One day, while Shawn was reading in the Stormwind Library, a little girl came looking for him.
It was Vanessa.
Vanessa had a remarkable talent for being a Rogue.
From the moment the High Elf Assassin Valeera Sanguinar first saw Vanessa, she recognized her potential. After learning that Vanessa was Edwin VanCleef's only daughter, Valeera offered to take her as an apprentice and teach her Rogue skills.
Edwin VanCleef's tragic life had struck a deep chord with her.
She had once been a lonely little girl herself, with both parents dead and no one to turn to. She knew very well how hard that life was to endure, and she saw her younger self in Vanessa.
Valeera even asked a blacksmith in the Dwarven District to forge Onyxia's dragon fangs into a pair of daggers called the Fang of the Black Dragon, which she gave Vanessa as a welcoming gift.
In addition, Matthias Shaw, the leader of SI:7, also offered to become Vanessa's teacher.
Matthias had once been VanCleef's best friend. They had trained together under SI:7 since childhood. Now that his old friend was dead, he had a responsibility to care for the daughter he had left behind.
Varian Wrynn had approved all of this.
Vanessa was indeed exceptionally talented, and she was also diligent and hardworking. This both surprised and delighted Valeera and Matthias.
"Perhaps one day, you'll surpass us, and your father too, and become a Grand Professionist," Matthias had once said admiringly.
And now, Vanessa had come looking for Shawn.
"Vanessa, is there something you need?" Shawn closed his book and looked at her with a gentle expression.
Vanessa pressed her lips together without saying a word.
Shawn watched her with interest. He knew the little girl must have something on her mind, but since she