AN: So, I hadn't planned to post this, but I was reading though Grave as a refresher and *Laughs Sheepishly* turns out I had skipped right from chapter 9 to 11, so I figured I'd post a new chapter while I'm running around fixing that
-X Line Break X-
Ruby sat on the ledge of Acherus, looking out over the forest. A rustle of cloth, and Blake sat next to her.
"Hey."
"How'd you get here?"
Blake shrugged, feathers sprouting along her arm, "Flew."
Ruby didn't respond at first, turning her eyes back to the setting sun on the horizon.
"Who else is going on?"
"Coco and Mercury. Yang's excited for the end of the week."
She would be.
"What do you want?"
"I was worried about you. You disappeared after talking with us."
"I needed to be alone."
Blake hummed, "I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"You don't like to think about it, do you?"
"No, I don't."
Despite what Pitwick and Darmus thought, Ruby was ashamed of what had happened. Of finding comfort from the memories of Kel'thuzad with Arthas. Of betraying Jaina like that. Most of all, however, she was ashamed of the fact that she missed it all.
There was a freedom in the Scourge. Who had been right? The other side, in hindsight, but at the time it had been them. Who was the enemy? Whoever defied Arthas. Where did the line end? When every living thing on Azeroth had joined the Scourge.
After, it hadn't been like that. Who was right, the Kaldorei defending their land, or the Goblins who had to attack it or they would be thrown out of the Horde, leaving them with nothing? Ruby didn't know.
She hid it well, shame was a weakness, and Ruby had learned to never show such things.
Jaina had known. It had never been spoken, but Ruby was certain that the former princess had known.
Liam had known, as did Tess. When Ruby had succumbed to the Nightmare, they had been there. Neither had ever said why, but Ruby had her suspicions.
Calia knew. The priestess was too perceptive to not.
Varian had known, they both understood the appeal of that sort of freedom.
Blake handed over a notebook, and Ruby looked at her in confusion.
"Look through it."
Ruby flicked through the pages, looking at the drawings.
They started childish, little more than stick figures with traits added on. A pair of cat ears, horns, a tail. As Ruby got further into the book, they became more detailed.
A self portrait.
A man with greying hair, covering his entire face. A tail hanging down. A simple suit covered his body.
Another man, mouth bared in a grin, revealing rows of jagged teeth. A wet suit covered his body.
A tired looking young woman, pupils square, with a nurse's bag.
Blake stopped her on a picture of a red headed young man. Hair slicked back, dressed in black with an elaborate embroidery.
"I never told you about Adam."
"I don't think so, no."
"I know so."
"You don't need to." Best let the past die.
"I want to. You told me something you are hurt by, now I want to do the same."
"If you're sure."
Ruby listened as Blake described her sordid past. Of her father disappearing when she was young, and trying to survive on the streets of Vale. Of joining the White Fang, and meeting Adam Taurus. Of learning to fight and that whirling into a romance. Of that relationship turning sour, and the White Fang's fall.
Then Blake gestured to the book, "Turn the page."
The next pages had a different tone. Cityscape after cityscape.
After those, were drawings of Team RWBY and JNPR.
Yang was captured shadow boxing.
Weiss was going through Myrtenaster's chambers.
Jaune was laughing sheepishly.
Pyrrha was in the middle of a move with Milò.
Nora was jumping in the air.
Ren sat, meditating.
Ruby, younger, whole, before the world had worn her away. Working on Crescent Rose.
Then Ruby turned the page again, and the drawings changed.
Darmus, leaning on Shattered Light.
Malag, blood leaking from his arm to feed the Maw of the Damned.
Zaala and York, apparently caught in a dance.
Velann, collapsed on the couch.
Darion, helm off, stretching.
Anduin. Examining Shalamayne with a wistful look on his face.
Tai, sparring with Yang.
Summer, relaxing next to a tree.
Qrow, halfway through taking a drink.
Weiss singing in the gardens of Beacon, under the gaze of the statue.
And another picture of Ruby. Hunched over a map, a finger jabbing into it, talking to someone to the side.
Ruby turned towards Blake, only to see her curled up, asleep.
Sighing, Ruby stood. Reaching down, Ruby picked up the Dreamer.
Walking through the halls of Acherus, Ruby stopped at the door to her room. Gently opening the door, Ruby lay Blake down on her bed.
Wondering how the smell of rot wasn't waking Blake up, Ruby unfastened her cloak, throwing it over her black haired teammate as a makeshift blanket.
"Aggra?"
The call came quietly, and Ruby's valet came.
Her left arm was in tatters, and stitches ran across her body. Testament to how many times Ruby had kept her promise.
"Mistress?"
"I'm going to the heart. Come get me when Blake wakes up, ok?"
"Yes, mistress."
"Good," Ruby lifted the left hand, "what happened?"
"I tried to feed Liam."
Ruby sighed, "Aggra, you know it isn't safe."
It was ironic, that the wolf named after Liam was the most temperamental. It was only Ruby's unparalleled control that kept him in check when Uther was out, the Worg leading Ruby's pack capable of throwing the smaller wolf around easily.
"I wanted to help."
"Feed Varian and Alex then, but don't go near Liam. It will never end well. Listen, I've had a long day, I'll fix up your arm tomorrow, ok?"
What a sad pair they made. The woman running from shadows and the one who damned her to that fate.
Ruby had made it clear that Aggra was from any obligation years ago, but the orc stayed. Whatever she had seen haunted her to this day. It was, Ruby noted, bitterly ironic that the same person that had ruined Aggralan's life was the only thing keeping her safe from something worse.
The strong, defiant shamaness that Ruby had met on Outland still appeared on occasion, more so recently, which gave Ruby hope, but was buried under fear of the monsters. And the fear that Ruby would abandon her to them.
Ruby would never do so, she had dragged Aggra into this fate, her conscience wouldn't let her abandon the Orc. The two of them were in for the long hall. Until they found a way to keep Aggra from going to the Void.
"Yes."
Good.
Walking into the heart, Ruby stepped over the Plate of the Damned. Settling onto the pillars remains, Ruby resolved to make someplace for Blake and the rest to stay, before slipping into an uneasy sleep, haunted by floating skeletons and blades.
-X Line Break X-
Blake walked along the halls of the Eye. The walls transitioning from golden metal to wood seamlessly.
She couldn't keep the small smile from her face. She had been worried that talking about Adam would be painful. It was, but now that it was done, she felt lighter, like something that had been weighing her down was gone.
"You seem happy."
The man walked out of the wall, staff clicking against the the floor, the snake carved around it following her.
"Asclepius."
The snake god swept into a low bow.
"My Queen. You did not come to the Dream last night."
"I was busy, and hoping Luperca would leave."
"Well, you got your wish. The She-Wolf went hunting."
Blake had been confined to the Eye, Luperca waiting for her to leave. There was something deeply unsettling about that. The Dream was hers, and she should be free to go where she wished.
"You seem happy."
"You already said that."
"It is the truth. Something that held you down is gone. But at the same time, something worries you."
The god studied Blake, examining her. His eyes contracted into slits as his tongue slipped from his mouth.
"You are worried about someone you care for. You learn they suffered in some way, the same as you, and are ashamed you didn't notice."
Blake didn't respond. Didn't need too. Asclepius was always able to figure out these sorts of things.
His tongue slipped out again, and he paused. When it slipped out next, it was forked.
Clothing disappeared, the staff clattered to the ground as limbs melded with his torso. A long hiss filled the air as the old man was replaced with a great snake.
"What happened?"
"Asclepius?"
"Their taint clings to you! It fades, unable to withstand the might of the Eye without support, but it is there! Who attempted to corrupted my queen so brazenly? I shall feed them to my hatchlings!"
"Asclepius! Calm down!"
What did he mean? She hadn't been anywhere They had been… as far as she knew. The Wild Gods still refused to elaborate, and what little information there was in the complex was muddled.
Blake had come to believe that Eonar hadn't been anywhere near done when she left. There were too many things missing.
Asclepius calmed down, shifting back into his humanoid form.
"Still, my lady, are you alright?"
Blake thought about it, before sighing.
"Can I ask your advice?"
"Always."
Blake had found that despite their first meeting, the Snake was better at thinking them fighting.
So Blake told him about her team leader.
-X Line Break X-
Mitnus stood before the Council of Six. They were setting off to Remnant after this, but the ceremony needed to be done.
If Rhonin showed up.
Nobody would fault him if he couldn't, but-
"I'm sorry I'm late."
The Archmage walked in, supported by his wife.
Mitnus didn't flinch, but it was a near thing. The scars from Theramore had not faded in the years since.
Truthfully, calling them scars was wrong. It looked like someone had turned part of Rhonin Redhair's skin to purple crystal.
Even his last name felt sarcastic, bleached white by the arcane energy that had been released that day.
Despite that, he stood tall, shrugging off Vereesa's support.
His one eye swiveled down, the other eternally staring ahead.
"Conjurer Mitnus Tinkfuse. Today, you leave us. You go to fight for another world, in defiance of all expectations. I have spoken to all your teachers, and they all have said the same thing. You were good, but not half as good as your brother."
Mitnus kept her face impassive, despite the sting.
"And then your brother left us. Turning to Fel, and you fell to the wayside."
The Archmage's voice boomed through the Kirin Tor's meeting chamber.
"You did not let this stop you. If you were not pleading for an apprenticeship to any mage who would listen, you were in the libraries, honing your skills on your own.
It shames me to admit that I, like so many others, let your brother's shadow taint my perception of you, and turned you away."
Mitnus felt Felo'melorn at her side, evidence of her accomplishments.
"So you turned to other means. Leaving Dalaran, you sailed to Ahn'Qiraj. It was there, more than the halls of the Violet Citadel, that you started your journey. There, on the field of battle, you proved yourself… and continued to do so over the years. You fought the Lich King, and Deathwing, and many other threats."
Mitnus heard Meryl tighten his grip on Ebonchill.
"That is why, with great pride, I name you as an Archmage of the Kirin Tor, and our arm in this new world. Go, prove that yourself again, learn new arts, and know that the might of Dalaran is ready to support you should you-"
The speech was cut off by a coughing fit, something red and purple splattered the floor.
Rhonin was in his mid forty, but his life was over. Everyone knew that. He was incapable of fighting, or doing anything that required exertion. All that was left was to watch his kids as Vereesa helped lead the Unseen Path.
The other members of the Council quickly dismissed the meeting.
Walking out, Mitnus met up with the rest of the expedition.
Her brother was leaning on a wall, the Scepter was leaning on his shoulder.
"Done?"
"Yes."
"Finally," pushing off the elder Tinkfuse grabbed the Scepter. The eye at the top glowed, Fel Runes manifested on the frozen air, manipulating the very fabric of reality.
Not for the first time, Mitnus worried about her brother's weapon. Finkmink had always been flighty, and it didn't seem like a good idea to let him have something that could literally unmake worlds.
With a mighty roar, the portal opened, giving way to the fallen Titan's artifact.
Radulf slipped through it with her, and Mitnus took her first look at a new world.
-X Line Break X-
Winter sighed as she sat on her airship. She should have gotten to Vale a month ago, but had been delayed in Atlas.
At some point Weiss had apparently had a fight with their father, and was refusing to speak to him. That had left Braun with no choice but to lean on her.
While Winter was glad her little sister was finally starting to realize how much of a monster their father was, she was worried that Weiss hadn't quite thought this through.
Winter had already started to rebel by the time Weiss had started her training, and Braun had planned around keeping Weiss from doing the same.
He had essentially crippled her sister's abilities, forcing her to rely on Dust for combat. If she ran out, she would have swiftly become close to useless.
Winter knew it, Klein knew it. That's why the manservant had Winter smuggle in a supply of Dust for Weiss, including some experimental Dust.
They both knew that Braun would almost assuredly blame it on a Faunus, and that nagged at the Atlesian specialist.
Her father was a psychopath, he had faked reports of their grandfather's insanity to convince enough people to sell their share to him so he could remove his father from the company. Winter had seen them.
The Atlesian military had let it slide, because Braun was far easier to manipulate than her grandfather had been. The CEO hadn't noticed that they had gathered enough shares to out him if need be.
Why he had two kids, Winter didn't know, but she strongly suspected that it was so there was a backup if one suffered an 'accident'.
They let him stay in charge, despite public opinion of him dropping lower every day, because psychological reports pointed to Braun having a violent meltdown if he lost control.
Winter could believe it, she had seen his reaction when she slipped her leash.
The fact that one of the most dangerous men on Remnant was one bad day away from going on a rampage made Winter feel relieved that Weiss was a continent away.
The ship docked at Beacon, and Winter stepped off.
Her sister was waiting for her, and Winter stepped off, handing her the case of Dust.
"Hello, Weiss. How have you been?"
"Good."
"Come on, let's go to your room, ok?"
Nodding, Weiss guided her along.
-X Line Break X-
Nobundo ran his hand along the seam.
"You're sure you don't know what happened?"
Amber shook her head, the bob of hair flapping.
"No."
Nobundo murmured words in Kalimag, trying to see if anything resonated.
Nothing.
The Fist of Ra-den sat on his side, sparking with electricity.
The Elemental spirits had, paradoxically, gotten more quiet, and more urgent as time went on.
Shorter message, but they would come even when he was-
Silver hair,holding a crystalline rod. It crumbles, and her veins burn red.
It is done.
"Nobundo! Are you alright!? Help! He's hurt! Oh, no, they can't hear me."
"I'm fine, young one."
Pushing himself up, Nobundo gasped for breath.
What had that been? For a moment, just before the end of the vision, Nobundo had felt the elements emotions.
Resignation, and content.
"Uh, Nobundo?"
"Yes, Amber?"
The several millennia old shaman turned to her. She had a look of worry on her face.
"Do you think you're any closer to fixing whatever happened to me?"
"Not yet."
"Oh," worry flashed across Amber's face.
"We'll figure it out."
"It's not that, I just think… I think we have a time limit now."
"Did something happen?"
The Farseer looked at her, he had grown fond of the girl over the past month.
"Yes. While you were gone, Qrow came down with Ozpin, Ironwood and a girl."
"What happened?"
"They said… they said that they wanted to transfer my Aura to the girl."
Transfer her Aura? Transfer her soul?
"They said that there might be side effects. That I might overwrite her. Or vice versa."
Fear sparkled in Amber's eyes.
"They're willing to kill me. If my Aura get's absorbed into her, I'll die, I probably won't even be able to go to any afterlife there is, or do this. I don't want to die, Nobundo."
Nobundo rested a hand on Amber's head, a paternal move, one he had used to calm children, Broken and Draenei alike, over his long life.
"I won't let that happen. Even if I have to bring this Vault down around their heads. I won't let them take your soul."
Afterlives were a real thing. Whether they were condemned to wander the Shadowlands, feast in the Halls of Valor, stand guard over the Emerald Dream, bask in the Light, or fall screaming into the Void, all souls had a place.
Nobundo had seen what happened when souls were destroyed, the Legion did it, the Old Gods did it. Necromancy could be accepted, Nobundo often pulled spirits from beyond the grave to learn from them. But to destroy a soul, and either way, they would be destroying a soul, was an affront to the natural order. One that Nobundo could not, would not, sit by and allow to happen.
"Promise?"
"On my bond with the Elements," Nobundo swore.
The Fifth would accept nothing less. Death was a part of Life, even Undeath was a part of Life. But to use a soul? That was to violate Life.
That was to risk creating Fel. Not small amounts of Fel, like Ruby would resort to by burning her own soul, turning her destruction inwards before unleashing it outwards... But large, the kind that over enough time, with enough repetition, turned the performer into a demon.
It was why Nobundo hated to work with Warlocks, or Demon Hunters. They were monsters, violating the careful balance of the five.
Nobundo would do anything to keep them from going the same way as the Eredar, even if it meant killing them.
Or, if that didn't work, killing Amber himself.
-X Line Break X-
Weiss opened the case, taking in all the vials of Dust.
"This should be enough to keep you going for another month."
"Only a month?"
That wouldn't be long. Despite Ruby's insistence, Weiss was aware that she would be nearly dead in the water without Dust. It shouldn't have been that hard to beat Sage.
Winter looked guilty, "Not quite, take out the felt."
Weiss followed her sister's instructions, finding another crystal hidden beneath it.
"What's this?"
"It's an experimental Dust."
"What does it do?"
Weiss gently removed the rod, it was larger than most Dust crystals. It changed colors as Weiss looked at it, a kaleidoscopic effect.
"It… it creates more Dust."
Weiss looked at her sister in shock, "What!?"
"It creates more Dust."
"I hadn't heard anything about this!"
"That's because Father was keeping it a secret."
"Why?"
"Because he doesn't know how to replicate it."
"He doesn't?"
"No. The scientist who created it made it in the middle of some sort of trance, and when he finished it, didn't remember. The camera in that room had also been wiped clean somehow."
"Why give it to me?"
"Because Father can not be trusted with it, and this is the last place he would look."
"The last place he would look, really? And why can't he be trusted?"
"Yes, really. He thinks you've only gotten out from under his thumb for a second. As for why he can't be trusted? Father would use this to drive every other Dust company out of business."
Weiss looked at the rod, feeling something resonate in her.
Oh, did that finally get here? About time, a yawn, I couldn't do anything until it did.
What-?
The crystal disintegrated in her hand, and the Dust latched on to her.
Let me be blunt. This? This is going to suck. Whatever you thought you knew about pain, this is going to be a lot worse. And yes I am aware that is something no one wants to hear. So here's the deal, Weiss felt something, like a jolt of electricity,That was me syncing up with your nervous system. We're going to go through this together. Truth is, I'm not very happy about this. Despite what Elune thinks, people aren't pieces on a chessboard. I'd outright refuse, but they'd probably just obliterate me and shave off a chunk that will. Ready? Who am I kidding, of course you aren't. 3, 2, 1. Congratulations on your new job.
The Dust seemed to burrow under her skin, and everything was calm.
What? OH DUST WHY!?
It was like the skin had been shoved into a blast furnace, getting hotter and hotter, while remaining unblemished.
"Winter?"
The combat specialist ditched all sense of decorum, grabbing Weiss's other hand.
"What's wrong?"
"It burns."
Yeah it does, worst part? This is the easy bit. You're about to see some scary things happen to your body, I promise they're only temporary.
"Winter, there's a voice."
"Where?"
"In my head, it says, it says it's going to get worse."
"Don't pay attention to it, ok, I'm right here. Everything is going to be-" Winter cut herself off with a shriek, lightning jumping along the hand she had been holding.
That's when everything went to hell.
Weiss curled inward as the burning spread through her body. It was like someone had replaced her blood with magma.
Crystalline growths sprouted from her body, spitting fire, lightning, gusts of wind, or cooling water.
A set of stone spikes grew along her arm.
Looking down, Weiss could see the glow in her veins, clawing at them, desperately trying to get it out, Weiss found paydirt in the worst possible way.
What streamed out her body was magma.
"WINTER!"
"I'm right here. I'm right here, Weiss, it's going to be ok."
As touching as that is, I would like to point out that you don't need to be awake for this, and if you just passed out already, it would be a lot easier for both of us!
Weiss swiftly followed that advice.
-X Line Break X-
Darion looked up at Acherus, wondering how they were supposed to get their horses up there.
"Darion! Over here, Salanar will pick them up for us!"
Sliding off Iydallus, Darion walked to the portal that opened.
Stepping through it, Darion found himself on a balcony of the citadel. Looking over the Scarlet Enclave were the Lich King and Ruby, dressed in full armor.
Ruby's head sat on the king's shoulder, apparently unfazed by the metal there, or the helm on her head.
"My King, we have returned," the words came from Orbaz.
Ruby's head rose slowly, before the turned to face them. The stylized metal of Ruby helm leered at them.
"Orbaz, Thassarian, Koltira. We must speak with you. You four, rest for now, you have done well today."
Walking away from the Quintet, Darion headed down into the main room of Acherus.
In between each Runeforge sat piles of bodies, occasionally one would be dragged down and brought before the man watching the training pit.
He would perform a thorough examination of each body, and it would then be dragged to the Necromancers.
In the pit, two recruits were fighting. Blood and frost were thrown around.
One staggered, taking a blow to the chest that cut through his robe. This was followed by being literally disarmed.
Looking up at the man, the man nodded. A swift nod, and then recruit severed his foes head.
The man looked at Darion, examining him.
"Into the pit recruit."
"I was told to rest."
The man let out a cruel laugh, "Recruits don't rest, survive to be a Death Knight, and you might be able to rest. Now into the pit, before I make you."
Realizing that there was no point in arguing, Darion jumped into the pit.
There was no official start to the match, the recruit charged at Darion the minute he landed.
Dodging the blow, Darion kicked his opponent in the stomach.
Unlike a member of the living, it didn't effect him.
Growling, Darion dodged the sword, ducking and knocking the feet out from under the other fighter.
Grabbing Ashbringer, Darion burned a rune to strengthen his body for a second.
Necrotic energy burned in his veins, and Darion brought the executioner's sword down.
The other man rolled out of the way, but lost his arm. The severed limb burned away as Darion tore his sword from the ground.
The other man took a defensive stance, even as the rush left Darion, and he was forced to take two hands to the hilt.
Darion stepped forward, swinging the once holy blade.
The Runeblade lashed out, striking Darion's hand. Training from his father and Ruby came back to him, and he refused to let go.
The next swing saw Ashbringer strike the nameless blade, shattering it.
Not even bothering to check, Darion rammed Ashbringer through the recruits chest, kicking him from it as he burned.
Heavy boot fall came, and Darion turned.
Standing above him was the Lich King and Ruby. Orbaz, Koltira and Thassarian followed behind them, as did Gayle, Velann, Malag, and Totua. The elder three held each something in hand.
Stepping out of the pit, he looked at them.
"You five. Line up," the five trainees did so, "Kneel."
Lowering himself to one knee, Darion bowed his head, his companions doing the same.
"Today, these five have returned from a task I sent them on. Four of them have proven themselves. But another failed to. Deathlord?"
The was a clatter of metal, and something heavy fell to the ground. Darion could see petals fall when Ruby had been.
"Totua Suncaller trailed behind. She did not go looking for the slaughter. This is the price of her failure. Learn from it."
Darion heard the Lich King step forward, and saw his shadow fall over him.
"Darion Mograine, however, used a brilliant strategy to cripple the town. He personally led the fight into the keep. Let it never be said I do not reward those who serve me well."
Something slid over Darion's head, weighing on it.
His left hand was raised and the gauntlet was removed, something was slid onto the pinkie finger.
"The Deathlord shall return to Avernus once Tyr's hand and Light's Hope Chapel falls. I shall return to Icecrown Citadel, Kel'thuzad and Razuvious shall return to Naxxramas. The experienced Death Knights shall be sent to assist retaking the land we lost in Kalimdor."
A heavy cloak was thrown over his shoulders.
"Acherus has no leader, but that changes today. From this day on, you shall be known as Highlord Darion Mograine, leader of the Knights of Acherus. You shall lead our efforts on the Eastern Kingdoms. Rise, Highlord."
Darion stood, standing before his king.
"You shall have one last set of lessons, on how to lead. We shall assist you in forming your strategies while we finish the Scarlet Crusade, Argent Dawn, and Order of the Silver Hand. Then you shall lead our forces to Lordaeron city, seize my rightful throne from the traitor, Sylvanas, and march south to meet up with Avernus. Do not fail me Highlord."
Turning to the gathered forces, his voice boomed out, "Bow before your Highlord!"
All around the chamber, men and women fell to a knee, bowing. By the time it was done, the number of people standing were capable of being counted on both hands.
Razuvious, Ruby, Thassarian, Koltira, Orbaz, Thorval, the Lich King. All who outranked him now.
"Deathlord, with me. We have much to discuss."
"Of course, my king."
As Ruby turned, she stopped. Pulling a dagger from her hip, she handed it to Velann.
"Let it never be said, I don't keep my promises. You did well."
Turning Ruby disappeared after the Lich King.
Standing tall, Darion looked over his knights.
"Razuvious, would you put them through the paces, I would like nothing more than the best."
A savage grin spread on the instructor's face.
"As you wish, Highlord. You three! In the pit!"
-X Line Break X-
Rhonin sighed, looking over Dalaran from his quarters in the Violet Citadel.
The repairs had gone well over the years. Dalaran had almost completely recovered from the damage Archimonde had inflicted upon it.
Giramar and Galadin were running around the living room, and Vereesa was out hunting.
He hated this. He was a combat mage, he wasn't a damn politician.
His staff sat on the desk, alongside pages of work.
Black Dragons running around unchecked, Old Gods rising up, Fire Elementals raging, and Arthas was getting even more active than normal.
He should be out there helping. Not sitting here-
"DADDY!"
Turning, Rhonin stared as Galadin ran in, fear clear on his face. Crouching down to his son's level, Rhonin looked at him.
"What's wrong?"
"A elf broke in, they grabbed Gir, and are hurting him!"
Rising up, Rhonin raised a hand. The staff snapped to his hand as the Archmage marched through the door.
Sure enough, a Blood Elf was standing there with his son. A sickly green aura was draining from Giramar into the elf.
"What. Are you doing to my son?" The veteran of the War of the Ancients growled out, flames gathering at the end of his staff.
The elf looked up, startled, before being blast away from the Windrunner.
Marching forward, Rhonin calmly deflected several bolts of Fel fire. Flames burned on the corner of his eyes, creating a Corona of power.
Blast after blast of fire rained down, forcing the elf back further.
"Who are you? What do you want with my son?"
"The child of a High Elf and an Archmage would give enough power to keep me going for a long time."
So he was one of the Elves who were too far gone. The power of the Sunwell wasn't enough for them, they required Fel.
And he had chosen to drain it from Rhonin's son.
Calculations ran through his head, gathering arcane energy to assault the world.
Weaving each strike together in a grand conflagration of fire, the red haired mage forced the elf onto the balcony.
Ramming his staff into the ground, Rhonin released a shockwave from it, breaking the ledge off.
The elf teleported, and Rhonin turned as Galadin cried out.
The half elf's arm was in the full blooded ones hand, the five year old easily stopped by the older man.
The Elf's eyes started to glow with power, only to abruptly stop as an arrow pierced his shoulder.
Letting go of Galadin for a second, the boy ran to hide behind his mother.
The youngest Windrunner sister had stepped into the room. Another arrow was nocked.
"Zendarin, what are you doing?"
"Vereesa, you know him?"
"He's my cousin. Why were you fighting?"
"He was trying to drain Giramar."
Vereesa turned to glare at Zendarin, "Explain."
"Why don't you explain why you married a Human," the Fel addled Blood Elf spat Rhonin's race like a curse, "They're little better than animals."
Another arrow struck him, and he cried out.
"You are not allowed to criticize me for who I love. What about Alleria? She has a half elf son."
"He's an adult, or I would have gone for him," Zendarin cried out in pain as Rhonin unleashed a wave of force, pushing him back.
Gasping for breath, the Blood Elf's eyes glowed again.
"I will be back for them."
Then he was gone.
Rhonin reached down, picking Giramar up and carrying him over to the couch as Vereesa comforted Galadin.
Checking him over, Rhonin sighed in relief. He had gotten there quick enough. Giramar would be okay after a night's sleep.
Leaning against the table, Rhonin started to plan wards around the room to keep Zendarin out.