' = Internal dialogue

ยจ= Normal speech

* = Sounds / Etc

-Chapter 68-

When Jaina and I were finally done gathering the people being transferred back to Stormwind inside the portal building, we brought most of our current peacekeepers to enforce order, as many of the ones being sent back was in chains and obviously would have a one way trip to the stocades.

This seemed to be a good idea when multiple people had tried to start a conflict while moving toward the destination. Still, it was of little consequence as the ones trying to make a scene were now wearing a blue eye that swelled as the grown-ass men and women alike whimpered in regret.

When the time came for the rest of the citizens that came to our city for a fresh start to cross back over to Stormwind, however, it became a pandamonium when they realized they were being sent back; some begged and pleaded innocence as they were being hauled over to the other side.

Too bad for them, we had a no-nonsense policy when it came to people causing conflict intentionally, either because of the blatant discrimination of other races or acting on assumptions to non-sensical hatred stemming from old conflicts, it did not matter.

Finally, when the last human crossed over to the other side, Pathonia stepped out of the portal and approached us.

She held a black leather briefcase in her hand, reached out toward me with a smile, and said, "For all the mess that had come by due to the deceased Lady Prestor's manipulations, I had a brief meeting with the king. Even with all his denial in this regard, it was after all his orders that my people were sent here in the first place, and with some... persuasive means. I present you with the schematics and manuals for the new naval ship under the codename, Behemoth."

As I gazed at the older woman, she seemed to take my surprise as if I had instead asked: Is that all? So she hurriedly explained, "Because the kingdom in these last few years... has had a particular... conflict with the Stonemason guild, we have yet to build one of these ourselves, as all the gold went elsewhere. In all honesty, it's probably one of the things of actual value Stormwind has remaining after that damn wretch dried up the treasury and presented the people with increasing taxes each year."

It was quite the gift; if it was one thing we were currently lacking, it was naval defenses, if not for the fact we had hydras roaming the inner coast and would soon be let loose under the watchful eye of Nessie and Bluey.

I then took the briefcase and replied, "Thank you, these will be qui-" I was interrupted me as the door slammed open to reveal Valeera who rushed over and said hurriedly, "Pained woke up and is seemingly in a lot of pain, the healers doesn't know what to do!"

I rose to my feet and looked to Pathonia, who saw my gaze and waved her hand as she said, "I see. I'll take my leave; I will be visiting in the near future. I'm happy we could solve this without further conflict." She then waved as she walked through the portal while we exited the building and rushed toward the church.

As we neared the building, I could hear the agonizing cry of pain, hurrying into the building and directly into Pained's room; she was sitting up straight while holding her head as she screamed into the ceiling.

Or that was... until she noticed us. Her screaming came to a pause due to sheer will as she gazed directly into my eyes and forced out the words, "F-forced s-s-soul l-link! B-Belmont!"

Her voice then grew frantic as she tried to not stutter, "D-d-dr-dreadlord n-north ea-east o-of t-th-the mo-mountain p-path -"*COUGH*

After having a coughing fit and heaving for several seconds, and directly after she started to cry with blood coming out of her eyes and forced herself to continue, "C-crypt f-fiends a-and d-d-demons m-making p-pre-prepa- *COUGH* T-t-to a-as-assault th-the r-root of N-n-Nordrasil!"

Were the last comprehensible words she could mutter before she passed out again, but this time, it might be permanent compared to her previous unconsciousness, or that would probably be the case if I didn't freeze her from head to toe the moment she had started trying to claw her eyes out.

The room was dead silent as Jaina, I, and Valeera's thoughts churned with Pained's reveal. Clearly, we had been had; someone or something had been tempering with any information we had regarding the invasion by the Burning Legion.

For once, I broke my own self-made rule not to warp inside my own city and appeared at the tower in front of Lanira, who looked spooked but started smiling at my arrival, or that was the case until she saw my eyes as she realized something was up.

"What's going on?" She said while looking at me with increased worry. I sighed and then said, "Have you, by any chance, heard anything from Cenarius or the dryads about something going on up at Nordrassil?"

She shook her head before it clicked, and her face paled, "Do... you think?" I nodded and asked, "Can you bring us to the Emerald Dream like you did last time? We must see if things have become so bad without us knowing."

"Yes!" She said simply before grasping my hands and closing her eyes in pure concentration. As the smell of nature permeated the air around us, the walls turned blueish green, and the ground underneath us changed from reinforced marble into lush green grass.

Lanira was sweating profusely until I supplied her with my own mana, which made her unconsciously sigh in relief; the process was clearly draining as she finished it at least 5 times faster than the last time.

Compared to the last time we visited the Emerald Dream, it was now deathly silent; wild animals were quietly hiding in the trees or under roots in their safe homes. Clearly, something was amiss.

And it became clear as the whisp that first met us the last time we arrived was shifting in and out of existence as if seemingly disconnecting then reconnecting to something. Suddenly, it turned to us and opened its mouth. With an unholy wail, both Lanira and I found ourselves back inside the tower as she collapsed to the ground.

"Lanira!" I shouted as I lifted her head off the wooden floor while trying to see what was wrong. Her magic was chaotic and wild as a layer of grass grew from the floor. Moss started to appear on the ceiling while she lay unconscious in my arms. Still, after studying her for a moment, I shifted over to sense her magic, and that's when I saw the tendril linked between the two of us grow tense like a bowstring.

Instinctively feeling that I should touch it if I wanted to find out more, that is what I did, and the moment I did so, I felt myself be thrown into what looked like a dark-moss-filled grotto surrounded by the clear night sky void of any stars. The only thing to witness below was a humongous, blinding moon.

As I looked around, I could hear a whimper in the distance. The sound came from behind a wood stump that seemed to have been sawed off. As I started making my way toward it, I saw the source of the whimper. It was a tiny fawn with the same colorization and horns as Lanira. It was being assaulted by what looked like a humanoid figure, which I soon recognized as a satyr.

Still, this one had long horns resembling a mountain goat that went maybe a full meter up and behind his head. The satyr seemingly tried to corrupt the little fawn as a red glow came from his hand.

When I arrived, the being turned to me like a hunter would when it found prey and smirked, with red glowing eyes and appendage-like shoulder pads with crimson scars highlighted unnaturally on his chest.

The Nightmare Lord had somehow appeared.

"Ahh, welcome, dear guest of honor. I'm glad the gamble turned out to be the correct one to take... I was beginning to think that the connection between you two was wholly one-sided.

Oh, forgive me. I have yet to introduce myself. My name is Xavius, and I have several titles, but they are unimportant to those who will soon be nutrients for the nightmare. Unfortunately, the two of you have fallen into my dear lit-"

That was when I warped in front of him and punched as I let my magic loose into the area around us. The earth shook, and the wind turned chaotic while the form of Xavius rag-dolled into the distance.

It was then I realized that my magic was slowly diminishing in quality and quantity as each second passed. I felt my connection to my attunements dim while not disappearing entirely.

At this moment, I knew I was being stunted by something I could not explain; my thoughts drifted for a moment before I turned my head down at what was sitting on the ground and staring up at me.

I looked down at the fawn, who looked back at me with adoration and fear in its doe-like eyes.

My face softened, as did my magic, as the fawn curled into itself, trying to make itself as small as possible into my arm. There was a hint of recognition now, but that was replaced by horror as the being here moments ago returned with a manic cackle.

"Aha! So you are the kind of mage that attacks first and asks questions... never? And I must admit that hurt quite a bit... and maybe, just maybe, you should consider the situation at hand?" Xavius said as he pointed toward the sky above.

My eyes widened as I saw the radiant blue moon that had gained a tint of red as rays of crimson started to appear throughout the current place we found ourselves in.

"Thanks to you, we may speed up this process quite a bit! Flee little prey, run and hide, or the big bad predator will devour you both!" were the words that escaped Xavius as he shouted into the air as humongous roots covered with red thorns shook the entire area as they shot out of the ground to then slam into everything around them, tearing trees from the root and stem as it became utter pandemonium around us.

The little fawn curled further into my arms as I repositioned when a root tore through the ground underneath us.

I jumped back from the black-red root appendages that whipped in our direction. The fawn remained silent as it quivered, and Xavius's cackle resonated through the forest-like landscape.

The eruption of root-like appendages stopped as Xavius appeared in front of me, grinning as he seemed to reach for the fawn in my arms, which had its eyes open in horror.

Without missing a beat, I warped backward as Xavius seemed to grasp at something I could not see, which was clearly the proper reaction considering the angry look on his face.

"Ahh, but now you are just making this creature's inevitable fall into an annoying affair. Give the creature to me, and I promise I'll make it quick." The Nightmare Lord said with his previous annoyed face turning back into a toothy, sadistic grin.

"Oh, also... An interesting thought occurred to me. How long do you think it will take your body to perish without your spirit residing within? We shall just have to see, shall we?" Xavius cackled gleefully.

'This fucker is starting to piss me off...' I thought and was interrupted by the little fawn in my arms that bleated softly as it looked into the distance. Then, it momentarily held eye contact with me and seemingly nodded slightly in the previous direction.

'Is she... trying to lead me somewhere?' I pondered as I felt movement from the side as a crimson claw appeared in my vision, heading directly for the fawn.

I stomped my foot into the ground as a sharp stalactite penetrated the arm from underneath. Without hesitation, I warped toward the direction of where the fawn gestured to earlier when I realized that the claw had seemingly disappeared into nowhere.

The laughter of Xavius assaulted us from all directions as the fawn, and I made our way toward a place in the distance. I looked up at the moon, realizing it was almost half covered in red. The previous blue lustrous shine was slowly converted from the shining whiteish-blue into a nightmarish red.

'What the fuck is going on?' I thought as the fawn bleated softly as we again avoided being impaled through gigantic thorns that appeared under us because, as it turns out, in this place... I could not fly, and my warp was limited to a certain degree as I felt more and more drained each time I used it.

Even when I tried to activate the new function of warp, the wormhole function, it was as if my own powers were ignoring me, as I got no response when attempting to cast it while running.

I felt a pair of eyes on my back while we ran through a meadow and over a small pond of water.

At that moment, I saw the form of a black shade hover directly above us with a sadistic grin as its claw raced directly toward my head.

And in the last moment, I leaned to the side and only felt the air shift as the claw became visible outside of the reflection in the water; I stomped my left leg into the pond as water exploded upwards and covered the figure before I clenched my hand as I was still continuously running.

I turned back to see the result: a figure trapped inside a small coffin of ice; only the figure's outline was visible as the wail of a banshee cried out before the ice shattered. The one trapped within quickly became shrouded inside a black fog before disappearing into nothingness.

"Ahh, too bad. I had hoped my shades would be able to deal with you both. Oh well, it seems I must deal with you with my own hands..." Whispered the surrounding area directly to me; it was an odd feeling having the entire area speak as if it were one entity.

'So... my magic and physical strength are being severely weakened in this... place, and from my understanding, it is most likely Xavius's doing... what to do..." I thought to myself as I kept calm where most people would panic. And then I felt the fawn nudge my chest as its eyes stared up at me innocently.

I looked down at the fawn in my arms; by this time, I had long since realized the fawn was Lanira, as the thin tendril that connected both Lanira and me was active between me and the fawn. Still, when I focused on our connection, it was split in two.

The other tendril pointed toward the direction the fawn had pointed to earlier. Finally, in the distance, a large building appeared, covered in dark blue moss, and a worn-down stone door slowly closed itself shut.

As I was going to warp one last time toward the entrance, I felt something enter my back and directly through one of my lungs as I coughed out blood. Still, I did not stop and then warped through the narrow door gap before it shut itself behind us.

As I looked down, I saw a beautiful gold-coated dagger that seemed somewhat alive as a black substance pumped itself through the blade intricately placed at its tip, which dripped to the ground and sizzled into nothingness.

The dagger of gold soon vanished into nothingness as Xavius's voice sounded out yet again, but this time in astonishment and apparent disbelief.

"...How?! How are you... still not turning? That shouldn't be... possible... Oh well, I'll see what makes you tick soon enough..."

Luckily for both me and the fawn, the fact I had moved the fawn to the other side of where the golden dagger had burrowed itself into my back and through my lung just as I felt it happen.

As I tried to fill the wound with ice to heal myself, I barely felt a response as it only covered the wound from both sides, leaving me with one functional lung while wheezing slightly in pain. Clearly, something was amiss as even my natural healing refused to kick in.

The fawn bleated worriedly while looking at the wound but soon jumped out of my hands and, almost like it had turned into a trance-like state, started walking down old, worn-out stairs that creaked with every step.

All this happened in moments as I was trying to cover up the bleeding. While I was watching the fawn walk, I heard the mad cackle of Xavius, whose voice was filled to the brim with sadistic glee, "Now, now, where do you think the two of you are going? If you think this shabby door will stop me for long, you are very wrong, dear prey."

Then, the assault of hundreds of tendrils outside the door started slamming onto it continuously as the stairs shook and trembled. At the same time, I followed the fawn down the narrow and worn-out stairway into the darkness below.

When I finally arrived at the bottom of the stairs, it revealed an unnaturally wide room with its own ecosystem. Small bugs crawled on branches covering the moss-filled walls, and many critters hid in their small hiding spots and gazed at us while I followed behind the fawn-like Lanira.

Suddenly, an area lit up as a moonwell-like structure came into view. The structure seemed to grow taller by the moment as the fawn kept its steady pace towards it. Then, torches on the wall lit up with a purple glow. The flames on them became animated as we neared it.

When I gazed at one closely, I could see Lanira's point of view during one of our dinners. This was one of the happy ones, as I could practically feel the emotion from whatever the flame was portraying.

It was all ruined, however, when I heard Xavius's voice coming from the top of the stairway as he hummed ominously while slowly making his way down the stairs.

Deciding to rush toward the Moonwell, I grabbed the fawn. I dashed toward it as I climbed the stairs toward the top of the structure, and just as I reached the top, I heard Xavius's voice fill the room as he sounded... surprised? "What the this wasn't supposed to be here!"

The fawn bleated and regained my attention when it tried to wriggle itself loose, and that was when I looked down into the blue, lustrous water of the moonwell. At the bottom lay Lanira's body, almost like it was in a deep sleep.

"NO!" The angry voice of Xavius bombarded me as I let go of the fawn as it fell into the moonwell, "This wasn't what was supposed to happen!" The Nightmare Lord continued.

But then he was interrupted as the water swelled and exploded outward, only to reveal the ethereal form of Lanira hovering above in what seemed to be a new form that left her looking like a night elf while still keeping her dryad features.

Her eyes opened wide as she gasped for breath for only a moment, then something I never expected to see Lanira display. It was pure, unadulterated anger. The hate was so palpable it felt alive as the room shook as purple tendrils made of pure magic appeared from the floor and bound the Nightmare Lord by the legs.

"YOU!... HURT!... FATHER!" Lanira spoke as each word seemed to press the previously gleeful Nightmare Lord into the floor with increasingly crushing intensity.

"AAAAAAARGH!" Xavius shouted in pain and anger at the situation before his legs got crushed into a paste. He fell forward and was pressed to the ground by an unseen force.

"I WILL HAVE MY VENGEANCE! MARK MY WORDS!" Xavius shouted as he flickered out of existence. As the situation seemed to calm, I saw Lanira fall forward and rushed over to catch her.

As I held her in my arms, I saw her face slowly gain a smile as her eyes closed.

Then, all of a sudden, space shifted. We were back inside the tower surrounded by Jaina, Valeera, Aegwynn, Calia, Rhonin, Tina, and Someone I did not expect to see in this situation, Gelbin Mekkatorque, fully decked out in advanced-looking armor.

"...What is going on?" I asked out loud, making most of the people here sigh in relief before they gazed back at Lanira, who lay slumped in my arms with a smile on her face while in a deep sleep.

"You have been out cold while holding on to Lanira for the last two days, and when I tried to pull you away from her, a barrier held you both in place..." Jaina said as she walked forward, leaned down, and hugged me tightly.

"We were so worried that something had happened to you both. You even had a hole in your chest that refused to close no matter how much healing Calia threw your way..." She uttered before she was interrupted by Aegwynn.

"And when the gnomes heard that you were having a situation on your hands... The High Tinkerer offered to lend his assistance and even insisted that he owed you that much after hearing of recent events all across the region."

Then she continued, "The Undead has made burrows all across the region, and a horde of warlocks are trying to bypass whatever the night elves did to slow down the invasion.

Satyrs, demons, and the like have been assaulting the outposts in Ashenvale currently, and we have sent forces to help. However, the main issue lies with the information Pained had given you several days ago."

Aegwynn then sighed before she continued, "We have reasons to believe that the assault on Mount Hyjal has already begun, and from the little information we have been able to gain out of all of this, is the fact that Thrall and his forces, plus the night elves are currently holding them off.

Or at least that is what I would assume after getting reports of a continued assault at the base of Mount Hyjal.

The Burning Legion has set up a highly advanced barrier infused with fel around the entire mountain. How Belmont and Pained overcame that barrier is somewhat of a mystery... unless it has been put up recently..." Aegwynn explained thoughtfully.

Then Rhonin interjected while Aegwynn mused out loud, "Us of the Kirin Tor arrived earlier today, and we have already prepared the little we have to help since we owe you and yours a great deal after receiving resources from Miss Proudmoore. We have decided to join the conflict against our common enemy. Even with the recent losses among the mages of the Kirin Tor, we are prepared to do what it takes to assist. We must stay together against the Burning Legion." The red-bearded Arch Mage explained with a serious expression.

"To my surprise, when my people and I had just dealt with the previously attempted uprising among Sicco's forces, and the time came for some of my citizens to seek new opportunities here in your city, I found you in this state after being brought here by one named Tygor.

This is honestly the first time I have arrived at someone's capital and not been met by condescending looks because of my height. I came to the decision to ally ourselves with you and yours officially, though not for that exact reason, but rather because of how valuable it would be to have you as a friend," Gelbin stated matter of factly as one would as the High Tinkerer of Gnomeregan.

"You have my assistance when dealing with whatever ails you," Gelbin explained as he put up his goggles and smiled.

After a momentary recount of the events that both Lanira and I seemed to have missed out on these last two days, I carried her toward her in my arms while being followed silently by Tina and Valeera into one of the guest rooms on the second floor. After ensuring she was comfortable, I made my way down to the first floor to see Tygor enter through the entrance with a stern look.

"Lord Medan, there is a night elf with a blindfold at the gates seeking your audience. The blindfolded elf pressed the matter that it was urgent and handed me this letter. Also, it's good to see you awake. You had me worried there for a moment." Tygor explained, then added jokingly at the end while keeping his stern visage.

The letter had the signature of High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind. It implied that whoever had this letter acted upon her authority.

'An elf with a blindfold? If it's him... why is he here?' I thought as I followed Tygor out the door with the group from before. Valeera stayed behind after explaining she would watch over Lanira along with Tina.

As we walked through the streets, I noticed an odd sense of unease as gazes followed us while making our way toward the gate to the east; people who had just come from another conflict just to be met by the current situation were clearly wary.

"The city is currently on lockdown. We had a few disguised demons attempting to infiltrate the entry yesterday. After that, we have been denying open access in and out of the city, Lord Magna." Tygor explained when he saw my gaze and decreasing mood.

'Makes sense... but that does not make me feel better about the situation...' I thought as I nodded at Tygor's explanation.

When we finally reached the gates and ordered the infamous Bob to open the gateway door and one of the mages to put down the barrier, the gate door slowly opened up to reveal a tall elf with dark blue hair and two manacing glaives on his back who seemingly looked directly at me and was going to speak but was stunned into silence as his gaze underneath the blindfold looked directly at Rhonin.

Rhonin also was stunned when he saw the elf as Illidan whispered, ".. How are you still alive? Your race's lifespan isn't supposed to be able to live this long...unless..."

"How...? I only heard you defected after trying to recreate the Well of Eternity... Illidan why are you here?!" Rhonin shouted furiously, but his voice contained more disappointment than anger, which Illidan had picked up on as he tilted his head forward slightly while receiving the reprimand of the red-bearded wizard.

"It was not me defecting, and it was the conflict of perspective with my... brother, the only reason I am here... because of Tyrande, nothing more, nothing less," Illidan said calmly as he raised his head slowly and then returned his gaze to me, and that is when I saw the dim green outline underneath his blindfold focus on me.

Rhonin was stunned as he backed off, clearly not expecting the response.

"Tyrande told me that you... might have a solution to get through the barrier the demons have erected around Mount Hyjal, which is why I am here.

The assault on the world tree has begun, and she is within its barrier. I would like your assistance in bringing it down, as I have pinpointed the location where it is the weakest. I ask of you, will you assist me with this quest?" Illidan asked in a neutral tone.

"Then our plans align. Come in, and we will start planning our next step," I told Illidan with a nod as the elves following him sighed with relief. While Illidan did not express gratitude or thanks, he simply nodded and stepped behind me as we approached the tower.

-Chapter 68 End-