Chapter V

Much to Learn

The next morning Aidid woke up alone in the inn room. He had a terrible headache and could barely remember what had happened last evening. Trying to keep focused he went downstairs to the tavern.

'Good morning!' – Blant shouted at him. Aidid's headache just got worse. – 'Get over here! Your breakfast is getting cold!'

Aidid was feeling kind of hungry. He sat down at the same table as Zhora and Blant without saying a word.

'Here, this is yours. Good morning, by the way.' – the elf said handing him a plate with food. Aidid took his meal and started eating.

'Headache, huh? Happens to me all the time! Here's some mead. It'll help!' – Blant said handing him a mug.

Again without saying a word, the troll took what was given to him and drank the whole mug in the blink of an eye. He sighed with relief.

'Told you!' – Blant rejoiced with pride of his knowledge of "medicine".

'Thanks, mon.' – Aidid said.

'No need. You're paying for that anyway!' – the orc laughed.

'Right...' – the troll answered. – 'Ya arm be better?'

'Yup! It was all better after I woke up!' – Blant said.

'So, now that you're sober and not as aggressive as yesterday, mind telling us what the hell happened?' – Zhora asked.

'Nothin'.' – he answered.

'Don't you give me that "nothin'" crap!' – Blant said. – 'You were ready to kill me every time I said "zeppelin"!'

'They fired me…' – the troll answered.

'You gotta be kidding me!' – Blant shouted. – 'For what?'

'Me be mechanic, not captain. Me had no right to pilot da zeppelin no matter what da situation. Me endanger passengers.' – he explained.

'You helped repel an attack and got everyone to safety, saving a lot of lives. Yeah, I guess that counts as "endangering"!' – Zhora said sarcastically.

'Big deal! You'll find another job, "mon"!' – Blant said trying to cheer him up.

'Ya no get it. Me dream was to be pilot! Now me never work on zeppelins again cause of this. Dream be over…' – he said sadly.

'So? Be a pilot of something else!' – Blant said.

'Like what? Wyvern?'

'I don't know. Make your own flying thing. Be the pilot of that! You'll never have to worry about getting fired.' – the orc said.

'I've heard rumors about gnomes trying to build flying machines.' – Zhora said.

'Ya know, mon? Ya right. Ya right! Me no need no stinkin' zeppelins! Me make own flying machine and rule da skies!' – Aidid said standing up.

'One problem though.' – Blant said.

'What?'

'Gnomes are with the Alliance. You think they'll just give you the blueprints?' – Blant laughed. – 'You'll have to beat it out of them!'

'Wait wait, mon!' – the troll said. – 'Me no fighter. Me be simple mechanic.'

'Didn't seem like that yesterday.' – Zhora noted finishing his meal.

'Yeah! You put up a good fight yesterday!' – Blant agreed.

'Not to mention the battle against the pirates.' – Zhora added.

'All me do was learn hunting from me dad.' – Aidid said.

'So you can use a bow too? Sweet!' – the orc said.

'What ya two be doin' here anyway?' – the troll asked changing the subject.

'I'm looking for a lich from Undercity.' – Zhora answered.

'I'm here to train! Train and become even stronger!' – Blant said proudly.

'Da lich be probably at da Valley of Spirits.' – Aidid said. – 'And the most known orc trainin' the Orgrimmar troops be Grezz Ragefist in da Valley of Honor. Me can show ya da way.'

'I see you know your way around this city.' – Zhora noticed.

'Me live here since Echo Isles be lost.'

'Great! Someone who knows where we're going. Now just pay up for the food and the night spent here. Oh and Blant's share too.' – Zhora smiled.

'Why me pay for him?' – the troll asked.

'Cuz I beat your butt!' – the orc laughed. The troll sighed.

After paying up the three decided to go to the Valley of Honor first. They were lucky. Grezz Ragefistwas just about to leave his house and head to the training grounds.

'Make it quick. I hate being late.' – he said to the three. There was no doubt he was the best around. Not only was his body covered in the heaviest bronze plate mail the three have ever seen, not only did he have two huge one-handed axes on his back, but he also seemed aged and experienced.

'No problem. I want you to train me!' – Blant said. The trainer took a closer look at him and laughed.

'You got the wrong orc, boy!' – he said. – 'The rogue trainer is in the Cleft of Shadow.'

'Who said anything about rogues?' – Blant growled.

'Have you looked in the mirror? I doubt a skinny body like yours will be able to lift an axe, let alone wear plate armor!' – the trainer laughed.

Instantly Blant charged in with a punch. Grezz blocked it with both hands, then quickly grabbed Blant by the arm and threw him over his shoulder.

'Dammit!' – the young orc cursed getting up.

'Hmmm… His attack was far stronger than I thought. I of all people should know better than to judge someone's strength by their looks. And his complexion seems to help him move faster than other orcs.' – Grezz thought. – 'What's your name, kid?' – he asked.

'Blant Rageaxe.' – Blant replied.

'I never knew old Rageaxe had a son.' – the trainer thought. – 'So you want to train?'

'Yes!'

'Good.' – he said. – 'Now follow me.'

'One moment.' – he turned to Zhora and Aidid. – 'Maybe I'll see you guys someday. And if I do – we'll duel and I'll beat you!'

'Dream on, mon.' – the troll smirked.

Grezz Ragefistand Blant left for the training grounds. Aidid showed Zhora the way to the Valley of Spirits. At the top of one of the buildings they found the lich talking with the local mages.

The undead turned to the elf with a mean look. His eyes with no pupils made him look even meaner. Zhora handed him the letter from Vordeen.

'Hmmm… I see… It's been a while since I've heard about this.' – he muttered reading the letter.

'About what?' – Zhora asked.

'Pyrokinesis. It's a very rare ability among your kind, but it's not unique.' – Pierce explained. – 'In my recollection you're the third one with it.'

'You mean there were others?' – Zhora asked.

'It is rumored that the first elf to have this ability fought long ago in the troll wars. The second was my teacher – an archmage in Dalaran. I was still among the living back then.' – he said. – 'I know a thing or two about this skill, so I will be able to teach you. I'm just as curious as Wordeen.'

'I'll be able to control it? Seriously? How long is this gonna take?'

'All depends on your own potential. Now come. We have much work to do.'

'Yes, teacher.' – the elf bowed his head. – 'Well, thanks for the help, Aidid.'

'No prob. Goog luck, mon.'

Aidid took a walk. He was thinking. Gnomish schematics wouldn't be easy to get, that's a given. They probably weren't even developed yet. Maybe he could create his own? He lacked the knowledge for that. Aidid would have to travel the world in search for ways to become a better engineer. Travel to dangerous places. And for that he lacked strength. Consumed by his thoughts he finally he arrived at home.

'Hey, dad…' – he said opening the door.

'Well, look who's here.' – a troll looking almost exactly like Aidid, but twenty years older and with tribal tattoos on his face answered. – 'Had enough of flying already?'

'Kinda… Me need training, dad…'

'Sooo… you've finally come 'round? Me told you you'll be back.' – he said proudly. – 'Since you've been little me knew you be soldier material like me.'

Aidid didn't say anything.

'Whatcha being silent 'bout? You know no one shoot arrows like you! You could've been best marksman in Azeroth! Why you need to waste time flying 'round?'

'Ya know why… Me dream…'

'Not yours! Rizzik's dream. Me told you to let go of it …' – the father sighed.

Aidid remained silent.

'Fine. I train you.' – his father said.

'Thank's, mon…'

'You're me son, Aidid. Me do anything to help you. Just one thing. You should go to the graveyard. Ya haven't been on Rizzik's grave for a while.'

'Ya right… be back soon.' – the young troll replied.

Meanwhile Haru was showing the rogue masters in the Rogues' Quarters what she could do. All of them were truly amazed by this ability so she was instantly accepted as a student. Smiling she ran back to the inner circle, where Rico was sitting and staring in to the "river" of green ooze.

'Well, they were impressed! I'm now officially an apprentice rogue.' – Haru said.

'Great…' – Rico replied.

'So what are you doing to be up to from now on?' – the Forsaken asked.

'No idea…' – the half-elf answered.

'Oh, come on. Don't you have any dreams?' – Haru asked.

'No…' – she answered.

'That can't be right! You have to want something out of your life.'

'Look, don't you have to be training somewhere?' – she asked a little irritated.

'Sorry… Just… come see me once in a while, ok?'

'Ok…' – Rico said. She felt strange. It was the first time she heard such words.

Haru left. Rico watched her disappear in the distance. It was odd. Was Haru her friend?

'Nonsense!' – she thought. – 'Who would want to be friends with me anyway?'

She decided to take a walk through the city. She needed time to think about everything. Always alone, always miserable. Then she saves someone's life, get's her own life saved in return, some people act friendly towards her… She even found Blant funny. Rico couldn't remember the last time she laughed. She was overfilled with feelings and emotions she had never felt before. On top of everything she felt pleasure in walking around Undercity. This city really appealed to her.

Strolling around Rico wandered into the Magic Quarters. Some warlock apprentices were practicing summoning rituals. Rico decided to watch. Something about this dark atmosphere really felt… nice. The apprentices opened a portal and successfully summoned a felhound. Rico found the dog-like demon with no eyes kind of cute. She wished he had been a warlock instead of a priest, but due to some other issues she chose to be a healer… The felhound suddenly roared. It seemed the warlocks were losing control of it. The felhound roared again and made a run for it in Rico's direction. The half-elf shut her eyes expecting the worst and… nothing happened. Did it run away? She opened her eyes to see the demon lying at her feet. Rico was astounded. She crouched down to it and pulled out her hand. The demon didn't do anything. Then she tried to pet the demon. The felhound seemed to like it.

'Good boy…' – she whispered. The next instant the felhound vanished. It was banished by an undead in red robes.

'You alright, girl?' – he asked coming closer to Rico.

'Yes…'

'I haven't seen you around. Who are you?'

'I'm not from… around here…'

'Hmmm… There's something about her…' – he thought. – 'You're a blood elf, are you not?'

'Yes…' – she answered.

'Seems she's a half-breed… That's a rare sight nowadays…' – the undead thought. – 'Petting a felhound like a puppy at such young age…' – he said. – 'I'd like to know who trained you. I hardly imagine Silvermoon has such experienced warlocks.'

'I… I'm a priest…'

'Interesting…' – he said looking at her. – 'Listen, girl. My name is Luther Pickman. I'm one of the warlock trainers here and I'd like to… "test" your abilities.'

'But… I'm a priest…' – she said again.

'Do not worry. We have priests that will… "supervise" you. They're right over there.' – he said pointing to the ziggurat in the middle of the quarters. – 'How about we go see them?'

'I… guess so…' – she mumbled. She felt a little frightened of what the Forsaken would do to her, but at the same time she was exited. She felt some sort of temptation towards all this black energy around.