Came across the biggest building I could find and the first blood elf I came across looked at me in surprise. "We weren't expecting newcomers, where did you come from?" She asked.

I tried to gather my thoughts and I guessed being thrown overboard was not a regular occurrence, "I was recruited in Shattrath City to join ze 'orde, to take back ze Isle of Quel'Danas."

She looked at me questionably, "You speak Orcish, your accent is still pretty thick though."

I shrugged, "I just started learning yesterday."

She shrugged, "Well you already bypassed the hardest part of being in the Horde. I take it you hold no ill feeling towards the orcs for past transgressions?"

I shrugged, "One pushed me out of a boat a few hours ago, but I only laid my eyes on them a few days ago, and I have no idea why we've been enemies?"

She gasped slightly, "Oh so that's how you got here, and that explains the smell as well. And why you were sent here with no weapons or armor. What was your name?"

"Perfectia Dawnlight. I'm a paladin because I can heal wounds and I know how to use a sword. Well wooden swords, and I was told I need to unlearn my fencing techniques."

"So, you actually don't know anything?"

I shrugged slightly, "Uh, no. I guess not."

She sighed, "I can give you some food and a hand-me-down iron sword but if you want anything else you're going to have to pay for it and that includes training."

I was excited to hear that, "That what I came ere for, I'm ready to do whatever it takes for ze Horde."

She held up her hand in defense, "We're not part of the Horde yet. Since the destruction of the Sunwell by Arthas and the Scourge, we been a race on a sea of uncertainty, but you can learn and aid our recovery at the same time."

I hugged her at the thought of this news but heard her make a grunt of pain, "Oh you smell awful." I heard her say under weighted breath.

"Oh sorry, um… what was your name?"

"Magistrix Erona or just Erona, I will also give you this soap and there's a pond with fresh water just-."

"Yeah, I know where it is." I interrupted, "I used to go to school 'ere."

"Good because the sooner you start your education-" I kind got lost in what she was saying. I hope she knew that I had just started learning Orcish yesterday. She had blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, green eyes, red and dark blue robes or maybe it was a dress, with yellow decretive embroideries.

"It's zat a robe or a dress?" I asked.

She looked at me clearly annoyed, "Did you hear anything I just said?"

"Uh…" I was drawing a blank.

She sighed, "Just ask people around here what they need you to do, and they should give you enough money and clothes to travel out of here."

I nodded, "Okay, so you wanted me to…?"

"Kill some mana worms, jeeze, and don't hug people, it's weird." She handed me a backpack from a number of others with a slightly rusted board sword protruding out of the opening, and she dropped a square bar of soap in the bag.

I looked directly behind me and I saw a about two of them and as I got closer I noticed the education gazebo where I would listen to lessons was infested with these flying worms. At first glance I would have thought they were beautiful; they had this way of moving like eels through the air and it seemed like a strong wind could blow them away, but 20 or more was a little disturbing. I decided I would go after some of the stragglers and as I got closer, the worm seemed to have no heft or lift. It moved about as if it were light as air. I decided a full blown two handed swing should dissipate the worms form, the first strike seem to enrage it and it's gaseous form crystalized into a glass like substance and bit at me with it's teeth. I blocked its attack with my arm but it still cut me drawing blood. My fight with the worm was mostly defensive pain convulsion attacks as I tried to stop the worm from biting me. So, my first fight didn't go as well as I thought. The wounds I received seemed like I was attacked by a rabid cat.

I focused on my healing magic and the stinging cuts dissipated and I was back at 100% but my mind still remembered the pain. The next one turned out a little bit better but this time with a little bit more yelling, I had to acknowledge that these things were dangerous. I was a little more defensive and I got bit in the back mostly as I tried to shield myself. Third time, I had a plan, stick and move, and that didn't work as well as I planned. I sticked, moved, and eventually I was running away screaming as I was scratched and bitten in the back, I managed to catch this mana worm in my grip and pinned it to the floor and stomped on it until it died. I healed myself again, but I felt I was becoming more and more traumatized by the pain, fear, and panic as I looked at the dozens of mana worms that were infesting the gazebo.

I walked back to Magistrix Erona, "Okay zhat was some mana worms."

She laughed slightly, "You need to kill 8 before you receive a reward."

"Seriously?! I could barely kill tree, I'm not even 'alfway done?"

"Don't you have another ability?" She asked.

"No. I told you I could only 'eal wounds and use a sword."

"I'll teach her." Another male blonde blood elf came out in red chain mail of the building Erona was standing outside of, "Free of charge, seeing Erona had been laughing at you for the past ten minutes."

He gestured me to follow him, and we went into a circular room with a dining table in the center, "Okay." He started, "You know how you've been casting healing spells on yourself?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

"Well try doing that to your sword."

I focused and pretended that this iron sword was a wounded animal, and surprisingly these glowing yellow symbols showed up on my forearms instantly. "Odd." I said as I looked at them, "ow long to zhey-"They disappeared, "Oh zhere gone."

He nodded as he noticed, "Yeah about 30 seconds, you're going to have to cast that on yourself a few times while you're in combat."

I wouldn't say that I felt newfound strength as I cast this spell on myself a few times. I guess it was just pretty to look at. I looked at him, "Any-zing else?" I asked.

He shrugged, "Yes, but you're going to have to pay for it. Just finish a few more jobs and will see from there."

I walked outside and instead of slight terror when I saw the mana worms, I was more curious. I knew that they were mostly idle unless provoked and for a few seconds they were completely still. I remembered something. Feet square, knees slightly bent, hands on top of each other, sword behind head. Move the tip of the sword in a slight circle to bring it in motion, move front foot forward to emphasize timing, bring front shoulder down lower, to create an access that I can swing around so when I got to the point of contact my shoulders would switch. The Town Ball swing, there was more to it, but my head and hand are hurting from writing. When I emphasized this technique, and well, I was able to kill these worms with one swing. The bad news was that these creatures seemed like they were holding onto or possibly stealing tidbits of building materials. A few nails here, pieces of sealing tape, chewed pieces of wood, and mason stones, I began to understand the annoyance these things were causing and killed a lot more then 8 and I came back to Magistrix Erona.

"You seem to have gotten the hang of it now, for that, you are to-"

"Zhank you." I said in the middle of her sentence with a smile.

She paused and looked at me, "You really need to stop interrupting." She shook her head slightly, "I lost my train of thought. Here's some coppers and some new boots."

I looked at the boots and they were heavy, "So I'm going to get a dress like your soon?"

She half smiled and shrugged, "Technically you can wear whatever you want but it is expected that paladin's wear mail then plate."

I looked at her slightly disappointed, "Is it too late to change?"

She rolled her eyes, "Yes, I already registered you and sent the carrier birds to Silvermoon. Besides, you seem to have gotten the hang of sword swinging."

I rolled my eyes, "Fine."

"A few people were impressed. You should ask them what they need and before I forget, kill some of the Lynx cats and bring back their collars."

I only nodded this time.

Magistrix Erona wasn't wrong, a lot of people had things for me to do. Well Watcher Solanian wanted me to pay my respects to the first king of Silvermoon and retrieve some items near the gazebos and the pond. He also said that if I bathed in the pond, he would throw in an extra 25 copper.

I look at him slightly offended. I looked outward at the pond as he pointed out at it. I could see it from up there. When I was sizing him up, I noticed something tube shape protruding out of his robe pocket, "What is that?"

He moved it away from my sight, "Nothing." He looked side to side, "Okay ten silver if you take off your small clothes."

I snatched it out of his pocket, and it was an engineering spyglass, "Gawd I'm fourteen. "I looked at him.

He shrugged, "Well I didn't know that!" He shouted in whisper.

I sighed, "Ten silver and I won't say anything about this."

"Fine." He tried to take it back.

I pulled it away, "I'm going to finish first before I give this back to you."

He shrugged and rolled his eyes.

I went out to the opening and handed the spyglass to Magistrix Erona, "Can you hold on to that for me?" I asked.

She looked at it confused, "Where did you-"

I gestured outwards toward Well Watcher Solanian with my head.

She made a look of shock, then enrage, "That pervert!"

I saw her storm off to where he was and heard her beating him with the spyglass and calling him names.

I walked away from the beat down laughing, "Worth it." I said to myself.

I was told to find some arcane silvers, and Arcanist Helion told me to test my ability to drain mana from creatures around the island.

"Can't I just eat food?" I asked him.

He looked at me curiously, "Is that how you survived? I overheard you say that you were 14."

I shook my head, "No, I lived off of fel magic faucets and mana crystals in Tempest Keep. I saw a lot of people go Wretched from mana starvation."

He nodded as he acknowledged that, "Well you can go Wretched from gorging yourself as well. You'll find that most of the Wretched here are that way because they do. I need to see that you can control your appetite for magic by draining the magical creatures on the island."

I shook my head, "I didn't know I could take sustenance from magical creatures."

He shrugged slightly, "Well, you can, you can also take sustenance from any being that uses mana, even people. But only do it for less than a split second and every minute or so. If you release that magic, you can stop a spell in its tracks. It might help you in a sticky situation."

So, I did the task I was assigned, killed lynx cats, collected silver arcane crystals, paid my respects to the first King of Silvermoon, found the items that were at the education gazebos and pond and even bathed and washed myself with the soap I was given. I was a bit relieved when I looked out at the distance, I couldn't see Well Watcher Solanian even from far away, but I kept my small close on. Then there was the 'Mana tap'.

There was something odd about taking in fel magic. It made you happy and filled you with energy, but it wasn't long lasting. You had a strong crash of fatigue sometimes a few minutes after you take it, and if you're being forced to work, your muscles would feel weaker. You would sweat easier, feel sluggish, and have headaches. Lastly it would be hard to sleep. Luckily, we found arcane crystals like the one I've been finding on this island in those mines in Tempest Keep. While they didn't taste like much when taking them in, no one could deny that they had more nourishment then fel magic.

I found using this mana tap ability to be a little different from taking in fel magic. There was a sweetness to the first time using it but instead of a flood of happy hormones and a quick pep of energy. There was a 'fullness' to it that made me feel a little uncomfortable, I couldn't imagine someone doing this for more than a split second. I didn't feel nourished like with the mana crystals, food, or the Sunwell, but I didn't feel like I was starving either.

I received rewards from everyone that task me to do something accept Well Watcher Solanian. Magistrix Erona gave me armor and money for doing those jobs and told me he was out of commission for now. Also, she told me I need to report to her assistant Lathan Perilon. She told me I had done a day's work in a few hours and she didn't have anything else for me to do. Or something like that, I don't really remember. It's one thing when another language is being spoken to fast. It's a completely other when you can start to tell that the other person doesn't speak it well either. I asked her about a few things like food and lodging and I don't think it processed.

I reported to Lathan and he seem disappointed to see me, "Are you the reinforcements I sent for?"

I shook my head, "I was told you needed assistance like maybe you need to get something?"

He put his hand on his face, "I asked for soldiers or a battle harden elite. Not some fresh off the boat laborer with a sword." He sighed, "Well when you come back injured or not at all, I guess I'll have to make my message sound more urgent. Perhaps it would be better if you go back and explain this to Magistrix Erona."

I looked away disappointed, but he wasn't wrong. I wanted a chance to prove myself, "Maybe I can 'elp you with your problem."

He shrugged, "Fine, it's your funeral." He looked outward behind himself at the tower behind him and shook his head, "No, I wouldn't feel right sending you into the thick of battle like this. If you want my trust, kill several tree creatures that he's been using as cannon fodder and I'll see about this major problem we're having, deal?"

I shrugged slightly, "Oui, Monsieur." I saluted.

It hadn't been the first time I faced off with those tree creatures. They were the first thing on this island that had attacked me outright and I dealt with them with an equal amount of aggression, mostly because they were interrupting my bath, but this time I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the education tower I would see adolescent elves go to. I glanced and saw glowing eyed spectral figures patrolling the education platforms. I was tempted for the sake of curiosity, but I was also terrified. I had seen elves try to escape Tempest Keep before and saw similar creatures end the lives of elves that tried to run. What I was looking at wasn't big as what I remembered but still…

I came back to Lathan Perilon after I felt I killed enough tender creatures, "Did you see them?"

I only nodded.

"Felendren is his name and by the refusing the warnings he has made Falthrien Academy his base of operations. As of right now his minions have been able to overpower any would-be adventurer we've sent in, and he's been using their life energy to make more Arcane Wraiths. If he receives reinforcements from the other Wretched, we won't be able to stop him." He crossed his arms and shook his head, "I predict that his power is spread too thin, because he hasn't been able to control the tender creatures, just make them aggressive."

"I can handle it." I said quickly.

He nodded, "Here, take this Perfectia, don't get dead." He handed me a short board sword.

Holding this felt right. I don't know if I had gotten stronger from doing a few tasks around the island, maybe it was from holding something much heavier for half the day, but when I felt this sword I felt I could do a lot of fencing techniques with it. I walked into the former academy with the same confidence I would enter a sparring circle. Touched the steel to my forehead and quickly brought it down. Fighting those Arcane Wraiths was a little like fighting the mana worms, accept instead of sharp glass like teeth, heavy rough bricks. I was glad I was given mail armor that would reduce the damage, but I was rarely ever hit by them. The mana worms, the cats, even the wooden tenders were slightly unpredictable because it wasn't like anything I ever fought before. The wraiths however moved like out of shape toddlers at would occasionally cast a magic missile spell, but when they did hit, it hurt, and I felt if the wraiths got a lucky spot like in the jaw or the back of the head, they could knock someone out that was heavier than me. I had made my way up the platforms and I was confronted by a black, balloon shape, demon, with a green aura that seemed to surround it like a gas. "Wait." It spoke. "I don't know what you were told, but I'm sure you were misled."

I stopped, "You can speak?"

"I designed this structure to communicate from far away, unfortunately the range is limited."

"Everything on zhese platforms 'as tried to attack me. I was told zat you've been kill any-zing zhat as come close to zhese tower."

"They were also misled. I have a right to defend myself, to find food, and lodging. Those people down there exiled me thinking I would lay down and die alone. But I have prospered. I just need them to understand that this form doesn't have to be a curse."

"You prospered off the lives of other elves, Wretched."

"They had a choice, so do you. Become my weapon or become my food."

I slammed my sword into the black fel infused demon and it fell apart like a bucket of sand. I looked at the pile and found a red silver mana crystal. Possibly what he was using to communicate. I made my way up the platform and found Felendren and he seemed like he was out of breath. His eyes were blacken seeming to be completely drained of mana. He looked at me coming up the platform. "If I knew they were going to send somebody like you, I would have concentrated my defenses better."

I looked at him sympathetically and shook my head, "I've seen elves come back from Wretched before you know."

He laughed slightly, "You know when…" He was taking deep breaths in between sentences, "… I was like you… I never… Had this kind of power." He looked at me, "I built an army, alone."

I shook my head, "You can't maintain it, you're dying."

He took several deep breaths, "I just need more. I just need more." He whispered.

"If you release the mana wraiths maybe-" He rushed me mid-sentence and I could feel his hands glow blue as he drained my mana. His jawbone seemed to have dislodged from his skull, the inside of his mouth glowing red. That was my target, I lunge forward putting the tip of my sword there. I heard and felt the blade impale through bone and the look of rage and hunger turned to shock and realization as he blinked several times and then stopped. He fell to the ground and I took what was left of his body that was lodged into my sword.

There was a drop I had seen other brave kids jump off, but we were warned depending on the tide that the water could be shallow. I jumped off there caring little, accept that it would be quicker and less painful then going through those platforms again. I knew what the Wretched were now, at least, I knew what they were like here.

I gave Lanthan the piece of Felendren that was lodged into my sword and he helped me pull it out, "Well this isn't how I thought I'd be ending my day." He said and tried to pull it out. It finally budged out, "There you go." He handed me my sword and I took it back, "But I was wrong about you. You didn't disappoint. The Outlanders could use you, seeing how resourceful you are."

I sighed from the whole experience, "Does this seem barbaric to you? I just took a man's head."

He shrugged slightly, "If he had any cunning, he used it to hurt people. Did he seem like he had a shred of morality left?"

I shook my head, "No."

He looked away, "The Wretched have establish a garrison south of here. Thanks to the Horde and the fact none of them can speak Orcish, we've been able to push them back."

I nodded and took the reward for the task.