"Just a little… my name is… I am… I was a blood elf… Am I to suffer?... When do I stop being the end of the joke? Cease this madness! So perfect; a perfect vessel! I will burn my suffering into your soul! Why did you run? No! How did you get here?! I don't just care for myself! Stay with me! I've already given you some magic. I'll not lose you as I lost my… old… friends. Don't go! Damn it! Aaah, nothing makes the day go faster. Is this all I am? My power… my greed… my lust."
Chapter 1: Sculpting a perfect love
"Just a little to the left." Ranilok slowly and accurately manipulated a piece of a large set of Itjahzi crystals.
Itjahzi crystals were a sort of ore from the nerubian kingdom of Nerub'Itjahz in Northrend. The kingdom existed below the Great Dragonblight, and as the magic of dying dragons seeped into the ground, it coalesced into the crystals. Nerubians in the kingdom used the crystals for enchantments, lighting, attacking; the very lifestyle of the nerubians in the colony revolved around the possession of the crystals.
Ranilok had made several trips to Nerub'Itjahz; as a mage, the magic within the crystals appealed to him. It was not his privilege to possess the crystals; he was not a nerubian. Being a tailor, however, it was his privilege to make bags that held seemingly endless amounts.
Greed compelled Ranilok; he had stolen nearly an entire vault of the crystals in what appeared to be a small change purse on his last visit. Although the nerubians had tolerated his presence in the name of one of his companions, this act had gained him their eternal hatred. Every selfless deed that the elf had performed was washed away by his lust for power.
In the end, it was all in pursuit of her. The culmination of his greed was a woman whose heart belonged to someone else; his best and only friend at the time. Her name was Arisia; a high elf from the same town as he. Though he had considered her plain and inward turned when he left to adventure on the icy continent, he saw her as the fairest and bravest of the women he had known by the time he had reached Nerub'Itjahz with her and several companions. His friend, Methuselah, was a human, which made him even more confused and angry when Arisia chose Methuselah over him. Even after he was selfless enough to return to Northrend and search for Methuselah, he still held the ulterior motive of finding more crystals. People liked him when he gave them crystals; the little items made him so powerful. Methuselah had potentially sacrificed himself to save Ranilok and Arisia, but Ranilok still tried his best to keep the lovers apart in hopes that one day Arisia might fall for him instead. Even after Methuselah had died and been reborn as the undead, Maldelic, he still searched for his love. Despite Ranilok's attempts, he failed miserably at keeping them apart.
Maldelic had once said to Ranilok, as he threatened the blood elf's life unless the blood elf would release the location of Arisia to him, 'How about you make a woman out of Itjahzi crystals? Dark lady knows it would fit your personality and you probably have enough of those things to do it.'. Sharply insulted, Ranilok still hoped that Arisia would reject Maldelic for being undead. Through the power of the dragons that had once hurt Ranilok for his unending love of magic, Maldelic was cured of his undeath and turned into the blood elf Mithelidan by that same magic. In Ranilok's view, Methuselah had now completely usurped him. For so long he believed that perhaps Arisia just liked humans more, but now she loved a blood elf even though his soul was the same soul of her human lover. Ranilok would never find a place at her side.
"No longer!" Ranilok proclaimed as he stepped back from his work for a moment. "It is my destiny to not be alone! The world will no longer keep me from my destiny!"
The final touches were all that remained on Ranilok's creation. In making it, he had consumed nearly a quarter of his supply of Itjahzi crystals. Being the only blood elf that had been to Nerub'Itjahz, he was the source of a limited amount of Itjahzi crystals that some of the grandest magistrates of Silvermoon possessed. The magic of the crystals was eternal, so the mages and magistrates that owned an Itjahzi crystal were able to halt their slow descent down the demonic path of a blood elf. The 'discovery' of Itjahzi crystals had gained Ranilok a presence in Silvermoon and a position as a researcher in the Sunspire. Unfortunately, it was that presence in his opinion that drew Maldelic to him and ultimately caused him to lose Arisia. He was no longer welcome in Silvermoon now; he had stopped giving out crystals when he began to work on the creation that was now nearing completion. Having relocated to a small house in the mountains northwest of Tranquillen and inside the Runestone border, he worked day and night to perfect his project.
"You'll be perfect, better than Arisia ever could be." Ranilok reassured himself as he used his vast knowledge of the arcane to manipulate the figure that stood on a pedestal in the center of his home.
To any bystander, the figure looked like a deep sapphire statue of a female elf. The magistrates of Silvermoon would have objected because the statue was naked, but such art styles were becoming more accepted in such a progressive day and age. It was truly a movement for elf society to ally themselves with trolls and orcs. To Ranilok, the statue was so much more; an embodiment of his destiny. He would become god-like in his mind, someone that created life as the titans had in the lore of Uldaman.
A knock came to the door, causing Ranilok to smudge the piece he was working on. Cursing the fates for having someone disturb him, he quickly covered the statue with a large muslin blanket. Opening the door, half expecting to find a disgruntled magistrate looking for a tiny bit of crystal, Ranilok was met by the cheery face of Lily, the girl who delivered food to his house.
Trying to change from a grimace of the smudge to a smile for the elf girl, Ranilok spoke quickly. "Oh… is it that time of the week already? I'd lost track."
"Yes, sir, your order is larger this time. It took me a bit longer to get it here actually." Lily looked down with regret.
"Rightly so, your pay will be larger to reflect the delivered goods." Ranilok paid the girl, wanting to return to his work.
"May I ask why?" Lily inquired, knowing one person could not eat that much food in a week.
"I'm sorry, but you may not." Ranilok began to close the door.
"Oh no, I apologize, go with the…" the she-elf was met quickly with the door before she could finish her sentence. "…sun." Frowning at her part-time employer seeming so irked, she left and hoped he would be better the next week.
Rushing back to the statue, Ranilok corrected the mistake that he had made and continued to work. He admired every part of the statue, more than he could even admire himself in the mirror. He wondered if this was love, considering if all creators loved their creations; did the titans love the earthen? Before he could think for too long, the door was disturbed again by a heavy knocking, a panting noise came from outside. Heading to the door again, Ranilok was met by the frightful sight of a wretched. The horrid beast stood before him and stared at him with hollow and mana-hungry eyes.
"You… I've found you. You're the one that has the crystals! Aghaghaghaghagh." The wretched made a sort of excited hacking cough.
"Magistrate Vel'Jonnesy?" Ranilok was thoroughly taken aback by the sight of the elf that had succumbed to the madness of magical addiction.
"They called me that once… now they call me slime. Give me what I want!" Jonnesy demanded.
"And what is that, slime?" Ranilok stepped back slightly.
"I s… said the crystals! Aghaghaghaghhh. At least give me some arcane powder. You know we are the same, you just have a crystal! Give me a crystal! I could get better from this… from what I've become." The wretched begged.
"Fine, I'll give you some magic." Ranilok waved his hands.
Eyes lighting up like a young child, the wretched spoke joyfully. "You will? Please let it be an Itjahzi crystal!"
"I've already given you some magic… I think you'll like it." Ranilok alluded as he shut the door in the beast's face.
"Where? Where, gracious master? I don't see it!" the wretched looked around and saw smoke. Noticing that he was on fire, he screamed. "Someone put it out! Put it out! Aghaghaghagh" he ran around wildly before expiring off to the side of the path, burned to a husk.
Ranilok looked out of the window and chuckled. He almost pitied the wretched, but not really. "Fool, you cannot match the might of the blood elves." The mage congratulated himself as he felt a small twinge in the back of his neck. Taking out a case from his robes, Ranilok rolled up a piece of parchment and sniffed up a small line of arcane powder from the case. "Aaaah. Nothing makes the day go faster."
Before an hour had passed, a third distraction came. Ranilok took the time to cover the statue this time and hoped that it was not another wretched at the door.
As the door swung open, Ranilok had to look downward to greet the guest. "Aaah, Gevran! You've made it!" The elf exclaimed.
"Aye, not easily, sonny." The dwarf that had come to visit held up a bag of scrolls. "These are the diagrams ye wanted. We dinnae need em anymore in Aerie Peak now that ye gone and joined the horde."
"Good, Good." Ranilok ignored the comment on the horde. "Here's the pay for your trouble." Ranilok handed a large bag of coins to the dwarf just as he had to the delivery girl.
"Aren't ye gonna invite me in, sonny? Ye took enough lengths tae deliver that letter. Nae one hae contacted me since ae left Arisia about five years ago." Gevran nearly had to stick his foot in the door to halt its closing.
"I suppose." Ranilok let the door loose and stowed the diagrams in his personal chest, locking it before he returned and set food and drink out for Gevran.
"It's hard tae get intae Quel'thalas this far naedays. All the blood elves feelin betrayed by the alliance an such. Ye be lucky that ae got 'ere in one piece, sae it only be fittin that we sit down tae eat an drink. Ae dinnae come out here tae turn right around." Gevran explained.
"Well, yes. I suppose I've just been absorbed in my work. I was on a roll of sorts. Perhaps I am destined to not finish today; I've been disturbed twice already." Ranilok lamented.
"Ae hope this disturbin wae worth it. Nae what ye doin with elf medical scrolls? Tae sketches in thar be fer physicians… nae even we priests use things like that." Gevran questioned.
"I'd really prefer not to talk about it." Ranilok tried to ward the dwarf off.
Leaning in as if it was a private discussion in a public place, Gevran whispered. "Ye be sick? Ae swear ae can cure any disease ye may have."
Shaking his head vehemently, Ranilok shrugged it off. "No, I'm not sick."
"Then whit could it be?" Gevran wanted to know so much that he ignored Ranilok's wish not to speak of it.
"You know, Methuselah survived… sort of." Ranilok changed the subject, as uncomfortable as he was with talking about Methuselah.
"Really?" Gevran leaned forwards again excitedly. "How'd he manage that?"
Almost in a trance thinking of his own defeat concerning Arisia, Ranilok continued. "He's a blood elf now; Mithelidan. He died and was undead for a while… then Malygos remade him as an elf."
"Nae that's ae wonder tae see. Aet only makes sense, nae Arisia won't be outlivin' him. Can ye tell me where he lives?" Gevran asked.
"Out on the coast. You shouldn't have much trouble finding him or reaching him." Ranilok hoped that the announcement would draw Gevran to leave the house.
"Ae'll have tae gae see 'em. Nae what about those diagrams?" Gevran easily got back on topic.
"Do we really have to talk about those?" Ranilok stressed, annoyed that his ploy hadn't worked.
"What's the big deal on em? We been through Northrend maer than once, what could be worse than what we hae seen there?" Gevran pried, trying to trivialize the matter.
"Fine… I'll let you know. You must promise not to object to it." Ranilok got up and headed towards the muslin sheet. Perhaps he could gain an ally in doing this.
"Aye, Ae'll try." Gevran took a deep drink, preparing for the worst.
Unveiling the statue, Ranilok stepped back reverently. Gevran had been one of the five that had survived the destruction of the Northrend caravan along with Ranilok, Methuselah at the time, and Arisia. He had been to Nerub'Itjahz with them and so he easily recognized that the statue was made of Itjahzi crystals. The dwarf was astounded by the quality and scale of the work.
"Where did ye get all those Itjahzi crystals, sonny? Neru'Rekan had em off limits." Gevran said slowly. Neru'Rekan was the nerubian who had so graciously allowed them into Nerub'Itjahz during their journey.
Taking a moment to formulate a response, Ranilok tried to smooth the question over. "I've found my ways to gain them."
"So ye stole em, ok. But why gae inta such detail as internal makings on that thing? Thae scrolls have this thing thae physicians call anatomy on em. Ae never believed in em maeself; thae light heals all.
"I take pride in my work. I take pride that I can make something so lifelike, so perfect. She'll be my joy, and my destiny." Ranilok spoke of the wonders of his creation.
Realizing what Ranilok was getting at, Gevran's face filled with dread. "Ranilok… ye're trying tae mess with things beyond us. Ye dun know what ye're getting into."
"And you said you wouldn't object to it. If you are going to try to separate me from my destiny, then I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Ranilok turned away from his 'friend' and looked at the statue.
"This isn't fate, aet's madness! We aren't meant tae meddle in such things." Gevran warned Ranilok once more.
"I suppose friendships are only as deep as actions then." Ranilok called their friendship into question.
"Ae's wasn't going tae bring thaet up. Are ye trying tae put off everyone ye ever knew in persuit ae dis madness?" Gevran looked down sadly as he headed for the door.
"In the times to come, people will either be my ally or my enemy. If you can't see what I see, then you are no longer welcome in our life… the life I will share with her." Ranilok spoke with reference to the statue.
Turning his head towards Ranilok with regret, Gevran crossed the threshold and said his goodbyes. "Ae'm sorry that ae gave ye those scrolls; ae want nae part in this madness. Perhaps if ye lose enough friends ye'll learn something. Ye won't be seein me around 'ere any longer."
"I don't care. All I need is her… all I want is her." Ranilok closed the door quickly behind the dwarf. "Now… back to work!" the elf barred the door and fetched the medical diagrams.
Using the most microscopic movements of magic, Ranilok changed the crystal to mimic the inner tissues and organs of an elf. He had worked for so long that his skill was not to be doubted. Every detail had to be perfect; not just correct. In his eyes, a great divide separated the two states. Often, he imagined what his life might soon be like; the aspect that would change with triumphantly taking on another.
"Now this… is truly perfection!" Ranilok complemented himself as he began to cast spells to make the positions of the crystals permanent. It was dark outside now, the magic made blue and purple lights radiate from the windows. "Every curve, every strand of hair."
The crystals joined easily into the solid structure that he desired; the greatest artists would call it beyond them and even mountain giants would be unable to shatter the crystalline construct.
Ranilok pondered as he looked over his work. "Now how will I introduce myself." He thought aloud. "'Hi… my name is Ranilok' No no no, that's too simple. 'Hello, m'lady. I am the magnificent blood elf, Ranilok. It is I who have brought you into this world.' No, too bravado. 'Greetings… my love… I am Ranilok, and I am your creator.' Yes, that might work."
Deciding not to wait any longer, Ranilok went to the door and checked to make sure it was still securely barred. Looking up at the statue of the woman that he had created, he removed a few more Ithahzi crystals from his bag and began to channel their power into the statue. The room filled with a light matching the eerie blue color of the crystals; it looked much like the lighting in Nerub'Itjahz.
"The power of the crystals when returned to their raw magical form is unsurpassed." Ranilok mused. "I'll give you their power… the power of the dragonflights!"
Ranilok continued to channel for some time, diluting the crystals into the statue. The process of unpacking so much magic took several hours, but he kept at it ardently, not even taking a bit of it for himself. He kept reciting to himself as he drained crystal after crystal 'more energy… she just needs more energy'. As he neared the end of draining a crystal from the handful he had drawn out, what he had waited for suddenly happened. A massive arcane explosion shook the house and blew Ranilok back on to his bed. The elf quickly righted himself and rushed to see that his love was ok. The arms had moved from the posed position to a slumped position as the statue shook on the pedestal.
"What is this? This doesn't agree with my scenario!" Ranilok spoke in an exasperated fashion, but quickly moved and caught the statue as it fell forwards from the pedestal.
The figure was lifeless, but its skin had become flexible and true; as if real tissue and muscles had replaced the crystal… or the crystal had become them. The feel of the soft skin, despite its deep ocean blue color, entranced Ranilok. Even though the crystals had great weight, the figure that Ranilok now held weighed no more than a real woman. With great care, Ranilok placed the figure on his bed and checked to see if it was breathing. The woman was not breathing or moving, but Ranilok could tell that his creation was not dead; it was incomplete. After being distracted by the fact that the statue was not clothed and was extremely lifelike in every way, he tried to consider what went wrong.
"Everything is so perfect… a true body. What is missing?" Ranilok looked to the female figure on the bed. "I am sure I could do something."
Using his power, Ranilok slowly made the arm of the body levitate. "Ah-ha, there is something." Slowly, Ranilok stepped back from the bed and made the figure stand and move. "Now we're getting somewhere."
Ranilok made the figure dance around the room, however its eyes and mouth remained shut and unmovable; as if it were in a deep sleep. Ranilok's task would not be easy; whatever secrets this new life-form held were locked as deep as the mystery of why it even lived in the first place.