Chapter 11~ A Little Trip To An Unexpected Revelation

Once we'd arrived, we headed straight to the King's castle, our first priority. Since king Anduin was the one to send the warlocks, I was hoping he knew where Ignatius lived. Marching into the long corridor leading to the throne room, we pushed past the guards that tried to stop us, and to the king.

"Tuarwen ? What are you doing here ?" Asked the king, his expression alarmed as he saw us.

"I apologize for interrupting your meeting," I glanced at the men who'd been discussing with the king. "your Majesty, but we would be greatful if you could give us five minutes of your time."

He glanced at his men, before saying, "Granted. Follow me."

He led us into another room.

"What it is that you need, Tuarwen ?" He asked, slightly concerned.

I exchanged a glance with Silvanus, before speaking. "We need to know where the warlock Ignatius lives."

"Ignatius ?" He repeated, confused as to why we brought him up. "Why do you ask for him ?"

I sighed. "Nerewin from the elven kin may have been stopped, but her allies are still running loose. I have to stop them before they start another plague somewhere else."

"It seems your mission has not been completed then."

"Far from it." I said firmly.

"Ignatius does not live in Stormwind, he lives deep in the forest, inside a cave hidden in the mountains in the west."

I bowed. "Thank you, your Majesty."

He nodded. "Good luck.

To our luck, Silvanus had brought his tiger mount with us, which would make the search for Ignatius much faster. I climbed behind Silvanus, and off we went.

...

We were attacked by bandits and wolves multiple times, especially at night when the danger was greater. We'd searched everywhere, all day, and yet we'd found no clue of where Ignatius was. There was no hole in the mountains, that would indicate a cave. We had to camp out for the night.

I'd gathered some dry pieces of wood, and any branches I could find, and Silvanus summoned a fire with his magic. We sat there, eating the mushrooms and little fruits I'd gathered on the way. We also had some dry meat from the bandits whom had attacked us.

I was lost in thought, nibbling at the mushroom, when suddenly Silvanus spoke. "Are you alright ?"

"Yes. Why do you ask ?" I asked, surprised.

"You are a long way from home. It must be hard for you." He then said.

I smiled timidly. "A little bit. I miss everything about it. The grass...the yellow and red leaves...the swamps...the wonderful and beautiful animals that live amongst us...my people...my master- even the little fights between Ji and Aysa. I miss them all."

Only now did I realize how I actually missed my homeland. I missed home terribly. Stormwind was beautiful in it's own way, but it couldn't replace my homeland, which I loved with all my heart. What I found quite pleasant though, was that Teldrassil reminded a little bit of home, since it was covered in grass, nature everywhere. My eyes watered a bit at the thorns prickling at my heart, which made me immediately wipe it away.

"It's alright to be homesick." He said in a comforting manner.

I turned my face to look at him. "What about you ?"

"Hm ?"

"I noticed you were a bit nervous when we arrived."

"I've...I've never left my homeland, before." He said, almost embarrassed about that fact.

I stared at him wide-eyed, startled. His people had ships and bird mounts to travel to other continents, he could travel if he could- but then again, I have never left my homeland until now.

"Well, that makes two of us." I said.

He smiled at that.

"May...may I ask how old you are ?" My heart pounded in nervousness.

"Twenty five years old. Considered very young amongst my people."

"Right. Many of you are all very old. Three hundred years, or a thousand years old..."

"Yes. Some are even older than some stars. What about you ?"

I blushed, suddenly embarrassed. "I must be like a child to your people's eyes. I'm...merely nineteen."

"You are no child, Tuarwen. I think everyone realizes that, when one looks at you." He said, his eyes strangely serious and intense.

"Thank you."

"Let's get some sleep." He then said.

"Yes...good night." I said as I laid down.

"Good night, Tuarwen."

...

The next morning.

Someone was shaking my shoulder.

"Silvanus...?" I said sleepily, rubbing my eyes.

"Tuarwen, I think I know where he is."

I stood up immediately. "How ?"

"I can feel it. A trace of magic." He said, observing the mountains. "He might've been here all along, and we couldn't even see him."

"What do you mean ?"

"Watch."

He knelt, placing his hand on the ground. A red circle with symbols unknown to me, appeared under his hand, before a ball of red light shot away from it and towards the mountains. And then suddenly, the mountain started change, and a cave appeared.

"A magic cloak." Said Silvanus as he stood up.

I smiled. "Well done my friend."

We cautiously walked into the cave, calling out for the warlock. No answer. So we decided to venture further into the cave, searching for him. At the end of the tunnel was a small room, which reminded me of the one where Nerewin had imprisoned us. There were herbs attached to the wall, dried herbs, a bird leg, demon tongue, red hair, all sort of bottles with eyes inside, dead snakes, frogs...and across from the wall I'd been looking at, was the demon head we'd been searching for, placed in a wooden shelf.

"The-" But before I had the chance to say anything else, a voice interrupted me.

"Don't. Touch. It." Warned a voice from behind.

Something pointy touched my back. His staff, I assumed.

"Don't think funny thoughts, elf boy." Said the man as he saw Silvanus attempting to move.

I slowly raised my palms. "Sir, we mean no harm. Are you Ignatius ?" I asked.

"What if I am ?" He said suspiciously.

"The king told us we could find you here." I said.

A hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder, fiercely turning me around. The man was more wearied than old, the brown colour of his hair fading, turning into grey. He looked intently into my eyes, as though only noticing now that I was a pandaren.

"Why is a pandaren searching for me ?"

"My name is Tuarwen, and this is-"

"Ah, the so called savior." He said, raising an eyebrow at me from under his purple cloak.

"-Silvanus."

"I remember you." He said, looking at Silvanus. "The immune one."

Silvanus politely, but graciously bowed to him.

"What, are your people poisoned again ? If so, go find some other warlock to bother." He said, annoyed.

"We need for you to share a bit of your knowledge." He raised an eyebrow at me, waiting for me to continue. "The head." I said, looking towards the demon head. "I'd like to examine it."

"Why ?" He asked, suspicious of me.

"We are on a mission searching for the the culprit's procurer. I need to know how the demon was killed, when, and where. We need your help, sir."

I stared at him, determined. He sighed. "Fine." He walked to the shelf and held up the head for me.

I walked to him, observing the neck. "It looks as though the head was severed with much difficulty, using a-"

"-knife." Said Ignatius, finishing the sentamce for me. "Good observation. It was already dry when I found it, petrified, so I'm assuming it was killed a week before your people were poisoned." He said to Silvanus.

"Can you tell me from where the demon lived, before it was killed ?" I asked.

He turned the head, staring at it's dead eyes. "Somewhere dry and hot most likely. I'm not exactly specialized in demon habitat." He said scowling at me. "However..."

"However ?" I repeated in hope.

"There was most likely a bounty on this demon's head. A big one." He paused. "If you're really desperate to find your mastermind, you'll have to infiltrate Orgrimar and search the city, ask people about this bounty, and it's bounty hunter."

"What ?" Said Silvanus behind me.

"Is this the only way ?" I asked, my voice quiet.

"I'm 'fraid so." He answered nonchalantly.

He turned away, searching in his shelf, before handing me a paper with a drawing of the head on it.

"That's all I can help you with. Now get out before I throw you out myself !" He said grumpily.

I bowed. "Thank you for your help, master Ignatius. We shall be on our way."

Silvanus bowed too, before we turned on our heels and left the cave.

As we slowly walked in the forest, Silvanus put his hand on my shoulder gently. I turned to look at him.

"Please tell me what are thinking."

I looked at him, determined. "I have to go."

His expression changed completely as he understood what I meant. "You don't mean to-"

"I do. I am going to Orgrimar."

"It's too dangerous !" He insisted. "You are part of the alliance now, they will kill you as soon as you set foot into their territory."

I smiled. "Have a little faith, will you ? Because I am a pandaren, I can pretend to have chosen the horde instead of the alliance. Nobody will know."

He sighed. "Then I shall come with you."

I widened my eyes. "What ?"

"If I cannot change your mind, I shall then accompany you." He said, determined.

"You can't !" I said, slightly panicking at the idea.

He raised an eyebrow. "And why not ?"

"B-Because you're a night elf !" I said, stuttering from the anxiousness.

"Is that so ?" He then answered, smirking, something I'd never seen on his face before.

I looked at him confused, tilting my head in question. I then froze in shock, as realization hit me. How could I have not noticed ? How could I have not seen it, all this time ? I'd realized he looked different than his kin, but I'd never made the conmection, before. Unlike his male comrades, his face was smoother, and longer. His skin was pale, and yet still a different shade than his people. Somehow lighter...different, more like a human. They have white, luminescent eyes with a hint of blue, while his eyes have a yellow, golden glow. Why did I never notice the resemblance before ? How could not anyone ? Was it because of his white hair ? Or his height ? I stared at him in shock, marveling at the features of his face, only now realizing what they could be.

My body involuntarily tensed. "Are you..." I gulped. "Are you a blood elf ?"

To be continued...