Make Azeroth breathtaking

41. An Unexpected Visitor from Lordaeron

"crunch-"

With the sound of the door opening, a furtive little figure pushed open the warehouse door in Tannis's laboratory a very narrow crack, and in the moonlight shining through the window frame, a head of red hair could be seen flashing by.

"Hoo-ga~ Hoo-ga~"

After carefully closing the door, the small figure skillfully began to explore the warehouse. Soon, she found her target—a large metal box.

"Hmm~"

Because of her height, the little girl had to stand on tiptoe with great difficulty to reach the lock hanging on the tin box. Just as a faint red light appeared on her hand, all the lights in the warehouse suddenly turned on.

"How many times have I told you, Onyxia, smoking is strictly prohibited in the warehouse."

Standing at the gate, Tannis looked at the chibi-style red-haired girl inside the warehouse who was trying to pry open her storage box containing various small crystals, and said with a helpless tone.

"I want you to take care of it!"

Onyxia glared fiercely at Tanis, then continued fiddling with the lock. However, before she could regenerate the flames, two drones lifted her up.

"Alright, Onyxia, it's time for bed. You're a princess, after all, and you've been a model of female nobility in Stormwind for so many years. You should at least be a little more elegant!"

"Elegance! How can I be elegant after you've made me look like this!"

Tanis's expression was incredibly subtle as she watched Onyxia, a humanoid character whose art style was completely different from that of Azeroth, fly into a rage.

"Who told you to try to escape in human form?"

"Damn it! In short, it's all your fault!!!"

Tiny Onyxia jumped up and bit Tannis's calf—yes, at her current height, she could only bite Tannis's calf.

"Crackling and popping!!!"

The instant she bit Tannis's calf with her little white teeth, a burst of electricity, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, sent the black dragon princess reeling and collapsing to the ground.

"...So, isn't it better to be honest?"

Staring at Onyxia, who was on the ground and wanted to take another bite even though only her tail was still wagging, Tanis expressionlessly took out the sealing orb used to restrain her and pressed the switch under Onyxia's pleading eyes.

"Aaaaaah! I'll definitely eat you up like dessert someday! You old hag who can't get married! I swear!!!"

Amidst Onyxia's wild screams, which carried absolutely no threat, the unfortunate black dragon princess transformed into a streak of red light and returned to the sealing sphere, leaving only the echoes reverberating in the air.

While Tannis was happily outwitting the newborn black dragon loli princess, a surprising meeting was taking place far away in Menethil Harbor of the Eastern Kingdom.

"Every time I see this port, I think of your tragically deceased older brother, Jaina."

Admiral Daelin stood with his hands behind his back on the balcony of the most luxurious tavern in Menethil Harbor, gazing at the harbor where several warships were anchored in the distance, his tone as calm as the sea before a storm.

“Father, Thrall’s tribe has proven themselves.”

“That’s right, Thrall’s Horde, and perhaps we could also add the Saurfang brothers, as well as orc veterans like Eitrigg.”

"And my master, Rega."

Before Jaina could reply, Varian's voice cut in between them.

“Varian, if Sir Lothar knew that you acknowledged an orc as your teacher, his spirit in heaven would fall down in anger.”

Daelin walked over to Varian and patted his chest half-jokingly—even though they were both kings, he was a generation older than Varian.

"Sir Lothar seeks peace through the sword, and Varian's choice will please him—as long as he doesn't lay down his sword."

Accompanied by a hoarse and aged voice, an old man, draped in a heavy robe and leaning on a plain wooden staff that faintly shimmered with holy light, his face completely shrouded in a hood, slowly entered the room. The wisps of withered flesh peeking out from the gaps in his clothing hinted that the old man was no longer alive.

"Your Excellency Fao."

Daelin stepped forward and bowed slightly to the cloaked 'elder,' while Varian and Jaina also paid their respects to the deceased with royal and mage etiquette, respectively.

"No need for formalities. I am no longer the Archbishop of Light. In the eyes of orthodox priests, my body is something that needs to be purified."

Fao pulled back his hood, revealing his gaunt but spirited face. In his otherwise empty pupils, there was even a glimmer of light.

"The Holy Light still protects you, Lord Fao. May I ask what urgent matter you require our assistance with?"

Although he was surprised that Faol still possessed such powerful Holy Light even after becoming an undead, Varian knew that Faol must have something very important to do, since he had used so many channels to contact him, Daelin, and Jaina, the three most powerful people in the human kingdoms. Therefore, he suppressed his curiosity.

"After the Lich King's evil forces temporarily left the wastelands of Lordaeron, many undead, led by Sylvanas and like myself, rediscovered themselves—they call themselves the Forsaken, and I believe you are already aware of this."

Daelin and Jaina nodded slightly. Varian, who had heard Jaina describe some of the events that occurred during the Battle of Quel'Thalas, also nodded to indicate that he was aware of them. After seeing that none of the three showed any negative emotions towards the other undead with free will, Faol slowly continued his story.

"At first, I didn't think much of it. I was just wandering aimlessly in Tirisfal Glades. After all, Archbishop Faol was a thing of the past, and no one would come seeking confession from an undead priest..."

After saying this, Fao paused.

"While wandering, I encountered a group of people being hunted by the Scourge in an abandoned farm. Among them were humans, free undead, and even goblins from Ratchet. I rescued them and discovered that one of the living people was none other than Kalia, Kalia Menethil."

"!!!"

The name Faol uttered caused Daelin, Varian, and Jaina to show expressions of disbelief, but Faol's narration did not stop.

"After I rescued Calia and the others, I asked her why she didn't seek protection from Commander Garithos but instead chose to endure the elements in the mud of Tirisfal Glades. That's what Calia told me."

Fao paused for a moment.

“I hope that I can atone for my brother’s sins in a small way, and let the people of Lordaeron who are willing to listen to me know that they have not been forgotten, they have never been forgotten.”

—————————————————A few minutes later——————————————————

Daelin, Jaina, and Varian sat around a round table, none of them speaking first. After telling his story, Faol excused himself, leaving the space to the three human leaders.

After a long while, Jaina broke the silence first.

"I never expected that Sister Kalia was still alive. We all thought she had been... killed."

As she said those words, Jaina clutched her chest slightly, as if the name she hadn't uttered was tearing at her soul.

"Lord Faol has risked his life to come to us, surely hoping we can intervene and help Kalia regain her throne in Lordaeron. The problem is..."

Varian tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Aside from Faol and some free undead followers, she has no other capable people around her. If we were to divide the current power in Lordaeron, Kalia would undoubtedly be the weakest."

Dai Lin spoke in a deep voice.

"Isn't Garethus there?"

Jaina's words elicited subtle expressions from Daelin and Varian. After a few seconds, Daelin reluctantly offered an explanation to his daughter, who lacked political acumen.

“If Kalia goes to Garithos, it will be like a lamb entering a tiger’s den. It’s true that Garithos is a nobleman and he is loyal to the royal family of Lordaeron. However, as long as he is a nobleman, he will have the ambition to climb up the social ladder. Kalia’s identity as a descendant of the Menethil clan can help him achieve the position of prince and allow his blood to be integrated into the Menethil royal bloodline.”

"What about Sylvanas? Could Kalia cooperate with her?"

Jaina's expression instantly turned ugly as she realized how foolish her idea had been. Then, she thought of another Banshee Queen with whom she had briefly worked.

"A woman driven mad by revenge is irrational—or rather, her sanity stems from madness. At most, Kalia would be placed under house arrest if she went to Garithos; if Sylvanas discovered her, her life could be in danger—especially given Kalia's identity and its natural appeal to the remnants of Lordaeron. Furthermore, Jaina, the last remaining force in Tirisfal Glades, goes without saying; the Scourge is the enemy of the world."

After saying this, Dai Lin looked at his daughter.

"Alright, Jaina, have you thought of a way to help Kalia break this deadlock?"

silence...

A few minutes later, Jaina spoke up, feeling ashamed.

"I'm sorry, Father, I can't think of that."

Daelin nodded noncommittally and turned to look at Varian.

"And you? King of Stormwind?"

"It should take about two more months to prepare for Blackrock Mountain. If necessary, the coalition can practice in Tirisfal Glades first."

Varian's answer made Jaina's eyes widen.

"Varian, you wouldn't be thinking of...."

“Jaina, if we and our allied forces send elite troops to Tirisfal Glades to put pressure on the two factions there that can at least communicate, and to create momentum for Calia, then we have a chance to at least nominally consolidate the non-Scourge forces currently operating in Tirisfal Glades.”

Varian's answer made Daelin's lips curl into a slight smile.

“Well said, but Varian, why are you so sure that Garithos and Sylvanas won’t, under our pressure, choose to fight amongst themselves until one falls or join forces to expel us ‘outsiders’ first?”

“Garisus wants to restore Lordaeron, and Sylvanas wants to kill Arthas. Their goals are not conflicting—similarly, the targets of our pressure will not conflict with their goals either. Kalia’s return to the throne means that Lordaeron has at least legally been restored. With a legally recognized Lordaeron as a backing, Sylvanas can better carry out her revenge.”

“Very good analysis, but I have two small questions I would like to hear your answers to. What if Sylvanas insists on keeping everything under her control? What if Garithos refuses to pledge allegiance to Kalia in the way we would like?”

"Cut them off, then let Kalia and Fao consolidate their forces—I believe that with our help, it won't be difficult."

As he spoke, Varian lightly flicked the greatsword on his back, causing it to emit a crisp echo.

——————————————Ten days later——————————————————

"Buzz buzz buzz~~"

With the distinctive buzzing sound of a portal opening, a portal suddenly opened in a hidden cave in Tirisfal Glades. Daelin, fully armed, walked out with his head held high, followed closely by Jaina and Varian with Faol. Then, hundreds of heavily armed elite soldiers stepped onto this corrupted land, where they were greeted by a delighted Kalia.

"Grandpa Faol! You're back! Uncle Daelin! Sister Jaina! Brother Varian! Thank you, thank you for coming to help the people of Lordaeron!"

"Yes, we're here, little Kalia. We've come to help you get back what's rightfully yours."

Dalin walked up to Kalia, who had clearly weathered many storms and whose innocent face had faded, leaving only a resolute expression. He spoke softly, but Kalia shook her head vigorously.

“I…actually, the throne doesn’t matter anymore. Legally speaking, the moment my heinous brother plunged his sword into my father’s chest, the Menethil royal lineage came to an end. I just don’t want to see the people of Lordaeron fighting amongst themselves—whether they are the awakened Forsaken or the surviving remnants, they are all people of Lordaeron…they shouldn’t be fighting.”

“Then you should become king, Kalia. In chaotic times, a king is a symbol, a symbol who can bear everything for his people and guide their path. What you want to do requires you to become that symbol.”

"I... um..."

Kalia nodded, then looked at her best friend, only to be surprised to find Jaina putting a gold coin into a box in the hands of the smiling goblin from Ratchet who had been supplying her with supplies on credit.

"Did you buy anything from him, Jaina?"

"Yes, we bought the teleportation coordinates here."

42. Lordaeron was swiftly subdued.

In the late spring of the 24th year of the Dark Portal, something happened in the wastelands of Lordaeron that nearly made the nobles of the human Alliance drop their jaws in astonishment.