In the Great Library of Eldre'Thalas's East District, Tortheldrin recounted the events of the banquet to the several Arch-scholars gathered before him.
As Eldre'Thalas was a city built specifically to preserve secret Arcane knowledge, scholars held an exceptionally high status. Most scholars served as advisors to the Lord while simultaneously conducting their research.
The scholar leading the group, however, showed little interest in these political matters. He let out an impatient, cold snort. "Don't come to me with these filthy political struggles. Daros, I'll leave the Lord's problem for you to solve."
Tortheldrin was, after all, the Governor of the city. The scholar leader's blatant lack of respect caused his expression to darken.
"Master Mordent..."
"Enough! I have many experiments to conduct. If it isn't an academic matter, do not bother me!"
Mordent turned and left without hesitation, while most of the other scholars shook their heads with bitter smiles.
Daros, who had been singled out by Mordent, helplessly advised the fuming Tortheldrin, "Please calm your anger, Prince. You know as well as I do that Master Mordent simply has that kind of foul temper."
"Whew~"
Tortheldrin struggled to steady his breathing. After a long while, he waved his hand dejectedly. "Fine. Let us return to the main topic. Daros, do you believe I should agree to their proposal?"
Daros nodded without hesitation. "Naturally. Although we have found an emergency method to alleviate our people's... magic addiction, you know as well as I do, Prince, that it is merely a desperate measure—like drinking poison to quench thirst."
Tortheldrin looked deeply at the other three Arch-scholars: Estulan, Lethtendris, and Alienty. "Is that what you three think as well?"
All three gave affirmative answers. After all, the current method Eldre'Thalas used to extract magic was unorthodox, and as scholars, they were more aware than anyone of the risks involved.
A flash of displeasure crossed Tortheldrin's eyes, but on the surface, he maintained a posture of following their advice.
"I understand. Allow me to consider it further from a political perspective. I will have a final answer within a week at the latest."
...
Tap... Tap...
Inside a quiet underground passage leading to the surface, Tortheldrin walked up the clean stone steps. In the dim passage, his expression was somber. The sound of his leather boots hitting the marble floor echoed sharply through the enclosed space.
After a long time, Tortheldrin spoke abruptly, calling out, "Pusillin."
"Present."
A hooded figure following behind Tortheldrin responded. Judging by the voice, it seemed to be a woman.
"The scholars unanimously agree to reconnect with mainstream society. What do you think?"
From beneath her hood, Pusillin carefully observed Tortheldrin's reaction. She then lowered her head again and answered softly, "What I think is not important. What matters is what you are thinking."
"Prince, you do not wish to agree to their request."
"Hmph!"
Tortheldrin let out a soft snort. "The scholars think too simply. As the leader of the Shen'dralar, I have more issues to consider."
A faint green glint flickered obscurely in his eyes. Tortheldrin ordered in a low voice, "Allow me a few more days to think. Pusillin, keep a close watch on those 'distinguished guests' during these few days. Report their movements to me at all times."
Pusillin noticed the green light flashing in Tortheldrin's eyes and felt a chill in her heart. After a moment of hesitation, she answered in a low voice, "Yes."
...
After the welcome banquet on the first day, Linus and his group were ignored by the Shen'dralar for several days. Every time Linus went to the Council Hall to inquire, Tortheldrin would dodge the question, claiming he still needed time to consult with various parties.
"Something is wrong."
Five days had passed, and Linus had a bad premonition. He paced back and forth in his room with a deep frown, trying to analyze Tortheldrin and the Shen'dralar's intent behind consistently withholding a concrete answer.
Andreas calmly picked up his black tea and took a small sip, saying to Linus with a light laugh, "Don't be so restless. To analyze the opponent's intentions, you must first remain calm."
Seeing Andreas's confident demeanor, a flash of realization hit Linus.
"Lord Andreas, have you already guessed their plan?"
Andreas shrugged noncommittally. "More or less. Weren't you curious about my inverted sleep schedule lately?"
Linus nodded quickly. "Yes. Where exactly have you been going during the day?"
Andreas smiled mysteriously. "It's about time. Adjust your schedule today and move with me tomorrow morning."
"The answer you seek is hidden in the depths of this city."
...
Early the next morning, led by a city guard with dull, vacant eyes, Andreas and Linus proceeded unimpeded to one of the most core areas of the Shen'dralar: the Great Immol'thar Circle.
"That's—a demon?!"
Linus looked in horror at the giant, green-skinned beast trapped in the center of the circular plaza by a massive array of overlapping magic circles.
Strands of sickly green Fel energy flowed through energy pipes inserted into the demon's body. After passing through layers of purification circles, the energy was gradually transformed into relatively pure Arcane energy.
After his initial shock subsided, Linus's face gradually turned dark. With fire in his eyes, he gritted his teeth and whispered in anger, "I never expected that the Shen'dralar would actually be absorbing energy from a demon!"
Linus's family had sunk into the sea because of the Burning Legion's invasion. Like most Highborne who joined Dath'Remar's camp, he harbored a profound hatred for demons.
Andreas gently patted Linus's shoulder, signaling him to stay calm for the moment. Resting his chin on his hand, Andreas carefully observed the countless purification arrays surrounding the giant four-legged demon and said with interest, "While this method is undesirable, the magic circles the Shen'dralar used to extract from and restrict the demon seem quite interesting, don't you think?"
"Whew..."
Linus barely managed to control his rage. Upon observing again after calming down, a look of admiration gradually appeared on his face.
"...Indeed. To stack so many layers of magic circles together without them conflicting with each other—it can truly be called a divine feat of skill."
At this time, there were still many Shen'dralar Highborne near the large demon, casting spells to maintain the magic circles. Shrouded by Andreas's shadow power, the mages were oblivious to the pair's arrival, continuing their task of extracting and purifying energy from the demon layer by layer.
Suddenly, Andreas turned playfully toward an empty, dark corner.
"Miss Thief hiding over there, it must have been hard for you to track us all this way. The feeling of doubt radiating from you is almost overflowing."
"In any case, the intelligence that needed to be delivered has already been sent, hasn't it? Why not show yourself for a meeting?"
"What?!"
Linus instinctively drew his staff and pointed it toward the direction Andreas was looking. "You who hide your head but show your tail—reveal yourself!"
A hooded Night Elf was blasted out of hiding by a burst of Linus's Arcane Missiles. The figure nimbly avoided Linus's attack and dodged to the side.
"...Linus Starscar, as a guest who has trespassed into the secret core area of Eldre'Thalas, are you in any position to call me someone who hides their head?"
"You!"
Andreas amusedly waved his hand to stop the verbal spat. "Enough. Let the meaningless bickering end for now. Look, the master of the house has arrived."
"Hmph!"
A cold snort echoed from the other entrance leading to the underground circle. Tortheldrin, holding a curved Moonglaive in each hand, strode toward the scene of the conflict, leading hundreds of his personal guards.
Tortheldrin looked with an unfriendly gaze at the only stranger—Andreas.
"Sir, it is about time for an introduction. You deliberately exposed your tracks so that Pusillin would inform me of your intrusion into this forbidden zone. What exactly is your purpose?"