The power core of Warcraft stood at the heart of technological progress. However, this resource came with a daunting limitation, it was incredibly rare and difficult to harness efficiently. On a small scale, the use of magic cores seemed manageable. Yet, when scaled to the level required for larger projects, the cost was staggering.
Even if the combined magic cores across the entire continent were gathered, they wouldn't last more than a few years. This left leaders grappling with a harsh truth: the continent could be bled dry of magic, and still, they wouldn't have enough to sustain their needs for long.
Faced with this grim reality, Logan began to explore alternatives beyond magical technology.
Logan stood deep in thought, his gaze fixed on the senior shipbuilder, Bettingfer, hoping for a spark of inspiration.
"Is there truly no other way? Something beyond magical technology?" Logan asked, a trace of desperation creeping into his voice.
Bettingfer, an expert in her craft, hesitated. "This..." She faltered, caught off guard. The silence that followed was telling; magical technology was the only thing she had ever known.
But then, the still air was pierced by an unexpected voice.
"*There is another way,*" an old voice echoed through the room.
Logan turned toward the crowd, watching as the snake people respectfully parted, revealing a venerable elder. She moved with a quiet dignity, her presence radiating authority.
"Mother?" Bettingfer's eyes widened in disbelief.
The elder ignored her daughter's astonishment, walking calmly toward Logan. Her scaled hands folded into a formal gesture, and she bowed deeply.
"Snake Tribe Elder Mary greets the Chieftain," she said in a voice both humble and wise.
Logan straightened in surprise, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the presence of the former chief.
"Elder Mary, there's no need for such formality," he replied, gesturing for her to rise.
The elders of the Snake Tribe held immense influence. In their matriarchal society, these women not only selected new chiefs through a rigorous election system but also had the power to remove them if necessary. The tribe had three elders: two were sixth-rank magicians, and one a formidable fifth-rank. Each was over a century old, their wisdom tempered by years of leadership and magical mastery.
Elder Mary was no ordinary elder; her background included mastery in shipbuilding, alongside Bettingfer. Her arrival intrigued the gathered crowd, especially Astali, a young member of the tribe who whispered to Logan, "Elder Mary is also a senior shipbuilder, like Bettingfer."
Logan turned to Elder Mary, his curiosity piqued. "Elder Mary, earlier, you mentioned another form of shipbuilding technology. What did you mean by that?" he asked with a polite smile.
The elder's sharp eyes met his as she responded solemnly, "There exists a non-magical shipbuilding technology, Chieftain; one that belongs to the Goblin Empire."
The mention of the Goblin Empire gave Logan pause. He had heard stories about the goblins, a peculiar and misunderstood race. Goblins were known for being short, unattractive, and notoriously greedy, but they possessed an uncanny ability to thrive despite their shortcomings. They controlled a vast continent of their own, dominating a third of the world's oceans with an unmatched naval presence.
"They may look unimpressive, but their technology has forced the other races to respect them," Elder Mary said, a wistful note in her voice.
Logan leaned forward, intrigued. "Have you ever met a goblin shipbuilder?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
The elder's eyes darkened slightly, recalling old memories. "Yes, I have. Goblins are unlike any other race. Despite their greed and frailty, they've achieved greatness where others faltered. They have no gods, no divine protection, and no celestial guidance. In the eyes of most, they are a forsaken race."
There was no trace of doubt in her voice. The conviction in her eyes was enough to make Logan reconsider his skepticism.
Logan remained silent for a moment, lost in thought. The tales of flying cities and goblin ingenuity swirled in his mind, stirring a strange sense of possibility. Then, as if struck by inspiration, he reached into his space ring and pulled out a blueprint; one he had acquired through the mysterious system warehouse.
The worn parchment unrolled with a whisper, revealing a detailed drawing.
The elder Mary, Bettingfer, and the others leaned in, curious about what their chieftain had just unveiled.
"What is this?" Mary asked, her gaze flickering between the strange symbols and the intricate design sketched on the blueprint.
"This," Logan said, a hint of excitement in his voice, "is a steam engine."
"A steam engine?" Mary repeated, the unfamiliar term rolling awkwardly off her tongue. Bettingfer and the others exchanged puzzled glances, clearly at a loss.
Logan smiled. "Allow me to explain. A steam engine converts steam into energy. It works by using a boiler to heat water, producing high-pressure steam. That steam expands, pushing a piston. The piston's movement drives gears, which can be used to power all kinds of machinery."
Mary stepped closer, studying the blueprint with renewed interest. The lines and diagrams seemed both alien and intriguing, as though hinting at an entirely new way of thinking.
"Steam?" she echoed, as if testing the word on her tongue. She leaned in, squinting at the design as if trying to unlock its secrets.
After several minutes of silence, the elder straightened, her expression a mix of confusion and wonder. "Chieftain... I'm afraid I still don't quite understand. You say this machine can work without magic?"
Logan nodded. "Precisely. It requires no spells, no enchantments; just heat, water, and pressure."
The idea seemed almost too good to be true. The elders and shipbuilders had spent their entire lives bound by the limitations of magic. The thought of a machine that could function without it was revolutionary, and unsettling.
Mary's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "If such a thing is possible... it could change everything. But this design; does it work? Have you seen it in action?"
Logan shook his head. "Not yet. But if the goblins can build flying cities, then surely we can master the steam engine."
The room filled with a strange, hopeful energy. The blueprint in Logan' hands was more than just a piece of parchment, it was a doorway to a new world, one where the limitations of magic no longer held sway.
"Perhaps the goblins have the answers we need," Mary said slowly, her eyes gleaming with possibility. "If we could unlock this knowledge, we wouldn't have to rely on magic cores anymore."
Logan nodded, feeling the weight of her words settle over him. The road ahead would not be easy, but it was clear that the future lay not in magic, but in technology.
The steam engine was only the beginning.
With a sense of purpose, Logan rolled up the blueprint and tucked it safely away. "We have work to do," he said, glancing at the elders and shipbuilders gathered around him.
Mary gave a slow nod. "Indeed, Chieftain. The future will not wait for us. Let's begin."
And so, with a blueprint in hand and curiosity in their hearts, they set out on a path that would take them beyond the world of magic, into the unknown realm of steam and ingenuity; where goblins, not gods, ruled the skies.