High Priest

Andy lay across Hilar's back, feeling the cheetah's lightning-fast speed as the scenery on either side flew past. The howling wind rushed behind them.

Gradually, Teldrassil's enormous canopy drew closer. Suddenly, the sight in the distance left Andy stunned. A row of towering tree roots stretched beyond view, standing like a wall and cutting Teldrassil off from the outside world.

"This..." Andy gaped. The original game world really couldn't be trusted.

"This is the Wall of Teldrassil. It keeps out creatures and wild beasts from beyond," Hilar said, seeming to know what Andy was thinking. "Though our Night Elf Race now practices only the Druidic ways that draw us close to nature, or trains as Rangers who live among the forests, there are still many ordinary people who can't protect themselves from every danger. That's why my teacher decided to raise this natural barrier back then—to keep the ordinary people safe."

Hilar was remarkably fast. It took her less than two hours to reach the entrance to Teldrassil. If Andy had had to walk there himself, he had no idea how long it would have taken.

"Hold on tight. We still have a ways to go once we're past this wall," Hilar said.

Andy mumbled an acknowledgment and tightened his grip. Beyond the Wall of Teldrassil lay Teldrassil itself, and there was only one gate through which to enter.

The arched gate was enormous, and a pale blue barrier like a curtain of water covered it. Hilar slowed as they approached, then carried Andy through the gate. As he passed through, Andy clearly felt the watery curtain brush over his whole body like a gentle hand. It was wonderfully soothing.

"Attention: you have been scanned!" the Monster Spirit announced in Andy's mind.

"Huh?" Andy stared blankly. "Scanned?"

"Yes. It's the product of pure magic!" the Monster Spirit explained.

"A product of magic?" Andy wondered. "Didn't magic disappear from the Elf Race after the Well of Eternity exploded? How can this gate still be magical? Are some Elves still practicing magic, or did they preserve some magical items when they built this place?"

Andy racked his brain, recalling everything he knew about Elf history. If anyone was still practicing magic or had preserved magical items, that couldn't be good. The Elves' obsession with and fervor for magic had never changed!

After passing through the magical gate, Hilar followed the path around a bend to the left, then broke into a gallop. They were heading toward the main city, Darnassus.

After nearly an hour of running, Andy could see Darnassus's stone gate. The road widened, and more people were coming and going.

A cheetah carrying a little boy dashed into the city. The sight drew no curious looks from passersby. Clearly, everyone here was used to it.

"Where are we going?" Andy asked Hilar as she stopped.

"First, we'll find my senior apprentice brother and explain the situation. Then he can take us to see the priest," Hilar said. "My senior brother and I can both use healing spells, but we have to report it to the priest beforehand."

Andy nodded, thinking that even after the chaos of the High Elves and the upheaval of the world, the Elf Race still hadn't shed its strict hierarchy. Malfurion was their leader now, but he wondered if the High Priest was Tyrande.

Hilar shifted back into human form and led the way to the place where she trained.

"Big Sister Hilar, where did your teacher, Lord Malfurion, go?" Andy asked, turning his head.

"Never call him 'Lord' in front of my teacher. It'll remind him of things from a long time ago, and he won't be happy," Hilar said. "You can call him Master or Leader."

Hilar turned a street corner and continued, "My teacher left Teldrassil. I heard something went wrong in the Eastern Kingdoms, so he went over to that continent to see what was happening."

"The Eastern Kingdoms?" Andy's heart skipped a beat. "The human lands? What happened?"

Hilar looked at Andy curiously and asked, "Are you that interested in what's happening in the human lands? Wait, how does someone as young as you even know about humans?"

Andy secretly curled his lip, thinking that he knew far more than that.

"Apparently, some mage caused trouble, and there's a war going on or something," Hilar said. "That's what I heard from my senior brother."

Andy nearly sucked in a sharp breath. A mage had caused trouble! Medivh! This time, he could only be surprised in his own mind. His mention of humans had already made the Elf girl suspicious.

Good heavens! What era was this? Medivh had opened the Dark Portal, which meant the Orcs were already attacking the human kingdoms! Lost in thought, Andy stood frozen in place.

"What's wrong?" Hilar asked. "Why do you look so pale?"

"Oh, I'm fine!" Andy didn't dare show any more signs that something was wrong. "I was just worried the war might spread to this continent."

"Don't worry!" Hilar laughed. "My teacher will take care of everything!"

Andy couldn't help sighing to himself. She certainly had confidence in her teacher! But the truth was, once the Eastern Kingdoms fell, Kalimdor wouldn't be safe either!

"Ah, look at us, chatting all the way here!" Hilar said. "Come on, let's go in!"

Andy followed Hilar into the place where they trained. It looked like a great garden, with lush green grass and flowers in full bloom!

"Senior Brother!" Hilar called. "Senior Brother! Are you here?"

Hilar searched from one end to the other, front to back, but couldn't find her senior brother. Andy wandered around the garden by himself. He had never seen any of the trees or flowers here. Everything was new to him.

"Growl..." A low growl came from behind Andy. He shuddered. How could he run into a wild beast here, too? He turned around trembling, and found a bear glaring at him with enormous eyes, baring its teeth.

Andy stumbled backward and landed on his bottom. The bear was huge—bigger than any he had seen at the zoo in his previous life! The creatures of Azeroth really were on another level!

"Hilar!" Andy shouted, squeezing his eyes shut.

Hilar was wondering where her senior brother had gone when she heard Andy cry out. Why did his voice sound like he was trembling? She didn't think there could be any danger here. That was impossible!

"Senior Brother?" Hilar ran out and saw a huge bear scrutinizing Andy.

The bear glanced over, then shook all over and rose upright, transforming back into a man.

"Senior Brother, were you practicing?" Hilar ran over. "Look at you—you scared him half to death!"

"Senior Brother?" Andy wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, thinking, Why do these Druids always like to turn into beasts and scare people?

"Who is he?" the senior brother asked. "Don't you know what the teacher said? Don't bring just anyone here!"

"He's different!" Hilar said. Then she pulled her senior brother aside and explained Andy's situation to him.

"I see..." the senior brother murmured. He turned back to Andy and said, "I'm Andrew. A priest will have to decide what to do about your situation. After our midday rest, I'll take you to see the priest."

Andy hurriedly thanked him. He really hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.

"Andrew, shouldn't you be training? What are you doing at the Temple of Elune?" A young female Elf guard blocked the way at the entrance to the priest's hall.

"I, uh... I..." Andrew scratched his head awkwardly.

"Big Sister Hilar, what's wrong with Senior Brother Andrew?" Andy asked.

Hilar wore a mischievous grin. "This is Weiwei, a Moon Guard of the Temple of Elune. They say she's Senior Brother's dream girl!"

"Ahem!" Andrew shot Hilar a glare. If she kept talking nonsense, Weiwei would blow her top!

"Weiwei, the High Priest wants them to come in," said a young priest in ceremonial robes as he came out.

"Yes!" Weiwei stepped aside and looked away from Andrew. Andrew smiled awkwardly and greeted Weiwei, then led Andy and Hilar into the Temple of Elune.

"High Priest, I..." Andrew began to explain to the High Priest seated on the raised platform, but she raised a hand to stop him.

"I know. I know about this child," the High Priest said in an exceptionally gentle voice. Andy felt soothed just listening to her.

"Andrew, Hilar's Rejuvenation should be enough to handle this. Arrange a time for them to go and return as quickly as possible," the High Priest said.

"Yes!"

"Go outside with Hilar. I want to speak with him," the High Priest said.

Andrew bowed deeply and led Hilar out of the Temple of Elune, leaving her looking puzzled.

"Andy, I know who you are!" the High Priest said. "I learned of your arrival from God!"

Andy felt a surge of unease. What did she mean, she knew him? And what did she mean, from God?

"High Priest, I..."

"You don't need to be nervous." The High Priest turned around. "The High Priest of our Elf Race's Temple of Elune is chosen personally by the Moon Goddess, Elune. She is the one closest to God, and the Moon Goddess brought me word of you!"

Andy looked up at the mysterious woman, and his eyes widened in an instant. "It's you, Tyrande! You're already the High Priest!"