A soft evening wind blew off the coast of Theramore. The sea breeze mixed the delicious fragrance of food cooking on a wood fire from the inn below with the calming scent of spindrift. Nights like these I often left my window open as I worked, the atmosphere is a pleasure for the senses and alights the imagination. It also allowed for adequate ventilation should an experiment go awry. And much experimentation there was, for this particular night I was on the edge of a breakthrough. For several weeks my labors outside of the mandatory curriculum set by the tower have been focused on a singular goal; the alchemical distillation of an all new compound. I sometimes worried that my personal ambitions got in the way of my schoolwork, but academic progress is an organic, evolving thing. Stimulation of the muse is just as necessary as the cerebral, and I took great pleasure in my alchemical hobby.

My little room was nestled on the ground floor of the mage tower of the great Lady Jaina Proudmoore. My window overlooked Theramore below, and although my quarters were cramped compared to most students, it was more than adequate for my needs. Besides, I was lucky to reside here at all. Blood Elves, even those with a human father, tend to be rejected by Alliance nobles. Theramore however was far more progressive than most and I found myself working beside not only humans but High Elves as well. It was a tenuous peace sometimes. Although academically I was a star pupil, my social accolades were almost nonexistent. My mentors never openly protested instructing a Blood Elf but my classmates more than once made me late for class, leaving me wandering the tower as some polymorphed sheep or frozen in place by frost oil on the floor. I took such things in stride, my education was too important to me and the atmosphere was still more pleasant than Silvermoon.

Beakers of liquid coalesced, bubbled, and smoked above tiny flames as I reviewed my notes and began a modification of the formula. The chemistry was difficult, reagents of this sort, even in a mage tower, were difficult to procure. The magical components were trivial by comparison but could not be neglected. And then there was the delivery mechanism. I'd befriended a gnomish mage named Bazzle Crimpnozzle last semester who dabbled in engineering, as gnomes are wont to do. At my behest he manufactured a modified delivery system that would combine two separate liquids at the time of application, as separation of the chemical and magical components was necessary for proper storage.

The compound in the beaker cleared from cloudy to clear, pure blue. I gently added it to the first chamber of the storage container, a long glass tube connected via a rubber hose to the spray device. The magical component prepared, I reached for my pestle and mortar, grinding my fresh concoction into another awaiting vial. The application from a few other beakers produced a plume of sweet smelling smoke, incomplete without the magical component but pleasant nonetheless. I was on the right track. Attaching the second vial to the first and securing the device to the top, I examined my handiwork. Pale blue and light yellow swirled in their respective containers, her favorite colors. The application device was plated silver to match her hair. Together it looked nearly perfect. Now, to test. I held my hand out and sprayed a dose on the inside of my wrist. The chemicals glowed softly in the dim candlelight, settling and producing a faint sheen that caught light like the enamel on a fine piece of ivory. Giving it a moment to breathe, I carefully wafted the scent towards my face. Fresh cut flowers, the breeze of the sea, and the almost imperceptible hint of organic compounds to mimic pheromones. It was a subtle but entrancing aroma. And, I thought to myself, she'd never find another quite like it.

Setting the perfume down I took a moment to marvel at my creation. I finished my recipe and set it aside in my notebook, then dug out a length of ribbon. Carefully I fashioned it into a bow, giving the present a more festive look. Yes, I thought, this was perfect. Now there was just the matter of… the letter. I rummaged under my bed for my seldom used stationary set my mother had given me for my birthday. It wasn't often I needed to write an important letter. I inked my pen and scrawled on the page:

"Dear Eris,

I wish you the happiest 18th birthday,"

I stared at the paper. A few minutes rolled on and I still had nothing more written. The production of the gift had preoccupied my mind for so long I'd forgotten the most critical step; the social catalyst. It was bad enough I couldn't muster the courage to speak to her, now I found myself unable to even pen her a simple letter of congratulations. Staring at one of my flickering burners I began to space out, then absently turned it off to conserve fuel. That's when I noticed the shadow of a figure standing behind me. Instantly I spun around to find myself looking at my sister, Jacqueline.

"GAH!" I shrieked, falling from the wooden chair.

"What'cha doing, Iggy?" she asked.

Picking myself I up I stared at her incredulously, "I should ask what you are doing in my dormitory, Jacqueline!?"

She took a seat next to the window on a stack of wooden boxes loaded with school texts. Her cloak was open, revealing the leather armor she'd put together when she left home. It was tight and left little to the imagination, but never restricted her movement. My older sister won in the genetic lottery, taking the lion's share of the looks from both mother and father. With long, blonde hair and a soft face, she was a tall and slender elf. Nonetheless she was curvier and more… voluptuous than other Blood Elves, traits she inherited from her human blood. I on the other hand was shorter, cursed with a slight frame, and had an altogether more fragile appearance. My lack of athleticism only compounded the gulf between us, and I found my dark brown hair mixed with my gaunt face gave me a harder expression than I usually intended. Needless to say, she'd flaunted these advantages over me since childhood. I had not seen my sister in some time, but I had no reason to believe that circumstances between us had changed.

Crossing her legs, she glanced around my living quarters, "Nice place, was this a storage closet they shoved you in?"

"Speak your piece," I said. It actually had been a storage closet.

"Settle down, Iggy. It's been too long since I've gotten a chance to visit my little brother." She picked up a notebook from one of my stacks, "What'cha been up to?"

"It's Ignatius," I replied. "It has always been Ignatius, and put that down!"

She slapped the book shut and threw it at me, "Alright, egghead."

The book hit my chest and exploded into loose-leaf paper. While I gathered my notes she stood and came towards my work bench. I saw her lift the present I had laying to the side, "For god's sake, Jacqueline, don't touch that!"

"What is it?"

"An experimental compound!" I said, trying to snatch it away. She was too fast for me and spritzed some on her wrist. The fragrance wafted through the air and she smiled a devilish grin.

"Aw, Iggy, do you have yourself a girlfriend?"

I didn't say anything. The last thing I wanted was her interfering with my social life. Any combination of Jacqueline and my social circles always ended in disaster and was no small contribution to my frequent sequestration during childhood. She picked up the unfinished letter and read it aloud.

"Eris hmm? Doesn't look like you've finished." She waved the page in front of me, "Who is she, a classmate I assume?"

"Give me that—oh nevermind," I said as she turned away. The only sure way to get Jacqueline to leave was to simply ignore her long enough that she got distracted or bored. As she looked it over I began with the disassembly of my alchemy set. Seeing I was disinterested in her fumbling with my personal life, she set the letter back down and pulled out a scroll from her cloak.

"What's this?" I asked.

"A letter from mother."

I regarded her strangely, "What about?"

Jacqueline shrugged, "Dunno, I can't read it."

"What do you mean you can't read it? Give me that," I said, taking it from her. The script was indeed mother's handwriting but it was enchanted. My eyes refused to focus on the words. A magical cipher would release the illusion but the fact mother even attempted to conceal her writing bode ill.

Jacqueline must have noticed my worried expression, "She put a lot of effort into making sure it was delivered unnoticed."

"I don't understand," I said, still gazing at the letter. "If she was going to use this arcane script why write you? Why not just have it delivered to me?"

"Two letters are easier to intercept than one," she replied. "And I can only assume she wants us both to read it."

"Right…"

"Can you release the spell?"

Before she'd even finished the sentence I was shoving papers and books aside on my workbench. I sprawled the paper before me and thumbed through a stack of my inscription notes, pulling out anything I thought would be relevant. Soon my desk was covered in magical ink, broken quills, and expended mana gems. My sister watched from behind me so closely at times I could see the glow from her eyes on the paper.

"Wow…" she said as I furiously unravelled the script.

Not looking up I muttered, "What?"

"Nothing, just… you really are an egghead."

I stared straight ahead and set my quill down. Then I turned to face her, "Do you want my help or not?"

In a flippant tone she replied, "Yes, yes, I'm sorry. Please, continue."

After about fifteen minutes more I had the message transcribed. Jacqueline crowded over my shoulder as I held it up to the light:

My dearest children,

I apologize for the secrecy of this letter but I needed to be certain my message was received in confidence. There is conspiracy in Silvermoon and I cannot trust this correspondence to be delivered safely through more traditional means.

Your father is missing. I have not spoken to him in two months at the time of this writing. Days before his departure he was absorbed in the work of the Order of the Silver Hand. I do not know what manner of quest they sent him on, but in the days leading up to his disappearance he was distraught like I have not seen in years. Naturally he refused to tell me the nature of his worry, you know your father, but I could feel the weight of it in his eyes. When he left Silvermoon he informed me he would write as soon as he returned to Stormwind. A week past and I heard nothing. I wrote the Cathedral and received no response. A month past and still nothing. I began petitioning the Blood Knights to arrange a visit to the Cathedral myself, thinking your father was off on one of his wild escapades, but I was stonewalled.

Returning home from my week-long petition in Farstrider Square I found our house ransacked. I do not know all that the thieves took but your fathers' journal along with letters from both of you were missing. I've gone into hiding and while the conditions are abysmal I can assure you I am in no immediate danger. Ignatius, I advise you to stay in Theramore. It is likely the best place for you to be considering Alliance and Horde politics. Be safe and continue your studies. Jacqueline, you have proven yourself to be resourceful and independent in the past. I do not know what forces are at work here but I advise you to seek out whatever hiding places you can. Your tendency to steal your father's moniker will likely draw some unwanted attention, and in spite of what you may think you are not your father.

I love you both and pray every day that the Light keeps you safe. Walk in the sun, my children, but tread lightly. I will be in contact again as soon as it is safe to do so.

Your loving mother,

Lysandra

I put the letter down on the desk and found myself hyperventilating. Father missing? Mother in hiding? Our home, destroyed? Thoughts raced through my head as Jacqueline paced behind me. A thousand possibilities clashed against each other in my mind. Father had a long, colorful history and made more than his fair share of enemies. I always suspected they would one day get the better of him, but that they would go so far as to attack his family after he was already gone seemed odd. This was not some rogue individual with a vendetta, it was as mother said, a conspiracy.

Jacqueline tapped her foot, a gloved hand covering her mouth in pensive thought. "This is weird, Iggy. Why would someone kidnap daddy?"

"Who said anything about kidnapping?" I replied. "For all we know father could be floating at the bottom of the Stormwind canal wearing a pair of cement shoes."

She smacked the back of my head and I recoiled away. "You know damn well daddy would never go down like that."

"OW!" I rubbed the sore spot on my head and grimaced.

"If this was murder, mother would be dead too and the house would probably be burned to the ground." She seemed rather sure of that fact and I decided not to ask how such information was acquired. "There's too many loose ends here. Someone was looking for something, Iggy, and whatever it was was in daddy's journal."

"Or in one of our letters. Or maybe they didn't find anything," I said.

"Possibly. Either way, the fact that mother was kept in the dark so long means they were buying for time, and the break-in means they needed something of his. He's still alive, Iggy."

I shook my head, it was all conjecture but wasn't worth another rap on the skull for arguing. "Well, whatever the case, I guess I'll stay put."

My sister looked like she was about to burst, "What do you mean stay put!? We have to find daddy!"

"Didn't you read what mother said? She wants us to lay low, and that's exactly what I'm going to do."

"You always were a momma's boy," she replied, poking me in the chest, "When are you going to grow up?"

"I have, Jacqueline, and that's why I'm staying here. The question is when will you grow up?" I began putting away my notes, "I applied myself and now this place is like a second home to me. You on the other hand ran away from the only one that loved you."

"Hmph, you think you're welcome here? They stuffed you in a closet."

I shot her a keen look, "Like I said, it reminds me of home."

She glanced out the window, fingers twitching impatiently, "Well it seems neither of us have a home anymore. I have the road and you have a cupboard you call a dormitory."

"It serves my purposes."

"Damn it, Iggy!" Grabbing the windowsill she leaned against it, "How can you just sit here? Mother is on the run and father is in danger!"

Standing to meet her gaze I said, "Did it not occur to you that the powers behind this are a little beyond our abilities? They bested both our parents and we know nothing of who they are nor their motivations. Our best course of action is to sit and wait."

Jacqueline's face tightened, then she let out a deep breath. "I didn't want to have to do this, Iggy." She walked towards my workbench and in a flash snatched the perfume. "But if you aren't going to help me, I'll have to make you."

"What are you doing, put that back."

"Nuh-uh, not unless you come with me to Silvermoon."

My heart started pounding in my chest. Silvermoon was the last place either of us should be going at a time like this, but that wasn't what bothered me. It took me nearly a month to acquire the ingredients for that present. "Jacqueline, give that to me."

She stuffed it in her cloak, "I'm sure I'll be able to fence it for a good price. It is a fine perfume, should fetch at least a few gold in the right tavern."

I glared at her, hard and fierce. I couldn't do anything to her or risk breaking the bottle, but at the same time I couldn't just let Jacqueline walk off with it. My work, months of research and preparation, stolen right in front of me by my own sister. I had no reason to doubt her motives, if I didn't escort her to Silvermoon it was likely to be sold by the end of the night. Gradually my anger fell into resignation. Between all the tumultuous emotions of the night my face must have looked particularly tragic, because as I reached for my travelling gear she said, "Don't worry, Iggy. I'll make it up to you."

I refused to respond as I put on my cloak and took up my quarterstaff. Reaching in my pocket I produced a rune of portals and began the incantation to take us to Silvermoon City. Jacqueline crossed her arms and waited expectantly as a bright, shining, magical window engulfed the center of my small room. Let's just make this fast, I thought to myself. Once the magical barriers stabilized I nodded and we walked through.