Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Bitter Reunion

As she had promised, Tyrande personally arranged for Jarod Shadowsong's wife's funeral.Sarah Hill, dressed in sorority attire, lay quietly in an area of ​​the temple reserved for such sad scenes.She was seated on a marble pedestal flanked by symbols of the Goddess—like hooked crescents—and her face was serene in the light of Elune.People who knew her came to mourn, knelt on one knee and whispered prayers to the Mother of the Moon for her soul. The temple never turns away worshipers, though most come at night to mourn Sarah Hill.But time meant nothing to Jarod, who kept leaning over his lover, either praying to Elune or saying something silently to his wife.The traveling cloak was folded and set aside, but Jarod was still wearing the brown and green coat he had come in.His beard and hair were a little disheveled; at the moment he didn't care about these details at all.

Normally there would always be two priestesses present, but the ex-guard captain begged Tyrande to send them away.As much as he appreciates what they've done for his wife, Gallaud wishes for some privacy when no other mourners are present. Resting his head on his clasped hands, he whispered to Sarah Hill again.This time he told her about the time they had built their first home together.It was a rough house, originally intended to provide shelter from the wind and rain until a more permanent residence was planned.Every mistake they made in building brought them closer to each other. Jarod looked up, keen instinct reminding him that someone else was there.So he turned his head to look at the entrance.

"My condolences for your loss," Shandris said softly. "May the Mother of the Moon guide her soul." The Sentinel General walked over as nimbly as a nightsaber, and in Garald's view, her figure and appearance had hardly changed since the last time we met.She tucked the helmet in her arm so he could see her face more clearly.As usual, Shandris hid her true emotions, save for a strange look on her face.It seemed to Jarod either exasperated or apprehensive. Shandris is Tyrande's adopted daughter, but they look like mother and daughter.However, Jarod had never seen the gentle expression on Shandris's face like that of the high priestess.The general's attire is also consistent with her character, with shiny violet armor covering most of her body.This set of armor was designed with both flexibility and defense in mind, and even the shape of the shoulder armor was designed to allow Shandris to raise her bow and swing her sword at once without any hindrance.Her helmet - which covers only the upper part of her face - is also built along these two lines, and can be put on and taken off quickly without touching the night elf's long, pointy ears, or getting caught. Shandris has long dark blue hair.

"Thank you." Shandris strode forward, and Jarod straightened to face her.The expressions of the two were equally gloomy. "I remember her," the general continued, looking at the motionless figure. "She was outstanding." "She was alive. She was full of life. Wherever she went, the whole world was colored by her." Shandris turned toward Sarah Hill's body so Jarod couldn't see her expression. "You really love her." "certainly." "Then I envy her." He was tongue-tied. "Santis—" The night elf woman looked back at him.Her eyes were wet, but obviously it wasn't all because of the dead man. "I'm sorry, I was so rude. You know, I totally understand how you feel. Losing her after so long... It shouldn't have happened."

"Santis..." "I've got to go," she whispered, looking more upset than Jarod. He tried to take her arm lightly, but Shandris avoided it without hesitation.But she couldn't stop him from following behind, so the two walked out of the room in silence. Garald looked around, and whispered when he saw no one around. "I've always owed you an apology—" "You don't owe me anything. Nothing actually happened between us." He looked back into the room with a look of guilt on his face.Then he said: "I admit I rejoiced in your favor, especially when you were grown up. But we took different paths in life. We all struggled in the post-war years. I thought All I want is to forget about those killings and deaths. I never thought about being a leader...a hero..." Garald said the latter word rather self-deprecatingly. "I feel out of place, and you are the opposite. You have your own goals. You have responsibilities to the Temple of the Moon and the High Priestess."

"she also--" Jarod held up a hand to tell her to stop talking.To his great surprise, Shandris complied. "Tyrande not only saved your life, but also replaced your dead mother. I have no fault for what you did for her. But she... and behind her, our people... have always been and always will be your greatest concern center of gravity." Shandris opened her mouth, then closed it again, no denial in her eyes.Instead, she leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek.There was no sense of seduction in this gesture, but an understanding of his unfortunate situation. "Come to me if you want to talk," the general said.

After she finished speaking, she turned and left.Shandris didn't look back, and Jarod didn't say goodbye.He just watched her walk in the direction of the high priestess' shrine. The former officer started to walk back, but noticed another figure in armor standing far away on the opposite side. "Mother of the Moon!" Jarod said softly, and he thought he recognized the figure in the helmet, so he waved to her.However, unlike Shandris, she did not step forward after being discovered, but turned and left immediately. "Maev!" Even if she heard it, she didn't answer.He stood for a moment in utter bewilderment, then hurried after his sister.

When he chased halfway, she had already turned a corner.Jarod knew that if he could not catch up with her, he would not know when he would see her again, so he started to run.He took the road and rushed around the corner, but saw the target disappear outside the temple door. Jarod followed closely and came to the long bridge leading to the garden.By this time Maiev - if that was her - had gone across the bridge.He followed through the garden, and then raced eastward through the city in pursuit of his sister's indistinct figure, out beyond the borders of Darnassus and into the woods. Jarod wasn't too far behind, but he didn't think so.As he rushed into the woods, he wondered if the pursuit would be in vain.But he still decided to keep going.

Jarod charged through the first row of trees, trying to find the right path.He caught a glimpse of what looked like an arm passing between the tree trunks on the right, and he turned and gave chase.Although unfamiliar with the forest, Jarod chose to follow the guidance of his natural instincts.He quickly judged the easiest way to pass, and guessed Maiev's most likely direction through the scenery ahead. Even though he couldn't see her, Jarod believed that at least he was getting closer.He felt a sudden rush of intense relief at this, and he struggled with the guilt of leaving Sarah Hill's side.He couldn't let Maiev beat—

A big mouth full of sharp fangs appeared in front of him. What Jarod saw in the next few seconds was like a nightmare.He saw something wolf-like...but roughly humanoid.It was at least as tall as he was, but almost twice as wide, and far stronger.The deadly long claws flicked past his face without touching him.Those eyes— Those were not the eyes of a beast. Jarod received a heavy blow to the chest, making his chest constrict.Panting, the night elf bent down, waiting in the back of his mind for the killing blow, whether it was clawing or biting. But the blow never came, and when Jarod was able to look up, he found himself alone again.Only the slowly swaying branches indicated that something had stood before him.

Jarod followed the creature he had never seen before.He bowed his head and walked around under another tree— —and almost ran into his sister Maiev.She suddenly appeared in front of him, with deep scars on her helmetless face, both of which surprised Jarod equally. "Never stalk alone in a strange land. I remember that was one of the first few things I taught you." Jarod looked down and saw the blade of the Shadow Crescent pointed at his chest.When he first saw her, he noticed that this weapon was hanging on her waist, but he never thought that it would be used against him. "I thought that among all the people, at least I could trust my sister." "It's better than falling in love with someone wishful thinking," she shot back. "I saw that the person who retreated back to the temple was General Shandris Feathermoon, right?" "Maev..." "She was heartbroken when you disappeared all those years ago—" "Enough, Maiev!" His joy at meeting his sister was quickly tempered by her comment to Shandris.Still, he tried to regain his original enthusiasm.After all, it's been so long... "It's great to see you again! I've been thinking about seeing you since I came back here. I've always wanted to see you." "why?" Her rhetorical question made him almost stumble. "You are my sister! My only blood relative! We haven't seen each other for thousands of years!" "And whose fault is that?" she snapped suddenly. "Maev—" Suddenly, Jarod faced a man filled with anger and pain.This was not the meeting he had hoped for. Maiev shook her head at his innocence. "Do you think I'll forget after all these years? You've shamed us! You were one of the leaders of our people! I was so proud of you back then. My brother, the leader of the night elf army! I see As you gradually grow up in the war, after the death of that incompetent nobleman Star Eye, you will take over the seal of command, and prove to everyone that the name of Shadow Song is worthy of everyone's respect!" "You do not understand--" "I suppose you never understood. You evidently never understood what duty and loyalty are—" She paused suddenly and looked into his face.Only then did Jarod feel wetness on his left cheek, and a tingling pain from the corner of his eye.He reached out and touched his face, then looked at his fingers. Blood.Jarod couldn't remember when this happened, but assumed it was during the encounter with the mysterious creature.But he couldn't recall being scratched in the face by the beast. "Insidiously right next to your eyes," his sister remarked, with a surprising tenderness in her voice.She held out a finger toward the sting. "Did you fall or slip on the road? I remember you were much better than this when you used to hunt." Jarod then remembered the astonishing encounter he had not had time to tell her. "Maev! There's something else in this woods besides us! I've never seen it anywhere before. I bumped into one just before I caught up with you! It might still be around—" Her mocking expression disappeared, and she looked around like a warrior. "It made it? What does it look like?" "No... it must have been scratched by a branch after hitting the creature. It didn't attack me!" Jarod recalled, "I didn't see clearly. It happened so fast. I think... a bit like a wolf! I saw claws and teeth, and the shape was different from ours, much wider..." "Oh." Maiev seemed to lose interest in this. "One of them. Nothing to fear. They dare not offend the High Priestess or Archdruid Malfurion." He couldn't believe that things had passed so lightly. "'They'? Are there more of these? Wandering around Darnassus?" "Leave it alone, brother. It got away, didn't it? That says it all. They're cowards in the shadows, toothless dogs! Nasty werewolves who can't even protect their own homes it is good." "What is—" Before Jarod could finish, Maiev started to move on.Instead of walking directly in the direction of Darnassus, she took a path that skirted the east of the capital.Jarod had to trot to keep up with her. "Like I said, forget about them," she repeated. "Besides, it's clearly not your responsibility to guard the capital. You dropped all responsibility thousands of years ago." The sharp words made Garrod's face contort, and he wanted to defend himself a few words. "Maev, I have dedicated centuries of duty to my people, dedicated to—" "Dedicated for how many centuries?" she sneered to her face. "What is this! Jarod, ever since I became a priestess of Elune, and later became a watcher, I have fulfilled my duty to protect the night elves. I volunteer to watch over Illidan Stormrage, even if it means My fate will be with him for thousands of years! When disaster strikes and he escapes, I will still pursue him! Even if I become his prisoner, I will endure the humiliation until finally I have the opportunity to complete What should have been done in the first place...kill the archdruid's loathsome twin." "Maeev!" She pushed away his outstretched hand. "I don't need you to pity me! I chose responsibility and you didn't. This means that sometimes I have to make some decisions, and although it may take a long time to be recognized by others, I have never regretted it." "I get it. You've always been determined to do what's best for everyone, regardless of what others might think of you. I've always admired your determination." The muscles on his sister's face relaxed slightly, and there was a trace of fatigue in her eyes. "I do what I have to do." This time she didn't fend off his hand.Jarod pressed her shoulder lightly, hoping to make her feel it through the armor. "I miss you. Of all the people who parted, I miss you most." "The General will not be pleased to hear that." "Stop kidding me about it. Not now." She patted his arm. "My fault. You've just lost a loved one. I remember Sarah Hill. She excelled at the Sisterhood's martial arts training. She would have made a good caretaker." He felt uneasy. "I have to go back. Sorry, Maiev. Then—" "Yes. We'll talk about it later. Let's go. My condolences." Jarod hesitated for a moment, then turned away.The guilt of just walking away made him look back almost immediately. Maiev was gone. The ex-guard captain almost cried out, but hesitated.Jarod frowned and watched where his sister had stood before continuing on towards Darnassus and Sarah Hill. In another wood near Darnassus, there were others gathered together.They are dressed more elegantly than other night elves, their robes are flashy and colorful, and their faces are full of superiority. Although clearly part of the night elves, they are the Highborne, the noblest caste of the ancient night elf clan.However, due to their continued use of arcane magic, they were banished by their own kind after the War of the Ancients.There were many more of them, but some died serving their proud evil queen, Azshara, and others became reptilian sea monsters called naga. Refugees from Eldre'Thalas—a place more aptly and widely known today as Dire Maul—these night elf mages and their survivors are still ostracized by the majority of Darnassus .Although the Highborne have until now assumed a stance of absolute independence, in reality they have found themselves in need of help from others.But this by no means means that they will curb their arrogance or stop their study of the arcane, no matter what the cost. A total of 20 people participated in this rally, the most powerful 20 people.Valdin Skyseeker is the leader of these twenty, and he has a greater ambition in his heart: to become the successor of the Highborne Chancellor Archmage Mordant Evernight.Now Valdin guided the spell that twenty men cast together, a test of their strength.The vortex of energy converges in the circle in which the casters stand.The faces of this team of men and women were all shining brightly, not only because of the radiance of magic energy, but also because of the deep joy in their hearts. With a wave of his hand, Valdin condensed a powerful and compact energy ball.With another wave of his hand, four curly energy lines shot out in all directions. Now we're all ready, he said to the others through the connection created by the spell. Together, the Highborne swiped the talismans in the air.The energy lines became more intense, more energy spurted out, and the sphere pulsated rapidly—— A terrible gust of wind swept past, blowing and blowing the Highborne screamed.The circle of people is scattered, but Valdin still maintains the connection of spells.They had worked so hard to get this far, and he didn't want to fail. Then, if there was thunder roaring, Valdin looked up, but there was no dark cloud in the sky.He looked at the violently shaking treetops...the wind couldn't have been so violent.In fact, those deafening roars are what they make. "Keep going!" Valdin sternly shouted at several of his men.What happened in the forest was obviously far from natural, which made the Highborne unavoidably anxious, so the spell was in danger of failing.He took the lead in channeling spells more intently, and asked others to follow suit. A loud clicking sound drowned out the previous roar.A nearby giant tree bent down, its branches waving like the myriad tentacles of a giant sea monster reaching out to the Highborne below. More rattles sounded from around the venue.The giant trees nearby turned their branches toward the spellcasters. The spell's connection was getting weaker and weaker, and Valdin could no longer maintain its integrity.The concentrated energy dimmed, the spell ray began to dissipate, and the orb let out a shriek—and then vanished into nothingness with a mournful hiss. The exhausted Highborne collapsed to the ground.Valdin still stood there, even though it took a lot of effort in private.He gritted his teeth and searched the woods for the perpetrator of the disaster. "I have made it very clear about your practice of arcane techniques!" A voice rumbled from all directions at the same time. "This completely violates the consensus reached between me and the Archmage." A mage pointed to Valdin's left.The branches and bushes there moved out of their own way, revealing a solitary figure with nothing but a staff in hand. "Arch Druid..." Valdin did not bow to Malfurion Stormrage, but nodded respectfully. "I have repeatedly asked for minor amendments to our agreement, but have not received a proper response. We need flexibility in our work; without constant exercise, our strength will not improve—" Malfurion strode towards Valdin, and raised his staff briefly.Valding wisely kept his mouth shut. "Modant and I are still considering your proposal - I have told you more than once - and I have already said the reason for not replying! The reputation of the Highborne will always be implicated by the past. As a Disciples of the Archmage, you should understand this. You Highborne have chosen to stay in Eredre'Thalas, defending and hiding your own city from the bloody wars outside. regardless of." "We are defending our homeland!" "When the Queen's counselor, Harveys, led the crowd to open the portal to introduce the Burning Legion into our world, you stood by and watched; when the queen chose demons instead of her own people, you were silent; even the arcane The energy will attract the Burning Legion, and you continue to practice this spell. The painful memories of those doomsday times have been indelible in the hearts of our people for thousands of years. Even allowing you to enter Darnassus was already a difficult decision." "We're here thanks to your permission, Archdruid! We're here to rejoin night elf society, but to maintain our own identity! Yet, as you yourself are eager to point out, we're still ostracized !We must be able to practice magic openly; otherwise it will show that your promise with the High Priestess is empty!" The archdruid stepped forward and didn't stop until he was within reach with Valdin.Malfurion's golden eyes shone sharply, and the Highborne couldn't help restraining their arrogance. "We are fully willing to accept the reintegration of the Highborne into our society, but this cannot happen overnight." Malfurion replied quietly but firmly. "Things take time...perhaps years. Valdin, patience is a virtue we all need to cultivate. If we do this, success is just around the corner. Mordant understands this too." Valdin didn't seem too convinced, but nodded anyway.Malfurion said to the other Highborne who had gathered together. "Go back and tell the others what I have said. Tell them too that High Priestess Tyrande and I will keep our word." The other mages immediately began to leave.Even the Highborne respect the power of the legendary Archdruid. Only Valdin fell behind. "I mean no offense, Archdruid. I'm just doing what I want." "Modant and I both know what your pursuit is." After speaking, Malfurion turned around and walked into the forest, without looking at Valdin or saying a word. The mage watched the archdruid go away, but his mood could not be calm for a long time.An angry look appeared on Valdin's handsome face. "We'll be patient...for now," he murmured. "For now." The Highborne still followed their companions with displeasure.Anger caused him to ignore his surroundings.To them a tree is a tree, and a forest is nothing but a tree.The bush he was traversing was nothing more than an overgrown weed.Not for the host's sake, he'll level them right away to clear the way.The Highborne were born for the arcane; they were used to letting nature bend rather than being surrounded by it like the builders of Darnassus.Like many Highborne, Valdin respects nothing but strength.The Archdruid and High Priestess are powerful, and Valdin bows to them.However, as for the rest of Darnassus... The mage stumbled, as if he had kicked something.Knowing that everything in the forest is chaotic, he kicked it away without looking at it, and continued to trudge through the bushes.He led his team here only because of its remoteness, otherwise he had nothing but contempt for the place.Now, however, he was anxious to return to the more civilized encampments established by the Highborne. So the hand that Valdin kicked and its owner—the dead Highborne who had been a member of Valdin's team not long ago—continued to remain there unknowingly.