The High Elves barely felt the slightest hint of war! All of Quel'Thalas remained as peaceful as ever.
Karin boarded a carriage bound for the Ghostlands. Unlike his last trip, this carriage was quiet. Aside from a taciturn Dwarf driver, he was the only passenger. Karin was glad of the peace; it gave him a little more time to read.
Before leaving, he had visited the Sunfury Library again and borrowed quite a few books...
"A Branching Method for Applying Temporal Retravel Theory to Precise Magical Practice" was an exceedingly obscure paper, covering profound aspects of conjuration and transmutation! But Karin was very familiar with its author: Antonidas of Dalaran... More remarkably still, Antonidas had been only twelve when he published it, earning himself the Kirin Tor Sash of Supreme Wisdom. He was the youngest recipient in the award's history.
That was only the first paper. After skimming it, Karin skipped ahead to the second... "The Reverse Application of Certain Abjuration Spells and Its Practical Significance."
"This is it!" Karin perked up.
Archmage Antonidas was perhaps the finest abjurer in this world, and this paper was exactly what Karin had been looking for!
In fact, his rank did not grant him permission to borrow this work at all. Fortunately, however, he was on fairly good terms with the Sunfury Library's chief.
"As everyone knows, some spells create fire or ice to destroy your enemies. Yet we study magic not only to destroy, but also to protect ourselves and our companions. Abjuration includes spells that resist elemental damage such as fire, ice, acid, and lightning. If you have enough spell slots, you can even master the Antipathy Ward, which simply prevents any creature from approaching. The more advanced Mind Barrier can block all mind-affecting effects...
"Many people overlook one point: the original meaning of the word 'abjuration' is not protection, but renunciation-giving something up. Thus, the principle behind abjuration spells is not to protect something, but precisely the opposite: to relinquish something. Applying certain abjuration spells in reverse can therefore produce unexpected results.
"Take the simplest first-ring abjuration spell, 'Mana Shield,' for example. Any scholar with even a little understanding of abjuration should know that it converts magical energy into a barrier protecting the caster. Properly applied, this spell can withstand even the most terrifying attacks!
"But what if we use 'Mana Shield' in reverse, employing it not merely to protect ourselves or our companions, but instead to restrain our enemies... Provided it is properly applied, an enemy trapped within a Mana Shield will find it very difficult to escape its restraints. If we deliberately compress the barrier around them, we can even render them completely incapable of fighting.
"I have named this reverse application of 'Mana Shield' the Binding Spell!
"'Mana Shield' is not the only spell. Many other abjuration spells can also produce excellent results when used in reverse...
"As one tenet of magical philosophy states: the inherent properties and effects of magic do not determine how people perceive it. As a spellcaster, you must understand the structure and workings of magic itself. Its effects and people's opinions must always come second.
"..."
"Very well written!"
Before Karin could finish reading, the All-Knowing Eye's voice rang out in his mind.
The All-Knowing Eye continued his appraisal. "A highly creative discovery, and very soundly reasoned. The author of this paper is exceptionally accomplished!"
This was the first time Karin had ever heard the All-Knowing Eye speak so highly of a mage from Azeroth.
Karin turned to the final page of the paper, then said softly, "The author was only fifteen when he wrote this..."
The All-Knowing Eye fell silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Then, had he lived during Netheril's golden age, he might have achieved greatness equal to Lord Kassas!"
"Master Mage, we've reached the Ghostlands!" the taciturn Dwarf driver called curtly.
Karin put Antonidas's paper back into his bag, paid his fare, and stepped down from the carriage... The Ghostlands were a dimly lit region. Perhaps because they lay too far south, even the Sunwell's radiance struggled to reach them.
To the southeast lay Zul'Aman, capital of the forest Trolls, and High Elf and Troll scouts could be found across almost every stretch of this land!
After stepping out of the carriage, Karin soon found someone to guide him!
"Hello, Ranger..." Karin hurried over.
The Ranger looked up and gave Karin a once-over, taking in his red robes and the cross-shaped emblem on his chest.
"A second-ring Novice Mage. You must be an instructor assigned to a Ranger Squad... Which family are you from? What's your name?" the Ranger asked loudly.
"The Sunfury family. My name is Karin..."
"Karin... Sunfury..." The Ranger leafed through the roster in his hands, then stopped. "I believe you're already twenty-four days and thirteen hours late..."
"Well..." Thoroughly embarrassed, Karin hastily explained, "I went to the Northern Borderlands a while ago. My family signed me up..."
"You don't need to explain it to me..." The Ranger waved a hand and continued, "But there's something I have to tell you. The captain of the Ranger Squad you've been assigned to isn't someone to trifle with. You'd better be prepared for serious trouble... Follow me!"
Karin followed the Ranger. Over their brief conversation, he learned that the man's name was Halduron Brightwing.
They passed through one stretch of forest after another. The woods here were filthy and overgrown, nothing like Eversong Woods... Karin summoned an Ice Block around his body to keep his robes from getting dirty.
About an hour later, the two reached the entrance to a camp.
"Here we are, Mr. Karin. Good luck!" Halduron patted Karin on the shoulder, then shouted into the camp, "Ranger Squad 4396, your instructor has arrived!"
With that, he turned and darted into the woods.
"Master Mage, I believe you're almost a month late!" A clear, familiar voice rang out from a tent in the camp.
"You?" Karin's eyes widened.