Dawn of the Aspects: Part II by Richard A. Knaak Page B

of multicolored ley lines. All of Azeroth was draped in this complex arrangement of lines of magical energy, but those he currently viewed served a specific purpose. They powered the various wards that acted as the Nexus’s protection. Following along the ley lines, he began to inspect each ward carefully.
    Kalec quickly saw the weakest of the wards. He put forth a hand, which in this world view glowed with lavender energy, and gestured at the ley line needed. With his other hand, he drew from another of Azeroth’s ley lines and linked the two where the core of the first lay exposed—
    But before he could do more, the Nexus itself began to shimmer.
    Dismissing his spellwork, Kalec opened his eyes and immediately looked to the artifact. Not at all to his surprise, it had taken on a different glow, this one matching the array of magical colors associated with the immense forces in and around the Nexus. The stronger the relic’s glow, the less intense was that of Kalec’s surroundings.
    That the artifact could have any effect on the Nexus stunned Kalec. It had done little when he had last brought it here, but then, the artifact had not been whole before. The missing piece had not only magnified the whole artifact’s abilities but also possibly even stirred up others formerly dormant.
    Kalec grabbed the artifact and transformed. Planting it against his chest, the former Aspect fled through the Nexus as quickly as he could. The energies of the Nexus continued to fluctuate as he raced through tunnel after tunnel, until at last he reached the exit.
    Once outside, Kalec soared high into the sky. Below him, he could make out the entirety of the Nexus. The dragon sensed the various energies in play in a manner with which he was entirely unfamiliar. Kalec—who should have understood better than most the nature of such magical manipulation—could not fathom with what intent it was done.
    The rich colors normally reserved for the Nexus’s forces now radiated strongly from the artifact. As for the Nexus, it abruptly flared bright again, so much so that the blue dragon was forced to look away or be blinded.
    And then the intense stirring of magical energy subsided.
    What Kalec expected to see when he glanced back at the Nexus, he could not say. What he did see both perplexed and surprised him.
    The Nexus looked and felt to him exactly as it had before. With a wary hiss, the dragon circled his sanctum once, seeking any change, however subtle. Despite his best efforts, Kalec still found no difference.
    â€œAll that could hardly be for nothing,” he muttered to the infuriating object in his grip. “What did you do?”
    The relic, its glow once more normal, gave no clue.
    Snorting, the dragon dived back down to the gap through which he had emerged. As he entered, his gaze immediately went to the artifact. However, there was no change in the glow.
    Kalec returned to his chambers, expecting each moment that the foul thing would begin anew to wreak havoc. That there was no visible sign of it doing so did not assuage his fears in the least. While Kalec was aware that he might only be feeling paranoid, there was still the chance that the artifact might be up to something even while apparently quiescent.
    Determined more than ever to find some other relic that might help him combat the effects of the one he held, Kalec summoned forth an ancient piece in which he had particular hope. An oval crystal of a deep aquamarine hue and the size of his paw materialized in the air before him. Kalec was not certain of all its properties, but some of the knowledge that had been passed on to him gave him the impression that it might nullify the magic of the octagonal relic.
    But the moment he touched the crystal, its rich hue faded. Kalec quickly probed the artifact. It was utterly devoid of any trace of magical energy.
    A curse that mixed well the best—or worst—of dragon, human, and dwarf escaped the