"Master Al, your wisdom is vaster than the Great Sea."
Kael'thas was sitting in Type Zero's cockpit, stroking the brown-glowing power core with an intoxicated expression.
"Bootlicker."
Hemet laboriously hoisted the hundred-ton behemoth and trudged unevenly along the road to Dalaran.
"What astonishing brute strength. Where did you get this pet of yours..."
"I'm a follower! A follower! You long-eared bastard, watch your ass at night!"
Hemet cursed, hopping mad.
"Pick up the pace!"
With a dark expression, Al gave the old dwarf beneath his feet a cruel smile.
That's what you get for running your mouth. That's what you get for running your mouth.
Hemet slapped himself hard twice and churned his short little legs as fast as he could.
"Master..."
"You jest, Your Highness. My talents and learning are meager. I am not qualified to be your teacher."
Al's words sounded humble, but in truth, they kept him at arm's length.
After a long silence.
"Master, I will show you my resolve!"
As though something had occurred to him, Kael'thas's dejected gaze grew resolute again.
Whatever makes you happy.
Al snarked silently. Given the choice, he really did not want anything to do with any member of the royal family. Anything that became entangled with politics would change in nature in the end. That was also why Al treated the prince coldly.
"Tell me, what agreement did His Majesty Anasterian and Antonidas reach? Why did this matter involve me?"
"Well... it's a long story."
Kael'thas stopped stroking the components and said solemnly:
As Kael'thas recounted the story, Al came to understand the whole sequence of events.
It was nothing more than the same old substitution ploy. Anasterian wanted to place Rommath, Silvermoon City's newly promoted Grand Archmage, on Dalaran's Council of Six to increase his own influence within the human kingdom of magic.
If the Sun King's plan succeeds, then a thousand years from now-no, five hundred at most-Dalaran will become a vassal state of Quel'Thalas, as well as a bridgehead planted among the human kingdoms by the Sunstrider royal family. In a sense, holding Dalaran firmly means holding the lifeline of every human kingdom.
Heh, what a fine scheme... Your Majesty.
Al looked up with a sneer, only to see the prince's face filled with shame. Clearly, as the heir to a kingdom, he understood these simple political calculations.
What a pity. If you weren't the prince of Quel'Thalas, perhaps we really could have become good friends.
With a soft sigh, Al continued:
"Antonidas isn't a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. What... does he want?"
"The formulas for both generations of Jinkela, the blueprints for the Arcane Guardian and Arcane Annihilator, Ayou's breeding techniques and piglets, and... the right to share in your research results for the next ten years."
The prince spoke with a complicated expression.
"Perfectly reasonable, but... has my name already become that well known? You really make it hard to get angry, Antonidas..."
He shook his head with a sardonic smile. At that very moment, a shocking plan took shape in his mind.
At Lordamere, not far from Dalaran, Antonidas and the other four council members stood solemnly on the path Al's party would have to take.
"Is such a grand reception really necessary? That Al is only..."
Archmage Modera whispered beside Antonidas.
The chairman interrupted her and said gravely:
"Modera, you must understand that everyone has value, and to a certain extent, that value can be measured. Aier Salona is not as simple as you imagine. He is not merely a scholar..."
A light shone in Antonidas's wise eyes. After saying this to his loyal supporter, he fell silent and gazed into the distance without another word.
Thud... thud... thud.
"Something's happening!"
Antonidas listened carefully to the sounds of the earth shaking, then swiftly flew into the air and looked into the distance.
"A massive construct is approaching us."
Krasus, who had kept such a low profile that his presence had barely registered, frowned in a rare display.
"Why can't I see any... Holy Light above, what is that?"
The remaining three Archmages followed Antonidas high into the air. The colossal creature in the distance struck them all speechless.
"Quick, sound the alarm! Assemble the mages!"
Modera screamed. The enormous thing in the distance made her hair stand on end.
"No... wait."
Antonidas raised his hand, stopping Modera's rash action, and continued observing.
"But... if we don't act soon, our Violet Barrier..."
Ansirem urged him with an anxious expression.
"That isn't an enemy..."
Having just finished casting Eagle Eye, Antonidas's pupils contracted sharply, followed by profound shock.
"Come, our Master Al... has arrived."
The chairman, who had been brimming with energy moments before, now seemed to have aged more than ten years. Half-convinced, the other council members followed him toward the enormous thing.
Antonidas first looked in shock at the old dwarf carrying Type Zero on his back, then solemnly gave Al a Dalaran mage's salute.
"Though we have long known each other in spirit, we have never had the fortune to meet, Master Al."
Antonidas spoke with a complicated expression.
Al: ???