The Dead Are Gone

"You really do know who I am!" Wisdom gleamed in Tyrande's pale blue eyes.

Andy looked at the spiritual leader of the Night Elves, too shocked to put his feelings into words.

"Of course I do. You're the High Priest. Every Elf knows who you are, and I'm no exception!" Andy didn't think Tyrande could see through to the fact that he'd come from another world. She'd have to be incredible to do that.

"Hehe." Tyrande shook her head and smiled as she descended the steps. "I told you, I'm the person closest to the Moon Goddess. The Moon Goddess has already told me you were coming. You're not from this world!"

A storm raged in Andy's heart. Was this elf an incredible actress, or was the so-called Moon Goddess really that powerful?

"I..." Andy found himself at a loss for words.

"Now, could you tell me about yourself?" Tyrande's tone was as gentle as ever, and her voice was sweet. Her watery eyes, set in her fair face, nearly overwhelmed Andy's senses. Only then did he understand why Malfurion and Illidan had fought over Tyrande. Her wisdom aside, her beauty alone was enough to make anyone lose themselves.

Andy studied Tyrande for a moment, trying to figure out where to begin. Should he tell her outright that he'd come from another world, or make up a story?

"In fact, the Moon Goddess foresaw what would happen in this world: the upheaval at the Well of Eternity, and the war currently raging in the Eastern Kingdoms," Tyrande said softly.

"Then why didn't you stop it?" Andy stared at her.

"We were powerless to prevent what happened back then, and we dare not interfere in the war now." Tyrande brushed back her slightly disheveled dark green hair. "Though we've been in contact with humans for a long time, those human nobles who cling to their old ways still regard us as outsiders!"

Andy sighed inwardly. There was nothing to be done. Humans had grown complacent after expanding from small settlements into the kingdoms they now ruled.

"The Moon Goddess also foresaw some things that may happen in the future, but the vision was vague. There was only one detail..." Tyrande paused and glanced up at Andy.

Andy's heart jolted. "What?"

"The Moon Goddess said..." Tyrande's expression was devout. "Someone who comes from the sea can become the protector of the Elves, and may even protect the entire world!"

Tyrande looked Andy in the eye and said slowly, "You come from the sea, and the timing is exactly right!"

Andy's first reaction was to let out a quiet sigh of relief, then laugh three times. Of course, he didn't dare laugh out loud.

He'd known it. If Tyrande had actually figured out he'd come from another world, then these people would be absurdly powerful. As it turned out, she only knew he'd come from the sea.

"Are you sure you're not joking?" Andy put aside his thoughts. "I can't even protect myself right now. A level-two beast is enough to scare me half to death. How could I become anyone's protector?"

"It may only be temporary. Everyone needs time to grow!" Tyrande considered this for a moment. "And the Moon Goddess has only given me a hint. We'll have to wait and see what happens."

Andy didn't expect to become the protector of the world, as the High Priest had said. He only hoped he could live safely in this world. At the same time, he was grateful to the old creator. At least he hadn't tossed Andy straight into the Eastern Kingdoms.

Tyrande noticed Andy's troubled expression and assumed he was worried about the old man he'd mentioned. She laid a slender hand on his shoulder and said gently, "All right, don't worry. Andrew has made the arrangements. He's Malfurion's eldest disciple, and I've given him instructions. Everything will go smoothly."

"Someone!" Tyrande called softly.

A moment later, the Moon Guard named Weiwei entered and knelt on one knee. "High Priest, what are your orders?"

"All right, Weiwei, you don't need to be so formal. Take Andy to see whether Andrew is ready. If he is, tell them to set out as soon as possible. Don't delay!" Tyrande smiled.

"Yes, High Priest!" Weiwei bowed, then gestured for Andy to follow.

Weiwei would have preferred never to see Andrew again, but she wouldn't disobey Tyrande's orders. To the Night Elves, Tyrande was like a goddess. Countless people had received her selfless blessings. Though those blessings couldn't directly extend their lives, and she couldn't bestow them freely, they were still enough to spare the Elf Race from many illnesses and pains.

"Andrew, are you ready?" Weiwei asked coldly when she found him outside the Temple of Elune.

"Yeah. Hilar's gone to get Cooper," Andrew replied with a smile.

Weiwei nodded and turned away without another word. Andrew watched her go, his neck craned after her.

Andrew had no idea why Weiwei was always so cold to him. Was he really that unlikeable, or was he just not handsome enough?

"Big brother, I'm back!" Hilar's voice came from above Andy.

Andrew looked up. "Good. Hurry down and bring Andy with you. We're leaving!"

Andy glanced up in curiosity. Good heavens, was that a Hippogryph?

A huge bird with a wingspan of over three meters and dark green feathers flew overhead, beating its wings as it descended.

The gusts from its wings were every bit as powerful as those from a helicopter in Andy's old world.

The Hippogryph had an enormous bird's head with a hooked beak, and powerful legs with massive talons beneath its chest and belly.

"Come on, climb up!" Hilar called to the wide-eyed Andy.

Andy looked at the enormous Hippogryph, which stood more than twice his height. He reached out, grabbed Hilar's delicate hand as she extended it down to him, then used it to pull himself up behind her.

"All right, let's go!" Andrew waved his hand, transformed into a giant bird, and flew beside the Hippogryph.

Andy was nervous during his first ride on a Hippogryph. He clung tightly to Hilar in front of him, making her blush. Hilar was only fifteen or sixteen, and being held by a boy who was still a child herself made her feel awkward.

The Hippogryph flew swiftly. Andy had spent several hard days making the journey on foot, but after half a day in the air, he could already see the edge of the seaside village of Rut'theran.

What surprised Andy even more was Andrew. Despite the Hippogryph's speed, Andrew's transformed bird self didn't fall behind. He flew alongside them with ease.

"Old Man Dick! Old Man Dick!" Before the Hippogryph even landed, Andy began shouting.

The villagers watched in amazement as the Hippogryph descended slowly. Andy and a young Elf girl jumped down, while a nearby bird suddenly transformed into a person before their eyes.

"Andy!" Uncle Niwa hurried over, his face full of sorrow.

"Uncle Niwa! Is Old Man Dick all right?" Andy asked anxiously.

"Old Man Dick..." Niwa glanced at Andy.

Andy saw Niwa's expression and sensed something was wrong. Shouting, he rushed into the old man's little house. Hilar stared at Uncle Niwa in confusion, but he only shook his head helplessly.

"No!" A cry of anguish came from inside the house. Hilar looked startled and hurried in.

Hilar came up behind Andy and saw his thin frame shaking silently. She glanced at the old Elf lying on the bed. His face was ashen; he had clearly been dead for some time.

Andrew came in too. He looked at Old Man Dick and shook his head helplessly. There was no point in casting a spell on him now.

"Andy, I'm sorry," Niwa said from the doorway. "Before Old Man Dick passed, the thing he worried about most was you. He had a brief moment of clarity."

"In the end, he didn't live long enough to see you return. He passed away last night." Niwa furtively wiped away a tear before continuing. "When he heard you'd gone to find a cultivator for him, he was relieved, but he was also worried you might get hurt."

Andy could no longer hold back. He let out a heartbroken wail. He'd spent only a little over a year with Old Man Dick, but the old man's care and love were something Andy would never forget for the rest of his life.

"Andy..." Hilar crouched beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Alas, the dead are gone," Andrew said softly. "Andy, don't grieve too much. I'm sure Old Man Dick wouldn't want to see you like this."

Andy got up, still sobbing, and walked to the doorway. He bowed deeply to Niwa and said sincerely, "Thank you, Uncle Niwa!"

At dusk, with the sun about to set, a funeral pyre was built on the beach outside Rut'theran Village. Old Man Dick's body lay atop it.

As Andy wept bitterly, the blazing fire reddened half the night sky. Under everyone's puzzled gaze, Andy respectfully knelt and kowtowed to Old Man Dick three times. In Azeroth, this wasn't a customary way to send off the dead.

"Andy, come with us. Let's go back to Darnassus," Hilar said.

Andy glanced at her, then nodded silently. He gazed up at the stars scattered across the night sky, and tears ran down his face again.

The three of them spent the night in Rut'theran. The next day, Andy said goodbye to everyone and prepared to return with Andrew.

"Andy, wait!" Niwa shouted, running toward them from a distance with a large cloth bundle in his arms. "Andy, Old Man Dick asked me to give you this. He said you must never lose it. It's been in his family for generations!"

Andy took it and opened the bundle, revealing a bow. Its body was black, and its powerful string gleamed with a dark sheen. Curved blades at either end of the bow's limbs flashed coldly in the sunlight.

"The Eaglehorn Bow?" Andrew frowned.

Andy glanced at him, then carefully put it away and tied the bundle shut. It was the only thing Old Man Dick had left him, and Andy would protect it with his life.