Bab 87: Welcome Ceremony
After everyone completed the oath ceremony, they seemed closer unconsciously, even though all of them knew each other for a long time.
This was also the reason why formality was important as they affected everyone in a subtle way. The commotion soon dissipated as the waiters and waitresses approached the vicinity, carrying tonight's dishes.
Lireesa waved her hand and dispelled the bubble. "Today's my treat. Enjoy the dinner before we go to the main theme. Oh! I almost forgot. This one beside is my eldest daughter—Alleria Windrunner."
Everyone nodded and greeted Alleria politely, who gestured back following the etiquette. They praised Alleria as expected of the child from House Windrunner. The boys' eyes went wrong whenever they looked at her and Lireesa noticed all of this.
Her mouth curled into a mischievous grin. Dare to even lay a glance at her precious daughter; these males needed profound lessons but now wasn't the time. She planned to teach them in the back of her mind.
Two men felt cold on their backs as if something ominous would surge upon them. Then, their eyes captured a smiling Lireesa, and they regretted following the girls. Although they had never sworn an oath, it wasn't too much of a difference when their girlfriends already had.
The two complained bitterly; it was just a look, what a fuss.
Lireesa: Even look is guilty. My daughter is untouchable.
Two men: Too domineering.
Lireesa: I'm powerful; what can you do?
Two men: Lady Lireesa, spare us.
Lireesa: not another time. Understood.
Two men: Yes, your grace.
The secret telepath between Lireesa and the men flushed within a few seconds. The two bobbed their heads up and down, confusing their female companion. And the occasion was over after a minute.
They finished the meal quickly and Lireesa brought them to her luxurious suite afterward, drawing laments of envy and experiencing first-hand the difference between ordinary and luxury.
Lireesa asked them after chatting for a while. "Do you boys and girls want to prepare before going to our manor or straightaway…?"
"Straightaway, milady. To be honest, we're really poor at the moment. Even our living expenses shouldn't last longer than 2 days." Kilnar interrupted anxiously, describing their pathetic circumstances.
Lireesa's eyelids twitched. Where had she seen the poorest mages? Right in front of her. Other mages might become crazy from their behavior—tarnishing the prestige of a mage.
Even if one is poor, they should behave arrogantly. That was the normal mage's motto. Material wealth was nothing but an extra convenience; the wealth of knowledge was the common pursuit.
Lireesa scoffed at these sayings. To reach for one's goal, one must fulfill everything before pursuing the desire; that includes finance, security and health. Without these, any pursuits would never last in their endeavors.
"Well, is everyone having the same issue?" Lireesa asked for confirmation and their reaction approved of Kilnar's words. "You all want to reach our manor as soon as there is a chance."
"Your grace, I apologize for troubling you with this mess," Kilnar spoke with a lack of confidence. It was too shameful for a mage to experience their situation.
Lireesa never meant to blame them; life was hard for anyone. She believed these collective friends gathered before the financial crisis separated them, urging them to walk on different roads.
The most convenient one was to join other nobles, to which Kilnar had opposed by speaking out about the disadvantages of being unable to attain their knowledge dream. Lireesa's offer fit their criteria and her generosity persuaded them in an obscure way.
"Alright. I got it. Then, I'll send you to my manor, right now." Lireesa clapped her hands to wash away their decadent spirits of mentioning their life.
"Now?" Kilnar was shocked for a moment before recovering. "Through a portal. Lady Lireesa can build a portal alone."
"It's just a matter of raising a hand." Lireesa's voice was noncommittal and she drew symbols in the air, her mouth emanating mysterious syllables. In the void, in front of everyone, a circular array appeared out of thin air and tilted upward vertically in a gradual process.
As Lireesa's mantra quickened the circle enlarged and huge mana started to gush in the arrays. Alleria on the side covered her mouth as the miracle unfolded. The rest of the mages had similar reactions but they delved more into the process.
They sighed at the immense control Lireesa had over the arcane. While she drew a portal spell, the immense mana fluctuation caused interest from different parties, powerhouses in Quel'Thalas, as several mental fields tried to probe her area. Those were from Legends.
Lireesa shielded the area with her huge mental aura and there was a collision between soul realms. Many retreated after some skirmishes. Despite being outnumbered, Lireesa didn't lose in her momentum.
There were even some attempts by some magisters using spells like [Observe] to paint the picture. Lireesa interrupted them and shut down their cameras. All of these happened in an instant while Lireesa concentrated on opening the portal.
The portal spell used magic nodes spread across Azeroth by triangulating the position, a mage desired. By connecting the two dots, a space channel was formed. Most of the time, the location would never be as accurate as Lireesa, who possessed the help of ancient wisdom, which lived on for several generations.
Her spell was complete. A portal toward her manor was created. Lireesa turned her head and nodded in the direction. "Go along. Windrunners there will help you with everything."
Regaining their composure, Kilnar and her companion bowed toward Lireesa and stepped into the portal without hesitation. After everyone was gone, Lireesa closed the portal.
Before it shut off completely, Lireesa remembered something and whispered into the channel. Lireesa hoped they didn't suffer any distraught from Windrunners' greeting.
Alleria watched Lireesa with wide eyes; she never expected her mother to be a magister. It was hidden too deeply, even from a family.
"Mom, when did you begin hiding us?" Alleria's question puzzled Lireesa, who thought she had never hidden anything.
"What do you mean, my dear? I've never hidden stuff from my family except for some things over your age." Lireesa answered the truth.
Alleria didn't say but pointed out the direction of the recent portal and Lireesa understood.
"Well, that's hard to explain. I somehow gained the talent to become a mage after your father's accident." Lireesa confessed everything but her quickness to studying the ability was due to her cheat which she would never spread around. Hmm…not yet until the moment Alleria grew up and Windrunner became very strong.
Alleria nodded and realized her mother wouldn't explain more. There might be a few secrets involved. "Okay, mother but are you still a ranger or a mage?"
"I can be both anytime, anywhere, any case." Lireesa's reply was short and simple.
"Wow, Mom. You're powerful." Alleria suddenly became like a child asking everything about the new strange knowledge and Lireesa explained patiently. Her vanity was satisfied again by her daughter's admiration.
Lireesa now realized why children were the best motivators for parents. Anything they affirmed was the fuel. Even if outsiders praised her levels and experience, Lireesa felt nothing.
If her daughters said the same, her heart lumped excited.
At the south of Quel'Thalas, fiefdom of Windrunner, Windrunner Spire.
Ella Trueseeker leaned on the reclining chair, savoring the peaceful night under the stars above the balcony. Her shoulders were numb from piles of work, serving as a butler for the Windrunner House's affairs.
The real lord had acted like a shopkeeper and nonchalantly left everything behind for her to solve. She cursed at Lireesa's behavior and wondered what she did in her past life to meet such High Lord.
While she badmouthed bitterly, she also hoped Lireesa succeed in the restaurant venture as this would become the main source of income in the future. A mere amount from the taxation of the fief wasn't enough for their future plans.
Strengthening the guards, fortifying the area, and eradicating the southern trolls.
As her eyes dazed, staring at the starlight, something alarmed Ella. She prompted herself up and tried to sense a direction. She sensed magic in the vicinity, something unfamiliar unlike spells used by Rangers.
Ella went inside and packed her bows and arrows along with the ranger suit, jumped from the balcony, and sprinted toward the magical aura. Her behavior attracted the attention of everyone around and all the guards armed themselves spontaneously without orders.
Some on-duty guards followed Ella. Fast and elegant they danced toward their destination and soon a golden circle formed in the void, slowly enlarging itself.
It was a teleportation portal, everyone knew. Who's it that dared to open a portal straightaway in front of their door?
By now, every elven ranger detected the aura and surrounded the portal. The visitors were unfriendly; the obvious hint was popping up straight into their area.
Ella narrowed her eyes and signal the surrounding guards with her hands as she whispered orders into their ears. She also picked up her weapon and drew the bowstring, aiming at the portal.
The mana gate still grew until three people could walk side by side with ease that it stopped. Soon, chatters in elven language resounded in everyone's ear but no one decreased their vigilance.
As the first person showed up to be a female elf, everyone relaxed their drumming hearts. Afterward, a group of 10 figures emerged out of the portal, which began to faint its luster and close the gap.
All elves, 8 women and 2 men. The same Kilnar's group sent by Lireesa.
Kilnar was the first to exit the portal and about to greet her fellow Windrunners before she froze in fear. The rest behaved the same way.
Before their eyes, a collective glitter of silver reflections from the moonlight and chilling air shrouded everyone. Being pointed by large number of arrows from female rangers wasn't cool, to say the least.
Their stunned appearance was the greatest tolerance. Not trembling and losing their footing was already capable enough in front of the murderous air emitted from the rangers.
The welcome ceremony was too exaggerated, right? If not for noticing their Windrunner's insignia, the group might complain, Lady Lireesa where did she send them off to?
"State your intention intruders. Entering House of Windrunner without permission, if not for the same elves, you're all shot immediately." Ella's whisper spell echoed across the area. "Raise your hands and do not move. Any quick moves will be put down."
The group all raised their hands without any protest, which they didn't dare to think of even. Kilnar spoke in order to clear the misunderstanding. "Please listen. We mean no harm. We also serve the same Lord. Lady Lireesa personally sent us through the portal."
"Haa!" Ella sneered. This must be the biggest joke. Where did Lireesa gain the power to possess magic? The sun would rise from the west if Lireesa became a mage.
"How about I also personally sent you back?" Ella retorted. "So that we don't lose our etiquette. Windrunners!"
Everyone's arrows glowed with blue brilliance and the fluctuation frightened Kilnar's group.
"Hold up! I'm telling the truth. I swear by Sunwell." Kilnar stuttered out. The energy intensity before them was too frightening. Even high-level mage like her could only fend off two or three such attacks.
The commotion stopped strangely and the arrows were soon put back. Ella's face showed embarrassment. Lireesa's whisper reached their ears just now.
She hoped her newly recruited member didn't have a bad impression of her. She waved off her hand while complaining about Lireesa's sudden action. Now the first impression of her ladylike character was gone.
"It's alright. Hehe. Apology for our abruptness." Ella instantly transformed into a polite lady. "Please, follow us, fellow sisters. Let me guide you around the manor."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
PraiseElune
PraiseElune Someone had been urging very seriously.
;) (>|<)
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