Chapter 1

Lyra blinked awake as the morning light played across her face. Her seventeenth birthday had been two months ago, and today was the day of the annual Kirin Tor Provings. Today was the day! No more cursing their thrice-damned age requirement. No more having to sneak into the library under an invisibility spell in order to read a few books. Today she would finally have access to knowledge of magic legitimately.

She conjured herself breakfast with after a few seconds of channelling the ambient magic of the world into her palm, and ate it in front of her small room's window. It tasted of cardboard, but she was used to it. It wasn't the best of views, the next tower over blocked most of the vista. But there was a small patch on the right of the curving glass through which she could see the snow covered caps of the storm peaks. She would have liked a bigger room, but there wasn't much you could get with an orphans stipend.

She still hadn't decided by how much she was going to pass the test. Should she wow the Masters, or just do well enough to stand out and ensure that someone picked her as their Apprentice? Did she want to go for 'unusually skilled' or 'prodigy?' Prodigy meant she would definitely get a full apprenticeship, though she wouldn't help with how she was shunned. Unusually skilled might make her non-threatening enough to be more popular... but then again, it might not too. Besides, what she really wanted was to learn magic.

She finished her breakfast, and threw on her nicest clothes – some slightly baggy white pants with a purple and gold belt-skirt thing, a white corset-thing that left most of her stomach bare, which Lyra blamed Lady Proudmoore for making fashionable, soft brown boots, and a long purple hooded cloak that was only slightly threadbare. Lyra would have preferred a simple tunic, but unfortunately there was something of an unofficial uniform for young mages in Dalaran, and she didn't want to not be taken as an Apprentice because she was judged to have poor taste.

She closed the door behind her and locked it with the most complex locking spell she knew. Crime, outside of the underbelly, was pretty minimal, but it never hurt to be careful. Particularly since anyone who managed to get past her door would be in for a world of pain from the heavily warded interior, and she didn't want to hurt someone if they got the wrong door. Strolling down the corridor and stairs, nodding to a few of her neighbours she was on friendly terms with, Lyra headed for the Violet Citadel.

She was rather early, and so she headed into the nearby bakery and bought herself a sweet-roll, a rare treat for her, which she took and munched on the citadel's steps.

"I told you Modera, I'm not going to take one!" came a petulant voice from down the street, her pointed ears making the voices clear as crystal. "I don't care if its the done thing, I'm far too busy with my research and the war against the Scourge to take on an Apprentice."

"Apprentices are very helpful though, and its good to have someone watch your back," replied a woman, probably Modera – who Lyra knew was one of the mages on the Council of Six. "I worry about you Khadgar, out there, all alone..."

"Apprentices are almost always borderline useless for several years, I can't wait that long. I often need to venture into unsafe places," replied the petulant voice, who must have been Khadgar. Lyra knew all about him, the legendary Apprentice of the last Guardian had been elected to a spot on the Council of Six only months after returning from Outland, and was regarded as the most powerful mage on Azeroth, beating even Lady Proudmoore.

"You promised you would attend!" said Modera.

"Yes yes yes, all right. I'll attend. But I'm not taking an Apprentice!"

"Khadgar!"

"Well look, if one of them can... I don't know, summon a water elemental, then I'll take them, how about that?" he said, petulance turning to irritation. Lyra grinned, well if it would land her a teacher like the great Khadgar, then one water elemental, coming up.

"That is unfair, how are they supposed to do that without training? It takes most Apprentices years to get that good," protested Modera. They were close now, only a few dozen meters away.

"Exactly my point. The world is unfair Modera; do you think a ghoul wouldn't gnaw off their face just because they were my Apprentice?" said Khadgar, before stopping mid stride and turning to face her. "That looks nice. Tell me young lady, where did you get that?"

"Oh? Um, the roll? Just across the street there," said Lyra pointing, surprised by the sudden question.

"Ah, thank-you, I think I might have to treat myself. Well if you'll excuse me Modera, I am going to get one of those delicious looking rolls. I'll see you inside," said Khadgar.

"At least think about what I've said?" Modera asked. "And you're going to get fat if you keep eating cake all the time."

"Yes yes yes," he said, striding towards the bakery, clearly fixated on getting himself a sugary treat.

Modera sighed, before looking at Lyra. "Hello, are you here for the Provings?"

Lyra nodded, "Yes."

"Well, good luck," said Modera, smiling at her and beginning to ascend the stairs.

A few more young people began milling about the entrance to the citadel, until twenty minutes later there were over a hundred people standing around the steps. Mostly Humans, but a smatterings of Gnomes, Trolls, and High Elves too. She was the only Half-Elf, though that wasn't that unusual, even in a city like Dalaran, where Elves, Gnomes, Humans and even Trolls freely mixed, there were only a few of them since Half-Elves were next to impossible to conceive. She looked around and tried to smile, but unfortunately, like usual, not that many people were interested in talking to her. It might be a multiracial city, but most people her age stuck in cliques of their own species; which unfortunately for her, meant not with her. She fought down a stab of sorrow and anger, instead focusing on running over her spells in her mind.

Then they were called inside by a balding man in fiery robes, and they all walked up the hundred steps and into the main vestibule. It was a large, spacious room, with a tiled floor in the vague shape of a runic array. Opposite the entrance was a grand stone staircase that led up to a second mezzanine level that overlooked the first floor. It was filled with around a dozen mages, who were there looking for potential Apprentices.

There two 'streams' of magical education available in Dalaran, both beginning at seventeen. Most people at the proving, if they demonstrated the necessary aptitudes, would receive a 'general education;' a type of magical university system. They would have classes, lectures, tests, practicals, and lots of different teachers before finishing after five years and graduating with the title of 'mage,' assuming they passed the final test.

The other, more desirable, 'stream' of education involved landing a Master at the Provings. Rather than the general education, they would receive one on one teaching from a Senior Mage, who needed at least ten years experience to qualify to take on an Apprentice, and to pass a test themselves. It was possible to be offered an apprenticeship outside the Provings, but rare. It was also virtually unheard of to be offered a second apprenticeship if the student's first Master died, since it was looked upon as something of a failing on the student's behalf.

The Apprentices would accompany their Masters on their various travels, and were expected to help with research, gathering reagents, various other projects, and whatever tasks the mage undertook for the Kirin Tor. In exchange, Apprentices would learn from them, receive a small stipend from the Kirin Tor, and their mentors would pay for most travel and living expenses, and provide accommodations.

There was no fixed time for graduation for an apprenticeship, rather, the Apprentice would learn from the Master until either it was deemed that the Apprentice wasn't capable of progressing any further, in which case they would take the same final test that the students in the general education stream took, or until the Master declared they had nothing left to teach them, and named them a fully fledged Mage. Those few lucky enough to land an Archmage as a teacher could even progress straight from Apprentice to Archmage, if they managed to reach their Master's level of skill; though such apprenticeship usually were measured in decades rather than years, and normally their Apprentices ended up just taking the final test.

Lyra felt a curtain of magic wash over her as she crossed the threshold of the citadel, and recognised the magic as something that would dispel illusions and reveal hidden demonic forms. It had probably been put in place during the last legion invasion to combat the problem of Dreadlord infiltration.

They were called up one by one, alphabetically. Lyra cursed her second name. Really, what sort of a family name was Zaraithus? She settled in to wait, watching her fellows attempts. The Provings were fairly standardised. First a prospective Apprentice had to demonstrate their ability to manipulate fire, frost and the Arcane in their raw states. Then there were a handful of other spells that one was expected to know. Then a few that most were expected to try and fail, before a final demonstration of the Apprentices choice. Lyra ran over the spell to conjure a water elemental in her mind. She had read it, a few years before after sneaking into the Kirin Tor library, and 'successfully' performed it at least twice. Yes, she could do this.

The skill of the prospective Apprentices varied wildly. Some could conjure whole fireballs or even giant gouts of flame, while others could barely make more than a few sparks. Some didn't know even basic spells like slow fall, while others attempted and managed to conjure mana shields. For their practical demonstrations most chose simple but flashy spells, like a frost nova, or an arcane explosion. A few demonstrated polymorphs on some target dummies that had been set up, and a Troll managed to blink across the room, though he staggered from the effort.

"Lyra Zaraithus?" called the mage in fiery robes, who was acting as facilitator. She was the last to be called, the rest were all waiting on the other side of the room having already done their Provings.

She stepped forward, heart pounding despite the fact she knew she was better at magic than any of the others before her.

"Please demonstrate your ability to manipulate fire," asked the facilitator, who she thought was called Archmage Runeweaver.

Lyra nodded, and closed her eyes, she drew in a deep breath then, feeling the magic build within her, before snapping open her eyes and arms up and releasing a gout of flames up into the space between the two floors. Rather than letting it splutter out, she twisted her arms around, shaping the fire into a medium sized roaring Dragon that swooped around the room twice before she allowed it to dissipate. There were exited murmurs from the gallery above her. Fire was her best area, and a good way to start off.

"Remarkable," said the facilitator, before remembering his role. "Ah, please demonstrate your ability with ice magic."

Lyra nodded, took another breath, and then in a swift motion dropped to a knee and punched at the ground. Ice rocketed up in a giant shard from the point of impact, lancing upwards at least two meters. There was more exited murmuring issued from the gallery, and a few Mages pointed. She was by this point, doubtlessly the first choice for all the Mages on the second floor.

"Please dispel your ice," said the facilitator. She did so, before he asked. "Now, demonstrate you proficiency with the Arcane."

Lyra drew her hands together, building up a charge of magic, before she separated the positive and the negative energies and pushed out her hand in a jab the created a lance of arcane power. It shot into the provided wooden dummy, already slightly warped and burnt and missing parts from previous demonstrations. Her spell vaporised the top half of it.

She panted slightly, that might have been overdoing it somewhat.

There were several more mundane spells: conjuration of food and water, the slow fall charm, basic mage armour, scrying, simple illusion, that sort of thing. Then a few harder things: mana shields, fire wards, telekinesis, and a banish spell (though they didn't actually have a demon to do it on, but rather a dummy that registered a correctly performed spell). All were not terribly difficult for Lyra, though she was glad she only had to do a minor banish, since that was a dastardly difficult spell and she didn't full understand the theory behind it, and telekinesis was always pretty hard.

"Finally, please perform a spell of your own choice," said the facilitator, stepping back slightly.

Lyra smiled and looked up, catching Khadgar's eye. He was watching her intently. When their eyes met she winked, and one of his eyebrow's quirked upwards. Then she drew apart her hands and summoned ice, shaping in a two meter high column, before she shifted part of the spell to Arcane and moulded it into the shape of a giant floating mermaid, complete with a spear. The wrist bindings were the last to be added, and once the summoned bindings snapped together the elemental began to move, shifting and regarding the room as it waited for instruction. It was overall too blocky, the face too wonky, and she could have made the tail more defined, but that wouldn't really detract from its effectiveness.

It was far beyond what any of the other prospects had managed.

There were gasps and a few claps from the second floor, Lyra saw Archmage Modera snickering and punching Khadgar in the shoulder. He blinked for a few moments, before sighing and nodding his head and saying something that even her sensitive pointed ears couldn't pick up on.

The actual offering of apprenticeship was a fairly informal affair, with prospective Apprentices and Masters mingling on the first floor, though by custom the most senior mages among the group got first pick. While they waited as the mages conferred upstairs briefly, a few of the prospects suddenly seemed to have realised that she might be an interesting person to know. They smiled, complemented her performance, and patted her on the back. Suddenly it didn't seem to matter she was a Half-Elf. She scowled internally, 'oh, so now she was cool?,' but didn't let the spite reach her face, instead smiling and nodding her thanks.

Khadgar made a beeline for her as he walked down the stairs.

"I take if from that performance that you heard my discussion with Modera this morning, and decided that you would like me as a teacher," he said.

"That is right sir," she said, nodding.

"Well, I suppose I did give Modera my word," he said, scratching his chin stubble and eyeing her speculatively. "You are aware that being my Apprentice will involve no small amount of danger? You will get into life and death fights alongside me. And assuming you do not hit a wall in your studies, an apprenticeship with me could last decades."

"Yes sir, I know, but the Kirin Tor is at war, I would be in danger with any other Master too. I also wouldn't learn anywhere near as much with anyone else."

"Hah! Flattery will get to everywhere. Now, one rule: none of that sir business; my name is Khadgar, and I shall call you Apprentice, agreed?"

He held out his hand.

She shook it and grinned, "Agreed, Khadgar."

A.N: You probably won't read this. I never read Author notes. Maybe I'm a bad person? Who knows.

This is my first work of fanfiction, and first fiction writing I have done in years, I've read a lot of it though, and know what I like, so I'll try and make it like that. I studied philosophy and history at university, so that will probably shine through. I'm also writing in British English because that is what I learnt, I realise that might confuse some, but I'm actually not misspelling things on purpose. Just kidding, language evolves and both are fine; I'll just be using the one I know.

I'm putting this in the M category because I don't like being told what I can or can't do, not because I am planning on writing a smutty story. Though one or two of the chapters I have written so far are pretty violent, and swearing is a normal part of Human language, so if it is appropriate for a character, they might swear. So maybe its a good thing that I am a petite-anarchist.

I welcome criticism, though I might not always listen to you. Sorry.

I have no parings planned which will affect the story in dramatic way, and it will mainly be focused on adventure and discussions between the two main characters, who will of course, be Khadgar and his Apprentice (from who's perspective the story will be told). They are not going to be pared up, so if you're looking for a Merlin/Nimue situation you will be disappointed. Khadgar might end up with someone, but it won't feature heavily. I don't know, maybe I will change my mind and in chapter six he will wed Alexstrasza and Krasus. I could do anything!

I am really, really, really, trying to avoid making Lyra a Mary Sue character, since those get boring to read fairly quickly. She's supposed to be good (because how else would she be picked by Khadgar as an Apprentice?), but not excessive. I suppose she somewhat fits the spot that a player character might have if they were a mage and there was a Kirin Tor faction. So far in five or so chapters I have written, she is mainly getting her arse kicked or acting as support. If you think she is over the top in later chapters, tell me, if I'm convinced your right, I'll probably go back and tone her abilities down.

The world is also AU, not because I'm planning on drastically changing things in Azeroth, but mainly because I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of the story, and don't want to have to write things I think are silly. Case in point, why wasn't Khadgar in the second expansion? He is basically indistinguishable from Rhonin as far as I can tell in terms of personality, well, maybe a bit more silly, and admittedly I haven't read the books. Rhonin's death also seemed contrived from what I read on the wiki; why didn't he tackle Jaina through the portal rather than pushing her? He didn't need to die at Theramore for it to be dramatic. And then Blizzard just needed to find another kooky mage man to run about for quests. Maybe I'm remembering it wrong. Oh well.

There are also some things which I feel are pretty fucked up in the game which are glossed over because the goodies do them, I'm not going to do that, they will be points of tension.

The story is going to follow cannon more or less in terms of order of events and broad outline, but the particulars are going to be different. In particular the warfare tactics in the game are just silly; there is no way a muscular person with a sword wouldn't get melted at fifty paces by someone who can set them on fire with their mind. I'll probably muck up the order of things at some point though, since I'm mainly working off memory of playing the game on and off for years.

I'm also sorry if Khadgar's puns are weak, I'm not very good at them myself.