus? You've come at just the right time. As an elf, you understand the dangers of abusing magic better than anyone." Archmage Krasus was also a member of Dalaran's Council of Six. Seeing him, Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver felt as though he had found a lifeline. He believed that Krasus, as a high elf, would surely support his ideas.
But things were not as simple as Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver had imagined. Archmage Krasus did not support him; instead, he sided with Archmage Modera. "Ansirem Runeweaver," he declared in condemnation, "I see nothing wrong with Dalaran's founding principles. On the contrary, it is precisely those more open principles that make this place more vibrant than the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas. I cannot stand by and watch you bring about the disappearance of such a great city."
Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver understood now. Modera and Krasus were in this together.
With matters having reached this point, nothing Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver said would make any difference.
Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver could only take the Dalaran Kirin Tor mages who supported his ideas to Stromgarde. Of the more than three thousand mages originally under his command, however, fewer than a thousand were ultimately willing to follow him there. The remaining two thousand or more chose to follow Modera and Krasus.
After Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver and his followers departed, Archmage Krasus looked at the more than two thousand Dalaran Kirin Tor mages who remained and said, "Sadly, Ansirem Runeweaver has strayed from our path and forgotten Dalaran's founding principles, costing us another archmage at Dalaran's most critical hour."
"As long as the Violet endures, Dalaran will never fall. I would like Rhonin to take Ansirem Runeweaver's place. We cannot leave an archmage's seat vacant."
Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver had barely left before Krasus put forward his own apprentice, Rhonin, for the position of archmage.
A red-haired human mage stepped forward from behind Krasus. He held the Flame Staff, and the powerful magical fluctuations he deliberately revealed were terrifying.
"I also agree with Archmage Krasus's proposal to make Rhonin the Council of Six's new archmage. He is capable of fulfilling the duties of this position." Archmage Modera nodded as well, addressing the remaining two thousand or more Dalaran Kirin Tor mages.
With two archmages backing him, Rhonin promptly declared with fervor, "I am deeply honored to receive the recommendations of Archmage Krasus and Archmage Modera. This is the most perilous moment for Dalaran's Kirin Tor, and I am willing to give everything I have for it."
Rhonin did not have a particularly good reputation in Dalaran, especially with his unlucky mage buff. The Kirin Court Council had once regarded him as a menace.
But now he had the wholehearted support of Krasus and Modera, and the power he deliberately displayed was formidable. Even if the more than two thousand Dalaran Kirin Tor mages were reluctant, none could step forward to object.
And so Rhonin became the new archmage of Dalaran's Kirin Tor Council of Six.
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