A smoldering fire flared engulfing the target dummy, it's flames flickered and spat showering scorching sparks to the ground that melted into the earth. Searing heat so hot that the shielding spell protecting the object from harm began to fail in front of me. I watched in awe at what I'd created, the blaze dancing in my eyes and it's heat baking my skin. Purple-blue light warped and fizzled before finally dissolving into nothingness, the shield collapsed, and the fire ravaged on like a starved dragon lapping up it's prey at its newly exposed target.

Antonidas stood aways behind me, his expression unknown as I gawked at the spell reducing the dummy to nothing but ash. Minutes passed listening to the sporadic sounds of crackling, pops, and the occasional roar of fire fed by the wind, and then something new joined the noise. A rustling of robes and a very familiar clack of a staff meeting the paved floor.

At last the Archmage spoke, his voice breaking the hypnotic dance of flames. "Good, good," He praised, clearing his throat, "now that's enough, please do the honors of icing it before it catches onto something else."

I glanced at him, mouth agape still thoroughly shocked that I was able to conjure such destruction from my delicate hands. He chuckled a little to himself and helped close my mouth for me with his fingertips, and nodded in direction to the fire.

"Go on…"

Blinking away my stare I quickly cast a cone of cold, a giant wave of ice and snow that crashed completely drowning the dummy. Orange hues that pulsated wildly one moment were instantly replaced with that of the yellow-white rays of the afternoon sun. Standing stock still, my hand still outstretched in front of me from unleashing the spell, I hadn't noticed that my mentor had approached the frozen remains. He considered it for a short moment and then poked at the chunk of ice with his staff.

"What is it?" I said, drawing back my hand and holding it to my chest. All of a sudden I felt self concious, and I swallowed nervously. "Was that okay? I didn't expect that to happen at all! It just, It just flew out of my palm and then...boom!"

Antonidas barked out a laugh, which made me all the more anxious. "Never had I thought you to be inarticulate when describing the events that have just taken place here Jaina." He raised his bushy brows, the corners of his mouth curling into an amused smile, "That was remarkable."

I was at a loss for words. "I-It-It was?" I couldn't help but stutter.

"Oh yes," Antonidas said, now circling me, his words surrounding me like a comforting blanket, "It appears you're not only adept in the arts arcane magics, but that of the elements too. This is truly outstanding. Marvelous! Not only do you have talent, you work damn hard on it too, and it's not often that a person puts those two things together. Someone with talent often neglects it, and someone without doesn't even try." He stopped in front of me looking at me with such affection in his eyes I felt safe, cocooned by his appreciation. The staff he held vanished before me and he took hold of both my shoulders, squeezing. "You have done me proud Lady jaina. Yet again well done."

Happiness burst within me that I couldn't help but smile, although shy at the compliments I received I was elated, buoyant. I felt untouchable in that moment. All my hard work was finally paying off. All those sleepless nights, all that back and forth running around with scrolls, tomes and priceless artifacts. I'd finally managed to prove that I was more than capable to put all that studying into action, into life. I could protect and I could serve. I wasn't that someone that could just perform party tricks.

"Thank you Archmage...It means a lot to have you say those things."

"And I mean it." His smile widened and he exhaled, relaxing. "You've proven yourself child." Antonidas moved away, his staff flaking back into existence nestling into his palm. I stared at his back and waited, I hadn't been dismissed.

"You know I have heard news that will interest you."

"Oh?" I said, my interest piqued. "What is it? Is it about the Orcs? What of the Elven-Rangers?" My brow arched in question, my demeanor eager.

He spoke of the war. News had spread across the lands that these Orcish creatures had somehow captured and enslaved the great red dragonflight. They the ones that were causing the Quel'Thalas fires. The dragon queen herself shackled and used to breed, her clutches forced into being mighty war mounts for the brutish horde, her children with no choice but to help spread fear amongst the people.

It horrified me and saddened me that such wise-old majestic creatures were being used for harm. These powerful beings forced to succumb to such dreadful deeds of slaughter. I had wanted to help but Antonidas had placated me.

"A student has no place in war. Your interference would cause more harm than good."

Those words hurt me, but I understood after a time. I was young and rash and did things without much thought when emotionally driven, as did many young people. With the war raging on and information coming to me in drabs. I was disheartened until the day I approached my mentor with a question.

"How do you know so much about what's going on outside of Dalaran when you are busy with teaching me and few others the art of magic? Surly most of your time is spent going over parchment and how we handle these incantations?"

Antonidas smiled fondly as he always did and revealed something that shocked me. I shouldn't of been all that surprised, but I was slightly taken aback.

"I haven't been entirely honest with you…" He had muttered, now sitting beside me at my desk, his eyes trained on me, a worried look on his face.

He told me the other pressing matters for sending me away that day all those months ago. The day he'd pushed me through a portal to Arthas. I wasn't upset that he'd been dishonest, just curious. Afterall I had needed the break, and without that break I'd of never of met Sylvanas…

He'd admitted that he'd been summoned to a summit on behalf of the council of six, pledging his loyalty to the Alliance on Dalarans behalf.

"Do not repeat this child, for it is a sensitive matter. Yes news will spread and the people will find out as they always do, but this isn't your concern and you shall not worry about it." Antonidas had said with a steely resolve.

I'd been persistent in my asking. What was happening? Who else were aligned? And why were the people of Dalaran so calm when the enemy was slaughtering a good chunk of their race population? Antonidas grumbled something about the city being a safe hub for all those magically inclined. Those particulars secure within these walls.

Later he divulged that the High Elves had also joined the Alliance, they too were helping rid of these foul green beasts wanting nothing more than to free their lands from the monstrosities that called themselves Orcs. My body buzzed alert at this and motivation gripped me.

Sylvanas was with the humans, the mastermind behind all these clever tactics.

All this new information spurred me on. I wanted to get better. Use all this knowledge for good and use it to help stop the fight. If these abilities I learned could help I would wholeheartedly put myself out there if it would save lives. And then, one day I could walk the same path as the proud Ranger-General and perhaps get to know her more. Maybe If I were more self esteemed, and not just a household name, but a strong powerful mage she'd take more notice.

The next words uttered out of the Archmages mouth had me gape. I was utterly astonished and invigorated all at once. My eyes wide with surprise.

"The Alliance have won, The High Elves had successfully sandwiched the Orcs forcing them to retreat."

Finally they were abandoning Quel'thalas. Finally Sylvanas was safe and moving back to normal duty within her lands.

Or was she? I had to know.

I was busy stuffing my pack with books and various other items when I asked, "Are the High-Elves returning to their city? Have you heard of the Ranger-General-"

"Sylvanas?"

I blushed furiously, my face hot, "Uhm, yes Sylvanas. Have you heard about her?"

Antonidas looked me over as I continued to mindlessly bind scrolls, piling them up to the side of my desk, my pack momentarily forgotten. I was keeping my fingers busy. I couldn't talk about her just standing idly still, I had to fidget. Was it nerves?

"Have I heard? Well of course I have she is rather famous didn't you know."

Oh I knew, I just liked to talk about her. It made my heart swell.

"Her family so prominent that they have a village named after them."

"They do?" I said breathlessly, my eyes wide and sparkling with interest, "I mean, yes I knew that. Isn't she lovely…?" I mumbled, stopping what I was doing, my hands halting mid-air, a silly smile on my face.

Antonidas studied me for a moment, my aura changed from hectic and bustling to that of a serene calm. "I consider all High Elves to be lovely. They're beautiful beings after all, none of them suffer aging like we humans do. They are lucky to be able to grow old gracefully, forever radiant and..." He narrowed his eyes at me, I was daydreaming and he knew it. "Jaina?... Oh Jaina?" He lifted his staff and without warning poked at my chest with enough force to knock me back a step or two and out of my stupor.

Flustered that he'd just witnessed me lost in my imaginations, I cleared my throat and went back to binding with numb fingers sliding scrolls into my pack.

"You're rather taken by her aren't you?" Antonidas said, mirth shining in his eyes.

My packing actions became more rushed, and exaggerated, my face so red and hot that I could literally feel steam blowing from my ears. I ducked my head avoiding my mentors keen observation wanting nothing more than to become small and hide in this bag full of scrolls.

"I er, she's very talented and skilled as a Ranger, She.." I coughed, stumbling over each word in a hesitated rush, "She helped win the war, everybody loves her and she's respected by not just her people but ours too." I waffled on, my chin now firmly glued to my chest still avoiding the Archmages attentive stare. The bag I held out in front of me suddenly became the most interesting thing in the world.

I wish I could place this over my head and pretend that this wasn't happening.

A loud guffaw exploded from the Archmage successfully jarring me out of my musings. I looked up from my desk to see Antonidas clutching at his waist, doubled over with laughter. Not once had I heard, or seen him so Jubilant that I frowned with concern.

"Archma-?"

"You better keep this to yourself you know." He said mid chuckle, now looking back at me, "Arthas would be raging with jealousy if he knew you'd taken a liking to someone else, and that someone else not only a woman but a High Elf woman at that?" Antonidas calmed, catching his breath, his grin wide, "You're growing in more ways than one Jaina."

Choking, I was choking struggling to form words. Speechless was the understatement of the century. I dropped heavily into the chair behind me, defeated. My body couldn't cope with the embarrassment any longer so I shut down instead.

"Now now there's no need to close up like that Jaina, It's only natural that someone of your age to like someone, to look up to them..."

"I'm not a child anymore!" I managed to shout, crossing my arms tightly over my chest in a feeble attempt at protecting what dignity I had left.

"I too used to take a fancy in the High Elves." He said nonchalantly, "It was a very long time ago but they're wonderful aren't they?"

I didn't want to hear it. This was all too much. "Please can we stop talking about this...I can't," I said in a whisper, all the energy I had that day completely zapped from me. I was beat. "Can't we just continue with my studies as if this never happened?"

He could see the defeat in my eyes and his expression went from that of teasing to understanding in a matter of seconds. He approached me with a smile.

"You're a wonderful student, Jaina and I am so very happy to be teaching you, but perhaps now it's time to practise your newfound skills outside of the city. Get some experience under your belt. Perhaps send you off into a certain woodland where you met certain lady all those months ago."

I sat bolt upright instantly alert, "How did you?"

"I have my ways, Jaina now don't question me about it when you have work to do."

"I do?" I said, puzzled.

"Goodness, you're full of complex words today aren't you. Now go and pack the rest of this mess," He said gesturing to the jumble on my desk, "and we will organise this quest in the morning."

A quest? Into the woods? Sylvanas?

Instantly jumping at the chance to see here again I went back to work with renewed vigor. Antonidas left shortly after to organise some leave for me and get the particulars sorted for my first official pursuit.

I was about to embark on journey meant only for me. I was excited, thrilled, nervous, and after finally clearing my desk and teleporting the bags I became shy. Leaning heavily on my hands that rested upon the desk I bit my lip in nervous anticipation.

I was ready, finally ready to find her. I just hoped while on my adventure I would see her again and be able to congratulate her on her victories, and then maybe, just maybe become more than an acquaintance.