//------------------------------// // 15. The Other Chessmaster // Story: Sunset in Azeroth // by RIPoste //------------------------------// Sunset Shimmer frowned as she peered at the Prince of Lordaeron over her pile of books. Contrary to what she had initially believed, the prince was actually serious about coming here to study History, knowledge of the arcane arts and the intrigues of politics that had been recorded throughout the land. In fact, it was the first time she had ever seen someone with royal blood actually pay that much attention to his education. Huh, she might even respect him for real. At least he was making it easy for her to oversee him. Sunset had awoken this morning, wholly expecting to have outrageous demands forced upon her that she would be forced to approach one of the Archmage to defuse. Instead, all he had asked for were the occasional refreshments, or help regarding certain topics. The rest of the time, he had left her alone, allowing her lots of free time to focus on her studies. In fact, so focused was Sunset on a recent case study regarding the Elemental Plane that she did not realize that Jaina Proudmoore was standing next to her until the older girl lightly tapped her on the shoulder. To her credit, Sunset was not startled. Not that much, anyway. Putting down a slightly smoking book, and purposely ignoring the grinning prince, Sunset glared at Jaina, who appears to be having trouble breathing. “Yes?” “Its…” Jaina heaved, “almost time to switch?” Sunset looked out of the library’s window, before registering that the sun was no longer in the eastwards portrait. It was noon already? “I… see…” Sunset muttered. She had not noticed how engrossed she was. Well, at least she did not have to babysit anymore princes for the day, which would free up her schedule for other things. “I’ll be taking my leave, Prince Arthas,” Sunset informed him curtly, turning to leave when the prince didn’t answer, apparently he was currently having a fit, rendering him incapable of acknowledging her. Face burning, Sunset gave Jaina a nod as she left the library. Unfortunately for her, she was too engrossed in her latest mishap to take note of where she was walking. Until she actually walked into someone. “Oof! Who,” Sunset looked up from where she was laying on the floor before biting down on her tongue almost hard enough to draw blood. “Uh. Good afternoon, Lord Krasus?” “And a good afternoon to you, Apprentice Sunset.” The elderly mage smiled, seemingly unbothered by the fact that Sunset walked into her. “Uh, I mean. Sorry, Lord Krasus! I was, ugh.” Sunset stammered, at a loss of words for what to say. While Sunset had had contact with most archmagi in the Kirin Tor, there were a few that she had not spoken face to face before save on formal occasions. Lord Krasus was one of them, an enigmatic elven that was rumored to be far, far older than even King Anasterian Sunstrider, and thrice as knowledgeable. As if to lend credence to the fact, even the elven prince, Kael’Thas had been extremely respectful to the elven mage despite having no reason to do so. The fact that Lord Krasus studies dragons probably contributed though. “Why, Sunset.” Lord Krasus chuckled, his green eyes shining with mirth. “I accept your apology, on account that you do keep your mind to the road when you are walking.” He gestured, and Sunset felt an invisible help push her up into a standing position. “Regardless, I had thought that you are assigned as an aide to Prince Arthas?” “Uh, I was, Lord Krasus.” Sunset fumbled, before taking a deep breath to steel her nerves. She normally wasn’t like this, but there was something about Lord Krasus that overwhelms her, for lack of a better word. “I mean. Apprentice Jaina and I were both to attend to the Prince. My shift has just ended.” “I see.” The elven mage mused, “and how are your studies coming along with my colleague, Kel’Thuzad?” Why did he want to know? “It’s coming along fine, Lord Krasus.” Sunset did her best to keep her voice neutral as she replied. She might be overthinking it, but it wouldn’t hurt to be careful. “Master Kel’Thuzad is most impatient to start the next phase of my training.” Keep it vague and feed him half-truths. “He wants to finish it as soon as possible so as to get myself out of his hair.” The last part was true, by the way. Sunset studied the elf as she relayed the information. Unfortunately for her, Lord Krasus’ expression was unreadable as he merely nodded and smiled at her. “That’s good to hear, Sunset. All the best for your studies.” “Thank you, Lord Krasus.” Sunset bowed respectfully. Krasus nodded in return, before turning his head to look out the window beside them. “By the way, did you not mention that apprentice Jaina is attending to Prince Arthas right now?” “Yes?” “Curious, it seemed as if he was attending to her instead.” At Sunset’s quizzical look, Krasus merely pointed out the window. Sunset followed his hand, and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the distant figures riding out the gates of Dalaran on horseback. And what in Celestia’s name was Jaina doing, riding with that prince out of Dalaran? “Lord Krasus, I’m sorry,” Sunset said, causing the Archmage to look at her, “But if I may leave?” “Very well,” The elf nodded. Bowing deeply, Sunset quickly turned and headed off to her room. Once she had entered, she quickly headed over to the table and opened one of its drawers, pulling out a small crystal ball the size of an apple. Chantinga simple phrase, she watched as a fog filled the magical tool. Then, it cleared and she could see. She could see the meadows that were not so far from Dalaran as one would have thought. A peaceful serene place, to be sure, but Sunset had no eyes for it at the moment. All of her attention was focused upon the two figures sitting within the grassy fields. Jaina and Prince Arthas.Sitting there comfortably, enjoying a flask of Dalaran Sharp and whatever small vittles that the prince had packed into that basket of his. It was a picnic, on the surface, but Sunset recognised the attempt for what it was. He was trying to court Jaina. Why else would the prince bring Jaina out of Dalaran? In fact, what was Jaina thinking? She was a mage apprentice, not yet a full fledged spellcaster in the ranks of the Kirin Tor. This was no time for her to be pursuing any other form of distractions. But who are you to judge? A small voice within her spoke out. One she conveniently ignored. Jaina was one of the few people on Azeroth that had Sunset’s trust, no matter how much of it she lacked. By Celestia, Sunset would even say that she actually cared for the older girl to a certain extent. Sunset Shimmer may be a prodigy, but even she would not deny that Jaina Proudmoore was at least her equal as an apprentice. The young royal was talented, immensely so if Sunset could trust her judgement, and would have definitely become one of the strongest magi of her generation. After Sunset, of course. And here she was, squandering it all away for the affections of a mere prince? Sunset experimentally flexed her fingers, a red spark dancing between her digits. Then she shook her head and extinguished the magic. What was I thinking? Jaina was a princess, not just some mage, she had a duty to her country. If she was to become a political tool to cement the relationship between Kul’Tiras and Lordaeron, who was Sunset to decide for her when there were so much more at stake here? Not to mention, it would be much more logical for Sunset to actually want Jaina to be out of the picture. The scion of the Proudmoores was a talented magus, and would be a major obstacle to Sunset’s ascension in the Kirin Tor. With her being busy playing princess with Prince Arthas, Sunset would not only gain a staunch ally in the political circle, considering her closeness with Jaina Proudmoore, but she would also have one less competitor in the ranks of the Kirin Tor. It would be in her best interest to let things run their course, Sunset noted as she looked into the crystal ball, watching the pair of figures lying comfortably in the meadows, enjoying their picnic. So why was she so damned frustrated? Jaina seemed happy, and Sunset would be able to ascend much more smoothly, so why was she so damned angry at the prince? Growling a phrase, Sunset dispelled the divination spell, causing the picture within the crystal ball to fade from view. She would need time to sort out her thoughts regarding this, but time was not a luxury she could afford right now, not when Master Kel’Thuzad had more tasks for her to do. Her eyes drifted to the tome that sits unsuspectingly on her table. It was a simple novel, one that details the story of Uther the Lightbringer during the Second War. She had received one like that as a gift of thanks from one of the corporals of the Alliance during one of her missions. But that copy was already long gone, stowed away somewhere within the Library of Dalaran (which had become her dumping ground for useless books). The one here was handed to her by none other than her master, Kel’Thuzad. She gingerly picked up the tome and whispered some words, not common, nor were they the words of powers that magi used, but elvish. A form so ancient and foreign that her master had assured her that most of the elves had forgotten it existed. She watched as the words within the tome shifted to her eyes and rearranged itself. It was a complex three layered spell that was placed on the book. One was a simple disguise that could only be undone for the person that spoke a certain prearranged phrase. The second was a spell that was made to fool the eyes of others, making the book appear as unassuming as possible such that one would glance over it without suspecting its presence unless actually looking for it. The last spell was perhaps the most complex of them all, a powerful enchantment that not only renders other spellwork on the book impossible but also one that hid the spells upon the tome, rendering them inert to all but the most powerful of magical probes. If only what was in the tome was as impressive as the spellwork laid upon it. A simple set of instructions were all that were written in the tome as well as countless treatises and hypothesis regarding the basis for necromancy. All mere theories and nothing more. Still, her master had been convinced that part of the key to their ultimate goal lies in separating the truth and lies within the book she now held. Sunset sighed, putting her thoughts of Jaina and Prince Arthas at the back of her head. She had work to do.  “Antonidas, are you free?” Archmage Antonidas looked up from the papers he was studying and smiled. He had sensed Krasus before the elven archmage had even entered the room, but still, it was common courtesy to greet his equal. “Evening Krasus, though whether I am free depends on what you intend to spend my time on.” “It concerns our dear colleague, and his ward.” That got Archmage Antonidas’ attention, and he looked up from the scrolls on his table to give the slender mage his fullest attention. “Who?” “Who else?” Krasus smiled in the lamplight, his face pale in the white glow, “there is only one among the Six that would dare trespass upon the laws of the Kirin Tor. But you already knew, didn’t you?” Archmage Antonidas stayed silent as he watched his colleague closely. As usual, Krasus’ face betrayed no emotion, nothing that would give away his intentions. Still, while the elf was an enigma to most of his comrades, Antonidas was sure that he had the Kirin Tor’s best interest at heart. Regardless, it wouldn’t hurt to be careful, and not to mention, Antonidas was curious as to how much the other mage knew. “I had thought it strange all those years ago.” Krasus continued, “why you would not allow any other of the Six to tutor our little ‘Rising Star’.” He smiled as he said the name, but did not allow his amusement to hinder his speech, “imagine my surprise when I found out that you never actually did care for her talent, did you not?” “She was strong, yes, but you are already grooming a successor in the form of Jaina Proudmoore. Surely there wouldn’t be a need to raise another powerful mageling in such a short span of time so quickly. As such, I can only think of one reason why you were so insistent that Kel’Thuzad would take her on as an apprentice then.” “And that would be?” Antonidas asked tersely, neither denying nor admitting the accusation. “A distraction.” Krasus’s eyes flashed fiercely. “You already had a suspicion that Kel’Thuzad was breaching the laws laid down by the Kirin Tor. However, to accuse and openly investigate another mage was not an easy task, especially an Archmage. As such, you began your investigations in secret. However, you couldn’t risk letting him know, so you grabbed the chance to distract him with a powerful recruitment to allow your agents to work behind the scenes freely.” Antonidas smiled wryly. Krasus was surprisingly accurate in his own deductions, but was wrong on some of the accounts. Still, regardless of his accuracy, there lies the issue of his intent with this information. “And what would you do,” Antonidas asked, “if all of those were true?” Krasus seemed almost taken aback by the fact that Antonidas all but admitted his deeds, but rallied quickly. “Nothing. Except I would ask you to deal with our colleague before he fully corrupts Sunset Shimmer.” His eyes hardened, “she may be a tool in your schemes, Antonidas, but I will not condone sacrificing her to merely expel another one of the Six. She is far too valuable and her potential far too great to be allowed to fall to her vices.” “And you think that if I could have done so already, would I still be sitting here?” Antonidas asked, an eyebrow raised in perplexion. “But don’t worry,” He said before Krasus could reply. “Sunset Shimmer is so much more than a mere ‘tool in my schemes’, as you put it. She will not so easily fall to her master’s promises.” Indeed, she was so much more, Antonidas reflected. While Krasus’ accusations were mostly true, Antonidas’ vision of the girl that he had described to the rest of Six was one he still strongly believed in. Sunset Shimmer could very well take the place of her master in a few years, such was her potential that Antonidas had sensed all those years ago that he still believed in it now. “The girl is ambitious, Antonidas.” Krasus warned, “and her master Kel’Thuzad has definitely begun to bring her into his fold, if that book in her room was any indication.” Antonidas blinked. That was indeed news to him, how had Krasus known of these events before his own agent had contacted him? Still, there would be no problems at all, if anything, he was counting on the fact that Sunset Shimmer was allowed into Kel’Thuzad’s inner circle. “There’s no need to worry,” He assured the other mage, “That I will guarantee you. Sunset Shimmer will help us get the evidence to expel her master.” “Are you sure?” Krasus asked, clearly not convinced, “the lure of power is one that is tough to ignore, especially for a mage as hungry for it as Sunset Shimmer.” “She will.” Antonidas smiled as he waved a hand, and an ornate box, roughly one foot long and a third as wide and tall, materialized onto the table. Krasus looked at the leader of Dalaran, who nodded, before reaching out with a hand to open the contraption, his eyes widening as he looked at its contents. At first glance, one would have thought that Antonidas was out of his mind, but to one as attuned to magic as Krasus was, they could definitely sense the foreign, yet benevolent magic within the contents of the box. “I see,” Krasus nodded. “And you are sure that she will give her allegiance to you over this?” “She will,” Antonidas nodded, after all, it would be embarrassing for him if his own investigations into the girl for the past few years turned up wrong in the coming months. In fact, Antonidas was sure that Sunset Shimmer could not ignore the contents of the box even if she tried. After all, the magic within seemed so much like hers, Antonidas mused as he looked at the box. Yes she will...