//------------------------------// // 5. Apprenticeship I // Story: Sunset in Azeroth // by RIPoste //------------------------------// One month had passed since Sunset had started her studies under Archmage Modera. While there were still much more that Sunset believed she could learn, Modera recently had been reducing their sessions together, instead telling Sunset to wait while she formalize the redhead's education. That meant that Sunset had a lot of free time within her timetable at the moment. And she would be loathed to let it go to waste. “No, not this one either.” Sunset claimed aloud as she set another tome that was twice as thick as her waist aside. She and Jaina were in the middle of what would be called an ‘research assignment’ by Celestia. Though why Sunset ever thought to accept Jaina’s proposition she would never know. Perhaps it was because the research was on a race that very nearly wiped out the humans on Azeroth: The Orcs. Green, brutish and primitive, or at least that’s what all the tomes spoke of. The nigh endless army of these orcs  first appeared in the Kingdom of Stormwind through a Sorcerous Gateway known as the Dark Portal, toppling the lone southern kingdom as easily as Celestia would demolish a cake. The survivors of Stormwind fled to their northern neighbors who formed an Alliance against what would be known as the Orcish Horde. An army was formed under Lord Anduin Lothar, former champion of Stormwind, who led the Alliance army against the great invaders. Hundreds, no, thousands died on both sides, and more would follow as the other races of Azeroth joined in on what was now known as the Second War. However, for some unknown reason, the Horde split up and a huge number of them escaped to the sea where they raised a number of islands with their warlock magic.  That was the mistake that cost them the war. Unfortunately, while the Alliance managed to push the orcs back to the Dark Portal from which they had entered Stormwind from, Lord Lothar fell in combat while dueling the Orcish Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer, only for the latter to fall when the former’s lieutenant, Lord Turalyon, Paladin of the Silver Hand rose to smite the Horde’s leader down. That battle was all that was needed to decide the war, and the defeated Horde retreated through the Dark Portal, which was destroyed by the Alliance. While Sunset was rather disinterested in the race as a whole, she found that she was particularly disturbed by the lack of information on this ‘Dark Portal’. While the texts did not say anything of the sort, Sunset had a very strong gut feeling that the Orcs were actually from another world. Especially since there were no mention of what lay on the other side of the Dark Portal. Call her sceptical all you want, but considering that magic was universal, there were no reasons why a seeking spell could not discover their home location if it was in this world. If these ‘Orcs’ are truly from another world… Sunset thought, if they came through the Dark Portal… There might be a way for me to return to Equestria… She was not sure if she should be elated or leery that a way home might exist so easily… This was something she would have to find out personally, considering the dubiousness present in all the works before her. She gestured with a hand, and nearly flinched as the tome she had summoned almost smashed into her face, only to be stopped by one of the shield runes she had meticulously sewn into her robes. While Sunset still could not see the use of clothes, she would at the very least admit their usefulness in providing protection and warmth. Grabbing the giant leather book that had toppled to the ground, Sunset set it upon the table. “‘The Contrast of Orc Tradition, Sociology, and Psychological Practices from Before and After the Second War’ by Archmage Antonidas.” She read aloud. “Ah, you needn’t look at that,” Jaina looked up from the scroll she was studying, “I have read that already.” “Right.” Sunset pushed the book into an ever growing pile of irrelevant or researched materials. “Remind me why you are looking into this again?” “The orcs in the Second War are a powerful people,” Jaina replied, “they could fight the combined might of the Alliance on almost equal footing, but don’t you think it strange that right now, they are all so…” She paused. “Withdrawn?” Sunset provided, once she was sure that Jaina could not find the word she was searching for. “Yes, that.” Jaina nodded as she returned her attention to the scroll she was studying, “I just find it hard to believe that such a race that almost brought us down would be content to languish in Internment camps up in Alterac. So I was thinking if I could find out more about this so that I could come up with something to convince my-” A cough interrupted Jaina and the two girls looked up to see a grown man with black hair standing before them, his stern features neutral. “Pardon me, Lady Jaina, I am Bronjahm, one of Archmagus Kel’Thuzad’s assistants.” The man bowed, then straightened and looked at Sunset. “Sunset Shimmer, your presence has been requested by him.” “Uh, okay?” Sunset looked at Jaina and found her confusion mirrored in her companion’s eyes. Turning back to Bronjahm, she asked, “Do you know why?” The man’s features were unreadable as he replied. “The master will inform you once you have arrived at his sanctum.” His eyes narrowed, “I suggest that we leave now, he does not like to be kept waiting.” Sunset turned back to Jaina, unsure of what to do in such a situation. Should she go? “You should go,” Jaina said in response to Sunset’s unworded question. “Lord Kel’Thuzad has a temper, no offense.” She nodded at Bronjahm, who silently nodded. “Ah, but about your research?” “I will be fine,” Jaina smiled reassuringly, her green eyes twinkling. “Just go see the Archmagus before you make a bad impression by being late.” She knows something. Sunset realised, She knows something but she’s just not telling me. She looked back at Bronjahm and gulped. There was not really a choice here, was there? So, she stood up and walked as casually as she would over to the waiting mage, who in turn, nodded and turned, walking briskly out of the library. He didn’t even check if I would follow. Sunset thought with a hint of annoyance. Looking back at Jaina, who smiled and did a shooing gesture with her hand, Sunset followed the mage out of the library. The walk towards their destination was long and arduous. While the Violet Citadel was a place that dwarfs even Canterlot Castle, she had expected that Kel’Thuzad’s sanctum to be part of the main building, or at the very least, among one of the mighty towers that spiral out of the giant castle. Imagine her surprise when she was led towards a door which revealed a staircase that descended deep down into the earth. “Come,” Bronjahm said curtly as he descended, as cold as ever, having said nary a single word in their entire journey. Not that Sunset minds, Bronjahm was not exactly pleasant company, so the less he speaks the better. Nonetheless, Sunset would be a mite worried considering that the stairway was leading deep into the ground, after all, deep underground was where all the dungeons were usually situated, so that interrogation and other less savoury practices could be committed out of sight. Of course, the fact that Celestia had outlawed those practices did nothing to calm Sunset’s fear that something terrible was going to happen to her. Nonetheless, what could she do? While Sunset would love to do anything other than to go into what could probably be a terrifying trap, there was nothing else she could do. At the moment, she could only cast a maximum of three teleport spells before she tired out, and while she was sure that there were multiple magi here that have better stamina than she does, they probably have more than multiple variations of tracking spells to find her after she escaped. She has to face the reality of the situation: she was not powerful enough. Yet. Without any other options available to her, Sunset followed Bronjahm down the winding staircase. Their descent was dark and quiet, illuminated only by the flickering torches and the occasional doorway, the silence broken only by the sound of their footsteps or the hopefully imaginary whispers that followed Sunset Shimmer. It was eerie, in all honesty. None too soon, Bronjahm stopped in front of one of the doors and opened it, revealing a room that could be more appropriately mistaken for a library. Rows of shelves lined the walls, filled with books, tomes, scrolls, chests and flasks filled with bright liquids. A simple square wooden table stood in the center of the room, with four rather comfortable looking chairs on each of its sides. Opposite them at the other end of the room was a beautifully carved door with the symbol of the Kirin Tor engraved upon it. “The master will see you, alone.” Bronjahm grunted, before exiting the room and closing the door behind Sunset. “Gee.” Sunset muttered, hopefully softly enough so that the target of her ire would not hear her, “what a friendly person.” No matter, she was already used to this sort of behavior in Equestria. Sunset walked across the room, careful not to touch anything. Even in Equestria, magi have a tendency to bewitch their belongings to visit ‘justice’ upon unwanted thieves or kleptomaniacs. Gingerly, she stepped around the table and towards the other doorway, reaching out with her hand to push it open. She hardly touched it when it disappeared before her, revealing to her a huge room not unlike the one that she was standing in. Except that it was occupied. “Well, stop standing there and come in! I don’t have all day!” An older male voice called out to her. More out of an instinct to make a good first impression than a desire to keep herself out of trouble, Sunset strode inside confidently, evidently having been invited by the master of this place. The person in question was sitting at one of the three tables in the room, the only one that was not filled messily with all forms of scrolls or texts. The man was an older male, a head of light brown hair running messily down his shoulder, its impressive volume only rivaled by the beard that could compare to the one Archmage Antonidas possessed. However what caught Sunset’s attention most were the eyes. Shining eyes that radiate a thirst, a thirst that Sunset finds disturbingly familiar, one that could only be satiated by knowledge and the power that comes with it. This must surely be the Archmage Kel’Thuzad. The Archmage was writing at his desk, his movements with the quill so furious that Sunset would swear that he might have torn the parchment in pieces with the writing instrument. Warily, Sunset approached the man- “Hold and stand there. Do not speak yet, I would talk to you once I am finished.” The archmage said, his voice ringing with authority and Sunset’s body stopped in its tracks. Her eyes wide, she looked at the mage, she had not even felt the spellwork. Was this the might of an Archmage? For his part, the Archmage ignored the red-headed girl before him, merely concentrating on finishing his writing. As soon as he was done, he picked up the parchment and gave it a once through, nodding in satisfaction before rolling it up and securing it with a string. The time taken to complete those actions were but a matter of seconds. For Sunset Shimmer, it felt like an eternity. She watched as Kel’Thuzad set the roll of parchment aside, barely noticing the beads of perspiration as the Archmage looked at her intently. “So.” That one word dropped like an anvil upon Sunset’s consciousness. “You are Sunset Shimmer?” “Y-Yes!” As soon as the word left her mouth, Sunset felt her entire body relax, and her lungs in need of much needed air from holding her breath in the entire time. “Do you know who I am?” The Archmage gestured to himself. :”Archmage Kel’Thuzad, sir?” “How did you know that?” The Archmage smiled. “And what makes you think you are correct?” “Excuse me? Sir?” “Three mistakes so far.” Tha Archmage lamented. “Do you know what they are?” “Sir?” Sunset panicked internally. She had made a mistake here? What had she done wrong? “Number one,” The Archmage held up a finger, “How did you know, that you have been called by Archmage Kel’Thuzad?” “Because…” “Bronjahm told you? How can you be confident that he was under such orders?” Sunset’s eyes widened as realisation dawned upon her. “You are far too trusting.” The Archmage frowned. “When Bronjahm contacted you, your first response should be to inform your immediate superior, Archmage Modera and clarify with her if such a thing was true. The fact that she is not standing here with you is proof that you had not done so. Remember this, you are but a fledgling apprentice, you do not have the means to protect yourself against most threats yet, as such, you must learn to rely upon those more powerful than you if you wish to have the chance to grow.” “Your second mistake is that you have assumed that you can enter the sanctum of an unknown wizard as casually as some peasants would walk into a tavern.” He gestured lightly and Sunset felt her legs grow rigid almost instantly, unable to move. “While it may have been an order from an authority higher than you, you should not merely enter the sanctum of a stranger wizard.” He gestured again, and Sunset felt the force keeping her legs in place ceased. “A wizard’s sanctum is where he would be at his most powerful, with all his tools and traps to abuse. Only when you are absolutely certain that you have a fighting chance, then would such an action be permitted. Even then, one must still act with the utmost caution.” “Your last and final mistake was the fact that you thought that I am truly Kel’Thuzad.” The man turned and looked at Sunset, “magi are deceptive creatures, and while only a few can practice powerful illusions, do not presume that you are not looking at one of them right now. Do not be so quick to trust what you see, or believe what you hear.” “I… I see.” Sunset hid her hands in her robes, unsure of what to do. In fact, she was at a loss of what to do. The man before her was speaking to her in riddles, warning her not to trust what she sees, yet at the same time she does not know what he wants from her. It would probably be best to ask him about that… “Lord Archmage, if I cannot trust you,” Sunset began carefully, “than what is it that you want from me? And how can I believe what you say is true?” “A good question. Then I will leave you to find the truth with this next sentence: The Council of Six have asked me, Archmage Kel’Thuzad, to take you on as an apprentice, and I have accepted. What do you make from that?” Sunset carefully worked her mind around the words. He called himself the Archmage Kel’Thuzad, yet had told her not to trust those words so simply. There must be a way to find out the truth however… Realisation struck her like a thunderbolt out of the blue. “Lord Kel’Thuzad, may I see the documents that the council has prepared for the occasion?” The elder mage nodded in approval(?) and pulled out a scroll, handing it to Sunset Shimmer. “This is the letter provided by the council, it was signed by Grand Magus Antonidas, Archmage Modera and myself.” But how do I know it was not forged? The words rose in her mind as Sunset unfurled the parchment. The letter was indeed one that has officialized the transfer of apprenticeship from Modera to Kel’Thuzad, and signed by both of them and Antonidas. However, there was a chance that this was forged, and considering what the man had said, it may very well be. However, there must be a way to find out the truth… Sunset slapped herself mentally. The answer was obvious enough, she looked up at the man and asked. “Lord Archmage, may I verify this?” “It would suspicious of me to decline that.” He smiled. Taking it as a go ahead, Sunset raised a hand and drew a series of sigils in the air. Clenching her fist, she released her spell into the paper, it was a simple tracking spell, one that searched for mana signatures and before long, Sunset found what she was looking for. Looking up, she bowed and presented the paper back to the man. “My deepest apologies for doubting you, Master Kel’Thuzad.” Kel’Thuzad smiled. “Well done. Though I must ask, why a tracking spell, Sunset?” “Mana signatures cannot be easily forged. All beings have a unique mana signature, no matter how small it may be.” Sunset explained, “and they would leave an imprint of it wherever they commit certain acts such as writing a letter, with magi’s mana signature the most prominent of them all as a result of cultivating it.” She looked at the Archmage, “while it may be forged, one cannot duplicate the mana within perfectly, so a mage who was used to those mana signature can easily tell real from fake. The mana in the letter definitely belongs to their owners, from what I can tell, and your mana is a match with the one from the signature, as such, I do not think that the letter is fake, Master.”  Good,” Kel’Thuzad smiled. “Modera was right about your intelligence it seemed. Very well, let’s not waste any more time. Your signature is required to officialize the transference of the apprenticeship. As such, I would require you to sign here.” He pointed at the bottom most line in the letter. “Begging your pardon, Master Kel’Thuzad, but it is not.” Sunset said, “The part that said my signature is needed was added by you.” “Good.” Kel’Thuzad chuckled, “but for the sake of courtesy, I must ask if you have any objections to this arrangement?” Surprisingly, Sunset had none. True she had been manhandled and mildly humiliated, but she knows a test when she sees one, and she had come out of it a better person. It was an enlightening experience and had taught Sunset the one lesson she had almost forgotten ever since Celestia showed her that mirror. While Sunset had learned much from Archmage Modera and respected her prowess, she could not help but feel that Modera was acting more as a protective parent would than a teacher. Kel’Thuzad had tested her, and none too gently, but he had pushed Sunset further and she had the feeling that he would do it over and over again. “No, I have no objections, Master Kel’Thuzad.” She bowed, “I will be in your care.”