Chapter Four: Allen and the Arcanist

Noticing the change in his arcane energy, Patrick realized it was brought about by his advancement. The once slender stream of arcane flowing within him had broadened, increasing his mana reserves considerably. Yet even after reaching saturation, his body continued to absorb arcane energy without pause. The influx maintained a dynamic equilibrium, never moving beyond the stage of fullness.

“What’s happening? Why is the arcane energy I absorb vanishing?” Patrick was perplexed. His mana had reached saturation, but he was still drawing in arcane ions, and the energy he absorbed was inexplicably ‘disappearing’.

...

“Ah! At last, I awaken,” a clear, feminine voice rang out.

“There’s someone here? Who is it?” Patrick was startled. He was alone in the meditation chamber, and no stranger could possibly be inside the family’s mage tower.

“Don’t be nervous~!” came the woman’s voice again.

“A telepathic conversation?” For someone to bypass the mage tower’s active mental defenses, their spiritual power must be at least that of a magus or archmage—such figures would have no reason to trouble themselves with contacting a mere apprentice like him.

“No need for wild speculation. I am within your consciousness,” the woman’s voice replied. “It was the arcane energy you just absorbed that awakened me.”

“Who are you? And why are you in my mind?” Outwardly, Patrick showed no reaction, but he quietly began to focus arcane energy in his hands, ready to act if opportunity arose.

“No need to worry, I mean no harm. I am Elen Moonsaint, once a transcendent archmage, affiliated with the Royal High Elven Magical Research Association of Azshara, member of the Arcane Research Team of the Well of Eternity.”

“How did you come to be in my mind?”

“To answer that, we must return to the ancient war. When the Well of Eternity exploded, a surge of arcane energy ran wild, creating numerous spatial rifts. It was through these chaotic flows that I broke the spatial barrier, evading the blast’s impact. Though I escaped the explosion, my body was devoured by the spatial turbulence, leaving only my soul, which fled to your home planet—Earth—and now temporarily resides within you.”

...

“After spending some time on Earth, I forcibly opened the spatial barrier, hoping to return to Azeroth, but unexpectedly brought your soul along with mine,” Elen Moonsaint’s voice carried a hint of embarrassment.

“So it’s all your fault. Can you send me back?”

“Yes. If the Well of Eternity were to explode again, the energy released would be enough to send you back to Earth, and then I could return here,” Elen Moonsaint responded earnestly.

“If the Well of Eternity exploded again, that would be the end of the world,” Patrick grumbled, realizing his journey had always been manipulated by another, and his crossing was never truly voluntary.

Yet there was nothing he could do. When he first arrived, he was lost for a long time, almost unable to escape the sorrow of leaving his loved ones behind. “So, illustrious Archmage Elen Moonsaint, how long do you plan to remain in my mind?”

“Well, my body has been devoured by spatial turbulence, so I exist only in soul form.”

“So it seems you’re not going anywhere. There’s someone else who keeps prying into my memories and thoughts, which is quite irritating. Since you’re an archmage, you must be adept at arcane research.”

“Undoubtedly!” Elen Moonsaint spoke with a hint of pride. “Without my assistance, your last attempt at the arcane mimicry experiment would never have succeeded so easily. To simulate the form of elements with arcane requires at least a high-level magus. With your current abilities, you can only use mental power to cast fire and ice spells directly, not manifest the mimicry effects of arcane.”

No wonder, in the game’s rules, mages were divided into three talents: arcane, frost, and fire. Arcane talents differed from frost and fire, with skills like Arcane Impact, Arcane Barrage, and Arcane Missiles at level ten, while frost and fire mages used Fireball, Pyroblast, and Flame Strike. The core concepts of arcane talents—Arcane Charge, Overpower—were all about mana control.

But arcane mages were unlike those of other schools; with arcane magic, they could manipulate energies of other attributes.

“Lady Elen, do you have any advice for my current stage of arcane study?” Patrick asked.

“Most of your study has been restricted to theoretical knowledge, lacking practical application. Mere armchair speculation is useless for arcane mastery,” Elen replied seriously. “To probe the mysteries of arcane is not limited to magical formulas and skills, but is a search for truth itself.”

Indeed, accumulated combat experience brings transformative improvement. While a solid foundation is essential, the countless variables in actual battle can influence victory; mastering real-world experience will be invaluable when Azeroth enters turbulent times.

After the First Dark Portal, Azeroth was wracked by constant warfare: the Orc Wars, the Scourge Legion, Nightmare War, Sandstorm War, Cataclysm, and the Twilight Cult—all intent on world destruction (Azeroth has always been plagued by disaster; every villain’s first goal is to destroy the world).

Patrick immersed himself in arcane study, focusing on new arcane skills and the simulation effects of arcane mimicry. Enhancing his arcane mastery also improved his control over ice and fire elements.

His days were like those of a high school student, with morning, afternoon, and evening study—not dull math or literature, but lively, rigorous arcane learning that brought him much magical knowledge.

Evening, family banquet.

“Pat,” Phil Cabron spoke solemnly, “there’s a batch of supplies that must be delivered to the Daswisther Mage Tower east of Silvermoon City. The shipment includes various enchanting materials, gemstones like malachite and tiger’s eye, magical dust, rare dust, arcane crystals, bloodthistle, dreamflower, and more.”

“There’s much more needed this time. Is there trouble on the eastern Emerald Coast?”

“No. The Daswisther Mage Tower not only monitors the eastern Emerald Coast, but also manages the magical energy fields and serves as a logistical hub for the Farstrider’s residence. Recently, troll activity at Torwasa and Sebwasa has increased, tightening the front lines, so there’s greater demand for supplies—especially military equipment, medicines, and mana stones.” Phil Cabron reminded him, “Our alchemical potions and raw materials are your responsibility to deliver. I’ve already spoken with the Daswisther arcanist—he’s quite accomplished in arcane arts. You can study in his tower for a while and deepen your understanding.”

Patrick suspected his father was deliberately sending him out to study. The Cabron family library offered little in the way of arcane research; though their mage tower was in the heart of East District, adjacent to Silvermoon’s council chamber, the family’s main expertise was alchemy. Perhaps, going abroad to learn was a good opportunity.

The Daswisther Tower was the only mage tower in Silvermoon’s east, a massive floating structure. In later eras of World of Warcraft, blood elf quests began with finding Magister Daswisther and then retrieving the teleport orb to enter the tower, clearing out ethereals, mana serpents, and the deranged, then shutting down energy crystals. Now, the Daswisther Tower was still a hub for Silvermoon’s animals, a supply station for the Farstrider camp, and Daswisther himself was only a mid-level arcanist.