I do not own nor possess any right over Harry Potter and World of Warcraft, all rights belongs to their rightful owners.
This chapter marks a big difference in the story, you'll soon see what I'm talking about.
To reply to InSaNEC, I may have been a bit forceful on Alexstrasza's hatred of the Forsaken. She is the queen of life, it is normal that she doesn't like undeath but you are right that it shouldn't make her that once sided against the Forsaken and I made a small correction on this. And about the nerf, around the portals, it might seemed like it doesn't make sense for now but I do have an explanation for it in the last chapters.
I also did a bit of rewrite on chapters 12, 13 and 23 based on a comment of Gulfbar, not anything big but it gave me a good idea for a later chapter. I already had plans to have Jaina coming in the story in a handful of chapters.
Thanks a lot for your reviews, I appreciate them a lot and keep making small adjustments thanks to your support.
I didn't do it in the last chapter so I'll say it here: thanks a lot to all of you for making it this far already. You've read the first ten chapters, it means a lot for me because in a way the true story starts now.
Please comment/review.
Thank you for your patience and good reading.
Today was a day filled with great meaning, a new step in my life that would be the starting point of my life in Azeroth. Of course, mother and my teachers had already been a great introduction and had been incredibly helpful, so much that I feared to never be able to repay them entirely. The countless hours of learning dragon's customs, what they ate, their relationships, the history of the world, its geography, learning all about Azeroth with the archives and the experiences of many, it was just so much that I had needed in order to be ready for this day.
Today I would start my quest to find my place in this world. That was my new goal, trying to find where I could fit in and perhaps improve opinions on the black dragonflight. I was determined to not live a life where I would need to hide or fight all the time, I would prove to Azeroth that I was worthy of not only being a black dragon guarding the earth but also a trustful person. It would be a challenge, just as the first reactions of the red dragonflight proved when I first arrived in the temple, but I wouldn't cover or bend for anyone. If they were incapable to change their mind and to welcome me as I was then I wouldn't bother to try earning either their respect or their friendship.
And as I woke up in the middle of my lava-bath, I felt a familiar feeling of purpose that I hadn't felt int the last few years. Stepping out with lava dripping all around me, I shook myself and went straight to the portal that led out of the Obsidian Sanctum. Even if it did have all the comfort necessary for a black dragon, it was far from enough for me to call it home, lacking proper beds to rest as a human, no rooms to store anything and the constant rain of ashes would make it infernal to even clean anything. Yet I did add a few things during my yearlong stay, such as one cave that I carved on the left side of the sanctum, allowing me to create a room for my human form that needed a bed badly and a shelf to store the books and various objects I got. I had to cast a spell at the entrance to block the ashes to come in but after that it became liveable.
Appearing on the other side, I saluted the guards briefly before taking flight toward the top of the tower where I knew mother was waiting. To be honest, I felt slightly nervous at the idea of leaving. Not because I would end up all alone but because this was not just a small step in an unknown place, it was a step in a brand-new world, one that was currently divided by war.
Beating my wings faster, I reached the large open room at the summit of the temple and landed on the small platform before switching to my human appearance. I quickly learned that it was far easier to assume it for meeting other dragons, simply because too many of us would take too much space to meet in a normal room.
"Amaria, you're up quite early. Are you so eager to leave us?" Jokingly asked Alexstrasza.
"Of course not mother, but I do want to go." I replied before sharing a quick laugh.
"I know, and we have been waiting for you. A small departure assembly if you prefer." She said pointing to Azuregos, Kandrostrasz, Tyrygosa and Chronormu standing behind her in their mortal forms.
"Indeed. You have proved to be a good student, child, and I believe you to be ready. Even if you in fact need no approval of anyone to feel ready." Stated Azuregos smiling.
"I'm sure I still have much more to learn, we could continue when I come back." I replied truly meaning it.
"You bet you do. You will do decently as a fire mage and those unique spells of yours may give you an advantage but do remember that you are far from being a master. Anyone talented enough will destroy you and I would be disappointed that my first student turned out to fail miserably against mortals." Continued Tyrygosa wryly.
If I didn't know her, I might have felt insulted. But I knew better, Tyrygosa said 'talented enough', and for her no mere mortal could be talented enough so it meant that unless I went to directly challenge an archmage, I would be fine.
"I won't forget Tyri, you've been a great teacher and a good friend." I said as I gave her a little hug that made her freeze.
"I-" She fumbled a bit before pushing me away.
"And not that I mind you being here Chronormu, but why are you here?" I asked looking at the little female gnome smiling wildly at me.
"I knew you'd say that! And I told you to call me Chromie." She said quickly with her very high-pitched voice. "I'm here because Nozdormu is too busy to come say goodbye, so I choose to come see you in his stead."
"Thanks, I really appreciate it. Be sure to tell him for me."
"Of course!"
I looked at all of them, all smiling except Tyri who tried to look bored, but again, I knew better. Turning to my adoptive mother, I could see the warmth leaking out of her eyes as she looked at me.
"My daughter, I hope your journey will be eventful but will pray for your safety. Of course, I also want you back quickly, but you can take as long as you need, be it a month or a decade, I will be waiting for you." She told me.
"Don't worry, I've been in deadly situations more than once. I know how to deal with this." I said more confident that before.
As soon as I said that she frowned, and I tried to figure what was wrong. She brought me closer in a strong hug, leaning slightly on my shoulder.
"You may have died once and come back with Voldemort, I don't want you to bet your luck on this happening again." She whispered.
"Sorry, I wasn't thinking about that. Honest." I said as I broke the hug.
"In any case, I want you to have this."
Taking a small pouch attached on her belt, she handed it to me. Grabbing it, I felt the little weight of a few objects inside and, curious, I put my hand inside. There were a few different things, the main part being coins that I could feel flowing through my fingers as well as a few mana biscuits, little treats to help replenish my magic and satiate my hunger partially.
"There's also a map of Azeroth, the most updated one I was able to find. You never know when you might need one, but a map always has its uses." Added my mother.
"Can't believe I'm missing the Marauder's Map." I snorted, thinking about how useful the piece of paper had been in my life at Hogwarts.
"Good! Now it's time to see if you can pull out a portal to Stormwind. Because if you can't I will force you to continue your training right now." Cut us Tyri, a hand on her hip.
Chuckling, I took a few steps away from mother and started to relax myself, evening my breath and focusing on my magic. Creating a portal wasn't hard in theory, it simply depended on the distance, and summoning a portal for Stormwind meant casting a portal from one continent to another. I started to feel the familiar tingle of magic channelling in my hands, telling me that the magic was there and only the intent and location of the portal remained to be.
Tyri showed me the ley lines of magic in the world, how they created stronger or weaker place of magic. And Stormwind wasn't too far from one of them, a medium line that led to the sea. Learning to identify them took time because each ley line had their own magical energy, meaning that it was possible to physically feel the magic beneath their feet. And while I wasn't a member of the Blue Dragonflight that excelled in magic, I was a member of the black dragonflight and thus linked to the earth. I couldn't feel the ley lines like the blue dragons but instead felt how the ground around them was affected by them in a way unique to every location in the world.
Focusing my magic on my hands, it intensified until it was enough to cast the spell. Opening my eyes, glowing with red energy, I extended my hands forward and watched proudly as the swirl of magic appeared with the sight of a grand white city with roofs of diverse colours and with tall walls and towers erected around it. It took quite a bit out of me, and I let my arms go down as I took a deep breath, straightening myself.
"Finally! Took you two minutes longer than needed. We clearly have some improvement to go over." Tyri said, breaking my illusion of success.
"Perhaps, but I believe it is enough." Alexstrasza replied.
"Too bad for you Tyri, you'll have to wait for me to come back." I said with a slightly smug smile, still letting my magic slowly replenish itself after summoning the portal.
"Hmpf." The elf turned around.
Looking at my mother, I watched her stand calmly.
"I think it's time for me to go." I told her.
"Indeed. Be careful on your journey, know that you're welcome to come back anytime." She assured me.
"I won't forget. Thank you all again for everything." I replied looking at all of them, even Tyri who had turned back toward me again.
"Farewell." Said Kandrostrasz.
"Have fun." Said Azuregos.
"Yes, do come back so we can perfect your training." Followed Tyri.
"See you next time!" Cheered Chromie with a wave of her hand.
"Goodbye!" I waved too.
Turning toward the portal, I took a couple of steps forward, glanced backward with a small smile and stepped in, confident in my new future.
An intense sense of disorientation submerged me as I stepped out, forcing me to fall on one knee with a hand on the ground to hold me and the other on my head.
"Ow, even apparition isn't that bad." I moaned in pain.
"First time using a long-range portal?" Asked a voice on my left.
Slowly looking up, I saw a woman dressed in a highly decorated purple dress staring at me. We were in the middle of a long room with shelves covered in books, tables with magical artefacts shining and sometimes moving on their own. Lastly, two massive blue-green portals stood, one behind me and the other at the other side of the room.
"At least the first time doing it with my portal. Northrend is far away after all." I replied as she gave me a hand to help me stand up, instantly accepting it.
"It will pass soon and the more you'll do it the better it will feel. Now I don't remember seeing you here before, would you mind telling me your name and specialisation?" She asked me as she floated a book and a quill to her hands.
Now I could lie and use a fake identity to blend in but it wasn't my goal. I came here to be me, not be someone else. I already had two decades of playing the Boy-Who-Lived, no need of a century of the Woman-Who-Is-Not-A-Human-But-A-Dragon. Standing up proudly, I looked straight in her eyes.
"I am Lady Amaria, member and Ambassador of the black dragonflight." I answered just like Tyri told me, simply not including the 'puny mortal' part.
That got a raised eyebrow from her and I almost frowned as I could see the clogs turning in her head, in a way I wasn't particularly fond of after seeing it so much during my first weeks in Azeroth. Yet she sighed and wrote down something before levitating the book back on the table.
"Sorry for the rude greeting, Lady Amaria. Is there anything I can do for you?" She asked.
"I'd like to visit the city." I replied.
The deadpanned expression she send me made me look at her in confusion. What was wrong with her?
"You want to visit Stormwind?" She repeated.
"Hum yes? Is there a reason I shouldn't?" I asked.
"Well, no. I just never expected to have a dragon asking to visit a city." She said.
Well I can see where she is going but it wasn't that weird. Right?
"Anyway. What do you want to know about Stormwind?" She asked me.
"Oh I already know its history, I'm just here for sightseeing and meet new people." I replied.
"Sightseeing? I'm afraid there are no guides that could show you the city. You may ask the guards for information but I don't think there's anyone who fits what you're looking for. Maybe you should go see King Anduin instead?" She suggested.
"Why should I?" I frowned, having no wish to get too close from the Alliance for now.
"You're an ambassador right? I believe it would be courteous to announce yourself to the King instead of go visit the city unannounced. And while he might be busy, King Anduin is probably the best man to orientate you toward a historian or a guide." Offered the mage.
She had me there. Not only did it make sense but she would probably report my presence to the King anyway. Sighing as I accepted my fate and my stupid idea to come to Stormwind instead of a tropical beach, I turned toward the mage who I still didn't know the name of.
"Alright, I will go see him. I'm sorry but I didn't ask for your name." I apologised.
"I'm Jennea Cannon. The King should be in the castle, preparing Undercity's siege. You will see the castle right in front of you when you leave, just cross the mage quarters, then the trade district and the old town and you'll be there." She told me.
"Thank you." I said before taking the stairs down toward the exit.
I was a bit giddy, I'll admit it, at the thought of finally being out of the temple and not with another dragon to accompany me. After a year spent to study Azeroth and its history locked in the Temple, going into the real world again was a blessing. I walked down the stairs slightly faster than usual but stopped when I arrived at the opened doorway with a spiralling ramp leading to the ground.
Stormwind, from the nice, high, viewpoint I had, was breath-taking. A massive city of white stones, roofs of red, yellow, purple, blue and brown, large streets filled with people talking, the vast majority being humans but there was also the indisputable fact that many other races were there, like night-elves, dwarves and gnomes, worgen which were the equivalent of werewolves without the drawback of loosing control, massive blue people with goat-like legs and long tail called draenei. All of them chatting friendlily and going through the capital almost without a care in the world.
Yet it was obviously not the case for all. Many, mainly the night-elves, were bearing faces of indescribable sadness or tenseness and ready to reach for their weapons. The war was still there after all, it was only me that forgot about it in the moment.
Taking the control of my body back, I walked down the ramp and started to pass through the many mages living and working into the mage quarters. While I wasn't a member of the Blue Dragonflight, the level of magic in the air was so high that I had no problem feeling all of it. So many magics and various users, it couldn't be compared to the wizard world back on Earth.
But sadly exploring the city would have to wait, meeting the king and introducing myself came first.
Following the flow, I left the purple buildings of the mage quarters for the blue ones of the trade district, where I could already smell so many different scents. Crossing the bridge over the water canal, I passed around the district for now, making it faster thanks to the smaller crowd passing there.
But even if I wasn't crossing the centre of the district I couldn't believe all that I could see. The creatures that some people mounted were outright otherworldly, which made sense since I was the one coming from another world. The weapons and armours wore by some of them were extremely diversified and I couldn't believe that I saw a dwarf walking around with a huge rifle almost half as big as himself.
And I got a bit surprised to see quite a few people looking at me with interest. I hadn't expected it and I saw that not all looked to be motivated by lust, meaning that mother's warning about me being quite the beauty were very correct.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Interrupted me a voice on my right, just as I passed by another bridge.
I turned and looked up at the tall man that I had apparently forced to stop as I passed. Just like many other people did. He did distinguished himself from the other people around though, with very clean and classy clothes and a far too large moustache that gave him an almost goofy stile, if it wasn't for the frown on his head.
Choosing to stand out of his way instead of replying, I let it go with a small frown of my own. I had forgot that even if this world was amazing from my perspective, it didn't meant that everyone was as amazing or well educated.
"Tsk. Peasant." He swore as I let his insult pass around me, ignoring him completely.
The smile I had earlier didn't returned, my mood soured by this arrogant man even if I was doing my best to stay calm. I dearly hoped that he wasn't a typical inhabitant or I knew I wouldn't stay more than a day here. I got back to my walk toward the castle, walking in the middle of the crowd for a few minutes until I entered the old town. The contrast with the trade district was huge, because this part of the town seemed to be exclusively about habitations, there was one or two taverns on the way but that was it for the shops.
A far lighter and calmer ambiance ruled this part of the town, which was welcome as the trade district was quite loud with all the people yelling to sell their products and the unending chatters of the crowd. It also made my walk easier with less people around me and I got my smile back when I saw a couple of children playing around without a care in the world, a blissful ignorance that I actually didn't missed. I never got that kind of childhood anyway.
Leaving the old town, I got closer to the castle and it's high dungeons, watching as the population got replaced by more soldiers patrolling and a few guards posted at many key intersections of the city. I reached the drawbridge that I had to stop, blocked by a small group of four guards.
"Halt! What is the motive of your presence?" Asked me one of them.
"I am Lady Amaria, Ambassador of the black dragonflight. I would like to have an audience with the King." I explained giving a small smile that mellowed a bit at least one other guard.
But the rest stiffened and I already knew why.
"Are you saying the truth? What are your intentions?" Asked me another guard warily.
"I am here only as an ambassador, nothing more. And do you want me to turn into a dragon right there as proof? Because I don't want to create any panic." I replied without any animosity.
"No, no. We will escort you to the King."
Two of them stepped aside and I was allowed to pass before the other two blocked the entrance again as my new guides brought me to the short stairs leading to the gates of the castle. The courtyard wasn't very large but it was definitely big enough to defend it with many men. A large statue of a man that I recognised as King Varian Wrynn, the former king of the Alliance, stood there sword in hands and pointed at the ground.
The castle was both a place of power and a beautiful exemple of architecture, with the pure white stones making its walls and the blue tiles covering the roofs. It didn't clashed with the surroundings but rather seemed to melt in the sea and the sky. Many soldiers were walking around, some posted on the walls and other training in the courtyard.
When we reached the gates another set of guards stepped aside and we continued on a long corridor that went up a bit. I got to see a few rooms on the side but we soon arrived at the throne room, where King Anduin Wrynn stood on his golden throne, discussing with an old man wearing a worn out brown coat.
"Announcing Lady Amaria, Ambassador of the black dragonflight." Said one of my guides, taking me a bit by surprise.
Everyone stopped talking and all heads turned toward me, with quite a few clearly showing distrust and even anger. And the King wasn't really an exception.
'Well this is going to be interesting.' I thought.