Chapter 444: Future Apprentice

Throughout the history of Azeroth, human society has always been led by warriors—or, to use the medieval term, knights. 

The various lords and barons were all, to varying degrees, competent warriors.

However, among human mages, a noble lineage was still the majority.

After all, being a mage was both a rare and noble profession, as well as an extremely expensive one.

For mages, casting magic wasn't conjuring something out of thin air. Many spells required costly materials, along with expensive books and other resources. 

In short, while mages could earn considerable wealth later in their careers, the early stages of becoming a mage demanded significant investment.

In most cases, only the nobility could afford such expenses—especially second sons or those without inheritance rights, who had no interest in managing family estates. 

For them, becoming a mage and immersing themselves in the mysteries of magic was an excellent choice.

Still, most proud mages had little regard for the "vulgar" nobility. Even nobles seeking a magic mentor would need both talent and a bit of luck to find one.

That said, when one's status reached a certain level, even the most arrogant of mages had to bow slightly to power.

The leader of Kul Tiras, Daelin Proudmoore, was just such a man of immense influence.

For him, finding a teacher for his daughter was no challenge.

Across all of Dalaran, nearly every mage—without exception—would not dare refuse his invitation.

Even the Kirin Tor Council, the highest authority of Dalaran, could be persuaded—except for the aloof Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider and the red dragon Krasus, disguised as a mortal. 

The rest of the council, given the right price, would readily agree.

Originally, Daelin's top choice was Antonidas, head of the Kirin Tor and leader of Dalaran.

The elder mage, renowned for years, had unmatched magical achievements. In terms of both reputation and accomplishment, Antonidas was undoubtedly the ideal teacher for Jaina.

However, after meeting Alaric today, Daelin suddenly had a new candidate in mind.

Perhaps this young man before him was an even better fit to be Jaina's teacher than Antonidas.

While Alaric didn't yet have the same fame or achievements as Antonidas, he possessed something that no amount of effort could grant the elder mage—youth.

Alaric was far younger than Antonidas and, in fact, younger than 99% of the mages in Dalaran. Yet, at his age, he had already surpassed 99% of them in magical accomplishments.

Youth meant Alaric had the energy and stamina to teach a young girl.

Youth meant he could relate to Jaina, making it easier for her to connect with him.

Youth also meant he had no current students. 

In fact, Alaric had never taken on a single apprentice, which presented Jaina with the chance to become his first and most cherished disciple, potentially gaining his full guidance and mentorship.

What solidified Daelin's decision, however, was his confidence in Alaric's future.

Daelin had already learned about Alaric's academic achievements from his mage companion, Lady Gina. 

Frankly, even if Alaric did nothing for the rest of his life and coasted on his current accomplishments, his establishment of a new magical school alone would secure his place as a future leader of Dalaran once Antonidas and his generation stepped down.

Today's meeting only strengthened Daelin's belief in Alaric's potential.

Some might view Alaric's boldness and sharp tongue as inappropriate, but Daelin appreciated his decisiveness, pride, and cunning.

Initially, Daelin's desire for Antonidas as Jaina's mentor wasn't purely for educational purposes but also to strengthen political ties between Kul Tiras and Dalaran.

Choosing Alaric, however, represented something else. Antonidas symbolized the present, while Alaric represented the future.

After weighing the pros and cons, Daelin decided to take a gamble.

Which brought them to their current conversation.

Alaric, on the other hand, was utterly dumbfounded by the request.

After all, this was Jaina!

While World of Warcraft didn't have a single protagonist, if one were forced to name a leading lady, Jaina would undoubtedly be the best choice.

Throughout Azeroth's history—whether in Warcraft III or World of Warcraft—Jaina played an essential role in every major event. 

Loved and hated alike, whether nicknamed "Jaina Proud-whore" or "Daddy's Little Traitor," her popularity and importance were undeniable.

Even Alaric, upon hearing her name, couldn't help but feel the emotional weight of his past life's memories.

Setting all that aside, Jaina truly met all his requirements for a student.

She was stunningly beautiful, exceptionally talented, of noble birth, and had an outstanding personality—aside from her naïve altruism.

Could there possibly be a more ideal student?

Her naïve personality was simply a result of her sheltered upbringing. 

Wasn't it obvious how terrifyingly ruthless Jaina could become once life taught her harsh lessons? 

This was something Alaric felt could be remedied with proper guidance.

What surprised Alaric most, however, was how quickly this opportunity had come.

In the original timeline, Jaina had been Antonidas' apprentice. Alaric had considered stealing her away, even preparing to make some sacrifices or reveal certain cards to do so.

But now, before he'd even made a move, the opportunity had landed in his lap—gift-wrapped, no less.

—From Harry Potter to Game of Thrones, and now World of Warcraft. Am I destined to have female protagonists delivered to me on a silver platter?

This thought echoed deeply in Alaric's mind.

He was overjoyed by this unexpected turn of events.

On the surface, however, he maintained his composure. 

After secretly casting a self-created "alcohol dissipation" spell to sharpen his focus, he began asking detailed questions about Jaina's situation—despite already knowing everything about her.

Finally, Alaric told Daelin he would give it some thought and provide an answer the next day.

That night, he returned to sort through his study materials.

After all, this was Jaina—a future powerhouse rivaling Antonidas, one of humanity's greatest strengths. 

Adding to her political influence, she would undoubtedly play a crucial role in Alaric's plans. Raising her personally would be immensely rewarding.

The next day, before the council meeting, Alaric gave Daelin his definitive answer.

Thus, young Jaina Proudmoore became Alaric's first apprentice.

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