I had originally planned to experiment on the black dragon today as well, but now, let alone completing a full infusion of Earth-Warder energy into a mature dragon, the Black Dragon Princess couldn't even handle the strain of empowering a few Earth Elements.
Rhodes had no choice but to let it go. Onyxia's strength was still lacking. Perhaps only a true Titanic Watcher channeling the power of the Pantheon, or the World-Soul of Azeroth herself granting her blessing in the future, could empower an entire flight to become Aspects. That was an opportunity he definitely had to fight for.
"Alright, everyone has worked hard. Let's call it a day. Go back and rest; the Princess's coronation is in two days," Rhodes said, nodding to the group.
He had been incredibly busy lately. He found himself slipping into the Princess's chambers quite often to "communicate," striving to grant her a child so she could focus on her pregnancy. He was "giving his all" for the future of the Lordaeron succession. Even with his formidable constitution, he felt a bit of fatigue—it was truly a case of "the field doesn't wear out, but the ox eventually gets exhausted," especially when the Princess was a Priestess who could cast Power Word: Fortitude for extra stamina.
However, Rhodes had his own "divine arts" to protect him. His Heal spell wasn't just for show. You have your Power Words; I have my Renewals. Who's afraid of whom?
Once the elemental reinforcements were complete, Rhodes and the others returned to their quarters. Meanwhile, Lordaeron was in a frenzy of final preparations, readying itself for guests arriving from every corner of the Alliance.
Diplomatic missions arrived via newly repaired roads or magical portals. The mages of Dalaran, clad in their signature violet robes, blinked directly into the city using arcane magic. Kul Tiras's white fleet sailed majestically into the harbor; Admiral Daelin Proudmoore had traveled all the way from Theramore with the help of Rhodes's cross-continental teleportation spell, immediately sharing a tight embrace with his daughter, Jaina.
The dwarves of Ironforge arrived on gryphons, King Magni Bronzebeard's booming laughter audible from the city gates. The gnomes of Gnomeregan followed closely behind.
But the most eye-catching arrival was the Draenei delegation from Shattrath City, transported with the assistance of Illidan. When those iconic figures with blue-purple skin, hooves, and glowing facial tendrils appeared on the streets of Lordaeron, they drew the curious stares of countless civilians. Although Rhodes had brought some Draenei before, this was a larger group, and the humans felt a natural kinship toward a race that also worshipped the Holy Light.
At their head was the spiritual leader of the Draenei, the prophet who had lived for tens of thousands of years—Velen.
Upon seeing Prophet Velen, all the Priests present felt as if they were standing before the late Archbishop Alonsus Faol once again. The Holy Light radiating from him was incredibly dense. Velen's arrival caused a massive stir among the faithful in Lordaeron; the sheer purity and vastness of the Light he naturally exuded moved everyone who sensed it.
The intensity of his Light even surpassed Rhodes's. Alexandros Mograine, having met Velen in Outland, knew exactly how powerful the Prophet was—a literal "old monster" who had lived for millennia.
Uther was visibly stunned. "That such a powerful champion of the Light exists in this world! It's as if I'm looking at a living epic of the Holy Light."
"Uther, this is Prophet Velen, leader of the Draenei," Alexandros Mograine said, resting the Ashbringer on his shoulder and bowing to the Prophet. "I had the honor of meeting him in Outland. His mastery of the Light is unfathomable—a true avatar walking the earth. His very existence is the best interpretation of the Way of the Light. I received his guidance during my time in Outland."
In Outland, Alexandros had conversed deeply with Velen. His current strength owed much to the Prophet's tutelage, particularly regarding the true origins of the Ashbringer and the legendary Light-beings known as the Naaru. This knowledge had propelled Alexandros into the top tier of Azeroth's combatants; in terms of raw power, he was now easily Uther's equal.
As Grand Marshal and host, Rhodes led the core members to the palace gates. "Prophet Velen, welcome to Lordaeron! Your presence makes the Light shine brighter on this land and honors us all."
Prophet Velen offered a friendly smile. "Marshal Rhodes, it is good to see you again. Thank you for the invitation. To witness the rebirth of a great human kingdom and meet with more like-minded allies is the guidance of the Light and my honor. I see the seeds of the Light being sown in this scarred land, growing strong. It gladdens me deeply; every person here is a child of the Light."
Velen was very satisfied with Lordaeron. Almost the entire population was faithful, and there were many practitioners of the Light. These humans were natural allies—powerful reinforcements against the Burning Legion.
"You flatter us, Velen. Come, allow me to introduce you to Princess Calia and Uther the Lightbringer," Rhodes said. Their pleasantries confirmed the friendship and alliance forged in Outland. The Draenei joining the Alliance was now a settled fact, being displayed publicly to all members.
"By the way, Marshal Rhodes," Velen said with a mysterious smile, pointing behind him. "I have brought another powerful being with me. He was very curious about you and insisted on coming. I believe you will enjoy speaking with this great entity."
Rhodes looked over, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw a giant floating tangram. Holy crap, he thought. Why are these guys here so early? He had expected them to still be flying through the cosmos, but then again, the original timeline was never specific.
A specialized lifeform composed of pure Holy Light energy hovered in mid-air—a geometric, symmetrical structure like a tangram forged from radiance. Ripples of light flowed across its surface, emitting a soft, vast Holy Light that felt like the essence of the Light itself.
At first sight of this divine being, everyone who used the Light froze in awe, then bowed in unison. Without a word being spoken, everyone could feel it: this was the true embodiment of the Holy Light.
A Naaru!
"This great being is a Naaru... his name is M'uru," Velen's voice carried immense respect.
Not long ago, the Naaru vessel sent to support the Draenei had arrived with three Naaru on board. These divine beings had immediately contacted the Draenei and learned of the "Son of the Holy Light" and the defeat of the Burning Legion.
"He sensed an extraordinary resonance of the Light on this land—especially from you, Marshal Rhodes. Tales of your deeds as the 'Son of the Holy Light' reached as far as Shattrath. M'uru was deeply curious and insisted on traveling with me to meet you in person," Velen explained.
It was an epic meeting, one that seemed to toll the death knell for the Burning Legion. Velen had no idea that Rhodes was actually panicking inside—because he knew perfectly well he wasn't the "Child of Light and Shadow," the man from the prophecy.
And when it came to "visions of the Light," no one had more authority on the subject than a Naaru.
M'uru floated forward slowly, his ethereal, harmonic tones ringing directly in Rhodes's mind.
"May the Light be with you, one guided by prophecy. I have heard of your deeds—how you thwarted the Legion's schemes and witnessed the visions granted by the Light. I have come for this."
"Great Naaru, M'uru, welcome to Lordaeron," Rhodes bowed slightly in a standard noble salute, while simultaneously flaring his internal Light to its maximum brilliance. He looked like a small golden statue.
M'uru was very pleased with Rhodes's appearance, though somewhat puzzled. This human's Light is so concentrated; by all rights, he should have undergone Lightforging by now. Why does he remain a mere mortal?
In the original timeline, M'uru was destined to fall into darkness, captured by fallen beings craving magic, his essence drained. Though his end was noble, he was meant to be Void-scarred and sacrificed to purify a certain font of power. But now, his destiny had shifted.
M'uru could sense that the magical well that was supposed to need his sacrifice had already been purified into a confluence of Order and Light. All these changes stemmed from the human before him.
"We must talk, Human. You are the legendary Son of the Light. You slew Archimonde, found Velen and the Draenei, and now you have met me. This is the arrangement of the Light; this is your destiny."
The Child of Light and Shadow... the one prophesied to end the Legion's infinite cycle... could it truly be... a human?
Ordinary Naaru didn't know the specifics of the prophecy; only Xe'ra, the Mother of Light, held the details. But Xe'ra had confirmed the Child of Light and Shadow was on Azeroth. Combining the evidence, M'uru concluded it must be the human standing before him.
What started as a simple diplomatic visit had turned into the discovery of the legendary key to defeating the Burning Legion.