"Dar'Khan, are you done yet?!"
Sassovar's voice echoed in Dar'Khan's mind, causing Dar'Khan to respond discontentedly, "Why are you interrupting at a time like this?"
"Damn it, another group of people has arrived outside. They've teamed up with Onyxia, and I can't hold them off for much longer."
Sassovar said angrily, "You have ten minutes at most. I don't want to lose this Red Dragon body!"
"Hmph, you'd better be clear, if the mission fails, Kil'jaeden won't let either of us off easy. Don't think you can get yourself out of this!" Dar'Khan had no intention of listening to Sassovar. Dreadlords are two-faced; if he believed their words, he would most likely be sold out, so he might as well sell out Sassovar first.
Anyway, as far as he knew, Dreadlords weren't that easy to kill. The worst-case scenario would just be—
As Dar'Khan was thinking, his expression suddenly changed drastically. Sassovar, sensing the anomaly, quickly moved away from the Arcane Sanctum and flew into the sky.
Golden radiance washed over the entire sanctum. In an instant, all the sanctum's devices began to operate at overload. Dar'Khan, sweating profusely, tried to regain control of the Arcane Sanctum, but the runaway magical devices and arrays made him like a small boat in the ocean. It was already difficult enough to protect himself, let alone regain control of the sanctum.
"Damn it… did he realize?" Dar'Khan thought of Kael'thas's face, and his expression instantly became sinister. If it weren't for that guy, he wouldn't be in this predicament today.
Seeing that he couldn't regain control of the Eastern Sanctum at all, and was instead disoriented by the surge of magic power erupting from the Sunwell, Dar'Khan laughed maniacally. In an instant, he released his control over the Arcane Sanctum and injected all of his fel crystals into the Arcane—
If he couldn't have the sanctum, he would destroy it!
Far away in Tranquillien, Kael'thas was calmly controlling the Arcane around the Eastern Sanctum, intending to strip Dar'Khan of his control, but soon his expression became grave.
A large amount of foreign energy was injected into Quel'Thalas's Arcane, causing a violent conflict with the Arcane magic. The load on the Arcane conduits simply couldn't withstand this intensity of internal impact, quickly reaching its limit. It seemed as though a quarter of Quel'Thalas's Arcane was about to explode and take off next to Silvermoon City.
At that critical moment, he immediately made up his mind, gritted his teeth, and severed the connection of the Arcane around the Eastern Sanctum. Using the power of the Sunwell, he forcefully opened a rift at the point of highest Arcane pressure.
Almost the instant he made the decision, multicolored magical light, mixed with a dark green hue of fel, burst through the dome of the Eastern Sanctum, creating a pillar of light that shot skyward. Kael'thas sensed the change in magic power and was about to adjust Banthinoriel's structure, but then remembered the previous damage Banthinoriel had sustained.
"Oh no!"
Kael'thas felt as if he had been struck by a hammer. His connection with the Sunwell was instantly severed, but the surging magic power still rampaged within his room. The young Sun King only managed to erect a magical barrier before being submerged in Arcane light.
Onyxia and the others, who were entangled with Krasus, saw the drastic changes happening in the Eastern Sanctum and also felt that something was terribly wrong. Without time to worry about the fleeing Krasus, Onyxia gritted her teeth and roared, "Come to me!"
Martigosa immediately transformed back into her dragon form, clutching the heavily injured Kare with one claw, and came to Onyxia's side, erecting a magical barrier.
How terrifying was the scene of a quarter of Quel'Thalas's Arcane energy welling up? Martigosa finally witnessed it. Destructive Arcane power surged from the ground, shattering Banthinoriel from within. After breaking through this final barrier, it soared into the clouds.
The ground shockwave was already a spent force compared to the sky-piercing Arcane light pillar, but even this small shockwave made Onyxia and Martigosa face a formidable enemy, using all their might to defend themselves.
The bursting Arcane light shone on Sylvanas's face. The exceptionally courageous ranger's face was now pale. She wasn't afraid of the damage from the Arcane impact, but rather anticipated the consequences of this terrifying explosion.
"Be careful!"
Two giant dragons shielded the people below them. Onyxia and Martigosa only felt their vision instantly covered by blue-white light, and then intense pain came from all over their bodies. But they still didn't retreat a single step, only increasing the intensity of their defense, desperately protecting themselves and the mortals beneath them.
Under the shelter provided by the dragons, Tulani treated the injuries and replenished the stamina of the two rapidly weakening dragons. Sylvanas, on the other hand, helplessly took two steps back and fell to the ground.
Nathanos helped his mentor up, followed Sylvanas's gaze, and heard Sylvanas's murmur, "Barrier…"
Valeera, looking around, then noticed the vanished Krasus. Realizing that the controlled dragon had escaped, she shattered a crystal ball with the hilt of her dagger, but she didn't know if the crystal ball could still function normally for communication in such a magical tide.
…
"What's wrong? An earthquake?" Baron Rivendare looked at the slightly shaking ink bottle on the desk and looked out the window in surprise, only to find that the residents of Stratholme were all looking up at the north.
He also looked north, but was dazzled by a pillar of light that shot into the sky. The baron stared in shock at the light pillar piercing the clouds, unable to imagine what was happening there.
…
In Zul'Aman, the trolls were also in a frenzy. They found that their connection with their gods was temporarily severed, followed by constant tremors of the earth. The troll commoners fearfully looked at the light pillar from Quel'Thalas, thinking it was the elves' weapon that had cut off their connection with their gods.
Zul'jin stood on the core lookout tower of Zul'Aman, looking at the light pillar with a solemn expression, "Malacrass, what is going on?"
The Hex Lord was also somewhat surprised at this moment, "Warlord, I sensed a change in the energy flow in this area… Also, the elves' turtle shell seems to be severely damaged and has lost its original function."
"Good… very good. Without that barrier, those weak elves will be no match for the warriors of the Amani Empire. Let them live a few more days… Once I completely unite the tribes and eliminate those discordant voices, these elves will pay a bloody price!"
…
"Master! Are you alright?!" Solarian rushed into the room, waving her hand to calm the restless magic, anxiously searching for Kael'thas's figure.
"I… I'm fine." Kael'thas stood on the balcony of the room. His usually upright posture now appeared somewhat hunched. "Banthinoreil… was shattered by the impact just now. I sensed it. The eastern runestones are basically shattered, and the barrier there has completely disappeared…"
Solarian also stood stunned upon hearing this. She knew very well what this meant.
Without Banthinoriel's protection, everything the High Elves had painstakingly created over ten millennia might turn into ruins.
…
Krasus, in mid-air, was sent flying by an even stronger shockwave. He painfully spat out blood, instantly losing his ability to fly, and plummeted to the ground like a kite with a broken string.
Sassovar, sensing that Krasus's life was like a candle in the wind, decisively chose to disengage. He didn't even dare to take the time to deal with Krasus, because the magical impact had also injured him. If he were caught by those behind him, he would probably have to return to the Twisting Nether.
A few minutes after Sassovar fled, the battered Onyxia and Martigosa led the group to the dying Krasus. Onyxia grimaced in pain and turned to ask, "Tulani, how is he?"
Unexpectedly, Krasus actually spoke himself.
"Cough… cough… that demon… has escaped… Don't mind me, go after him first—"
Onyxia impatiently slapped Krasus on the head with a paw, knocking him out completely, and complained, "You are Alexstrasza's consort. If we let you die here, the Red Dragon Queen will kill me."
Tulani also began to treat Krasus's injuries, while checking if Sassovar had truly escaped. "He is severely injured, not just physically, but also mentally. That Nathrezim has been tormenting him to break his will."
"Can he still survive?" Martigosa was a bit worried. Krasus was representing the will of Malygos and Alexstrasza to help. If he died here, not only would the elves be in trouble, but she and Kalecgos would also face severe punishment.
Onyxia glanced at Tulani, who was fully focused on treating Krasus's injuries, and shook her dragon head, "There's no need to worry about the Red Dragon's vitality. These injuries won't kill him, and there's also a healer with a holy hammer. If he really dies, it's most likely because he was controlled and died of shame."
Martigosa was speechless. At this moment, Kalecgos, holding his abdomen, slowly walked over, "That Dreadlords… Krasus is right, if he escapes, he will bring disaster to many lives."
"I don't know, asking me is useless," Onyxia bared her fangs. The injuries on her body this time were truly severe, almost comparable to when her father went mad and beat his children. Fortunately, Black Dragons are also thick-skinned, so although the injuries were serious, it wasn't to the point of collapsing on the ground. "Dreadlords are all like loaches. If he escapes this time, it will be even harder to catch him next time—Oh, by the way, where's Arthas? Wasn't he with you guys?"
"He stayed behind, saying he had other matters to attend to," Valeera truthfully replied, then secretly glanced at Sylvanas.
Sylvanas was somewhat distraught. Although she had no physical injuries, the shattering of Banthinoriel was clearly something she couldn't accept for a while.
Valeera sighed. Although she hadn't lived in Quel'Thalas for a long time, even she knew the importance of Banthinoriel and the Eastern Sanctum to the High Elves. Everything that happened today would be an eternal pain for the High Elves.
…
"Varimathras, you traitor!" Sassovar shrieked, trying to break free from Varimathras's control, but unfortunately, being injured, he was powerless against the combined strength of Arthas and Varimathras. He could only utter vicious curses before his soul was helplessly devoured by Frostmourne.
"Well done, Varimathras." Arthas swept his cloak and sheathed his runeblade.
Varimathras bowed slightly, but then his eyes darted around, and he cautiously asked, "Lich King, the souls of the previous Nathrezim… did you…?"
Arthas patted Varimathras's armor without saying much, but Varimathras smiled. He probably already knew the situation of his colleagues: although they weren't doing well now, at least they wouldn't have to return to the Legion and face Kil'jaeden's wrath.
.....
When Kael'thas rode his pure white strider into the area under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Sanctum, the sight before him froze him in place like a statue.
The ruins left behind after Banthinoriel was violently shattered still shimmered faintly in the sky over the eastern Eversong Woods, with fragmented runes symbolizing Arcane power floating above, proclaiming the terrible disaster that had occurred here.
Arcane electricity still flickered within the clouds; the power unleashed by the Eastern Sanctum had pierced and dispersed the clouds in the sky, but the resulting vacuum was rapidly compressed by atmospheric pressure, causing high-density clouds and residual Arcane energy to gather in the sky, forming continuous Arcane cloud layers. Moreover, the energy in these dark clouds was gathering the surrounding atmosphere, and it wouldn't be long before half of the Eversong Woods would be enveloped by them.
Only ruins remained of the Eastern Sanctum, and many Silvermoon City guards were conducting emergency repairs among the debris. A large number of mages had already arrived from Silvermoon City, setting up temporary camps beside the remnants of the Eastern Sanctum, trying to find a way to repair the shattered Arcane network pipelines.
On the surrounding roads, many refugees were fleeing. The burst of magic tide had almost drained most of the magic from the pipelines, and the fragmentation of the Arcane network had turned the eastern Eversong Woods into an anti-magic zone. Magic was difficult to gather here, almost negligible compared to the dense magic under the previous barrier and Arcane network.
The High Elf commoners living in this area suffered this unprovoked disaster and were being relocated to safe places under the arrangement of personnel dispatched by Kael'thas.
Among the teams evacuating refugees, Kael'thas spotted a familiar back. He waved off his few confidants who wanted to follow him and walked forward alone.
"Ranger-General Windrunner…"
Sylvanas, who was talking to the refugees and comforting them, heard the voice and instinctively tensed her body, but quickly relaxed. The Ranger-General turned around, revealing a very forced smile.
"I am no longer Silvermoon City's Ranger-General, Your Majesty the Sun King. I am just an ordinary High Elf in exile."
Kael'thas's golden hair, as dazzling as the sun, fluttered in the wind, but the new Sun King, meeting an old friend, showed no joy. "It is I… who have failed the people of Quel'Thalas, and failed you. I—"
His words were interrupted by Sylvanas's gesture. The High Elf Ranger brushed a strand of hair from her ear, her face bitter. "Your Majesty, you are already the Sun King."
Yes, I still retain the habits of a prince, but I have forgotten that a true king cannot so easily take all the blame upon himself…
Kael'thas was filled with mixed emotions. He had always felt that he was not ready to become the Sun King, but his father's death and the drastic changes in the Council forced him to shoulder this responsibility.
He had thought that the Quel'dorei's problems were in Silvermoon City, within the Sunstrider Royal Court, and amidst the decaying Silvermoon Council. But now he realized that things were far more complicated than he had imagined. The biggest problem they had to face had, in fact, been laid before them long ago.
—The Sunwell.
This term, once considered the glory of Quel'dorei civilization, now seemed incredibly heavy to Kael'thas.
The High Elves had built their civilization on the ruins of the Amani Empire. For nearly ten thousand years, they had used the power of the Sunwell to transform mountains, forests, and lakes, building one magical marvel after another across the lands of Quel'Thalas.
But now, it was actually…
As Kael'thas was lost in thought, Sylvanas saw Nathanos calling her. As if having made a decision, she bid farewell to Kael'thas.
"You have arrived, and I must go, Your Majesty. Anubeloredela'na (May the Sun guide us)."
With that, the High Elf Ranger pulled up her linen hood, and with agile steps, walked against the crowd, disappearing into the vast sea of people.
"Aren't you going to try to persuade her?"
"How can I persuade her—Arthas, you were here… Sylvanas came with you, didn't she? Where's Dar'Khan?" Kael'thas didn't have time to speak his words of retention when he heard Arthas's voice.
"Heh," Arthas pointed to the ruins of the Eastern Sanctum nearby, "He was in there. My men checked, and there's no trace of his body."
"But the cost is too great… Dar'Khan exchanged his life for countless innocent lives and for the lives of the heroes who defended their homes. I should have killed him long ago." Kael'thas's iron fist clenched, and the three magic orbs revolving behind him trembled violently.
Arthas, however, did not agree with Kael'thas's view. "You still don't understand. Dar'Khan was merely a pawn. The true cause of all this is the Burning Legion, and their goal is simple: your well."
With that, Arthas threw out a pair of fel alloy bracers. Looking at the bracers that landed at his feet, Kael'thas frowned and used magic to lift one of them.
"These are… Nathrezim bracers?" Kael'thas recognized a few distorted demonic characters. The archives of Silvermoon City and Kirin Tor both contained records of these demons, and Kael'thas, who always considered himself a top student, had naturally delved into them.
"That's right, high-ranking officers of the Burning Legion, practically direct subordinates of Kil'jaeden. We also dealt with an Pit Lord in the mountains on the border of Quel'Thalas. You should have seen those monsters in the Battle of Mount Hyjal. The price the Burning Legion paid for this operation was quite heavy."
Arthas also hadn't expected that, besides Brutallus, another Dreadlord had also descended upon Quel'Thalas. He had previously felt that the number of surviving Tor'watha Trolls was a bit too small. He had initially thought they were hidden by Dar'Khan to harass Quel'Thalas, but now he understood that those unfortunate souls had all been sacrificed by Dar'Khan as the price for the descent of two high-ranking demons.
An entire city of Trolls was sacrificed, and the price was four Guardian Dragons being severely wounded, and a quarter of Quel'Thalas being destroyed. This engagement clearly put the side of Azeroth at an absolute disadvantage.
Officers like Sassovar and Brutallus were countless in the Burning Legion, but elite Guardian Dragons like Krasus were few even among the entire Dragon Legion.
Moreover, the Twisting Nether's recovery rate for demon souls was terrifyingly high. Even Arthas couldn't intercept Brutallus's soul before it escaped, as it wasn't easy to firmly intercept a demon's soul in that explosion while simultaneously saving Sylvanas.
So Arthas, as usual, had tampered with Brutallus's soul. The next time he dared to appear on Azeroth, it would be a one-way trip with no return.
However, in addition to these menacing demons, Kael'thas and the High Elves faced an even more urgent problem.
"The three envoys sent by the Guardian Dragons to investigate the situation all sustained varying degrees of injuries. Except for the Blue Dragon named Martigosa, the other two were quite severely wounded, especially Corestraz of the Red Dragonflight. He was unfortunately captured and controlled by a Dreadlord during the battle and is currently in a serious coma."
Arthas recalled how disheveled the Guardian Dragons looked when he saw them. He found it hard to believe this was the result of a four-on-two battle. Onyxia also felt disgraced and flew away by herself after Tulani's hasty treatment, returning to Blackrock Mountain to lick her wounds. Now, only Kalecgos and Martigosa remained, along with the comatose Krasus.
"Are you saying… the Guardian Dragons will come to trouble the Quel'dorei?" Kael'thas's expression was grim. The Quel'dorei's current situation was already difficult enough. If the Dragon Legion were to step in at this moment, there might truly be no place for them on the entire continent.
"Not 'will,' but 'have already.' " Arthas seemed quite helpless. Although he had known this day would come, he hadn't expected it to arrive so suddenly. "When the three Guardian Dragon envoys were severely wounded, they reported the situation to the Dragon Legion and requested aid. According to reliable sources, Malygos, the Weaver, one of the Guardian Dragons, was furious and decided to personally come and demand an explanation from you, the Sun King."
Kael'thas's face grew uglier the more Arthas spoke. Although he had never seen a Guardian Dragon in person, he knew what level of existence they were. The ruins of the great war outside Grim Batol were still there.
Arthas clasped his hands, looking at the bustling crowd of refugees. "I will stay a little longer, serving as a buffer in the conflict between the High Elves and the Guardian Dragons. But truthfully, if the fundamental problem isn't resolved, it will be very difficult for you to gain the Guardian Dragons' understanding. Now that Banthinoriel is shattered, the Sunwell is exposed without defense, and the magic tide surging within it shines like a beacon even in the entire universe."
"You know the Quel'dorei cannot abandon the Sunwell." Kael'thas recalled what Arthas had once told him. "This is not greed or selfishness, but if we abandon the Sunwell, our civilization will face its end. The fate of the Quel'dorei is intertwined with the Sunwell!"
"Relax, Kael, I know all this." Arthas soothed Kael'thas's emotions. "But you truly need to seek a way out, at least to leave a fallback for your people. If things truly reach an irreversible point one day, you need an alternative plan sufficient to preserve your legacy."
"I will not let that day come, neither for the Burning Legion nor for the Guardian Dragons!" Kael'thas said stubbornly. Even though he understood Arthas's good intentions, the importance and uniqueness of the Sunwell to the Quel'dorei made it impossible for him to accept.
"Kael!" Arthas raised his voice, stepping forward until he was almost face to face with Kael'thas. "Have you forgotten the destruction of the Kaldorei Empire? The Well of Eternity was far more powerful than the Sunwell. What happened to the ancient empire that possessed the Well of Eternity? Have you forgotten? Are you stronger than Azshara?! Don't tell me Dath'Remar didn't tell you these things!"
Kael'thas was speechless for a moment. He was about to retort.
"Don't let your people be disappointed in you, Kael'thas Sunstrider," Arthas advised firmly. "The disaster at the Eastern Sanctum is a warning. You are not a foolish person, Kael, and you should not do foolish things… If you want to know the whole truth and how to resolve it, come find me alone tonight. I will wait for you."
By the end, Arthas's voice was almost inaudible. Only Kael'thas, standing before him, knew what Arthas had said. He looked at Arthas's retreating back, his gaze complex, unsure what choice to make.
Solarian, the Astromancer, walked to the Sun King's side with her staff. She looked at the master she served with some concern. "Master, are you alright?"
Kael'thas came back to his senses and waved his hand. "Go gather people to settle the refugees. Give the mages some time to salvage the accident site. Banthinoriel hasn't completely shattered yet; at least ensure the remaining barrier is not affected."
Solarian was about to leave after receiving the order but was called back by Kael'thas.
"Try to help me contact Theressta—though I don't know if she'll even receive my message anymore." The Sun King's smile was slightly bitter. When was the last time he saw his mentor?
He didn't know how the mentor he remembered, who was always serious and strict with him, would view him now. Perhaps she would be very disappointed…
…
Northrend, the Nexus.
Archmage Theressta was pacing anxiously in the hall. Beside her stood a fellow mage from Kirin Tor named Ilom.
Ilom advised his colleague, "Theressta, you should remain rational. Being anxious now won't solve any problems."
"Rational? I'm already trying my best to be rational!" Theressta couldn't hear Ilom's words at all. "My people are facing a huge threat, but the Weaver hasn't responded to my plea! That Eregos, he only knows how to play dead. My messages have completely fallen on deaf ears!"
"If it really doesn't work, you should return to Kirin Tor first, and then quickly go back to Quel'Thalas. Waiting here won't get you any results. Your people need you more right now." Ilom suggested, "The Weaver has likely already headed to Quel'Thalas. You know what I mean."
"Can Kirin Tor provide some assistance for me and the Quel'dorei?" Theressta frowned, even biting her fingernail anxiously, disregarding etiquette by putting her thumb in her mouth. "I do need to go back to Kirin Tor. At least I can try to find An—"
"I'm afraid Kirin Tor won't get involved in this matter," Ilom explained helplessly. "Do you think Antonidas would risk all of Kirin Tor to withstand the Weaver's wrath?"
Theressta was speechless. Any mage who had dealings with Antonidas knew his style. He was the most rigid type, handling everything in the most cautious way. Instead of making him take a risky decision, it was better to try to persuade all the other members of the Council of Six.
But in the current situation, it was unlikely that the other members of the Council of Six would agree. If nothing unexpected happened, Quel'Thalas was about to face Malygos's wrath.
Theressta was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. She was the only High Elf who could communicate with the Guardian Dragons. If even she couldn't get her words to Malygos, then Malygos certainly wouldn't listen to Kael'thas's explanations.
During her time away from Quel'Thalas, pursuing the mysteries of magic, her homeland had undergone too many changes. But before, these were just disputes between the Sunstrider family and other nobles of Silvermoon City, and Theressta had no intention of participating. Although she was Kael'thas's nominal mentor, most of Kael'thas's education was provided by the previous Sun King, Anasterian.
But the current situation was not a confrontation between the Sunstrider family and the Silvermoon Council; rather, the entire Quel'dorei civilization was threatened, and the Weaver stubbornly believed—
"Is Archmage Theressta here?"
"I am. Sun above, the Weaver finally—who are you?" Theressta initially thought it was a messenger from the Weaver responding, but then realized the person who arrived was not any Blue Dragon she knew.
The other party maintained the form of a High Elf. Her seemingly plain robe, actually embroidered with mysterious runes and intricate patterns, outlined her perfect figure. Her blue hair was casually draped over her shoulders in a very fashionable wavy style.
"My name is Stellagosa. Lord Malygos sent me to bring you to him."
.....
"Sylvanas, are you truly decided on not staying in Quel'Thalas? Kael'thas and the other Rangers would welcome your return," Arthas asked Sylvanas, who was somewhat lost in thought beside him, as he rode Invincible.
"Quel'Thalas does not lack Ranger-Generals. I know there are many excellent Rangers in the Farstriders who can take my place: Lor'themar, Halduron, and so on. It is also time for the Farstriders to be led by someone not from the Windrunner family. Perhaps this will also reassure the officials of Silvermoon City." Sylvanas's voice was somewhat weak; she seemed to have other things on her mind.
"Are you still thinking about what Krasus said to you when he was manipulated?" Arthas saw through Sylvanas's thoughts. "That was just a Dreadlords's attempt to sow discord. Don't take it too much to heart."
"I—sigh, never mind, Arthas, you know many things. You should be clearer than I am about whether what that Dreadlords said was true."
Sylvanas's words left Arthas with no good answer. After all, although he knew it was provocation from Sassovar, everything said within it was true, just presented in a way that was more likely to stir one's emotions.
The High Elf Ranger suddenly looked at Arthas, a different kind of light flickering in her blue eyes. "You are truly very different from other humans, Arthas."
"Why do you say that?" Arthas was a little surprised.
"You are powerful yet not arrogant, mysterious yet approachable, like the most devout believer, yet also like the most rebellious monster," Sylvanas recited like poetry. "I have met many humans in my life. Among them were powerful warriors, righteous Paladins, unyielding Mages, and holy Priests, but not one of them was like you, like an unfathomable vortex, attracting and devouring all attention."
"Your literary attainment is quite good, Sylvanas. Perhaps if you weren't a Ranger, you could even get a professorship at the academy in Silvermoon City," Arthas teased.
"I think so too, but that's all thanks to that fellow Lor'themar. All he does besides drawing his bow and shooting arrows is sit there shaking his head while holding a book of poetry." Sylvanas's mind recalled past times, when her eldest sister and youngest sister were still by her side, and their little brother ran around in front of the three sisters, showing off his clumsy archery.
During that time, she and her comrades sang joyfully in the forest, and she also took in her first and only human apprentice. Maris was a clever girl and the first human who made Sylvanas feel that she was different. And much later, Sylvanas met the second person who made her extremely curious.
Arthas Menethil.
She still remembered her first encounter with Arthas.
This human prince, like a hero, came to her side and saved her and a group of Rangers' lives. Sylvanas felt that if her eldest sister and youngest sister had been in her position at that time, perhaps there wouldn't have been any fuss with those two hotheads, Turalyon and Ronin—or even earlier, if Arthas had appeared before Nathanos, then she might have fallen for Arthas.
Unfortunately, Sylvanas was past the age of falling in love because of such things, but she still had a good impression of Arthas. Otherwise, she wouldn't have invited him to her banquet and, in the end, sought refuge with Arthas when she had nowhere else to go.
For Sylvanas, Arthas was a trustworthy friend and comrade, but as a woman's intuition, she could clearly feel that Arthas was different from all humans… even all mortal races. Arthas carried a burden heavier than anyone else.
It was not something forced upon him by others, but something Arthas willingly bore.
Previously, Sylvanas didn't understand what kind of burden this was, but after seeing Kael'thas today and the fleeing High Elf civilians, she suddenly realized that the aura Arthas inadvertently emitted was so similar to Kael'thas's just now.
A moment later, Arthas pondered for a moment and then extended an invitation to Sylvanas, "Actually, the problem of the Sunwell is not unsolvable. We should be fortunate that the Sunwell is not the only source of Arcane power in this world. If you want to understand some things, I will be meeting with Kael'thas tonight, and you can come listen."
"In what capacity?" Sylvanas suddenly asked.
Arthas looked at Sylvanas with a half-smile, "In whatever capacity you wish."
Sylvanas responded with a smile, "I understand, but I need to go back to Windrunner Spire first to get some things. It was too rushed last time, and there are some matters I need to attend to first."
"I will have Martigosa teleport you. I imagine you wouldn't want to interact with High Elf mages for now, and certainly wouldn't want them to access Windrunner Spire's teleportation array."
Sylvanas laughed heartily and said playfully, "If only you and Nathanos could combine, then I would truly love you to death, hahaha!"
"Uh."
This remark instantly silenced Arthas. He looked at his sturdy arms, then thought of Nathanos and Sylvanas's graceful figures, and actually shivered.
It's not necessary to become like Nathanos. At least I'm quite satisfied with how I am now.
Arthas thought this, but seeing Sylvanas regain her usual spirit, he was quite relieved—this Ranger-General had sacrificed too much for the people of Quel'Thalas. Perhaps a different approach, living for herself, wouldn't be bad either.
…
"I'll wait for you here. If you need anything, just call me out." Martigosa sat down on a bench in the outer courtyard of Windrunner Spire, not intending to follow Sylvanas inside. She had no intention of prying into Sylvanas's privacy.
"Thank you, Martigosa."
Sylvanas gazed at her home, which she hadn't seen for many days, with a look of nostalgia. She opened the magic-sealed door with an Arcane key. Even though she hadn't been home for some time, the Arcane magic applied inside ensured that everything in the spire was as tidy as before. If there were no external influences, this tidiness could last for hundreds or thousands of years.
The mysteries of Arcane were used by the High Elves in every aspect of their lives, but starting today, they should realize that Arcane and the Sunwell would lead their destiny astray.
Upon reaching her parents' study, Sylvanas gazed at her parents' portraits for a few seconds, then sighed softly and placed her hand on the picture frame.
"Mother, Father, Vereesa is doing very well, very happy… But… I couldn't find Alleria's whereabouts, and even our people are about to face an unknown future. What should I do…?"
After a brief silence, Sylvanas composed herself and retrieved a small necklace inlaid with sapphires from the bookshelf. This was a gift her sister Alleria had given to her and Vereesa before she left, and it was the only memento their sister had left for them.
Sylvanas pressed the gem against her cheek, as if recalling the warmth and confidence her family had given her. Unfortunately, the cold touch of the gem still pulled her thoughts back to reality.
"Sigh."
Sylvanas held the necklace, keeping it close to her, and tidied all the ornaments in the room. Finally, with a hint of reluctance, she left Windrunner Spire.
Perhaps for a long time to come, she would not return, for nothing remained here but memories. And now, Sylvanas believed there were more important things waiting for her to do.
Under the moonlight in Tarquelin, the golden Eversong Woods had lost some of its usual bustle, replaced by tranquility and peace, but atop the high tower of Tarquelin, Kael'thas was filled with worry, concerned about the future of the Quel'dorei.
"You're quite early," Arthas said as he ascended the tower, taking off his gloves and tossing them onto a nearby long table. "Mages certainly have it convenient in this regard."
"Such convenience comes at a heavy price. We didn't believe it initially, but now the truth is undeniable."
Kael'thas had no choice but to believe. He had once wondered why the ancient Elven Empire had fallen so completely and why his own branch had been driven out. It wasn't until the Sunwell's ley lines were severely damaged, his people displaced, and their homeland shattered by Dar'Khan's madness that he understood.
"At least you realized it's not too late. You know, those ancient Highborne didn't react until the Burning Legion's blade was at their throats." Arthas mocked the Highborne's idiotic actions from ten thousand years ago, which Kael'thas found quite unpalatable.
Because they had recently made the same mistake. Although the final outcome was not as tragic as that of the Highborne, they still paid a heavy price.
Dar'Khan Sunstrider, an Elf who could truly be called the contemporary Xavius, not only inflicted immense losses upon Quel'Thalas but also cast a shadow over the future of the entire Quel'dorei civilization. All records and information concerning Dar'Khan were sealed to prevent the emergence of a second imitator.
So much so that now, when Kael'thas heard that name, an uncontrollable rage burned in his heart.
But Arthas immediately doused Kael'thas's fury with a bucket of cold water. "So, have you thought about the future? Like how to deal with the Weaver, and the demons who might arrive at any moment to seize the Sunwell?"
"..." Kael'thas was speechless. What could he do? The Quel'dorei civilization flourished because of the Sunwell, but it was also too deeply intertwined with it. Unlike the Night Elves, who would only be severely weakened by the loss of the World Tree, if they lost the Sunwell, their entire race could face annihilation.
"It seems you haven't decided yet."
"I'm not in the mood for riddles right now, Arthas," Kael'thas said, feeling helpless and lacking confidence. "You know our current situation, even better than most High Elf. Tell me, what should I do?"
Arthas pondered for a moment, then slowly began to analyze the situation for Kael'thas.
"First, you need to ensure the safety of southern Quel'Thalas. Banthinoriel faithfully guarded Quel'Thalas for thousands of years and has fulfilled its duty. You will probably need some time to adapt to the active Trolls after the barrier weakens. Zul'jin will not give up easily; I'm already surprised he retreated this time and didn't take advantage of the situation."
Kael'thas strongly agreed. "I'm also curious about the reason for the Troll retreat, but my scouts say that different Troll tribes reacted very differently after the barrier broke. A significant portion of the Troll tribes were very chaotic at that time. Our advisors believe they may have had internal conflicts."
"Regardless, the best way is to eliminate Zul'jin. Without Zul'jin, the Forest Trolls will find it very difficult to maintain their current level of organization."
Arthas suggested. He didn't not want to turn the Trolls into a force against the Burning Legion, but the hatred between the Amani Trolls and the High Elf was nothing short of a blood feud. Moreover, while the Troll race appeared savage and uneducated, they had once possessed a civilization comparable to that of the Night Elves and were incredibly arrogant, with even different tribes disliking each other. It was utterly impossible to make them accept the Alliance.
The Zandalar Trolls might be more reasonable, but they were mostly in a state of non-interference. Unless something occurred that could threaten the continued existence of Zandalar, they generally would not get involved.
However, the prophet named Zul often wandered around continents far from the Zandalar Islands, seeking something unknown. If he were encountered, and it was discovered that he had sided with the experimental Old God sealed in Uldir, then the best course of action would be to eliminate him.
"This will be a brutal war, but we have no choice." Kael'thas's face was filled with sorrow. The Amani Trolls were not easy opponents. "Arthas, as my father's successor, the new Sun King, I implore humanity to honor the alliance we once signed and extend a helping hand to us."
"Don't worry, Kael. Once our war in Outland is over, we will immediately return to resolve the Quel'dorei's troubles. After all, if Quel'Thalas were to be breached and fall to the Trolls or demons, the other races on the entire continent would also suffer disaster. As long as you do not betray the Alliance, the Alliance will always be your strong backing."
Arthas paused, then pointed to another crucial issue. "As for solving the Sunwell problem and the Arcane addiction that plagues you... I am not a specialized Arcane researcher, but I do know some information that might be helpful to you. However, the answer to the problem still needs to be found by yourselves."
"Thank you very much. I am all ears." Kael'thas's expression was serious; this concerned the survival of his people.
"Malygos is very displeased with the existence of the Sunwell. After all, he has long been tired of mortal races' misuse of magic. Before, he would even attribute the tragic fate of the Blue Dragonflight to mortals' abuse of magic. Although he is much more rational now, if you really do something that might repeat the events of the Well of Eternity, he will certainly destroy the Sunwell first."
Kael'thas was also very helpless about this. The Guardian of magic, to some extent, represented the highest will of Azeroth. Even for the High Elf, defiance would not end well, as they were no longer the once-flourishing Highborne, but merely later generations clinging to a corner of the world.
"So it's best for you to use the Sunwell's power appropriately. However, now that Banthinoriel has been breached, any use of the well's magic will make Quel'Thalas and Azeroth shine like a beacon in the cosmos. You'd best be prepared; the area once guarded by the Eastern Sanctum is likely to become a paradise for otherworldly beings."
"As for a solution to Arcane addiction... I can currently think of two paths. One path is the one you've already visited, the ruins of Eldre'Thalas. There are many Highborne who have survived since ancient times. For so many years, they have also suffered from the torment of losing the Well of Eternity. To have survived the struggles of Arcane addiction, they must have a way to solve it."
Arthas was unsure to what extent the Shen'dralar Elves had solved Arcane addiction, because not all Shen'dralar Elves needed to extract energy from demons to survive. Moreover, some Shen'dralar were very dissatisfied with Tosseledrin's rule and methods. They might have their own unique way of solving Arcane addiction.
But he guessed that method was not easy, or rather, it could not be popularized to the vast majority of people, because if they could do it, they would probably have used it to overthrow Tosseledrin's rule long ago and stopped extracting the corrupt energy of demons.
"But last time we went to Eldre'Thalas, besides excavating some antiques and texts, we barely saw any living Highborne." Kael'thas recalled his experience in Eldre'Thalas and sighed, "Perhaps they don't want to see us, descendants of the ancient High Elf, and just want to live their own lives."
"Don't be discouraged, Kael. Remember that everyone has different attitudes. Not all survivors of Eldre'Thalas will have the same ideas. After ten thousand years of self-isolation, they will also want to re-enter modern society — speaking of which, there's also a second method."
"Where on earth do you get all this information, Arthas? Sometimes I really wonder if you've been alive for ten thousand years." Kael'thas, for once, made a joke, then waited for Arthas to continue.
"There's a city, once one of the jewels of the Night Elves Empire, Suramar. There's a way to permanently solve Arcane addiction there."
Kael'thas came to the top of the tower with a heart full of doubt and worry for a secret meeting with Arthas. Although his sorrow was slightly lessened when he left, the heavy fate seemed to have placed an even more severe shackles on him.
After Kael'thas left, two graceful figures darted out from the shadows of the balcony. Sylvanas untied her platinum blonde hair, which had been tied into a ponytail, and said to Valeera beside her, "I thought you no longer cared about the Quel'dorei."
Valeera, with a deadpan expression, glanced at Sylvanas and replied, "I just no longer reside in Quel'Thalas, but that doesn't mean I can just ignore the future of my kin and compatriots."
"Alright, then I'll temporarily count you as one of my helpers."
"I only obey the orders of my superiors, Sylvanas, and you are not my superior yet."
Sylvanas stopped bickering with Valeera and asked Arthas, "So, the thing that will save the High Elves is in Kalimdor and that… Broken Isles?"
The two female elves who had eavesdropped on the entire conversation between the two kings showed no self-awareness. Sylvanas even wondered why Arthas didn't explain things more clearly.
Arthas merely said, "I want Kael'thas to focus on the immediate matters for now. The troll threat has not been completely eliminated, and sending a large number of people to Feralas or the Broken Isles at this time would undoubtedly be a foolish act."
Mana addiction is an important issue that requires long-term exploration, but the most urgent problems at hand are how to deal with the Blue Dragonflight, how to get rid of the ambitious Zul, and how to avoid the demons that might descend at any time.
"Hmm… Quel'Thalas indeed can't spare the manpower and energy for this, but perhaps I can rally some people to investigate without affecting Quel'Thalas's situation." Sylvanas lowered her head in thought. "I plan to try my luck in Feralas first. What about you, Valeera?"
"I have other missions." Valeera was unenthusiastic, not because she was indifferent to the fate of her compatriots, but because she currently had many more severe and urgent matters to deal with.
"Alright, alright, suit yourself. But Arthas, are you really sure Suramar still exists? You know that city wasn't far from the center of the explosion back then."
Sylvanas was quite puzzled. The High Elf possessed many ancient texts passed down from ancient times, and she also knew a fair bit about Suramar, one of the jewels of the Elf Empire.
"This problem… or rather, both solutions to mana addiction, probably can't avoid your distant relatives—the Night Elves. After all, they were the first witnesses to that event, and there's almost no physiological difference between the Highborne and the Night Elves. Their blood ties are far closer than yours as descendants of the Highborne." Arthas began a history lesson. "And I'm very certain that during their long period of guardianship, the Night Elves couldn't have been completely ignorant of Suramar and Eldre'Thalas. It's just that they preferred to ignore and forget everything that caused them suffering back then."
"I don't really like dealing with these… 'distant relatives' of mine. Although they are naturally close to nature and also love peace, I always feel awkward when I'm with them, and the way they look at us is also very strange." Sylvanas recalled the Night Elves' attitude towards the High Elf and slightly furrowed her long brows.
"Misunderstandings and estrangement need time to resolve. After all, it was indeed the Highborne, to whom you belong, who brought about the destructive Burning Legion, and the attitude of the Night Elves' civilians and soldiers towards the Highborne was thus set."
Sylvanas understood this, but she also didn't have the habit of trying to warm up to those who were cold to her. She still planned to explore Feralas herself first and gather some old friends to see if they could contribute to the future of Quel'Thalas.
Before she left, she asked, "What about you, Arthas? Are you going to the Outland front?"
Arthas looked up at the starry sky and slowly replied, "No, Azeroth still has many problems waiting for me to solve, and everything is progressing smoothly in the Outland. We've only encountered sporadic resistance, and it won't be long before we can take this transit point."
...
"Archbishop, you've been waiting here for almost two hours." Lightforged Galen questioned Archbishop Alonsus Faol, who was standing on the cliff edge. "What are you waiting for?"
"Waiting for the Light's revelation, Galen. Be patient. You've made great progress recently, but there's still much to learn." Faol's voice was deep and peaceful. His voice contained no extraordinary power, but every word he spoke revealed his piety towards the Light.
"I understand, Archbishop."
Galen actually understood nothing, but since Faol said so, he could only wait by his side, stiff-necked, accompanying Faol in waiting. As for what they were waiting for, he had no clue at all.
Time passed by minute by minute. Galen had become so distracted that he was almost entering a meditative state, but just then, his heart pounded violently, startling him from his pre-meditative state.
Some kind of premonition existing in the unseen made him instinctively raise his head, and his bewildered gaze suddenly cleared when he saw a streak of purple light in the distant sky.
"Archbishop, look at the sky."
Lightforged Galen eagerly pointed to the meteor in the sky for Faol, but Faol merely smiled calmly. The saint slowly said, "The 'guest' we've been waiting for has finally arrived."
...
On a secluded island northwest of Blackshore, Tyrande looked at the thriving World Tree and the Night Elves who had already relocated to this newly grown giant tree, feeling both relieved and a little uneasy.
"Priestess Tyrande, is what we are doing not in line with the rules?" The Priestess showed a rare moment of apprehension for someone who had led her people for ten thousand years.
"Priestess Tyrande, I don't understand what you're saying," Fandral Deerhelm said with a touch of fanaticism. "This is the World Tree we planted with our own hands, a sky-reaching trunk just like Nordrassil, and a new future for our race. I specifically chose this desolate island so that it wouldn't affect the forests elsewhere and could continue to protect the Kalimdor continent."
Tyrande was silent for a moment, suppressing the unease in her heart. "Perhaps you are right, Fandral, but I hope to receive the blessing of the Guardian Dragons. You know, Nordrassil's previous blessing, along with—"
"No, we don't need those dragons at all," Fandral shook his head disdainfully. "Can't we do it ourselves? What use are those dragons besides telling us what to do?"
"I'm just worried that without the blessing of the Guardian Dragons, Teldrassil might attract ill-intentioned attention."
Fandral sneered a few times, gazing at the Priestess of the Moon with an expression that Tyrande found unfamiliar. The Arch Druid said slowly and heavily, "No matter what ill-intentioned fellow it is, I will not tolerate his transgressions."
"Arthas, you better explain to me what benefits these annoying elves have given you that make you protect them so much!"
Malygos glared at Arthas. If Arthas hadn't constantly spoken up for Quel'Thalas, he would have directly destroyed the Sunwell.
"They need some time, Malygos. If you destroy it now, at least half of the High Elves will die." Arthas remained calm in the face of the enraged Weaver. He understood Malygos's personality quite well; if he truly believed the elves were beyond saving, the Weaver wouldn't have listened to him at all and would have destroyed the Sunwell first.
"That's the karma these fools brought upon themselves! If the Sunwell isn't erased, when the Burning Legion finds Azeroth, it won't be just half the elves who die!" Malygos still insisted on his view. "Perhaps I should have made Dath'Remar and his group disappear into the Endless Sea ten thousand years ago."
"This isn't the optimal choice, you know that, Malygos. The existence of the Sunwell has been exposed. Instead of destroying it now and locking the stable door after the horse has bolted, why not think of ways to help the elves solve their magic addiction? That way, at least the Sunwell won't become their weakness." Arthas said, looking at the two "elven" ladies beside Malygos. "Or perhaps you might listen to what others have to say."
"Others? Who? Who else can make a decision on such a major matter?"
Malygos glanced around and realized Arthas was referring to Stellagosa and Theressta. He snorted, saying rather arrogantly, "Stellagosa is just a child; she hasn't seen all the foolish things these elves have done!"
Theressta looked embarrassed and helpless. She knew that in Malygos's eyes, she was no different from a transparent person, but she still tried her best to secure the rightful survival of her compatriots. "Weaver, please give the High Elves some time. We will do our best to eliminate the negative effects of the Sunwell and absolutely will not let it become a second Well of Eternity."
"Easy to say. Quel'Thalas is not even an ant compared to the ancient Kaldorei Empire. If they couldn't solve the problem, why do you think you can?" Malygos's expression turned cold. He glared at Theressta, intimidating her without even raising his voice, and even the magic in the space became oppressive due to his emotional shift.
Theressta's mastery of magic was exceptionally high, but it was precisely her keen perception of magic that made her more sensitive to changes in the Arcane and magic. She thought Malygos was enraged by her words and broke out in a cold sweat.
"Grandpa Malygos, don't get too angry; it's not good for your health."
Stellagosa opportunely spoke up to soothe Malygos. Hearing Stellagosa speak, Malygos's sour face immediately softened, but he still didn't give up his plan to punish the Quel'dorei. "Stellagosa, don't be fooled by these glib elves. They've lived for thousands of years and know plenty of sweet talk."
Stellagosa looked at Theressta, who was subtly pleading beside her, and couldn't bear it. "But they just want to live, Grandpa Malygos. I've lived in the Broken Isles for many years and know what elves without an energy supply turn into. Perhaps some of them deserve it, but many more are innocent."
"Alright, alright, I'll consider it. You take this elven mage out first; she annoys me." Malygos finally compromised. Feeling that he owed the Blue Dragonflight too much, he always found it hard to be stern with Stellagosa, a new generation Blue Dragon who had been away from her homeland.
After Stellagosa and Theressta left, Theressta bowed deeply to Stellagosa with immense gratitude. "Thank you very much, Miss Stellagosa. If it weren't for you—"
"Ah, don't thank me. If Grandpa Malygos had truly made up his mind, I couldn't have changed his mind, but this is all I can do. The Sunwell issue is indeed very serious this time, and a slight misstep could bring disaster to all of Azeroth." Stellagosa shook her head. She knew Malygos hadn't truly made up his mind, otherwise, he wouldn't have come in person but would have directly destroyed Quel'Thalas's Arcane from the Eye of Eternity.
While grateful, Theressta was also very curious about Stellagosa's identity. Malygos actually allowed her to call him Grandpa, which indicated that, at least in Malygos's eyes, Stellagosa held a very important place in his heart. Even if Stellagosa wasn't Malygos's offspring, he treated Stellagosa as his own descendant.
This elven Archmage decided to cultivate a good relationship with Stellagosa, hoping to at least secure a bit more hope for the Quel'dorei—sorry, Stellagosa, although the Weaver was right, High Elves are indeed very good at sweet talk.
…
"Since you dislike the High Elves so much, why did you let Stellagosa go with Theressta?" Arthas teased.
"That Theressta looks young and beautiful, but she's actually from Anasterian's generation. Even Kael'thas has to call her teacher. Among the current High Elves, few are more noble in status or stronger in power than her," Malygos replied. "Although Stellagosa is very well protected by that old fellow Senegos, as a new generation of the Blue Dragonflight, she still needs to learn more about the truth of this world. Theressta is a good channel."
"Heh heh, it seems your main purpose for coming this time wasn't the Sunwell, was it?" Arthas realized Malygos had a hidden meaning.
Malygos glared at Arthas. The old dragon said irritably, "What do you think? The Sunwell will cause trouble sooner or later. I sent Kalecgos and Martigosa over just to see how big a mess they've made. You should have a group of Shal'dorei elven souls under you, right? Don't you know what kind of elves they are?"
Arthas smiled without speaking. In his opinion, Malygos was not a dragon who would sit idly by. As he said, the Sunwell being exposed to the Burning Legion's sight was only a matter of time. Even without Dar'Khan, during the Orc invasion, those Orc warlocks stayed in Quel'Thalas for so long; did no news at all reach the Burning Legion?
The arrival of Brutallus and Sassovar this time clearly illustrated the problem. Just a small Dar'Khan made Kil'jaeden send two high-ranking officers, one overt and one covert, as vanguards. Kil'jaeden's emphasis on this matter was extraordinary.
"Anasterian's death was very strange. I know that Night Elves' prisoner escaped, but the problem is that although he is very strong, it's strange that he could kill Anasterian in a short time with the support of the Sunwell," Malygos said. "I guess the Betrayer probably made some deal with Anasterian… Although from Kael'thas's performance, he shouldn't know about these things, but I have to be wary of the possibility that some High Elves have already connected with the Burning Legion."
Arthas listened to this, then remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Whether the Betrayer made a deal with the former Sun King, or what kind of deal, I don't know, but I do have a small deal with him."
Malygos frowned upon hearing this and said seriously, "Have you thought this through? We still haven't figured out Illidan's true stance, and making a deal with him is undoubtedly playing with fire."
"Old dragon, you might be blinded by the tragedy that happened back then, but think about it now, with Illidan's personality, would he really side with the one who blinded him?" Arthas retorted.
It was Malygos's turn to be silent. He had always disdained those arrogant ancient Highborne, but he did know something about Illidan.
"So what deal did you make with him?" Malygos prepared to learn more about the situation.
"The Alliance will 'cooperate' with him unknowingly to jointly eliminate the remaining forces of the Burning Legion in Outland and get rid of the Deceiver's spies around him. He, in turn, will steal something from the Burning Legion while we draw Kil'jaeden's attention."
"This is too dangerous. If he has ill intentions, all of the Alliance's effective forces will be annihilated—" Malygos originally wanted to criticize Arthas's reckless behavior, but then he thought of Arthas's eccentricity, which was no less than his own Bronze Dragon brother who was constantly paranoid, and he swallowed the rest of his sentence. "Are you sure it's worth it?"
"If it were just that, I certainly wouldn't agree, but our agreement has a final clause."
Malygos realized the main point should be here, so he gestured for Arthas to continue.
"Once Illidan gets what he wants, he will immediately escape from Outland back to Azeroth, and deliberately leave traces for Kil'jaeden to track, until Kil'jaeden falls into our trap."
After Malygos listened, he thought carefully for a moment and quickly said, "How could the Deceiver easily believe such a trap?! It seems a bit too childish."
"What if the item Illidan steals is important enough that if it isn't recovered, even Kil'jaeden himself would be punished by the Dark Titan?"
Malygos's heart skipped a beat, and he exclaimed, "What are you planning to steal? You can't possibly be going to snatch Sargeras's weapon, can you?"
"Not Sargeras's weapon, but the 'tool' that allows the Burning Legion to dimensional travel the cosmos." Arthas said, "Illidan initially planned to use the Sunwell as bait, but I refused. The final battle location was chosen to be Northrend."
"Hmph, it seems you're planning to have us do your dirty work again?" Malygos couldn't help but laugh and curse when he heard the ambush location. "I haven't even settled the score with you for hiding Sindragosa's matter from me!"
"Once Azeroth is safe, I'd be very happy for you to settle the score with me."
"One last question, why are you in such a hurry to move against Kil'jaeden?" Malygos asked seriously.
Arthas heard this and tilted his head slightly. The light from the elven-style chandelier on the ceiling was a bit dazzling. "We most likely can't completely kill Kil'jaeden, just like Archimonde, but if both Archimonde and Kil'jaeden are injured, and the Burning Legion loses an important tool, they will inevitably lie low for a period. At that time, we will have a chance to breathe and solve the problems on Azeroth, and then seek an opportunity for a decisive battle with the Burning Legion."
Theressta finally received a satisfactory answer: Malygos agreed to temporarily postpone his actions against the High Elves, but if such a major blunder occurred again, Malygos would immediately "initialize" the Sunwell, meaning he would revert it to its original arcane weave state.
Although this outcome undoubtedly hung a Sword of Damocles over the High Elves, at least it didn't immediately sentence their race to death. Kael'thas knew that the safety of the Sunwell would have a profound impact on all of Azeroth, and their fate was closely intertwined with the entire world.
"I will send more personnel to the Outland to assist the Alliance's war efforts, but most of them will be mage units. I probably can't spare too many from the Farstriders, as the Amani Trollss will surely make a comeback soon in Zul'Aman."
Kael'thas was still quite concerned about the stability of the southern border. He knew that to ensure Quel'Thalas could rest easy, following the Alliance's pace was essential. However, the Amani Trollss wouldn't give advance notice of their attacks. Now, Banthinoriel was almost completely damaged. While not irreparable, it would take a very long time to fix.
During this period, Quel'Thalas was like a defenseless maiden to the Trolls, completely unprepared. For the safety of the territory's residents, Kael'thas couldn't withdraw the rangers guarding the border.
Lor'themar Theron and Halduron Brightwing were stationed on the southern defense line, and most of Silvermoon City's elite troops were also defending in Tranquillien and surrounding areas—the land where Elves and Trolls bordered was simply too vast, forcing the Farstriders to spread out across every part of the defense line, and every outpost had to have strong, capable individuals guarding it.
In short, putting everything else aside, the rangers guarding the border would definitely have to work sleepless shifts. This situation only intensified Kael'thas's sense of urgency.
Even if the rangers could sustain such a vigil for months, or even years, as long as Banthinoriel could not be restored, Quel'Thalas would remain in a dangerous situation.
At the same time, another problem also gave Kael'thas a headache—he was aiding the Alliance's war efforts while also having to guard against the Amani Trollss. All of his capable ministers and generals were even holding multiple positions, making it impossible to spare anyone to investigate the solution to the High Elves' arcane addiction that Arthas had mentioned.
"So how did you end up solving this problem?" Arthas asked with some curiosity.
Kael'thas said with a headache, "I funded a so-called 'civilian organization' to complete this arduous task, but according to my informants, the Silvermoon Council is very likely behind this organization."
"That is indeed an unsettling factor, but it's also a solution." Arthas was noncommittal about this; since Kael'thas chose to do so, it must have been after his own considerations.
He understood very well that Kael'thas was worried he might personally fund a second version of the old Silvermoon Council, in which case all previous efforts would have been in vain.
"I will closely monitor the movements of this Holy Relics Society to ensure that every bit of their funding and power is used to benefit Quel'Thalas and the Alliance. I have already appointed Solarian to a position within this society; with her skill, a vice-president role is more than sufficient."
What reassured Kael'thas slightly was that the current leader of the Holy Relics Society, Tethys Bloodwatcher, also considered breaking the High Elves' arcane addiction to be his lifelong pursuit, which was why he ultimately decided to choose the Holy Relics Society.
Arthas nodded, preparing to step into the teleportation array to leave Quel'Thalas, but was called back by Kael'thas.
"Sylvanas… is she not planning to return?"
"Actually, I don't even know where she is now. By the way, she also abducted one of my capable generals. I was just wondering if I could get any compensation," Arthas quipped.
Kael'thas covered his face with his hand, helpless yet with a hint of melancholy. "I hope Lady Lireesa will forgive the Sunstrider family. We have failed the Windrunner family. Please deliver a message to Sylvanas for me: Quel'Thalas will always open its doors to welcome the children of the Windrunner family."
Arthas nodded slightly, "If I encounter her next time, I will relay it truthfully."
...
At Booty Bay, on a sailing ship about to depart for the continent of Kalimdor, a human lady carrying luggage and wearing a wide cloak put her belongings into the storage cabinet of the ship's cabin. Just as she was about to leave the room, she heard her traveling companion, sitting by the ship's rail, gently tap on the table.
The lady, who had planned to go buy some food, stopped and turned around, asking, "What is it, General?"
Sylvanas, seated by the porthole, irritably pulled back her hood and softly reprimanded, "I told you, just call me Sylvanas when we're out. Don't make us sound like those pirates in the South Seas!"
"Oh, alright, General… Sylvanas." Nathanos instinctively started to speak again, until Sylvanas's glare sent the words back down his throat.
"Thump, thump!"
A crisp knock sounded, and Sylvanas instantly pulled her hood back down, sitting demurely in the corner.
Nathanos opened the door and was immediately struck by a shrill voice that vibrated her eardrums.
"Ah! Dear travelers, do you need any help? We offer all services including, but not limited to, procurement, security, commodity trading, and smuggling—as long as you can afford the price."
A short goblin sailor and waiter was holding a notebook, ready to inquire if he could get some profit from Nathanos.
"Thank you very much, but not for now. I'll go buy them myself—" Nathanos refused as she walked out the door, but was blocked by a goblin's arm extended to her calf.
The goblin, who was about to continue his sales pitch, suddenly shivered as an icy chill enveloped him. He stammered, then instantly changed his tone, "Uh, beautiful lady, our ship is about to weigh anchor and depart. It might be too late to go to the market now."
"So, that means I can only buy from you?" Nathanos stared coldly at the goblin, who was already trembling all over—she hated these green creatures who would sell anything for money. Many supplies during the Orcish Wars were sold to the orcs by them.
"Of—of course not! If you need, I can help you inform the department in charge of procurement. The price will only be a little bit higher than if you buy it yourself!" The goblin chuckled obsequiously, rubbing his hands together lightly.
Nathanos was about to drive the idiot away, but then she heard Sylvanas cough softly twice. Only then did she hide her impatience, flicking a gold coin to the goblin. "A month's rations for two people. Don't try to pass off inferior goods, or I'll throw you into the sea!"
"Absolutely guaranteed to satisfy you, no deception!" The goblin quickly caught the gold coin, bit it with his teeth, and then grinned as he scurried away.
After closing the door, Nathanos asked, somewhat puzzled, "General, that goblin was clearly full of hot air. It's still early before the ship departs, how could it be too late—"
"Shh, Nathanos, come here." Sylvanas made a shushing gesture, motioning for Nathanos to come closer.
Nathanos looked confused, but when she walked to the side of the ship's rail, her ranger's keen hearing allowed her to pick up faint voices. Even with the cover of the sea breeze and the noise of the dock, the conversation from the next room couldn't escape Nathanos's careful listening.
"Pirates have infiltrated the ship? They're planning to make their move on the high seas tonight?"
The conversation between two disguised pirates in the adjacent cabin was heard clearly by Sylvanas. She had Nathanos quickly send the goblin away precisely so she could listen more clearly, otherwise that guy would surely have clung on shamelessly for a while longer.
Nathanos looked at Sylvanas, "What do we do now? Warn the captain, and then switch ships?"
To her surprise, Sylvanas shook her head. "I don't want to wait a few more days in Booty Bay—I just heard that those pirates said it was their first time robbing a passenger ship, and they were still worried if they'd succeed. Haha, the funniest thing is, their captain seems to have just scraped together enough money to buy a new pirate ship."
"Then I'll go throw those two pirates into the sea to feed the fish?" Nathanos offered another suggestion.
"Don't always think about fighting and killing! Think about it carefully, once we reach Ratchet, how long will it take to get to Feralas?" Sylvanas retorted.
Nathanos roughly estimated the journey—the time required was not ideal.
"That pirate ship of theirs only has about ten people in total, and two of those fools are undercover on this ship. Why don't we hijack that pirate ship and have them take us directly to Feralas? That way we can save at least half the time!" Sylvanas's eyes gleamed, though the light was somewhat dangerous.
"Ah, this… Your idea is a bit… dangerous." Nathanos was at a loss for how to evaluate Sylvanas's plan.
"What do you mean dangerous? I've been through things much more dangerous and exciting than this—besides, we're not just going to Feralas, we're also going to the Broken Isles. Can you find a passenger ship that goes to the Broken Isles?" Sylvanas rolled her eyes at Nathanos. "Are we supposed to buy a ship and sail it ourselves then? Wouldn't it be better to just hijack a pirate ship now, and then we'd have ready-made sailors and navigators?"
Nathanos fell silent, seemingly truly considering the feasibility of the plan.