Playing with fire - From the Ashes

by Luna Rubra

Kael'thas Sunstrider, the prince of the elves, is now dead. And before the eyes of the world turn to the threat to the north, Aiwyn has a chance to go on one more quest for her old Master. The world has changed, and if she once knew her place in it, now it's different. Who is she, in the era of the mortals? Warning: Don't feed the trolls! Or the drama queens.

1. Prologue

Ashes and tears. Once we have bathed in ashes and tears, drowned in blood and witnessed the darkness that seemed never ending, the Light is born. The rebirth of my people came with the rebirth of the Sunwell, a miracle only possible after madness, bloodshed and sacrifice. The madness of our Prince, who sold his soul to the Burning Legion; the bloodshed of a dozen nations that came to our aid and left our lands drenched in blood, be it blood of our allies or blood of our enemies. Royal blood.

And sacrifice of a pure being made of Light.

For all that our tears and suffering led us to, they may as well have been the catalyst that ignited the pool of Light, and so from our ashes, the Sunwell rose to the sky as a pillar of power, of golden magic. My friends told me that when they saw the Sunwell shining once again, the joy of tasting its pure Light was overwhelming. Beautiful power in its raw nature bathed us like the sun kisses the skin of one who's wandered too long through the dark, frozen to the heart. They said the Sunwell almost filled the holes in their hearts, despite the losses and the scars, despite the death of our Prince. No one could blame us for falling in love with the Sunwell, attracted to its warmth like moths. But something went awry in my heart. I felt like a cracked cup, and no matter how sweet the wine, how strong the Light, it kept leaking from the cracks at the bottom. Not even the Holy Light of the Sunwell could fill my heart again.

And then I walked away.