As Karin looked at the thumb-sized, gemlike energy core before him, his hands trembled slightly.
He had created this tiny core over nearly a month, pouring all his energy into it.
Over the past month, apart from brief breaks to eat and sleep, he had spent almost all his time in this laboratory in Naxxramas.
He had even handed full responsibility for managing the North Khaz Modan Company to Kel'Thuzad and Kurdran.
With the All-Knowing Eye's help, he had successfully created the simplest possible "Norgannon's Core" based on the structure of the Discs of Norgannon.
But first, he had to test whether this little core could truly connect directly to the ley line.
Karin took a deep breath, then picked up the magic desk lamp beside him.
He turned it upside down and pried the magic gem out of its base, and the lamp's light rapidly dimmed.
Next, Karin took out Norgannon's Core, fitted it into the place the magic gem had occupied, and raised his staff.
He cast the simplest of spells, Light, and with a flash of white, the lamp shone again.
Staring unblinkingly at the light, Karin felt somewhat nervous.
But then came a disappointing sight: a few seconds later, the lamp's light began to dim again, little by little.
Karin's expression immediately fell.
"Did it fail?"
This was not his first failure. His previous attempts to construct Norgannon's Core had all ended in failure as well.
He picked up the lamp again and was about to dig the energy core out of its base and toss it into the wastebasket when...
"Wait!" The All-Knowing Eye's voice suddenly rang out in his mind.
"There's a fluctuation in the ley line, though it's very, very faint!"
Karin froze for a moment, then quickly set the lamp upright again,