Well, sorry for the longer wait than I promised but the United and Transcendence chapters really took it out on me, but they are done. United I just need to go over one last time before posting. But Transcendence is all ready for you to read and enjoy.

That last one for a few months and for this year. I hope that you like it, I will be posting the United chapter, or Chapters tomorrow.


Transcendence

Chapter 51: It Couldn't Possibly Get Worse

Ichigo scowled as he led Codexia back towards the main chamber of Terramok, or whatever that weird room was that he had found the Highborne in. He kept himself right behind her and never let an eye off the woman, on request from Hymaercia to make sure he was close to handle her if she did anything. Even if she surrendered she was still considered a highly dangerous prisoner that they couldn't take any risks with.

'Don't know why, she doesn't have much spiritual power left and with those cuffs on and no sword she isn't exactly going anywhere.' Ichigo mused quietly to himself, he took the risk to take a glance at the other prisoners they had taken.

He found over a dozen or so humans, dwarves and one gnome walking in two filed lines while being guarded by the Sentinels. They all wore similar dark brown and beige armour, varying from metal plates to leather, meaning that these must be those mercenary's he heard about that were working with Codexia. While ahead of that group was seven Highborne Magi.

These prisoners were the only thing they could bring back after the failed attempt to get back whatever the Highborne had stolen. Likely it was the Source that they were looking for, yet Ichigo had his own theories and ideas on what exactly it was. But that could come later when they were out of this mountain and somewhere he could think clearly, and when he wasn't on the clock and got someone ordering him around.

Right now Hymaercia wants them to be brought back to Iyeana so that they can be interrogated, these guys had information and the Sentinels wanted it. Ichigo had no idea what the rest knew, but with the two persons of interest, with Codexia and Mordent they were going to be learning a lot. That was what Caren and Hymaercia had said anyway.

"I expected her to put up a greater fight, from what I had heard she is quite powerful." Hymaercia said, close behind Ichigo and with her sword drawn.

"She is, I remember her in Dire Maul, and her powers over Shadow and Darkness were potent." Caren said, before glancing at Ichigo and giving a small laugh. "Although I suppose against you it didn't really matter now did it?"

"No, she should have fought back harder than she did. Her spiritual energy was low when we fought, I think, I only got the drop on her because she is weak when I fought her." Ichigo replied, glancing at Codexia and narrowing his eyes as he remembered what he felt and also how she acted while fighting. "Also she was holding back against me."

Codexia glanced at him from the corner of her eyes before she turned back to face forward, not willing to say anything as she continued her trek back to the ruins. As they came to a hill in the cavern they saw the entrance, and quickly they moved inside.

Ichigo momentarily paused to glance down at the rubble near the doorway, from what he could guess something used to barricade the door from this side and had been removed. He guessed that the Highborne that had come from this direction had torn it down, but the look of it was strange, as if it use to be a statue of some sort.

'Weird.' Ichigo thought, he didn't know if it was the stones itself or the proximity to the chamber, because he felt residual spiritual energy coming off the rocks.

Shaking off the thoughts he moved on and entered the vault, making a beeline for the Pillar in the centre of the room. He could see Adelina and Iyeana speaking with someone behind it, from the sounds of things that person was quite frantic. Drawing close enough and stepping around the column he found the Dryad from before was shouting, her wounds were gone and like her words she appeared frantic.

"Who are you? What is your name?" Iyeana tried to coax out of the Dryad, but she was not met with the reply she wanted.

"There is not time for this! We must find the Heart of Veles! If he is not returned to the Lock than this entire cavern will begin to collapse!" The Dryad cried frantically.

"You keep saying that but you tell us nothing else. We have sent people after the Source and it will be returned, but please tell us what is this place and what are you doing down here?" Iyeana responded, trying to placate the agitated Daughter of Cenarius and also maintain her own composure.

"There is no time! Every second it is gone is another second the breach can be opened!" She replied, losing what little remains of her calm as her pleas were not met.

"Hey, what's going on?" Ichigo asked, coming into view and drawing the two elves attentions away from the Dryad, who looked about ready to have a breakdown.

"Did you recover the Artefact?" Iyeana inquired; there was some genuine hope in her words.

Ichigo guessed that she wanted to try and calm the Dryad down so that she could answer some questions. He was almost sad that he had to disappoint her and put her through a lot more trouble.

"No, they got away in a ship or something deeper in the cavern." Ichigo replied, before he gestured to the far end of the chamber where the prisoners were being seated along the wall. "But we caught Codexia and Mordent, both of them are over there, along with the rest that survived the cave-in."

Iyeana turned and regarded the two high priority prisoners that were being escorted and sat down near the far wall, her eyes narrowed as she saw them both. While it was not the result she was hoping for at least they got their primary objectives, so for now she would gather what information she can and make a move to infiltrate the city. If what they stole was as valuable as the Dryad was making a fuss about than it needed to be taken back as soon as possible.

"Hymaercia, bring Mordent and Codexia over here, I have some questions for them." Iyeana ordered, and immediately four Sentinels grabbed the Magi and Primalist and dragged them before their commander. "I am going to ask some questions, answer them and you both get to live that little while longer."

Both did not speak, but a hard kick to the back of their legs and they were forced to their knees. Ichigo wondered if Iyeana would have called her troops out on that, but considering she didn't say a word meant that she likely wanted the prisoners on their knees. He was beginning to have a bad feeling about this.

"I want to know exactly what the Highborne are up to, what you are planning and why you need that Power Source. I also want to know what you are doing here Codexia, and your role you played in this upheaval." Iyeana said, glaring at Codexia before focusing on Mordent and speaking just above a deathly whisper. "But first I will start with you."

Mordent did nothing but glare back at the Night Elf.

"What are the Highborne planning? Why do they need the Source and powerful artefacts? Does it involve the storm above the city?" Iyeana inquired, but she was met with no answer, not something didn't expect. "Failure to answer means that I punish you."

She nodded towards one of her Sentinels near the Prisoners, the soldier gave a nod in returned before she grabbed one of the prisoners and dragged her away from the others. Keeping the Highborne on her knees she grabbed her hair, pulling it roughly back and forcing her to look up. Pulling out a knife and placing it at the mages throat, waiting for Iyeana's command to cut it open, all the while one Highborne was yelling at the Sentinel to free the girl.

"Tell me now." Iyeana said, but she noticed that Ichigo seemed alarmed with the course of action she was taking, she ignored it and looked Mordent right in the eye.

Mordent looked at the Sentinel for a moment, breaking eye contact only to glance towards Karabrel and then her father who was shouting at the Sentinel. What could he do? If he told them anything they could gain information on the city, on his people that she obviously wants to exterminate. Mordent knew that the Sentinels would seek to exterminate his entire people for their practices and philosophy's, if they were able to enter the city everyone there was dead.

Even if the Nobles betrayed him, sent assassins to murder him and his closest followers and he had no other stake left in this world, he couldn't betray his people. For more than just the Nobles live in Ethel Rethor now, innocent families that had no role to play in this and only were trying to survive. He couldn't let his people suffer that fate, he couldn't give up any information.

He bowed his head and said nothing.

Iyeana frowned, and without looking away from the Highborne gave the order.

"Kill her."

"Wait!" Codexia called out.

Iyeana raised her hand to suspend the executions, for the moment. It would seem that Codexia was the weaker of the two when lives were on the line, which would be useful later on.

"Speak." Iyeana ordered.

"We don't know what is happening in the city, or what the Nobles are planning with the Artefacts." Codexia said. "Mordent and I were not sent here to find the Source, we were arranged to be killed down here."

"Do you expect me to believe they would kill their closest ally and leader?" Iyeana inquired, she knew Codexia and Mordent were instrumental to saving the Highborne, with Codexia's knowledge and Mordent's apparent leadership role in the populace it was stupid to think they would be so easily executed.

Codexia would be understandable, but Mordent was not as easy to believe.

"Mordent isn't their leader, he was ousted and no longer has any authority, he tried to stop the Nobles that now lead the Highborne." Codexia explained. "Because of this they targeted him for execution and led him here to do it, along with most of his followers. I was lured as well."

Iyeana scowled; while Codexia was spilling her guts to them the information provided could be fake or at least skewed from the complete truth. But if there were other players that were calling the shots she needed to figure out who they were and their motives. Unknown variables like that would lead to unforeseen consequences, such as whatever they took from here being used for some nefarious purpose.

"What are they planning then?" Iyeana asked.

"I don't know." Codexia replied, but when Iyeana gestured to the captive again she quickly amended it. "Wait! Wait! Wait! Please listen! I truly do not know, they did not keep me privy to any information, until I came here I had not suspected the Nobles of any plot or what they were after."

"Then what do you know?" Iyeana demanded, her patience was wearing thin.

"The Nobles have imprisoned three elemental spirits, they are incredibly powerful and they are using them as fonts to draw power from to devour their energy." Codexia said. "It is also what is powering the storm above the city, what they intend for it I do not know but it has to be some kind of defence."

"And the Source they took?" Iyeana inquired.

"I thought they intended to use it to feed themselves, it is powerful enough to do that, but they said they intended it for something else." Codexia replied. "Please, you must release me, I need to return to the city and free the spirits. There is no telling what the Highborne will do with them and their power."

"You are not going anywhere, I still have a lot more questions to ask, and you obviously have more to give." Iyeana said.

All she got was that Codexia and Mordent were going to be assassinated, likely to consolidate power for someone else, and that they had no idea what the Nobles are up to. Iyeana could have guessed that, but some information is better than nothing, for now they could carry this interrogation out back at Nijel's Point.

Transporting all these people back would be tricky though, they only had so many gryphons and she loathed to make more than one trip. Maybe she could have some of her troops return on foot with the less valuable prisoners while she and several other return with Mordent and Codexia, that seemed logical.

"Pack them up, we are leaving." Iyeana said, it was time to go, she did not want the Centaur to come back here and seal them inside this tomb.

"What do you intend for us?" Mordent inquired.

"I intend to extract what information from you by any means necessary and then execute all of you. I will see you all pay for what you have done and all the pain and misery you have caused." Iyeana replied, her teeth were clenched and she looked ready to carry out that execution with her own hands, but she turned and gestured to her Sentinels to pack up the people.

Ichigo glanced at her as she began shouting off orders to the Sentinels, in a way he was surprised by the ruthlessness the Sentinels were going towards in regards to the Highborne. He hadn't even seen this kind of aggression towards the Warsong Clan and they confronted them at Dire Maul, they had been at each other's throats when they first came into contact but this made that look tame.

But in truth he didn't understand how they can be so hostile towards one another, after ten thousand years the hate had not died down one bit. He knew a bit of their history but truly he couldn't understand how the hate could remain after so long, time has passed and these two forces have been separated in all that time and yet they still revile one another.

It almost reminded him of the time when Ishida and him first met, how he stuck to that damn Quincy Pride of his that nearly spelt doom for Kararura Town. That even though he was aware of the reasons and cause as to why the Shinigami hunted down and exterminated his race he didn't change his ways because they were his. Could this be what the Highborne were like? Could they be so stuck in their ways that nothing else mattered or seemed important in comparison to what they once had and want to keep?

But he couldn't dwell on these thoughts forever, something else overshadowed them and took his attention, he felt a shift in the air and movement from the spiritual energy around him. Something was moving, and giving off a lot of energy. He turned back to the doorway, his eyes focused as he felt something awakening. He glanced at Codexia who seemed to sense it as well.

"You feel that?" Ichigo asked, getting a nod from the Primalist. "Then I guess that confirms that something is down there."

"What is it? What do you sense?" Iyeana asked, her skin tingling as she felt a strange aura in the air.

"Spiritual Energy." Ichigo replied, he could sense it far down into the caverns. "Something is down there."

He could tell it was a good distance away and that it was nowhere near them, but that made it all the more daunting with how potent the energy was that was hitting him. He would probably compare it to a Captain, something he had was not too keen to accept considering he had never seen anything of that like before in this world.

"Another elemental?" Adelina asked, raising her staff and staring at the doorway intently.

"Don't know. But it ain't no pushover." Ichigo replied, with the ripples of energy coming from below and how it was steadily increasing he was right on the money.

"It is Princess Therdras!"

They turned to the Dryad, she looked panicked and a little bit exasperated all things considered.

"This place is a Prison! That obelisk and the Heart that was taken were created to contain her down here! Now that it is gone she is going to get free along with all her Servants!" The Dryad said frantically.

Iyeana scowled, that bit of info would have been very good to know a few minutes ago, maybe then they could have made a hastier exit. Then she noticed Ichigo tense, he reached for his blade and drew it, and even Codexia had her eyes on the doorway as if she knew something was coming.

"I feel something, lots of somethings; we are going to be having company soon." Ichigo said, gripping his blade with both hands.

"Earth Elementals, they are swarming from within the caverns, we don't have much time." Codexia clarified, we don't have long before they get here.

Her forces were not outfitted to counter elementals, even with Adelina, Caren and Ichigo present they were likely outnumbered and outmatched. Escape would be their only option at this point; sadly running through the caves likely isn't going to do them any good. She turned to Caren, who was clutching her staff and preparing for the worst, if she had any salt to her name than they were going to need her skills.

"Caren, can you open a portal to Nijel's Point?" Iyeana inquired, a quick exit would be preferable if they were going to be dealing with Earth Elementals at any moment.

"I don't have an anchor point to it! I cannot create a portal there unless there is somewhere to…" Caren started but was silenced by Iyeana.

"Alright, enough, looks like we are fighting then." Iyeana said. "Seal the door and get those prisoners up. We are going to be getting out of here fast."

"Release us, let us fight!" Mordent called, it was a thought that was shared by all of the other captives who were shouting at their captors to let them go.

"Not a chance Highborne!" Iyeana hissed.

"I can help!" Codexia said, trying to stand but a Sentinel halted her. "I can get us out of here!"

"How is that?" Iyeana inquired, glaring down at the Primalist, what could she possibly do?

"Same way we escaped the demons in Dire Maul, I can provide the waypoint and Caren and create the portal there." Codexia explained.

"And have us taken back to Ethel Rethor I presume? Not a chance." Iyeana replied, glaring at the Primalist who thought her stupid enough to try it.

"Are you mad? You know for a fact they want me dead so why would I want to go back there?" Codexia demanded. "This is your only chance, either die down here or risk it somewhere else, what difference does it make where you are? It cannot be as bad as down here."

"It could work, if I am the one still creating the portal than I should know where we are being sent, if it is anywhere near the city I can easily tell you." Caren said.

Iyeana continued to glare at the Primalist, even as she heard thundering down the hall and guttural growls of something echoing down the caverns. There was a chance that she would lead them somewhere safe, but it left open the chance she could try to escape and that was something she would need to be careful of.

"Do it." Iyeana said, glancing from Caren to the substitute. "Ichigo, watch her, she tries anything, remove a limb."

Ichigo glanced at her and wondered if he should say something but considering the situation and just went over to stand behind her and waited for anything to happen. He would stop her if she did anything, but he got the feeling she wouldn't try. He recalled their fight, he felt her presence through that blade and something else, a guiding force moved her but she had something else buried deep inside that was her own.

"Gather the prisoners, we will be leaving immediately!" Iyeana called out, watching as the prisoners were more than willing to get out of this mountain.

Caren kneeled down in front of Codexia and held out her hand, Codexia raised her bound hands and clasped them around the offered hand. Raising her staff she pointed it forward and began to summon the portal, soon a breach was formed and then a gateway to another location. The image appeared to be a barren wasteland filled with the remains of long dead beasts; bones littered the entire view and were quite numerous.

"It's clear, we can move!" Caren said, just as they heard a hard bang on the sealed doorway, the metal door shaking with each thundering knock.

"Everyone through!" Iyeana ordered, having a few of her Sentinels proceed forward first before the prisoners went.

As they filed through the doorway shook as it was being beaten through, the metal was being beaten by stone and slowly torn down. All that remained was Caren, Codexia and Ichigo, the latter picking them both up and pushing them through the portal and leaping through after them. Just as he did the doorway burst open, Ichigo had only enough time to glance back and see a wave of rock flowing through and towards them.

Ichigo landed on soft sand between Caren and Codexia, he glanced back and had his blade drawn and waited to see if anything was going to be following them through the portal. But when the portal fell so too did his blade, but now that one problem was behind them it was time to see where they were.

"Where are we?" Ichigo asked.

He found that they were in some kind of valley surrounded by long ridges and cliffs, littering the ground were the bones of many large beasts. All of them were the same, they came from the same species and many of them were littering the sands and likely beneath them as well. In fact Ichigo was certain he could sense a great deal of spiritual energy here, this place was like a damn spiritual hotspot.

"The Kodo Graveyard, we are not far from the Mountain." Iyeana said, but she scowled none the less. "Although based on reports there is a Horde encampment here somewhere, we best leave quickly before we are noticed."

Without another word of argument they began guiding the prisoners from the mass graveyard and back to their own forces where they had left them. Iyeana needed to get back to Nijel's Point now and alert Shandris and possibly Tyrande of the situation here, things have escalated well beyond her control to handle.


Ethel Rethor

A'oraen looked down upon the city from the Court of Nobles; he could see everything within and watched as the people milled about around the pylons. They hoped to be given a taste of the Draught that slowly formed within, and he was content to let them have enough but not too much. They were unused to such potent power and needed to be restrained so they did not get ahead of themselves.

He glanced up at the black clouds that circled above the city and occasionally spewed lightning towards the coast of the Desolace, likely striking down an intruder that got to close to their borders. While night had fallen several hours past it was still a blemish to look upon and to have constantly circled above the city without end.

Despite the constant darkness, however, the streets were illuminated by orbs of light that flickered over the streets like fireflies. Just like those lights nothing could darken this moment for him or his fellow Nobles, for this was a major victory for them, they had achieved one of their ultimate goals now and all that they waited for was news of their overdue endeavour into Maraudon.

Still he couldn't help but recall yesterday, the sweet taste of success that everyone now tasted.


Temple of Thetis

One Day Ago

The temple once pristine aqua stone walls and reflective blue tiles had been desecrated by battle, what was once a place of tranquillity and healing had been vandalized by violence. Stonework had been shattered and damaged, charred with flames and smashed with powerful forces of magic, while the smell of water vapour, decomposition and, oddly enough, a sweet fragrance of flowers overpowered the room.

"It appears the battle was costly." A'orean said, looking towards Maluineth who was clutching the Sceptre of Light tightly in her hand and using her staff as a crutch.

Her clothes were bloody and torn, the battle had been a savage one and it seems that her own life blood was not the only crimson that stained her robes. Yet the survivors were in just the same shape as her, some even in worse condition, but if they were alive it was a miracle. To fight against three Elemental Spirits in tight quarters is no easy feat.

"It was, but the results are more than what we expected." Maluineth replied, smiling despite her fatigue and general discomfort. "We have means to sustain ourselves and power the defences of the City."

A'oraen looked on and was satisfied with the results, despite the entire chamber being littered with blood and gore, the spirits had been captured and their power was going to be used to fuel their immortality and health.

"You have had hours to finish this, why did it take so long to chain these spirits?" Mildreas inquired, from what he heard and had seen the Spirits had been contained hours ago and yet the temple had remained sealed despite it.

"Complications with the sealing, they expelled so much power that the crystals couldn't hold them properly." Maluineth replied.

"I trust that is no longer an issue?" A'oraen inquired.

"No, my Lord, the Spirits have been sealed and as you saw in the streets the Pylons are being fed the energies of the two spirits, with their power we can create an abundance of Draught to feed our people." Maluineth stated, standing up straighter and smiling. "In fact I estimate within the next week we will have enough of the elixir to feed our people twice over."

A'oraen smiled as he realized that their plans were going according to plan, with Thetis and Druantia sealed within the pylons and their powers feeding his people they will not know hunger. Something that they have not experienced in the last ten thousand years, and even less in the last thousand, but this time he will ensure for the next ten millennia they will prosper.

"Good, begin distribution." A'oraen said. "Have the Shen'dralar collect the draught and storing it, but be sure to give the people the draught so that they do not feel we are simply taking it from them. Suspicions are still something best to avoid, even small unassuming ones."

"Yes." Maluineth said. "By now all the rogue elements within the Shen'dralar have been imprisoned, and I can assure you my people will be more than eager to carry out this duty."

"Good, Tylarwin, have your men preside over the Shen'dralar and provide protection for the mages, while the people will be given their fair share, it is best to make sure they don't get too carried away." A'oraen said, and was met with a salute from the military leader.

"Of course, my men will ensure no chaos breaks loose across the city." Tylarwin responded.

A'oraen nodded, with the elite soldiers of Tylarwin protecting the walls for a time and policing the populace they will have no obstacles that can reach them. The Storms above the city were pulsing with power and would ward off any intruders they must not become complacent, until he was certain of the cities impregnability he would not let his guard down.

But once the Storm was fully powered and enhanced he could begin the next phase of the plan to conquer the rest of the Desolace and begin its revitalization. He turned and looked at the great spirits that were now at their mercy, sealed within the pale ocean blue pylons and unmoving.

Each of them would serve their purpose, with the nature and water elemental feeding their people and giving them an elixir that would benefit them more than from that demon. This would be the time that they rise up from decadence and shine once more as a beacon of greatness; they would reforge their empire and truly become the rulers that they had once been.

"Let us begin then."


The day had been a long drawn out affair for them, they had told the public of their discovery of a new source for them to satiate their hunger and to allow them to survive. Many were happy to hear the news, but suspicions and distrust were obvious among the rank of those even eager for a taste.

Their former Prince had been instrumental in causing this, but even before him there had always existed a divide between Nobles and the common folk of their civilization. Truly none save Azshara had been spared from the scorn the common people directed to their upper class brethren, that was what that he needed to cure soon.

With the power being given freely to the people that would help, along with all the promises he made to them being fulfilled, the people respected and followed those who made promises and fulfilled them. One such promise involved the reclamation and revitalization of this entire area, something he had broached upon to their newly reinstated Noble.

"The Obelisk of Elune, have you made the adjustments as required?" A'oraen asked. "Will it revitalize the entire region?"

"It has and it will, once we are ready we can shift the draw of power from Erebus to Druantia and Thetis." Maluineth replied, smiling pleasantly and all her wounds and injuries had been speedly healed by their best mages. "These Storms will disperse rain rather than lightning, and should spread across the whole of the Desolace. We may have results within days, all we need is an amplifier for the Obelisk, the three spirits are not powerful enough as they are."

While the three Spirits were indeed immensely powerful they did not have their full strength, Druantia and Thetis being key examples of such. Both have had their powers drained from them with time. The nature spirits had been locked within the Temple of Eldre'thalar for millennia and its powers waned with time, and then with the demons siphoning its power that only complicated things.

Then there was Thetis who while was not as molested as the Nature spirit still had lost much of its power because of the Sceptre of Light. It was discovered that the Sceptre continually draws power from Thetis, and over the centuries the Naga and any other foolish enough to take the weapon has used its power recklessly. Along with her using what power she had to raise the city from the sea floor she had expended a great deal of her might.

Erebus had to be weakened to be sealed regardless, but even then his power still outstripped the other two. But that battle had cost the spirits more of their valued power, not just for themselves but for the Highborne as well. For that power now fed the Storm above and their people in the streets below.

"How long do you expect the spirits to last?" A'oraen inquired.

It was no secret that the spirits would eventually expire from the considerable drain of their power, from creating the Draught and also powering the Obelisk, all three would eventually lose what little remained of their power before they ceased to be. These spirits were not like Void Hounds, they did not have a near limitless reserve of magical power within them, that beast had lasted the Highborne for nearly nine millennia before it ran dry.

These spirits would not last that long, and he hoped that they wouldn't. While they were being used to feed their people their power was not purely Arcane in nature, in fact they barely had any arcane energies within them. They had to resort to some ingenious means to mix the two energies together and at least create a diluted elixir that took the edge off.

Yet what mattered was how long the spirits lasted and that they got what they needed out of them. The continually drain on their powers which they used to create the Draught and life blood of their people, something that they could not live without. But this method would eventually lead to the spirits dying, something that may cause problems later on.

"Druantia is the weakest of them all, with how we are harvesting her I expect her to last at least a few months, but after we connect her to the Obelisk I cannot say for certain, she may survive or she may not. Her powers are what we will be siphoning off the most when we use the Obelisk to spread the clouds across the region." Maluineth replied. "Thetis would survive. As for Erebus he could last us for decades with his remaining power but we would have nearly no use for him at that point."

"Do not worry, we have been considering him." A'oraen replied, glancing away from the window and to Elaallaes Tideweaver. "Elaallaes has made a suggestion worth considering, and Nytheas has a few ideas on how best to harness that spirit's powers."

Maluineth was curious about this, but also annoyed slightly, she had complete access to the spirits and also was put in charge of maintaining their prisons. Both those Nobles were nothing really she would consider special, both held no rank or position other than their heritage and birthright, and they were making decisions about what to do with her wards?

"I will speak with them and see what they know, it may be fruitful." Maluineth said, although she decided not to let any subtle mocking inflect in her tone, best not to appear snide.

Just as this happened someone entered the chamber, the familiar short haired Mage immediately told Maluineth who it was. Caelyb strolled forward, behind him followed Marta and two of her crew members who carried a large chest between them.

"You have returned, very good." A'oraen said, smiling as he strolled down from the raised platform and towards the Gnomish captain before looking to the other guest and frowning. "Where is Captain Jirand and Sylerian Willowgrave?"

"Dead, both of them, along with all the soldiers you sent." Marta replied stoically.

The Nobles appeared surprised, but that show was nothing compared to the feeling of shock that passed through their hearts. To hear that over a hundred and thirty of their people were dead, it was an understatement to say so. A'oraen composed himself quickly enough and requested some clarification.

"Unexpected complications, while your men had the advantage over Codexia, apparently the Sentinels attacked and decimated both your forces." Marta said, and watched as grimaces formed across the six Nobles features. "Sylerian attempted to stop them and protect the Sub, got killed by Codexia and some human with a big sword, after he died I hightailed it here."

"You did nothing then? Let our men sacrifice themselves while you cowered in your metal ship." Mildreas asked, glaring at the woman who returned it with her own.

"I lost thirty people down there, don't get on my bad side, otherwise your son's death will be the least of your worries." Marta said, narrowing her eyes at the seething Noble. "Besides, you never mentioned to me about Codexia being down there, you also never told me my people would be put into the line of fire."

"That is enough, let us keep this civil." A'oraen said, stepping between the two. "This was a complication as you said so yourself, you should know that there are no guarantees when it comes to your line of work."

"I lost people, a good number of them already." Marta growled.

"I am using your own words." A'orean replied, although he made little effort to elaborate or try to placate her, he was thinking of something else.

He did not expect the Sentinels to interfere so quickly; they couldn't possibly have an encampment in the region could they? If so than they likely are here in force and waiting to strike, if this was their first attack against them then an assault on the city was likely next. He trusted the Storms above but he couldn't risk the chance that there may be those who could disperse it.

Then after that he would be dealing with an army ready to invade and slaughter everyone here, he knew that would happen. The Night Elves would stop at nothing to ensure the extermination of his people and their way of life. He needed to make sure that their future was secured, and right now he needed the one thing that would ensure that this land and all the enemies upon it were wiped out.

"Marta, did Sylerian claim the Source? Is it here?" A'oraen asked, ignoring the indignant look the Gnome sent his way for brushing over the previous line of conversation.

"Yeah, he got it for you, gave it to me just before he went off to fight Codexia." Marta replied, before waving her two crewmen forward.

They lumbered forward with the chest in hand before setting it down next to Marta, who ran her hand over the numerical locking mechanism and unlocked it. Lifting the lid a wave of light pulsed from within, deep and thrumming energy moved through the air and pushed against everyone. The energy was so thick that it felt as if they were being slowly pushed back by a wave of water.

"Incredible, the energy is overwhelming." Maluineth said, stepping forward before she staggered back when another pulse expelled itself from the chest. "The energy, it beats as if it is a heart."

Looking within they found a large stone, black, grey and silver and appearing to be composed of several rocks fused together into a single large core. It pulsed and beat as if it were a living heart, and the appearance of the large stone was not far off it would seem.

"It seems that we have what we need." A'oraen said, smiling slightly before he looked to Marta. "You have done well Marta, you have earned every single gold piece we have promised you."

Marta did not respond but let out a sigh, she did not want this. She had her own dreams and desires and wanted this to be the job that finally got what she wanted, but instead it turned out to be another bout of misery for herself and the people close to her. It was just like Gnomeregan all over again, but this time she was being rewarded for surviving and doing something heinous.

"Fine, where is it?"

"Caelyb will take you to it, after that we expect a hasty departure, considering that you only have one ship left in the harbour." A'oraen stated.

The request was not so subtle on his part, and it was not meant to be, Marta picked it up but chose not to say anything. She wanted out of this entire debacle immediately and the quicker she did that the better, because this entire job has given her was heartache. With a wave of her hand she ordered her men out, Caelyb taking the lead once more to take them to their final payment before they would depart Ethel Rethor forever.

She would meet up with the rest of her crew down south and make a return trip back to the Eastern Kingdoms, it was about time she returned home. She had what she wanted, Gelbin Mekkatorque would likely be pleased with her efforts, and she just hoped she could explain to all those families that the people that died with her didn't die in vain.

When the door closed A'oraen turned and looked within the chest once more, smiling down at the pulsing heart within. This is exactly what they needed, it would be the keystone to their plans and would ensure that everything they had set out to do since their arrival here was fulfilled.

"This Source, it is not arcane in nature, the energy… it is similar to…" Maluineth started, feeling another wave wash over her.

Then the lid slammed shut and sealed away the energies within, the chest occasionally shaking as the trapped energies thrummed within. A'oraen smiled still as he turned to his fellow Nobles, clearly pleased with the results despite the fact that it wasn't the new source they were looking for.

"Similar to the Primal Spirits, you would be correct." A'oraen said. "This is most certainly one of their kin, there is no doubt within my heart about that."

They had found another spirit, but this one was different from the other three, it was heavy and dense with energy. The power that sat within the small object was greater than all three other spirits combined, if this was a Primal Spirit than it was likely still at its pinnacle of power.

"Damn it, how are we meant to satiate ourselves then? With no Arcane energies we cannot keep ourselves nourished, we will starve and die!" Mildreas growled.

"The Draught will keep us going for a while; maintain our health while we search for a more permanent replacement. But for now we must ensure that we use the Obelisk to complete our main objective." Maluineth said. "I am sure that I recall a means to help blend nature energies and arcane ones together, if we regrow the lands in the Desolace we can siphon off the excess energies within the forests that would grow and we can sustain ourselves within."

She recalled a small sect from long ago that had the ability to blend arcane and nature energies together, the texts were obscure but they certainly help some merit to research. Maluineth had used this same process to try and mingle the energies of the spirits and that of what Arcane energies they still possessed to create a diluted Draught for the people. It appeared successful, that was promising, and if her theory was correct than the plans for the revitalized Desolace would see their people being fed indefinitely.

"This Source will power the Obelisk and allow us to expand its coverage over the whole region, and with it spread across it we can unleash the storm upon everything beneath its shadow." A'oraen said.

Maluineth raised an eyebrow at the comment, he had said he would unleash the storm, surely he meant he would begin revitalization of the region.

"You mean the rain? Once the storms are above the region we can begin the regrowth of the land." Maluineth asked.

"No, if the Sentinels are here they must also be cleansed, we cannot allow them to gather a force against us. But not just them, this Horde must also be removed along with the remaining Centaur and any other force that thinks they can take this land from us." A'oraen replied. "With the Obelisk of Elune and the power offered by this Elemental and Erebus we can snuff out all life within the Desolace, wipe it clean so that new life can take its place."

He turned to his fellow Nobles, gesturing to the chest with a smile.

"With the heart that beats within we can begin the restoration of these lands and of our nation, it will take many years but slowly we shall regain our former empire."


Nijel's Point

Iyeana sighed as her Gryphon landed within the protected confines of Nijel's Point, she was glad to be somewhere safe and well protected. Because things were not going so well everywhere else, her entire ride back to the encampment had been nothing more than seeing chaos spreading across the land below. She had seen it over the many kilometres they flew across, the ground rupturing and spewing forth Elementals that wreaked havoc across the area.

'Looks liked Theradras is beginning to move.'

She glanced behind her to the Gryphon trying to carry the terrified form of Cavindra, the Dryad and one of the daughters of Remulos. From what Iyeana had heard she has been missing for centuries, all she knew about her is that she disappeared during the War of the Shifting Sand with her brother and many of her sisters. The only reason Iyeana even knew of her was because she was the daughter to one of the first sons of Cenarius, and she herself had been part of the War in Silithus and recalled her disappearance mentioned by the Druids there.

While the Dryad was not adamant to ride upon the Gryphon there was little that could be done about it, she had to leave behind a lot of good people behind to escort the Highborne Mages and Mercenary's back here. Now that she had seen the land and what was befalling it she was not so happy that she had done so.

'Walking through this place as it is now, I pray that they come back.' Iyeana thought, wondering if she should send back a few Gryphons to provide as guides and direct them away from danger.

"Iyeana, thank the Light you have returned!" Pentigast called out, rushing down the hill towards her. "Things have gotten much worse here than when you left this morning."

"I see you aware of this Elemental invasion?" Iyeana replied, pushing aside her doubts and taking charge, she needed to be strong right now.

"Yes, more than aware, surviving it would be a better statement than anything." Pentigast said, taking in a breath and looking at her pleadingly. "What in the Nether is going on?"

Iyeana had no idea, but she had a good idea on who could tell them, Cavindra had been very keen on trying to regain the Heart of Veles. She had said that it was the key to the facility beneath the mountain and that it is what had kept the Elementals bound there, but one in particular being Princess Theradras.

"I intend to find out. Cavindra! Over here!" Iyeana called, looking to the pale coated Dryad and then to her Sentinels. "Secure the perimeter; I want to make sure no Elementals get within a thousand yards of us without us knowing.

With that said she moved up the hill, Captain Pentigast and Cavindra following close behind her, they had a lot to discuss and she did not want to waste any time standing around and worrying about what could be. Walking up the hill and into the lodge she moved for the main hall that overlooked the entire camp, finding within was Keeper Marandis.

When he turned his stern features made way for surprise, his eyes widening as they landed on the pale face of Cavindra, who in turn shared his shock. He rushed over to greet them but his first target was the Dryad whom he embraced, and she reciprocated the heart-warming reunion.

"Cavindra, it is truly you, I have not seen you in many centuries. Not since Celebras disappeared along with you and many of your sisters." Marandis said, happy to see the ancient Dryad again.

"Marandis, it is good to see you as well, and I would welcome you again and ask many questions since my time away for the centuries have been dreary and long without the shine of the moon. But we have other concerns that must be addressed." Cavindra replied, her words becoming more grim as she spoke along.

"What can you tell us about this Elemental invasion?" Iyeana inquired.

Cavindra walked forward and looked over the camp below the lodge, observing the people milling about below, but she could senses the rampant energies across the lands.

"I know what is causing this elemental uprising, it is caused by a single elemental entity, one that was imprisoned within the confines of the Mountain nearly a Millennia ago." Cavindra stated.

"Princess Theradras." Iyeana theorized, and was proven right when she received a nod from the Dryad. "So then the legends are true, Theradras does exist here and beneath the sands. What is the Heart of Veles and how does it contain her?"

Cavindra looked to the Sentinel and her expression turned melancholy to anguish, it was obvious that the tale was one that she had a place in. She strolled forward and took a deep breath.

"You know of the legends of Maraudon, heard snippets of the origins of the Centaur race through their myths and legends. That Zaetar, my brother, fell in love with an Elemental Princess known as Theradras and through an unholy union created the Centaur." Cavindra said, closing her eyes. "It is true, all of it, Zaetar became enamoured with her for some unknown reason and they sired the Centaur race."

The myth was something of great debate amongst the Night Elves, the Centaur had only appeared after the War of the Shifting Sand a thousand years ago. While there were reports of them before the war began, usually from nomad Tauren tribes, the Centaur did not become a problem until after the wat.

"So then my Uncle is responsible for this then." Marandis said, sombrely realizing that Zaetar's unnatural union with the Elemental had created a bestial race that craves only destruction. "But why are you here?"

"Yes, from what I know you were with a group of Dryads moving for Silithus during the War, what happened to you?" Iyeana inquired.

"We were on our way there, but my brother Celebras decided to take a detour through the Desolace to search for Zaetar. We came across the Centaur for a time, and we fought them." Cavindra stated. "Then we searched the mountain in which they guarded, a thousand years ago they were not as numerous as they were now, but when we entered the caverns we were attacked."

"Elementals?" Iyeana inquired.

"No, Silithids, those monstrous insect creatures we had originally been sent to fight in the South, they infested the caverns, but they were not the only things down there." Cavindra continued. "A powerful and dark entity also skulked the caverns below, my brother and sisters were all taken by it and corrupted, enthralled by whatever lurks within, in fact I believe that it also controlled Theradras as well."

Iyeana scowled, that complicated things even more, she knew of the Silithids being creatures spawned from within the depths of Ahn'Qiraj. It was known that they served something, the only information they had on it was that it was called 'The Ancient One'. It seems that this entity is likely responsible for this, and also the corruption of more than one Keeper and the Dryads.

"How did you escape then? And why would you remain down there?" Iyeana asked.

"Because I was saved, when I was nearly taken by the corruption one Elemental came to my aid and protected me from its touch." Cavindra replied. "His name was Veles, and he is a Primal Spirit of Earth."

That surprised Iyeana, another Primal Spirit was here? This was getting to suspicious for her liking, it was as if fate way playing them now. In the last month four of these spirits had just come out of the water works and revealed themselves.

"He brought me to the chamber you found me within, there he kept me safe for a time, but he didn't have the power to stop Theradras or the evil that commanded her." Cavindra stated. "But he could power the machine within the chamber, using his Heart to power it and his body to seal the entrance to the inner sanctum of Maraudon."

Iyeana scowled, there was a lot she still didn't know, things she needed to know and make sense of all this.

"How is it that his Heart did this? Can we use something else to create this seal and trap her, another power source?" Iyeana was already thinking that maybe Ichigo could power it; his potent spiritual energy would be strong enough.

"It is not about the power, it needs to be connected to the machine and be compatible."

"What machine? The pillar?" Iyeana asked.

"Yes, the heart is the source that powers the machine, Veles was only compatible because he was an elemental and because of the Machines original purpose allowing it to seal Theradras away." Cavindra replied. "That long curved hallway spans the entire mountain and beyond, creating a massive ring that when powered creates a massive field that seals off the inner sanctum of Terramok, quite literally it seals it off in another dimension."

"Terramok?" Malandris inquired, that was a name that they had never heard before uttered in regards to the mountain.

"That is what it is called, and in the many centuries I have stayed within that chamber I have learned of the machines true purpose and why it was built." Cavindra said, sounding in awe as she recollected the information she had learned slowly over the centuries. "It was created by two Watcher who sought to use it to create dimensional planes and powerful prisons, I only know the name of one of the creators, Ra."

The name was unfamiliar to all in the room, as well as the title he had, but it did not hold importance to what was happening in the world outside right now. While the history gave them context and information to work out and understand how the elementals escaped it was wasting time, and Aneasia was becoming impatient.

"What does this matter?" Iyeana inquired. "How is it that us knowing about this machine give us any idea what it can do and what is happening now?"

"Because the machines was used in experiments to seal all the Elemental Spirits away on their own spiritual planes, this machine was used to create Elemental Planes." Cavindra replied.

The three occupants could not hide the shock that had taking hold of their hearts and their expressions, she had said something that they never thought could be said or be possible to believe. The Elemental Planes, the realms in which all elemental creatures originate and were bound, had been created by someone and it had been in that Mountain that it had been created.

"How? The Elemental Planes are spiritual planes of existence; the Elementals are bound to them and cannot leave unless summoned." Iyeana said, still unable to process this information. "How could it be that the realm that they exist in is actually their prison?"

"She is correct, Elementals cannot exist outside of that place unless they are bound with powerful magical bindings." Malandris said.

"The Elemental Planes were designed to be prisons of the Elementals, to be sealed there so that they could not wreak havoc upon the world any longer." Cavindra stated, remembering this from the short time she actually spoke with Veles as he told her. "I have learned that there were many like this Ra in the world eons ago that came to Azeroth and sealed the Elementals away in the Elemental Planes. In the Firelands, the Abyssal Maw, the Skywall and Deepholme."

The sheer thought that something could create an entire spiritual realm and seal every single type of elemental spirit within was astounding, especially if only two had completed the task and many more of their kind existed. The power and ability to do so couldn't possibly be matched by anyone else, it was daunting to think how power the one who did so could be.

That was a serious shock to the system, this was information that predated anything they knew about the world and the elements. They had all been captured and sealed away in a spiritual dimension that acted as their prison, only able to escape if they could get a mortal to summon them. But Iyeana quickly shook off her surprise and tried to compose herself, this wasn't relevant now, she needed to figure out what to do.

"Then what does Terramok have to do with the Elemental Planes? What does it have to do with this Elemental Invasion?" Iyeana inquired.

"Terramok was the creation grounds for the individual Elemental Planes; it was here that each was created from within the facility." Cavindra said, her words were grave and made them nervous. "It also serves as a bridge to these domains as well, and Princess Theradras intends to use it to create a breach into Deepholme and free her mother and the rest of the Elementals within."

Now they were all afraid of the consequences, this wasn't just an invasion, the elementals were dangerous enough that only a few could cause untold amounts of damage. While Iyeana would take most of this with a grain of salt she knew not to take this lightly considering that there were many elementals now rampaging across the region only hours after Terramok was raided.

But that was not the only bit of bad news to come from this.

"If Deepholme were to be opened within Maraudon it could destabilize the entire region, and also the other spiritual realms as well, we may be looking at an elemental sundering that could cause all the Elemental Planes to manifest in the material world." Cavindra said, and now the fears she tried to convey during their first meeting made all the more sense to Iyeana.

If the Elemental Planes actually crashed into the Mortal Realm and all manner of elementals to appear than it could create a rupture that could cause a cataclysm that would consume the world. That had to stop this, spread word and get whatever help they could to stop this before it was too late, but who could she ask for aid in regards to this.

The only ones who had the knowledge on the Elementals to any degree were possibly Shamans but she knew not if Shamanism was even practiced within the Alliance by any of the races. How was she meant to stop this then? Her eyes locked with the Dryad, if she knew enough about this than maybe she knew of the solution.

"We have to stop this, immediately." Iyeana said, before looking at Cavindra pleadingly. "What can we do to stop this from getting worse?"

"Yes, what is it we must to do?" Malandris asked.

"We need the Heart of Veles, when the chamber was created a key was made that sealed the planes, without it we had to find a substitute, and he was it." Cavindra said. "When Veles failed to defeat Theradras he returned to me and gave instructions on how to seal his Heart and Essence into the facility so that it can be activated and suppress the elemental planes and also keep Theradras sealed within. Without him she is now loose and causing all this destruction."

"What about the key then? Do you know where it is?" Malandris inquired.

"No, the Highkeeper's Ward was nowhere to be found, that is why Veles needed to do this, he is the only one that can seal this breach now, if we are not too late." Cavindra said.

"Then we need that Heart back." Iyeana growled.

That would be harder said than done sadly, she knew exactly where the Heart was, the Highborne had it in their city that was protected by magic and a small army. Something she had no means to get through without suffering a complete and utter defeat, it meant they were stuck with a problem they couldn't fix.

"I need to go interrogate my prisoners; I need to know what they know." Iyeana replied, turning and moving for the door.

She would beat it out of those two if she had to, she couldn't let the two of them off the hook and let any information slip through her fingers. This was far above what she was trained to handle, but she would do everything in her power to find a way to get into that city and make sure that the Heart was found and returned back to Maraudon.