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Another chapter done! :D The next one shouldn't be very long either, so hopefully I can get it done by the time the weekend is over.
I'm dying to post this story to FF.net, but am reluctant to do so... Apart from wanting to complete the story first, I'm worried about the reception it might get if I don't edit it well. (I've never posted to the Warcraft fandom before, and I'd like to think that the story might be well-recieved... But I'm also worried that the grammar Nazis and the game purists will rip it apart. >_<)
Previous chapters are here: Prologue, Chapter 1
World of Warcraft: "Mystery of the Violet Citadel" by Avi
Chapter 2: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"
It was mid-afternoon in Dalaran, when a tiny red-robed figure tottered out of the Violet Citadel, barely visible behind the pile of books she carried; in fact, the only recognizable part of her was a pair of black pigtails bouncing behind her head.
It was a wonder that she could even see where she was going; so it was rather inevitable when an ill-placed cobblestone caused the pile of books she was carrying, to spill to the ground.
As the flustered mage struggled to pick up her books, a large figure detached itself from a nearby wall to help her. As she looked up at her saviour, she saw the face of a draenei with an eyepatch over his right eye, and a kindly expression on his face.
"Could you use some help, little one?" asked Jadaar, with a smile.
After the draenei offered to carry the majority of the books for the young mage, they dropped them off at The Scribe's Sacellum, just down the street. As they exited the shop, Jadaar pointed at a cart across the way.
"Say, I feel like having a bit of a snack," he told the girl pleasantly. "Would you like something as well?"
As the two headed towards the cart, they walked past an auburn-haired blood elf who was leaning against the wall of the shop; he narrowed his eyes, as they passed.
***
A few moments later, Jadaar and the young mage (who had shyly introduced herself as Miki) were sitting on a bench in the shadow of the giant statue of Archmage Antonidas, munching on a couple of doughnuts that the draenei had bought from the nearby cart.
Though he hid it well, Jadaar was somewhat pleased with how easily he had gained the girl's trust... Even though he was still annoyed at Asric for putting him up to it.
"Why do I have to be the one to approach her?" protested Jadaar, earlier. "You're the one with more experience at questioning others, not I."
"But she's just a little girl," explained Asric. "Still a child, really... And you're better with children than I am."
It was true; as a former peacekeeper of Shattrath, Jadaar had much experience with dealing with the orphaned children that often ended up in the city. The draenei was always amazed that even with the children of races that might consider his appearance 'monsterous' at first, they were still willing to trust in him, after a few moments... He chalked it up to the innocence (and perceptiveness) of youth.
Still, the draenei couldn't help but think that the reason that Asric wanted Jadaar to be the one to approach Miki, was because that she happened to be a gnome. I will never understand this obsession people have with draenei and gnomes... he grumbled to himself.
Even Jadaar noticed that there was something ageless about gnomes, a childlike quality about them that they never seemed to outgrow... Yet despite this, the draenei could tell that Miki was pretty young, even by gnome standards; she couldn't be much older than a child. She also lacked the usual boundless enthusiam that most other gnomes had; that struck him as odd.
"What's the matter, little one?" he asked Miki, who was still absentmindedly nibbling at her doughnut. "You seem sad."
Miki looked surprised, and put down her snack. "Oh! It's just... My master has gone missing and..." Her eyes then widened, and she averted her eyes. "I really shouldn't be talking about this..." she added, in a small voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry," replied Jadaar, with genuine concern. "But I can see that it's bothering you... Perhaps you can tell me just a little bit about it? It might make you feel better."
"Well..."
Miki was reluctant at first, but with some coaxing, Jadaar managed to get her to tell him exactly what had happened in Vargoth's tower room earlier; he especially paid close attention to the details he hadn't heard until now.
After the gnome had finished speaking, Jadaar questioned her. "So, do you think that rogue might've kidnapped Archmage Vargoth?"
Miki shook her head vehemently. "No, I don't think so. Even though she was armed, she looked really confused when she appeared in the room; she even asked where she was. But she didn't seem to want to tell the other mages how she teleported into my master's room; that's why she was taken away for questioning."
"And the other mages have no idea where Vargoth went?"
The gnome hung her head. "No, they cast all sorts of spells to try and find him, but they didn't seem to work; all their spells pointed to him being somewhere around the room, but since they already searched there, they thought the room's magical shielding was interfering with their spells..."
Miki's eyes then welled up with tears. "Wherever he is, I hope that my master is all right..." She began to sob.
At this, Jadaar felt a little uncomfortable for pressing her for information. "There, there," he told Miki, and patted her on the shoulder.
"Ask her if Vargoth acted strangely before he disappeared," whispered a voice, close to Jadaar's ear.
The draenei stiffened at this. Jadaar had known that Asric would be nearby the whole time he had been questioning the gnome, but the elf's voice sounded far too close for comfort; fortunately, Miki didn't seem to have heard a word. It seemed that Asric was much stealthier than Jadaar had gave him credit for...
Reluctantly, Jadaar repeated Asric's question. "Miki, did your master act strangely before he disappeared?"
The gnome wiped her tears. "Not any stranger than usual... I mean, he asked me to bring him breakfast every morning, but there's nothing really strange about that, him being a shut-in, and all..."
The draenei seemed to pause, as if listening for something, and then asked, "Are you sure about that? Didn't Vargoth make any requests that struck you as odd? Over the past week, perhaps?"
Miki looked thoughtful for a moment. "Um, well... Now that you mention it, he did ask me to do something weird, about a week ago..."
"Oh? What was it?"
"He gave me a set of apprentice mage textbooks, and asked me to take them to different places in the city."
Jadaar's brow furrowed. "But what is so strange about that? Didn't I just help you deliver some books, a while ago?"
"Yes, but... He asked me to put them in the weirdest places," explained Miki. "In fact, he told me to hide the books in places where people wouldn't notice them right away; I'm still not sure why he did that..."
Jadaar heard a sharp intake of breath behind him. Even without Asric saying another word, the draenei knew that they might have stumbled over some important information... He decided to press Miki for more details.
"Miki, do you think you can remember where all those books are?" asked Jadaar.
"I think so..." said the gnome slowly. "But why do you want to know?"
The draenei then smiled. "Because I think it may help us find out where your master is."
As Miki's eyes lit up, Jadaar could swear that Asric was smugly smirking over his shoulder.
Next chapter...
I'm dying to post this story to FF.net, but am reluctant to do so... Apart from wanting to complete the story first, I'm worried about the reception it might get if I don't edit it well. (I've never posted to the Warcraft fandom before, and I'd like to think that the story might be well-recieved... But I'm also worried that the grammar Nazis and the game purists will rip it apart. >_<)
Previous chapters are here: Prologue, Chapter 1
World of Warcraft: "Mystery of the Violet Citadel" by Avi
Chapter 2: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"
It was mid-afternoon in Dalaran, when a tiny red-robed figure tottered out of the Violet Citadel, barely visible behind the pile of books she carried; in fact, the only recognizable part of her was a pair of black pigtails bouncing behind her head.
It was a wonder that she could even see where she was going; so it was rather inevitable when an ill-placed cobblestone caused the pile of books she was carrying, to spill to the ground.
As the flustered mage struggled to pick up her books, a large figure detached itself from a nearby wall to help her. As she looked up at her saviour, she saw the face of a draenei with an eyepatch over his right eye, and a kindly expression on his face.
"Could you use some help, little one?" asked Jadaar, with a smile.
After the draenei offered to carry the majority of the books for the young mage, they dropped them off at The Scribe's Sacellum, just down the street. As they exited the shop, Jadaar pointed at a cart across the way.
"Say, I feel like having a bit of a snack," he told the girl pleasantly. "Would you like something as well?"
As the two headed towards the cart, they walked past an auburn-haired blood elf who was leaning against the wall of the shop; he narrowed his eyes, as they passed.
***
A few moments later, Jadaar and the young mage (who had shyly introduced herself as Miki) were sitting on a bench in the shadow of the giant statue of Archmage Antonidas, munching on a couple of doughnuts that the draenei had bought from the nearby cart.
Though he hid it well, Jadaar was somewhat pleased with how easily he had gained the girl's trust... Even though he was still annoyed at Asric for putting him up to it.
"Why do I have to be the one to approach her?" protested Jadaar, earlier. "You're the one with more experience at questioning others, not I."
"But she's just a little girl," explained Asric. "Still a child, really... And you're better with children than I am."
It was true; as a former peacekeeper of Shattrath, Jadaar had much experience with dealing with the orphaned children that often ended up in the city. The draenei was always amazed that even with the children of races that might consider his appearance 'monsterous' at first, they were still willing to trust in him, after a few moments... He chalked it up to the innocence (and perceptiveness) of youth.
Still, the draenei couldn't help but think that the reason that Asric wanted Jadaar to be the one to approach Miki, was because that she happened to be a gnome. I will never understand this obsession people have with draenei and gnomes... he grumbled to himself.
Even Jadaar noticed that there was something ageless about gnomes, a childlike quality about them that they never seemed to outgrow... Yet despite this, the draenei could tell that Miki was pretty young, even by gnome standards; she couldn't be much older than a child. She also lacked the usual boundless enthusiam that most other gnomes had; that struck him as odd.
"What's the matter, little one?" he asked Miki, who was still absentmindedly nibbling at her doughnut. "You seem sad."
Miki looked surprised, and put down her snack. "Oh! It's just... My master has gone missing and..." Her eyes then widened, and she averted her eyes. "I really shouldn't be talking about this..." she added, in a small voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry," replied Jadaar, with genuine concern. "But I can see that it's bothering you... Perhaps you can tell me just a little bit about it? It might make you feel better."
"Well..."
Miki was reluctant at first, but with some coaxing, Jadaar managed to get her to tell him exactly what had happened in Vargoth's tower room earlier; he especially paid close attention to the details he hadn't heard until now.
After the gnome had finished speaking, Jadaar questioned her. "So, do you think that rogue might've kidnapped Archmage Vargoth?"
Miki shook her head vehemently. "No, I don't think so. Even though she was armed, she looked really confused when she appeared in the room; she even asked where she was. But she didn't seem to want to tell the other mages how she teleported into my master's room; that's why she was taken away for questioning."
"And the other mages have no idea where Vargoth went?"
The gnome hung her head. "No, they cast all sorts of spells to try and find him, but they didn't seem to work; all their spells pointed to him being somewhere around the room, but since they already searched there, they thought the room's magical shielding was interfering with their spells..."
Miki's eyes then welled up with tears. "Wherever he is, I hope that my master is all right..." She began to sob.
At this, Jadaar felt a little uncomfortable for pressing her for information. "There, there," he told Miki, and patted her on the shoulder.
"Ask her if Vargoth acted strangely before he disappeared," whispered a voice, close to Jadaar's ear.
The draenei stiffened at this. Jadaar had known that Asric would be nearby the whole time he had been questioning the gnome, but the elf's voice sounded far too close for comfort; fortunately, Miki didn't seem to have heard a word. It seemed that Asric was much stealthier than Jadaar had gave him credit for...
Reluctantly, Jadaar repeated Asric's question. "Miki, did your master act strangely before he disappeared?"
The gnome wiped her tears. "Not any stranger than usual... I mean, he asked me to bring him breakfast every morning, but there's nothing really strange about that, him being a shut-in, and all..."
The draenei seemed to pause, as if listening for something, and then asked, "Are you sure about that? Didn't Vargoth make any requests that struck you as odd? Over the past week, perhaps?"
Miki looked thoughtful for a moment. "Um, well... Now that you mention it, he did ask me to do something weird, about a week ago..."
"Oh? What was it?"
"He gave me a set of apprentice mage textbooks, and asked me to take them to different places in the city."
Jadaar's brow furrowed. "But what is so strange about that? Didn't I just help you deliver some books, a while ago?"
"Yes, but... He asked me to put them in the weirdest places," explained Miki. "In fact, he told me to hide the books in places where people wouldn't notice them right away; I'm still not sure why he did that..."
Jadaar heard a sharp intake of breath behind him. Even without Asric saying another word, the draenei knew that they might have stumbled over some important information... He decided to press Miki for more details.
"Miki, do you think you can remember where all those books are?" asked Jadaar.
"I think so..." said the gnome slowly. "But why do you want to know?"
The draenei then smiled. "Because I think it may help us find out where your master is."
As Miki's eyes lit up, Jadaar could swear that Asric was smugly smirking over his shoulder.
Next chapter...
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