Chapter 73: Dou Qi, Third Stage! |
Antonidas and Krasus both recognized that thing at the same time.
Atiesh.
The Guardian's legendary staff.
Antonidas took a deep breath.
"What else have you dreamed about?"
Allen tucked the wooden stick back into his robes, lifted his head, his gaze calm yet deep.
"He told me." His voice was very soft. "I was chosen. The Horde will reopen the Dark Portal. They'll seize Medivh's book, the Eye of Dalaran, and Sargeras's scepter."
He paused.
"He wants me to stop all of this."
【You stand atop the Violet Citadel, surrounded by twenty staves pointed at you, facing the most powerful mages of this era. And the only leverage in your hands is a picked-up wooden stick and a mouth that dares to say anything.
But the moment you spoke, they believed you. Not because your lie was flawless, but because what you said happened to strike the deepest hope buried in their hearts.
A repentant Medivh. A weeping Medivh. A Medivh begging and pleading. A Medivh seeking atonement. How wonderful that sounds.
They didn't see a fast-talking liar. They saw a messenger chosen by fate, a successor to the Guardian who could be shaped by Dalaran. They chose to believe you.】
And just like that, Allen Prestor was let off the hook by two grand mages of the Council of Six.
Antonidas himself even spoke up, ordering all Kirin Tor mages present today to strictly keep the secret—about the exorcism alarm, about that dream, about that fragment of Atiesh.
Not only that, they even gifted Allen a fragment of Atiesh.
They said,
"Maybe... this is fate. Maybe it's up to you to restore the Guardian's staff in its entirety."
Antonidas was very impressed with Allen. In his eyes, Allen must have some deep connection to Medivh. If he could take Allen as his apprentice, it would feel incredibly satisfying.
According to them, the top fragment of Atiesh had actually been kept in Dalaran for many years, only to be stolen later.
Allen silently complained in his heart. Dalaran's security level was, as always, reassuringly predictable.
He vaguely recalled that the top and bottom of Atiesh should have dropped from some raid boss, but he really hadn't done that quest.
Probably in one of the Classic-era endgame raids like the Temple of Ahn'Qiraj or Naxxramas.
After asking them about their experiences upon arrival, Antonidas placed even more importance on the prophetic information from Allen's "dream."
After all, this wasn't some arrogant prophet coming before him to grant knowledge—it was something he had personally dug out from a pile of clues.
The two whispered a few words to each other, then summoned a messenger mage, ordering an immediate increase in the security level around the Eye of Dalaran.
Of course, Daelin Proudmoore's daughter was studying in Dalaran, so they definitely had to take good care of her.
By the way—after the crisis of being about to be arrested and locked up in Violet Prison was resolved, Allen finally had time to check the quest he had completed.
「Side Quest: Strange Wooden Stick (Completed)」
「Quest Objective: Arrive at the nearest magic capital, 1/1」
「Rewards: 1 Random Low-Level Spell being drawn, Profession Level increased by 1...」
「...」
「Draw successful. Congratulations, you have successfully obtained the spell: Disguise Self」
【Disguise Self】
【Level: 1st Level】
【Effect: Magically alter every aspect of your appearance.】
「Warlock Level 1 → Warlock Level 2」
「Profession Passive Unlocked, Metamagic!」
「You may choose two Metamagic options and one 1st-level Warlock spell」
Metamagic was a unique auxiliary ability for warlocks. Allen chose Twinned Spell and Distant Spell.
「Metamagic - Distant Spell: Greatly increases the range of your next spell.」
「Metamagic - Twinned Spell: A spell that can only target one creature can now target an additional creature.」
With these two Metamagic options, countless application scenarios instantly flooded Allen's mind. From now on, he could Mind Blast people from a distance to secretly pop their heads—and even pop two at once.
He was already rehearsing it in his head.
For his 1st-level Warlock spell, Allen chose Magic Missile. It was about time he learned some proper spells, and he could finally pick one himself.
【Magic Missile】
【Level: 1st Level】
【Effect: Based on your magic power, unleash 3-n magic-force missiles that always hit their target.】
Of course, the most important thing was that in D&D, Magic Missile had one hundred percent accuracy.
Though Allen wasn't sure if the system would curse him for being deaf and land the Magic Missile on an enemy that normally couldn't be hit in Warcraft.
Well, he could try it out later.
Disguise Self was pretty good too—a practical spell.
Allen took out the wooden stick gifted by Antonidas and then his own piece.
The gaps between the two sticks clearly didn't match—one had a jagged cross-section, while the other's grain was completely misaligned.
But when he brought them close—
The runes lit up.
The ancient runes on both sticks simultaneously glowed with a pale golden light, like sleeping stars awakening.
It was as if some invisible force was pulling them together. On the contact surface of the two sticks, tender green sprouts actually grew, emerging from the cross-section of one, winding around the gap of the other, twisting, tightening, merging.
Seamless.
As if they had never been broken.
Everyone around was stunned.
Allen was a bit surprised too.
So this was what a legendary weapon was like. Not just stats and traits, but this kind of living texture.
【Side Quest Triggered: Strange Wooden Stick (II)】
【You have arrived at the magic capital. The other stick gifted to you by the grand mages has actually fused with the one in your hand. I can feel the magic within surging even more powerfully—it's alive, it's growing, it's calling for the remaining fragments.】
【Quest Objective: Collect more strange wooden stick fragments: 2/3】
【Quest Rewards: Random Mid-Level Spell x1, Free Attribute Points x2, 1 Profession Level Increase】
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When the figures of the Council of Six appeared in the apprentice enrollment area, everyone was stunned.
That was Antonidas. The leader of the Kirin Tor, the very symbol of all of Dalaran.
Beside him was Krasus, that mysterious high elven grand mage, who even Antonidas reportedly had to treat with respect.
These two usually only appeared at the highest-level councils, hardly ever seen even by official mages.
Now, the two big shots had brought Jaina to the place where Arcane and Ley Line affinity were tested. This was a rite of passage for every mage apprentice—after all, you couldn't waste a person's entire life if they couldn't even sense arcane elements, right?
News spread faster than Arcane Missiles.
"Who is it? Who's being treated like this?"
"I heard it's Daelin Proudmoore's daughter from Kul Tiras."
"Daelin's daughter? That still shouldn't require two grand mages to personally accompany her, should it?"
In the center of the testing area stood a stone platform, above which floated a sharply faceted polyhedral crystal pillar.
It would emit light based on the test subject's affinity for the ley lines and arcane elements, ranked from low to high: Dim, Glimmer, Stable, Bright, High, Extremely High.
Normally, no one would be here, but because of the two big shots, quite a crowd had gathered to watch.
Jaina was a bit nervous. She stepped forward, one hand tightly clutching the money pouch Allen had given her, and began the test.
Hum! The light inside the crystal pillar instantly became bright and lively, like a calm lake surface into which a stone had been thrown, ripples spreading rapidly and condensing.
A few seconds later, several clear and radiant Common words appeared above the crystal pillar:
Arcane Affinity: High
Jaina let go, stepped back, her face expressionless.
The crowd had already exploded. "High! It's High!" "My god, how old is this girl?" "Kul Tirras is about to produce a grand mage..."
Antonidas nodded with satisfaction, and a slight smile even appeared on Krasus's lips. He turned to Jaina, about to say something.
Allen mustered his courage and spoke up. He didn't need to learn anything else, but at least he wanted to learn Arcane Intellect so he could buff himself. "I'd also like to continue my studies in Dalaran. Um... could I give it a try?"
Antonidas and Krasus became interested and looked at Allen.
Oh? What kind of magical talent would this young man, who seemed to have been personally chosen by Medivh, display?
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