15 Talks of Magic

'I hate it,' I mused inwardly as I surveyed the bustling streets of Dalaran. Everywhere I turned, students and teachers alike regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and wariness, as if I were some exotic creature they had never encountered before.

Two mages shadowed my every move, their watchful gazes a constant reminder that my presence here was viewed with suspicion. These were no ordinary mages; their mastery of the arcane arts was evident, indicating that my every action was under close scrutiny. It was clear that doubts lingered regarding my true intentions, a sentiment I couldn't fault them for. After all, who could blame them for distrusting a demon?

Despite my unease, I couldn't deny the allure of the city's enchanting streets. Magical brooms swept tirelessly, ensuring the cleanliness of the thoroughfares, while mages soared through the air on magnificent flying carpets, a testament to the city's extraordinary magical prowess.

The bustling streets of Dalaran were a testament to its opulence, with gemstones and riches adorning every corner. As I navigated through the throngs of people, I couldn't help but marvel at the city's wealth.

Approaching a jeweler's stall, I examined a particularly exquisite sapphire imbued with a hint of ice magic. "How much for this gemstone?" I inquired, drawing the jeweler's wide-eyed gaze.

"T-ten purple coins," he stammered nervously.

Frowning slightly, I summoned a gleaming ingot of pure gold and placed it upon the stall. "Will this suffice?" I asked.

The jeweler's eyes widened with greed as he eagerly accepted the offering. "Yes, of course," he replied.

"Keep the money," I instructed, taking the gemstone before swiftly departing the venue, leaving the astonished jeweler in my wake.

Gazing at the exquisite sapphire in my hand, I couldn't help but marvel at its beauty. However, my interest lay not in its aesthetics, but rather in understanding the process by which such magical artifacts were crafted. The demons of Sheogh possessed the knowledge to store magic in their bodies, but gemstone creation was a technology that I found incredibly practical given the abundance of such resources in Sheogh. Yet, despite their proficiency in harnessing magical energies, demons seemed incapable of creating anything with their own hands—a perplexing conundrum that continued to vex me.

As I attempted to extract the magic from the gemstone, a filament of ice magic emerged and swirled around my hand like a sinuous wyrm. I furrowed my brows, puzzled by how effortlessly the magic responded to my command. It was a stark contrast to the struggles I had faced when trying to manipulate fire magic in the past.

'Why is this so easy now?' I mused, studying the dancing ice magic with fascination. Experimentally, I infused it with fire magic, and to my amazement, the ice melted away, transforming into a small stream of water that I shaped at will.

'I feel like a water bender,' I chuckled to myself, reveling in the newfound fluidity of my magic as I made the water dance and ripple around me.

As I manipulated the water, I felt the weight of curious gazes upon me. Sitting on a creaking bench, I pondered the allure of magic. Dropping the ball of water onto my armored skin, I watched it evaporate upon contact.

Suddenly, I sensed the approach of the two mages tailing me. They tried to maintain an air of nonchalance, but their measured steps betrayed their true intent. Amateurs.

"Mister demon," spoke the elven woman, her azure hair cascading around her like a waterfall. "The Council awaits you in the Chamber of Air. Archmage Aegwynn is also expecting you."

Another blue drake, I mused silently, observing her carefully. It seemed that blue hair was a common trait among the blue dragons of this world as if they couldn't change their hair color. The other mage, a gnome, appeared quite elderly.

"Lead the way," I replied, acknowledging them with a nod.

The two mages began to conjure a portal, weaving magic between their palms. I couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between their spellcasting and Aegwynn's. While hers was precise and efficient, theirs seemed wasteful and erratic.

The portal opened into a windowless room, where I found myself face-to-face with every council member. Prince Kael'thas was accompanied by Alleria, while Antonidas had a man and a very young blond girl by his side.

'Jaina and Kel'thuzad,' I thought as I recognized the two figures behind the council members.

"What is the meaning of this abrupt convocation?" I inquired of the mages as they turned their attention to me.

"We wanted to discuss your people's magic," Antonidas replied with his weary voice. "Lady Aegwynn shared with us some books about the spells that you provided her, and we wanted to inquire about these Seven Cities and their significance in your demon world."

"The Seven Cities, it is quite a vast topic," I began, drawing the attention of the council. "They were human city-states, much like Dalaran—a magocracy governed by powerful families and clans. They served as centers of magical learning and were overseen by a council composed of the most knowledgeable and influential members of their ruling class. The leader of each city was known as the First of the Circle.

"When I first arrived in Dalaran and walked its streets, I couldn't help but see parallels between it and the Seven Cities. However, unlike Dalaran, the Cities met a tragic end during their civil war against the Necromancers."

"Necromancers?" Antonidas interjected, his frown deepening, echoing the concern of the others in the room, save for Jaina, who regarded me with curiosity, and Kel'Thuzad, who seemed intrigued by the mention of necromancy.

'Crazy bastard,' I mused silently, eyeing Kel'Thuzad. I wondered if he harbored a desire to delve into the forbidden arts of necromancy—a desire I could exploit with a mere mention.

"Yes, necromancy—the art of raising the dead and delving into the realm of Death itself," I elaborated, my words carrying a weight of solemnity. "It is one of the six fundamental forces that govern our universe."

"Six forces?" Kael'thas inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Life, Death, Order, Chaos, Light, and Void," I elucidated, listing them off. "Each force plays a vital role in the intricate workings of the universe and the vast expanse of the cosmos."

"Interesting," remarked Krasus, the consort of Alexstrasza, his expression thoughtful as he absorbed the information. "This is a unique perspective on the mechanics of our world."

"A fascinating insight indeed," chimed in another mage, his eyes alight with intrigue. "We've never considered the forces in such a manner before."

The council members nodded in agreement, their minds undoubtedly grappling with the implications of these revelations.

"Returning to the Civil War, the Necromancers of the Seven Cities were not as evil as commonly believed. While they did engage in practices such as desecrating tombs and communing with spirits, they also used their magic to aid the sick. Their profound understanding of the human body allowed them to heal ailments that others could not. However, as the influence of the Necromancers grew, the First of the Circle became increasingly fearful. This fear led to a brutal persecution of the Necromancers, including property seizures and public executions. The harsh treatment provoked a full-scale revolt by members of the emerging Spider Cult against the Seven Cities. This conflict ultimately led to the downfall of the Seven Cities; some were completely destroyed. Despite their losses, the mages of the Seven Cities emerged victorious, renaming their kingdom the Silver Cities. Meanwhile, the Necromancers retreated to the valley of Heresh, where they established the city of Nar-Heresh and plotted their revenge against those who had wronged them."

"Their magic was undeniably versatile, surpassing that of most other races. However, they lacked beings of immense power, such as demons or other mythical creatures. Their pride was also a notable characteristic, even from the perspective of a demon."

"Could you elaborate further on their schools of magic, for example?" inquired Antonidas.

"In terms of Alchemy and Transmutation, they were quite proficient," I responded, recalling snippets from my memory. "They had a penchant for crafting strange beasts and golems."

"I also remember some demon lords in Sheogh adopting their philosophies to appear more intellectual," I added, directing my words to the head of the Council. "They often quoted phrases like 'No Gods, no Masters. Knowledge is Power, and Power is Freedom'."

"Additionally, wizards tended to specialize in the magical fields passed down through their families," I continued. "Overall, they mastered various types of magic, except for Necromancy, Void, and Chaos, as the latter falls within the domain of demons."

"So, jacks of all trades," chimed in Aegwynn, her voice breaking through the discussion.

"Yes, Lady Aegwynn," I acknowledged, turning to her. "They were among our most formidable adversaries."

"Enemies? Why were they enemies?" questioned Krasus, his gaze piercing.

"In the end, they were indirectly allied with the angels, our archenemies," I explained, meeting his gaze squarely. "They followed the teachings of Sar-Elam, the Seventh Dragon. This man, if one could call him such, was once a mere wizard in a long-forgotten empire. He delved into the consciousness of Asha, the sister Goddess of Urgash, our primogenitor, and ascended as the Seventh Dragon and God of Magic. We despised him because he was the one who created Sheogh and imprisoned us within it for eons. For this treachery, he paid dearly. A demon always pays his debts."

Silence fell over the chamber, the weight of my words sinking in, until Antonidas cleared his throat to break the tension.

"And what magical abilities do demons possess?" he inquired, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"We demons wield the domains of Fire, Earth, Dark, Air, and Prime magic," I explained, meeting his gaze evenly. "Prime magic, also known as Chaos magic, allows us to manipulate the very fabric of reality, bending the laws of the world to our advantage. This includes manipulating time, space, and even luck, among other things."

"But Earth and Air are not typically considered magical domains; they are more closely associated with shamanism," remarked Kael'thas, skepticism evident in his tone.

"We do not rely on spirits or deities to access these elements," I clarified. "We have the ability to channel arcane energy and transform it into these elemental forces. However, I am uncertain which elements resonate with your races, as I suspect that the humans and elves here differ from those of Ashan."

The chamber erupted into a flurry of discussions, and I observed the reactions of the young Jaina and the formidable Kel'thuzad. Despite the urge to confront him, I knew it wasn't the right time. His power was still far beyond my reach, and a confrontation now would surely end in defeat.

Antonidas's voice cut through the din, acknowledging the depth of insight I had provided. "Lord Val-Beleth," he addressed me, "your contributions have been invaluable. Dalaran would be remiss not to offer you access to our knowledge." With a wave of his hand, a dozen books floated toward me, stopping just in front of my face. I reached out, but as I attempted to read the text, I found myself unable to decipher the words. It seemed that my abilities granted me comprehension of spoken language, but not written.

"Thank you, Archmage Antonidas," I said with a polite nod, though inwardly I was disappointed. With a subtle gesture, I redirected the books back to Sheogh before bidding farewell to the council. A portal materialized behind me, offering me an escape.

As I turned to leave, Antonidas's voice rang out once more. "Lord Val-Beleth, you may depart. The council has much to discuss in your absence." With a nod of acknowledgment, I stepped through the portal, returning to Sheogh as the meeting continued in Dalaran.

'Another meeting, another façade,' I thought with a furrowed brow. In my former life on Earth, I struggled with deception, but here in Azeroth , it came as naturally as a flowing stream of water.

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That'll be all for today

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