Chapter 685

Chapter 685: Violet Citadel

Although Jesse stayed in Dalaran for a while last time, the closest he got to the Violet Citadel was the hall for the Orcish language meeting.

Now, standing by the fountain statue in the small square before the castle, he glanced at that hall again. He remembered that last time, Kaffir Brightwing was on guard there, while Kel’Thuzad waited for him inside.

He wondered if Kel’Thuzad was in the Violet Citadel right then.

Following a Dalaran mage up the steps and through the castle entrance, he stepped into a dim hall with purple carpets and windows glowing a dull yellow. The air was thick with a heavy, almost stuffy floral scent.

The hall was so quiet he could hear his own footsteps and the guide’s on the carpet.

The Violet Citadel was far more complex than in the game. Jesse recalled that in the game, the castle had only this one hall, with stairs leading to a second floor that held nothing but a few bookshelves.

But here, looking up, he saw many levels. Spiral white stairs stacked on top of each other, making him feel a bit dizzy. He followed the Dalaran mage to the second floor, turned right down a corridor, walked to the end, and reached a plain door.

Curious, Jesse peeked inside. It was a small room but set up very finely, with deep red carpets covering the floor. Bookshelves on both sides held thick books and scrolls. The chair by the shelves had fancy patterns that looked too expensive for him. At the back, a desk was piled with scrolls, costly ink, and quills made from unknown animals’ feathers.

Just the magical tablecloth on top made Jesse feel it was too high-class for someone like him.

A floating magical lamp lit the room with a dreamy glow. Jesse thought a study should be brighter, but maybe the Kirin Tor mages liked that mysterious feel.

He looked around, thinking he could borrow ideas for his own future mage tower study. Just then, the mage leading him said, "The court mage of the Kingdom of Stormwind, Jesse Seso, is here, Master Antonidas."

As soon as he spoke, the coat rack behind the desk moved.

In the arcane light, Jesse had thought it was a rack, but it was an old mage staring at the wall murals.

The man was very thin. When he turned, his wrinkled face, bulging eyes, long white beard down to his waist, and bald head with a few white hairs made him look like he didn’t have long to live.

But Jesse knew this old man was one of the Alliance’s most powerful mages—the Magus of Dalaran, its "king," and leader of the Kirin Tor, Antonidas.

He was Jaina Proudmoore’s teacher. Years later, during the Scourge invasion, he died by the hand of Arthas, who had become a Death Knight. Antonidas was protecting Dalaran’s artifact from being stolen by the Scourge Legion to summon a Burning Legion lord.

Last time Jesse came to Dalaran, he never dreamed of meeting this old mage. Now, he was invited.

"Sorry, I didn’t notice you had arrived," Antonidas said, leaning on the desk and pointing to a nearby chair. "Sit here, Mr. Seso."

"Yes, Master Antonidas."

After Jesse sat, Antonidas smoothed his blue robe and sat down slowly. "Do you remember Master Bethor Iceshard?"

"I do, Master," Jesse replied.

"I sent him, Mr. Seso," Antonidas said. "Many say I’m old, stuck in my ways, clinging to rules. But I know plenty in the seven kingdoms are more rigid than me. They can’t accept a hero who uses such dark magic."

"For most people, the red dragon threat at Grim Batol was real and close, not like the far-off Dark Portal. You, Mr. Greed Thunderfist, and Mrs. Vereesa Windrunner broke the red dragon prison in Khaz Modan. That made it easier to clear your name, at least in Ironforge, Lordaeron, and Dalaran."

"I get the Kirin Tor’s point, Master," Jesse said. But that didn’t mean he liked it.

Truth was, Jesse still felt some anger toward the Kirin Tor. Antonidas’s words calmed it a bit, but he was still annoyed.

Antonidas looked at Jesse. "The red dragon’s messenger said you and your friends destroyed Deathwing."

"From start to end, the Red Dragon Queen and her children fought Deathwing. I watched it all from the ground," Jesse admitted. "I just helped my friends mess up Deathwing’s plans and distract him, so he lost the fight."

"But the Red Dragon Queen gives you the credit," Antonidas replied. "Do you know what beating Deathwing means?" Jesse thought he knew better than Antonidas.

In another time, Deathwing didn’t die at Grim Batol. After the Demon Soul was destroyed, he faced the other four Dragon Kings at full strength, got badly hurt, and fled into Grim Batol’s mountains.

From then on, he hid in the world’s deepest holes, waiting to strike back. Then the Old Gods’ power drove him mad, and decades later, he caused a cataclysm that shook all of Azeroth.

Back then, countless minions loyal to the Old Gods—like leftover black dragons, Twilight Cultists, elements, and crazy followers—came out to cause chaos, almost ending the world.

Deathwing dying in the Bartol Mountains meant none of that would happen again.

Antonidas went on, "Compared to other dragon races, black dragons are the most evil and wild, and Deathwing is the root of it. I know you were here when black dragons attacked Dalaran, fighting Death Knights with the Farstriders. So you saw how they sided with the Horde invaders from another world, as if their hate for this place wiped away all differences."

"That’s why the Red Dragon Queen wants me to restore your name—something the Kirin Tor promised from the start. And I want to invite you to Dalaran to learn arcane magic. Are you interested?"

"Sorry, Master," Jesse replied. "King Varian wants me to give him more advice on Shadow Magic in Stormwind. I’ve always wanted to study in Dalaran, but I’ll think about it."