In the early morning in Dalaran, towering mage towers of interwoven gold and red gleamed in the sunlight.
"Your Highness, it is time to get up. You have an engagement at ten."
The speaker was a seductive, beautiful high elf maid. She was crouching carefully beside the bed, speaking softly to the figure sleeping on it.
"Mmm, is it light already?"
The young man stretched, revealing his lean, muscular upper body. He had flowing blond hair, emerald eyes, and an incomparably handsome face. The maid blushed and hurried to drape an outer garment over him.
Kael'thas had been studying in Dalaran for more than thirty years. Just five years ago, he had advanced to a seventh-circle Grand Archmage and become a member of the Council of Six.
For Quel'Thalas, this counted as a small victory in the game of politics.
Once he was ready, the prince sat at the table eating breakfast, idly leafing through the Dalaran Magic Monthly his attendants had brought back.
"Olvydan Manastorm improved Conjure Water's excessive mana consumption?
"What blatant sensationalism. Conjure Water costs so little mana, yet there is still room for improvement? Since when could a lowly gnome publish papers?"
Kael'thas elegantly sipped the Dragonfin Angelfish caviar freshly teleported from Northrend, his brow slightly furrowed as he harshly critiqued the newspaper's contents.
"And this-Councilor Ansirem Runeweaver has happily wed Lady Elena of Alterac. Am I reading a gossip rag published by some third-rate agency?"
The prince sighed disconsolately. The newspaper's contents had utterly disappointed him.
For a scholar with a powerful thirst for knowledge, nothing was worse than an academic journal publishing gossip.
"Solarian, I would like to discuss something with you."
Kael'thas gave the female elf across the long table an ingratiating smile. It was hard to imagine that a prince could be so approachable.
"Your Highness, this is already the thirty-fourth time."
The Grand Astromancer was over six hundred years old, in the prime of an elf's life. Her long wine-red hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and a helpless expression appeared on her beautiful face. She elegantly wiped the corner of her mouth and took a yellowed newspaper from her spatial backpack.
"Ah, I smell the fragrance of knowledge."
Kael'thas put on an exaggerated expression of enjoyment and eagerly opened the newspaper to read.
"Master Al's wisdom is vaster than the Great Sea. Look at this paper he published six months ago, 'The Possibility of Expanding Arcane Construct Cores.' What a stroke of genius..."
Kael'thas carefully read through the old newspaper while rapidly shoveling down his breakfast, looking nothing like the elegant, reserved prince of a moment ago.
"Postpartum Care for Sows-such plain, unadorned exposition and such a realistic style. Sometimes I can scarcely believe such fine qualities could be found in one of my own people.
"I must say, Master Al's talent and charm have transcended racial barriers. If I were a girl, I would pursue him madly."
Kael'thas half closed his eyes, took a long, appreciative breath, and slowly exhaled.
"To be unable to meet such a person is truly one of life's great regrets."
"Solarian, do you have this month's Silvermoon Magic Newspaper?"
Kael'thas suddenly turned around and asked, his face full of anticipation.
"Your Highness, this is already the eighteenth time you have asked this month. Mr. Al has gone traveling in Kalimdor. I doubt any academic results from him will appear anytime soon."
Long accustomed to this, Solarian stood up, her graceful figure particularly alluring. She stretched and continued:
"Your Highness, the Council of Six will hold its annual meeting at the Violet Citadel at ten. Please be ready."
"Fine. Damn politics. I really want to resign from this bullshit councilor position and go study under Master Al..."
Kael'thas pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"Please mind your words, Your Highness. Such remarks do not befit a prince."
Baron Anasterian Sunstrider, who had remained silent all this time, spoke with a stern expression. Three years ago, he had resigned as a Silvermoon councilor and been assigned by the Sun King to serve at the prince's side.
"I understand, I understand. What tedious politics."
"Your Highness, you must understand that as the heir to a kingdom..."
"Enough, Baron Sanguinar. Stop your useless lecturing. I understand how to be a proper prince better than you do."
Kael'thas rebuked him impatiently.
"Please forgive me. I overstepped."
Sanguinar wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and spoke humbly.
The Violet Citadel hosted the annual meeting of Dalaran's Council of Six.
Time slowly passed. Kael'thas sat upright, his face solemn, betraying neither joy nor anger. Just as he had said, he hated politics, but he understood how to fulfill the duties of an heir.
In this human kingdom of magic, he represented Quel'Thalas's dignity and safeguarded the interests of the high elves.
"Now, the eighth item: the issue of Jinkela and Bloodpetals, which have recently been widely sold throughout Dalaran."
Kael'thas kept his gaze lowered in quiet contemplation. Though a member of the Council of Six, he held no real power. Humans' widespread xenophobia had reduced him to a figurehead, with prestige but no substance.
Antonidas, who was in his fifties, had long, pale blond hair. Clad in snowy-white robes, he sat at the head of the table.
"A group of adventurers claiming to come from another continent arrived in Dalaran. They brought an entirely new species and a potion..."
Antonidas swept his gaze over the others, letting it linger a little longer on the prince, who had his head lowered as though deep in thought, before continuing:
"These creatures are called Bloodpetals. They are something akin to plants and elementals. They reproduce rapidly and are extremely aggressive. Their low intelligence makes them impossible to tame.
"But they possess a peculiar function. My experiments have shown that Bloodpetals release a gas during photosynthesis. This gas can improve the quality of spellcasters' meditation. By my estimates, exposure to this gas could also increase meditation speed by as much as two to three times..."
Before Antonidas could finish, the atmosphere grew lively. Apart from the prince, the other four whispered among themselves, their expressions excited.
"Silence!"
Antonidas rapped on the table. Only once quiet had returned did he continue:
"There is also a potion called Jinkela. This potion can effectively encourage Bloodpetals to release that gas while making them very docile. According to my experiments, this potion... is nontoxic, harmless, and has no side effects."
The room grew noisy again. Even the silent prince looked astonished. He understood what this potion represented. Perhaps the combination of these two things would usher in an era-an era of explosive growth in the numbers of the scarce mage profession.
In a rare departure, Antonidas did not maintain order. He merely observed everyone's expressions quietly.
The ecstatic Ansirem Runeweaver, Karlain wearing the same expression, the worried Modera, the shocked Kael'thas, and the calm Krasus.
The chairman took in each of their expressions and sighed without betraying anything.
As time passed, the strange atmosphere in the room gradually settled into silence. Antonidas stood and said solemnly:
"The source of this potion and these creatures has been confirmed. They come from a master familiar to us. His name is-Aier Salona."
The room fell silent. Kael'thas froze for a moment, then stared at Antonidas with a fervent expression.
"There is one more matter. I have decided to call a vote."
Antonidas looked around at everyone and said softly:
"Destroy all Bloodpetals and Jinkela, and arrest those adventurers!"
PS: None of the characters appearing in this book were invented; all can be traced to existing sources. This author consulted quite a lot of material just to track down everyone in Dalaran decades ago~