Stranger in a Strange (Under)City

At first, Anasteria was unsure whether she would like Undercity or not. She had seen very few undead, but was still unsure about the matter altogether. Priestess Elluine assured her that the Undead would welcome her knowledge and share some of their own. What assured Anasteria most was that she could teleport home instantly using the translocation orb. Her stomach lurched as the lift soared downward at a less than gentle speed. I guess the Undead have no need for hand rails. The doors whooshed open and Anasteria was greeted by three men. The first took her hand in his own ragged one and shook it . A shiver of revulsion ran down her body as he did so, but was forcefully stifled.

"I am Edridge Blacktongue, Miss Anasteria. Headmaster of the academy. Such a pleasure it is." His voice had a slight echo to it due to the hollowness of his body. She attempted a not-so-graceful curtsey and he turned to introduce the two men flanking him.

"This is dean Pritchard Brackenwine and.." he turned to introduce the fastidiously-dressed redheaded Blood Elf beside him, "Tasius Bloodthistle. Assistant ambassador to Undercity" Tasius bowed elegantly to Anasteria, his emerald eyes fixed on her.

After three weeks in Undercity, Anasteria was finally able to masterfully navigate around. A few close calls with slipping into the sewage duct taught her about the importance of bridges. The only frustration she was experiencing was in her studies. She had gotten used to the decayed flesh and wild hair of her undead peers, but they had apparently not gotten used to her. They looked at her with a peculiar expression that showed both jealousy and awe. Either way, it didn't help. She was homesick for the Elven delicacies of baked pears with spiced honey or a glass of pomegranate juice on a warm day. As she meditated each morning, her mind drifted back to all the little things she missed about home. There was a swift knock at the door of the dormitory, making her jump.

"Master Bloodthistle calls to see you, miss," the servant rasped.

Anasteria nodded and followed her to the archway of the entrance where Tasius was standing. With a winning smile, he took her hand (all too familiarly, she might add) and briefly touched his lips to it. At a loss of words for his over exuberance, she stammered out a greeting. He rose gracefully from the bow and offered his arm.

"I came to see if you wanted some company, miss Duskblaze. When I first arrived here a year ago, I shut myself in my room for weeks wishing I had accepted a post somewhere that was a little more..." he paused, searching for the words, but she found them first,

"Cheerful?" she added helpfully. Tasius was a vision. A perfectly-sculpted body that was made for sin. She blushed, pushing away the thought.

He flashed that same winning smile. "Yes, cheerful. Yet, Undercity takes a certain getting used to. There are actually fine places to eat and some clothing shops. I can show you, if you're interested."

Clothing shops? Is this guy blind? I obviously don't aim high in the fashion scene. She blushed at the thought of him helping her pick out a cloak that was most flattering to her figure.

"I'd.. like to try the food here. They cook it, right?"

His muscular chest shook as a warm chuckle erupted, "Of course, my lady. Let me show you to it."

She had to admit that the days she spent with Tasius brought them closer. They talked about where they came from, what their families were like, and what they missed most about Quel'Thalas.

"I was always a little embarrassed of my surname growing up," he said as they sipped their spiced wine on the steps of the Royal Quarter.

"Our family name honors a "herb" that worms its way into every spot of ground where the sunshine hits. I wanted a surname like Dawnblade or Sundagger" he chuckled as he emptied his cup.

Anasteria set her own cup down and turned to him, "Well, it didn't hold you back. Look where you are now. A strong handsome paladin working as assistant to the ambassador." She felt her cheeks flush at the words that just slid out of her mouth.

"Forgive me," she corrected herself hastily, "I've never had wine before today."

The corners of Tasius's mouth turned upward in a faint smile and he paused. "If I may be so bold to tell you, you look most stunning when you blush." He gently lifted her chin and she yielded to his tender kiss.

Days later, she was still thinking about that kiss. She had eventually come to the conclusion that, yes, the kiss was nice and she wouldn't mind if he did it again. His lips were soft and he smelled so nice up close. There were only two times in Anasteria's life where she had been kissed. The first was when she had just entered upper primary school and Thorin Thorncutter placed a sloppy wet kiss on her during a game of Dares and Double Dares. The second was years later behind her father's shop with Fedrelis, the shop boy. She remembered cuffing him on the head when his tongue prodded its way past her teeth and into her mouth. Love interests aside, Anasteria was learning more each day. The past month had been focused on teaching her the philosophy of Shadow magic and how it reinterpreted the ways of the Light, but now she was being taught the spells and techniques. What she lacked in her old academy, she made up for in this one. Professor Lockhart praised her openly in class as she demonstrated the various spells that could torment an enemy's mind, depleting its health in seconds. There was something about shadow magic that gave Anasteria some sense of empowerment. She was no longer unprotected and weak.

Ambassador Sunsorrow must have dozed off while Lady Sylvanas was speaking, for he felt a hard pinch on his shoulder.

"I've no time for games!" she snapped.

As important as the alliance was with the Lady, he couldn't help but daydream during her furious ravings about things including, but not limited to, Arthas and the audacity that Cyssa Dawnrose has to gossip about her fashion sense.

"I apologize, my lady" he replied quickly. The ambassador was about to slip back into daydreams when a servant shuffled into the room, bowed deeply, and placed a letter in his hands. He took one look at the envelope and excused himself. The letter was from Sirai Dayleaf, a former comrade of Sunsorrow's who was now stationed in The Barrens. He held it up to the torchlight and examined the delicately-penned Thalassian letters:

"Bal'a dash, Ambassador,

I hope this letter finds you well and prosperous. I write to ask a favor of you and hope that you will be able to aid us in our battle against the Alliance. The usual skirmishes that have happened at Warsong Gulch, but have increased in frequency as of late. Attacks are happening multiple times a day. We are unable to gather wood at an efficient pace and may be forced to delay the building of military equipment. I have sought help from various brave Sin'dorei, yet we will need more. Please spare what you can.

May the Eternal Sun guide you,

S. Dayleaf"

He pocketed the letter and called a servant over to fetch Tasius. He would be able to provide a few men and he had been meaning to find a real job for the young man after his mother had written, pleading with the ambassador to send him to fight so that he may gain honor. Aside from that, the ambassador disliked the boy, due to some bad history between the two. Either way Tasius was intelligent and hardworking. The young man strode up to him with that same annoying grin that Sunsorrow wanted to slap off of his face.

"I have an assignment for you, lad," he began. "Your services are needed in Warsong Gulch. It would seem that those Alliance thugs are making scheduled attacks on the lumber yard and I need my ships and wagons built."

Tasius tightened his lips and replied "I will do everything I can in the service of our people, Ambassador.."

Sunsorrow was about to clap the boy on the back and promise him a promotion, but he was preempted. "However," continued Tasius, "I must ask a small favor from you.. on behalf of the priestess studying here."