Chapter Sixty-One: Experiment

Patrick had been quietly observing them, understanding their intentions so that he could more freely navigate the circles of parliament and royalty. The two envoys shared a common interest: enjoying afternoon tea in the tower’s lounge. The flavors were exquisite and rich—a gem-like mint liqueur paired with artisanal fruit cakes, spice bread, and the perfect combination of egg yolk salad dressing. The two elven ladies were locked in an ongoing rivalry, even during afternoon tea; their guest lists grew ever larger, and the food and drinks became increasingly lavish, as if each sought to claim victory over the other.

Liadrin was not an arcane spellcaster, and the resources within the mage tower were intended for those who wielded arcane magic, offering her little benefit. Yet as an excellent priestess, Liadrin’s social skills were unmatched. Upon her arrival at the Sunspire Tower, her approachable demeanor and sacred bearing immediately won her the favor of the temple’s sun rangers.

Theresta, on the other hand, was a gifted arcanist. Their daily encounters amounted to little more than nods of acknowledgment, and even Quelinthes had seldom exchanged words with her. She spent her days quietly conducting arcane experiments in the laboratory, delivering her own potions and scrolls to Quelinthes each month, which were then sold alongside the tower’s unique concoctions.

When time allowed, Theresta would pen magical treatises and place them in the Sunspire Tower’s sparse library. Yet most of her hours were devoted to study and reading. As a prominent graduate of the Royal Academy of Arcane Arts in Silvermoon, she naturally had her own methods of learning, and Patrick never interfered with anyone’s way of life.

Every mage at Sunspire Tower would, in their leisure, craft arcane tomes or record their insights—ranging from alchemical secrets to methods of mental cultivation. There were even arcane speculations from Idonis and others, awaiting someone to experiment and verify their theories.

This unremarked frontier, overlooked by the elves, was quietly accumulating its wealth. The library’s collection grew, Patrick’s followers increased, resources within the mage tower swelled, and many merchants and travelers made their home here. Perhaps one day, it would become the second central city of the Ghostlands after Taquilin.

Patrick planned next to compile his own methods of mental cultivation into a volume for the library’s shelves, including several applications of metamagic, techniques for inscribing magical arrays with mental power, the merging and combining of metamagic, and spatial vector spellcasting guided by mental force. The former had already been drafted, filling nearly half a bookshelf after organization. The practical techniques still awaited his attention.

Idonis and Candiris, both elves, had mastered their current levels of arcane magic. Patrick had evaluated them carefully—Idonis possessed greater prowess in arcane and alchemical arts, so Patrick placed him in charge of the tower’s alchemy workshop and library. Quelinthes and Yanida also saw their positions improved; they continued as before, managing the daily operations of the mage tower.

Everyone worked with enthusiasm. Unlike their previous decadent lives, life at Sunspire Tower was full and rigorous. Their progress in spellcasting accumulated steadily, and learning itself became another form of accumulation. All intelligent beings longed for a stable living environment.

What the high elves desired was simply a place where they could practice arcane arts peacefully, live in abundance, and nurture their minds—a goal that required those in power to actively spread healthy, uplifting ideals, rather than succumbing to indulgence and unchecked decadence.

Patrick was doing his utmost to guide his mage tower toward legitimacy. After all, these new “saplings” were still malleable. Before the elves settled into their natures, he sought to cultivate their essence, spirit, and vitality, branding them with the mark of Sunspire Tower.

Patrick’s own practice had stabilized. The knowledge acquired from the platinum disc resolved many of his questions, and his mastery of spatial magic grew ever more refined. Yet breaking past the limit of the sixth circle remained premature. The spatial spells he commanded had already reached the stage of practical application; the results so far were flawless. Patrick floated constantly, always maintaining an aerial suspension that astonished ordinary spellcasters.

Each day after completing his practice, Patrick reserved time in the evening to record his recent experiences. With Aurelia absent, their only communication was through letters. Aurelia was still at the front lines with Sylvanas, and their magical correspondence conveyed the simplicity of their lives and observations—ordinary yet pure, untouched by the colors of society and life, radiant in its clarity.

Unlike most elves, Aurelia possessed a unique allure: mature and beautiful, the brightest star in the night sky. Her green ranger armor lent her a heroic charm; “her rouge barely blended, flowers faintly fragrant,” her brows and eyes were captivating, her gentle spirit like a blue rose—kind and enchanting. It seemed as though knowing her was fate; the meeting of souls gave rise to endless romantic sentiment. To remain together was a promise, one that would endure even through cycles of mortal rebirth, an eternal mark upon Patrick’s heart.

At night, a cool breeze swept by, but the cold could not penetrate the magical barrier. Outside, the elves continued their lively festivities, with cheers and applause rising higher and higher.

“This is what sets me apart from these natives,” Patrick mused. Indeed, had he not known what the future held, he might have been swept away by the tides of pleasure within the Quel’Thalas dynasty, indulging his primal desires and wild impulses.

His longing for Aurelia grew ever stronger—unbeknownst to him, she had quietly entered the depths of his heart.

He calmed his mind, knowing there would be time to see Aurelia again. For now, he needed to focus on improving his own strength.

Patrick’s research into three-dimensional vectors and spatially linked arcane sequences had reached its experimental phase and now required a vast supply of spellcasting materials. He summoned Quelinthes. This quarter’s alchemical potions were selling well, and wealth was accumulating. With their residency in the Sun Sanctuary, the council also provided subsidies and quotas, so Patrick’s income was stable.

Quelinthes, the grand steward of Sunspire Tower, had reserved some spellcasting materials, all of which he handed over to Patrick. The remainder would be purchased when the next batch of merchants arrived at the Sun Sanctuary. Buying too much at once would invite price gouging; Patrick agreed with Quelinthes’ suggestion and asked no further questions.