Arthas sat on a pile of rocks, resting with his eyes closed, when dangerous magical fluctuations made him immediately open his eyes.
A glacial blue beam of light streaked across the sky from one side, and Arthas reacted swiftly, opening an anti-magic barrier to block it before the beam could strike Frostmourne.
The moment it collided with the barrier, part of the magic was neutralized, part was reflected by the barrier, and those reflected spells landed in other unprotected areas, instantly congealing into bone-chilling ice.
"Villain! Don't even think about harming the residents of Theramore again!"
Arthas paused for a moment after hearing the furious shout—that voice was… Jaina?
Although this world's Jaina was more than ten years older than the Jaina from his own world, due to magic, time had left hardly any trace on her, and Jaina's voice differed little from what Arthas was familiar with, merely possessing more of the authority of a leader and ruler.
Jaina's figure swiftly appeared before Frostmourne and Arthas, riding a massive water elemental, her eyes filled with fury.
Arthas truly hadn't expected to run into Jaina here, so he hadn't bothered with any disguise. After all, Theramore was a dead zone after the explosion, located in the desolate Dustwallow Marsh, and he hadn't even considered encountering any living person here.
But now Jaina had indeed appeared, and even rushed right up to Arthas, catching him completely off guard.
Jaina had tracked the fluctuations caused by Arthas summoning the souls here. She had initially thought someone was using the souls of Theramore for ill purposes, so she furiously launched an attack towards the center of the fluctuations, intending to destroy the evil person there.
However, when she truly came before Arthas, she stood frozen as if struck by lightning, because she saw a face she had thought forever forgotten, a face that should not have appeared in this world.
"Arthas?"
Jaina's voice was like a dream, she utterly disbelieved her eyes. Yet, after a brief moment of surprise, she immediately became alert again, as this could very well be an illusion created by an enemy.
Thinking this, Jaina immediately cast several enhancement spells on herself. But even after these spells, which could free one from illusions and maintain calm, Jaina opened her eyes again, and she still saw the big boy with a helpless smile.
"Jaina, you don't have to doubt your eyes so much, do you?" Arthas was truly a bit exasperated, but then again, he wasn't supposed to be in this world; anyone seeing him would hesitate.
The familiar tone and voice caused Jaina to unconsciously drop her magic. She took two steps forward, somewhat lost in thought, her previous ferocity completely gone.
She found everything she saw utterly unbelievable; streams of souls behind Arthas outlined a picture shimmering like the starry sky, and the man she had once forgotten, yet who always appeared when she was vulnerable, had once again appeared before her.
When confronting Arthas in Icecrown Citadel, Jaina, facing Arthas who had fallen into the Lich King, could only flee; all emotions turned into panic and unease.
However, only when she truly heard the news of the Lich King's demise did she understand that all her feigned nonchalance was merely a trick to deceive herself.
In her memory, Arthas was always that gentle, handsome prince. She never wanted to associate him with a cold-blooded executioner, but Arthas had committed unforgivable crimes.
From that moment, Jaina froze her heart, isolating Arthas's name, until now, when the living prince stood before her, she became uncertain and bewildered again.
Jaina was afraid this was a phantom of the past, and also afraid Arthas would suddenly vanish. Conflicting emotions constantly gathered within Jaina's heart, making her hesitate, losing the competence and resolve she possessed as Lady Proudmoore.
"Clap."
Jaina looked up in astonishment, gazing at the warm hand resting on her shoulder, "This… isn't an illusion?"
"Of course not, Jaina," Arthas's voice was still as gentle, as clear as in days past, as if she and he were back in Lordaeron, back in the royal gardens.
Arthas had initially thought he wouldn't be able to handle the situation when meeting this world's Jaina, but when he truly saw Jaina, that thought dissipated like smoke.
Although strictly speaking, this was not the same Jaina he knew, the person before him was indeed Jaina Proudmoore.
The moment he saw Jaina, Arthas felt the sorrow and unease deep within her soul. Theramore, Ronin, the Burning Legion, the Horde—all these had opened countless wounds in this girl's heart.
When her heart could no longer bear these pains, her facade of strength finally collapsed, revealing her innermost vulnerability.
She regretted not being by Arthas's side to help him undo his wrong decisions; she regretted betraying her father, allowing the Horde to take the lives of her closest kin.
But she suppressed all of this deep within her heart, because she had to maintain the demeanor of Theramore's ruler, leading refugees from the Eastern Kingdoms to live on this new continent.
And the destruction of Theramore shattered Jaina's faith and reliance, plunging her into daily hatred and self-doubt. From the moment she began to despise the Horde, she also began to despise her former self.
Thus, Jaina entered a cycle of daily self-reproach and regret. Although she constantly tried to make changes to reduce her guilt and free herself, the gap between the past and reality was simply too great, and Jaina gradually began to believe that nothing she did could change anything.
Tens of thousands of Theramore civilians and innocents were torn to shreds by the magical bomb, sturdy city walls and ships were as fragile as toys under the power of the focusing iris, and an annihilating magical storm devoured everything within its range.
Archmage Ronin also sacrificed himself in this disaster; he opened a portal and guided the focusing iris to his location, pushing Jaina away from the disaster at the last moment.
However, the Jaina of the past had already "died" in the ruins of Theramore. Having experienced such a tragic catastrophe, Jaina's hair turned half-white almost overnight. Her tolerance for the Horde and her views on peace vanished the moment Garrosh's atrocities began.
The Jaina who once yearned for peace died forever in Theramore, leaving behind only an Archmage who harbored deep hatred for Garrosh and the Horde.