What is prey? It's a bleeding creature in the water, attracting sharks from a thousand miles away. That is prey. Whether they were great lords or minor ones, there was no shortage of greedy men among them. He just needed to release this information, and they would all turn their ill-intentioned gazes upon Sir Shangke. What would be the fate of a fallen noble with immense wealth but little power of his own? What happens when a sheep falls into a tiger's den? It gets devoured, not even the bones left behind.
A strange light flashed in Lady Jandice's eyes. After this exchange, she found his composure terrifying. It was truly uncanny. In the past, men's eyes would go straight to her. Coupled with her power as a Magister and her status as a duchess, she was an honored guest wherever she went. It was just that she preferred reading and research and wasn't interested in other matters. Her husband, Alex, however, loved to ask for her opinion and would consult with her on important matters, which was why she was here. Hedging your bets on both sides means you never lose.
"Your Highness, I worry that the Barov family will fall into decline. I want a way out, a guarantee. I possess magical knowledge and can train mages for you. And Illucia is my treasure; she can become your handmaiden. I only ask that you shelter her, and if you are able, lend the Barov family a hand when necessary." Lady Jandice adopted a very humble posture and spoke words that were hard to comprehend.
"The legacy of magic was formed in ancient times by the laws bestowed by the Titan Norgannon. The dragon who commands the world's magic is the Blue Dragon King. The mortal races reached their peak during the era of the night elves. Back then, the night elves were divided into commoners and nobles. The nobles were called the Highborne, and they possessed the most ancient and primal arcane secrets, mastering the true essence of magic. The magic of the high elves we see today is already astonishing, but it's merely a few broken branches and leaves. The true core is still in the hands of the Highborne."
Arthas began to narrate on his own, starting with a preamble to draw the mother and daughter's attention to his words before revealing the secret they desired and yearned for.
"There are still some Highborne survivors in Kalimdor, and they happen to control the elven libraries. Those ancient tomes record the mysteries of magic and notes from magical experiments. Any mage who obtains them would benefit immensely." A playful smile touched the corner of Arthas's lips. He could hear Lady Jandice's ragged breathing.
"I will find them and bring them under my rule, and the books within will be mine. I can solve the problem that plagues them, and only I can solve it."
"Your Highness is truly knowledgeable. I'm afraid even the archmages of Dalaran cannot compare." Lady Jandice loved magical experiments and research, often losing herself in her laboratory. This led her husband, Alex, to seek out mistresses and lovers, indulging in the debauched banquets of the nobility, all because his wife was too engrossed in her experiments to share a bed with him.
"It's different." Arthas raised his index finger and wagged it. "Everyone has their specialty. They are certainly stronger than me in magic. I can't make any guarantees about the Barov family; I don't know what you've done. But if possible, I will spare the lives of you and your daughter. As for your two sons, heh, I'll protect them if I can. Besides, they're still fine. Don't overthink it. Just stay here and teach my magic apprentices. Work hard, and you will get everything you want."
"Your Highness has a way to keep a woman young, doesn't he?" Lady Jandice suddenly asked a question that all women cared about: eternal youth.
"Not for now, but perhaps in the future. My power isn't that strong yet. Why do you ask? When you and Illucia stand together, you look like two sisters. I can't see any difference in your appearances at all. If I didn't know you were her mother, I would have thought you were Illucia's older sister," Arthas chuckled. As expected, women were creatures who loved beauty.
"Then can Your Highness save a chance for me?" Lady Jandice's voice trembled. "Can Your Highness extend my lifespan?"
For a mage, the greatest sorrow was an insufficient lifespan. Humans had much better talent for magic than high elves, but the drawback was also obvious: their lifespans were too short. A mere hundred years was just the length of an elf's afternoon nap. After subtracting time for eating, bathing, and making love, how much energy was left for studying magic? Therefore, the temptation of an extended life was something no race could resist.
Why was the Cult of the Damned so popular? Wasn't it because it offered eternal life? Even if it meant becoming undead, that was just another form of existence—immortality.
"That's not a problem. Living for two or three hundred years is no issue. Then, if you increase your power and break through to demigod status, while I can't say you'll be immortal, living for a few thousand or even tens of thousands of years is possible. It's just that this isn't something an ordinary person can achieve. If it's too difficult, I can also provide a little extra help, but the price is not something an ordinary person can afford." Arthas took out a portion of verdant essence of life. The moment the essence appeared, Lady Jandice's breathing clearly quickened. She could feel an aura of life, one that could seemingly make her stronger and restore her youth.
Although she didn't know what it was, her soul's intuition told her that she wanted it. This was what she desired! For a homebody obsessed with experiments, nothing was more tempting than increasing her power and extending her life. Wealth and status held no sway for a duchess. And the frigid Lady Jandice, who allowed her husband to find mistresses and lovers, had already shown that she was not fond of sex, which made her particularly difficult to deal with. But once something she needed appeared, it would tempt her like a demon's whisper, a potent desire that was hard to escape.
"Illucia, from now on, you are my handmaiden. Besides serving me, you can do anything you want. Sing, dance, paint, listen to stories, even go on adventures. I can tell you're not very keen on studying magic. Now, please go find my sister, Calia. I will come find you later," Arthas said with a smile to Illucia, who had remained quiet the entire time.