As Aegwynn's emergency teleportation light dissipated in the Deren family's living room, it created a magical whirlwind that scattered papers across the coffee table. The former Guardian still looked so young and radiant—his silver hair reflected the sunlight dazzlingly, his skin had a pearly sheen, and only his eyes held the wisdom of a thousand years.
" Jaina said it's an emergency?" Aegwynn looked around the room. "Where is she?"
Deren strode forward. "We've already set off for Treasure Bay. Lady Aegwynn, we need your help. Theramore is facing a tremendous threat. The enemy may be plotting to destroy the city." He then opened a document and showed it to Aegwynn. "This is the Titan Artifact, the Eye of the Storm, which was kept by the Blue Dragon. It may now be in the hands of the orcs, being modified into a destructive bomb. We desperately need you to confirm this."
"This is no small matter. How did you know?" Aegwynn gently stroked the Eye of the Storm image with her fingers.
Deren explained, "It started with the orcs attacking Theramore's outpost, a kind of probing. It had happened before, but the departure of the mage Krasus and the forced teleportation of Kalecgos back to the Nexus... I think this is some kind of hint from the Dragon Race. The city is no longer safe."
Aegwynn nodded. "That's a possibility, but it doesn't prove anything directly. Without that annoying Blue Dragon, I've finally got some peace and quiet."
"So I had Jaina find some connections with the goblins, to investigate whether any goblins have recently done any shady business with the Blue Dragon or orcs. Hopefully, there's some indirect evidence," Deren continued. " The Blue Dragon ' Eye of the Storm is far away in Northrend, and the orcs need external help to go there and steal the artifact. And the money-grubbing goblins are the perfect partners."
"Yes, you've thought of everything." Aegwynn praised.
"Most importantly, I sent my Bronze Dragon companion, Chromie, to the Dragonblight Temple to talk to the Red Dragon Queen Alexstrasza and test the waters. If she wasn't detained and returned to Theramore, it means things aren't as I thought, Theramore is safe. If she doesn't return, it proves the Dragon Race believe Theramore is in danger, which also explains why Krasus and Kalecgos withdrew," Deren stated his conjecture.
"Heh heh, you little rascal, you're really cunning. Let's see if the little Gnome comes back," Aegwynn said with a laugh.
Deren looked at Aegwynn seriously and said, "But we can't just sit here and wait. Time may be running out. So we must send someone to Orgrimmar to investigate if there are any suspicious magical items in the city. If we find them, that would be best. We can pinpoint the location of the Eye of the Storm and send someone to destroy it. That would solve the problem once and for all. If we don't find it, we can get confirmation from other sources. We need to plan ahead and ensure the city's safety."
"So you want me to..." Aegwynn looked at him.
"Let's scout Orgrimmar tonight," Deren nodded, "To confirm if the Eye of the Storm is there."
Aegwynn raised an eyebrow. "You want me, a former Guardian, to be a spy? That's going to be troublesome!"
"No," Deren smiled, "I'm sending you to discipline the disobedient student— Nefarian can fly you to Orgrimmar. As his teacher, you have the right to check his homework, such as how well he uses invisibility magic."
Aegwynn suddenly laughed, a laugh that sent a chill down Deren's spine, "Interesting. I just recently improved the punishment mechanism for Soul Contract."
"We can do this tonight, there's no rush. There's another matter I need your help with. Master Antonidas, I'd like you to find a reason to send him back to Dalaran," Deren requested.
"Why is that? My junior brother is also Jaina's teacher, so he should also care about Theramore," Aegwynn asked curiously.
Deren didn't answer immediately. He gave Aegwynn a deep look before exhaling, "I know, but you had Karazhan, which only represents the past. Now you have Jaina, and Theramore. It represents new life and infinite possibilities for the future. But Master Antonidas is, after all, the Archmage of Dalaran!"
"For him, which is more important, Jaina or Theramore, or Dalaran? Sometimes people have to make choices, and can only choose what is most important to them. So let's not let our Archmage of Dalaran face such a dilemma."
Aegwynn fell silent as well. She understood what Deren meant; with Dalaran a weakness, it was best to kick him back for safety. She nodded in agreement, "Okay, I understand. I'll send him back to Dalaran today. This junior brother is quite capable; if we don't get rid of him, we won't be able to avoid many things."
Before noon, Aegwynn said he had sent Antonidas back. He wouldn't be back for at least a month.
After dark, on a beach outside Theramore, Nefarian reluctantly transformed back into his Black Dragon form. The massive black Dragon, dozens of meters long, gleamed purple in the moonlight. He nervously flicked his tail, snapping several small trees in the process.
"Why me?" he muttered, his Draconic causing the ground to tremble slightly. "My sister flies faster than me."
Aegwynn slapped the Black Dragon on the nose, the gesture resembling a master disciplining a disobedient pet. "Because I'm your teacher. Just behave, or else, do you want to taste the punishment of your soul again?"
Nefarian lowered his head in humiliation, daring not to ask any more questions. Aegwynn gracefully leaped onto the dragon's back. Deren handed over a bottle of potion shimmering with starlight. " Invisibility Potion, lasts for six hours."
"No need," Aegwynn said proudly. "I have confidence in my invisibility spell. Unless it's a high-level caster, these orcish barbarians won't be able to detect us."
Deren insisted on tossing the potion to her. "Just in case. If we're discovered."
"Then let's fight our way out," Aegwynn said, patting Nefarian's head. "My apprentice may have poor grades, but he's passable at fighting."
Nefarian let out a sound that was somewhere between a roar and a sigh, spread his wings, and soared into the night sky. Deren watched them disappear into the clouds, silently praying that this adventure wouldn't turn into a disaster.
The air at high altitudes was icy cold, but Aegwynn was surrounded by a faint halo that kept the cold wind at bay. Nefarian, on the other hand, would sneeze every now and then— Aegwynn forbade him to spit out sparks that would reveal his location.
"Teacher," Nefarian lowered his voice, "do we really have to be so secretive? I can just—"
"Shut up, focus on flying." Aegwynn cast a spell, and a semi-transparent membrane enveloped the Black Dragon's entire body. "Remember, being discovered will result in the punishment of the Soul Contract. You know how painful that is."
Nefarian shuddered and obediently shut his mouth. Under the moonlight, the landscape of Kalimdor unfolded like a sand table—a shimmering coastline, desolate lands, and finally, the crimson canyons of Durotar.
Second update.