Third Visit to Silvermoon City
After notifying the Aman'Shuli Council, Zul'ra also assessed the internal situation in Amani. The emergence of the new class consciousness indicated the rise of new class-based ideas, and even radical disagreements existed within the ruling elite. ☜✌ ♠♔
The regime within Amani is like a lake, with countless undercurrents surging beneath its calm surface. Behind this lies not only consideration of interests and power, but also the support of the Loa. Zul'ra silently reminded herself to stay alert.
After dealing with the matter of Zul'Aman, Zul'ra began preparing for his trip to Silvermoon City. This time, unlike the last time when he secretly took a girl on a trip to cause trouble, this was a politically significant visit.
Because of its significant political implications, Zul'ra's actions could not be as casual as before. Instead, Lianda first sent the message back to Silvermoon City, where Silvermoon City would formally extend the invitation. He couldn't just run off to someone else's capital city without careful consideration.
Upon receiving Lianda's message, Silvermoon City promptly extended an invitation. After all, their decision to Zul'ra to Silvermoon City was related to the problems facing the Blood Knights, as well as the future diplomacy and factional direction of Quel'Thalas.
After receiving the invitation from Silvermoon City, Zul'ra finally set off. After tidying up his clothes and appearance, he rode his great deer Kulai Mao'er and led a symbolic guard to the Dawnstar Spire.
Zul'ra had originally wanted to prepare some ceremonial regalia for himself, but unfortunately, he couldn't manage to do anything on the spot. Moreover, he would need to use a teleportation spell to get to the Dawnstar Spire, and he didn't even know what Silvermoon City would be like. So he gave up on the idea.
Without any pomp and circumstance, Zul'ra led his men to the Dawnstar Spire. With the help of the Elves mage waiting there, they were transported to the Shepherd's Gate of Silvermoon City in a flash of teleportation.
Zul'ra did not field a ceremonial guard, but Quel'Thalas did. The Shepherd's Gate had been redecorated, with red and gold ribbons hanging from the originally thick, rune-inlaid gate, red carpets spread on the ground, and magical red flowers falling from the sky.
Amidst the magical rain of flowers, Lor'themar, the regent of Quel'Thalas, along with other high-ranking officials, stood in the welcoming procession, all dressed in their finest attire, accompanied by ceremonial guards and a band. The spectacle left even the guards Zul'ra had landed in the teleportation spell somewhat bewildered.
"Welcome, welcome to Silvermoon City, Your Majesty King of the Amani." Lor'themar looked at the teleportation light that illuminated the Shepherd's Gate, and as he spoke, the Sin'dorei musicians who were waiting nearby began to play a welcoming tune.
"Thank you for the welcoming ceremony, Lor'themar, my friend, it's quite grand." Zul'ra stepped out of the teleportation spell's light, looked at the Sin'dorei with great fanfare, and walked straight to Lor'themar, nodding slightly.
"Welcome, it's necessary!" Lor'themar looked up at the Trolls before him, placing his hand on his chest in a gesture of respect. Lianda, Rommath, and the others beside him also bowed and placed their hands on their chests in salute, a gesture of respect to the king. Lor'themar didn't bow because he was now the regent representing Quel'Thalas; the others couldn't.
"But your intentions are also important." Zul'ra smiled and gestured to both sides to remove the formalities, and everyone straightened up.
"Please come into the city!" Lor'themar shook her gold and red cloak and made way for Zul'ra on the red carpet.
"Let's go together." Zul'ra politely extended his right arm, showing Lor'themar full respect, and then walked alongside him across the carpet lined with guards and Sin'dorei spectators into the city.
Just as Zul'ra and Lor'themar entered the city, the red leaves falling from the sky disappeared, replaced by fine snowflakes. As the white snow fell, Zul'ra and Lor'themar stood in the city, one tall and one short.
"It's snowing." Zul'ra looked up at the sky and reached out to catch a snowflake.
"Yes, it's snowing. Let's not linger here and head straight to the Court of the Sun!" Lor'themar looked up at the sky and couldn't help but sigh. Before the the Scourge invasion, this city hadn't seen snow for six thousand years. After losing the Sunwell, the magic of Everspring lost its power, and the country began to face the effects of various severe cold.
"Okay, thank you so much for your help this time." Zul'ra nodded when she heard Lor'themar's somewhat sentimental tone. The weather wasn't great, and Quel'Thalas had caused such a scene; she felt a little embarrassed.
"Not at all." Lor'themar felt a sense of relief upon hearing Zul'ra's slightly apologetic words, and then quickly shook her head.
Through this unspoken exchange, Lor'themar and Zul'ra's attitudes softened considerably. The two quickly crossed the city side by side and arrived at the Court of the Sun, while the people at the Shepherd's Gate dispersed as they wished.
A banquet had been prepared in the Court of the Sun, and Quel'Thalas was sparing no effort in entertaining Zul'ra, after all, he had helped the Sin'dorei in this city last time.
"Lor'themar, I salute you, and I salute your people. You have endured hardship and rebuilt your home from the ruins. This is admirable." Zul'ra raised a golden cup to Lor'themar during the banquet.
"Thank you for your respect." Lor'themar returned the gesture by raising her golden cup.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and lively conversation, the first day in Silvermoon City was spent entirely on politically significant events such as ceremonies and banquets. Zul'ra and the guards spent their nights in the living room of the Court of the Sun.
The next morning, after Zul'ra met with Lor'themar, she immediately asked to deal with the Blood Knights ' problem, which meant she wanted to see the Naaru, but Lor'themar did not immediately agree.
"Zul'ra Jin, you know that an ancient site was unearthed on Sunstrider Isle to our northwest, and we learned from the person who discovered it that you were there when the site first appeared, is that right?" Lor'themar asked with a hint of accusation.
"You heard it from Malygos!" Zul'ra wasn't surprised that news of her visit to Sunstrider Isle had leaked.
"Yes, Zul'ra Jin, I didn't mean to question you." Seeing that Zul'ra wasn't flustered, Lor'themar softened her tone slightly.
"It's alright. After all, given my status, my presence in a certain place will naturally attract attention. But I must tell you, I don't know what's beneath that ancient site, and getting there was entirely accidental." Zul'ra casually shook off her words.
"But those ancient ruins below..." Lor'themar's silvery-white eyebrows arched slightly. The ancient ruins below Sunstrider Isle had a strong voodoo style.
"Regarding the ancient ruins below, after I received your drawings, I consulted some learned people in Zul'Aman. Revealing this wouldn't be good for our relationship." Zul'ra's expression was enigmatic; the origins of the ancient ruins beneath Sunstrider Isle were indeed somewhat unexpected.
"But we have to face it eventually, don't we?" Lor'themar replied without changing his expression. The discovery of Trolls ruins beneath Sunstrider Isle was indeed not a good thing for Quel'Thalas, since these ruins were, to some extent, proof that "Amani have been an inseparable part of the world since ancient times."
"You seem quite open-minded! I'll be frank, that place is a sacred site belonging to Amani." Seeing that Lor'themar's expression remained unchanged, Zul'ra didn't keep her in suspense.
There was no more at night.