The Half Blood Mage Pt 1
The sky is purple over the magical city of Dalaran. Everyday life has resumed for the Arcane scholars living beneath the impenetrable dome of magic. Despite the city very recently experiencing many drawbacks between the Scourge invasion and some notable power struggles, things seem to have settled down as the city is being rebuilt to its former glory.
Within the city is an orphanage, mostly the children who lost their families during the Third War and rampage of the Scourge across the Northern Eastern Kingdoms. As the surviving wizards of the Kirin'Tor returned to the ruins of their city, the Alliance sent with them a newborn child without a home, Onara Moonwalker. A girl who stood out among the high elven and human orphans.
"Onara is not weird. She is just a bit different is all. Just like none of you are exactly the same." Orphan Matron Aria explains to the children.
The young half troll Kal'dorei sat off on her own facing the wall of the orphanage. Turquoise hair tied back into the same pigtails that all the other girls had. Eyes glowing blue and skin that was a less vibrant mix of green and blue. Most alienating were the small nubs of tusks that poked out from the sides of her mouth.
"She looks like those green guys that my dad used to tell me about that came through the black portal! Is she one of them!?" A human boy yelled.
"That's the dark portal, and no. She is not an orc. She is an elf just like many of you. She has also suffered loss like all of you, so I won't tolerate the unkindness you've all been showing her." Aria scolds crouched down to be on the level of the situation.
Onara has her hands over her mouth with tears forming in her eyes. Aria goes to Onara with a hand on her back to console her.
"I heard her parents didn't even die! They just didn't want her!" Hollered one of the elf boys.
"No wonder, she must have been an ugly baby." Whispered one of the girls, loud enough for Onara to hear.
Onara tries to hold back tears but runs out of the orphanage wanting to be anywhere but there. Aria calls after her but Onara runs out into the streets. Up the cobblestone road, the voice of the orphan matron fades. Suddenly a wall of ice shoots up from the street and Onara has to stop suddenly falling over herself down to the ground.
"Careful little one! It's dangerous up ahead." A human man in purple robes approaches the girl as the ice wall falls. The man has long blonde hair and a clean shaven, but visibly wrinkled, face. Kneeling down to her level he points at the construction just ahead.
"The streets are no place for a child like you to run around unattended." He turns to see her crying. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Onara covers her mouth trying to speak through the sobs.
"The other kids- they said- said I was ugly and- and that my parents didn't want me..." the child manages to make out.
The stranger offers an empathetic expression.
"That's very cruel. I'm sorry they would say things like that. I can't imagine how that must feel for you."
Aria catches up to the child.
"Onara! Don't run off like that!" The orphan matron scolds as she gently helps her to her feet and scans her for injuries. "Thankyou sir, for stopping her."
"Of course. You're her guardian I presume?" Asks the stranger, still kneeling down to Onara's level.
"I run the orphanage, so yes." Aria assures.
"Then with your permission, I'd like to offer her this to lift her spirits." The man conjures a mana cookie in his hands and presents it to the pair. Onara's face lights up.
"That is very kind of you. She may have it." Aria confirms as he hands Onara the cookie.
"How did you do that!?" Onara inspects the cookie with wonder and amazement.
"Magic." The stranger says with a smile on his face, as he waves a hand with an arcane glow causing Onara's face to beam with excitement. He looks up at Aria as he stands up. "Allow me to escort you two back to the orphanage."
As they reach the orphanage and Onara is sent inside, the stranger has a word with the orphan matron outside.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Elrik. I'm a professor at the academy. I'm curious, she mentioned the children here were being unkind to her."
Aria sighs. "Unfortunately. Her mother is a member of the Alliance who fraternized with a Troll before tensions rose to the point that they have now. Her mother wanted to send her to Moonglade so she could still be apart of her life, but apparently there was concern about the proximity to the Horde. So, she was sent here as reconstruction was starting. It was fine for a long time but I'm afraid the kids have started latching onto her differences in a bad way as she's grown."
"I see. She is much younger than any of the students we currently have, but she seems to have an interest in magic and I do wonder if she may feel a bit more accepted with us. If you feel it might be right for her, I know the right people to talk to."
~
The sky would stay purple under the dome of protection for several years. The once small child is now a less small child approaching ten years of age, running through the halls of Violet Hold in her trainee's robes. Her hair has grown to elegantly fall down to her shoulders.
"Miss Moonwalker! No running in the hallways!" Adius yells at the young student.
Onara blinks down the hallway "Sorry! I couldn't hear you. Guess you have to catch me first." Onara laughs turning the corner to a portal with the gnome professor looking up at her.
"You think I can't use magic for mischief too?" Adius opens another portal. "To my office young lady."
Onara pouts stepping through the portal. "Seriously? You're gonna write me up for that?"
"Not exactly. There are about to be some major changes around here that may impact you Miss Moonwalker."
Adius follows her through the portal that closes behind him. Onara takes a seat and the gnome steps up to his chair behind a small desk that is somehow still too big for him. Adius sorts through a few papers on his desk before pulling out an envelope with the Stormwind seal on it.
"That's for me?" Onara sits straight up in her chair.
"No. This is for me and for all the major administrators and governing bodies in Dalaran. But it pertains to you." Adius explains as Onara sinks down. "I won't get into all the politics of it or we'll be here all day. But, what you need to know is we will be transporting the kingdom of Dalaran over Northrend."
"What? You can do that?" Onara asks bewildered.
"We can do that. But what matters is we will also be opening Dalaran to outsiders for the first time in many many years. Both members of the Horde and the Alliance will be passing through."
"Really!? So does that mean I'll finally be able to see people who look like me!?" Onara exclaims.
"Hmm perhaps." The gnome ponders. "However, you are our youngest student and there will be potential danger with the outsiders. But thankfully any concern of that has been calmed by this." Adius files through the papers again to find a plain envelope.
He removes the letter inside and hands it to Onara. She quickly scans it and her eyes suddenly go wide shifting back and forth through the letter.
"This is really?..." Onara looks up at Adius.
"Yes Onara. It has been a pleasure teaching you but it's time for you to reunite with your mother."