Chapter 24 Chapter Twenty-Three

"Have you passed the vision test before, Go'el?" Gaiaan asked one night when they were having dinner together.The meals were simple, clefthoof beef stew and bread, but Thrall devoured them.It's been a long and exhausting day, both emotionally and physically.All day, instead of communicating with or aiding the elementals of the land, he was destroying them. Thrall understands that very few elemental souls can live in balance and harmony with their own kind or other elementals.Some elements stay completely true to their nature, even though that often means chaos.Other elements are sometimes polluted and corrupted.Often a gentle but firm hand can bring them back to their roots.But sometimes these elemental bodies are affected too much.Like that little spark in Orgrimmar, they don't listen to advice, not even prayer.

A shaman cannot be selfish.They must show reverence and respect to the elements from time to time, humbly asking them to lend a helping hand, and expressing gratitude for their assistance.But they also have a duty to protect the world from harm, and if that harm comes from an out-of-control element, it is their duty to clean it up. And Outland is clearly ravaged by the element. Agra threw herself into battle without hesitation, and she had undoubtedly done similar things dozens, perhaps hundreds of times.She doesn't enjoy it, but doesn't hesitate to protect herself or Thrall when needed.After all he was entrusted to her, even though she would have preferred otherwise.This is a bitter battle, Thrall thought, the shaman wielding the power of the elements to slay its tainted... brethren?peer?He wasn't sure how to put it, but it hurt his heart to see it all.A question lingered in the back of his mind: Is this also the future of Azeroth's elements?Can I stop this from happening?

He turned to Gaiaan and replied, "When I was young, I met the elements under Drek'Thar's teaching." Thrall said, "After I fasted and eaten for a whole day, Drek'Thar took I went to a place. I waited there until the elementals approached me. As part of the trial, I asked each of them a question and swore to serve them. That was... powerful." Agra and Gaiyaan looked at each other. "Very good," Gaiyaan said, "although I didn't go through the traditional ceremony. Drek'Thar did his best under such a difficult environment. He is one of the few remaining shamans, and when you go to At the time, the Frostwolf Clan was busy surviving adversity, so he couldn't prepare you for a traditional vision trial. You did a great job on your own, Goel, amazingly well, but now Now that you have returned to your hometown to study, perhaps it is time for a formal trial ceremony."

Agora nodded.She looked serious, and she didn't look at him with her usual undisguised contempt.Quite the opposite, in fact—her body language seemed to indicate that she had developed some new respect for him. "I will do what I have to do," Thrall said. "Do you think that's why I need to come back to study? I didn't go through this special trial ceremony, so I didn't learn something?" "The purpose of the Trial of Visions is self-knowledge," Agora said. "Perhaps you need to learn this before you are ready for other knowledge." Even her softest words were hard not to offend. "I'm more self-reliant than most people," he said sternly. "I think I know enough about myself."

"But this powerful slave still can't find what he's looking for," Agra said, with some emotions. "You two, stop making trouble." Gaiyaan said gently, even though she was already frowning. "The world would be chaotic enough without you two shamans slandering each other. Agra, it's good for you to be blunt, but maybe it's better for you to learn to hold your tongue from time to time. And you, Guy Er, you must admit that a better understanding of yourself would do anyone, even the Warchief of the Horde." Thrall frowned slightly. "I'm sorry, Grandmother. Agra. It's frustrating to me that there's nothing I can do about it. It's not in anyone's interest to make me angry with you again and again."

Agra nodded, she looked annoyed, but Thrall vaguely felt—this was the first time—that it wasn't because of him.She seemed to be angry with herself. He had to admit that the young shaman confused him.He had absolutely no idea what was going on with her.Thrall wasn't used to dealing with bright, strong women.He'd known two before—Therese Foxton and Jaina Proudmoore.But they were all human, and Thrall began to realize that they had a different source of power than the orc females.He had heard stories of his own mother, Draka, who had been born weak but had grown strong through will and determination.And she's mentally and emotionally strong, too. "A true warrior," he had heard Gaiaan say of Draka admiringly, "if your ancestors gave you speed and strength and a strong heart, you could easily become a good warrior. Just like a card, it will be difficult to forcefully take what the world does not want to give you."

Now she was talking to Thrall, but her eyes were fixed on Agra. "You have inherited your mother's soul, Thrall. You were as self-made as she was. What you give to your people is not easy—you have to fight for it. You are as worthy of your mother as you are of your father, ancient Il. You are the son of Durotan—and the son of Draka." "I have come here to do everything I can to learn how to help my world," Thrall said, "but I will begin this visionary trial as soon as possible." "I can't be in a hurry, you know." Agra said. Thrall snorted softly to himself, but said nothing.Because he does know so.

Anduin was well aware that he was not "an honored guest." In fact, he was a hostage, and one of the most valuable in Moira's hands. It has been four days since Moira and her dark iron dwarves swarmed into Ironforge. When Anduin went to spend an hour with Rohan and returned to his residence, an envelope with fluent handwriting on it was already placed in the hall. On the table.He gritted his teeth when he saw the red sealing wax bearing the royal seal of Ironforge.Then Anduin opened the envelope.And Drukan, the "special guard" sent to Anduin to "ensure that such an honored guest is well cared for," was watching him somberly.

I wish to have you by my side tonight.Wear formal attire, I hope you will be punctual. Anduin resisted the urge to crumple the letter up and throw it away.Instead, he smiled politely at Drukan, "Please tell Your Majesty I would be happy to attend. I am sure she would like to hear from me as soon as possible." At least, he thought to himself, it would be nice to get the watchdog out of the way for a while. meeting.He waited a moment, until Delukan was sure he couldn't escape the errand.The dwarf scowled and stomped away. Anduin realized that he was curious about Drukan, the dwarf who was quiet, uninterested, and indifferent to everything.At least Drukan never hides his feelings.

Then Anduin began to bathe and change clothes.Moira thought she was pulling a marionette when she asked him to attend.Her emphasis on formal attire, however, gave Anduin a chance.He will wear his own crown and other insignia of royal power to show that he is her equal.Anduin knew all too well the power these details could convey.Will helped him into his gown, fine-tuned the crown no less than a dozen times, and set up a mirror. Anduin blinked.He'd always hated grown-ups saying "you've grown so much since the last time I saw you," but now he saw the proof for himself.He hadn't paid much attention to his reflection in the mirror lately, but now he saw a new melancholy in his eyes and a stiff expression on his jaw.He doesn't feel like a sheltered kid anymore, but he also doesn't want the stress of the past few days to be so...obvious.

"Is everything all right, Your Highness?" Will asked. "Yes, Will. All is well." The old servant stepped forward, "I'm sure your father is trying to find a way to rescue you." He said in a very soft voice. Anduin nodded slightly, "Okay," he sighed, "it's dinner time." Anduin was led past the throne, where he found only two seats at a surprisingly small table.Apparently this was a private meeting. In other words, she would have something to ask him. He expected Moira to choose the first seat, so he stood politely beside his chair and waited for her. He waited and waited.Time passed, and he realized that this was just part of the game.He knew this deeply, and it was something she hadn't expected.He knew he was young, and he knew people would look down on him for it.And he might take advantage of that. Also, as a young man, he can easily stand for a long time. The last door flung open.A Dark Iron dwarf in an Ironforge uniform stepped forward, exhaled from his chest, and announced loudly at a volume audible to hundreds of people, "Stand up and salute Her Majesty Moira, Queen of Ironforge!" Anduin smiled faintly at the dwarf, spreading his hands slightly to show that he was standing.When Moira entered the hall, the prince bowed to her, still maintaining the proper bow for peers.As he straightened up and smiled politely, he saw a gleam of exasperation in Moira's usually phony iron face. "Ah, Anduin, you came on time," Moira said as she hurried into the room.A waiter pulled out a seat for her, and she sat down, then nodded to Anduin to do the same. "I believe that punctuality is an important virtue," Anduin said.He didn't need to remind the other party how long she kept him waiting.Both of them are aware of this. "I'm sure you've had pleasant and enlightening conversations with my other subjects," she said, allowing the waiter to spread a napkin on her lap. Other subjects?She was implying that Anduin did too - no, she didn't, but she wanted him to think so.Anduin smiled happily, and nodded his thanks to the waiter who poured him a glass of water.Another waiter poured blood-red wine for Moira.Apparently beer isn't one of the Queen's favorite drinks. "Of course, you mean the Dark Iron dwarves, not just the Ironforge dwarves." He said happily. "I don't communicate much with Drukan. He is a man of few words." Moira put a slender hand over her mouth and smiled softly. "Oh dear, yes, that's true. Most of them are not talkative, you know. That's one of the reasons I'm so happy to have you around, my friend." Anduin smiled politely, dipping his spoon into the soup. "I'm very much looking forward to having a long conversation with you, and there will be plenty of opportunities for us in the coming weeks and months." He almost choked on the soup and managed to swallow it. "I'm sure it's going to be a wonderful conversation," at least it wasn't a lie, "but before that, I think my father needs to let me go back. I'm afraid we'll have to talk more now." There was a twinkle deep in Moira's eyes, and then she smiled dryly. "Oh, I bet your father will do it for me. Tell me about him. I hear he's had a hard time." Anduin was pretty sure Moira knew it all.She didn't look to him like the kind of person who wanted to know what and would wait so long to ask.Nevertheless, over soup and salad, he told her the general story of his father's adventures. "That must be hard on you, Anduin." He didn't think she really cared, but an idea popped up.He decided to try it out. "Yes," he said honestly, "but it makes me even more upset that he doesn't agree with the direction I want my life to take. Judging by the rumors, I think you can understand." For the first time he saw her looking at him with an expression of defenselessness, her spoon stopped in mid-air and her eyes widened in shock.She looked—vulnerable, flustered, anxious to recover. "What, what the hell do you mean?" she said with a false smile. "I've heard that Magni wasn't the best father in the world, even though he might have wished to be—like my royal father," said Anduin. .” Her eyes became resolute, but had a strange gleam in them, as if they were harboring tears.When she spoke, it was like a dam collapsed at Anduin's words. "My father did express deep disappointment at my shortcoming of being a girl, as if I had failed him simply by having the wrong birth. Being reminded of this over and over again made me not want to be here at all. And he Will never believe it. He thinks the only way I'm in love with a Dark Iron dwarf is if my husband charms me. Well, that's true, Anduin. He charms me, with respect, while I'm talking When I was listened to, it was because I believed that I could govern well even as a woman. When my father ostracized me, the Dark Iron dwarves welcomed me." She sneered, "That's the only spell Dagran Thaurissan and the Dark Iron dwarves have cast on me. My father thinks they're despicable people who only know how to fight and kill. Now, they're dwarves, just like any other clan's dwarves." —all descended from the earthen. And that's what I'm going to do, to remind the other dwarves of that." "You are the legal heir," Anduin agreed. "From the day you were born, Magni should have recognized this and raised you as the crown prince. I regret that you only welcome among the dwarves, and you're right - they're dwarves too. But you're forcing the people of Ironforge to think what you think, and it's not promoting harmony. Open up the city. Let people see the Dark Iron dwarves as you do true face. They will have-" "I say they have what they can have!" Moira yelled in a shrill voice, "and they will do what I tell them to! I have my rights under the law, and Dagran— — Magni's dream boy — will succeed me after my death. His father and I..." She paused, her undisguised anger suddenly replaced by a false smile. "You know what," she said, "this is really the first time I've had this idea." She was back to her old self, much to Anduin's dismay."What was that idea?" he asked. "Oh, I'm actually a queen, not just a queen." Anduin felt a chill run down his spine. "My God! This changes things completely! I rule two peoples. And my little one will do the same when he comes of age. This is a great time to rebuild bridges and bring peace. Don't you agree?" "Peace is always a noble goal." Anduin said, but his heart sank slowly.He moved her for a moment, causing her to tell the truth.But now the time has passed. "True. Oh, yes. I do feel like a silly little girl sometimes." No, you are not, and neither am I. "I feel the same way. Sometimes I feel like I'm just a thirteen-year-old boy," he said. Moira laughed again. "Ah, your humor really pleases me, Anduin. I'm sure your father will miss you, but I'm very, very sure I can't bear to part with you just yet." He smiled at her, wishing that fake smile didn't look so fake. After several hours, Anduin was finally able to be alone in his room, closing the door and leaning against it.Moira wasn't crazy, and she wasn't under spells.But he would rather.He had to admit that Moira had been treated unfairly.But instead of turning this into her own strength, she was consumed by her own resentment. She is good at calculating and controlling, and she wants to leave an empire to her son.Some of what she said made sense.Peace is indeed precious.But so is freedom. He has to get out of here.People have to know what's going on here.He took a deep breath, crossed his hair, and started throwing things into the small backpack.The backpack he carried when he went out to play was him and... Holy Light, how much he misses Irene, even now.But he's also glad she's not here to see what Ironforge has become. He didn't need much—a change or two of laundry, a little change.He had brought some important items from Stormwind, but now he knew he could do without them when he needed to get out as quickly as possible.Yet there is one thing that means too much, too precious to be separated from it. He had kept it under his bed since Magni's death, wrapped in the same cloth as when the dwarf king had shown it to him.He hoped Moira hadn't heard about the gift yet.Somehow, he guessed she wasn't going to be happy about it. He took out this beautiful weapon and stroked it gently.Fearbreaker.Now its comfort can come in handy.Anduin held the weapon in his hand for a moment, then rewrapped it and carefully placed it in his backpack. it's time.He had decided not to tell Will.The less the old servant knew, the less they would make things difficult for him.Anduin took a deep breath, put his hands in his pockets, and grabbed the hearthstone Jaina had given him.He squeezed his eyes shut, thinking about the vision of Theramore, Jaina's cozy little fireplace— —and condense and form there. Jaina stared at him, "Anduin, what are you doing here?" Prince Stormwind had no time to talk to her.He just stared dumbfounded at the huge, scowling, armored and feathered tauren standing before him.