Point of View: Sylvanas
The gates of Arcadia opened slowly before us.
The deep rumble of the mechanisms barely had time to echo before it was swallowed by a greater sound.
Applause.
Cheers.
Drums.
The road connecting the gates to the central plaza was completely packed. Flags bearing Arcadia's emblem waved from balconies and towers. Garlands of flowers stretched between buildings, forming colorful arches above our heads.
And then the rain began.
Petals.
Thousands of petals.
They fell over our armor, over my panther, over the soldiers' weapons. The air was thick with floral fragrance and pride.
"Sylvanas!"
"Lyriana!"
"Glory to Arcadia!"
My name echoed again and again.
Some ran alongside us for a few steps before returning to their families. Others lifted their children onto their shoulders so they could see better. I saw them strike their chests with their fists, imitating the military salute.
My soldiers marched upright.
Some smiled openly. Others tried to maintain composure, but the light in their eyes betrayed them.
Not a single death.
We all returned.
That thought repeated in my mind as we advanced.
There had been tense moments. Disagreements. Exhaustion. Fear that no one dared to name.
But we remained united.
We knew why we fought.
Our people needed this war to survive the tribulation.
And now we returned victorious from our first conquest… with knowledge, resources, and confirmation that we were not helpless before the future.
In the middle of the procession, a little girl broke free from her mother's hand and ran toward me.
Before anyone could stop her, she threw herself into my arms.
I caught her by instinct.
She was light. Her small hands clutched my armor as if afraid I might disappear.
"Mom says you protect us," she whispered.
For a moment, the noise faded.
I looked toward her mother. When our eyes met, she bowed her head—grateful… trusting me.
That gesture weighed more than any ovation.
Carefully, I placed the girl atop my panther's head.
She raised her arms and waved enthusiastically.
The crowd erupted into even louder cheers.
After a while, the central plaza came into view.
And then I realized—it wasn't just a welcome.
It was a festival.
Long tables covered nearly the entire square, overflowing with food: freshly baked bread, roasted meats, shining fruits, and jugs brimming with drink. Platforms had been erected at various points, where musicians stood ready with their instruments.
The air vibrated with joy.
Before reaching the center, someone awaited us.
Eldrin.
He greeted us with a wide smile.
"I'm glad to see you again, Lyriana and Sylvanas."
Lyriana, at my side, replied:
"You planned this, didn't you?"
He shrugged with false modesty.
"It's my duty as leader to keep the people united. And I believed a celebration was necessary. Come."
He led us to a table where the rest of the council was already gathered.
They were all impeccably dressed.
Feigning annoyance, I said:
"Everyone looks so well put together, and we're the only ones who've actually been working."
Lyriana nodded.
"We spent two years among beasts while you all stayed comfortable."
Then she pointed at Morgath.
"Even Morgath looks fatter."
Laughter erupted.
Morgath flexed his arms with mock indignation.
"This isn't fat. It's muscle! Pure training."
I studied his massive frame—over two and a half meters tall.
"If I didn't know you were a builder, I'd swear you were a warrior," I said.
Thistram added with a grin:
"In armor, he'd look more like Minister of Security than I do."
The jokes continued for nearly two hours.
Laughter.
Memories.
Relief.
Then Eldrin stood and climbed onto the highest platform. The musicians fell silent.
He amplified his voice with Origin energy.
"Primordials of Arcadia, today we celebrate our first successful campaign on another planet."
The plaza exploded into cheers.
Some stood. Others pounded the tables enthusiastically.
Eldrin continued, his tone firmer now.
"When we arrived in this world, we faced losses. Doubts. Obstacles that seemed insurmountable. It was not easy."
The crowd quieted.
"But this campaign gave us more than resources. It gave us knowledge. It gave us experience."
He paused briefly.
"Problems will always come. That will not change."
A murmur rippled through the plaza.
"But now we know we can fight. We know we can conquer."
The silence transformed into determination.
"Today we toast to the fallen. To those who brought us this far. And to the future we will build together."
He raised his cup.
"To Arcadia and our dreams!"
"To Arcadia and our dreams!" we answered in unison.
The music returned.
The celebration continued.
The air filled with laughter, conversation, and hope.
These are the moments that remind us why we fight.
We do not fight for a city.
We fight for our home.
We fight for our future.
I was about to resume a conversation when a notification appeared before my eyes.
[The Guardian wishes to invite you to a private meeting]
[The reason for this meeting is secret]
[Do you accept?]
A bad premonition ran down my spine.
But I did not show it.
I excused myself, saying I was tired, and returned home.
Before leaving, I met Eldrin's gaze.
He knew something was wrong.
We didn't need words. I understood what he was telling me.
You can count on us.
When I arrived home, silence enveloped me.
With a steady voice, I replied:
"I accept."