Tirion Fordring withdrew his Holy Light and slowly descended back to the camp, immediately revealing a fawning and ingratiating smile.
Eitrigg, unusually, offered a word of praise, saying to Vol'jin:
"Tirion Fordring's performance was quite successful. My biggest concern is whether the Frost Dragon phantom created by the Dalaran Mages can fool the Loa."
Vol'jin grinned and said confidently:
"Believe me, while Animal Loa spirits are powerful, they are ultimately just beasts, focused solely on cultivating their own power and indifferent to other forms of energy."
Eitrigg stroked his fangs. "Now I can rest assured."
Having said that, he took out a sharp dagger and examined Tirion Fordring's flesh with great interest.
Most people in Azeroth believe that Tirion Fordring defeated the Lich King Arthas at Light's Hope Chapel, Drakkari Frost Trolls are no exception.
Upon learning that the Argent Crusade was allied with the Orcs and that Tirion Fordring was an incredibly powerful being, the entire Drak'Tharon Keep was plunged into extreme panic.
The military governor, Warlord Himbo, enforced strict discipline and used terror to control the soldiers, preventing panic from spreading further and stopping desertion. However, he himself was terrified and had already prepared an escape route.
Warlord Himbo could escape, but Novos could not.
As the Chief Priest of the Prophet Saronite, his life was tied to that of the Wind Serpent god Saronya; if anything happened to Saronya, the Priest would certainly not survive.
Novos missed his wife terribly, longing for her warm embrace.
It was easy for a Drakkari Frost Trolls to marry a Mulgore Tauren, but the two held a secret wedding and spent countless wonderful nights together. Although his wife gave birth to a calf five months after their marriage, the magnanimous Himbo didn't mind.
Novos's greatest dream is to spend the rest of his life in Moonglade with his wife and children, but more money is needed to convince the Cenarion Circle to accept a Troll settling in Moonglade.
Novos is not ready.
After the night Tirion Fordring displayed his power, Vol'jin did not take any military action. Although the panic gradually subsided, it did not stop the soldiers from whispering among themselves.
The soldiers were spreading rumors that the Argent Crusade was fighting the Lich King, and that if Tirion Fordring were to free his hands, the Invincible Tirion Fordring could destroy Drak'Tharon Keep with a single sword strike and Holy Light.
Novos scoffed at the soldiers' chatter, mocking their ignorance, but he believed that as long as the Argent Crusade joined the battle, all the Loa Zul'Drak combined would be no match for Tirion Fordring.
The fall of Drak'Tharon Keep was only a matter of time.
So when Vol'jin sent a secret letter containing the address of Novos's wife and children and stating that he only wanted to meet Novos and would never harass his family, Novos immediately agreed.
The two met at a nearby Furbolg camp, a neutral location for foreign trade.
Inside a tent, Vol'jin and Novos removed their disguises one after the other. The confident Vol'jin greeted Novos first, "Chief Priest Novos, it's a pleasure to have you here. Don't be nervous. Today we won't discuss war or military matters, only our understanding of witchcraft."
It turned out to be just a private conversation between Priests.
Novos was slightly disappointed. He had thought Vol'jin had come to persuade him to surrender. Although Novos could not betray the Prophet Saronite, he could still secure some benefits for his wife and children.
"Vol'jin, son of Sen'jin, the great hero of the Horde, leader of the Darkspear Trolls, is a pleasure to meet you. I wonder how I can help you?" Novos asked politely.
Vol'jin gestured for Novos to sit down, then, feigning seriousness, produced paper and a quill pen to take notes. He then placed a pair of lenses over his long fangs and asked:
"Priest Novos, I've heard that your family has served the Prophet Saronite for generations, possessing a profound and distinguished lineage within the Zul'Drak Empire, a family of unparalleled prominence spanning a thousand years."
Novos proudly raised his head:
"Thank you for your praise. The Prophet Saronite chose my ancestors from the dust. My family has served as Chief Priests for generations. Saronya has bestowed upon us a life of wealth, and we are responsible for delivering divine pronouncements."
Vol'jin carefully took notes, then asked:
"The Darkspear Trolls' god is the Soul God Bwonsamdi, who also has another name, Bwonsamdi. That's why I'm particularly interested in the destination of souls. Did the Prophet Saronite ever tell you where your soul will go after you die?"
Novos said solemnly, "Of course, it's to become the Servant of the Prophet Saronite and serve him forever."
Vol'jin was silent for a moment, then asked, "Novos, do you know the Spirit Calling?"
The Trolls ' Spirit Calling, the sorcery that allows them to communicate with the souls of the dead, is a fundamental skill for Loa Priests. Novos felt insulted and retorted rudely:
"Extremely Mastery."
Vol'jin adjusted his glasses perched on his fangs. "So, have you successfully communicated with the Ancestral Spirit?"
Novos's expression changed drastically, and he remained silent for a long while.
In private, Novos had tried to use Spirit Calling to communicate with the Ancestral Spirit, but neither his father nor his grandfather responded to his calls.
Novos shook his head, feigning seriousness, and said, "I don't want to disturb the peace of our ancestors."
Vol'jin asked solemnly:
"The Shadowmoon Clan's Shaman Orcs are most skilled at communicating with the spirits of their ancestors. I've learned a lot from them. If there were a more effective way to communicate with the spirits of our ancestors, would you be willing to use it?"
Novos looked at Vol'jin with suspicion. Had Vol'jin planned this secret meeting merely to teach the Orcs the method of communicating with the souls of their ancestors?
"If this is what you're asking for, I'd be happy to try," Novos said, still somewhat doubtful.
Vol'jin smiled with satisfaction, handed a scroll to Novos without saying a word, simply patted him on the shoulder, and the two parted ways.
Back at Drak'Tharon Keep, Novos locked himself in his laboratory.
The Troll's intuition told Novos that Vol'jin's scroll was a treacherous serpent.
But curiosity eventually won out, and Novos carefully unrolled the scroll.
The scroll contained a special ritual, which, combined with certain techniques, allowed communication with the spirits of ancestors. Novos, combining his own knowledge with careful review of the materials, confirmed that this method was legitimate.
"Since there's no danger, why not give it a try? What harm could it do?"
Prepare the ritual brazier, sprinkle the materials needed for the spell into it, and Novos sits beside the brazier. A sharp dagger slices across his arm, blood gushing out. Novos mutters incantations and begins to call out his father's name.
A wave of unbearable cold swept over him, Novos hurriedly opened his eyes to find himself in a dark, Freeze world with scattered green campfires in the distance.
He heard his father's faint voice calling to him. Novos followed the sound and gradually approached the green campfire. When he got closer, he realized that it was a pile of withered bones that were shimmering with fireflies.
Beside the campfire, the faint light illuminated the face of an old Troll, Novos's father. The disheveled father spoke in a weak voice:
"My child, my days are numbered. When these bones have burned to ashes, I will become a frozen Restless Souls, food for the Prophet Saronite."
"Food?"
Novos was taken aback, vaguely seeing many figures in the snow and ice—frozen souls.
"That's right, child. We are all food for the Loa. This is the Destiny of the Troll race. Go back now and find a way to break free from Saronya's control."