The Kingdom's Worries

Meanwhile, Dalaran, humanity's magical pearl, had returned from Northrend to the Eastern Kingdoms after the Northern Expedition to Northrend ended. It now hovered above the enormous crater where it had originally risen from the ground, with no intention of landing.

Under Archmage Rhonin's rule, Dalaran had become an absolutely neutral faction. It welcomed the Alliance, the Horde, and any neutral force to conduct magical exchanges within the city.

Dalaran's mage training classes were also open to the entire world. As long as one could pay sufficient tuition, anyone could come study, regardless of identity or faction.

Of course, because it hovered within Lordaeron, Dalaran inevitably grew close to the Northern Alliance. Lordaeron and Dalaran soon signed a series of friendly diplomatic treaties, though Dalaran could not join the Northern Alliance due to its principle of absolute neutrality.

But when it came to Dalaran's factional leanings, everyone naturally knew the truth perfectly well.

The Southern Alliance, led by the Stormwind Kingdom, naturally knew everything happening in the north of the continent. Though their old rivals had risen again, relations would at least no longer be as tense and rigid as before. Queen Calia was not old King Terenas, and Rhonin was certainly not that stubborn, old-fashioned relic Antonidas.

As for continental hegemony, King Varian had wanted it too, but he was no fool. It had been one thing when there were no major powers in the north, but trying to pursue continental hegemony now would truly mean following Terenas's old path toward self-destruction.

Thus, the Southern Alliance also abandoned that hegemonic mindset and turned its attention toward clearing up its own assorted internal problems, no longer keeping its eyes fixed on the north.

After all, so many coastal regions had been ravaged by tsunamis and earthquakes. Disaster relief alone was enough