魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第16部分

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e　capital　of
Lordaeron　had　always　been　a　place　of　beauty　and　of　quiet；　away　from　the　hustle　and　the　bustle。　Her　mother　had　first
taken　her　here　on　a　camping　trip　when　she　was　a　girl。　Little　Aegwynn　had　found　it　to　be　frightening　and　fascinating　
all　at　the　same　time。　She　had　been　surprised　at　the　animals　ranging　freely；　stunned　by　the　incredible　colors　of　the
vegetation；　and　amazed　at　how　many　stars　she　could　see　in　the　night　sky　away　from　the　torchlight　and　lanterns　of　
the　city。　

Over　time；　the　fear　fell　away；　replaced　by　joy　and　wonder　and；　at　times；　relief。　

Until　today。　Today　the　fear　was　back　in　full　force。　

She　had　been　apprentice　to　the　wizard　Scavell　since　before　puberty；　working　alongside　four　others　all　boys；　of
course。　Aegwynn　had　always　wanted　to　be　a　mage　but　had　been　told　repeatedly　by　her　parents　that　she　would　grow
up　to　bee　someone　s　wife；　and　that　was　all　there　was　to　it；　and　her　dallying　about　with　herbs　and　such　was　fine　
for　now；　but　soon　she　d　need　to　learn　more　important　skills；　like　sewing　and　cooking…。　

This　assurance　lasted　right　up　until　she　met　Scavell；　and　he　invited　her　to　bee　an　apprentice　making　it　clear
that　he　wouldn　t　accept　no　for　an　answer。　Her　parents　both　wept　openly　that　they　were　losing　their　little　girl；　but　
Aegwynn　was　thrilled。　She　was　studying　to　bee　a　mage！　

Back　then；　there　were　only　three　other　apprentices　Falric；　Jonas；　and　Manfred；　who　were　as　irritating　as　every　
other　boy　Aegwynn　had　known；　but　a　little　more　tolerable。　The　fourth；　Natale；　came　a　year　later。　

Today；　Scavell　announced　that　he　was　a　member　of　a　secret　order　known　as　the　Guardians　of　Tirisfal。　Aegwynn　s
first　thought　was　that　the　forest　she　loved　was　named　after　them；　but　it　turned　out　to　be　the　other　way　around　they　
called　themselves　that　because　they　met　in　those　glades；　and　had　for　many　centuries。　This　surprised　Aegwynn；　as
she　had　never　seen　any　of　these　meetings；　despite　making　regular　trips　to　the　glades　for　years。　

Then　Scavell　said　they　were　going　to　the　glades　to　meet　the　Tirisfalen。　
　
The　boys　went　on　about　secret　societies　and　how　amazing　that　was；　like　it　was　some　kind　of　adventure；　but
Aegwynn　didn　t　participate。　She　wanted　to　know　what　exactly　this　Tirisfalen　was　Scavell　was　vague　on　the
subject。　Where　the　boys　were　content　to　trust　Scavell　s　word；　Aegwynn　wanted　to　know　more。　

You　ll　see　soon　enough；　my　girl；　　Scavell　had　said　in　response　to　her　question。　He　always　called　her　　my　girl。　　

When　Scavell　brought　them　out　to　the　glade；　Aegwynn　was　confused；　for　there　was　no　one　in　the　clearing　they　
stood　in。　

Then；　moments　later；　just　as　she　was　about　to　ask　Scavell　what　was　going　on；　there　was　a　flash　of　light　and　she　
found　herself；　Scavell；　and　her　fellow　apprentices　surrounded　by　seven　people　standing　in　a　perfect　circle　around　
them。　Three　of　them　were　human；　three　were　elves；　and　one　was　a　gnome。　All　of　them　were　male。　

We　have　chosen；　　one　of　the　elves　said。　

Falric　asked；　　Chosen　what？　　

The　gnome　said；　Be　silent；　boy；　you　ll　find　out　soon　enough。　　

Turning　to　Scavell；　the　elf　said；　You　have　trained　all　five　of　your　students　well；　Magna　Scavell。　　

Aegwynn　frowned；　she　d　never　heard　that　honorific　before。　

However；　there　is　one　student　that　has　stood　out　from　the　others。　One　student　who　has　proven　inquisitive　in　the
ways　of　magic　beyond　ordinary　curiosity；　who　has　shown　aptitude　for　spellcasting　that　is　unparalleled；　and　who　has
already　mastered　the　Meitre　scrolls。　　

Now　Aegwynn　s　heart　raced。　The　night　elf　Meitre　was　a　great　wizard　from　many　thousands　of　years　ago。　Elven
mages　didn　t　attempt　to　cast　from　Meitre　s　scrolls　until　the　final　year　of　their　apprenticeships；　and　human　mages
often　didn　t　even　try　until　after　that　apprenticeship　was　pleted。　Aegwynn；　however；　was　casting　Meitre　s　spells
at　will　by　the　end　of　her　first　year。　

She　had　also　been　doing　so　in　secret　Scavell　insisted　that　it　would　annoy　the　boys。　　

Falric　looked　at　his　fellow　apprentices　in　turn。　Who　was　casting　Meitre　s　spells？　　

Grinning；　Aegwynn　said　triumphantly；　I　was。　　

Who　said　you　could　do　that？　　Manfred　asked　angrily。　

Speaking　in　his　papery　voice；　Scavell　said；　I　did；　young　Manfred。　And　you　and　Falric　would　be　wise　not　to　speak
out　of　turn　again。　　

Bowing　their　heads；　Falric　and　Manfred　both　said；　Yes；　sir。　　

The　elf　went　on：　　What　you　must　now　be　told；　all　of　you；　is　that　there　is　a　war　being　fought。　It　is　not　known　to　the　
general　populace；　only　to　the　munity　of　wizards；　of　which　all　of　you　will　some　day　soon　be　a　part。　Demons　
have　invaded　our　world；　and　they　grow　more　aggressive　with　each　passing　year；　despite　our　best　efforts　to　stymie　
them。　　

Indeed；　　the　gnome　put　in；　earning　him　a　mild　glare　from　the　elf；　likely　because　of　those　efforts；　which　serve　only　
to　anger　them。　　

Demons？　　Natale　sounded　scared。　He　d　always　had　a　fear　of　demons。　
　
Yes；　　one　of　the　humans　said。　At　every　turn；　they　try　to　destroy　us。　Only　the　wizards　can　stand　against　them。　　

The　Tirisfalen；　　the　elf　added；　with　a　glance　at　the　human　that　indicated　that　he　didn　t　appreciate　this　interruption；
either；　have　been　charged　with　protecting　this　world　from　demonkind；　and　we　have　created　a　Guardian。　The　finest
young　mages　in　the　land　are　brought　together　by　the　current　Guardian　your　master　Scavell；　in　this　case　who
trains　them。　We　then　determine　e　the　new　Guardian。　　

The　choice　wasn　t　easy；　　the　gnome　said。　

Jonas　muttered；　It　be　a　stupid　choice。　　

What　did　you　say；　young　man？　　another　elf　asked。　

I　said　the　choice　be　stupid。　Aegwynn　s　a　girl。　She　be　fit　for　a　wisewoman；　givin　　out　herbal　remedies　to　the　
villagers　or　summat；　but　that　be　all！　We　all　of　us　be　mages！　　

Aegwynn　looked　in　shock　and　disgust　at　Jonas。　She　had　grown　rather　fond　of　Jonas；　and　the　two　of　them　had　slept
together　a　couple　of　times。　They　had　kept　their　liaison　secret　from　the　other　apprentices；　though　Scavell　knew　about
it　there　was　nothing　that　escaped　the　old　mage　s　gaze。　The　last　thing　she　had　expected　were　those　words　from　his
lips　Falric　s；　maybe；　he　was　a　pompous　ass；　but　not　Jonas　and　Aegwynn　swore　to　herself　that　Jonas　would　never
get　her　in　bed　again…。　

It　is　true；　　an　older　human　said　with　a　sigh；　that　women　are　emotional　and　prone　to　excessive　displays　that　are　
unbeing　of　a　mage。　But　it　is　also　true　that　Aegwynn　has　the　most　potential　of　any　of　the　youths　that　Scavell　has
found；　and　we　cannot　afford　for　the　Guardian　to　be　anything　less　than　the　best　even　if　that　means　giving　the
position　to　a　girl。　　

At　that；　Aegwynn　bristled。　With　respect；　good　sirs；　I　will　be　as　good　a　mage　as　any　of　these　boys。　In　fact；　I　think　I　
will　be　better　because　I　had　to　overe　so　much　more　to　get　here。　　

The　elf　chuckled。　She　raises　a　fine　point。　　

So；　waitasec；　　Natale　said；　you　mean　that　she　s　gonna　be　this；　uh；　whadayacall；　Guardian　thing；　and　we　get；　what；
nothin　？　　

Not　at　all；　　the　elf　said。　You　will　each　have　important　roles　to　play。　All　the　wizards　of　our　order　are　fighting　this
battle。　It　is　simply　that　the　Guardian　s　role　is　the　most　important。　　

Turning　to　her　mentor；　Aegwynn　asked；　　Scavell　what　of　you？　Why　are　you　giving　up　being　Guardian？　　

Scavell　smiled。　I　am　old；　my　girl；　and　very　tired。　Fighting　the　hordes　of　demonkind　is　a　game　for　the　young。　I　wish
to　live　out　my　few　remaining　years　preparing　the　next　generation。　　He　turned　to　the　boys。　Rest　assured；　I　will　
continue　to　be　your　mentor。　　

Swell；　　Falric　muttered。　All　four　boys　were　sulking。　

If　anything；　　the　gnome　said　testily；　the　fact　that　you　re　being　so　immature　about　this　is　precisely　why　we　chose　
Aegwynn　over　you。　　

Besides；　　the　older　human　added；　the　Guardian　must　be　the　vessel　of　the　council。　I　suspect　that　a　girl　will　be　less
willful　and　will　understand　the　chain　of　mand；　as　it　were。　　

This　isn　t　a　military　engagement；　　one　of　the　other　humans　said。　

Aegwynn　couldn　t　help　herself。　You　described　this　as　a　war。　　
　
Quite　right；　　the　elf　said　with　a　small　chuckle。　Then　he　looked　right　at　Aegwynn　with　eyes　that　seemed　to　bore　
into　her　very　soul。　You　still　have　some　preparations　to　undergo；　girl；　before　you　must　undergo　the　transfer　of
power。　The　magic　of　all　the　Tirisfalen　will　be　granted　to　you。　Understand　this；　Aegwynn　you　are　taking　on　the
gravest　responsibility　any　mage　can　accept。　　

I　understand；　　Aegwynn　said；　though　she　wasn　t　entirely　sure　she　did。　But　she　wanted　to　be　a　mage　more　than
anything　else；　and　she　knew　that　the　primary　responsibility　of　any　wizard　was　to　keep　the　world　safe。　At　its　best；
magic　was　used　by　wizards　to　bring　order　to　a　chaotic　world；　and　Aegwynn　knew　that　that　would　be　a　lot　of　work。　

She　just　hadn　t　realized　how　much　work。　Or　what　Scavell　s　real　motives　for　showing　her　Meitre　s　scrolls　were。　

Falric　stepped　forward。　Dammit；　I　m　as　good　as　any　girl！　Better；　even！　I　can　even　cast　one　of　Meitre　s　spells！
Watch！　　Falric　closed　his　eyes；　then　opened　them　again　and　stared　at　a　rock　that　was　jutting　up　from　the　ground
right　in　front　of　where　the　elf　stood。　He　muttered　an　incantation；　then　repeated　it　Meitre　s　spells　all　required
double　incantations；　which　Scavell　had　said　was　a　security　precaution。　

A　flash　of　light；　and　then　the　rock　glowed　faintly　with　a　yellowish　hue。　Falric　sneered　at　Aegwynn；　and　then
grinned　at　the　mages　that　surrounded　them。　

Rock　to　gold；　　the　gnome　said。　How　unoriginal。　　

Actually；　　the　elf　said　with　a　smile；　it　is　fool　s　gold。　　

Falric　s　grin　fell。　What？　It　can　t　be！　　He　cast　a　quick　identification　spell；　and　then　his　face　fell　even　farther。
Dammit！　　

You　have　a　great　deal　to　learn；　　the　elf　said；　but　you　have　much　potential；　all　of　you。　Falric；　Manfred；　Jonas；
Natale；　you　will　find　that　potential　as　Scavell　s　students。　　Again　the　soulboring　gaze。　Aegwynn；　your　destiny　will　
e　quite　a　bit　sooner。　We　will　reconvene　in　this　glade　in　a　month　s　time　for　the　transfer　of　power。　There　is　much
you　have　to　prepare　for。　　

With　that；　all　the　councillors　disappeared　in　a　flash　of　light。　



A　month　later；　having　taught　Aegwynn　about　the　legions　of　demons　and　their　horrific　minions　that　had　been
trying　and；　through　the　grace　of　Guardians　like　Scavell；　failing　to　encroach　upon　the　world；　Scavell　passed　on
the　power　of　the　Guardian　to　Aegwynn。　It　was　like　nothing　she　d　ever　experienced　before。　Spells　that　once　took　all
her　concentration　now　required　only　the　briefest　of　thoughts。　Her　perceptions　changed　as　well；　as　she　saw　far
beneath　the　surface　of　everything。　Where　it　once　took　an　effort　or　a　plex　spell　to　determine　the　nature　of　a　
plant　or　the　emotional　state　of　an　animal；　she　could　now　divine　it　at　the　merest　glance。　

A　year　after　that；　Scavell　died　quietly　in　his　sleep。　When　he　realized　he　was　dying；　he　had　arranged　to　find　new
mages　for　Jonas；　Natale；　and　Manfred　to　study　under。　Falric；　at　that　point；　was　ready　to　be　out　on　his　own。　Scavell　
willed　all　his　belongings；　as　well　as　his　servants；　to　Aegwynn。　

Less　than　a　month　after　Scavell　s　death；　Aegwynn　returned　from　the　small　village　of　Jortas　in　time　to　receive　a　
mystical　summons　from　the　council。　

As　soon　as　she　arrived　at　Tirisfal　Glade；　the　gnome　whose　name；　she　had　since　lear