Disclaimer: All non-original characters and places belong to Blizzard Entertainment. Original characters will be listed at the end of the chapter and are owned by me, the author : )

Fate III: Kylius and Jeishiro

Some time later, Karoru found herself wandering once more, though this time not out of depression. As she rode Stormfyre at a slow walk through the crowds of the Trade District, her mind was working hard to seek out the right people in her memories, the steadfast comrades that would stand by her in Onyxia's Lair. Abruptly, as if a spark erupted inside her, she tightened her grip on the mistsaber's silver mane and urged him forward. Stormfyre let loose a deep, warning growl and shot off like a massive furry cannonball down the street, splitting the crowds before him as he went.

Karoru guided him out of the Trade District to the open canals that crisscrossed the city. They followed one of the clear blue waterways north for a while, large paws pounding the smooth flagged stone and kicking up a slight cloud of dust. Then, they turned left onto a bridge and entered the Cathedral Square. Stormfyre reduced his speed almost immediately, sensing the sudden change in atmosphere. The loud, bustling noises of the Trade District and leisure voices of the Canals were noticeably replaced by a prudent, almost holy quiet. A faint gold light hung about the place, permeating even the air. Here and there, men and women in robes or shiny silver armor walked about or stood and conversed in respectably low voices. In the very center of the district stood a noble fountain atop which was a statue depicting an honored cleric named Archbishop Alonsus Faol. Rising behind the fountain like a magnificent guardian, complete with majestic towers and spires, was the Cathedral, dominating the entire view of the square with its grandeur.

The Cathedral of Light was home to some of the most powerful and influential holy leaders of the Alliance, as well as the base of the Order of Light, led by Archbishop Benedictus. It was before the large steps of this imposing structure that Karoru dismounted. She had Stormfyre rest in the grass at the foot of a tree planted nearby to keep out of the clerics' way and started up into the grand hall. The interior of the Cathedral was as majestic as its exterior. Her footsteps echoed off the smooth white-washed stone as she walked. Large pillars and candle stands lined the way straight through the magnificent room, leading to a small set of steps beneath a dais. On that platform stood a simple wooden table backed by three splendid stained-glass windows.

Amidst all the grandeur and piousness, Karoru felt slightly out of place. There were only five other people in the hall. A young man was relighting candles upon stands to her left. To the right of the steps, Archbishop Benedictus conversed quietly with a man called Durian Rall, whom she heard was perhaps Stormwind's most accomplished Paladin. By the table upon the dais stood High Priestess Laurena and a second Paladin. Spotting them almost immediately on entering, Karoru walked straight down the room towards the two, conscious of the dull sound of her boots on the floor and the rustle of her leather garments.

"…have pulled back east. The men at Chillwind Camp sent a rider around to warn Light's Hope Chapel," the Paladin was saying as she strode up the steps. "Andorhal is still overrun, though. Rumor has it there's a powerful spirit residing in it, possibly the thing that's been summoning all the others."

The High Priestess nodded her understanding. "Thank you, Sir Kylius. I will make sure to send someone to investigate. May the Light be with you."

"And you," he responded with a salute of respect. He turned and started down the steps, stopping abruptly halfway in surprise at the sight of the Rogue.

Sir Kylius of Loch Modan was an honored Paladin of the Order of Light. His family was a long line of nobles that owned much of the lush green hills, but Karoru preferred to know him as a confident Dwarf with a really big sword who liked to chop at things, especially ranks of the corrupted Undead Scourge. He was tall for his kind, young and strong with short brown hair and blue eyes. He was often sarcastically pompous and liked to be right, but he was very intelligent and polite when the situation called for it. His rational advice had helped her numerous times.

"Still chipping away at the zombies in the Plaguelands?" said Karoru with a slight grin.

Kylius grinned back at her. "If you wanna call them zombies. To me, they're just like us but with rotten flesh hanging off their bones and a need to sink their teeth into anything living."

"Mmhm, okay, then. Just like you and me," she responded sarcastically. She turned and began heading back out of the Cathedral, Kylius at her side.

"So what brings you over to this side of the city?" he asked as soon as they reached the outside steps of the building. "Shouldn't you be down some dark alley stalking your next victim?"

"Oh, so I'm not sophisticated enough to blend in with a bunch of Priests and Pallies to assassinate someone?"

"Pff, not in those clothes carrying a couple daggers sharp enough to gouge someone's eyes out, which reminds me. Have you seen Korigar lately?"

Karoru punched his armored shoulder lightly as they walked, hiding a smile. "You've gotta stop picking on that little guy."

"What He tried to push me into the Canals last time I saw him! If I could just get my hands around his tiny little neck--"

"Anyway," she cut in forcefully with a grin, "I came to ask you about something."

"Is it help to kill Korigar?" Kylius said hopefully.

Karoru stopped by the fountain and turned to face him, her smile fading. "No. My cousin died three days ago."

Stunned into silence, the Paladin listened as she told him of the events of the week.

"You need me to help you kill Onyxia, then?" he said after a moment of silence.

She nodded in response. "If it's no trouble to you."

"Trouble? I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't help you. That would be trouble to me. So. Dustwallow Marsh. Theramore Isle, right? When do you want me there?"

Karoru smiled. "Quick as ever with your information."

Kylius shrugged modestly. "I try."

"We're meeting there the day before the new moon," she said.

"Sounds good. I'll definitely be there."

The Rogue's smile widened slightly. "Thanks, man. I'll owe you for this."

Kylius waved it off. "Nah. It's the least I could do."

"No, I have to pay you back."

"No, Karoru."

"I definitely am."

"No, you're definitely not."

She chuckled and shook her head. "I'll get you back somehow," she stated, calling Stormfyre and mounting him. "Take care."

"See you there," Kylius said in return, waving her off as she urged the mistsaber out of the Cathedral Square.

The fiery sun was already dipping beneath the roofs of the buildings when Karoru reached the Mage Quarter. Reminiscent of the Park directly north, it was the home of Azeroth's most powerful and active magic, as it was the site of the mystical Wizard's Sanctum -- a large spiraling tower that rose proudly up in the very center of the district amongst a number of trees -- and the Slaughtered Lamb tavern -- a favorite gathering place of Warlocks. As she came up towards the foot of the ramp that spiraled up to the tower's entrance, she observed several female Human Mages sitting in the grass in the midst of a heated discussion. She tried to pick up on what they were saying but was soon lost in the complexity of their words. Instead, she continued on, dismounted Stormfyre by the ramp, and began to ascend its heights.

The Wizard's Sanctum was the host of the Stormwind Academy of Arcane Sciences. After the fall of the great city of Dalaran, many of the sorcerers retreated behind Stormwind's walls and created Azeroth's leading center of arcane knowledge and study. The spiraling ramp took Karoru to an archway, through which she proceeded. Inside was a small uninspiring room with another incline twisting its way up the tower. At the landing stood something more remarkable than any would have seen thus far. It was a large circular portal, a stone ring covered in glowing purple runes. Its center was a pool of green swimming energies that looked neither gas nor liquid. A Mage stood by chatting amiably next to a man named High Sorcerer Andromath. Karoru, however, ignored then and walked straight through the swirling portal a hint of hesitation.

The Inner Sanctum was hive of activity. Mages were everywhere, doing experiments, flipping through books, muttering incantations, casting spells, and discussing complicated charms. The room was much larger than one would think by looking at the tower from the outside, as if the portal had actually taken her to a different, isolated plane. The walls were crammed with tomes, tables were laden with specimens, and the floor was covered with runs at various intervals. Only a few of the sorcerers nearby looked up to see who had entered before returning to their work.

Karoru stood quietly in front of the portal for a few moments, scanning the room of Mages. Then, a cheerful voice called out to her, and a tall Draenei strode gingerly through all the sorcerers and projects to greet her.

"Jeishiro!" she answered back, waving merrily at him in return as he neared.

"Well this is a surprise!"

Jeishiro, to her, was a magnificent friend. He was one of the most intelligent of all the Magi and yet also very kind and humble. As a Draenei with glittering, aqua blue skin, short dark hair, glowing blue eyes, and strong shoulders, he was much larger than most of the present sorcerers. Karoru sometimes liked to watch an interesting, glowing blue sigil that appeared floating over his head every time he was concentrating hard on a particular spell.

The Rogue grinned at him. "How've you been?"

"Good. Getting far long in my research!"

"That's good to hear," she said with a chuckle.

Jeishiro smiled. "How's SI:7 treating ya?"

Karoru glanced around at the nearby Magi, already prepared to retell her story numerous times in the next few days. After making she the sorcerers were too busy to listen, she launched into the events of the week.

"So I really need your help, Shiro. I definitely can't take her down by myself."

The tall Mage looked at her thoughtfully. "Well, considering she's the daughter of the most mentally disturbed dragon in the history of Azeroth, I'm not surprised."

"You'll help, then?" she said hopefully.

"Of course. I wouldn't say no to you at a time like this," he replied matter-of-factly with a smile.

Karoru returned his smile gratefully. "What about your research?"

Shiro waved lazily at a group of Magi behind him. "Oh, the other guys can carry on without me just fine. Don't worry about it."

"I knew I could count on you, Shiro. Meet me in Theramore Isle the day before the new moon?"

"Sure thing. No problem at all."

She smiled brightly at him. "Thank you so much for helping me with this. Say, do you happen to know where a certain Night Elf who likes to hang around here is? She's tall, dark hair, kinda looks like me?"

"You mean that Priest that likes to help around here a lot?" he inquired.

Karoru nodded. "Yup. That's the one."

"I always wondered why she liked it up here so much instead of hanging around the Cathedral with the other Priests," he said thoughtfully," and you're right. She does look like you."

She grinned. "She's my cousin."

"How many cousins do you have?!" said the Mage with wide eyes.

Karoru laughed. "More than I can count."

Shiro chuckled as well. "Anyway, I did hear of someone sending her off to the Hillsbrad Foothills with a delivery for the men at Dalaran."

"Alright. That's just what I needed. Thanks again!"

He opened his mouth to reply but paused as he was hailed from behind. The two friends turned to the other Mages that were working with Jeishiro. They were standing around a relatively large basin with runes drawn around its rim. Half the sorcerers were keeping a steady stream of ice moving into a strange orb floating above the basin, the other half conjuring flames to melt it. Water continuously fell with loud splashes into the tub.

"Shiro! Come on, we need you!" called a tall blonde High Elf.

"What is that?" Karoru asked curiously as Shiro gestured for a few more minutes.

"We're trying to see if it's possible to manipulate water like we do ice, fire, and arcane magic," he explained enthusiastically. "By keeping a steady flow of arcane energies going into the melted water, we think--"

"But isn't that kind of pointless?" Karoru interrupted slowly with a blink of her eyes. "I mean, everyone knows Shamans can already control water."

Jeishiro looked at her for a few moments as if he had been hit on this head with a polearm. Then, he turned around and began running back across the room, his hooves clacking loudly on the stone floor and his tail swinging sideways excitedly.

"Guys! Guys, guess what!"

Karoru laughed and turned away as well, back through the portal to the pleasant, open air outside the Sanctum.

List of original characters:

Karoru -- Night Elf Rogue
Tyzaru -- Human Warrior
Stasya -- Human Paladin
Kylius -- Dwarf Paladin
Jeishiro -- Draenei Mage
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Tailia -- Night Elf Rogue
Garth -- Night Elf Druid
Harley
Saruki