Seven Years

Kael'thas began his long years of study.

Every starry night, he stayed in the attic above the Path of Arcane, where Mephistes taught him the foundations of magic. After a long period of study, he finally understood what Mephistes expected of him. Mephistes did not teach him magical skills, only the basic principles of Arcane energy and how to combine them into new spells. This was typical of high elf Arcane mages: rather than directly mastering powerful magic, they preferred to study how spells worked and create new ones themselves.

Mephistes believed that Kael'thas had incomparable talent in this respect. Although Kael'thas was neutral on the matter, he studied diligently all the same. He knew that Kael'thas in the game had been a great magical researcher who had created and developed most of his skills on his own. On this point, Kael'thas did not want to change!

Mornings were devoted to learning the languages of various races. Most languages in this world seemed to be related in some way, and learning them was not as difficult as learning foreign languages in his previous life. As a result, Kael'thas graduated with excellent marks in the languages of several races. Even so, seven years was too short a time for him to learn much about the customs and cultures of other races.

The reward for the quest to learn the languages of seven races was duly granted. It turned out to be a title, and its effect was astonishing!

"Disguiser (title): You may freely change your appearance to that of another race, but attacking a member of that race will nullify the title's effect. You may only change to one race every thirty days."

Kael'thas thought that once he obtained the King of Music trait, the two effects combined would make him a natural spy! It would also be a convenient disguise if he went traveling someday.

Since coming to this world, one of Kael'thas's greatest dreams was to travel freely across the continent one day. High elves lived such long lives that he was sure to have the chance.

Meanwhile, under Kael'sala's training, Kael'thas had become capable of handling more advanced documents. He had become a capable leader, and over the years, many policy proposals had likewise been issued in his name. Kael'thas's approach was enlightened and progressive, and often far-sighted. One proposal to improve the city's waterways, modeled on those of his previous life, saved Silvermoon City the enormous amount of magical energy it spent dealing with accumulated water each year.

Gradually, the high elves began calling him and the equally wise Prince Kael'sala the "Twin Jades of the High Elves." The name even spread to human society, where bards composed a song called Golden Age and began to depict Quel'Thalas's future.

Kael'thas still played his nameless tune in the Royal Trade District every evening. To his bemusement, this had actually caused a sensation.

High elf society, which had never been particularly interested in music, was suddenly swept up in a great musical storm. Music quickly became the kingdom's second-greatest art after Arcane. Countless high elves came to the Royal Trade District every day to listen to Kael'thas play, and he became the hottest idol star in the high elf kingdom almost overnight.

Of course, his increasingly striking looks had something to do with it as well.

For a time, the Royal Trade District became a market without trade, while the volume of trade in the other Trade District soared. As royal tax revenues fell, Anasterian Sunstrider flew into a rage, ordered the guards to seal off the Royal Trade District, and began charging admission instead. To his pleasant surprise, the high elves became even more eager to attend, and the daily admission fees actually brought in more than the trade taxes once had!

Anasterian Sunstrider nearly grinned from ear to ear. He even personally appealed to Mephistes to set aside more than an hour each day for Kael'thas to perform.

But none of this concerned Kael'thas. What concerned him was something else: apparently... he had begun to develop an indescribable feeling for a high elf girl.

It was not love, but at least it was tending in that direction...

She was a girl with the standard appearance of a high elf: blue eyes, gleaming golden hair, and a petite, lovely face characteristic of an Easterner.

He did not know when it had started, but whenever Kael'thas played each day, she would sit motionless at one side of the Royal Trade District, staring at him with a burning, expectant gaze, as though she might pounce on him and devour him at any moment.

Kael'thas had been eight at the time, and her strange gaze had frightened him when he first noticed it.

After that, Kael'thas had kept a nervous eye on her. Perhaps that was the very reason that, as one year passed and then another, the girl remained just as she had been, quietly watching Kael'thas from the same spot. It also made him curious. Who was she? Was she merely a shy girl?

And so, little by little, Kael'thas's heart changed. He paid more and more attention to the girl, and when he later noticed that her curves were completely unlike the slender figures of ordinary high elves, that change grew even greater!

Quiet, long-haired, with a mature woman's figure...

That was Kael'thas's idea of the perfect woman.

He could not resist wanting to investigate her, and so one day he finally brought the matter up with Kael'sala. Kael'sala immediately rejected the idea, however. Kael'thas saw his face turn red with anger as he flusteredly scolded him, saying that as a member of the royal family, he should not be thinking about such things!

It was the first time he had seen Kael'sala like that!

Kael'thas felt terribly guilty and never brought it up again.

He could only bury those hazy feelings...

And so the days changed and time flew. On this evening, as a clear, melodious song once again rang out through Silvermoon City, seven years had passed in the blink of an eye. The child of those days had finally grown up.

"Ding..."

"You have completed the quest Child's Concert and obtained the trait: King of Music!"

"Ding..."

"Your experience has been unlocked."

Hearing the system notifications, Kael'thas slowly opened his eyes.

Now a youth, Kael'thas slowly rose to his full, slender height. His soft, fine golden hair fell to his waist, dancing lightly in the breeze. At a glance, his face was like radiant jade, his temples as though cut with a blade, and his brows as though painted in ink. His large blue eyes were as deep and mysterious as the ocean.

What a gentle, jade-like young beauty he was!

A light flashed in the eyes of the girl beside him as she gazed closely at him. Even though she saw him day and night, she still could not help marveling at his handsome features time and again.

At the thought, her face fell a little...

Because starting tomorrow, the boy would no longer come.

Yes, Kael'thas was going to the Ghostlands.

Kael'thas looked at the girl as well, a little wistful. He had waited seven years, but now that it was truly time to leave, he found that he had grown accustomed to a life of ease.

That would not do!

Kael'thas dispelled his hesitation and reached out to the girl, intending to say goodbye.

His jade-white hand emerged from his splendid robes. His eyes full of expectation, Kael'thas extended his invitation with an elegant, noble gesture.

For an instant, the girl felt an urge to rush over to him.

She shook her head with a rueful smile. In the end, without even waiting for Kael'thas to speak, she turned and left...

"..."

Kael'thas was somewhat disappointed. With an inward sigh, he slowly extinguished the tiny flame in his heart.

It isn't time to be lovers yet...

Thinking this, he headed toward the Sunfury Spire.

Xiao Ao should be waking up soon...

He was going to pick him up, then find Mephistes to learn some basic skills.

Tomorrow, when Kael'thas woke...

He would begin his real life...

Ghostlands...

What can you bring me?