Chapter 45 – The vision
At first, she was shocked silent. Then a rush went through her.
"LIAR!" Sylvanas screamed and rose to her feet unsteadily.
Alleria was gone. Vanished. Dead for all she knew. How dared he speak of her?! How dared he take her name into his foul demon mouth.
Illidan Stormrage just smirked.
"I am many things Warchief. But a liar is not one of them. Simply, admit it. You always remained hopeful of your sister's existence. Now, I am telling you that hopes do once in a while become reality. Come with me and let me show you".
Sylvanas bit the inside of her mouth and her face twitched. She wanted to believe him so badly. But Alleria was gone and she had sort of made her peace with that. She was not to trust some demon when it came to her precious sister. Alleria had been the glue of that held the Windrunner family together. Her and Vereesa had always looked up to her, cherished her and idealised her. But it was gone. And certainly, so was Sylvanas. She was not the same sister she was back then. Nevertheless, a sting in Sylvanas's chest did not let go.
"Prove it". She gritted her teeth and snarled. "Prove that she is alive".
He shook his head and chortled.
Out of his pocket he fished an amulet. It had a sparkling emerald stone socket and it was engraved at the back. Sylvanas gasped. She knew what it said. "Alleria" she whispered.
"How do you have that? You just exited a capsule that has held your corpse. There is no way!" Sylvanas raged.
"Sometimes the universes of Azeroth and beyond work in mysterious ways, Lady Windrunner. Have some faith".
The amulet smouldered in his hand and vanished into dust. It was not real. Only a mere vision of what he wanted her to see.
Have some faith… Sylvanas eyebrow twitched.
"Sylvanas, maybe if we find Vereesa we can consult with her on what to do. She left Stormheim that day to go after you when you left. But I just figured she never did when she was not in Undercity with you" Jaina said and placed her palm on her shoulder.
"What?" Sylvanas turned. "So… Actually, we don't even know where Vereesa is either?" This was too much.
"Fear not, Warchief. Vereesa is in Dalaran". Khadgar stated, avoiding panic breaking out.
Sylvanas started shaking her head frantically. "I have no idea what you are talking about nor do I understand how you supposedly know all this!" She looked at Illidan in disbelief.
"Whilst in the capsule, Lady Windrunner. I was all seeing. Perhaps I absorbed the powers of Kilrogg's eye, who knows. All I know is that your sister is safe, on Argus".
"Argus? Where the hell is Argus? This is ridiculous. I should have you seized right here on this spot!" Sylvanas drew her bow and aimed for Illidan.
"Before you do that, may I borrow your sweet little mage for just a couple of minutes? And you will see all that I know. This is bigger than us Warchief. Argus awaits some of the biggest challenge as of yet. Gul'dan was just the mere beginning".
"Hell no! Absolutely not!" Sylvanas shook her head and Jaina could see tears building up in the high elf's deep blue eyes.
"Sylvanas, if it can help, I don't mind helping".
"I said, NO!" Sylvanas snarled and tightened the arrow aimed at Illidan.
Jaina took a deep breath and leaped in front of the Warchief's aim.
"I am not yours to command Warchief. I am Jaina Proudmoore of the Kirin Tor and I am aiding the Alliance in this battle".
Sylvanas felt an overwhelming rage. Her hands began to glow dark purple and she felt her skin shifting from lovely honey coloured high elf to dead forsaken. In the corner of her eye, she watched as her golden locks turned grey.
Jaina remained still as Sylvanas' eyes turned red and for a split second, she looked exactly like she had as the Dark Lady, the Banshee Queen.
"Please Sylvanas don't do this".
But Sylvanas could not hold it back any longer.
With a screeching banshee roar, she rose above ground transforming into a black smoky shadow. The smoke covered the air on the platform and everyone fell to their knees, either because of the noise or inhaling the dark magic smoke.
Jaina coughed fiercely, but when she opened her eyes, Sylvanas Windrunner was gone.
"Sylvnas!" She shouted. "Sylvanas where are you?"
"She is gone, for now". Illidan said as he rose to his feet. "It was simply too much for her. Give her some time".
"I had no idea she still had dark banshee magic like that". Khadgar exclaimed.
Jaina swallowed hard. Because she did. She had seen it that day in Hellheim.
"I knew… Just like I know most things about her" Jaina mumbled.
Illidan reached for her hand.
"If you still wish to help, my lady, we may show the remaining champions here what Argus beholds us".
Jaina took his hand without question and Illidan pulled her closer.
Khadgar took a protective step forward, clenching his staff.
"It's ok Archmage. Stand down". Jaina closed her eyes as Illidan's demon palms folded over her eyes.
"Let go of all your thoughts and let me in, Lady Proudmoore. Then I will show all I know".
Jaina took a deep breath and lost herself in the nothingness of the demon's hand, then everything went dark.
But then she was conscious, however she could not move. Nonethless, she was not afraid.
Suddenly, colours crept into her vision. Green fel. Red blood. Blue corpses. Purple… gore hounds?
Jaina's body stiffened and twitched, her arms waving about in the air as if she was fighting something.
"This is not right, leave her be Illidan, look at her!" Khadgar shouted.
"Do not come any closer Archmage. Her mind can remain in this abyss if this channelling is interrupted".
"You are mindflaying her!"
"No, she is seeing the truth. Just wait. She will tell her tales".
Khadgar's face was a worried one.
Unexpectedly, Jaina's body relaxed.
A face appeared before her. Two faces. Two familiar faces. A mighty high elf, fierce as fire running the burnt lands before her, wind in her green cloak, strung Sunstrider bow by her side. A paladin with golden armor, swinging his sword at any enemy brave enough to charge him.
Then, a blinding light. Huge statue like shapes surrounded her.
"Go back to your world and tell everyone what you have witnessed here today. Before it is too late for your kind".
She opened her eyes abruptly.
"The titans… Argus. War" Jaina stottered. "Alleria, she is with Turalyon fighting the legion at Argus. The titans, they… They want me to tell you".
Without thinking she channelled an orb.
"Please come closer, champions. Watch the titans tell their tale"
And so she showed them what she had just herself witnessed.
