Alastor looked incredulously at how the strongest mage in the Magocracy of Dalaran offered to be his master.
And honestly was he wrong to feel this way? Antonidas was himself a generational prodigy. In his younger years at only the age of 12, he made the thesis "The Ramifications of refined Reverse Time Travel Phenomena into Quantifiable Magical Practice".
This ended with him being the youngest to earn the Sash of supreme acumen and the youngest to be given an invitation to enter the Advanced Research and Illumination Sect.
And with the time until now he has been alive he had only grown much stronger and wiser even after becoming the Head of Kirin Tor to the point he was perhaps the only human alive to rival the High King of the Quel'thalas, Anasterion Sunstrider!
Alastor wanted to agree on the spot this was by far the best outcome but he held back and glanced at his parents who were also shocked at the offer but gave their son a encouraging and proud nod.
Relaxing Alastor turned back to Antonidas and got on one knee. "I humbly accept your mentorship, Lord Antonidas."
Antonidas gave a happy laugh as he patted his new apprentice's shoulder. "No need for all that formality you're now my second apprentice so you can rest easy when addressing me"
"I actually took another apprentice 3 years ago as well she's 14 now and I hope you'll get along with your sibling-disciple"
"You might even have heard of her her name's Jaina Proudmoore."
It was Llane who was now astonished. "So the rumours of you taking Daelin's daughter were true? colour me surprised considering Kirin tor's stance on female Mages"
Antonidas coughed a bit reminded of one of Dalarans annoying problems especially when it came to traditional mages.
"I consider magical talent, discipline and willpower more deserving of the arcane arts than gender"
Taria gave him a sarcastic smile "I'm sure ALL of Dalaran would agree with you on that Grand Magus" Llane gave a wry smile as he whispered something to Taria causing her to roll her eyes.
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Soon after with his business concluded Antonidas was now leaving but not before telling his new disciple to arrive in Dalaran in 2 months time in which he would receive him and start his formal training under his tutelage.
What none of them knew was how giddy Antonidas himself was since as a powerful Mage he understood the full scope of how great Alastor's potential was in the magical arts.
Not to mention he knew if he didn't snatch this lad up right now than as soon as he would arrive in Dalaran and started showcasing even a part of his abilities forget the mentors even his fellows in the Council of Six would scramble to get him as a apprentice!
'They wouldn't understand! unlike them I have sufficient knowledge and experience to train him. I'm doing this for the Greater Good of the magical community! How would they understand the sacrifice of a old man like me'
'As for any objections they would have since I already have a apprentice? Too bad! I don't see anywhere in the Laws of Arcane that says I can't have two apprentices HAHAHA!'
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After seeing Antonidas leave Alastor sat together with Llane, Taria and Varian at their Patio.
"He seemed nice"
Taria rolled her eyes at her youngest "That's what most mages want you to think, believe me my son the stronger the mage the more screws they have lose"
The Queen gave her youngest son a stern look "I better not see you become a eccentric hobo after your tutelage there understood young man"
Alastor smiled wryly at his mother. "Yes mom"
Varian fake coughed as he muttered "Mama's boy" only for Taria to give her eldest a "sweet" smile causing him to stiffen.
This time Alastor fake coughed as he muttered "Coward" much to Varian's chagrin.
Llane instead chuckled as he just laid back and watched his family....and that there was no way he was gonna get on his wife's crosshairs.
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It was night and Alastor was on his balcony looking up at the twin moons as if trying to find something within them only to turn after hearing the door of his room being opened and seeing his mother.
"I knew you'd be up" Taria gave him a kind smile as she approached and stood beside him on the balcony looking at Stormwind City from up above and the night sky from bellow.
"So are you gonna tell me what's bothering you?"
"What do you mean mother?"
"You know I can always catch when you're lying and you only call me "mother" in private when you have something eating at you"
"How do you--"
"I'm your mother Alastor, it's a privilege for us to know" Taria smirked at him before it broke into a gentle smile as her hand rubbed his cheek. "Soooo?"
"...I'll be gone for years" Alastor sagged as he decided to tell her. "This is the first time I would be away from Stormwind for so long and I can't help but feel mad!"
"I'm a bloody prince for Light's sake! I shouldn't be sulking like a child while doing my duties and yet....."
Alastor felt his mother turn his face towards her direction as she gave him a exasperated smile.
"Alastor you forget yourself" Taria looks at her son with understanding, no matter how much he grew it didn't change that under all that brilliance was still a human heart with it's own insecurities and doubts
"Despite your maturity and your growth in some way you are still a child and even if you weren't you tend to forget you are also human"
"It's normal for humans to grow uneasy when encountering new and unknown situations but it's what you do in front of that fear is what defined the person that you are"
Taria smiled encouragingly at him "And if there is one thing I know of my sons is that neither of them would hesitate when the situation calls for it. That's what we call bravery."
"Besides it's not you can't visit and nor will your studies in Dalaran be permanent, Stormwind will always be here waiting for you."
Alastor's posture relaxes as his fears subsided. "....Thanks mom"
Taria was pleased seeing his fears assuaged. "Anytime my shooting star. Now try to get some sleep for the night." She reached over pulled him slightly down and kissed his forehead. "Sweet dreams"
When Taria left the room and closed the door behind her, she smiled amusedly at Llane who stood a bit awkwardly outside the door as well.
"Come on you big lug he's fine now" Llane sighed in relief and followed his wife back to their own bed chambers. "You were always good at this"
"It's just the case of being empathetic with your children Llane nothing much"
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Author Notes: I hope I'm writing Taria and Llane not only as likable characters but also loving parents despite their station. As well as Varian being a supportive big brother.
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