Seeking Medicine

Deren's front door was kicked open, the oak door slamming heavily into the wall and making the crystal instruments on the shelves clink and rattle.

Sylvanas Windrunner stepped over the threshold, her golden hair streaming behind her like a battle banner. Her boots crushed the carefully assembled pattern on the carpet. Vereesa followed close behind, three arrows held between her fingers and her bow half-drawn—the highest level of ranger alertness.

"Deren Losen!"

Sylvanas's voice was like a blade tempered in ice. Her gaze locked onto the depths of the study—Deren was seated leisurely in a high-backed chair, holding a thick book. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting strange patches of color across his face.

"Ah, look who's here. The Windrunner Sisters." Deren flicked his fingertip, and the lid of a bronze pocket watch snapped open. "What unexpected guests."

"Stop pretending! You know why we came—" Vereesa said urgently.

"—For that ridiculous Arcane Gas." Deren closed the pocket watch, its metal surface reflecting a blinding gleam. "Or rather, to treat the High Elves' Mana Addiction."

A flash of arcane light appeared, and Jaina stepped out of a Portal, the scent of sea breeze still lingering in her hair. She had clearly just teleported over from the docks.

"I saw you running off so quickly and knew you were coming here," Jaina explained. "What happened to those three Rangers?"

"The worst-case scenario I predicted has happened," Deren said lightly, as though discussing the weather. "If you want to save them, bring them here. I need to personally determine whether they can be cured."

Sylvanas bit her lip and nodded, then quickly left with Vereesa. Deren rose from his chair, stretched lazily, and loosened up before asking Jaina, who was still standing nearby, "Did you bring any Arcane Crystals?"

"Yes, yes." Upon hearing Deren's question, Jaina hurriedly took out a handful of Arcane Crystals. They were commonly used by mages to replenish magic power in case of unexpected mana depletion. They could be considered a lifesaving measure.

Seeing the female mage's flustered state, Onyxia said unhappily, "Calm down. This isn't a Dragon Lair."

Chromie looked completely unconcerned as she mocked, "There are two dragons here!"

"Tch!" the Black Dragon Princess snorted in displeasure.

They did not wait long before Sylvanas returned, and the three afflicted Rangers were carried in as well. Deren stepped forward to examine the elves suspected of suffering a Mana Addiction episode. It was indeed terrifying. The moment anyone approached, the three let out beastlike roars. If they had not been tightly bound in iron chains, they would have risen and attacked.

Deren took an Arcane Crystal from Jaina and placed it before the elderly elf. He immediately began greedily absorbing its magic power, looking utterly blissful. The other two elves beside him became eager to try as well.

"Mana Addiction." Deren's voice was especially clear in the silent room. "More precisely, magical dependency."

Sylvanas's cloak stirred without wind. "Explain."

Deren gestured for everyone to step back and watched the three elves hungrily absorb the crystal's energy. The frenzy on Liandral Mingyi's face gradually subsided. She curled into a ball and began sobbing like a child who had done something wrong.

"After Quel'Thalas's Sunwell was corrupted, you lost your source of magic." Deren pointed at the three elves. "But the bodies of High Elves have been steeped in magic for thousands of years. Every cell craves magical power. It's like—"

"Like a dwarf quitting alcohol," Onyxia suddenly interrupted. She shrugged beneath Sylvanas's murderous glare. "It's just an analogy."

Deren nodded. "Ordinary elves can still ease it through meditation, but these..." He pointed at the old scholar's burned fingertips. "They are mages, Arcane Archers, magisters—magic has long become their instinct." As he spoke, he put away the Arcane Crystal and returned it to Jaina.

Vereesa suddenly rushed in front of him. "Then let them absorb more!"

"And then?" Deren held down her hand. "This crystal can last them a few days at most. What happens after that? Go beg in Dalaran?" He turned to Sylvanas. "What do you think your Prince and those nobles are doing now? They're also using expensive Arcane Crystals to ease their Mana Addiction. Jaina may casually pull out a handful of Arcane Crystals, but the value of each one is enough to bankrupt a noble in Stormwind City. The wealth behind her is supported by her three identities: Dalaran archmage, Princess of Kul Tiras, and ruler of Theramore. Without Quel'Thalas, how long can your elven Prince and nobles keep this up?"

The Windrunner Sisters remained silent for a long time. Jaina tugged at Deren's sleeve and asked softly, "You still have a solution, don't you?"

"Yes, what about that Arcane Gas?" Hope surged within Sylvanas as she looked at Deren eagerly.

He gave her a maternal smile. "Are you sure you want to use that? Aren't you afraid of ruining the High Elves' elegance?"

"Ugh!" Sylvanas flushed red and snapped, "At a time like this, you're still making fun of me. Hurry up and take it out. At most, I'll apologize to you first."

"What are you talking about, Sister? Is there another way to treat Mana Addiction?" Vereesa asked anxiously.

"Don't ask. Stand aside." Sylvanas had no time to explain to her sister. She ran to Deren, sincerely bowed to him, and said, "Deren Losen, please find a way to save my people."

Deren nodded and handed the Crystal Vial containing the gas to Jaina. "Use a spell to slowly guide the gas in the vial for them to inhale."

Having studied Arcane Gas several times already, Jaina naturally had experience. Standing far away from the three frenzied elves, she removed the stopper and used a small wind spell to slowly direct the gas within toward their noses. The instant the elves inhaled the mist, their facial muscles abruptly relaxed, followed by hysterical laughter.

"Hahaha... Silvermoon City's spires... look like carrots!" Eloras laughed until tears and snot streamed down his face, his chains clattering wildly. Yet shockingly, when the ten minutes of laughter ended, more than half the bloodshot veins in his eyes had faded. After a period of panting, his sanity slowly returned.

Deren put away the flask. "The ridiculous Arcane Gas can temporarily block the nerves' craving for magic. Though it treats the symptoms rather than the cause..."

"But it should be cheaper than Arcane Crystals," Sylvanas coldly finished. Looking at her recovering people, she suddenly grabbed Deren by the collar. "Where's the formula?"

Onyxia's Dragon Awe erupted in an instant, forcing Sylvanas back three steps. "Watch your—"

"Fine." Deren straightened his collar, his tone frighteningly calm. "But why should I give it to you?"

Vereesa drew her sword and pressed it against Deren's throat. "You're taking advantage of a crisis!"

"Then what are you doing now? Aren't you using force to coerce me as well?" Deren asked disdainfully.

"Vereesa!" Sylvanas sharply stopped her, though fury burned in her eyes as well. She asked Deren in a low voice, "What exactly do you want before you are willing to save my people?"

Deren gently pushed Vereesa away. "Jaina's grain, my potions, Theramore's land—nothing is free." He pointed toward the towering city walls outside the window. "How could you think you can obtain anything at will without giving anything in return?"

The old scholar Sarissell suddenly struggled into a sitting position, his hoarse voice echoing through the room. "We... were once children of the sun..."

"The sun has already fallen." Deren crouched down until he was eye level with the old elf. "You have nothing now. Face reality!"

"Stop circling around it. State your terms!" Sylvanas coldly interrupted Deren. "As long as it is something I can do, I will agree."

"It isn't difficult. Have your people swear to become citizens of Theramore. No longer elves that a Prince or noble can take away with a single word," Deren said blandly.

Vereesa shouted in a low voice, "We cannot betray Quel'Thalas! Prince Kael'thas—"

Deren sneered. "Will your Prince care about these people suffering from Mana Addiction? Or is he already unable to save himself? Besides, have you forgotten? You owe me two favors. Who saved you from Silvermoon City? Who has a way to ease your Mana Addiction?"

"Kael'thas cannot care for every surviving elf, and Dalaran is not a place where we can remain for long." Sylvanas's voice seemed to come from far away. "We must consider a way out for ourselves."

Angry tears glimmered in Vereesa's eyes. "So we should submit to humans? Become their dependents?"

"We are not submitting." Sylvanas's voice was low but resolute. "We are trying to survive."

Vereesa suddenly staggered back a step, as if stabbed. "You've changed, Sister. The Sylvanas Windrunner of the past would rather die in battle than bow her head to humans!"

Sylvanas's fingers trembled faintly, but her voice remained cold. "The Silvermoon City of the past still existed."

Vereesa's sword fell to the floor with a clang. Her beautiful face twisted. "Then I'd rather return to Dalaran!" With that, she ran out.

Sylvanas did not pursue her. Instead, she said to Jaina, "Remember your promise. I can lead my people in swearing loyalty to you, but before Kael'thas, you must also protect us from being forced into becoming slaves of the nobles again."

"Rest assured, you are only swearing loyalty to this city! Without Quel'Thalas, Kael'thas and the exiled nobles can barely protect themselves. Would they really wage war against me over a few Rangers and commoners like you?" Jaina was delighted that Deren had proposed such terms to bind these proud elves. Her gaze toward him was filled with gratitude, prompting Onyxia to snort.

Sylvanas gave Deren a deep look, then led her people away with the three elves who had recovered from Mana Addiction. Jaina teleported away as well, needing to arrange a great many things for what came next.

Onyxia stared at the place where Jaina had vanished, then suddenly whispered to Deren, "You saw this coming?"

Deren rubbed the Crystal Vial without answering.

"They need real freedom," Deren thought for a moment before saying softly. "Not to be slaves who must offer themselves up whenever some Prince or noble gives an order."

Deren took a crystal glass from the wine cabinet, amber liquid sloshing within it. "They work so hard to establish a settlement, then a noble arrives and can claim everything for himself. All the effort Theramore invested in the early stages goes down the drain. Even if they are willing, Theramore is not."

The Black Dragon Princess took the glass and asked with a grin, "You're so good to Jaina. Want me to bring the two of you together?"

"Tch! We're only allies," Deren explained with a straight face.

"What about those two female elf sisters? I see that you treat them quite well too," Onyxia asked, tapping Deren's chest with her finger.

To her surprise, Deren grabbed her finger and held it in his palm, saying affectionately, "Even the two of them together cannot compare to a single finger of my Oni."

The Black Dragon rarely blushed, but she did now. She turned away, too embarrassed to look at him.

"Oh, oh, oh, what game are you two playing?" Just as the atmosphere between them grew ambiguous, the tactless Bronze Dragon crawled out of a Time Rift.

"You damned dwarf, what are you here for?" Onyxia angrily demanded.

Chromie kicked her little legs as she jumped to the ground, looking busy and drenched in sweat. "There's a problem with the Timeline. I'm being interrogated by the boss. Deren's Arcane Gas caused the Timeline to branch."

"What impact could that ridiculous stuff possibly have?" the Black Dragon Princess asked curiously.

"It has a huge impact. That High Elf Prince might go inhale the ridiculous Arcane Gas and become a ridiculous Prince. He was originally supposed to inhale Fel Energy." Chromie explained helplessly.

"Fel Energy? Can that be inhaled? Wouldn't that turn someone into a demon?" The Black Dragon was so startled that even her tail emerged.

"Exactly. But in the Timeline without this gas, he led a group of subordinates suffering from Mana Addiction, and in order to survive, they all went to inhale Fel Energy. In the end, they all turned into demons." Chromie was numb by now. Ever since she had followed Deren, the Timeline had collapsed beyond recognition.

Onyxia fell into thought and asked Deren, "Could this be your goal? Saving the Prince who went down the wrong path?"

Deren and Chromie looked at each other without answering.

Second update. Hope you all like it. Please vote and bookmark!