Chapter Summaries

Rhode investigated the murder and found evidence that a fully fledged mage was responsible, then abandoned his ambitious Magic Mech plans after realizing their immense costs and complexity. Hearthglen visited to challenge Rhode, but his arrogance faltered when he saw Rhode’s mech design and mistook it for an Arcane Giant.

• Rhode sensed magical residue at the murder scene and concluded that a Novice Magic User or stronger had killed the victim, though no such mage was currently in Audric's Tower.
• Rhode designed a towering, single-pilot Magic Mech, then realized he lacked the skill, materials, money, and power source needed to build it.
• Hearthglen introduced himself as a student of Kel'Thuzad of the Council of Six and mocked Rhode for studying construct crafting.
• Hearthglen noticed Rhode's mech design and asked in a trembling voice whether it was an Arcane Giant.

Rhode’s Magic Mech blueprint led Hearthglen to mistake him for Antonidas’s powerful royal-family disciple, while Rhode remained baffled by Hearthglen’s assumptions. As Hearthglen tried to leave, Rhode stopped him because he suspected him of the morning’s alley murder.

• Rhode rolled up his Magic Mech blueprint after Hearthglen mistook it for an Arcane Giant design.
• Hearthglen convinced himself that Rhode was a powerful Mage backed by Antonidas and feared that Rhode threatened his position.
• Hearthglen assumed Rhode belonged to a noble or royal family, but Rhode rejected the idea that nobles were superior to commoners.
• Hearthglen grew nervous under Rhode’s stare and stood to leave.
• Rhode stopped Hearthglen, suspecting that he might be the Mage who had committed the alley murder that morning.

Rhode questioned Hearthglen about five murders and ruled him out provisionally after comparing their mana, while Blackmoore and Hearthglen discussed how to recruit Rhode. Blackmoore planned to invite Rhode to a private chat, and called Taretha to join them at the banquet.

• Rhode provoked Hearthglen about the murders, and Hearthglen nearly cast a spell before Rhode’s show of power made him back down.
• Rhode compared Hearthglen’s mana with the residue at the crime scene and found Hearthglen’s power was stronger, leaving the killer’s identity uncertain.
• At Blackmoore’s banquet, Hearthglen told Blackmoore about Rhode’s unusual status and disrespect toward nobility.
• Blackmoore proposed tempting Rhode into joining them and assured Hearthglen that they would only use him.
• Blackmoore promised to invite Rhode for a chat in a few days, then called Taretha to join them and Hearthglen for drinks.

Rhode experimented with an Arcane Golem, improving its ability to follow complex instructions. He amazed Lilia and Sally when it performed Michael Jackson’s moonwalk, leaving them watching in surprise.

• Rhode studied construct spells and summoned an Arcane Golem to test how it followed commands.
• The golem failed to understand instructions such as raising both feet or sticking its butt out, so Rhode modified its spell model.
• Sally brought Rhode breakfast and left embarrassed after overhearing his commands to the golem.
• Rhode continued testing the golem’s movements as it became capable of following more complex instructions.
• Rhode told the golem to perform Michael Jackson’s moonwalk, and Sally exclaimed in surprise as it danced before her and Lilia.

Rhode watched his arcane golem dance, then checked on the beggars building a dormitory in the square. Lieutenant Drake reported another murder in the woods outside the city, and Rhode went with him to inspect the scene.

• Rhode showed Lilia and Sally the arcane golem's dance and planned to teach it more moves and develop its combat abilities.
• Lilia took Sally outside to play Gomoku, while Sally brought them pastries, preserved fruit, and fruit wine.
• Rhode watched Katel lead beggars in building temporary housing and considered having his magic apprentices use Mage Hand to help with construction.
• Lieutenant Drake told Rhode that another murder had occurred in the woods outside the city that morning, using a method similar to the alley murder.
• Rhode and Lieutenant Drake arrived at the woods, where soldiers guarded several motionless victims and a crowd gathered outside the cordon.

Rhode discovered that one of the victims at the murder scene was still alive and rushed her to the Durnholde Monastery for healing. The priest saved her, leaving Rhode to pay one gold coin for the treatment.

• Rhode examined the four merchant victims and noticed that the girl was still breathing.
• Rhode carried the wounded girl to the Durnholde Monastery using Mage Hand.
• Brother Joshua healed the girl with a powerful spell.
• Rhode paid Brother Joshua one gold coin for saving her life.

Rhode questioned Brother Joshua about resurrection and the Way of Shadow, then spoke with the recovered survivor Julie about her family's murder. Julie revealed that the gray-robed mage stole her Ruby Necklace, and Rhode recognized it as part of the magic set linked to his Ruby Earrings.

• Rhode gave Brother Joshua a gold coin and asked whether his Greater Heal could resurrect the dead, but Brother Joshua said death could not be undone.
• Rhode discussed the Way of Shadow with Brother Joshua, who explained that priests could wield dark powers by manifesting darkness in their minds, though the practice was dangerous and its practitioners were shunned.
• Julie woke up, grieved for her family, and told Rhode that a young mage in gray robes had attacked them.
• Julie said the attacker had stolen the Ruby Necklace her father gave her.
• Rhode connected the Ruby Necklace to his Ruby Earrings and realized the murderer had targeted the magic set.

Rhode connected the murders to a stolen Ruby Necklace and asked Lieutenant Drake to investigate earlier cases. He then turned his arcane golem research toward making small, stealthy constructs for reconnaissance, but ended the night without knowing how to miniaturize spell models.

• Rhode learned that Julie's necklace had been stolen and arranged for Brother Joshua to care for her until she could be taken to her aunt.
• Rhode asked Lieutenant Drake to investigate murders from the past year and check whether necklaces had been stolen in each case.
• Rhode told Lieutenant Drake that he suspected the killer was a mage searching for a magical Ruby Necklace.
• Rhode shifted his arcane golem research toward stealthy reconnaissance constructs, but struggled to find a way to shrink existing spell models.
• Rhode heard Lilia and Sally playing Gomoku and decided to go watch them after his research stalled.

Rhode discovered that connecting spell models in parallel let him create a miniature arcane golem, then reviewed the Magic Tower’s accounts and noticed Alex had hunted lesser yetis on Darrow Hill. The clue stirred a vague connection in Rhode’s mind, but he had not yet worked out what it meant.

• As Sally beat Lilia at Gomoku, her suggestion to try another direction gave Rhode an idea for changing how he connected spell models.
• Rhode tested parallel connections in the magic laboratory and made a fist-sized arcane golem, then planned to improve its size, vision, mobility, and camouflage.
• Sally brought Rhode lunch and the Magic Tower’s monthly ledgers while Lilia stayed behind to study Gomoku.
• Rhode read that Alex had fought lesser yetis on Darrow Hill and suddenly sensed the record might connect to other clues, though he could not identify the connection.

Rhode reviewed evidence linking a series of murders near Durnholde Keep to ruby necklaces and welcomed Audric back to the Magic Tower. Audric hinted that he had returned to handle a troubling matter and asked Rhode whether he knew about dark magic.

• Sally practiced Mage Hand at the construction site, while the magic apprentices and workers grew closer under Rhode’s patient instruction.
• Sally welcomed President Audric when he returned to the Magic Tower after visiting Dalaran and Hearthglen’s home.
• Rhode read Lieutenant Drake’s report and found that most of the murders near Durnholde Keep involved stolen gemstone necklaces, especially ruby necklaces.
• Audric told Rhode that he had several things to deal with and asked him whether he had heard of dark magic.

Audric revealed to Rhode that he was investigating Kel'Thuzad’s suspected necromantic experiments around Durnholde Keep, and Rhode offered to help with a reconnaissance construct. Their discussion of stolen magical jewelry led Audric to recall that Alex had asked about the Ruby Earrings months earlier.

• Audric told Rhode that Kel'Thuzad had secretly studied forbidden death magic and might have formed a cult.
• Audric explained that Dalaran had sent him to investigate signs of dark magic near Durnholde Keep, where Kel'Thuzad’s apprentice Hearthglen was present.
• Rhode showed Audric a miniature reconnaissance magic construct and offered to help monitor Hearthglen and gather information.
• Rhode asked whether anyone knew the Ruby Earrings and Ruby Necklace had a magical set effect, and Audric recalled that Alex had asked about the earrings months earlier.

Rhode grew suspicious that Alex had stolen the Ruby Necklace and murdered people using magic, then devised a final test to confirm his suspicions. He began arranging for Katel to deliver the Ruby Earrings the next day, leaving Alex within earshot of the plan.

• Rhode connected Alex to the murders but doubted his theory because Alex had seemed too weak to use the magic required.
• Rhode saw Alex control a Mage Hand at level-two strength and realized Alex had advanced enough to kill with magic.
• Rhode sensed Alex’s powerful mana and suspected that he wore the Ruby Necklace stolen from Julie.
• Rhode approached Alex at the construction site, then quietly told Katel to deliver the Ruby Earrings the next day where Alex could hear.

Rhode tested whether Alex had stolen the Ruby Necklace by having Katel carry the Ruby Earrings to a trap outside the city. Rhode followed Alex into the woods and found him facing Katel and Lieutenant Drake.

• Rhode arranged for Katel to take the Ruby Earrings outside the city while Lieutenant Drake secretly protected him.
• Rhode watched Alex leave the construction site and followed him after Alex claimed he was going to the market for his younger brother Wilton's birthday.
• Rhode used a misdirection spell and tracked Alex to the woods southwest of the city.
• Rhode entered the woods and found Alex standing with Katel and Lieutenant Drake.

Rhode confronted Alex over the murders committed to steal magical equipment, and Alex defended his actions by citing his desire to restore the fallen Barov Family. The chapter left Alex facing Rhode’s judgment, while Rhode resolved to deal with whatever consequences followed.

• Rhode and Lieutenant Drake cornered Alex after Alex attacked Katel for the Ruby Earrings.
• Rhode asked Alex why he had killed the Barov Family’s victims, and Alex admitted he wanted their magical equipment to become stronger.
• Alex offered Rhode the Ruby Earrings and Necklace, but Rhode remained silent and prepared to kill him.
• Alex invoked the Barov Family’s former glory and threatened Rhode with his family’s influence.
• Rhode recalled the Barov Family’s history of betrayal and its eventual alliance with the undead Scourge, then decided he would face any consequences of killing Alex.

Rhode killed Alex after the apprentice tried to escape, then told Julie that her family’s murderer had been brought to justice. Julie gave Rhode the Ruby Necklace as thanks, and he accepted it.

• Alex pleaded with Rhode, then used a Mage Hand spear as a feint and fled into the Deep Forest.
• Rhode stopped Alex’s attack and killed him with a longer Mage Hand spear before he could escape.
• Rhode asked Lieutenant Drake to handle the aftermath and went to return Julie’s Ruby Necklace.
• Rhode told Julie that Alex had murdered her family and that he had already killed him.
• Julie gave Rhode the Ruby Necklace as a gift of thanks, and Rhode accepted it.

After Alex’s death spread through the Magic Tower, Rhode used the Ruby Earrings and Ruby Necklace as a magic equipment set to learn Blink. His first test succeeded but left him badly nauseated, and Sally then brought him an invitation to a banquet hosted by Blackmoore, the lord of Durnholde.

• News spread that Rhode had killed Alex, frightening the Magic Tower residents, while Sally and Lilia grieved in their own ways.
• Rhode activated the set effect of the Ruby Earrings and Ruby Necklace, boosting his mana enough to begin learning spatial magic.
• Rhode studied Blink and successfully teleported, but collided with a wall and vomited from teleportation sickness.
• Rhode found that Blink required a cooldown, so he could not immediately test the spell again.
• Sally visited Rhode and gave him an invitation from Blackmoore to a banquet that night.

Rhode and Lilia attended a lavish banquet at Castle, where Lord Blackmoore tried to recruit Rhode into his army while he kept his current duties. The chapter ended with Rhode wondering why Hearthglen and Blackmoore were suddenly trying to win him over.

• Rhode brought Lilia to Blackmoore's banquet, where the guards watched him with fear and hostility.
• Blackmoore welcomed Rhode and invited Lilia to eat, while Rhode declined the feast and asked him to state his purpose.
• Blackmoore offered Rhode a military post alongside his existing duties in Dalaran.
• Rhode recognized the offer as an attempt to draw him into Blackmoore's camp and wondered why others had begun courting him.

Blackmoore tried to recruit Rhode by offering him a powerful military post and promising even greater rewards, while Rhode suspected the offer concealed a trap. The chapter ended with the banquet hall tense and Lilia cheerfully urging Rhode to accept.

• Rhode politely refused Blackmoore's first offer, making Blackmoore suspect that Rhode's sudden rise and unknown origins threatened his plans.
• Rhode sensed Blackmoore's hostility and decided to pretend to consider the offer while protecting Lilia.
• Blackmoore offered Rhode the rank of major general, which would make him second only to Blackmoore at Durnholde Keep.
• Blackmoore promised Rhode future noble titles, advanced magic books, and leadership over magical organizations if his own power grew.
• Rhode noticed Blackmoore's armed guards had stayed in the hall and concluded that the banquet might be a trap.
• Lilia told Rhode that the offer sounded good because he liked studying magic books.

Rhode agreed to serve Blackmoore in exchange for access to rare books, then privately told Taretha that he wanted to help Thrall. Blackmoore’s next amusement began when Thrall was brought into the hall as the Arena’s undefeated champion.

• Rhode accepted Blackmoore’s offer, and Blackmoore called Taretha to keep him company while he arranged another amusement.
• Taretha sat beside Rhode, and he whispered that he knew she wanted to help Thrall and wanted to help him too.
• Lilia interrupted their conversation, and Rhode brushed off her questions as grown-up business.
• Two Orcs were escorted into the hall, and Taretha watched the younger one with pity and affection.
• Blackmoore announced that the guests would watch Thrall, the Arena’s undefeated champion, perform.

Rhode watched Thrall defeat a larger orc with a precise sword technique during Blackmoore’s gladiatorial bout. Impressed, Rhode asked Blackmoore to let Thrall teach Lilia swordsmanship, hoping to improve her skills and find a way to speak with Thrall.

• Blackmoore brought everyone upstairs to watch Thrall fight an axe-wielding orc, and Rhode asked him to keep the bout from becoming too bloody because Lilia was present.
• Thrall dodged the orc’s powerful axe strike with a graceful turn and stopped his sword at the opponent’s neck, winning without drawing blood.
• Thrall saluted Blackmoore and began to leave after Blackmoore praised his performance.
• Rhode asked Blackmoore to let Thrall teach Lilia swordsmanship, seeking both better training for her and a chance to communicate with Thrall.