Calia's Thoughts
Calia watched with silent patience as Alexstrasza and Ysera began to feed their healing energies deep into Neltharion's black scales. The Great Black looked deathly still. His beard was unbraided, covered in solidified lava that was once a part of the magmatic core inside of him. Cracks exposing his molten core still spilled out over his black scales. The cracks along his huge chest and his sides slowly began to seal up as Alexstrasza ran her ruby claw down his flank. Neltharion winced, growling as he felt the pain of her touch upon his wounds. Alexstrasza looked up around her, hearing a sudden crack from the stone above just as Neltharion winced in pain.
"At least he is responding," said Ysera.
Alexstrasza withdrew her claw, holding it tightly as a sharp pain of heat scalded her.
"I forgot how difficult this was to touch him when he's bleeding like this," she said with a breathy voice.
Calia folded her arms, rubbing them with her hands. The wintery, snow-covered land of the Dragonblight gave her a shiver. She could feel a cold ache in her joints. Thrall slowly walked up from behind her, carrying a large pelt. He swung the pelt around and draped it around her.
"I figured you were chilly," he said.
"Thank you," said Calia.
Aggra came up from behind Thrall, holding three mugs of warm Honeymint Tea. She gave one to her mate, and then one to Calia.
"Here," said Aggra. "You'll feel much better with something warm in your belly."
"Thank you," said Calia. She dipped her head. "I...appreciate both of your kindness. I'm just..." She gave a shake to her head and perched her lips tightly.
Thrall looked out over Neltharion's body. The Black Dragon's eyes were shut tightly.
"He's healing," he said, seeing the rips close. "Slowly."
"Not fast enough," said Calia. "Thrall, why would he hide information like that?"
"I don't know," said Thrall. "I never heard of this Ultraxion."
"I would think that such information would be important to talk about," said Calia. "And he avoided it."
"Only Neltharion knows the reason why he did it," said Thrall. He shook his head and sighed deeply. He looked focused intently upon Neltharion's body. "Don't dwell on it, Calia. He doesn't need that right now."
Calia's eyes rolled and turned away from her husband. Her heart quivered inside her chest as she felt a sting in her eyes. She rose a finger up to wipe away a bit of moister from her bottom lid. She sipped lightly at her tea.
Alexstrasza moved away, her shoulders slumped over. The world around her began to spin and she rose up to her drunken feet. She raised her claw to her head, feeling every blood vessel in her temples pulsate painfully against her skull. Ysera rose up, sensing her sister's sudden fatigue.
"I can't do it," said Alexstrasza. "I can't..."
Ysera moved around Neltharion's body to her sister, bracing her green, scaly flank up against her. She placed a claw upon Alexstrasza's chest.
"Our power that we granted the Dragon Soul again..." began Alexstrasza. "I don't have enough to heal my brother."
Ysera looked to the Black Dragon. Many of his cracks and rips were healed, but there were still many more that were open.
"I don't know how to help him," said Alexstrasza. She roved her head to her smaller sister. "I'm alright, Ysera."
She slowly lumbered away from the Green Aspect and settled softly down upon the cold ground. Thrall walked up to Ysera, craning his head up to look upon her. Ysera turned to him. With a soft flash of green and sparkling leaves, she reverted into her Night Elf form. Her hands folded in front of her and she lowered her head, shaking it sadly.
"He's too injured," she said. "Mine and Alexstrasza's powers aren't enough."
"I could help," said Thrall. "And Aggra. We've healed him before."
Ysera moved away from her brother and dipped her head silently to Thrall.
"Aggra!" called Thrall. "Our powers combined into one."
Aggra and Thrall spread to the flank of Neltharion. Raising their hands out to the Earth-Warder. Green energy swirled about their dancing fingers. Glowing oak leaves flowed about the energy, spreading out towards Neltharion's pained body. The Black Dragon took in a deep breath, letting loose a pitiful whimper as the green energy and leaves washed over his body. Thrall felt a tingle in his fingers as he held onto the spell, watching some of the smaller rips close up. However, the enormous gash in his chest was not closing. Aggra lowered her hands, a growing swimming feeling made her head seem heavy. She slumped down upon her knees. Thrall lowered his hands and rushed to his mate's side. He placed an arm around her and pulled her close. Aggra rested her head upon his shoulder, breathing slowly. She folded a hand around his.
"We've...started it..." she said. "But...we can't finish it."
"He is too wounded," said Thrall.
"He needs time to heal," said Ysera.
"Time is not on our side," said Calia. "That monster will be here soon."
"What can we do?" asked Thrall.
"The earth must heal him," said a voice from behind Thrall. He turned to see Siderion in his human form walking up beside Calia. Behind him was Nadina, the Blood Elf who rescued him. "He is the Earth-Warder. His heart is Azeroth's heart. Let Azeroth heal him."
Calia looked upon the Blood Elf priest, her eyes narrowing and her mouth drawing into a long scowl. Then, her sea, blue-green eyes came to Siderion.
"How?" asked Calia
"The blood of Azeroth is Neltharion's blood," said Siderion. He looked to Alexstrasza as she gripped her claw. She could still feel the searing heat from touching Neltharion's fiery blood.
"Lava," said Ysera. "It's real lava."
"Magma, actually," said Siderion. "Every part of his body is made up of the primal minerals that birthed this world. If there's anything that can heal him, it would be that."
Calia slowly approached Siderion: "And where can we find more of Nel's Azeroth...blood?"
"Volcanoes," said Siderion.
"The Obsidian Shrine," said Alexstrasza. "Kalecgos, Nozdormu, I need your help. We're moving our brother."
Two large draconic heads, one blue, the other bronze moved out from behind the back opening of Wyrmrest Temple. Siderion turned to Nadina, taking in a deep breath. The Blood Elf stepped back as she watched the one she rescued flash in a fiery light. The light grew out, forming that of a draconic body. Wings spread wide and the black dragon roared out at the completion of his transformation. Calia looked up, hearing a rumble from the ceiling above. Dust fell in heavy clouds. Calia backed away, feeling the tremble of the floor as Kalecgos and Nozdormu slowly lumbered into the chamber. Siderion, Kalecgos, and Nozdormu surrounded Neltharion, heaving his body up. The Earth-Warder's head dropped, rolling loosely upon his thick, muscular neck.
"Kalec," said Alexstrasza. "Take Neltharion to the Obsidian Shrine...into the mouth of the opening at the base of the volcano."
Kalecgos nodded and hefted Neltharion up, leaning the Great Black against him. He let loose a growl, feeling Neltharion's much greater weight upon his shoulder. He extended out a shear, blue wing and folded it over the Black Aspect's body. With a bow of his head, Kalecgos vanished, taking Neltharion with him. The others walked out onto the blinding, sunlit, white snow. Siderion lowered his neck, allowing the mortals to climb on. Calia held to the pelt draped over her shoulders as she felt the younger black dragon's body rise up. A cold gush of wind blew across her face, sending her brown locks into her eyes. Alexstrasza, Ysera, and Nozdormu had taken flight. Calia leaned back as she felt the heave of Siderion's body. He spread his wings and kicked off into the air.
0
Kalecgos pulled hard upon Neltharion's body, dragging him deep into the mouth of the cave. The Blue Dragon gripped tightly with his claws, grunting and groaning as he dragged. He felt his hind legs give way and he toppled backward, wings splayed. Neltharion's massive form fell on top of him. Kalecgos panted, looking around him. Despite the cold temperature outside, the inside of the shrine was sweltering. Shimmering air rose up from the pools. He could hear the sounds of roaring bubbling and hissing gasses. Kalecgos rose up, slipping out from under Neltharion's limp body.
"Why do you have to be so heavy?" he asked. Kalecgos looked beyond Neltharion's body, seeing a glowing trail of his blood running from behind him. He scooted the Black Dragon's body towards the edge of a boiling pool of seeping lava. He felt the volcano rumble with a low growl. A spout of molten rock shot up from the pool. Kalecgos looked down towards the pool. The pool was like thick, glowing soup, a black crusty scum covered the top. From one side of the pool, all the lava rose up, spreading and cooling into a black crust, moving across the surface, only to fall back down.
Convection.
It looked like boiling pudding. He saw cracks along the black crust, revealing the viscus, hot, glowing molten rock under it. Kalecgos, as he took in a breath, felt the gasses of the pool burn his lungs.
"How can you stand this?" he asked. "How can this heal you?"
Kalecgos angled Neltharion's body closer to the ledge of the lava pool. He slowly moved away from the ledge, and leaned over Neltharion's body, breathing heavily. The Magic Aspect coughed, the gasses continuing to burn. He looked up again as the cave once more shook with the volcano's life.
"Come on, Alexstrasza," he began. "I don't want to be inside an active volcano any longer than I need to."
Kalecgos spat, coughing again.
"M...Maly...gossss..." Neltharion rumbled in his unconsciousness, shifting his head.
"Oh, my God, not this again..." said Kalecgos. He turned his huge blue head towards the Earth-Warder. "I'm not Malygos, damn it!"
He saw the Black Dragon breathe in and out smoothly. Despite the poisonous gasses in the volcano making it difficult for Kalecgos to breathe, Neltharion had no trouble at all. Kalecgos watched as another rip slowly sealed up. His head jerked up at the sound of another splash of the lava in the pool, sending several lobs of molten rock towards him. Kalecgos backed away, but the lobs of rock splashed upon his blue scales. The Blue Dragon yelped powerfully. He raised a forepaw, batting away the molten rocks just as they started to burn through his scales. Some of the lava splashed upon Neltharion's chest. Kalecgos gripped his wound and watched as the lava coalesced upon Neltharion's chest. As the molten rocks began to cool, their orange color dulling to red, and then to black, they began to seep into the Black Dragon's plated chest. The rocks merged with his chest, helping to seal up the open, fiery gash. The gash began to close even more.
"Okay," said Kalecgos. "Okay. Okay." He blinked with astonishment. "Okay. That is...I didn't know it could do that."
"Goes...to...show...you...what...you...know...about...the planet..." Neltharion whispered weakly. His eyes still remained closed, his body unmoving.
"Neltharion?" asked Kalecgos. He moved closer to Neltharion, leaning down. "Can you hear me?"
He placed a claw upon Neltharion's face, lifting an eyelid. The Black Dragon's emerald eye was rolled back into the eye socket. Kalecgos checked the other eye, finding the same thing.
"Neltharion!" he called. "Neltharion, can you hear me?"
"Mmmhmmm..." Neltharion replied in an almost dream-like tone.
Kalecgos lifted the Earth-Warder up, holding him by his brought, muscular shoulders. Neltharion's head flopped back, still limp. His forelegs hung loosely at his side. One of his wings draped over the ledge. Kalecgos looked up again, feeling the rumble of the volcano underneath him. He turned back to the unconscious Black Dragon.
"Um...it wouldn't be difficult to ask you if you could make the volcano happy..." Kalecgos said. Once more he felt his lungs burn as the gasses around him choked his throat. He let loose a cough.
Neltharion made no response.
"Please?" asked Kalecgos.
"Pressure..." Neltharion whispered.
"What?" asked Kalecgos, bringing Neltharion's lips closer to his ear.
"Pressure..." Neltharion repeated. "Volcano...is...releasing...pressure."
"Pressure..." said Kalecgos. "Is that good or bad?"
"It's...fine..." replied Neltharion. "Don't stand...near the...lava."
Kalecgos gently lowered Neltharion's limp body back to the ground. He folded his wings around his body, looking warily around the hellish cavern. Kalecgos coughed once more. He could not shake the burning sensation.
"Wimp..." Neltharion rumbled lowly.
"Oh, that's fine!" said Kalecgos. "Here I'm risking being barbecued by lava or suffocated by sulfurous gasses to help you and you call me a 'wimp'."
Neltharion's lips meekly curled up into a tiny smile.
"Are you awake or aren't you awake?" asked Kalecgos.
"Pretty flowers..." Neltharion replied.
"For crying out loud!" called the young Spell-Weaver. "Neltharion!"
Neltharion once more shifted his head as he fell into deeper unconsciousness.
"Neltharion?" asked Kalecgos. The Black Dragon could no longer reply.
He took in a deep breath, about to let loose another sigh, but the gasses made that even difficult. He coughed and sputtered, his throat now on fire.
"I'm sorry," he began. "I have to leave this place. I can't...I can't stand it here! Neltharion, if you can still hear me, I'll be outside. I just can't stay in here."
Kalecgos waited for a response, even a snarky comeback from the Earth-Warder. Neltharion remained silent. The young Spell-Weaver sighed and shook his head. He turned around to walk towards the entrance to the cavern. As he began to make his way back, another tremor rumbled through the cavern. Kalecgos ducked as he felt a shower of basaltic rocks upon him. He heard a crack and he turned back towards Neltharion. The ledge was breaking away from the quake. As the ledge cracked and buckled around Neltharion, the Black Dragon slid off, dropping heavily into the pool. Kalecgos rushed to the ledge. He held his breath, seeing the Black Dragon float upon the black crust of cooled molten rock. The crust pushed him towards the other end, where they began to fall back into the pool.
"Neltharion!" he called as he watched the Earth-Warder's body seep down into the other side of the pool. Slowly his body was submerged into the molten rock, inch by inch. Then, at long last, his head and enormous horns disappeared below. Kalecgos swallowed and held a claw up to his head, wincing. "Oh...damn. Oh...damn. Sorry, I...I can't dive in there...I..."
He let loose a frustrated grunt and snapped a claw. Suddenly, Kalecgos was covered in a glowing, protective shield of brilliant arcane energy.
"Magic don't fail me now," he said as he leapt down onto the lower bank of the pool. Swallowing hard, Kalecgos dipped his claw into the lava pool, pushing past the black crusty top. He could feel the intense heat of the lava even through his shield. The heat itself steadily began to weaken the shield. Kalecgos felt around the molten pool, feeling for any sign of Neltharion.
"Neltharion, I don't think I can...dive in there after you!"
"Kalecgossss!" sounded a deep voice from above, holding a familiar lisp.
Before the shield was gone, Kalecgos withdrew his claw. He slid back against the ledge, trying to move way from the boiling lava as best as he could. He looked up to see the sparkling brassy scaled head of Nozdormu looking over the broken ledge.
"Are you alright?" Nozdormu asked.
"A bit well done..." began Kalecgos. "But I'm not burnt yet. He fell into the pool."
"I know," said Nozdormu. "I sssaw it."
"Figures," said Kalecgos. "With your own eyes or with...?"
"Foresseeen it," said Nozdormu. "How'sss about that?"
"Right," said Kalecgos. "Couldn't stop it?"
"He wasss supposed to go in, correct?" asked Nozdormu. "The quake only made it easssier."
Kalecgos dove his claws into the hardened rock around him, climbing steadily out of the crevice. He let loose another powerful cough.
"The gasses in here," said Kalecgos. "It's hard to breathe. I need some...air."
He looked towards the entrance, seeing Alexstrasza, Ysera, and Siderion all in their humanoid forms walking in. Calia, Thrall, Aggra, and Nadina followed them. Kalecgos shifted into his half-elven guise as well and started walking out towards the entrance.
"It isss alright," said Nozdormu as he shifted into his High Elf form. "We'll take care of it from here."
"Sure..." said Kalecgos. He paused in his walk and turned back to the Timeless One. "Uh, have you ever thought about getting speech therapy?"
"What?" asked Nozdormu.
"For the lisp," said Kalecgos.
"What lisssp?" asked Nozdormu.
"That lisp," said Kalecgos.
"I do not have a lisssp."
Kalecgos blinked his blue eyes and gave a scratch to his head. Then, with a shrug he turned around and walked away. As he passed Siderion, he turned to the young black dragon.
"Your grandfather fell into the lava," he said. "I couldn't catch him."
"The lava won't hurt him," said Siderion. "In fact it is good for him."
"I saw," said Kalecgos. He coughed again, covering his mouth. "Neltharion sank, though. Can you get him out?"
"He can withstand the lava better than me," said Siderion. "But I can withstand it better than you, Spell-Weaver. I can."
"Alexstrasza, I'll be outside," said Kalecgos. "I've stayed in here for too long."
As he continued to walk out, he dipped his head at Calia. Calia turned around, nodding as she watched him leave the cavern. She slowly approached the lava pool, the Aspects giving her some room.
"Where is he?"
"Under the lava," said Siderion as he came to the ledge. He reverted to his dragon form and leapt down. "I'll find him. He couldn't have gotten far."
Siderion dove into the lava pool, allowing his slightly heavier body to sink into the viscous rock. Calia took in a deep breath and settled down on a hard, glassy, volcanic rock. She laid her hand upon the rock, touching its smooth surface. The texture reminded her a little of how her husband's scales felt. The rock felt warm as well. Calia's lips perched again and she closed her eyes. Once more, there was that quivering skip in her heart. Ysera looked over to her and walked up, sitting down upon the rock as well. She placed her hand upon Calia's shoulder. Calia shook her head, staring aimlessly down upon her feet. As she moved her arms to rest her hands upon her lap, she heard something jingle inside her pouch. She reached into the pouch and pulled out the thing that jingled. Turning her head she brought the golden disk hanging upon the chain and brought it up to her eye level. She dropped the Dragon Soul into the palm of her other hand and closed her fingers around it. She held the disk closely to her chest. Her ears picked up the sound of the lava boiling harder.
"Siderion has him!" called Thrall, looking over the ledge. Calia got up off the rock and looked over the ledge and down into the pool. She watched as Siderion pulled Neltharion partially out of the lava, allowing his great body to rest upon a shallow part of the pool. The smaller black dragon rose out of the pool, shacking off the cooling rock from his body. The splits and rips on Neltharion's body had vanished. He growled as he slowly began to climb out onto the ledge.
"Rest is all he needs now," said Siderion as he reverted back into his human form.
Ysera knelt down to the ground, looking out over the edge. Her brother looked like he was sleeping peacefully. His elementium armor glowed a dull red from the heat, however, it was cooling. He laid upon his side, his wings draping limply out over the crusted lava pool. She rose up and leaned over to drape her arms around Calia.
"It's going to be okay, sister," she whispered. "Neltharion is much better now."
"I know," said Calia, her reply short and flat. She rose up, still holding onto the Dragon Soul tightly. The rogue human turned away from the pool and started for the exist.
"Calia?" asked Ysera.
Calia shook her head, swinging her hair about her shoulders. She walked out of the cavern.
Ysera's bright eyes widened as she heard a painful moan. She looked towards Alexstrasza, who fell to her knees. Thrall and Nozdormu rushed to her side. Alexstrasza held her head tightly as it throbbed painfully against her skull.
"I can feel him nearing," she whispered. "I can feel all the lives he is snuffing out as he makes his way here."
"Ultraxion?" asked asked Thrall. "Do we even have the power to stop him?"
"Even in that, my vissssion is vague," said Nozdormu. "But we musssst stop him. Thissss is the moment I saw."
"All five of us coming together to defeat the thing that can bring about the Hour of Twilight," said Ysera. "I will call all my dragons here."
"Assss will I," said Nozdormu.
"I will bring all of my dragons here as well," said Alexstrasza. "Kalecgos is outside, someone should..."
"I will tell him," said Nadina.
Alexstrasza took in a deep breath, steadying herself as she got to her feet. She gave a nod to the priest. Nadina headed out towards the entrance.
"Neltharion..." began Alexstrasza in a breathy tone, looking down upon the still, large form of the Black Dragon. "He has no flight to call upon."
"He has me," said Siderion. "I will fight at my lord's side."
"I appreciate your determination," said Alexstrasza. "And your newfound loyalty to your sire...but one young black dragon and his Aspect does not make a flight." She took in a deep breath. "I am sadden to say that you and Neltharion may be the only fully grown black dragons left on Azeroth. I know he left other black dragons in Outland, but we have no time to rally them up. And I do not know who all we can trust there."
Siderion lowered his head, his black hair falling down into his face. He brought his dark-skinned hands to his front, folding them up. He then lifted his head, his fiery eyes looking upon the Dragonqueen.
"But you do have us," he said. "Two black dragons are better than none."
"Two black dragons are better than none," said Thrall in agreement. "And you have us as well, Siderion. You and your lord. In some strange ways, Aggra and I have become a part of Neltharion's family. And we have the Earthen Ring. We may not be black dragons, but our powers are similar. We command the primal forces of Azeroth as well." He turned to Alexstrasza. "We can fill the void for the Black Dragonflight."
"It is one of the reasons why before all of this hiding from the Cult began, Neltharion was working closely with us," said Aggra. "Until he could remake his flight, he needed substitutes."
"Thrall, it is faster for an Aspect to rally up members of his or her flight," said Alexstrasza. "We can communicate with each other in ways you mortals cannot. I don't know if we even have time to call upon the Earthen Ring."
"Then, we will make time," said Aggra. "The Earth-Warder needs time to regain his strength fully. We need time to gather up our allies and so do you. Send a small force out to stall Ultraxion's flight here."
"That would be suicide," said Alexstrasza, curling her fingers, her long, wispy eyebrows rising.
"My sssissster," began Nozdormu. "Ssssacrificesss mussst be made. Even unfortunate onesss. It issss a hard choice to make. If we do not, then we will have no time at all."
Alexstrasza looked away, her eyes becoming downcast.
"I do not agree with this," she said, her voice showing her frustration. "But, if there is no alternative, then...we must. We will choose those who will go and stall Ultraxion."
Thrall heard the sounds of footsteps as Kalecgos came back in. He fanned his face from the heat. Blue Dragons were not lovers of sweltering volcanoes like the Black Dragons.
"Nadina called me in, what's going on?" he asked.
"Ultraxion is heading here," said Ysera. "And he's pillaging along the way."
"Wonderful," said Kalecgos, slumping slightly. "So, what's the plan?"
"Call your flight here, Kalecgos," said Alexstrasza. "Bring all that you can here. We will make our stand at Wyrmrest. But we need time. I will ask of a few members of my flight to go to Ultraxion and face him while he is still in the Eastern Lands. We have to stall him while we are gathering up our forces, including the Earthen Ring and any ally we can find. And to..." She turned back to the pool. "Give Neltharion time to awaken."
"Alright," said Kalecgos. "I'll relay the message."
0
"That is a very beautiful pool," said a voice from behind Calia. The rogue swung around to find Nadina walking up behind her. Calia's eyes narrowed coldly at the ex-Twilight Cultist. Nadina came to her side, looking out over the colorful, hot spring pool. Steam rose up from its surface. Near the hot spring were bubbling mud pots releasing all sorts of gases as well as fumarole vents capped with bright yellow of sulfur crystals. Alien looking, bulbous plant life grew around the volcanically active landscape, enjoying the poisonous gasses coming from the vents. A geyser sounded from just a hundred yards from the spring, spraying forth a gush of heated water.
"Amazing!" said Nadina. "I've heard tales of the Obsidian Shrine. I heard it was a place of death and ugliness. But all around me...I've never seen such wonders. It's so lively, so active." She turned around, taking in the thermal life and then turned back to the spring. "What causes the coloration in the water? I've never seen a spring that had rainbow colors!"
Calia took in a deep breath and looked to the hot spring as well: "Neltharion says there are little microbes in the water that live in colonies. It looks like red, yellow, and orange shaggy carpeting on the bed of the spring. He says it changes color depending on the seasons. They love hydrothermal pools where the water is heated by a magma plume below. That's why this place is like it is, because of a well of magma under our feet."
"I've heard of therapeutic qualities of hot springs," said Nadina. "But, I suppose because of those microbes, that spring isn't safe to take a dip..."
"It's too hot for one," said Calia. "Neltharion can take its scalding temperature fine, but, it will burn us."
"The water is so pure, so blue," said Nadina. "I suppose it's caused by the heat, isn't it?"
"I don't know," said Calia.
Nadina looked around, seeing the skeletons of many fallen black dragons. She folded her arms around herself and licked her lips, her glowing, green eyes alight with curiosity.
"They have a nice place to be at peace," she said. "It is so pretty here. It's like all the power of the planet on display. All these strange plants everywhere. I've never seen them either. They look like little mushrooms."
"Neltharion told me it was possible that this is what life used to be like on Azeroth long before the Titans came here," began Calia. She turned to Nadina. "Even long before the Old Gods."
"Long before the Old Gods?" asked Nadina.
"My husband said the Old Gods are aliens too," said Calia. "They came here to this world and destroyed its life with their chaos, keeping the elementals all in flux with their wars. Because of that, life could not develop and grow. He said when the Titans came here, there was potential for life, but as long as the Old Gods kept the battles between the elements up, Azeroth would remain lifeless. So, they locked the Old Gods up. Neltharion said when he was Deathwing, he was reminded many times that this world does not belong to us, but to them, but it isn't true. It never belonged to them either. And it does belong to us. The Titans only helped us grow and develop." She looked back to the spring. "This represents how life needs the heat of the core to survive. It needs the planet. Neltharion didn't realize it then, but he does now that though he protects the planet, he also makes it to where life can continue to flourish upon it. But as long as the Old Gods remain down there, there's always going to be something that will threaten that life." She sighed. "We keep saying that they will destroy the world. They won't. The world will always remain whole, it is life they will destroy. I like to sometimes think Neltharion's stubbornness comes from the fact that the planet does not need us to survive, we need the planet in order to survive. And Neltharion represents the planet as a whole."
Calia drew a long frown upon her lips as she looked back at Nadina.
"So, tell me, Cultist," she began, her worlds becoming like ice. "Why would you join up with a group who works for those that do not belong on our world, that only want to destroy the life that is on it?"
"They had the answers," said Nadina. "They had all the answers. Or at least I thought they did. You've seen it, you've seen what was happening before Deathwing broke out."
"I remember," said Calia. She gripped the Dragon Soul tighter. "All the elementals attacking. Theramore nearly burned down. People screaming in the streets. And the earthquakes. They said volcanoes erupted too, sending forth their ash clouds, flattening villages. People died. I remember. And you joined those who delighted in it."
"I was scared," said Nadina. "Many of us were. And confused. I didn't know what I was getting into. And when I got too far, there was no way out. I was trapped. And the whispers, those horrible whispers!"
She knelt down to her feet, her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach as she felt a sob choke her throat. Tears dripped from her eyes. Her long, pointed ears drooped slightly.
"You have no idea what it's like to hear them," she continued, pausing each time to let out a sob. "Everywhere, the speak everywhere...no escape from them..."
"I do know what it's like to hear those whispers," said Calia. "I've heard them."
"How?"
"My husband is Deathwing!" shouted Calia. "Or was Deathwing. I've heard those voices coming from him because he was haunted by them. Despite being freed of the personality that made him do those horrible atrocities, Neltharion continued to be plagued by the Old Gods. They mocked him and tormented him, telling him he was weak, nothing...and they were telling me to put him out of his misery. I fought against those voices and I helped him fight as well. I told him he can be strong against them. You allowed yourself to be tormented by them...believing what they say...just like him. And look what it did to him...and you." A flash of gold came from her fingers as she continued to grip the Dragon Soul. "As far as I'm concerned, you're just like the rest of them. Monsters."
The Blood Elf lifted her head, sniffing: "Do you feel the same way about your husband?"
Calia's face flushed as she felt a heat build up around her cheeks, her blue-green eyes flashing coldly. She kicked up some of the volcanic rock on the ground, sending the grit towards Nadina. She shook with anger and stormed heavily away from Nadina.
"I suppose that same cold determination really does run in the family, willing to do everything that is necessary to achieve your goal, no matter who you step on," said Nadina. "I didn't realize who you were until I saw that look...and those eyes. Northrend suits you well just like it suited him."
Calia grimaced, gritting her teeth hard. She took hold of the priest's cloak and pulled her up, holding her close.
"I am not him!" she said with a hiss. Calia tossed the priest to the ground and darted off, still gripping tightly to the Dragon Soul. She headed out the gate to the Obsidian Shrine running swiftly down the snowy path. Her breath was becoming tight and she began to slow, panting as she felt the ache of the chill in her legs as well as her heart. She knelt down upon a thick, snowy patch and shivered. The warmth of the hydrothermally active shrine did not spread out beyond its walls. She saw something dark and jagged upon the rise of glacier-capped mountains. Standing up, she came to the very ledge of the trail and looked towards the north. Calia felt her body grow numb just as the feature of jagged spikes and saronite metal came into view.
Angrathar, the Wrathgate.
Calia beheld the gate to the Icecrown Citadel, the fortress her brother once was housed in. She stared longingly at it, her face unmoving, her eyes locked upon its surface
"I am not you," she mouthed. "Why would I ever want to be you?"
You are him...
Calia gripped the Dragon Soul tighter.
It does run in the family.
She took in a deep breath.
Cannot deny who you are.
Who are we to deny what you want?
Calia opened her hand, peering down at the Dragon Soul. The reflective surface continued to shine brightly like rays of the sun.
"What do I want?" she asked, as if directing her question to the golden disk.
Power to protect the one you care for the most. Keep him safe, protect him...whether he realizes he needs your protection or not.
He is still weak, but you are strong.
"How can I protect him?"
Take down those that threaten him.
Calia licked her lips feeling them becoming dry in the cold air. She swallowed. The reflection of the disk shined upon her face, lighting her eyes.
Take them down.
They are like the Scourge, their master like the Lich King.
They should be dealt with like the Scourge.
You cannot trust Neltharion to do this for you.
You must do it yourself.
And only then will you be able to have peace.
Calia's eyebrow cocked up and a slight smile appeared upon her face as her eyes admired the perfect surface of the Dragon Soul. Looking back at the black, sharp, jagged gate, she gave one last cold grunt of disgust. Starting off down the snowy hill, she continued to make her way to Wyrmrest Temple. There was a taxi service there and she knew that perhaps it would be able to take her to Dalaran. After all, Dalaran was the quickest way back to Stormwind. She looked upon the Dragon Soul one last time before dropping it into her pouch.
"Arthas may have had the Helm of Dominion, and Frostmourne, but I have something greater in my possession," she said. "Something much greater."