While Sylvanas and Nathanos were still preparing to make their mark on the Endless Sea to complete their plan, Arthas in Lordaeron received a letter from Teldrassil.
The sender was Priestess Tyrande, and the general content was to thank the Alliance for their help during this period, stating that the Night Elves' new home, Teldrassil, had been completed and welcoming him and other Alliance leaders to visit when they had free time.
This letter, half thank-you note and half invitation, reminded Arthas of another matter: Teldrassil had been secretly planted by Fandral Staghelm, and at that time, several Guardian Dragons were busy with their own affairs and had no time or intention to bestow blessings upon that World Tree.
Although Teldrassil could still grow into a sanctuary for the Night Elves, this also buried hidden dangers for Teldrassil. Fortunately, Fandral Staghelm was aware of this and had his Druids strengthen their guardianship of Teldrassil to prevent Teldrassil from being corrupted by the hidden darkness.
However, this was not a long-term solution. No matter how diligent the Druids were, there would always be areas they couldn't cover. Moreover, Val'sharah, as a holy land for Druids, and Shaladrassil would also be corrupted by Xavius. Without prevention, Teldrassil, even if not burned down, would become a den for nightmares.
Now that Yogg-Saron was dead, the corruption he planted in the Emerald Dream through Andrassil, the now lifeless World Tree remnant in Grizzly Hills known as Vordrassil, should have been completely taken over by Xavius.
However, Xavius had actually escaped from the seal Malfurion had placed on him long ago with the help of the Old Gods and was hiding deep within the Dream. Even Ysera could not find his exact location. The area jointly tailored by the Old Gods and Xavius was constantly changing, and the core area was precisely where Xavius's original prison was located.
Xavius, a three-faced turncoat, would certainly seek a new sanctuary after Yogg-Saron's demise. He was a smart man and knew very well that he could not fight the Druids and the Green Dragonflight alone, so he would inevitably pledge allegiance to the remaining Old Gods.
Arthas prepared to ask the Guardian Dragons if they were willing to bestow the same blessing upon Teldrassil as they did on Nordrassil. Otherwise, if Xavius and the other Old Gods targeted Teldrassil again, the Elves would likely be forced to leave their homes once more, and suffer terrible losses.
Nightmare is a tumor parasitic on the Emerald Dream. The power of Druids mostly comes from their connection with the Dream, but it is precisely because of this connection that they become extremely susceptible to Nightmare's erosion. Fandral Staghelm is a very unstable factor, almost possessing all the high-risk factors for being corrupted by Nightmare.
His personality was extreme and stubborn, he had suffered a huge blow, was misunderstood by his own kind, and even some of his actions were scorned and criticized. Fandral may have successfully filled the void left by Malfurion's slumber in the Dream for most of the past ten thousand years, but it was precisely due to his mentor's long-term absence and his own arrogance that led to the tragic end of this Arch Druid.
So Arthas had no choice but to go to Teldrassil once, even if only to confirm the situation of Teldrassil and the Druids. However, the Guardian Dragons' blessing of Teldrassil could not be completed in a short time. The blessing, derived from the very source of their power, would weaken them, and at the critical juncture of facing Kil'jaeden, such an unexpected event could not occur.
Now, the war in Outland was stabilizing. Except for Shadowmoon Valley, the Burning Legion's forces in other areas had almost all been eradicated, and Illidan's secret sabotage certainly contributed to this.
To Arthas's surprise, Illidan did not abandon Vashj but instead had her evacuate before Serpent Shrine fell. Perhaps due to the absence of the Blood Elves, who should have appeared, Illidan chose to preserve more of the Illidari's strength.
After storing Tyrande's letter, Arthas was about to leave his study when he suddenly frowned and locked the study door behind him.
"What's wrong, Kel'Thuzad?"
"Your Majesty, our vanguard found a... special Undead in Wetlands. He is very confused right now. It would be best if you came to see him yourself."
...
"Have the Sentinels of Feathermoon Stronghold strengthen control over the Feralas region. I heard that traces of Arcane have appeared there again," Fandral Staghelm said, browsing the documents in his hand and issuing an order. "That forest is quite ancient and should not be defiled by Arcane magic."
After the messenger left, an Elf Priestess entered Fandral's room. "Arch Druid, Priestess Tyrande wishes to speak with you."
"What is it? If it's not urgent, wait a moment. I still have many things to deal with," Fandral replied neither humbly nor arrogantly. Tyrande was higher than him in both status and seniority, but since he had temporarily taken over Malfurion's duties, he did not intend to become Tyrande's echo.
This was not prejudice or factional struggle, but Fandral felt that as one of the leaders of the Cenarion Circle, he should maintain such clarity.
The grief of losing his son many years ago had hardened his heart like stone. He rarely showed any change in emotion when dealing with matters, but it was precisely this that made his stubborn and unpleasant temper, like a rock in a latrine, well-known far and wide.
Many Druids were unwilling to provoke this Arch Druid because Fandral would certainly mete out punishment without hesitation, and mercilessly so.
The Elf Priestess hesitated for a moment but decided to let the Arch Druid discern the urgency himself. "We received news that a large number of Qiraji activities have appeared in the southern region of Feralas, even spreading to Tanaris and the Crater. Priestess Tyrande is worried—"
"Enough!" Fandral's tone suddenly rose, causing the Priestess who was explaining the situation to pause, but soon, he softened. "I will go immediately. You may go back first."
The Priestess sighed in relief and quickly left the room.
After the outsider left, a rare look of anger appeared on Fandral's perpetually expressionless face. His breathing became rapid, and his chest heaved, as if recalling something.
He felt a voice constantly whispering in his ear, "Father, gather the soldiers, crusade Silithus, avenge your son, avenge me. It was the softness of those Priestesses that allowed—"
"Bang!"
A hard fist slammed heavily onto the oak-grown round table, emitting a dull thud. Fandral suppressed his emotions, and the whispers slowly faded away.
This Druid, whose figure was as unyielding as a giant tree, now trembled uncontrollably. His broad back appeared desolate and lonely, and his once clear and sharp eyes were now bloodshot.
"Vastann... I... miss you so much."
He let out a long sigh, seemingly of sorrow, or perhaps a compromise to something.
...
"My opinion remains unchanged: we must dispatch troops as soon as possible, Priestess Tyrande.
As someone who experienced that war firsthand, you should know how quickly those disgusting Nerubian spread.
Every minute we wait, hundreds, even thousands, of Nerubian are born in their nests."
Fandral argued forcefully, and at first glance, his words seemed very reasonable, but Tyrande quickly pointed out the flaws in his plan.
"Many of our people are still in the shattered lands of the Outland.
To rashly engage the Nerubian in battle now would only expose our depleted forces.
Once they realize this, they will surely expand aggressively, and then the situation will become uncontrollable."
Tyrande's opinion was simple: they could fight, but they had to wait until the Outland expeditionary force returned.
That way, even if the Alliance did not participate in the war, the Night Elves would have enough strength to contend with the Nerubian.
Fighting on two fronts now would be an unbearable burden for the Kaldorei, who were still recovering from the Third War.
Tyrande deeply understood the suffering her people had endured and believed they should temporarily lie low and remain inactive.
In that scenario, the Qiraji would also be hesitant, and unsure of the Night Elves' true strength, they would certainly not dare to easily penetrate Feralas.
Moreover, Feathermoon Stronghold still stood on the coast of Feralas; if anything happened, they could react immediately.
However, Shandris Feathermoon herself was still in the Outland, commanding the Night Elves' Sentinel Force on their expedition.
Feathermoon Stronghold only had its permanent garrison left.
Tyrande's intention was to send an advance force to Feathermoon Stronghold to set up a base there, allowing for a quicker response.
But Fandral insisted that the Cenarion Circle directly activate the outposts stationed in Silithus, garrisoning troops at the entrance of Ahn'Qiraj, and directly engaging the Qiraji in battle.
When Fandral said such words, Tyrande almost thought Fandral had lost his mind.
Sending troops deep into Silithus now, without fully understanding the situation there, would likely result in total annihilation, because no one knew where those Qiraji nests were hidden beneath the sands.
With such conflicting views, the two sides eventually parted ways, but Fandral said before leaving, "I will send the Cenarion Circle's druids to Silithus.
You can continue to be a coward at home with your Sentinel Force."
"You!"
Tyrande's eyes widened in anger at these words.
"Don't be so arrogant, Staghelm! How disappointed your mentor would be to see you like this!"
Fandral, however, dismissively retorted, "Then go find my teacher.
Malfurion is nothing but a coward who abandoned his people—heh, you two are truly a perfect match."
As Fandral's back disappeared outside the Moon God Temple's gate, Tyrande's anger slowly subsided.
The Priestess rubbed her forehead helplessly; Fandral's words had given her a splitting headache.
Yet, the Cenarion Circle had chosen Fandral as Malfurion's successor, and from every perspective, among the current Kaldorei, the most qualified to hold the title of Arch Druid was none other than Fandral Staghelm, Malfurion's disciple.
However, Tyrande did not particularly like this disciple of Malfurion, not because of his disrespect towards her, but because he had developed severe personality flaws after the Ancient War of the Shifting Sands.
If Fandral had merely served as an ordinary druid within the Cenarion Circle, Tyrande would not only not dislike him but would also sympathize with the hero's plight and offer comfort and condolences to his relatives.
In fact, Tyrande had done exactly that.
But as a leader, Fandral exposed many problems.
Calling him headstrong and opinionated was an understatement.
This new Arch Druid often made extraordinary actions that ordinary people could not comprehend, including the planting of Teldrassil.
Everyone knew that without the blessing of the Guardian Dragons, Teldrassil would inevitably be affected by certain evil forces; the former Andaril had already proven this.
However, after the Great War, the Night Elves desperately needed a place to recuperate, but the Mount Hyjal mountain range had been affected by that war, making it difficult to find a suitable long-term residence for the Kaldorei.
Therefore, after Malfurion fell into a coma, Fandral convinced most of the Cenarion Circle, making them believe that planting Teldrassil was a wise move.
Under the impact of various internal and external factors, the Cenarion Circle finally chose to compromise.
Now that Teldrassil was completed, without too many of the problems the druids had once worried about, Fandral's prestige rose once again, and it also made this Arch Druid even less receptive to the voices of others.
Even Tyrande found it difficult to persuade Fandral; the dispute that had just occurred was not the first, but it was the first time Fandral had shown such disrespect to his mentor and Tyrande.
"Lady Tyrande, what do we do next?
Should we summon the Sentinel Force?" a Priestess worriedly asked.
The quarrel between Tyrande and Fandral was highly likely to lead to significant internal divisions among the elves, which was something no one wanted to see.
"Still, gather the Sentinel Force as planned and send them to Feathermoon Stronghold to investigate the situation of the Qiraji there.
It's been so many years, and the Qiraji are appearing outside Silithus again… I hope it's not what I think."
Tyrande rubbed her temples, slowly saying, "Help me inform Shandris, and ask her to find time to return soon."
"Yes, High Priestess."
Tyrande originally did not want to push things to this point; recalling Shandris would inevitably make the Alliance leaders realize the change in the situation.
The Kaldorei, who had always considered themselves observers and mediators for the younger races within the Alliance, did not want their problems to bring trouble and unease to the entire Alliance.
However, the current situation was very grim, and Tyrande needed someone to assist her.
…
"What?
You're returning to Azeroth?" In the conference room, Jaina looked at Shandris with some surprise.
This usually valiant general was for the first time showing some awkwardness.
The war was currently at a crucial stage.
As the overall commander of the Kaldorei expedition to the Outland, her saying she had to return first would surely have a negative impact on the entire expeditionary force.
Moreover, Shandris also knew that Tyrande would not easily summon her home; something significant must have happened.
If the situation was not optimistic, she might even have to take a large number of elf Sentinels with her, which would deal a major blow to the expeditionary force.
"The Kaldorei seem to have encountered a tricky problem.
The High Priestess is summoning me back.
I will return as soon as the problem is resolved."
General Shandris could only summarize the situation; as for what exactly happened, she was not entirely clear either.
Jaina nodded, not pressing for more questions.
She keenly sensed something amiss, but given Shandris's demeanor, she immediately opened a portal for Shandris to return home.
"This should be a direct portal to Darnassus.
Although it's my first time connecting to this teleportation node, it has been evaluated by many masters in Dalaran, so there should be no problem."
"Thank you for your help, Jaina.
May the Elune bless you."
....
When Arthas saw the confused undead standing on the other side of the hall, he was stunned.
"Derek Proudmoore?"
Arthas was even a little surprised; it was true that the Styx being introduced to Azeroth would cause the undead to become active, but why would Derek also be revived under this influence?
The Red Dragon's flames carried immense vitality, and it was almost impossible for living beings affected by them to stand on the land of Azeroth again as undead.
"You are—"
Derek also noticed Arthas standing on the opposite side; he hadn't yet escaped the confusion and disorientation from his resurrection, and his memories were still very chaotic, but Arthas's familiar face still triggered his recollection.
"I am Arthas Menethil, son of King Terenas Menethil, Prince of Lordaeron, do you still remember who you are?" Arthas quickly walked up to Derek.
"Arthas… Terenas… I seem to know these names—ah!"
Derek suddenly clutched his head with both hands, the soul flame in his eyes flickering erratically, as if some force was preventing him from recalling his memories from before death.
Arthas sighed, placing his hand on Derek's shoulder to alleviate his pain and simultaneously examine Derek's condition.
He quickly felt a burning sensation, which was clearly an old wound left by the Red Dragon's flames, but this injury was far lighter than Arthas had imagined, completely inconsistent with the widespread accounts among many sailors that Derek had been burned to death by the Red Dragon's flames, his body disintegrating into ash.
At that time, it was likely that a loyal subordinate had shielded Derek from the most fatal flames, turning to ash themselves, but Derek still did not survive the shipwreck, ultimately resting in peace at the bottom of the sea near the Wetlands.
However, precisely because the Red Dragon's breath did not completely burn Derek's body, his remains were preserved in a relatively intact state at the bottom of the sea for twenty years, until they were drawn by the power of the Styx, and his soul returned to his body—and this indicated that Jaina's brother still held a strong obsession with Azeroth.
Arthas did not know what it was, whether it was hatred for the orcs and Red Dragons, or reluctance to part with family and comrades, but regardless, Derek, who had come back to life as an undead, could not fulfill his obsession from life, at least not for now.
"You are Arthas?… I, I remember… I remember everything, I am Derek Proudmoore… the eldest son of Naval Commander Daelin Proudmoore… Where is this, why am I here, wasn't I fighting the Orc Dragonriders in the waters near the Wetlands?"
Derek gradually sorted out his memories, but soon he became panicked by his current state, his hands trembling uncontrollably; he realized that something he didn't understand had happened to him.
"It's been almost twenty years since the Second War… In other words, you've been dead for twenty years, and now you've come back to life." Arthas also didn't know how to deal with Derek's situation, or how to break this news to the Proudmoore family.
"Come back to life." Derek repeated the four words, his eyes still filled with confusion; he raised his hands, which were dark yellow and wrinkled from being soaked in seawater, "Perhaps I should have just died quietly."
"No, Derek, your awakening was not artificial, but a natural awakening caused by environmental changes; generally speaking, only undead with lingering obsessions will awaken during this influence—you must still have some obsession." Arthas explained the reason to Derek, but only Derek himself knew what his specific obsession was.
Derek's face was full of bitterness, "Perhaps I do, in that moment before death, when pain swept over me, I missed and worried about my family dearly, and at the same time, I hated those orcs who invaded our homeland immensely, but now that I have truly come back to life, how can I go see my family and friends with this repulsive appearance?"
Arthas pondered for a moment; he considered whether to reshape Derek's life with the Holy Light, making him a Lightforged-like being, but that was not a simple matter, and he also had to consider whether Derek's body, which had already been burned by the Red Dragon's flames, could withstand such a drastic change.
If it succeeded, it would of course be a good thing, but if it failed, the Holy Light would directly burn all impurities into ash; at that time, Derek might not even have a soul left, everything would be destroyed by the Holy Light as an unholy thing.
"While I believe your family would not be disgusted by your current appearance, you are right, there is always an insurmountable chasm between the undead and the living, Derek, before you decide how to proceed with your future, I will also help you think of other solutions."
Arthas could only promise this, after all, Derek's situation was very similar to Bolvar's in the "normal timeline"; although the Red Dragon's flames did not completely occupy his body, they still lurked within his current body.
"Perhaps…" Derek's gaze flickered, his future a complete blank.
…
"How could he do such a thing? This is simply too reckless, and he was so disrespectful to you?!" Shandris was furious upon hearing of Fandral's actions, almost ready to grab her bow and confront Fandral for an explanation on the spot.
Tyrande stopped Shandris, "Shandris, don't be impulsive, any rash action from either side now could lead to serious consequences; Fandral has already prepared to set out with a large number of Cenarion Circle elites, but I think this is no different from suicide."
"You are right, Mother, this is suicide; how long ago did the tragedy of Silithus happen? Fandral himself was one of the victims, how could he have forgotten that painful experience entirely? Now, to go to war with the Qiraji, how many people will lose husbands, lose wives, how many parents will lose children, how many children will lose parents?!" Shandris seemed particularly indignant; she could not tolerate someone so irresponsible towards the people holding the title of Arch Druid, it was an insult to the title.
Shandris suddenly thought of something, "Perhaps we can ask the Alliance for help; they are much stronger and more united than we imagine, do you know, those demons in Outland, with our cooperation, seemed vulnerable, although they were only remnants of the Burning Legion, it still proved that the young races of the Alliance possess the strength and qualification to protect their own world."
Tyrande looked at the child before her, feeling as though she saw her younger self; the Priestess sighed softly, "You are right, Shandris, the Kaldorei should no longer be complacent and self-important; we should view the other nascent races of this world with an objective eye, otherwise the fate of the Highborne will be our future—but I truly don't know how to begin."
"It's alright, Mother, the leaders of the Alliance are well aware of the stakes; as long as they understand what kind of harm the Qiraji can cause, then—"
"No, Shandris, we cannot seek their help just yet; I must first investigate something." Tyrande, however, changed the subject, "The Alliance needs time to rest; the expedition to Outland was not easy, we all need to recover, but before that, I hope you can stay in Darnassus in my stead, this is the main reason I summoned you back this time."
Shandris was a little confused, "What are you going to do?"
"There are some things I must investigate…"
....
While most members of the Cenarion Circle responded to Fandral's call and prepared to march on Silithus, doubts about Fandral also arose within the Circle itself.
Hamuul Runetotem, the Arch Druid of Thunder Bluff, an elder Tauren who had been noticed by Malfurion during the Mount Hyjal War for his heroic performance, became friends with Malfurion after the war due to their shared belief in the balance and harmony of nature, and sought the path of the Druid from Malfurion.
After that, Hamuul displayed astonishing talent; his deep alignment with the Druidic philosophy of nature allowed this latecomer to quickly surpass others, and Hamuul's rapid progress earned him recognition from his colleagues in the Cenarion Circle and the title of Arch Druid. Upon returning to his homeland, he began teaching Druidic principles to his kin in Thunder Bluff.
After the meeting in the Emerald Dream, Hamuul found Fandral's proposal utterly absurd. He had seen descriptions of the Ancient War of the Shifting Sands in the words of many colleagues and in the Circle's records. Even those brief accounts made him realize what a tragic and heroic battle it had been, and how the Night Elves and Guardian Dragons had paid a significant price to win.
But now, while their allies were still fighting demons in the Outlands, Fandral actually wanted the Night Elves to single-handedly confront the Nerubian, who might break through the seal and appear outside the Beetle Wall. This caused considerable controversy within the Circle.
"Arch Druid, what do you think?"
Many Tauren Druids questioned their mentor, Hamuul.
"Malfurion is still in slumber, and this matter is somewhat strange, but since the Circle has issued a summons, we should respond. We will send Shu'halo warriors to assist our allies." Hamuul temporarily concluded the matter, halting the discussion, but after everyone left, this wise Tauren was filled with doubt and confusion.
After Malfurion fell into an unusual slumber, strange things kept happening in the Cenarion Circle. Druids often fell into a sleep in the Emerald Dream from which they couldn't awaken. The older Druids called the strange power that trapped them "Nightmare," but the origin of the Nightmare was rarely mentioned in the Cenarion Circle.
Hamuul had some, but not much, understanding of this. However, the recent series of anomalies always made him feel very uneasy. He always felt that it wasn't a coincidence; someone or some force must be orchestrating it all.
He thought carefully, connecting all the recent anomalies, and the result left him stunned: one person appeared in almost all the events—Fandral Staghelm.
Perhaps the Night Elves wouldn't suspect this, after all, Fandral was Malfurion's student and their war hero, and now he was effectively the leader of the Cenarion Circle. No one would suspect him, even though Fandral had always shown clear impatience and weariness towards Hamuul, but Hamuul had previously thought it was just Fandral's personality.
But now, thinking about it, Fandral seemed to be behind all these events. Even for him, as the leader of the Circle, it was too much of a coincidence.
"I hope I'm wrong…" As Hamuul frowned in thought, a message from the Emerald Dream jolted him. He connected with the owner of that power, but in the end, only received an anonymous message.
"Tonight at midnight, west of Bloodhoof Village, by the shore of Stonehoof Lake."
Hamuul looked at the message, his expression solemn, his Tauren face twisted in a grimace.
...
After settling Derek, Kel'Thuzad told Arthas that some casualties of the Third Fleet had been resurrected due to the fluctuations in the River of Souls. Arthas then said, "Let Derek temporarily manage these individuals, and be careful that the side effects after resurrecting the undead are not amplified in them."
Although the River of Souls intercepted from Maw amplified the undead creatures on Azeroth and indirectly increased Arthas's power, it also made some undead with insufficient clarity of mind or weak will more dangerous. To prevent those undead from harming the world of the living, Arthas specifically dispatched Death Knights to investigate and evaluate the handling of resurrected undead.
However, Arthas truly had no idea how to deal with Derek. Just then, he received a message from Jaina.
"General Shandris Feathermoon returned to Darnassus yesterday."
The magical message was very short, just one sentence, but the underlying content was extensive. With Shandris gone, the progress in the Outlands would undoubtedly slow down, even though most of the Sentinel Force possessed strong autonomous combat capabilities, the difference with or without a commander was still significant.
Secondly, why Shandris would suddenly return at such a critical moment. It must be that something more serious and urgent had occurred within the Kaldorei, forcing Tyrande to recall Shandris.
There were only a few things that could make the Night Elves so anxious. Arthas just roughly recalled and listed all possible scenarios in his mind, but before he could even formulate a reply to Jaina, another magical communication squeezed into the channel.
"Come to Dragonshrine immediately."
Arthas slapped his forehead and sighed, "What a troubled time..."
It didn't take long for Arthas, riding Invincible, to appear at the top of Dragonshrine. Alexstrasza, Malygos, Nozdormu, and a Dragon he had never seen before, transformed into a High Elf, had been waiting there for a long time.
Upon seeing Arthas arrive, Malygos nodded slightly and immediately cut to the chase, "Something might have happened in the Emerald Dream."
Arthas stood aside, indicating he was listening carefully, and motioned for Malygos to continue.
"After you told us about the plan to ambush Kil'jaeden and the Burning Legion, we prepared to contact Ysera and her Green Dragonflight, hoping to seek as much assistance as possible. However, all the messages we sent, whether normal or urgent, sank like stones into the sea, with no response at all, not even a single Green Dragon reacting."
Alexstrasza took over, "This is very abnormal. Even if Ysera herself was asleep in the Emerald Dream and couldn't respond, there would usually be dedicated Green Dragon messengers to convey messages. All the Green Dragons seem to have vanished from the real world. We suspect some power is hindering our contact with the Green Dragonflight. Just as we were trying to ascertain the reason, Isariios found us."
The Red Dragon Queen pointed to the unfamiliar Dragon nearby, who was indeed the Isariios they spoke of. His true form was a Green Dragon, and one that was still active in the real world, not having fallen into the Emerald Dream.
Isariios's expression was solemn, "Your Majesty and they are right, the Green Dragonflight has indeed encountered great trouble. The Nightmare attacked the sleeper, preventing her from waking from her nightmare. The other Green Dragons, to protect the sleeper and prevent the Nightmare from spreading, have temporarily cut off the passages to the Emerald Dream that they guarded."
Arthas looked at Nozdormu, hoping this Guardian Dragon could provide some useful information, but Nozdormu merely shook his head.
"The Emerald Dream has a deep connection with nature. Beings that cannot resonate with nature find it difficult to enter that world independently. I also cannot see the changes within it. However, I can confirm that the remaining Old Gods have likely played a significant role in this incident."
"It's likely that Yogg-Saron's crushing defeat made the remaining two deities unable to sit still," Arthas said in a deep voice. "I received news from the Alliance side that General Shandris Feathermoon has returned to Darnassus because of problems within the Kaldorei. I was wondering what trouble the Elves had encountered, but now it seems highly probable that it's related to the Old Gods."
"Shandris... I remember she is Tyrande's daughter," Alexstrasza murmured. "The Kaldorei have planted a new World Tree on the west side of Blackshore. Isariios has already told us about this. I am very worried about the state of Teldrassil now. Without our blessings and the nourishment of the Well of Eternity, Teldrassil is merely bait in the eyes of dark forces."
"The growth of the new World Tree has also caused quite a stir in the Emerald Dream, but we simply don't have the extra power to look after that newborn World Tree. The expansion of the Nightmare has exceeded our expectations; their momentum is fiercer than ever before," Isariios explained. "I also cannot be sure if the Nightmare has already targeted it."
"We cannot bestow blessings upon Teldrassil now; that would deplete our strength, which would be very detrimental to the subsequent plan." Malygos was somewhat displeased. Last time it was the High Elf, now it's the Night Elves. Why do these Elves always cause them trouble?
"Although I am very worried about Teldrassil, Malygos is right. We will bestow the World Tree's blessing after careful consideration later, and to gather our strength to bless a World Tree, we must also awaken Ysera. Her control over nature is something we cannot compare to." The Red Dragon Queen was more concerned about her sister's safety, and if Ysera were truly captured or even corrupted by the Nightmare, then let alone one World Tree, all of Azeroth would face a huge threat.
"First Yogg-Saron, then the Nightmare. These Old Gods have not given up on escaping from their cages for a moment... I guess the Beetle Wall in Silithus probably can't hold back what's inside for much longer," Arthas realized the Old Gods' intentions. Although the few entities were not united, they were now preparing to strike simultaneously to catch Azeroth's protectors off guard.
Nozdormu sighed. The Caverns of Time are located in Tanaris, and he was more aware of the situation in Silithus than the other Guardian Dragons. Although the seal of the Beetle Wall was still intact, the ambition of the entity within could not be contained. For thousands of years, it had been looking for an opportunity to escape.
Now, the opportunity they had been waiting for was right before them.
.....
Under the bright moon, Hamuul stood by the Stonebull Lake, gazing at the shimmering surface, lost in thought.
"You're punctual, Hamuul."
Hearing the familiar voice, Hamuul turned in surprise, "Broll? Did you send me the message?"
Broll Bearmantle, a powerful Night Elf Druid and a member of the Cenarion Circle, was also a good friend of Hamuul. His welcoming attitude towards Druids of other races showed that he was among those who did not support Fandral's views.
The robust Broll walked to Hamuul's side and nodded slightly, "I sent you the message. The fastest way is through dream communication, but lately, the Emerald Dream isn't safe either…"
"Is there something urgent?" Hamuul immediately realized that something big might have happened.
"What do you think about Fandral preparing to march with the Cenarion Circle to Silithus?"
Hamuul fell silent upon hearing this, and after a long while, he sighed, "This is very dangerous, but he is, after all, the current leader of the Cenarion Circle—"
"Then it seems we are in agreement."
Broll's gloomy voice made Hamuul look at him in astonishment, as if he couldn't believe that the person in front of him was one of his few good friends in the Cenarion Circle.
"What do you want to do? Fandral is still the de facto leader of the Cenarion Circle. After Malfurion fell into slumber, indeed, only Fandral was qualified for this position." The Tauren Elder was full of doubts. Although he was puzzled by Fandral's actions, Fandral's logic was still reasonable.
"I'm only suspicious. It's harder for me than for you to believe that Fandral would betray his colleagues and mentor, but do you know about moonglow wheat?"
…
"moonglow wheat is a magical plant with many uses, but under certain conditions, this plant can be used as a material for a primal curse ritual—this is what Quintis Jonespyre, a Druid from Feathermoon Stronghold, told me," Shandris held a report and handed it to Tyrande.
"This report also says… Fandral has been issuing bounties to many adventurers and other contractors, claiming it's for researching the soil properties of Un'Goro Crater, but it's all been used to plant moonglow wheat…" Tyrande browsed the report, her calm face concealing unknown emotions. "Staghelm… I truly hope everything in this report is false."
"Should we go ask Layana and Astellaria? Perhaps they know something?" Shandris offered a somewhat… dangerous suggestion.
Tyrande, however, merely waved her hand, "Before we have concrete evidence, don't disturb them. But tell Layana to pay attention to the defenses of Astrana and ensure the safety of those two mother and daughter. If darkness truly takes advantage of the void and corrupts Fandral, then the mother and daughter might also be in danger."
Shandris nodded. She then asked, "Then, Mother, when do you plan to depart?"
"Waiting for Broll's reply. I've already sent him to find help. We just need to avoid attracting Fandral's attention, but no matter what, I don't want this old friend to go astray." Tyrande stared at the documents in her hand. Although she already had an answer in her heart, she still refused to believe that the unyielding Staghelm would embark on a path of no return.
"I understand. I will do my best to eliminate external interference, and I hope Lord Malfurion is safe."
After Tyrande left, Shandris looked at the scattered documents on the desk, somewhat melancholically collecting and reorganizing them. At this moment, one document slipped out.
Shandris bent down to pick it up, but she saw a person's name written on that page: Vastann Staghelm.
After the Sentinel General picked up the document, she gazed at the confident and radiant portrait of the Night Elf youth on it, sighing softly, "Vastann, you and your father were once heroes of the Night Elves. I hope you always will be…"
…
The Hinterlands, Seradan.
Arthas stood before the towering ancient tree, flanked by four massive dragons. Three of them were the Guardian Dragons Malygos, Alexstrasza, and Nozdormu. The remaining green dragon was Isariios, who had led them here.
"This is the entrance to the Emerald Dream. Above the steps, the gate before the great tree is the passage connecting to the Emerald Dream, but it is now closed." Isariios looked sadly at the changed Seradan. This place should have been a peaceful sanctuary, a resting place for some members of the Green Dragonflight, but now it was as silent as death.
There was no sign of any dragons in this forest now. Even Ysondre, Ysera's most trusted subordinate who should have been guarding here, had disappeared. Other members of the Green Dragonflight and Guardians had left no trace, only the ruins of elven buildings remained.
"Something has indeed happened, otherwise the Green Dragonflight would never abandon their duty of guarding the Emerald Dream," Alexstrasza's majestic voice rang out. In her dragon form, her voice was less gentle than in her human form.
"There are no signs of battle; these green dragons left voluntarily… Ah, I see the image of them closing the portal after entering the Emerald Dream." With a sweep of the Bronze Dragon King's massive claw, an illusion formed from shifting sands appeared before everyone, depicting the Green Dragonflight stationed here evacuating.
Malygos eyed Isariios beside him, "Go see if you can open the gate to the Emerald Dream. If not, we can only go ask Malfurion."
Isariios immediately went to check if he could reopen the passage. At this moment, Arthas said to Malygos, "It should be impossible to find Malfurion now; his soul is also slumbering in the Emerald Dream."
"Hmph, what a coincidence," Malygos chuckled disdainfully, "Still the same old story. Once these ancient scourges decide to stir up trouble, everyone suffers."
As the man and three dragons conversed, Malygos suddenly raised his dragon head and stared at the circular wooden gate above the steps—he sensed a magical disturbance.
"That kid succeeded?" Malygos uttered a soft "Oh?", seemingly disbelieving that the gate sealed by the Green Dragonflight had opened so easily.
But the next second, a wail came from the steps. Isariios's body was struck by something and tumbled down the steps, sweeping away a large section of ancient elven architectural pillars and raising a cloud of dust.
"The mysteries of life force are not for you greedy ones to defile!"
Dragon speech accompanied by a roar echoed through the sky before the portal. Malygos narrowed his vertical eyes slightly. He was curious as to who dared to be so arrogant in front of him.
Arthas looked at the adult green dragon on the steps, his gaze revealing a hint of curiosity. This was indeed Ysondre, Ysera's subordinate who should have remained here. However, her current state was very peculiar, as if she was in a state of confusion yet remained conscious. She still used the Green Dragonflight's original power of nature, not completely consumed by the nightmare.