After the meal, Jaina unfolded the parchment scroll that had been urgently delivered that day, its wax seal still bearing the messenger's sweat. As she read, her brow gradually relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"A spy report states that a major upheaval has occurred in Orgrimmar. Garrosh has conducted an unusually severe purge of the city's non-human races. Many Tauren and Troll have been tortured and hanged. Finally Vol'jin, along with the Darkspear Trolls in Orgrimmar, retreated to the Echo Isles."
Her fingertips traced the words on the report, her nails gleaming like pearls in the sunlight. " Cairne Bloodhoof has also led the Tauren in Orgrimmar to follow Vol'jin to the Echo Isles. It seems the Tauren didn't have time to escape back to Thunder Bluff. Garrosh sent troops in pursuit, and some sporadic skirmishes occurred, resulting in casualties on both sides. It seems the Horde is too busy to attack Theramore."
Her voice was calm, but her eyes gleamed with victory.
Deren took the document and quickly scanned it, his thick eyebrows twitching slightly as he read, " Garrosh sent an envoy, but he was driven back by the Troll ' whistling arrows."
He chuckled softly, his voice low and pleasant. "It seems a civil war within the Horde is inevitable. Perhaps Thrall's return is also imminent. This farce should come to an end." Sunlight illuminated his profile, outlining a resolute figure.
Onyxia leaned lazily against the window, sunlight dancing on her dark hair like flowing black silk. She toyed with a dagger in her hand, the blade twirling between her fingers like a butterfly. "Should I add fuel to the fire?" her voice held a dangerous allure. "To provoke a conflict between them."
"No need." Jaina shook her head, her long golden hair shimmering in the sunlight.
"Let them fight it out on their own. Third-party intervention might actually force them to temporarily suppress their internal conflicts. Let's just pretend we know nothing. Anyway, however the Horde civil war goes, it's all good for us."
Her gaze fell on the huge map of Theramore on the distant wall, her blue eyes as deep as the ocean. "What we need to do now is ensure Theramore's defenses are absolutely impenetrable."
As she spoke, she walked to the map and lightly touched the location of Theramore on the map with her fingertip, where new fortifications had been marked in red ink.
Anveena passed by the door carrying a new magic book, the heavy volume almost obscuring her view. Hearing the adults' serious discussion, she slowed her pace and perked up her ears. Although she didn't fully understand these political maneuvers, she could sense the tense atmosphere in the air, like the Tranquility before a storm.
" Jaina?" Jaina's gentle voice came from inside the study. "Would you like to come in for a glass of juice?" Seeing the Sunwell Incarnation cautiously passing by outside, she suddenly wanted to share her joyful mood with her.
Anveena walked in, her face flushed, the magic book appearing unusually large in her arms. "I... I was just passing by," she whispered, but her eyes curiously scanned the map and documents on the table.
Deren chuckled and ruffled her hair, the gesture natural and affectionate. " Jaina, how was your magic practice today?"
"Teacher Aegwynn had me practice controlling the flow of Arcane Energy," Anveena's eyes lit up, temporarily forgetting her earlier nervousness, "But I can't seem to control it well; I need more practice."
Jaina and Deren exchanged a knowing glance, and the former gently patted the girl's shoulder. "It's okay, I often messed up what Professor Antonidas taught me back then too." Jaina couldn't help but recall some funny and embarrassing things that happened during her time learning magic.
Onyxia suddenly walked over from the window, looking down at Anveena: " Sunwell girl, want to see real magic?" Her eyes gleamed with mischief.
" Oni," Deren called out warningly, but the Black Dragon had already snapped her fingers, and a cluster of black flames ignited in her palm, changing shape in various ways. The Black Dragon's never-give-up nature made her unwilling to be outdone by Jaina.
Anveena was so engrossed in watching that she completely forgot her fear. Just then, Aegwynn's voice came from the corridor. " Jaina! Where have you been again? It's practice time!"
The girl jumped up like a startled rabbit, hurriedly bowed to everyone, and stumbled towards the door, clutching her books.
In the dead of night, Anveena was awakened by a strange noise. She rubbed her eyes, stepped barefoot on the cold Stone Tablet, and groggily walked toward the source of the sound.
Moonlight streamed through the high windows of the corridor, shrouding everything in a silvery veil. The girl moved forward cautiously, the hem of her nightgown brushing against the floor with a soft rustling sound. Faint whispers drifted from the end of the corridor, intermittent and like some kind of secret conversation.
The girl took a curious step forward, but bumped into a "wall" at the corner—or rather, Onyxia's chest. The Black Dragon was only wearing a thin black robe, the neckline wide open, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin.
"Little Sunwell," Black Dragon's voice was hoarse than usual, carrying a hint of danger, "Where do you think you are going, staying up so late?" Her breathing was a little rapid, and there were fine beads of sweat on her forehead.
Anveena looked up, the shadows enveloping Onyxia, obscuring the unnatural blush on her face and the gleam of her golden vertical pupils in the darkness. "I... I heard a sound," she murmured, unconsciously taking a step back, "I just wanted to see what was going on."
Onyxia listened in silence, pondering how to respond to the inquisitive Sunwell Incarnation.
Thankfully, at that moment, Jaina suddenly rushed out of her room, hurriedly draping a robe over the girl's shoulders. " Jaina, you should go back to sleep." Her voice was gentle but firm, her cheeks much rosier than usual, and her long golden hair slightly disheveled. "We have to get up early to practice magic tomorrow."
Anveena was half-pushed and half-carried back to her room, her mind filled with questions. In her last glance before the door closed, she saw Deren's figure flash by in the depths of the corridor, his disheveled appearance exactly the same as that morning.
Lying on the soft bed, the girl gazed in bewilderment at the moonlight shadows dancing on the ceiling. The adults had been behaving increasingly strangely lately. Her brother Deren and sister Jaina always emerged from the same room in the early morning; even her usually stern teacher, Aegwynn, had recently started wearing a mysterious smile.
However, the thought that Aegwynn would teach her new spells tomorrow quickly dispelled all her doubts. Anveena turned over, hugged her pillow, and fell into a deep sleep, a sweet smile on her lips. The moon outside the window quietly hid behind the clouds, as if it too was keeping the secrets of this night.
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