Chapter Twenty-Four: The Appointment by Parliament

Aurelia and Patrick stood atop the Mage Tower, quietly observing the soldiers reveling below. After a great battle, they could drink freely, savor delicious food, and some elves, emboldened by wine and passion, engaged in impassioned contests right then and there. Patrick was already familiar with the habits of the high elves; the common folk, apart from indulging their own desires, held a pessimistic and decadent worldview, devoid of ambition, much like certain nations in his previous life.

“What do you think of their way of life?” Aurelia asked Patrick.

“Confusion and melancholy are the main themes of the lower classes,” Patrick replied. “Though some elves bear the responsibilities of the military, they cannot escape the prevailing atmosphere of Silvermoon’s excess and indulgence.”

“Although you are an elf living in Silvermoon, your lifestyle is entirely different from theirs. Patrick Cabron, can you tell me why?”

“If you don’t mind, just call me Pat. Although I live in Silvermoon, I don’t care for that kind of life,” Patrick turned to find Aurelia watching him closely, as if trying to catch some flaw in his words.

“I’ve sent a detailed report of the recent operation back to Silvermoon, along with the rewards from the previous raid—they’ll be delivered together,” Aurelia said, wearing an expression that seemed to ask, “Are you satisfied now?”

Patrick poured Aurelia a cup of hot Blood Thistle tea, used his mental power to bring chairs and pastries from the room, and sat down to enjoy the serenity of the Eastern Sanctuary.

“I truly dislike the lifestyle in Silvermoon. I always intended to find opportunities outside the city. Life should be lived positively and purposefully, don’t you think?” Patrick lifted his cup of Blood Thistle tea, savoring its fragrance and rich color, the elegant shape, the pure aroma, and the pale red hue, as warm and mellow as black tea.

Aurelia also sat down, took a gentle sip of the tea, and said nothing, gazing skyward, enjoying the long-awaited peace and relaxation.

That night, Patrick did not practice his magic as usual, but simply spent some time talking with the elven lady.

Silvermoon City, Silvermoon Council.

“Everyone, the battle report shows that the Eastern Sanctuary operation was a great success. Not only did we disrupt the trolls’ schemes, but we also struck deep into Zebwatha, completely eliminating the threat there. The Forest of Life now falls fully under our control,” said Senior Sunwing.

“This is news worth celebrating. Was it that young man from the Windrunner family again?” asked Bridges Dawnwind.

“Aurelia Windrunner commanded this operation, with Hawksbill as her lieutenant. But, according to Aurelia’s combat report, the success was entirely due to a young elven mage named Patrick Cabron,” Senior Sunwing replied.

Senior Sunwing glanced at his colleagues and continued, “Aurelia’s report says it was he who saw through the trolls’ plans in the Forest of Life, then led the troops to disrupt them, returned to the Eastern Sanctuary to regroup, and finally struck again, eliminating the trolls at Zebwatha. She praised him highly, not only for his exceptional arcane talent but also for his keen command in battle.”

“That’s the youngest son of the alchemy family—the Cabron family,” said Ochs Dawnblade.

“Cabron family? Oh, sorry, I don’t know much about them,” said Jenrini Dawnstar.

“The report also mentions that Patrick Cabron is already a sixth-circle spellcaster, with outstanding arcane aptitude,” Senior Sunwing added.

“He’s reached the sixth circle so soon? Last time, Dathviser told me he’d reached the fifth, and remarked on his diligence and deep understanding of the arcane arts—a promising talent,” Ochs Dawnblade recalled.

“Ochs Master, do you know this Patrick Cabron?” Grenville Morningwalker looked at Ochs Dawnblade, clearly hoping he would elaborate on Patrick’s background.

Ochs Dawnblade replied, “The Cabron family resides east of the Sun Court in Silvermoon City. They are the foremost alchemists in the city. The royal family and the Royal Arcane Association purchase their potions from the Cabrons, and the military’s supplies also come from them.”

Ochs paused and continued, “The patriarch, Phil Cabron, is a fifth-circle arcanist and a member of the Royal Arcane Association, with a five-story mage tower. His elder brother, Patterson Cabron, is a fourth-circle mage, working for the family’s alchemy business. His spouse, Nasalan Cabron, is a master herbalist in Silvermoon, though not a spellcaster.”

“The Windrunner girl seems to hold him in high regard. What do you all propose for the rewards distribution for this campaign?” Senior Sunwing inquired.

After hearing Ochs’ introduction, Bridges Dawnwind suggested, “Why not assign him to the Sun Sanctuary? In recent years, the Sun Sanctuary has been idle, maintained only by a few fourth- and fifth-circle mages. We can grant the Sun Sanctuary to Patrick Cabron as a reward.”

Seeing no objections, Bridges Dawnwind continued, “Once he takes up residence there, he can coordinate with the Crystal Sanctuaries of Antelas and Anovien, forming a defensive line against troll incursions and better monitoring the movements of the Amani trolls. At the same time, he can observe how the arcane weave affects the energies within Antelas and Anovien.”

Bridges Dawnwind’s real intention was to place Patrick outside the city, reducing his influence on Silvermoon. As a sixth-circle mage, Patrick certainly had the potential to become a master in the future.

Bridges planned to first send him to the Sun Sanctuary, then extend an olive branch to Patrick and the Cabron family, hoping to make Patrick a vassal of the council, ideally a personal vassal of the Dawnwind family. Later, he could be recalled to Silvermoon for focused cultivation. It wouldn’t be long before the Dawnwind family gained another seat in the council.

If Patrick did not join them, he could develop slowly at the Sun Sanctuary. After all, in all of Quel’Thalas, Silvermoon City possessed the most arcane resources, and the highest authorities, aside from King Anasterian, were the Silvermoon Council. The peripheral Sun Sanctuary held little prospect for advancement, a “truth” all masters acknowledged. Thus, for many years, the Sun Sanctuary had no master, only a handful of mages maintaining the daily operations of the mage tower.