Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Ceremony

Genn watched as his people continued their preparations to leave.It was with a heavy heart that he decided to do so, but there was no reason to stay near Darnassus, and that would only deepen the shame of the werewolves being rejected by the Alliance.At least that's how it seemed to Genn. After that hunt, Varian suddenly left without saying goodbye, which was a heavy blow to the King of Gilneas.Originally, an obvious connection had been established between the two, but the sudden action of another king completely shattered Jin's last hope for the alliance to accept werewolves.After losing hope, the choice facing Gene is already clear.

Idrik is now missing, but Jean's other lieutenants are keeping the situation under control.In a day or two there would be no trace of the camp being inhabited. The hair on the back of his neck suddenly stood up.Someone is behind him. Like many werewolves, Genn tends to retain his werewolf form.This way he will feel stronger and younger.And in human form, the king would feel the pain of old age. If the person behind him wanted to sneak up on Jean, his attempt would undoubtedly fail, which was one of the benefits of being a werewolf.With the swiftness and grace of werewolf form, Genn turned to face the potential threat with fangs and claws.

But they didn't make a move. Instead, Gene was thoroughly confused. "Varian Wrynn?" Seeing that the other party was so shocked, Varian had nothing to say.The Lord of Stormwind felt like a complete fool, or at least someone who couldn't figure out what he wanted to do. On the one hand, that hunt achieved the effect Malfurion hoped for, and at the same time, it also allowed Varian to see many contradictions in his inner beliefs and prejudices.He was momentarily overwhelmed, and could only choose the only way to escape at the time: when the werewolves paid him a respect-he felt that he did not deserve such respect-Varian flinched and rushed aimlessly into the depths of the woods. place.

With Anduin gone, Varian never wanted to return to Darnassus.His dwelling was built in the spirit of the night elves' love of nature, but it was still part of the city, representing his life as a king rather than as a man.In this forest full of vitality and freedom, the vitality of all things made him feel relaxed, but it did not eliminate the confusion in his heart as he hoped.On the contrary, Varian found that the peace and quiet around him made him more aware of his misunderstandings and prejudices. He completely lost the concept of time, and suddenly it was day and night.At dawn, Varian finally realized that he could not abandon everything and sink into this pure forest.For his love for his son, for his people, and for his hope of saving everything, Varian made a decision.The king knew that there were others who struggled with the dark side of his personality, even more than he did.

werewolf. So, when Varian returned to his quarters to reassure his entourage of growing anxieties - only to find that Malfurion had assured them that the king was only "slightly ill" - he set off once more to find Genn. Greymane. "You're gone," the sovereign of Gilneas said reproachfully. "We paid tribute to you, but you turned your head and left. I sent someone to Darnassus to inquire about you, but the archdruid just told us not to worry, saying that you need to be alone for a while." Varian was amazed again by the night elf's intelligence. "He was right. I had many things to think about...and when I thought it all out, I knew I must come again to find you and your people."

"What do you want from us? What is it? We have nothing. No land, no wealth. You have everything. Everything." "Not really. I need your help, Gene." The other king looked at him puzzled.Given what had happened to them, Varian didn't blame him. "How can I help you?" whispered the werewolf. "I know something about the werewolf curse, and what it brings—the ferocity...but you and your minions can control the urge rather than give in to it." "Ah!" Gene not only nodded in understanding, but even showed sympathy instead of contempt. "I've always wondered how, after going through something like yours, it's possible for a person to not have a little trauma inside..."

"Yes," Varian said, deeply disturbed. "Tell me how you did it." "It's not that simple, my friend. You have to be willing to look within and find your balance..." "If necessary, I would fight a hundred orcs with my bare hands—" The werewolf laughed sadly. "Trust me from experience. It might have been easier. We lost several men before the night elf, Beresa Starwind, showed us the proper ritual. They were swallowed by the power of the curse and turned into nothing Emotions are soulless beasts." Genn turned his head and recalled the past. "We had to get rid of them. But there was still some risk in the ritual. From time to time people lost their lives because of it."

Varian was unmoved. "It's better if I'm dead than this, Gene. I've lost my wife, and now it's my son's turn. Anduin may leave me forever, and it's all my fault..." "I lost my son too," the King of Gilneas whispered. "Although Liam died to save me. When we tried to retake Gilneas City, a poisoned arrow shot by the leader of the Forsaken, the Banshee Queen Sylvanas, killed him." Genn shook shook his head. "I'm not trying to belittle what happened between you and your son. Never seeing each other is always a very, very scary thing, whether it's death or distance in the middle. I understand your loss, Varian… . . . " The werewolf leader glanced back at his people, some of whom had recognized the comer and paused to stare at him.Gene frowned thoughtfully. "We can lead you to the ritual, but then it's more up to you. You have to conquer yourself - your worst enemy - which requires serenity, balance, and last but not least to master your anger. Three tests, not one."

"Whether it's three or a hundred, I'll face what I have to face. Take me, Gene." The werewolf nodded. "May your power be as strong as your determination." Genn didn't lead him past the other Gilneans, but went south first, then turned east.However, a few werewolves dropped what they were doing and followed them. "What are they doing here?" "The ceremony requires more than one person to participate." The Lord of Stormwind frowned. "How did they know what we were going to do? You didn't send a signal." There was a slight smile on Genn's wolf face. "You just didn't see it."

More werewolves followed, both men and women, following behind the two kings.They marched in silence, looking like a funeral procession.Varian instinctively brought his hand closer to his dagger, but didn't touch it. Genn led him to a small clearing surrounded by trees with jagged branches that reminded Varian of grasping fingers.The ruler of Gilneas led him into the middle of the clearing. "We've been using this place since we've been here," Gene explained. This clearing looked unremarkable, except that there were three simple wells facing the direction they came from.Varian believes that the wells must be there because they will play some important role in the upcoming ceremony.

It was soon confirmed that three druids suddenly appeared from the woods behind the well. At first, Varian thought Malfurion would come out of the woods too.But only those three—they were two men and a woman—went to the well and the werewolf.He didn't know the three night elves.They looked at the werewolves with serious expressions, as if they were inquiring about something. "Who's this time?" asked the man in the middle, his blue hair in two long braids that fell almost to his waist, and another small braid stuck out at the back of his head. The ruler of Gilneas pointed to his companion. "This is it, Lyros Galewind. I leave Varian Wrynn to you." The druids looked taken aback.Leros whispered, "But he's not a werewolf." "But he suffers from the same imbalance as we do," Gene explained. "He had as much rage in him as any of us, probably more." "Come forward, please," the woman said. Varian obeyed her.The three druids each put a hand on the king's shoulder and closed their eyes. They studied the Lord of Stormwind in this way, and a moment later the druids opened their eyes and retracted their arms. Leros looked to his companions, who nodded to the two kings. "We understand now," he told Varian. "You are welcome, Varian Wrynn. It is our honor to have you here. And as guardians of these wells, we will serve you as best we can... although I think it would be best if Genn Greymane your guide." "I would rather," Varian replied. "I'm happy to oblige," Gene said. The other male druid had his head shaved short, and it was as green as the goatee below his chin.He held out his palm, and Varian saw a long, narrow silver leaf resting on it. "Take it and eat it. It's a moon leaf, a symbol of nature and the Madonna of the Moon. It will help you cleanse your mind before the ceremony." Varian ate it without asking.He thought the leaf would be bitter and unpalatable, but he found that it was soft and slag-like, and it was easy to swallow after chewing. "Now you have to drink from every well." Accompanied by Genn, Varian followed the druids to the first well.The second male druid continued. "I am the feral druid Terran, and this well is the Well of Tranquility." The druid said as he handed a small teacup to Varian.What's in the cup looks like ordinary water. "The well water you drink can bring back the peace and joy that have been lost in your life for a long time." Varian took the cup and drank it calmly.The druid bowed to him as he handed the cup back. Leros gestured toward the second well.Gene looked surprised. "Is he going to drink from three wells at once?" "Yes, given his history, we believe it has to be done." The green-haired female druid served Varian at the second well. "I am Fassandra Stormclaw, and this is the Well of Balance. The water you drink from the well will unite you, so that when you struggle, the two will be one. " Varian felt that the two glasses of water tasted exactly the same and looked the same.After he handed the cup back, the lead druid pointed to the third and final well. "I am Lyros Galewind," said the night elf. "And this is the Well of Wrath." The druid handed Varian the last glass of water. "The well water you drink will enhance the effect of the first two cups, filling your heart with strength to face and dominate that which is most likely to cause the ritual to fail." Leros didn't explain much.The King of Stormwind drank the well and waited expectantly. The leading druid nodded towards the werewolf leader. "Gyn Greymane, you know what must be done next." "Yes. Come with me, Varian." When they left the druids, Varian suddenly felt that all his senses began to become more sensitive.He noticed disturbing details around him that he had missed before.Many of the tree trunks were scarred and looked as if they had been frantically clawed and pulled repeatedly by wild animals.The ground was upturned in a few places too, though new grass had grown over time.He also smelled dried blood. "My people originally performed this ritual in Gilneas, and we found that some needed more effort to challenge themselves," Genn explained to him, as if he knew what Varian had noticed. "It was a harsh lesson, sometimes very harsh. So when we came to Darnassus, we designed such a place and have been using it until now." The werewolf leader gestured to the others.They spread out across the clearing, forming a loose circle. Varian measured how many steps it would take if one of the werewolves charged at him.There was enough time for him to draw his dagger, but not too much. "We'll just sit here." Genn sat down cross-legged smoothly, and waited for Varian to follow his lead. "Now? I close my eyes? Simple as that?" Gene flattened his ears. "If you try, it's easy. If you've given up...it's very hard." Varian frowned deeply, then closed his eyes.His other trained senses are immediately sharpened.Varian heard not only his own breathing, but also Genn's voice.The musky scent of werewolves wafted into his nostrils.A breeze brushed against Varian's skin, gently ruffling the ends of his hair. "Your senses are very keen, just like a werewolf." He heard Gene say with some surprise.Then the other king spoke more neutrally. "Focus. The water from the three wells will help, but you have to find out where you started. Therefore, you have to go back to your past memories." "What are you looking for?" Genn's voice sounded like it was coming from farther away. "The things that matter most to you in your life... and the choices you made for them, right or wrong. Beginning with the furthest past you can recall, not just remembering, but reliving. You have to Understand why you did what you did and what it meant to you." Varian's eyes remained closed, but he moved uneasily. "There's no need to go back in time again—" "Then there's no need to continue." Gene's voice sounded far away, it sounded like a whisper from the wind. Varian grunted. "Fine. I'll do it." -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Gritting his teeth, the ex-gladiator turned his attention to his past, trying to conjure up memories he'd long shied away from recalling.He recalled the distant past, when he was still a son of man, and his father was still in power. Suddenly he was a young boy again, and a sense of peace enveloped him.Varian lingered for a while in this extraordinarily comfortable atmosphere. then.The figure of his father the king occupies the whole scene.Varian took King Llane's hand and, with the help of his father, learned to ride his first horse—a pony, actually.But moments later, the scene cuts to one of Varian's initial fighting lessons, with King Lane overseeing.Varian found that he was not much better at holding a sword than his son, but Lion's encouragement made Varian improve even faster. That quiet moment made Varian feel soothed.Still a child, he looked up at his father. That's when the assassins attacked. Ryan fell to the ground and died.The one who killed him was a half-orc woman named Garona. Standing in front of Varian, who was only about thirteen years old, she stared at him like a vicious giant. Young Varian screamed and rushed towards the murderer with tears streaming down his face.That wasn't quite the case—in reality, he hadn't entered the room until after the goblin had assassinated his father—but at the moment they were mixed with Varian's surging emotions at the time. But Garona disappeared.Varian's mind was full of King Llane's death-distorted face.Young Varian wanted to call out to his father in pain, but no sound came out of his mouth nervously. Then this sad memory is mixed with other scenes.After the death of King Llane, the capital was no longer impregnable.The orcs who invaded the kingdom four years ago ravaged this magnificent city.The capital fell, and hundreds fell to the savage tomahawks. All the good things of his childhood were gone.There is no more peace.There is no more peace. But unlike past experiences, Varian now realizes that those fond memories are always with him.Even though violence had taken away his childhood, it hadn't erased his previous life...unless Varian wanted to. And he's always been that way. But now it's different.Despite what happened to his father and Stormwind, Varian finally came to terms with his past.Facts have proved time and time again that his father loves him deeply, but Varian himself has left it behind. Now that he knew everything, Varian felt peace still in his heart.No matter how much he has endured since his father's assassination and the fall of Stormwind, Varian will always remember his childhood.The past cannot be changed, but that is both unfortunate and fortunate. peaceful…… The voice sounded like a mixture of himself as a child and his father, which startled Varian, but he kept his eyes shut. Although Varian accepted the reality of what had happened, he didn't want to dwell on it.Instead, he searched for other memories in his mind, trying to squeeze away the misfortune suffered by his father and the kingdom... So Tiffin naturally appeared before his eyes. Varian is no longer a boy, but an emotional young man, struggling with changes both within himself and in the world around him.He has become good at hiding himself from those closest to him, such as Prince Arthas of Lordaeron, and the boy's father, King Tenaris - in a way, he also became Varian's first son. two fathers.Generally speaking, in front of others, the young Lord of Stormwind City is a smooth, intelligent and motivated ruler, with wisdom beyond his own age.However, the scars in his heart could not be hidden forever, especially as the attendants became familiar with his occasional outbursts of despair. Tiffin changed all that.He saw her again, exactly the same as when they first met.The serene and perfect golden soul is in stark contrast to his wild and dark interior.As she walked towards him, Varian fell in love with her again at first sight.Although when she spoke, his first reaction was to ignore her arrogantly, and if it were any other person, he would undoubtedly leave on the spot. But Tiffin didn't.She danced with him again, laughed with him again, channeling the kindness in Varian's heart to balance his indulgence.In a way, Varian was able to become a king who was loved by his people, and Tiffin did more than his father. But…… Varian tried hard to banish the memory, but there was nothing he could do. But... it was these people who killed her. She was killed in a riot and fell at his feet.When everything went crazy, she became the innocent victim.In reliving this scene, Varian almost slipped into his own dark side...but that would be the greatest demeaning of a lover.Tiffin made him a good man, a respectable leader.Varian finally understood that his behavior since then had been desecrating his memory of Tiffin.Tiffin would never do it like him.She always chooses to forgive and always does her best for the people she loves. If Varian wanted to redeem her memory, he had to do it her way. Varian struggled to put himself firmly in the face of her death, the way he knew Tiffin would have liked him to do.He has a right to grieve, but also has to move on...and learn.Most importantly, he can continue to learn from her life and use it as an example to face everything he will face as a father, a man, and a king. balance…… This voice shocked him again, because this time he heard not only his own voice, but Tiffin's voice as well.Varian saw her again, but this time with the child of their love in her arms. Anduin... Anduin was the only family he had left, and the one he cherished the most, because the child's mother lived in his heart.In the years Varian spent with Anduin before his disappearance, he tried to be a father like Ryan.Losing Tiffin was hard, but Varian remembers laughing and laughing with Anduin. He also remembers the fear he often felt when his only son was threatened.Indeed, worry about Anduin became a major motivator in Varian's later life.Now he stood there watching his three-year-old son fall off a bantam and nearly break an arm.Varian then wrestled again with an assassin who had infiltrated Stormwind Keep and nearly stabbed Anduin Jr.Still, the incident reminded the king of the murder of his own father. Fear... Varian would no longer succumb to it.Fear will only make him helpless when his son and country are threatened.But the thought that someone might hurt Anduin was enough to drive Varian into a rage, as it had done many times before.But, despite his growing rage, Varian saw himself clutching Anduin's arm again...he suddenly remembered that it was the rage and the fear that fueled it that made Anduin leave him. With this realization, Varian fueled his anger again.He had always been led by anger, but now he was trying to control it.His rage can be a powerful and destructive force, and Varian knows that giving in to it won't do him much good, and will always do more damage in the long run.Yes, it's helpful in combat - only then can he truly unleash his rage - but otherwise, it's a double-edged sword. But while he was no longer commanded by anger, it didn't dissipate either.Varian felt an inner struggle.He realized that if he allowed his anger to grow, he would end up getting nothing and still be the same person Anduin had left. So, Varian saw the anger in his heart as a fierce horse that needed to be tamed, and he clung to it to conquer it.It will no longer disrupt his life; instead, it will serve a more definite purpose.And Varian only knew one target.If his wrath can only bring good on the battlefield, he will channel that power into the battlefield.Varian will turn his anger into strength against the dragon Deathwing, as well as the orcs and their allies... Anger surrounded his will.He had broken its grip on him, and now it would serve Varian, not the other way around. Serenity...balance...anger...it was his voice...and another voice he thought he should have known but didn't recognize. Beast nature must be conquered in order for humanity to rise... Anger must serve humanity in order to be... fulfilled... Varian felt his rage growing, but it was now being guided by him, becoming his strength rather than his despair.He felt again for Tiffin, Anduin, his father the king, and other loved or important people in his life.They never stopped trusting him, even his son.Varian understood at this moment that what Anduin did was not only for his own ideals, but also hoping to be accepted by his father. His heart was filled with anger.But he embraced it, because it had become a weapon, not just mad power.He has been able to control his anger, and any enemy is no match. A triumphant howl sounded from somewhere.Varian responded loudly.He finally knew who was calling him.Goldring.lakash.The ancient wolf god.Rakash summoned him to fight.A series of images flashed before Varian's eyes, those enemies trying to harm those he loved, especially Anduin.In this new vision, Deathwing landed on Stormwind laughing.The maddened dragon turned Azeroth upside down with the power of the earth he possessed, bringing destruction to Varian's homeworld and countless other lands, and he enjoyed it.The world is still trying to recover from that evil influence... but Varian knows there will always be a battle, and a calculated victory.As for now, there is another, more pressing threat.Although the image of this other enemy had not yet replaced the mad black dragon in the king's mind, Varian knew the face and the name. Garrosh Hellscream. Thinking of the leader of the tribe, Varian summoned his anger again and tested it.It grows, but never again becomes a mere destructive force.It has softened, it has changed, and it is far stronger than ever. Rakesh howled again. Varian jumped up with a start, not even noticing that he was asleep. It was probably a good thing that Genn Greymane no longer sat in front of him.In this way, when Varian rushed forward, the King of Gilneas, who was standing a few steps away, was able to jump back in time.Although Genn maintained his werewolf form, to the King of Stormwind he moved as if he were sleepwalking.The whole scene seemed to slow down.Varian looked around at the other werewolves, and though they quickly recovered from the shock, Varian was shocked that they were three points slower than himself. "Goldrinn..." Genn whispered, watching him. "Lakesh...his aura...envelops you so completely..." Around them, the other werewolves all dropped their ears, but out of awe rather than fear. "Goldrinn did touch your heart, your soul..." Genn whispered. "The Wolf God honors you, and I—so do we..." Varian didn't say anything, but he also finally felt what Genn had known from the beginning.The spirit of the giant wolf regards him as his chosen one, his own warrior. And through Goldrinn—Lagash—and himself, Varian knew what to do next. “I was a reckless person, ruled by grief and fear. Grief was the loss of so many important things—too many important people. Fear was the fear of losing the few treasures left, like my Son," Varian said to Genn and the other werewolves. "But now I understand. Azeroth needs us. All of you—and me—we're here to save the world. We have to save it too..." A silence fell around him.Finally, Gene asked, "What do you want us to do?" Varian had only one thought. "Fate brought us together...and it led us to Ashenvale."