Aiden's mirror image phased through the tightly locked door. Outside, a large group of royal guards were anxiously trying to get in. The commotion inside the hall had long been noticed, but Anastarian, in order to prevent anyone from disturbing him, strictly forbade anyone from entering without permission and had locked the door from the inside.
Aiden looked at these loyal guards, feeling a bit of pity in his heart. Their stubborn king was likely to lead this kingdom into the abyss.
Then he saw Kael'thas rushing over, looking anxious. He had heard the guards report that there was fighting in the king's residence and immediately suspected that demons had secretly infiltrated the place.
Aiden turned into a mirror image entity and appeared in front of Kael'thas, saying amidst the latter's shock, "My discussion with your father broke down. If the elves ever encounter disaster, you can take people to the Valoran outpost. If it doesn't happen, just consider my words unnecessary!"
"This…" Kael'thas wanted to say something. He had a lot of questions he wanted to ask Aiden to verify.
"Felo'melorn needs to be reforged. I hope you can make it even more resilient—your real enemies won't be merciful. Farewell, Prince Kael'thas." After saying this, Aiden phased again. His spirit flew away at the same speed as when he came.
Kael'thas hurried to open the door of the hall. He saw his father sitting slumped in front of the steps, holding the hilt of the sword in one hand and the blade in the other, looking dazed.
The sword was none other than the Sunstrider dynasty's inherited divine sword—Felo'melorn.
"It needs to be reforged—is this Aiden's strength?" Kael'thas looked at his defeated father, and through his embarrassment, he saw Aiden's strength—but how was this possible? He clearly remembered that before joining the Council of Six, Aiden hadn't even reached the hero realm. And Anastarian, his father, was one of the most powerful people in the high elf kingdom!
After his soul returned, Aiden opened his eyes. He saw Kayle, Jaina, and Uther by his side. Even Ranger-General Sylvanas was watching this side intentionally or unintentionally.
"How did it go?" Jaina asked.
Aiden shook his head and said in a deep voice, "I'm sorry, I can't save them." He stood up and turned to Uther: "Let's go, the high elves can no longer be relied upon."
Uther sighed.
They began to break camp, preparing to evacuate. At this moment, Sylvanas suddenly caught up, blocking Aiden's path, her eyes filled with questioning: "What do you mean, 'can't save them'? Are you referring to us, Quel'Thalas?"
Aiden looked at this beautiful and proud ranger-general, his voice a little dry: "I hope it isn't. And I hope it doesn't need saving. Sylvanas, if that time really comes, I hope you can endure humiliation and bear the burden, with its survival in mind. That's all I can say, take care!"
"Wait, explain yourself!" Sylvanas was completely confused by Aiden's ambiguous words. What did he mean by enduring humiliation and bearing the burden, with survival in mind? What did he mean by hoping it didn't need saving? What exactly was he referring to? She was almost completely bewildered. Seeing Aiden preparing to leave, she couldn't help but want to ask him clearly.
Aiden saw his sleeve being pulled, turned around to face her, and said in a deep voice: "Sylvanas, I know you threw a gold coin into the wishing well in Dalaran. Everyone knows that the pool is shrouded in magical enchantment, and the gold coins cannot be retrieved or examined."
Sylvanas continued to stare at him, ignoring his irrelevant answer.
"I know what wishes you entrusted to it: I hope my sisters can grow up with me, together…"
"Don't say it!" Sylvanas immediately glared at him, and after realizing that she had nothing to threaten this human with, she pleaded with a hint of sadness, "Don't say it, Alright?"
Aiden chuckled. As expected of the proud 'Queen', she had to threaten first even when asking for a favor. He nodded in agreement and then said: "I know some things about the future. I have been committed to preventing those bad things from happening. Some have succeeded, and some have failed. Perhaps the future has already changed, and the elves will have a different destiny; perhaps not. Who knows? Take care of yourselves!"
…
After discovering the Scourge's flying fortress in Dragonblight, Rhonin and the others realized that they had to notify the Alliance as soon as possible to allow them to take precautions. However, the mission they were on was also very important. Obtaining the Essence of Life was crucial to the strategy for dealing with the plague, so after dawn, they immediately set off and, guided by Krasus, found the Ruby Dragonshrine.
The Red Dragonqueen Alexstrasza seemed very easy to talk to. After hearing their request, she handed them a bottle filled with the Essence of Life without much hesitation.
Krasus stood aside, looking at the Red Dragonqueen in her humanoid form, feeling very sorry—his lover's face was noticeably weak and pale. The Essence of Life came from the Red Dragonqueen's divine power, and each drop contained immense power. But she was still the most understanding of all the Dragon Aspects.
Alexstrasza's humanoid form was that of a high elf, but with a pair of horns inlaid with golden rings on her head, and her height was definitely beyond what a high elf could reach—she was almost ten feet tall (about three meters), while Vereesa, also a high elf female, was even shorter than the Red Dragonqueen's armpit.
She looked noble and beautiful, but not arrogant because she was a Dragon Aspect.
"Rhonin, Vereesa, I believe in you." Alexstrasza smiled. "I hope the Essence of Life can help you."
"We are extremely grateful for your generosity!" Vereesa was warm and humble.
"The era to come belongs to mortals. We will eventually finish our own path and become a part of the mortals." Alexstrasza sighed. She thought of the five Dragon Aspects who had received the Titans' blessing together that year:
The Earth Warder, the Obsidian Dragon Neltharion, had already betrayed them and become Deathwing, who was bent on overthrowing the world;
The Timeless One, the Bronze Dragon Aspect Nozdormu, was lost in the past and future, unable to extricate himself;
The Spellweaver, the Blue Dragon Aspect Malygos, had become obviously extreme and vengeful because his kin were harmed, forgetting his duty;
The Dreamer, the Green Dragon Aspect Ysera, stayed in the Emerald Dream all year round, almost isolated from the world and not contacting them;
And she, the Life-Binder, the Red Dragonqueen, was still wholeheartedly fulfilling her duty, but the tragic experience of more than a decade ago had left her physically and mentally exhausted.
The era to come was the era of mortals. They, the Dragon Aspects, would sooner or later lose their divine power, and the mortals themselves would control the fate of the world. If that moment really came, Alexstrasza would be very much looking forward to it.
Because the duty of the Life-Binder made her feel unbearable and she always wanted to unload this burden.
She was the most friendly to mortals among all the Dragon Aspects, and she was sincerely willing to help them. Otherwise, Krasus's words alone would not have been enough to make her selflessly expend a part of the divine power bestowed by the Titans to help humans.
Because of the urgency of the situation, after achieving their goal, the Alliance members immediately bid farewell to the Red Dragonqueen and rushed back to Valgarde in Howling Fjord, preparing to board the ship directly and report the encounter with the Scourge's flying fortress.
But when the Alliance troops returned to Valgarde, only the wreckage of damaged ships and the blood of the guards remained in the shipyard.