Point of View: Rangar
After speaking for a long time, the Guardian finally said the words we had all been waiting for.
"Then we will begin the first lesson."
We instantly grew serious.
He snapped his fingers.
The world shattered like glass.
A second later, I was standing in an endless meadow. The wind brushed against my skin, the scent of fresh grass filled the air, and I could feel the ground beneath my boots.
It felt completely real.
"It's another illusion," the Guardian said calmly.
I was already used to this… yet it still amazed me every time.
He looked at us one by one.
"Today you will learn about origin energy. Something you already cultivate… but do not truly understand."
He waved his hand.
A stone platform appeared before us. On top of it stood three identical pillars. At the center of each pillar was a number: zero.
"All living beings are composed of three pillars."
He pointed to the first.
"Body."
Then the second.
"Mind."
And finally the third.
"Soul."
The air vibrated. Orbs of light with different colors began appearing around us.
"Energies."
We watched in fascination.
"You normally cannot see them… but this will help you understand."
The lights began circling around the pillars.
"When you cultivate, depending on the type of energy you absorb, you will strengthen one or several of these pillars."
A blue orb descended toward the platform.
"Cultivating does this."
The light merged with one of the pillars. The number began to rise: ten… thirty… fifty… until it reached one hundred.
The pillar grew taller, but the other two remained the same.
"When you reach a certain point, you can ascend."
The platform glowed. The three pillars increased in size.
The Guardian narrowed his eyes slightly.
"But the energy you use makes the difference."
The pillars returned to their original size.
A golden sphere appeared above us. Its glow was stronger. Denser.
"This is origin energy."
The sphere descended and fused with the platform.
All three pillars grew at the same time. The number on each one rose evenly until they all reached one hundred.
"Now tell me… what did you notice?"
Lysara was the first to speak.
"Origin energy strengthens all three pillars equally."
I nodded slowly.
"And it feels… like three energies in one."
The Guardian smiled faintly.
"That is why it is considered superior. But you will need more energy to ascend."
Xyra spoke calmly.
"Is it the only one that can achieve that balance?"
"No."
Another sphere descended. This time, the pillars grew unevenly. One reached fifty, while the other two stopped at twenty-five.
"Balance exists… but it is rare."
Then the pillars disappeared.
In their place, two identical figures appeared on the platform.
"Both possess the same cultivation level."
One of the figures radiated almost twice as much energy as the other.
I frowned.
"Why are they different?"
"Because one ascended the moment he reached the minimum requirement."
The weaker figure stepped forward.
"The other compressed his energy to the limit before ascending."
The brighter figure moved forward.
The Guardian looked at us with a cold gaze that made the wind itself seem to stop.
"If you do not compress as much energy as possible before ascending… your foundation will be unstable."
The illusion changed.
The weaker figure attempted to ascend again.
His energy trembled.
The pillars appeared behind him… and began to crack.
The sound was sharp. Fractures spread across the body, the mind, and the soul.
"A weak foundation cannot support greater power."
The figure fell to his knees.
"You will become stuck at your level."
The silence grew heavy.
"Forever."
A chill ran down my spine.
The Guardian raised one finger.
"From now on, you will only use origin crystals to cultivate."
A second finger.
"You will use potions and medicinal foods created by physicians. They will help your body naturally adapt to higher energy density."
A third finger.
"And you will use the cultivation tower to compress your energy as much as possible before every ascension."
He looked at each of us.
"If you are going to walk this path… you will do it with a foundation that no one can break."
His gaze lingered on us for a moment longer.
"You will find everything you need in Dalaran. But remember… nothing is free."
He turned away.
"Tomorrow, at the same hour, the lesson will continue."
The meadow began to fade.
But the word stuck kept echoing in my mind.
Point of View: Eldrin
As I walked through the city, I couldn't stop observing every detail.
Floating structures. Bridges made of light. Creatures from different races exploring cautiously.
I glanced at Sophia, who walked beside me with a focused expression.
"You're the Minister of Economy… what do you think?"
She didn't answer immediately. Her eyes moved across the buildings, the still-empty shops, the available commercial spaces.
Finally she spoke.
"This is an enormous opportunity."
Her tone wasn't one of admiration.
It was calculation.
I frowned.
"What exactly do you mean?"
She stopped in front of a row of empty stores. In the distance, a primordial was observing one of them with obvious interest.
Sophia gestured subtly.
"What do you see in him?"
I focused, activating my ability.
I sensed clear emotions.
Astonishment. Desire. And an intense greed, almost pulsating.
"He wants that place," I said. "And he's calculating how much he could earn here."
Sophia nodded.
"He's a merchant. It's obvious. We recognize each other."
Then she looked directly at me.
"Now look at me."
I focused again.
What I felt from her was stronger.
Much stronger.
Ambition. Hunger for growth. A cold, structured greed.
It wasn't impulsive desire.
It was vision.
"Eldrin," she said in a low but firm voice, "we can earn enormous amounts of FD points here… without risking our lives."
I understood immediately.
"You mean non-combat professions…"
"Exactly."
She began walking again, and I followed.
"We are the only ones with an organized commercial structure. The others are thinking about hunting, conquering, or growing stronger. No one is thinking about supplying, producing, distributing."
She stopped in front of a shop.
The system displayed a contract in front of me.
Clear conditions. Protection guaranteed by Dalaran. Defined taxes. Contractual security.
While I read it, Sophia spoke behind me.
"There are no raids here. No invasions. Dalaran enforces the rules. That means stability."
I slowly closed the interface.
"And stability means investment."
She smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
Her gaze sharpened.
"If we occupy the first stores, if we establish the first supply chains… we can control the prices."
That was big.
Not just selling.
Controlling.
"Sylvanas is one of the strongest," I added. "And our army isn't weak. If someone tries to pressure us outside Dalaran, we also have support."
Sophia nodded.
"Dalaran protects us here. Arcadia protects what's ours outside."
The combination was perfect.
I looked at her seriously.
"What exactly are you proposing?" I asked.
This time her smile wasn't faint.
It was decisive.
"Today we send the message. Tomorrow, all our merchants will be here. We'll take the best spaces before the others understand what's happening."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"The merchants will run the shops. Blacksmiths, chefs, physicians, politicians, omnificers, and builders will offer services. Those who don't want to fight will be able to finance their own ascension."
That was crucial.
Independence.
Not depending on military campaigns.
Generating power through wealth.
I looked around once more.
The others were still observing the city with awe.
We were already planning how to exploit it.
"This will attract competition," I said.
Sophia held my gaze.
"Then we will grow faster than them."
A faint smile formed on my face.
Yes.
This place wasn't just a marvel.
It was a virgin market.
And we had arrived first.
"Very well," I finally said. "Prepare Arcadia."
Because while others were thinking about war…
We would begin building a commercial empire.