Khadgar tightened the red seal of introduction in his hand, desperately trying to recall his name. He had been trekking for several days, following several brigades along the way, and finally managed to cross the vast and dense Elwyn Forest to Karazhan. Then climb this high mountain and come to this quiet, empty, lonely place. Even the air here smells cold and isolated. Now, the sore and exhausted, disheveled young man stood on a mound in the clearing, still not believing what he had come for.

Introduce yourself to the most powerful mage in Azeroth.

It's an honor, all the scholars at Kenrito say. This is an opportunity, which can be met but not sought, and they insist that they must not miss it. Khadgar's wise mentors, a council of scholars and wizards, told Khadgar that they had been planning to install an eye and ear in the Tower of Karazan for years. Kenrito was eager to learn the valuable knowledge that the world's most powerful wizard had hidden in his library. Also want to know about the projects he is passionate about. Of course, the main thing is to know what the independent mage intends to do with his intellectual legacy after a hundred years, and when the strongest and greatest Medivan intends to start raising his heir.

Obviously, it has not been a year or two since the great Medivan ignored Kenrito, and only recently did he respond to their begging. Let's say recruit a disciple. Is it because the sorcerer's rumored heart of stone has suddenly been converted, or is it just a diplomatic concession, or is it because he thinks the mortality rate of the real creatures he keeps in captivity too high? The truth is that the powerful independent (and mysterious, for Khadgar) wizard wants an assistant, and the entire ruling organization of the Magic Kingdom of Dalaran, Kenrito, can't wait to satisfy him.

So the young Khadgar was chosen. Over the next few days, he was instilled with countless study guides, interview techniques, coping skills, requirements, advice, advice, and contradictory introductions from countless masters: for example, "Ask Medivan about his mother's battle with demons" was the request of his first teacher, Jaziba. "Dig out all the history of the elves from the library" was Ms. Dyers' request. "Read all the monsters in his library" is the order of Oronda, who once wrote a book and determined that there is a fifth type of troll in the world that has not yet been discovered. "Honesty, honesty, and straightforwardness" is the advice of the chief engineer Nolan - the great astral mage Medivan seems to appreciate these virtues. Others such as "Work hard and study hard." "Upward every day", "Obey orders", "Learn to listen", "Go forward bravely", "Eyes see six ways, ears listen to all directions" and so on.

These ambitions weren't what Khadgar was most troubled about—he grew up in Dalaran and became an apprentice to the council at an early age. Perfectly aware of how insatiable his mentors were for magical knowledge. In the early years, their ever-accumulating collection of magical books had already impressed the younger students, and Khadgar was no stranger to it now.

In fact, he found that his exuberant curiosity seemed to be the root cause of his current situation. He had secretly investigated some of the big names throughout Dalaran Violet Castle alone, and discovered many of their secrets that they didn't want outsiders to know. For example. The main engineer is addicted to fire and wine, Miss Dyers is fond of young gentlemen who are slightly younger than her, and Querrigan the librarian is hobby collecting historical pamphlets (especially the bloody ones) about the practice of sacrificing demons.

In addition, one of the sages of Dalaran had an accident, and that was the Venerable Alexis, who had disappeared. Is he dead, or is something terrible happening? The parliament avoided mentioning him, even removing his name from all relevant sources and never mentioning him again. But Khadgar found some clues. Khadgar has his own knack for finding clues, and he knows how to make contact with the necessary people. Talk to the right people at the right time. It's his talent, but in some cases, it's a bane (or curse).

His discoveries led directly to the present glorious (and, at the same time, probably a life-threatening one, according to the warnings and plans of the masters), to be entrusted to him. Perhaps they thought that young Khadgar was too good at uncovering secrets—the council wanted to send him to a place where his curiosity would benefit Kenrito, and if not to, at least throw him far enough away to prevent him from continuing to uncover the private secrets of the other members of Violet Castle.

As for Khadgar, relying on his invincible eavesdropping**, he already knows these crooked brains of the council.

And so. Khadgar carried a rucksack stuffed with notes, his mind full of other people's secrets, and his head full of orders and useless advice...... It's time to go. In the last week before leaving Dalaran, he had access to almost all the councillors. Without exception, each of them had an interest in something about Medivan. A wizard who lives in an isolated place, surrounded by woods and odd-looking peaks, the members of Kenrito are eager to know about him. Desperately to know, to be exact.

The entrance to the main entrance looked to him like the mouth of a giant beast with an open mouth, without a gate or a fence. This is indeed reasonable, and I wonder what army would dare to cross the Elwyn Forest. Drove into this crater, and then came to find the astral mage to die? There is no record in history of anyone attempting to lay siege to Karazan.

This eerie gate is tall enough for an elephant dressed in full circus gear to pass through guò. Directly above it hangs a wide balcony with a stone parapet, from which one can look out over the surrounding mountains. There seemed to be a flickering of the guardrail, a small movement that Khadgar felt more than he saw: a figure in a robe, perhaps, walking back from the balcony to the tower. Is he being watched, will someone come to meet him, or will he have to go in and take the risk himself?

"Are you the new assistant?" the voice was as ethereal as if it were coming from a grave. Khadgar was now craned his neck and looked up at the empty balcony when he suddenly heard such a sound, and his soul flew away. He turned his head and saw a clumsy, emaciated figure appear at the gloomy entrance.

The hunchbacked creature looked at Khadgar to the side, and for a moment, Khadgar wondered if Medivan had transformed the animals of the forest to be his servant. The guy looked almost like a hairless weasel, with a long black patch covering his face.

Khadgar momentarily forgot to respond, but the weasel-like figure stepped out of the shadows. Continue repeating the question you just asked.

"Are you a new assistant?" he said word for word. When he completely stepped out of the shadows, he looked like he was no more than a middle-aged old butler in a black worsted squire uniform. A servant - a human being, and a servant. He wears a black blindfold on his face. It extends from the two sides of the ear to the bridge of the nose.

The young man found himself staring at the old man impolitely, "Khadgar," he said, and after a moment he showed the letter of introduction that he was clutching in his hand. "From Dalaran. Khadgar in Dalaran. His nationality is Lordaeron, and he was appointed by Kenrito. That is, the Violet City of Dalaran on the Lordaeron Continent. He felt as if he was throwing stones into a huge, calm lake, expecting the old man to respond at least one of them.

"Of course, you are, Khadgar," said the old man. "It's Kenrito's, it's Violet City's, it's Dalaran's, it's Lordaeron's. The old servant took the letter, which was full of tadpoles. Instead of opening it, he smoothed out its crumpled corners and put it inside his shirt. After protecting it for so far, Khadgar felt a sense of loss. The letter of introduction was about his future, and he was very reluctant to see it disappear - even for a short time.

"Kenrito sent me to assist Medivan... Master Medivan...**Teacher Medivan... Medivan of Karazan," Khadgar realized that his babbling sentences had put him on his way home. So wisely shut his mouth.

"I'm sure it's them," said the servant. "You were sent, yes. He glanced at the seal on the letter, and a thin hand reached into his waistcoat and pulled out a gold-rimmed blindfold. "Do you want it. Blindfold?"

Khadgar was puzzled: "No, oh, I mean, no. Thank you. ”

"Moros," said the servant.

Khadgar shook his head.

"My name is Morros," said the servant, "the steward of this tower." At the service of Medivan. Do you want an eyepatch?" he picked up the blindfold again, exactly like the one on his own face.

"No thanks...... Moros. Khadgar said, but the look on his face still couldn't hide his curiosity.

The servant turned and waved his hand for Khadgar to follow.

Khadgar picked up his backpack and strode after the old servant. He had thought that the servant was weak, but he did not expect to climb the stairs so quickly.

"Are you the only one in the tower?" Khadgar asked tentatively as he turned around the corner of a staircase and was about to continue his climb. At this time, the guests were already a lot behind the servants, but because of the echo structure of the tower, the sound could easily be heard.

"Huh?" replied the servant.

"Have you been alone all along?" Khadgar repeated, wondering if he would have to speak to Moros in order for him to understand. "Do you live here alone?"

"The Astral Mage is too," Moros gasped as he spoke, his voice as weak as dust from a tomb.

"Of course," Khadgar said.

"If he wasn't there, you wouldn't be here," the butler continued, "here, yes." Khadgar suddenly wondered if the old man's voice was because he didn't speak often.

"Of course," Khadgar agreed, "is there anyone else?"

"Now that you're more of you," Moros continued, "it's a lot more trouble to take care of two people than one, and it's a pity that it's not up to me to take care of it." ”

"So, usually, is it just you and the Master here?" Khadgar asked. Now he wondered if the butler had been hired for his taciturn habits.

"And Cook," Moros said again, gasping for breath, as he hadn't finished his sentence, "but she doesn't speak often, and thanks for your question." ”

Khadgar tried to stop himself from trying to roll his eyes, but the attempt failed. Now he had to pray that the butler with the blindfold would not see his expression.

They were now in a hallway dotted with torches. Moros walked all the way to the spiral staircase opposite. Khadgar stopped, taking a closer look at the torches. He held his palm close to the flames, but he didn't feel the slightest heat. He felt that this kind of "cold fire" might be very common in this tower. Dalaran usually uses fluorescent crystals as a stable light source. Also, as far as Khadgar knew, other steady light sources were nothing more than mirrors, elemental essences, and so on, and a lot of fireflies could be used in some situations - not fire. But what he sees here is completely different...... The flames did not shake in the slightest, as if they were frozen in place......

Moros was now halfway up the stairs up the floor, and he slowly turned around, coughing while wheezing. Khadgar hurriedly followed. Obviously, the blindfold didn't put the old butler in check. (To be continued.) )