As the first rays of dawn touched the highest Mage Tower in Theramore, the runes on the Teleportation Array array glowed with a ghostly blue light.
Jaina's figure gradually became clearer in the halo of light. Her steps seemed a little more hesitant than usual, and her long, golden hair hung loosely over her shoulders, the ends still slightly damp, as if she had just finished bathing.
The collar of his robe was slightly open, revealing a suspicious red mark on his collarbone. Then, as if he had done something wrong and was afraid of being discovered, he looked around nervously.
"Looks like your 'diplomatic operation' is going well?" Aegwynn's voice came from the shadows of the circular bookshelf, tinged with a hint of sarcasm.
The former Guardian leaned against a row of ancient books, holding a book with a gold-embossed cover in his hands, but his eyes held a mischievous smile as he looked at the newly returned master of Theramore.
Morning light streamed through the high window, gilding her long silver hair with a golden edge. Facing the former Guardian who had regained her youth, Jaina always had the illusion that she was her older sister.
Jaina's fingers unconsciously traced the crystal buttons on the collar of her robes, fastening them back up.
She could feel her cheeks getting slightly hot, unsure whether it was a side effect of the Teleportation Spell or something else.
"It went more smoothly than expected, and it feels—not bad." Her voice tried her best to remain steady, but it unconsciously trembled slightly. The slight upturn of her lips at the end of the sentence betrayed more information.
She recalled Deren's gentle touch the night before, as if he were handling a precious work of art.
Aegwynn closed the book and slowly approached his student. Morning light streamed through the stained glass, casting dappled shadows between them.
Her sharp gaze swept over Jaina's expression, and she asked with displeasure, "Where's the potion I gave you? Didn't you use it?"
"Not for now." Jaina turned and walked to the tea table by the window, pouring herself a cup of mint tea with her back to Aegwynn.
The rising steam blurred her expression, giving her a moment to catch her breath. The teacup trembled slightly in her hand, as if she were recalling something.
"These things can't be rushed." She took a sip of tea, letting the cool liquid calm her agitated emotions. "There will always be a more suitable time. Besides—"
Aegwynn suddenly chuckled softly, shaking her head. Her silvery laughter rang out crisply in the quiet library. "My dear student, when did you learn to hide your true feelings from me?" She took a few steps closer, lowering her voice with a hint of paternal indulgence. "You have your own thoughts?"
Jaina's ear tips were slightly red, like clouds tinged red by the morning light. She put down her teacup, her fingertips unconsciously tracing circles along the rim.
"I just think these things should be left to nature." Her gaze drifted through the high windows of the Mage Tower to the rising sun on the distant sea, where some fishing boats were slowly sailing out of the harbor.
"After all, Deren has already promised to give me a child. And I feel good about it, so why not do it a few more times until I get pregnant?" She finished speaking with a sly smile, a calculating glint in her eyes.
"Ah, of course, for the 'future of Theramore.' What a greedy little cat," Aegwynn repeated meaningfully.
She reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Jaina's ear, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against Gianna's burning earlobe. "But I must remind you, even for political reasons, too many 'diplomatic meetings' can easily attract gossip."
Jaina coughed lightly, turned and walked towards her desk, not daring to face her teacher. "It's alright, as long as Onyxia doesn't mind, Deren has no objections either. Everything else is fine!"
She waved her hand, as if to chase away these trivial worries, but her fingertips involuntarily traced the hidden hickey on the side of her neck.
Aegwynn shook her head indulgently, her eyes gleaming with the knowing wisdom of someone who had been through it all. She watched Jaina calmly tidy up the scattered documents on the table, knowing the turmoil that had been brewing in the young female disciple's heart.
Despite still lingering feelings from the previous night, Jaina, as the mistress of Theramore, had to confront a mountain of affairs. Sunlight streamed through the French windows, illuminating the map of Theramore hanging on the wall. The port, farmland, and military district were marked with different colored pins, showcasing the city's vibrant life. This was her city, her kingdom! Now it was about to welcome an heir.
"Madam, this is intelligence that came in from various places last night."
A Gnome assistant wearing thick glasses tiptoed and placed a stack of parchment on the desk in front of Jaina.
The sunlight outside the window had completely illuminated the office on the top floor of the Mage Tower, making the ink on the parchment exceptionally clear and revealing the faint shadows under Jaina's eyes—she had barely slept last night.
Jaina's slender fingers gently turned the pages of the document. Her brows furrowed as she read, forming a fine line between them.
"The situation in Orgrimmar is worse than we anticipated," she murmured, her fingertips hovering over a detailed report about the potential attack on Orgrimmar.
The report stated that spies witnessed orcs burning corpses on a large scale, with the air filled with the smell of roasting and burning meat, and even vultures dared not approach.
Aegwynn glanced at the documents over her shoulder, her silver hair falling loose, and said with a hint of mockery, "Oh, there are quite a few commoners."
"Indeed." Jaina's voice was calm and restrained, but her clenched fist betrayed her inner turmoil. "But it's still better than Theramore becoming a crematorium. Orcs often say that they have no civilians, only Warrior. We should applaud their glorious deaths!"
There was a hint of mockery in her voice. She turned to her Gnome assistant, forcing herself to focus on the present, "Inform the city defense commander that I need a detailed report on the fortifications at this afternoon's meeting."
The Gnome assistant hurriedly took notes, the quill pen scratching rapidly across the parchment.
He handed over another document, its wax seal still faintly reeking of goblin engine oil. "Also, news has come from the goblin merchants of Ratchet that the orcs are requesting a large purchase of building stone and timber, enough to rebuild half of Orgrimmar."
Jaina took the document, her fingertips tracing the rough paper, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Let him rebuild. It's better to focus on the stones than to plan a war. Maybe this is just a smokescreen; they don't have time for reconstruction."
She pondered for a moment, then ordered her assistant, "Continue to monitor Orgrimmar's movements. With such a major upheaval in the city, I don't believe the Horde remains united. Pay special attention to the Tauren and Troll settlements. Vol'jin and the other old-school leaders won't stand idly by while Garrosh acts recklessly; an internal conflict is inevitable."
After the Gnome assistant left, Aegwynn looked at Jaina thoughtfully, her fingers lightly tapping the gem embedded in her staff. "You seem quite satisfied with the 'results' from the other night?"
Jaina neatly stacked the documents, her movements as precise as the hand gestures used when casting a spell.
She looked up, her blue eyes shining brightly in the morning light, like a frozen lake in winter. "I'm just making the decisions that are best for Theramore." Her voice was calm as still water, but her hand unconsciously traced her flat stomach beneath the table. "Whether it's political or otherwise."
Her heart echoed with the thought: Everything for Theramore!
Third update. Please vote and subscribe. If I get over 600 monthly votes, I'll continue updating daily to over 10,000 words.