Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen

Alexstrasza was right.Sure enough, when she and Thrall were miles away from Wyrmrest Temple, they saw blue and green dragons in the air and on the ground.Of course, they also found her trail.Several dragons flew to her side, almost circling her in circles. "Life-Binder!" Narigos yelled joyfully. "Our hearts are as dark as this moment, but your presence has brought us light. Thrall - thank you for what you have done." "Naregos, my friend," Alexstrasza said gently. "I saw my sister Ysera, the new dragon king Kalecgos, and their species. My red dragons will come as soon as they know I'm here."

"Then I will seek them out at once, Life-Binders," said one of the green dragons.Thrall wondered how the green dragons knew where the red dragons were.Maybe Ysera knew, she had told them.There is still too much knowledge of dragons that he does not yet know. "So, do we have any news from Nozdormu?" Alexstrasza asked. Above and below her, Narigos and the other dragons stepped back, escorting and defending her as she flew toward the gathering place. "Not yet," Narigos said, and cast a quick glance at Thrall. "We don't have any news from him. What about you?"

"He didn't contact me," Sal replied. "I can only assume he's still investigating." "Knowledge is power," agreed one of the larger green dragons, "but if he learns something useful, and Cromatus has killed us all, it means nothing." "Quiet, Losos," Alexstrasza said firmly. "The absence of the Eternal Dragon is not the orc's fault. We... all do our part." Her voice was sweet but sad as she uttered the final phrase, and Thrall knew she was thinking of Kryos Traz.He did his duty, but paid a heavy price. Losos looked at Thrall with regret in his eyes. "Sorry, my friend, but you see what we are doing right. I want Nozdormu and his bronze dragon to be there when we try again."

"You did not offend me, and I agree," Thrall said earnestly. They almost reached their destination. "Please—go forth and gather everyone," Alexstrasza asked Losos. "I have... some information that must be communicated to them." "Information about Cromatus?" Losos asked hopefully. Alexstrasza shook her head. "No. But I hope it will give them courage and new hope, and it will really arm us." Moments later they landed.Melodious dragon cheers filled the icy sky.Thrall slid off Alexstrasza's back and sank into the deep snow, smiling. "Sal!"

He turned to see Kalecgos smiling down at him.The dragon guardian stretched out a fleshy claw and held Thrall very gently.Thrall didn't feel worried, what he had was the joy of reuniting his old friends. "I can't underestimate you anymore," Kalek said, bringing the orc to his face. "You did what you said. You brought back the Life-Binder for us—in every way," he watched as Alexstrasza rubbed maternally at the green dragons and blue dragons hurrying toward her. Dragons, added. "I don't know what kind of magic you're using, but I'm very grateful."

"Just the magic of the heart," Thrall said. "What I've learned has been shared with her and she'll tell you. We'll all know." Ysera heard Thrall's voice and craned her neck towards them.Her slender neck moved and her head bowed in respect. "You're a part of my dreams, and you're part of the best parts," she told him. "You did so much to help us. I mourn Descharin's death, but I'm glad you escaped." "Know that if I can save him, I will do my part." She nodded. "The twilight hour awaits us," she said.She looked up and looked around, her iridescent eyes sparkling with joy. "I see blue dragons and green dragons together. Yes, sons of Durotan. Yes. But, ah, our red dragon brothers and sisters have come to join us!"

Thrall turned to follow her gaze, and it was not long before the approaching behemoths could be seen and heard.There must have been dozens of them, heading straight for the gathering place.Thrall watched in wonder, then looked around.The three Aspects and their legions have assembled here.He recalled the battle with the Twilight Dragon, and found hope burning in his chest.There must be three times as many dragons gathered here now as there were in the last battle, and there are living oath-binders to lead them... Alexstrasza leaped into the air.The red dragons gathered around her, dancing and leaping, approaching gently so as to touch her respectfully, and then backing away respectfully.Her joy was something he hadn't seen before, the joy of finally being reunited with his own kind after so much pain and bitterness.The beautiful reunion ended with a few air dances before Alexstrasza landed softly on a raised pinnacle, positioning herself so that everyone could see her.They all fell silent, waiting eagerly for the Dragon Queen's words.She looked at them all, moving her head slowly so her eyes scanned the dragons.

"Brothers and sisters," she said, "we are on the brink of a dangerous war, and the strength of our enemies is formidable. But before we begin our plans, you need to know something. I hope, This matter can give you more reasons to fight for yourself, for your race, and for those unhatched dragonlings." They answered with silence.Some dragons moved uneasily.It was as if they suddenly remembered that it was Alexstrasza's consort who destroyed so many dragon eggs. Kalecgos lifted Thrall slowly to his shoulders.The orc jumped up with ease and landed safely on the shoulders of the blue dragon king, while Kalek got up and flew to Alexstrasza's side.He spoke wordlessly in solidarity, and she began to tell the other dragons the visions Thrall had shared with her.Ysera glides to Alexstrasza's left, supporting her sister.

Some dragons, perhaps those who knew Kryostrasz best, seemed more willing to trust Alexstrasza, their scaly faces and shining eyes expressing deep compassion.The other dragons, though they hadn't protested openly—Thrr figured they were overjoyed at the Life-binder's return and had no intention of questioning her story—seemed half-believing, or outright skeptical. Thrall was relieved but not surprised to see Kalecgos among the dragons who immediately believed her.However, he could relate to the blue dragon's feelings when he heard Alexstrasza describe what had happened to Kylygosa.Many blue dragons grunted angrily, but Kalek just looked away, pain all over his face.When Alexstrasza finished speaking, it was Kalek who broke the silence.

"It seems pretty clear now," he said. "We know of the existence of a chromatic dragon. And although I've heard that Kirygosa was... tortured in such a way that it breaks my heart and soul, I'm very happy for the fact that she's still alive. When the temple was destroyed, we had nothing We know. In our minds, we have no reason to explain what Cleostrasz did. But now we do. We understand." "If everything is as she says," said an elder blue dragon.Thrall knew him as Terralygos, who had loyally supported Arygos. "All we have is a so-called illusion. There is no evidence of what happened."

"She is Alexstrasza," Narigos said. "She's a dragonlord...a Life-Binder!" "It couldn't have been easier for her to just have a vision—no, wait, an orc at just the right time telling her a vision that would exonerate her mate," the blue dragon elder continued. "How would you explain it, if a vision told me that Alexstrasza had made it up? Or that she was crazy? Maybe the vanished Kylygosa, who—" "The life-binder who can verify everything said," came a thin and weak voice.Another blue dragon flew down, and there was a human girl on his back. Thrall recognized her immediately: it was Kylygosa, from his vision. "Kree!" Kalek yelled.At this moment, Kirygosa was jerking off the dragon's back, Thrall slid quickly from the blue dragon's shoulder, and Kalec changed into his half-elven form.He ran to her, put his arms around her and hugged her tightly.She smiled weakly at him and the rest of the dragons who were coming, she looked thin and worn out, but it was clear that she was very happy to be reunited with her dragons. "Are you okay?" Kalek asked, his voice full of concern. "After all they...have done to you?" "Now that I'm free, I'll be fine," Kirygosa said, leaning against Kalek. "As I said... what Thrall sees in his visions about me is true. I believe the visions about Kryostrasz are also true." She looked up and smiled benevolently at her. the great red dragon. "Queen, I mourn your loss." "Thank you, Kylygosa," Alexstrasza said.There was pain in her voice, but there was no despair.Never again. "I also mourn your loss." Kalek's worried wrinkles deepened. "Do you know about Alygos?" he asked Kerry in a low voice. Kylygosa nodded. "I know. He was betrayed by Father Twilight and killed by a human assassin named Blackmoore. I know this Blackmoore was also sent to kill you, Thrall," she said, turning to the only orc present. "I'm glad to see he didn't succeed. Both Father Twilight and Deathwing fear you. I'm glad you're on our side." "Come on, sit down and rest," Kalecgos suggested. "Eat something and tell us what you know." "Chain..." Keli stretched out her clumsy fingers and pulled out a slender silver chain that hung around her neck. It looked very simple.Kalek knew immediately what it was. "I tried my best to break free from it—" "I know," Kalek said softly. "Dakhan used this collar on me once. I know your fear and frustration, my sister. A man I cared about set me free...and now I will set you free." He held the necklace lightly between his thumb and forefinger.The blue dragon king snapped the chain with a single tug, as if it were no more than an unremarkable jewel.Kylygosa cried happily.The others stepped back, smiling, giving her enough room to return to her true dragon form.Thrall laughed as he watched her fly into the air, frail but lively, free again. Kylygosa was taken care of.Thrall helped to heal her wounds, while Kalecgos made magic meat and drinks for her.Alexstrasza and Ysera stood beside her in human form, making her as comfortable as possible.Thrall was surprised by Ysera's preferred posture.She appeared to him for the first time in night elf form.She still retains the kaldorei's deep purple skin and long ears, but the sharp dragon horns that adorn her green hair reveal her true face like a crown.Several other dragons, some in human form and some in dragon form, approached Kylygosa to hear her tale of brutality. "I'm going to tell you all I know, and I hope what I say will help you," she told them. "There's so much going on...that doesn't give me hope, to be honest." "You narrowly escaped death, which would have been next to impossible," Kalecgos said. "I, for one, feel that fact gives me great hope." She tried to force a smile, but something deep inside worried her. "Thanks for saying that, but...well, you'll see what I mean." "Start from scratch," Alexstrasza said. "How did you get caught?" "I lost Garrygos...my mate...then Arygos tricked me into joining him. He handed me over to the human—a human for all I know—who was called Father Twilight's men. Father Twilight allied with Arygos and the Twilight Dragons—and Deathwing." The three dragon kings exchanged glances. "First attack," Alexstrasza said. "The man who mocked us—he called himself Father Twilight." "Go on, honey," Ysera said softly. "They locked me up and kept me in dragon form until I was able to safely give birth to a dragon egg, and then they put the chain on me." Keri recalled a slight twitch in the face. "You're easier to control in human form," Kalek said. "I understand." She nodded. "They started experimenting—on me, on my child..." Her voice broke off abruptly.Alexstrasza put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.Kelly smiled at her and continued. "That, the Life-Binder, is what Kryostrasz came across. They experimented on my children and increased the chances of making a healthy chromatic dragon. Seems, because I'm Malygo My children are also stronger than the descendants of Thys. Kryostrasz wiped out the entire potential army and dealt them a heavy blow. Arygos' failure to become the Aspect is another for them. A blow to the head. Arygos once promised to deliver all the blue dragonflight to Father Twilight's hands." "We'll never know if Arygos was even normal when he made this deal," Kalec said sternly. "However, in memory of him, I hope he was crazy at that time." Kylygosa nodded, clearly trying to calm herself down. "Obviously he's thrown himself into the cult, but beyond that, I can't tell." "What he did to you—" "He's done it, and it's over," she said.Thrall found that even after all she had endured, she was still trying to reassure Kalecgos.Her bravery is indescribable. "So their plans have been hit twice. But they still have Chromatus." Her voice broke, and she struggled to regain her composure. "I don't know where they found him. The cultists knew they needed a lot of arcane energy reserves to bring him to life, and they took him all the way to Northrend. For that, they also needed Mali A needle of turbulence created by the blood of Goth's descendants." "So—sorry," Thrall said, "but...why didn't they use your blood for this sooner? " "I believe they wanted to wait for Alygos to bring the blue dragons," she said. "Think about what this would look like: the enemies would first see Chromatus back to full strength, and an entire army of dragons. I don't think Father Twilight intended to kill Arygos. But After my brother failed, Father Twilight made sure to make the most of it. He made me as well. They wanted to—let me mate with that thing. But I escaped." Sal was terrified.The two queens also looked very uncomfortable. As for Kalek, Thrall knew that if Father Twilight suddenly appeared here now, the Blue Dragon King would very likely happily chop him up.Thrall himself would join in. "It's possible to work," Keri continued. "I could have spawned an entire army of dragons made of abominations. Chromatus was Nefarian's final experiment—and Nefarian himself, I'm told, was alive. Not quite alive. He got Resuscitated, but he is not alive like Chromatus." "So Nefarian became an undead thug." As Kilygosa spoke, the other dragons leaned closer to listen, and now the massive body of a huge red dragon stood protectively between Alexstrasza and Beside Kirygosa—two wounded hearts, two restless souls, but both are so strong.Red Dragon continued: "Is he here too?" Kelly shook her head. "No. I think Deathwing has other plans for him. Chromatus is enough. Kalec—you surprised me last time. He's only just born. But still..." Her voice was getting weaker. Small. "Nevertheless, my entire Legion was defeated," Kalek finished for her. "You don't have to fight alone anymore, Kalecgos," Alexstrasza reassured him. "Three legions stand together. Maybe he can defeat one legion, but three? We've fought hand in hand for so long, and despite his incredible strength, I don't think a single dragon can stand against us all!" Kirygosa seemed agitated at her words, and she took Alexstrasza's hand. "Life-Binder," she said, "he—he was made for you...." She looked at Kalec and Ysera, too. "All of you. He's not just an extraordinarily powerful chromatic dragon. He's born with one purpose: to destroy the Aspects!" Thrall opened his mouth in subconscious denial, then closed it again.He had seen Cromatus.He saw what the monster was capable of.Restored to full strength, he who has every dragon ability—— "So it's true," Ysera mourned. "My vision is real." Alexstrasza reached out to Ysera with his other hand. "Go ahead, sister," she begged. "I had hoped... I was wrong..." Ysera closed her eyes, speaking in a voice like a song and a dream.She's not chanting a spell, not really a spell, but the scene she's describing is itself as enchanting as magic.Thrall could almost see in his own mind what she was telling: all things perish except the twilight dragons.Plants, beasts, life, anything that can breathe will no longer exist, only the Twilight family will remain.And all the guardian dragons are also dead. Not even the darkest, cruelest one, the one who helped bring the monster that brought it all on. Deathwing. Thrall shivered, and his body was covered with cold sweat.Panic took his breath away.The other dragons around him also raised their voices, some out of fear, some out of anger, and some out of acceptance of this cruel reality, but one voice was exceptionally clear. "This is not our end!" It was the voice of the Life-Binder.There she stood, still in human form, holding the hands of her sister and the traumatized Kylygosa.There was a determined and passionate light on her face. "We have seen how we disrupted Deathwing's great plan. The failure of Arygos. The escape of Kree. The totality of the blue dragons before Chromatus returned to full strength. No, it is not yet decided. Yi Sera's visions have meaning, that's right. But dreams are always up to our interpretation. Sister—maybe this is a warning to us, what will happen if we don't fight?" Ysera's horned head tilted sideways. "It's possible," she said. "Only Nozdormu knows the true future. I share only what I see in my dreams." "Then let us be firm in our resolve," Alexstrasza said. "We will fight to the end with the best of our wits. Every blue dragon, every green dragon, every red dragon - know this, you are not just fighting for your lives, you are fighting for all life. Everything. We will challenge this so-called Dragon King killer, and we will tell Father Twilight and Deathwing himself that we will not be cowardly. Whatever we have lost - or will lose - we will not lose this world. Chloe Matus will definitely lose!" Thrall felt the hope rising around him so real, so sincere, he could almost taste it.His orc's voice overlapped with the resolute cry of the dragon clan, resounding through the sky.