Chapter 102: The Second Platinum Disc

“If infiltration is not feasible, we can simply assign Senator Patrick more of the obligations and responsibilities expected of a council member,” said Master Sunwing, who had thus far remained silent.

Greenvale nodded in agreement. “The more burdensome his tasks become, the more, I believe, opportunities will arise for us as his staff grows.”

The other two masters, Janeline Dawnstar and Bridges Morningwind, both voiced their approval of Sunwing’s proposal. Only Master Oaks Dawnblade, who had been quietly observing, suddenly interjected, “If we proceed with this, according to council regulations, we’ll need to increase the material allocations to the Sun Sanctuary.”

Master Senior smiled as he replied, “Indeed, according to the rules, the allocations won’t be very substantial. Years ago, to stave off corruption, the council passed a special resolution limiting these quotas. If he wishes to develop smoothly and steadily, what little he gets won’t be nearly enough. He’ll have no choice but to recruit a large number of external administrators and expand trade and agriculture—each endeavor requiring a great many elves. That, in turn, gives us ample chance to act.”

Master Sunwing wore a confident smile, as though everything was unfolding precisely according to plan.

Greenvale added, “I’ve heard the Cabron family is trading with the Kingdom of Lordaeron. What if we also place the defense of Andirlin Manor under the Sun Sanctuary’s purview? The manor is the only route the Quel’Thalas caravans take through the Elven Gate—surely that little fellow would be overjoyed by such an arrangement.”

Master Senior’s eyes lit up, and he readily agreed. “He’ll likely be grateful for our support, and at the same time, we can ask him to restrain the ranger troops in Ghostlands. We must also boost material aid and urban development in Taquilin. Though, as a council member, he can’t be held back by our appointment of administrators there, we can still divide and dilute his subordinate followers.”

The council was unanimous in their belief: this grand cake called Quel’Thalas was more than enough for the council and the royal family to divide among themselves. As for the newcomer, he would need to learn their rules.

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At that moment, within the Sun Sanctuary, atop the Tower of Daylight.

Patrick’s arcane chisel was at work, carving the third and fourth massive magic arrays. Runes, one after another, were etched into the crystalline surface, each line channeling a surge of arcane power. Magic energies flowed within the great array at the heart of the crystal, the air humming with their resonance.

Slow and meticulous, each detail refined with patience and care; only through such dedication could true artistry emerge. This magical artifact had taken Patrick more than a month to craft.

Eight prismatic arcane pyramids formed a brand-new, isolation-type cubic space. Patrick summoned a platinum disk; in a flash of light, it drifted smoothly into the cubic chamber. Silver tides of energy began to pulse across its surface.

Thirty-two arcane gold runes, thirty-two arcane crystals—their azure luster now cloaked in the silvery might of the Titans. Waves of energy rippled outward, only to be absorbed by the surrounding arcane tracery and nodes. At last, the chamber fell silent once more.

The ambient arcane energy within the sealed room began to change, replaced by a surge of pure Titan power—radiant with the essence of time and space. In Patrick’s mind, the arcane ascension and decension spells he had gleaned from the Magister’s Platform began to stir restlessly.

His focus sharpened. A second platinum disk shimmered forth, its surface aglow. The arcane memories of Norgannon poured into Patrick’s mind in an unbroken stream.

“Hello, little one. We meet again,” came the calm, aged voice of Norgannon.

“It’s you again, old man. What do you want this time?” Patrick grumbled inwardly. “An old man in the disk, and an old lady in my head—a perfect pair, aren’t they?”

“If we cannot meet again with tears in our eyes, can we at least blush in each other’s presence? I can no longer tell love from hate, whether blood and tears fall together, my heart breaking and weathering away, my trembling hands unable to stop.” An incongruous voice intoned in his mind.

“Enough, enough, enough! Please, Archmage Allen Moonshade, spare me,” Patrick immediately conceded, unable to withstand the onslaught of such legendary spells masquerading as musical torment.

“Where did you even find this bizarre medley of divine songs? You’ve thrown me completely off balance,” he complained, wiping sweat from his brow.

“It’s from your own memories. I’ve collected these fragments precisely for you—surprised? Delighted? Amused?” Lady Allen had become ever more shameless in her teasing.

“Fine, you win this round,” Patrick said through gritted teeth.

Norgannon’s white gaze regarded Patrick. “Little one, it seems you’ve grasped the fundamentals of energy levels. You’re ready to learn deeper mysteries.”

Patrick hadn’t even replied before Norgannon continued, “The first energies we Titans mastered were arcane and natural energy. Both can be elevated to their purest forms: the powers of time and space, with smaller amounts of soul and matter energy. This is the source of Titan power.”

Of course, Aman’Thul and Eonar had granted the Dragon Aspects the powers of life and time. It seemed his earlier speculation was correct.

“The highest energies are fourfold: time, space, matter (or life), and soul. Each is independent, self-contained—yet none can exist alone, only in complement to the others.”

“For example, space and time are both material, objective realities, but also abstract concepts—expressions of the continuity and sequence of matter’s motion and change. If we discuss any one—time, space, matter, or soul—in isolation, it becomes meaningless.”

“If a space contains neither matter, nor soul, nor the passage of time, then that space has no significance. Likewise, to discuss the soul, time, or matter separately is equally futile.”

“For this reason, when we elevate arcane and natural energies, the resulting high-level energy is what you call Titan power. However, the process of ascension consumes vast amounts of energy, while the process of decension generates it. Ten units of arcane energy, ascended, might produce only a single unit of space energy; yet, ten units of arcane energy, descended, could become a hundred units of elemental energy—including both Light and Shadow.”

At this, Patrick found himself pondering the nature of the Naaru. He had never understood why, when the Naaru’s Light was exhausted, it became a void entity. He had speculated after learning of energy ascension, but Norgannon’s explanation was a kind of indirect confirmation.

The Naaru continued to spread the paladin’s path across the cosmos—likely refining the soul energies of their followers, then using decension to produce vast reserves of holy Light.

“So the Naaru are like tamers of ‘wild beasts,’ then?” Patrick mused.

Norgannon did not answer, instead continuing, “The energy difference between levels—we call it differential energy. When Aman’Thul established the Well of Eternity at the continent’s heart, it was for this reason. The Well’s immense arcane and natural energies nourished the soul at Azeroth’s core, and its power offset the enormous losses from energy ascension.”

“At the same time, the Well of Eternity enriched the world, making its matter more abundant and spawning ever more living souls. The combined powers of space, time, matter, and soul on Azeroth would help the World-Soul mature all the sooner.”

So Elune truly was a Titan, Patrick realized. No wonder the Pantheon had come to Azeroth to create a new world.