Chapter 5
Apexis Crystals
In the days the followed Manuka had learned all about why they were in Draenor. He had known of course, that the Iron Legion was invading, that was what everyone in the Kirin Tor knew. Everything else that followed however was something entirely different.
Khadgar had told him about Gul'Dan, a powerful warlock and user of a dark power known as fel, who had been killed in an alternate timeline and destroyed the orc nations, corrupting them through the fel magic to create a race permanently tainted with the stink of the green hell magic. he had very nearly killed Khadgar in the struggle for the Tomb of Sargeras but the Archmage had prevailed, putting a stop to the orc once and for all. In this timeline however, Gul'Dan was alive and well. Whether he was going to try attempt to repeat history in the parallel timeline was unknown, but he had to be stopped regardless.
It was up to Manuka and Khadgar to find Gul'Dan and put a stop to him once and for all.
The younger Mage studied his mentor curiously, the master Arcanist was somewhat slumped back in his chair and was levitating a small purple crystal in front of him. Khadgars icy blue eyes were glazed over in deep thought as he 'hmm'd' to himself, Manuka cleared his throat and leaned forward slightly,
"Uh, master? Is something on your mind?"
The Archmages eyes didn't leave the floating stone,
"do you know what this is, boy?"
Manuka took a moment to think briefly before answering,
"No, Archmage, what is it? Is it of importance?"
The purple rock glinted in the light before being plucked out of the air by Khadgar, his boot tapping the stone floor impatiently,
"they're called Apexis Crystals and as for their importance, yes I believe they could be extremely useful to me..."
The younger Mage sat forward in his seat, the leader of the Kirin Tor sounded like he had a plan brewing and he was excited to hear it.
"I can feel that the mana signature of this little stone is dormant but strong, if we can somehow get ourselves more of them I believe their magical capabilities will amplify exponentially to a point where I can use their awakened power to track other magical energies"
Manukas eyes widened slightly, he knew exactly what Khadgar was planning,
"You want to hunt down Gul'Dan using those!? How many will we even need? I mean, it's not like he'll be just sat waiting for us to find him, he'll be hidden!"
A faint blue light flashed from the Archmages eyes as he conjured up a plate of toast and various pots of jam, it was obvious the older man was oblivious to his apprentices worry.
"Four thousand, nine hundred and sixty eight"
Manuka paused half way from reaching for a piece of the conjured food,
"what?"
Khadgar slouched back in his chair and wiped the remains of his breakfast away from the silver stubble on his chin,
"you asked how many apexis crystals we needed. We need four thousand nine hundred and sixty eight. Trust me, I've done the math."
The young Mage was absolutely dumbfounded, from what he gathered these little crystals were not easy to find, gathering a hundred would be no easy feat let alone a few thousand; yet the Master Arcanist seemed so...relaxed. This was something Manuka had noticed from the beginning of them meeting, even more so after Cordana chastised the Archmage for his laid back attitude a day after they had both arrived in Draenor. Two worlds were on the brink of destruction and Khadgar couldn't have looked more content. Although, Manuka thought, 'the briefing concerning Gul'Dan seemed to get heated with Cordana, so it's obvious he cares much more than he lets on...perhaps he just doesn't want us to worry?.'
Manukas train of thought was broken as the Guardian stood up and stretched, the Archmage took one final look at the little crystal in his hand before slipping it into his pocket and flashing his initiate a reassuring smile,
"Have faith! Cordana and her helpers will see to it that we get what we need."