Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 798, Section 11: The Old Prophet's Sacrificial Last Words - Bonus Chapter [25]

(Bonus chapter for changes in word count [2/5])
Eredas received a summons from his father.

He was still busy in Azeroth with matters concerning the formation of the "Lightforged Clan," but a letter from his father made this young man, who followed the Vigilantes on the path of light and shadow, realize that something was very wrong. He hurriedly bid farewell to Lyran and boarded the shuttle to Draenor.

But when Eredas arrived in Shattrath City, he was surprised to find Lyran, Yrel, Marad, and Nubodon already waiting there.

The other four members of the five main characters clearly did not intend to let Iredas bear the burden of fate alone. They went directly to Lady Aegwynn and arrived here first through Sargeras' Scepter.

This is something that brothers and sisters should do for each other.

"The Great Prophet is not in Shattrath City, he is in Auchindoun."

Marad, carrying the Sunstrider warhammer that no longer ignites with holy flames but is still a true cosmic artifact, stepped forward and whispered to Eredas:
"Don't worry, I've asked General Tirasalan. He told me that although the Great Prophet has not fully recovered, his condition has not suddenly deteriorated to the point where he needs to have a last mass."

He traveled to Auchinton with the Grand Councilor of Hatton and Ms. Vera, presumably to hold some kind of ceremony there.

I probably summoned you here to give you some other instructions.

"Don't offer empty words of comfort. Let's go to Auchinton and check on the situation first."

Irele tugged at her great-uncle's arm and whispered:

"We've been in Azeroth lately, but when I came back, I ran into Dana, a big merchant from my village, who was going to buy some goods. After chatting for a bit, I learned that the Great Prophet has been locking himself in the Aldor Temple ever since the War of the Sun, and only the High Archons can see him."

Even Archbishop Isana hasn't seen the Great Prophet in a long time.

This situation is clearly abnormal.

"We'll talk about that later!"

The composed Nubodun seemed to have already guessed that something ominous might happen today. He led over a few Talbuk sheep, and then the group escorted Eredas, who looked sad, seemed to be feeling something, and had begun to shed tears and was reluctant to leave, to the Auchindoun Sanctuary.

That place isn't far.

But by the time they arrived, the area was under martial law.

Archbishop Mardara, the Soulcaller of Auchinton, personally led his guards to stand watch in the square. All the immortal constructs in Auchinton had been activated, and many shadow priests were casting spells around the area, seemingly to isolate Auchinton from the spiritual communication with the outside world and prevent external souls from being affected by what was happening inside Auchinton.

"Why did you just come back?!"

Upon seeing Iredas, the usually stern Archbishop Mardara stepped forward and reprimanded him, but then, somewhat reluctantly, reached out and patted Iredas on the shoulder, saying:

"Go quickly, the great prophet is waiting for you."

"What exactly happened?"

Irelia couldn't help but ask:

"This looks terrifying. Has another great demon attacked?"

"Don't ask any more questions, just go in."

Archbishop Mardala waved his hand and reminded him again:

"Leave your artifacts outside to avoid unnecessary Force conflicts. Once inside, do not disturb whatever you see."

Especially you, Irelia!

Your recklessness is notorious throughout Draenor.

I must remind you that today's events were reported to the Watchers beforehand, and the Lord of the Most High has approved the Great Prophet's choice and blessed him; He too will be present here in person.

"Oh."

Somewhat displeased, Yrel removed her two holy blades and stored them in an immortal vault specifically for storing valuable items.

She was quite dissatisfied.

He felt that his compatriots clearly had a problem with their perception of him, and that he had not been reckless at all.

Why waste your brain thinking about problems that can be easily solved with Holy Storm and Ash Awakening? As the Vigilant said, a good warrior learns to rely on his intuition instead of wasting time thinking about tactics in a battle where every second counts.

With these thoughts in mind, Yrel and the others accompanied Iredas into Auchinton, which had been completely sealed off.

Leilan seemed to have guessed what was about to happen.

The traveler's eyes also reddened.

She held Iredas's hand tightly, hoping to give her soulmate some necessary courage in this way.

The moment they entered Auchinton, all five of them felt a familiar, chilling wind blowing through this sacred tomb that should have been protected by holy light.

That was death roaring.

Yrel, who was most sensitive to the workings of the Force, could even clearly feel the "joy" and "expectation" contained in the death wind before her, as if the Death Force that had already settled here foresaw that it would reap an unparalleled and perfect soul today.

My great-uncle looked around warily.

He knew there was no danger here, but he could still see that the Eredar warriors' spirits, who usually hid in different phases, had appeared today in an unusual way. Led and called upon by the winds of death, they formed a marching formation, ignoring the walls and obstacles, and advanced from different directions toward the soul platform at the deepest part of Auchindoun.

Like a legion summoned and compelled to respond, they silently but resolutely marched toward their final battle.

These are the Draenei clansmen who died in various accidents over the past few centuries, and they should have been enjoying peace in the Auchindoun Sanctuary.

Further in, Yrel soon came across the archbishops of the Draenei clan.

She saw her good friend Samara among them; the girl who had grown up with Irelia was dressed in the robes of an Aldor priest, following Archbishop Isana as they performed a memorial service.

Irelia stepped forward and called out to Samara, about to ask her something, but Samara stopped her by putting her hand to her mouth.

The girl from Amboli village had tears in her eyes and pointed ahead.

Yrel stretched out his head and looked ahead, and was astonished to see that in the center of the Soul Platform ahead, the Great Prophet Velen was kneeling and praying before the monument commemorating the fallen, and at the end of the road in front of the Great Prophet, the Soul Eater sword from Azeroth was floating there.

Frostmourne!
This blasphemous sword that desecrated the dead wasn't destroyed, fine, but why is it here?!
"What is the Great Prophet planning?!"

Marlaad exclaimed in surprise.

Even though he had a premonition, when he saw the Great Prophet with Frostmourne, his great-uncle still rushed out immediately out of his guard.

Irene followed him and charged.

They cannot allow the Eredar's great prophet to be captured by the artifact of death; that should not be Lord Velen's fate.

"Get out!"

Just as Marad and Yrel leaped toward the soul platform, a shout rang out from the sky.

As the dawn's rays burst forth, the avatar of the Vigilant, who appeared there, waved his hand, unleashing a warm storm that sent the two reckless individuals back to the observation platform.

He hovered in the air, blocking them from Velen. Looking at the five young heroes clenching their fists, Diakum's avatar shook his head and said:
"No one forced the prophet; Velen chose this path himself. You cannot understand all of this yet, but be patient, and soon you will know why the prophet sacrificed himself for this."

Iredas, come with me.

Your father left you his last words, hoping that you would take over his responsibilities.

Forced back to the edge of the platform, Marlaad showed resistance to Diakum's orders for the first time. He clenched his fists, wanting to argue, but was pulled back by his sister.

Irele ignored all of that and loudly questioned:

“You have said the same thing many times: if a good person is to be sacrificed for something, then that thing itself is wrong! Even if we want to reclaim our homeland, which is the faith of all Eredar, we cannot let the prophet suffer such torment!”
No one should have touched that sword!
That's an artifact of death, that's evil. Ah.

Before Irelia's rebuke had even finished, an illusion suddenly unfolded before her eyes.

In that somber vision, Sachiel, dressed in a red robe and leaning on a skull cane, looked coldly at the young man spouting nonsense, surrounded by the skulls of the Eternals.

Although Sachiel said nothing, Yrel's will was struck as if by lightning, as if bitten by a cold, venomous snake. Clearly, the Shaper, one of the three Death Trinity, believed Yrel was blaspheming death; it considered Yrel's understanding of death too shallow, and it wanted to punish this "spoiled" rising star.

"Forget it, why are you getting angry with that silly kid who's still so innocent?"

As Diakum, who had enveloped Eredas in the light of dawn and led him to the Soul Platform, casually remarked:
"She's only a little over a hundred years old, still too young to understand, but she will come to the right understanding in this war of reconquest that even death has positive power and manifestation. The Force has no distinction between good and evil."

"Humph"

The indifferent hum represented Sachiel's concession, but a chilling aura still gripped Yrel's soul, making her tremble as if she were naked in the dead of winter, with even her skin and hair covered in blue frost.

Samara stepped forward and embraced her sister, warming the shivering Yrel with her holy light, and whispered a rebuke for her arrogance.

Although the death god of the Eredar has not yet been made public, priests can sense that great tombs like Auchinton have already been "mastered," and even Lightwalkers must be careful not to offend the majesty of death here.

Iredas arrived at the Spirit Platform accompanied by Diakum.

He looked up and saw that on the platforms surrounding Auchinton’s unique ring-shaped structure stood high-ranking officials and faith leaders from different Starsea clans.

They gathered there, holding white bouquets, their faces solemn, to pay the highest tribute to Viren, who was about to embrace death.

A surge of anger rose within Eredas.

They acted as if their father were dead.
"Go."

Diakum's avatar gently nudged him on the shoulder, causing Eredas to wipe away his tears and hurry toward his father. The closer he got to Velen, the clearer he could hear that his father was not praying before the monument that recorded the dead.

The father is repenting.

He confessed that he was an incompetent leader, and that he had chosen to compromise and blindly follow the tide under the weight of fate, which led to many unnecessary casualties among the Draenei clan.

He even confessed to some strange things.

He was saying that he wasn't firm or brave enough, which led to the massacre at the Temple of Karabor and the fall of Shattrath City.

But none of those things ever happened!
"Father!"

Iredas grew increasingly alarmed. He knelt beside Velen, grasped the old prophet's hand, and said:

"Are you alright? Are you still conscious?"

"I saw things last night that never happened but were real."

Viren stopped repenting.

He opened his eyes and looked at his child with an incredibly peaceful gaze. He smiled and said:
"Perhaps it was Hatton's story that made me want to use my prophetic talents for the first time to see what would happen in a world without Diakum. And then, I was terrified, child."

Even prophets who claim to be able to foresee everything cannot imagine things they have never seen before, but it was precisely because of last night's unexpected prophecy that I made up my mind.

Everything we have now is a miracle, but we cannot abandon our responsibilities just because we are protected by a powerful force.

Do not grieve because of my departure.

I'm just continuing to protect our people in a different way, and you and I will meet again in another world someday.

Then I will listen carefully to everything my son experiences in his life after I am gone.

I'm sorry, Eredas, my son, I couldn't protect your mother when the Genidal crashed, and I know that has always been a thorn in your side.

You believe that since your father could sacrifice everything for other tribesmen, why couldn't he give all his love to his own family?

I'm sorry, child.

I realize I may have been too harsh on my family, and I hope it's not too late to apologize now.

“Father, I no longer blame you. After experiencing the trials of fate at Tongtian Peak, I have come to understand your hardships and pain.”

Eredas hugged his father and said loudly:

"I am no longer fixated on past conflicts. I only want you to be with me for the rest of my life. I only want to hold that wedding in our now-restored home. I hope you can smile at my wedding."

enough!

You have given everything for the Eredar people, and no one has the right to ask you to continue to dedicate yourself to us. You have given all your passion and love to your fellow countrymen; at least leave some for yourself.

Has fate ever been kind to you?

Oh my god.

Are you just going to sit idly by and watch a good person who has given everything for you die for you again?
How could you be so cruel!

He turned and yelled at the high officials and leaders who were in silent tribute.

His roar, like that of a wild beast that has lost everything, echoed on the platform of his soul, but only silence answered him.

It's not that there aren't other people willing to take over the heavy responsibility of Velen; there are plenty of elderly Grand Consuls willing to sacrifice themselves for the great cause of restoration. But the problem is, they won't let them!
The Force of Death has designated Velen to become one of the Eredar's "Three Death Gods," a demanding requirement that is a rare blessing that no one else can claim.

"Okay, stop being so childish."

Old Viren hugged his child.

He embraced him as he had when Iredas was first born, gently patting his shoulder and softly comforting him:

"Children are an extension of their parents' lives. If you think there are still regrets in my life, perhaps you can spend some time making up for those regrets for your poor old father."

I have not left you, my child.

I will watch over you and bless you from the land on the other side.
Behold, the death of the Eredar has three faces.

The Grim Reaper in red embodies the wisdom of the living and the punishment of the dead; the Grim Reaper in white governs the mercy of the living and the forgiveness of the dead; the Grim Reaper in black holds the courage of the living and the discipline of the dead.

I am one of them, my son.

I will come to pick you up on the day my life ends, just like when I first embraced you at the time of your birth. It will be a reunion after ten thousand years, a solitary journey of ten thousand years.

stay strong!
To live one's life to the fullest without regrets.

Listen! Our bravest warriors are ready to go. Those who have given everything for the people are willing to give their lives a second time for their people, but they need a commander.

The old prophet rose with the help of his weeping son. Under the silent gaze of the dead, Eredas led his father across the path guarded by the dead, finally arriving before the suspended Frostmourne.

"Go."

Velen said to Eredas:

“Go back to the world under the sun and tell our people that Velen is dead! The prophet gave his life to bring the Eredar the blessing of death.”

From this day forward, we will no longer be wandering ghosts; from this day forward, our souls will return to peace.

"Father, no! Don't leave me!"

Iredas tried to grab Velen's arm.

But amidst the repulsion of the winds of death, countless dead pushed him, keeping the living away from the white-clad Grim Reaper. One after another, ghostly halberds slashed down, completely closing the last door.

The prophet sang praises to the Holy Light one last time, then reached out and grasped the hilt of Frostmourne.

A storm of dominion surrounded him, causing Velen to turn back at the moment of his death and look at Diakum in the dawn light on the other side.

He nodded slightly to the guard, who nodded back.

The rest is up to you.

Yes, dawn is coming!

(End of this chapter)