Family

There was plenty of work at the Mage Tower. As its chief, Patrick was shouldering the burden alone, with no shortage of tasks on his hands.

With light strokes of his pen, two alchemy formulas appeared on the paper.

Defense Potion formula: Wild Steelbloom × 1, Briarthorn × 1

Agility Potion formula: Briarthorn × 1, Goldthorn × 1

These two potions ranked among the best sellers in the ranger forces. Patrick had changed some of the base ingredients, however, adding dust of magic to the alchemical reagent as the main ingredients dissolved to bring out the herbs' effects more fully.

It was only a minor change, yet it produced unexpected results. He compiled the alchemy formulas into a booklet and placed it in the library.

Patrick received an Arcane Communication. "Chief Patrick, a lady named Lasya is requesting an audience. She says she is a messenger sent by the Cabrolon family."

"All right. I'll wait for her in my office."

Before long, someone pushed the door open and entered.

As before, Lasya wore a light black top and a long red skirt with black trim and gold patterns, with a gold leather belt around her waist. She was also a longtime housekeeper who had always worked for the Cabrolon family.

Lasya had served the family for nearly seven hundred years and had been the first teacher of both Patrick and his older brother. Melaris mainly managed the family's external affairs, while Lasya oversaw its internal affairs. Virtually every day-to-day matter throughout the household was handled by Lasya.

Patrick had not expected Lasya to come. Pleasantly surprised, he said, "Lasya? Why did Father send you here?"

"What? Aren't you happy to see me?" Lasya casually sat down in a nearby chair, not treating herself as an outsider in the slightest.

"Oh, of course I am. Aren't you busy with things at home, though? It's rare for you to have time to come out." Patrick looked at the female elf who had watched him grow up and poured her a cup of black tea. Lasya was still just as she had always been; even her style of clothing had not changed. Elven beauty remained untouched by the years, as pure and exquisite as ever.

"I wouldn't call it free time. But look at you-you distinguished yourself in the fighting in the Life Forest, foiling the trolls' plots one after another. The Council praised you highly in its announcement. All of Silvermoon City is watching you, its dazzling new mage." Lasya smiled and sipped her black tea.

"Actually, I didn't expect it either. I originally planned to travel to the human city of Dalaran and study there for a while. When I passed through the East Sanctum on the way, I ended up joining Alleria's forces through a twist of fate, then fought the trolls. I really didn't do much." Patrick scratched his head sheepishly, making a show of modesty.

"You've done well for yourself, and now you're playing coy. All right, Pat, have you really reached the sixth ring?" Lasya's smile faded as she asked the question seriously.

"Yes, I really have reached the sixth ring. I explained it very clearly in the Magical Letter I sent home earlier. I broke through to the sixth ring while fighting the trolls."

"That truly is something to celebrate. Pat, your father asked me to give this to you in person." Lasya took out an Arcane Scroll and handed it to Patrick.

Patrick opened the scroll and discovered that it contained the Arcane Key to the family's Mage Tower, along with the spatial node of its teleportation chamber. The Mage Tower's Arcane Key could be considered the family's most closely guarded secret. With it, he could obtain the highest level of access to his father Phil-Cabrolon's Mage Tower. His father's tower would hold no secrets from him.

"What is this? What is Father doing?" Patrick looked at Lasya in confusion and surprise. "He's even giving me the Arcane Key?"

"This is what Family Head Phil wants. Now that you've reached the sixth ring, barring anything unexpected, you will inherit the position of head of the Cabrolon Family and continue leading the family into the future."

Patrick understood that "anything unexpected" referred to his older brother. If his brother surpassed him in arcane attainment, the position of family head would inevitably change hands. Patrick did not particularly care, however.

He had never had any designs on becoming family head. What concerned him was the distant future: the Scourge's devastation of Quel'Thalas and the deaths of vast numbers of high elves. "Also, Family Head Phil agreed to the proposal in your letter. Although he doesn't know why you've taken an interest in that stretch of troll territory and want to develop it, he still sent Nasalan to make preparations. Nasalan sent word back the day before yesterday that the area is suitable for growing plants and could be used to cultivate herbs as cash crops. She has already begun preparations to clear the land. She is working with a Ranger Commander named Hawkspear, who is currently in the Life Forest as well."

Lasya outlined the family's current situation. Everything was developing as Patrick had expected, and he had nothing to add.

"I'm planning to teleport back and see Father. Will you come back with me?"

"Hmm? Sure."

Patrick and Lasya headed to the teleportation chamber and teleported straight into his father's Mage Tower.

He was back in a familiar place. His father's Mage Tower was where Patrick's path as a mage had begun.

Upon returning home, the first thing to do was, of course, to visit his parents and let his elders know he was back. That belief, passed down through five thousand years of Chinese civilization, was rooted deep in his bones.

As he approached his father's office, arcane light flashed, and the door slowly opened.

"Father, I'm back." Patrick entered his father's office and saw old Phil looking at him with anticipation and a little excitement, his expression deeply stirred.

"It's good you're back." Those few words carried a father's profound longing for his son.

"Our Cabrolon family finally has a mage beyond the fifth ring. You've surpassed me, my son," Old Phil said excitedly. Patrick could clearly see his father's arms and ears trembling slightly.

"This is only the beginning. The sixth ring will be the starting point of my path as a mage."

"That is how the men of our Cabrolon family should be." His father sat back down and sent a magical message outside, announcing that they would properly celebrate his younger son's advancement that evening.

Patrick left his father's office and returned to his old quarters. The room had been kept in perfect condition, without a speck of dust. It seemed someone cleaned it regularly. The familiar surroundings still brought peace to his mind.

Patrick took a quick bath, then changed into the formal attire the family normally wore only for celebrations. His father was very happy, and lavish preparations had been made for that evening's banquet. His mother, Aina-Cabrolon, had begun preparing for the banquet early, and his older brother Patterson-Cabrolon and sister-in-law Nasalan had also returned home. Everyone in the family was present. Even Lasya and Melaris, who were usually busy with their duties, joined them at the dining table.