Child's Concert

The attic at the end of the Path of Arcane turned out to be Mephistes's home. Kael'thas wondered about his identity, but he had no choice except to begin studying under him. Unexpectedly, Mephistes taught him some basic principles of arcane magic and the rules for combining them, without teaching him anything about other races that evening.

Kael'thas almost thought he had forgotten, but he didn't object. Yet when he got up the next morning, Mephistes didn't continue teaching magic. Instead, he picked up a book and began teaching Kael'thas the human Common language.

So magic was taught at night, and other knowledge during the day-Kael'thas finally understood.

It was worth mentioning that he had received another quest.

Quest: Learn the languages of seven races. Within seven years, learn the languages of at least seven races. The more, the better!

The time limit for this quest matched the duration of his experience lock. After what had happened the night before, Kael'thas didn't dare underestimate it. Though he didn't know what the reward would be, it had to be something incredibly awesome.

So Kael'thas made up his mind. He had to complete it!!

He eagerly prepared to throw himself into his studies, but unfortunately, just after the morning ended, Mephistes unceremoniously teleported him away.

"Your Highness, I'll come pick you up this evening!"

With those words, Mephistes left Kael'thas, who felt like crying but had no tears, in Kael'sala's office in the Sunfury Spire.

"Kael'thas, come sit beside me!"

Kael'sala sat behind a desk piled with documents and called Kael'thas over.

Kael'thas walked over helplessly. The chair was long and luxurious, but it was still a little cramped for two, so Kael'thas edged closer to Kael'sala.

"Brother, you're not going to make me help with the paperwork, are you?"

A blush flashed across Kael'sala's face, though he didn't let Kael'thas see it. Hearing Kael'thas's question, he nodded. "Yes. While you're still here these next few years, I thought it would be better to teach you how to handle some basic things."

"Huh? But I'm not going to become the Sun King. Do I need to learn this stuff so early?"

"What are you talking about?! You're..." Kael'sala suddenly clapped a hand over his mouth. Then, looking into Kael'sala's puzzled eyes, he hurriedly covered it up. "You're my little brother! You'll have to help me handle these affairs in the future. How could you not learn a little?"

Kael'thas wasn't suspicious, but he was still a little disappointed that he couldn't continue working on his quest. "But isn't there still the Silvermoon Council?"

The political system of Quel'Thalas, the high elf kingdom, was highly unusual. Its royal family, the Sunstrider Dynasty, wielded enormous power. All high elves pledged their allegiance to it, and it could determine the kingdom's fate. Yet the Sunstrider Dynasty had distributed the duties of governing the kingdom among the high elf nobles, who formed the Silvermoon Council. All matters in the kingdom, great and small, were decided by the council.

Dictatorship and aristocratic republicanism were two conflicting systems. This political system, virtually impossible to achieve in human society, had continued efficiently and without error ever since the founding of Quel'Thalas, thanks to the high elves' long lifespans and social traditions passed down for ten thousand years.

It had to be called a miracle.

Or rather, the fact that the high elves had no doubts about this system was something Kael'thas, an outsider, couldn't understand.

"These came from them..."

Kael'sala smiled. The Silvermoon Council could, of course, handle everything, but they were also happy to provide material for training the future Sun King.

"Eh!!" Kael'thas pulled a long face and picked up a document to read.

The total lynx population in Eversong Woods has fallen. Requesting a two-month ban on hunting!

Next.

Suggestions for improving the diet at Farstrider Lodge.

Keep going.

Draft proposal for the guard rotation system at Sunsail Anchorage.

Damn... Why do all these documents already have solutions written out?! Seriously, do you think I, a university graduate, can't even sign my name and stamp a document??

Kael'thas stared at document after document, each with an almost perfect solution, and went completely Spartan.

This is handling paperwork?

Isn't this underestimating me?

Kael'thas began signing his name at a furious pace. Unwilling to leave it at that, he also searched for every possible omission and loophole, writing down his own suggestions wherever he could intervene. Things like increasing the lynxes' nutritional supply and raising their reproduction rate...

Drawing on his past life's experience, Kael'thas came up with ideas for many details that even Kael'sala had to praise.

Several hours later, Kael'thas had exceeded his assignment.

As Kael'sala and a maid gathered the documents, he said to Kael'thas, "Kael'thas, go out and take a walk on your own. You've studied all day. It's time to get some rest."

Kael'thas lay sprawled on the desk, feeling a little sleepy. But when he remembered that he still had magic practice that evening, he agreed with Kael'sala and decided to go out and clear his head.

He left the Sunfury Spire with two guards.

It wasn't quite evening yet. Kael'thas looked at the sun and estimated that it was sometime after four in the afternoon. It would be a little over two hours before Mephistes came to pick him up.

Kael'thas walked slowly along. Even after seeing Silvermoon City's beauty for eight whole years, he was still struck by it. This city, built with magic, was filled with expensive Arcane Crystals and all kinds of magnificent, splendid buildings. Enchanted brooms swept away dust without rest, keeping the streets spotless at all times.

Kael'thas walked past the Sunstrider Court, crossed Farstriders' Square, and finally arrived at the enormous Royal Trade District.

This was one of Silvermoon City's two major trade districts. Countless handsome and beautiful high elves talked and laughed loudly here as they conducted all manner of trade. There were also children chasing and playing among the bustling crowds.

Everyone saw Kael'thas arrive, and in an instant, the entire Trade District fell silent.

"May the sunlight guide you, Your Highness..." There was no one who didn't know Kael'thas. The three years he had spent accompanying Kael'sala on outings had made him known to the high elves of Quel'Thalas.

Soon, an elf noble took the lead in bowing to Kael'thas. The remaining high elves followed with slight bows, saying nothing because they didn't want the prince before them to have to answer each of them.

"Blessings upon you in the name of the sunlight..." Kael'thas sighed and returned their greetings. This was the most proper response for a member of the royal family. Though still very young, Kael'thas was already beginning to show the bearing expected of a member of the Sunstrider Family.

Humility within nobility...

"I've come here to enjoy myself. Please, pay me no mind..."

Kael'thas continued. He had a reason for saying this. Though the Sunstrider Family was royalty, unlike humans, the Sunstrider Family wasn't distant from its people.

This came from traditional culture, and it was also why the Sunstrider Family had enjoyed the high elves' recognition for thousands of years.

Sure enough, after hearing Kael'thas's words, the high elves understood and slowly dispersed, returning to what they had been doing. All except some children...

These children, all under fifteen, stood stiffly at a distance, not moving an inch, looking timidly and reverently at the equally young Kael'thas. They had not yet come of age or begun their Initial Stage training, and so they had never fought alongside nobles or been influenced by the high elves' culture of equality. As a result, they instinctively felt distant from and afraid of royalty.

Kael'thas sighed. He had once worried about how he would play with little kids if he ever had to. But now it seemed that, as a member of the royal family, he had been destined to worry for nothing.

Yet he couldn't feel happy now.

The distance and fear in the children's blue eyes gave Kael'thas an inexplicable pang in his heart.

He turned and walked to one side, where he picked a leaf much like a bamboo leaf from a floating magic flowerpot.

Kael'thas had learned to play a bamboo leaf in his previous life. It was the only thing he had learned from his late grandfather.

This should work...

Kael'thas stroked the leaf and muttered to himself, then plopped down on the steps.

Then, a song rang out in the Royal Trade District.

It was a very gentle, clear, and beautiful song.

It had only a few notes and perhaps couldn't be considered a song.

Though it wasn't particularly captivating, the high elves could sense a peaceful state of mind in it.

The technique was very unpolished and simple, but precisely because of that, the song touched the hearts of every high elf present.

The Trade District grew quieter. All the high elves stopped what they were doing and listened carefully, unwilling to disturb Kael'thas's performance.

The children's gazes gradually softened as they looked at Kael'thas, becoming filled with longing...

Nothing could touch a child's heart more than a gentle song.

Ding...

You have received the quest Child's Concert!

Child's Concert: The high elf children here have come to love your music and want you to come play here every day.

Note: This quest requires three months of continuous performance to complete.

Ding...

Experience lock effect triggered. The reward for this quest has been upgraded and changed.

Note: If you voluntarily stop performing, you will receive a random reward. If you continue performing without interruption for seven years, you will receive the unique quest reward, King of Music.

King of Music (trait): Your music is beautiful and moving, transcending races.

Transcends races!?

Kael'thas's eyes widened. That was really something. Every race had its own culture and way of appreciating things. When something transcended races, it could be considered invincible!

And it was a trait, too. The Quest for Arcane had also become a trait after it was activated last time. With this one, Kael'thas would have seven traits in total!!

At least if I travel around the world as a singer in the future, no one will doubt me!

More importantly, this is a divine weapon for picking up girls!!

Kael'thas grew happier the longer he played, until evening fell and Mephistes appeared before him again.

"Your Highness, let's go..."

Smiling, Mephistes held out his hand in invitation.

Kael'thas got up, tucked the leaf into his clothes, and walked toward Mephistes.

Traces of magic remained on the leaf, so it wouldn't wither. Kael'thas could keep using it.