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Seeking - 15 (An Order of Amber)
🕑 Added 2022-12-01 18:43:03 +0000 UTC"–And that's what I told her." I said, fidgeting under the stares of Magus Corrinth and Sorceress Goldensword. "She... she walked away."
I was still reeling from the Archmage just... ignoring me. She hadn't even been angryjust, just disappointedthat I was telling her things she couldn't believe. And that was still a problem, I still didn't have any evidence I could give them. I could tell people that Krasus was a dragon in disguise, but if theydidn't know that it would just sound crazy. Antonidas might know, Rhonin knew, but who else might? The other members of the Council of Six, sure, but the only other members I knew of were Kael'Thas, and Rhonin and Jaina in the future. And formerly Kel'Thuzad, but he was gone already.
And not an option for obvious reasons.
Even so I couldn't just give upbecause Modera didn't believe me. Letting things go as they did, with the city shattered and destroyed, wasn't... it wasn't right. I was going to tell all the people I was close to. There was a temptation to crow about it in the streets, to try and tell everyone I could – maybe someone would remember when the things I talked about started to happen.
But that was a scary thought. Stupid, because it couldwork, but also scary.
What if the Dreadlords heard about it? What if they changed their plans? What if they hunted medown?
"I... don't know what to say." Magus Corrinth spoke hesitantly. "Gwen, I don't want to sound dismissive, but–"
"Then I shall be." Sorceress Goldensword said, her eyes narrowed and frowning. "Even if this isall true, it doesn't matter. Without proof or evidence no one will listen. No one would listen to someone twiceyour age. You are lucky, Gwyneth, that Archmage Modera was as lenient as she was; there are many mages who hail from Lordaeron like her who hold up their Prince as the second coming of Sir Lothar. They wouldn't have taken kindly to–"
"That's stupid!" I blurted out. Anduin Lothar wasn't even a Paladin!
Sorceress Goldensword's frown grew deeper. "Perhaps from your point of view, but just because people don't believe you–"
I shook my head, cutting her off. "No, not that. I getthat... I don't even expect you two to believe me." I gripped my wrists together, squeezing down and pushing down on my knees to stop my jitters. I couldn't even force myself to look them in the eyes. "I wish you would. But I don't expect it." I whispered.
"Then why tell us?" Magus Corrinth asked.
"Because when the plague happens, when the Scourge of Lordaeron begins, you'll be able to piece things together." I said softly. It was a pathetic warning, years before it would go anywhere. And even then... even then it likely wouldn't do much. "I wish I knew what they came to Dalaran to take to summon Archimonde. So you could tell them to spirit it out of the city, to keep it safer." But for all my memory was good at keeping general information, it had been years before I was reincarnated that I cared about Warcraft and adding in another eight years of degradation before I was able to properly make my notes? A magical object used for a summoning Archimonde was remembered, but not its name.
It wasn't the Eye of Sargeras, I knew that. That was what Illidan used to try and shatter Icecrown.
Magus Corrinth glanced at Sorceress Goldensword, who nodded slowly. "That... well. Ifit happens news will spread, and we can act accordingly. But..."
"You're humouring me." I said glumly. I'd ended up rambling and telling them more than I told Archmage Modera, not keeping myself on topic and breaching parts of the Sundering and the first invasion.
I doubted it made me sound any more credible.
"Yes." She sighed, shaking her head. "I won't claim to believe you, but I will try to remember if word of some mysterious plague appears across Lordaeron." She reached out and put a hand on my arm. I leaned away slightly, with how things were it wasn't comforting. It felt patronising. It had been a while since I felt so much of a child,looked down on and thought less of because of my age. I missed Caedan. I missed Celestine. "Now, about the elves you mentioned? The ones across the sea, the... Kallorei?"
"Kaldorei." Sorceress Goldensword corrected her. "Star Elves, much as Queldorei means High Elves."
I shook my head. "No, no. It's NightElves, or, um... stars? Children of the Stars." Why did I remember the stupiddetails and not the useful ones? I even remembered the whole stupid story more or less. Included in my notes on Malfurion, Druidism, and such. "After the Sundering they gave up Arcane magic. It had brought the demons once, it could do so again." Which was why the High Elves made their Runestones, to hide Quel'Thalas from detection. "But not everyonewanted to. The Highborne faced discrimination and were pushed to the fringes, until one elf saw only one solution. Exile."
"Dath'Remar." Sorceress Goldensword said.
It was a funny thought, if I could getto Kael'Thas, thinking about the knowledge that only hisfamily might be keeping secreted away, of their ancestors and cousins who lived in the forests of Kalimdor, of ancient Suramar and Zin'Azshari, of the Brothers Stormrage... of the Sundering and the Exile, he might believe me. Might. But reaching the prince was all but impossible. That the Sunwell was made from the waters of the Well of Eternity was probably something that would surprise anyof the Sunstriders to discover someone else knew.
I nodded in answer to Goldensword. "Yeah, him."
The room grew quiet. Magus Corrinth clearly wanted to ask more, I'd mentioned Malfurion and said he was the firstDruid. Which had her hooked.
But honestly? While talking about this should make me feel better, having someone interestedin all the secrets I was carrying – someone whose opinion I cared about wanting to know... it didn't. And she could clearly tell. My grip on my wrists tightened and I grit my teeth. My eyes were growing wet.
I didn't want to go back to that place. This felt so much like the utter ennuiI had spent years in, feeling like nothing worked.
"If–" I swallowed, my voice cracking. "If things get towards the end of my story, please, get out of Dalaran. Get to Stormwind, to Kul Tiras, just–" They had helped me. They were friends, people I cared about. Who cared if it had only been a few months? I'd spent time babysittingFinnall who was only two years younger than me because Sorceress Goldensword found me trustworthy. Because they thought – hadthought highly of me. "Just... I don't want you to die."
"I am a Sorceress, my duty is to protect this city. As it was serving as an aide in the Second War." Sorceress Goldensword said proudly. "No matter how bad it gets, I will not–"
"Finnall." Magus Corrinth whispered, soft yet loud enough to be heard. Halting Goldensword in her tracks. "Maybe it would be a good chance to introduce her to her grandparents–" I opened my mouth to protest, I'd toldthem about Quel'Thalas! "–her humangrandparents. Maybe her aunt and uncle too."
Sorceress Goldensword's face morphed into a grimace.
"I know you don't want to, but you've kept it from her this long. They're humans, Klin, like me. We don't live forever."
Slowly the Sorceress deflated, falling back in her chair. "Perhaps you are right. I still have his ring..." She let out a long a forlorn sigh. "Kul Tiras, then."
It... it wasn't much. But it was something.
"Why didn't you suggest Gilneas?" Magus Corrinth asked, turning to me.
A miserable giggle bubbled up out of me. "Oh, Genn's going to fuck everything. First the wall, then the undead, then the Worgen, and then... and then..." I sobbed.
I hated this. I hated it. It was too sodding much! How was anyonesupposed to deal with all of this?!
Magus Corrinth tried to put her arms around me comfortingly but I fought her off, struggling and pushing her away. I didn't want it. I couldn't deal with it. They weren't listening, not really, and it wasn't good enough. I'd failed, failed to find the people I needed to, failed to convince the one person with power I did know, and now the people here I trusted the most only half-heartedly humoured me!
After a while, a door creaked and I heard Finnall's voice if not her words. When someone touched me again I was ready to flail and push them away once more, but they were small. Too small.
I latched onto the poor little half-elf and cried.
It was stupid, but I hadn't told her, so she couldn't disbelieve me. So she was safe. It was stupid but it was how I felt.
-oOoOo-
Despite telling people what I knew, believed or not, life went on. I still had classes I was taking, though Archmage Modera wouldn't stop throwing disappointed looks my way, Magus Corrinth seemed a little more hesitant to ask me questions, and Enchanter Holdfast... was the same as ever. I hadn't told him since we didn't really interact; hadn't told Instructor Calebren yet either. It just hadn't felt like the right moment. Or maybe I was scared he'd reject me out of hand like Modera did, or start treating me differently.
I already missed not thinking, or really caring, about things like this. Growing up sucked even if being a child had its downsides.
But I had to tell him soon. If I didn't get around to it today, after today's training, I wasn't sure I ever would.
"Are both combatants prepared?" Instructor Calebren asked.
"Yes." I replied tiredly. I hadn't been sleeping well, which was going to make things harder.
"Always!" Alana chirped, holding up her staff. She was one of the more enthusiastic fire mages who practised here and had a good four years on me.
If I was better at figuring out how to turn Astral magic into some kind of combat spell I might have more luck fighting fire mages, but as it was I struggled with the ones who had the instinct of burn itwhen presented with a wall of wood. Frost was also a pain, but it wasn't asbad.
The heavy chain around my neck, a loaned Fire Warding amulet, was the only reason I was comfortable with this at all. For all I learned to heal by healing off old burns that didn't mean I wanted to experience more of them. There wasn't a good way to make magic 'safe', and unlike most of the trainees here I didn't have my own kind of Warding to use as a marker for when I was 'defeated'.
"Then begin." Instructor Calebren said.
I threw out the seeds I already had ready, Instructor Calebren was fastidious about keeping the grounds themselves clear so I had to make due with what I could grow.
There were always the hedgerow and trees I'd grown, but he considered their use 'cheating'. Which meant if I could do it without him realising until after the fight, he'd praise me. Otherwise he'd reprimand me.
Knowing Alana's habits my second act was to plant my oak staff in the soil and grow a wooden wall as swiftly as I could. Her first fireball, one of many, slammed into it; the green wood struggling to mend and regrow itself under my guidance while I extricated my staff from the construct.
"You can't hide forever!" She jeered, a wash of fire licking at my skirts from a fireball detonated on the ground to the side.
She was moving, to the opposite side to try and flank me. She still hadn't figured out I could track her by the magic she was casting; Alana wasn't a shining beacon of magic the way Archmage Modera was with her robes but she was still obviousto my Mana Sight.
"Golau Seren Ddall." I muttered, three spinning stars forming in my left hand as I focused on her presence. Just as she was launching her next spell, the first opening, I dashed out from behind my barrier and threw them at her.
The little lights spun through the air, twisting and spiralling – she dove to the side, trying to dodge, but the lights tracked her and did exactly what they were supposed to do.
My eyes squeezed shut and facing away I only got the afterimages of the sudden flash, but Alana's scream told me she'd not been prepared for this particular trick. It wasn't flashbang but it sure as hell could be blinding.
"Scorch you, Gwen!" She shrieked, throwing a blast of fire out with one hand – in completely the wrong direction. "That's not fair!"
"And you setting all my plants on fire is?!" I snapped back.
She turned and grinned at me. "Got you!" She said, launching another ball of fire my way.
"Bugger." I'd just hadto respond to the mostly blind person's taunt.
I dropped into a crouch, covering my head as best I could and growing my staff to give me some cover – there wasn't time for a new barrier.
My world became heat and a scratching pain for a moment, my skin burning even behind the ward. It wasn't a perfect protection, just something to make it bearable. I was already healing off the worst of it, but the red and peeling skin would be there until I got a bath.
But I'd bought enough time, and the seeds I'd scattered were ready.
"Amgyffred." I intoned, raising one hand while my staff rested on the soil. Grasping roots burst forth out of the ground, grabbing Alana and wrapping tight.
They didn't quite reach her skin, her mana barrier stopping them. I moved steadily aware from where she knew I was, quietly, while waiting. This wasn't over yet. There were two ways she could–
A burst of arcane magic told me which one she'd chosen. A short blink forward, right to where I'd expected her to end up – most mages I'd learned blinked a very specificdistance, the calculations for changing the spell too complicated to do on the fly.
"Got you." I said blandly as a wooden prison rewound itself around her, the crushing down on her barrier.
She was building up to blast it away with fire when the sudden bursting of a shimmering blue field signalled the end of her Mana Barrier.
"Winner, Gwyneth." Instructor Calebren yelled.
I was already pulling my roots back. Faking the breaking of a barrier to trick me had won oneperson a spar against me. And promptly had them kicked out of the training ground. That kind of bullshit could get someone killed. Me being able to see when it happened was pretty unusual, but meant I stopped sooner than most.
As for when Ilost, I had to trust Instructor Calebren would recognise when I was down from his experience with the Paladins. They could heal themselves the same as me, even if they were more inclined to just tankeverything.
"Could have sworn I got you." Alana huffed as she pushed her way out of the roots. "I feltmy spell hit something. Can you get rid of the spots in my eyes please? I still can't see."
"Sure." I said, waving a hand in her direction. She hadn't dispelledmy little Astral spell, so it had lingered in front of her eyes. "And you didget me." I said, peeling off some skin from my cheek.
"Not well enough." She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. Then visibly brightened. "Fun as ever though! Always interesting to see what you do, it's so different. At least you didn't make me explode a pollen cloud on myself this time."
I snorted. That had been a Hail Mary at the time, but it worked. "Yeah. Doubt you'd fall for it again."
Instructor Calebren decided we'd chatted enough and coughed loudly, drawing our attention. "Alana, you need to be less predictable. Everyone here knows you open with a fireball, and keep up with it at every opportunity. You didn't even notice the charm Gwyneth put on you." He said bluntly.
"Yeah, my blinding spell? It's a charm as well as an evocation." I said. One day I'd get it to do real damage, pack some force behind it. But not just yet.
"And Gwyneth, you need to be less timid. You bought time but you can surviveher spells. Spending so much on growing a shield kept you from engaging with your plants sooner, or saturating the field as greatly."
"I don't like fire." I mumbled. He was right, but I also didn'tlike pain all that much, and burning was one of the worst ways.
"Fire's great!" Alana chirped happily, as only a fire mage would. "It's all warm and passionate! Ah, Calebren?"
"Yes?"
"I've got something with a friend, so if we're–"
"You may go." He said, waving a hand.
"See you, Gwen!" She said, rushing off to grab her things and leave.
I stood there watching her for a moment. This was... probably my best chance to tell him. There weren't many people around today, as close to the Midsummer Fire Festival as it was.
"I do mean what I said. You're too timid, you are stronger than you act. You could have grown a forest to crush her and won far faster than you did." Instructor Calebren said. "Alana is decent, but you're a step above in power."
"But not skill."
"Not attitude." He said, correcting me. "Skill comes with practise, and you are here to do just that. Now, something's been bothering you these last few days. Out with it."
"I saw the future and Dalaran was Destroyed." I blurted out, then immediately winced. Sodding post-battle crash.
"Oh?" He said, curiously.
I looked up at him and he was staring at me intently, a brow raised but no other emotions displayed in his expression.
"Tell me."
"I... I tried telling Archmage Modera. She didn't believe me." I mumbled.
"And perhaps I won't either. But after the last two times if a light damned pigeongave me a warning about the destruction of the city I would at least listen." He hissed at the end, anger seeping into his voice for all his face remained stoic. "I've seen too many friends die to ignore a possible threat. Divination is real and only a fool discounts it entirely. So tell me."
"Okay." I said, slowly going through and giving him the same information I gave to Modera, to Magus Corrinth and Sorceress Goldensword.
He asked questions, force dispositions, types of troops, what kinds of threats there were. It had been a long, long time since I touched those campaigns and games were... not lifeso I was hesitant to give real details. They would likely be wrong. But Ghouls, Necromancers, Abominations, and Crypt Fields? They all certainly existed. Would exist – had Azjol Nerub fallen yet? I didn't know.
I finished my story with the Lich, Kel'Thuzad, summoning Archimonde here at Dalaran. And the sand simulacrum of the city being used to destroy it with sympathetic magic.
"I can see why she was sceptical." He said at the end, leading me to close my eyes and feel that same gnawing failureI had twice already. "But I believe youbelieve what you say. That is enough to keep it in mind. How long?"
"Years." I said, blinking away the already forming tears. He believed me?
No. He said he believed that Ibelieved what I was saying, not that it was real. Not that it was true. Just that I wasn't intentionallylying to him. It was... it was something. Again. But not what I wanted.
"Some number of years. The Greymane Wall gets finished first, it starts with a Plague in the Northlands. The Orcs stealing ships and leaving the continent entirely..." I trailed off, eyes widening. I could have told Modera about Thralland his unification of the Clans! That could have been proof! Even if she hadn't believed me it would've been some degree of credibility beforethe plague started! "That happens not long before, but it does happen before. I don't know if there's anything–"
He held up a hand. "I will remember what you said, but I'm not taking this to anyone important until things start happening. I'll talk to some people, keep an eye out and make plans, but that's it."
That wasn't good enough! I wanted to yell at him, but he was at least listening. I didn't need to be an idiot and push him into thinking me stupid or untrustworthy.
"Okay." I grit out with difficulty. "Okay. Thank you."
"I hope you're wrong. I dearlyhope you're wrong. But if you're right..." He trailed off, his teeth bared in a rictus like grimace. "Light help us all."
-oOoOo-
After Calebren took the possibility of a coming threat seriously I felt... not relieved, but emboldened. I spread the word amongst my other friends in the city, Frazzle, Trysa, even Alana and Gideon – a fellow student in Enchantor Holdfast's class. None of them reallybelieved me, maybe they thought I was crazy and were just humouring me, but they knew. The information was in their heads and when the time came someonewould be able to spread the word and be ready for the Plague.
And that was what the point of what I was doing was, wasn't it? To try and find someone to deal with the problems I couldn't. It didn't matter if Iwas the one to get the information out, to get recognition. Fame would honestly be annoying.
Just so long as people knew.
"Thank you!" I chirped, taking the coin for another flower crown. I'd even tried to tell people while I sold things to them, but the responses were... bad. And I feltbad doing it. They weren't listening, I was irritating people, and I sounded utterly demented doing it. It reminded me of my Aunt from before in the worstways.
I'd settled for putting up a notice detailing the core facts on my stall while I sold things. The plague, the culling, the scourge, and so on. I didn't even mention Arthas' fall, just that King Terenas would die upon Arthas' return from Northrend.
Traffic to my stall had slowed down as a result, and I was starting to lose money again living here, but it wouldn't be much longer before I left and I had more than I'd arrived with anyway. The Midsummer Fire Festival had started already and the great bonfire was lit, with the many pyromancers of Dalaran putting on displays day and night – the various fire mages working to book slots in which to display their skills.
In the end it would have to be enough; I didn't know how I could manage to do more. I couldn't batter down the doors to the Violet Citadel to be heard.
After a few more hours of meagre sales I started to pack up. At least I'd had a chance to practice my knitting, I was going to need to make a new travelling outfit soon with my shirts no longer fitting so well. At least I'd be able to enchant them as I made them; it'd be well worth the effort in the long run.
When I left I was going to miss the city. Sure, it was oppressive in some ways, and there was a definite lack of natureto commune with in the city, but liveliness and acceptance made up for it.
As I made it back to the my inn I was surprised to see a pair of Violet Watchers standing around the place, speaking to others who stayed there. They didn't bother me as I hefted my rose-pot and carried it up to my room though; I'd find out what it was about later.
Except they were inmy room, the door ajar and my things carefully laid out. All my notebooks left open on the desk, my favourite quill sitting to the side along with my ink supplies. My knitting kit and the thread I was weaving.
It was all neat and tidy, meticulously fastidious rather than ransacked, but they'd still gone through it. Why?
"Apprentice Arevin?" One of the two Watchers asked as I entered. "Watcher Jaiden and Watcher Heath of the Violet Eye. I'm afraid there's been a complaint."
"What?" I said confusedly, still staring at my things. Why? What was going on?
"A member of the Council of Six has levied a complaint against you." Jaiden said. "With Gilneas' impending departure from the Alliance of Lordaeron it has been decided to revoke the privilege of residence in Dalaran for its citizens on a case by case basis. With the complaint you have failed to meet the criteria to remain and are to be escorted from the city."
"But– what?"
What? A member of the Council of Six? Who? I didn't interact with any of them! Did I?
Was that where I remembered Archmage Modera from?!
"I–"
"It's not fair." Heath said, earning a glower from his counterpart. "But it has happened. You have to be out of the city by sundown."
"There's no way to appeal it?"
He shook his head, but it was Jaiden who answered. "On matters this minor the word of a Councillor is all that is needed."
But... what would Magus Corrinth think if I just vanished? Calebren or Goldensword? "I've... I've people I need to–"
"Your teachers will be provided notice of your departure. The best we can offer is time to pack your things before we escort you to the gates." Heath interrupted, Jaiden letting out a short huff. "It's easier for all of us if you cooperate.
I wasn't even going to stay much longer, but somehow... somehow being forced out was so very different. "This isn't fair." I whined.
"I know."
Sodding Modera. It had to be her. No one else I'd interacted with could possibly have been the one to do this.
"Fine." I grit out. I wasn't going to start a fight. I'd lose, I'd lose and even if by some miracle I wonI'd just be a criminal in the city. "Just... let me pack."
"Half an hour." Jaiden said, shooting another glare at Heath. "We have other work to do as well."
My hands were shaking as I took all my possessions and stuffed them into my bags; my replacement pot would have to stay. I had too many books, a luxury I'd allowed myself, to carry off. I'd hoped to finish my expanded bag before I left to have more space but it wasn't done yet. If I'd had more time I could've arranged proper transport all the way back, kept things in a wagon, or something.
Why? Just why? Modera hadn't seemed that angry when she dismissed me, she hadn't even expelled me from her class, why would she throw me out of the city?!
All too soon I was walking in front of the two Watchers all the way to the gates. It felt like I was being paraded before the crowds, like they were staring at the girl who got kicked out of the city.
When I stepped out onto the great bridge across the River Cinder, on the road back to Ambermill and Gilneas, it truly sunk in.
My time in Dalaran was over.
Comments
Guildstern
Oh brother, this sets up some interesting interactions whenever Gwen meets these people in the future. I wonder if it really was Modera? Probably. It would be very ironic if it was Antonidas though.
