With His Majesty the King's authorization, Sailervor prepared a magical letter. As usual, the magical paper was covered in decorative elven patterns and bore Silvermoon City's distinctive Fire Phoenix emblem, wreathed in arcane energy and vividly lifelike.
The letter was simple, just a few short lines:
In recognition of Patrick Cabrolon's outstanding contributions in the Life Forest, he is hereby granted the title of Baron and the Golden Dragonhawk Medal.
The Royalists' meaning was simple: didn't you want to become a member of the Arcane Academy? We'll give you a little praise as a token gesture. As for becoming one of us, wait a little longer. The royal family isn't your shield.
"Telestra, I wonder if you would be willing to travel to the Ghostlands?" Sailervor asked softly.
"At your service." Telestra asked, "Should I read His Majesty's command directly to Patrick Cabrolon?"
Sailervor said, "Don't read it aloud. Just place this report in Patrick's hands. Also, if you're willing, stay at the Sun Temple to study arcane techniques."
Reading it aloud and then leaving would not make a good impression. The royal family was still feeling Cabrolon out, and establishing mutual respect at the outset was particularly important. Giving an impression of lofty superiority would not help future developments.
Sailervor was sounding Telestra out. After all, traveling to the Sun Temple was a hardship assignment. Getting her to go at all would be good enough, let alone stay there. Sailervor could not be certain whether Telestra would agree.
"In what capacity would I stay there?" Telestra did not refuse outright. Instead, she took the initiative to ask what position she would hold at the Sun Temple.
Sailervor said, "As a special envoy of the Arcane Academy. Observe his personality, interests, daily habits, and so on, as well as his talent as a spellcaster. See whether he truly is as outstanding as Arcanist Thas'wether said."
Telestra nodded thoughtfully. "I've read Patrick Cabrolon's records. His arcane rank has risen by leaps and bounds recently. He certainly deserves attention."
Arcane energy surged through the room, and two Arcane Codices flew from a nearby bookshelf, landing on Sailervor's desk.
Sailervor said, "These are two Sixth Ring metamagic techniques. From the School of Transmutation: Energy Disjunction. From the School of Conjuration: Spell Sequencing. Take them to the Sun Temple as well and give them to Patrick."
"Sixth Ring?" Telestra looked at the Arcane Codices in her hands. "Such valuable gifts?" There was a trace of envy in her voice, but it quickly returned to normal.
Sailervor said, "Yes. If you want them, you can make copies yourself. That couldn't be simpler for you. The techniques in these two metamagic codices are the most difficult of all Sixth Ring metamagic. Since Patrick has already reached the Sixth Ring, giving him two metamagic codices is hardly an exceptional reward."
Telestra was already a Fifth Ring mage, so copying two Sixth Ring metamagic techniques would not be difficult. Moreover, she not only majored in arcane magic but also studied fire and frost spells. She was a mage versed in three disciplines, and possessed outstanding talent herself.
Telestra left with her orders.
Sailervor thought, I hope you can surprise me. With that, he lowered his head and continued reviewing the documents in his hands.
After leaving the Arcane Academy, Patrick returned to his family to say goodbye, then teleported straight back to the Sun Temple's Sunfury Spire.
The familiar Mage Tower, the familiar surroundings, the air mingled with the Ghostlands' distinctive damp and cold-Patrick exhaled a stale breath.
The dimness was a sight unique to the Ghostlands, something one could not see in Eversong Woods. The mountains outside were quiet and gloomy, and the wind howled coldly. From time to time, the rustling of wind through leaves could be heard, mingling with the calls of the rangers and merchants outside Sunfury Spire.
After all, the Ghostlands were still far from the Sunwell. Becoming this lively in such a short time had not been easy.
"Chief Patrick, sir." Quelrintis was already waiting outside the teleportation chamber.
Patrick instructed, "Quelrintis,
"Prepare some hot water, clothes, and food for me." "As you command."
Soaking in the soothing hot water eased his physical fatigue. Over the past few days, Sailervor's intentions had remained unclear, and he had not given a definite answer. The royal family's thoughts were difficult to guess. Still, since he would give an answer in a few days, Patrick could only return to Sunfury Spire first and wait patiently.
Back at Sunfury Spire, Patrick resumed his former life of study. Arcane research and arcane experiments filled every part of his daily routine.
As he mastered Fifth Ring metamagic techniques, Patrick grew increasingly adept at manipulating arcane magic flexibly. With a casual gesture, a stream of arcane energy condensed into a blue rose. Applying the effects of Arcane Mimicry and Arcane Shaping, he poured in more arcane energy. The blue rose in his hand became almost solid, cool to the touch and light as nothing.
As Patrick shifted his thoughts, the blue rose in his hand burst into flame. Arcane energy supplied the power for the fire magic. His mental control was steady, and the flames were not particularly hot. Warmth filled his entire study.
With another shift of thought, blue roses appeared in the room. Arcane energy formed the roses, and rose vines intertwined, beginning to stretch and spread like shackles made of roses.
During the battle in the Life Forest, Patrick had constructed a spell with his mind. Flame Burial had broken through Chieftain Zul'Marosh's divine protection and killed him. Now Patrick intended to improve that spell.
Vines formed from arcane energy would bind the enemy, then a change in the spell's state would turn them into flames, surrounding the enemy with a raging blaze and leaving them unable to move. It was a highly effective damaging move. For trolls in particular, with their astonishing regenerative abilities, it was practically like facing death itself.
After the lesson of the last Arcane Mass Point, Patrick had become somewhat frightened of high-level spells. Without Ellen Moonsaint's help, Patrick would nearly have been drained dry. Moreover, Ellen's accumulated mana pool had also been exhausted before they barely managed to complete the Arcane Mass Point, allowing the elves to escape with their lives.
Previously, he had only known the amount of mana consumed, never experiencing a spell's mana consumption so directly. But this direct experience had nearly killed him, leaving an impression etched deep into his soul.
Thus, Patrick resolved to improve his existing spells.
Patrick changed Flame Burial into a multistage spell. Rose vines constructed through spiritual power would bind the enemy, then he would alter the vines' spell form to generate intense heat. Following the same principle as Flame Burial, flames would fill the space around the enemy.
However, once Patrick combined this Arcane Rose with spell inscription, he could readily incorporate Pyroblast into the roses. Upon activation, it would be like Flames Enveloping the Body.
Just finished writing. My business trip is finally over, and I can go back. I'll probably spend all day on the high-speed train tomorrow. Hopefully I can write a little.
Before you continue