Alleria smiled elegantly at Turalyon. This human wasn't Leylin; she needed to project the composure expected of a ranger captain.
"Indeed, as allies, we should understand each other's strengths in combat."
"My soldiers excel at positional warfare. When the orc tribes land, we will inflict the heaviest damage." Turalyon said, his voice slightly hesitant.
Alleria's manner of speaking made Turalyon feel that all the women he had ever met before seemed rough and weak. His previously forceful tone lowered, and he appeared nervous.
Alleria looked at this nervous lieutenant and smiled, saying, "Be confident, Lieutenant. I'm not you're enemy."
Not so, Turalyon couldn't quite articulate the feeling. Although he had never fought orcs, honor and duty made him fearless of these green-skinned tribes.
"I'm not afraid of orcs. I'm just feeling a strange, oppressive atmosphere while speaking with you, Ranger Captain." Turalyon said.
"Is that so? Isn't that strange, Lieutenant Turalyon?" Alleria said.
Turalyon nodded, and seeing the Ranger Captain remain silent, he turned and went into the cabin. After Turalyon left, Alleria turned around and saw Leylin looking at her with a strange expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something strange on my face?" Alleria stroked her smooth cheek with her fair hand.
Leylin suddenly laughed, shrugging his shoulders and said, "As expected, the pride of the Windrunners from Quel'Thalas, you already have paladins who admire you on your second day."
Alleria rolled her eyes at Leylin and said, "This is war. Do you think everyone is as carefree as you?"
"It's precisely because it's war that there are more opportunities for sparks of affection to fly. Be careful, Alleria." Leylin said seriously.
A punch landed on Leylin's chest, the punch carrying some force: "Then I'm not the one I need to be wary of Sir Lothar's lieutenant."
"What do you mean?" Leylin asked confused.
"Guess." Alleria relaxed her clenched fist and patted Leylin's chest a few times before entering the cabin.
The ship had been sailing for quite some time; it was afternoon, and the sunset painted the shimmering waters of the endless sea.
Leaning against the railing around the deck, Leylin keep playing with small arcane orbs. He was bored so he made few arcane orbs and let it fly around chasing one another.
A gentle sea breeze caused a small amount of arcane energy to leak out. Just as Leylin was about to gather his arcane energy, an elderly mage calmed the purple glow and reintegrated it into the surrounding energies.
"Hello, Leylin. As a fellow mage, I'd like to have a chat with you." Khadgar said, standing beside Leylin.
Leylin nodded, withdrawing his arcane energy. He was happy to talk to another human mage. Perhaps it was some kind of magical affinity, but seeing Khadgar felt the same warmth he felt when he first saw Rhonin.
"Let's talk about your understanding of arcane magic, Sir Khadgar. You were once an apprentice of the Guardian Medivh who lives in the tower of Karazhan, so I believe your understanding of magic is certainly deeper than that of us mages who only study in isolation." said Leylin.
Khadgar had no doubt about what Leylin knew; the elven mages of Quel'Thalas had probably already know of the situation. Of course, the magisters of the elven kingdom hadn't, which was Leylin's own problem.
"Understanding? I wouldn't call it that. We're about the same age, so let's just have a friendly exchange." Khadgar said modestly.
"When I was in Karazhan, I sensed the arcane energy there. This arcane energy is different from the magical elements like fire and frost; it's vast and divine. I tried to control it, but I always felt it was controlling me." Khadgar shared his understanding with Leylin without reservation, even though they just currently met.
As a fellow mage, Leylin also generously shared his insights on arcane energy.
"Understanding similarities, arcane energy possesses its own divinity, that's true. Moreover, arcane energy has a special property, a very subtle quality." A surge of arcane energy suddenly gathered before Leylin.
Leylin's casting method and technique surprised Khadgar for a few seconds. Regaining his composure, Khadgar simultaneously released arcane energy into his palm.
Leylin's left hand went close to Khadgar's right hand letting his arcane energy hover near; as mages, they sensed the differences in each other's arcane energy.
"Your arcane energy is quite powerful; it seems to be telling me a message." Khadgar had a faint smile about him. This subtle feeling floated in his sea of consciousness, surging with the waves, prompting Khadgar to try to calm his mind, to bring this turbulent boat to a stop.
In contrast, Leylin found clear information within Khadgar's arcane energy: "Powerful arcane energy can tear through the void, bringing demonic creatures from another dimension to our world."
A puzzled Khadgar nodded, saying, "That's right, the arcane energy of Karazhan perfectly illustrates this, which is why my last mentor was a Guardian." Leylin nodded, reflecting on his own arcane energy; he hadn't detected such information within it.
Could it be that the arcane energy in different regions carries different information?
"Forgive my ignorance, Sir Leylin, but I haven't detected any information in your arcane energy. Could you explain it to me?" Khadgar, as a mage and a seeker of knowledge, was no less inquisitive than Leylin.
Calming his initial excitement, Khadgar sensed the changes in Leylin's body under his mastery of arcane arts; Leylin's arcane energy surged even more powerfully. A flash of inspiration exploded in Khadgar's mind. The turbulent sea of his mind calmed down.
"My God, the power of these arcane energies... they want to unleash their immense power through the user's hands." Khadgar exclaimed in surprise.
Shaking his head, Leylin, precisely controlling the arcane energy, said, "My mentor once gave me a magic journal. Its contents revealed that arcane energy possesses the power to compel the user to shape order."
"I didn't quite understand then, but now I feel it deeply. Arcane energy contains the power to shape order." Leylin told Khadgar.
With a wry smile, Khadgar said, "Unbelievable. The path of knowledge is endless. When will we mages be able to see the true nature of magic?"
"There's no fixed time, but as mages, we must constantly remind ourselves that we are the casters." Leylin's eyes, glowing with a purple magical light, looked into Khadgar's clear eyes.
"My mentor Medivh also told me this. Thank you for your guidance today, Leylin." Khadgar sincerely thanked Leylin.
"No need, Khadgar. Today's exchange is enough to make us true friends. I think we will need each other many times in the future." Leylin said with a smile.
Intentionally extending into the future, even with disaster, is a special ability of mages.
"Yes, my dear friend." Khadgar extended his left hand and clasped it tightly with Leylin's.