Liadrin's Change
After Zul'ra left, Liadrin told Astalor about her conversation with M'uru. Of course, she kept the details about Kael'thas to herself, because although Astalor wasn't a royalist, as one of the first to come into contact with M'uru and study the Light, he was inclined towards the royalists and was trusted by them. ☮♕ 💘ඏ
As things stand, while Kael'thas has repeatedly disappointed the people, things are far from irreconcilable. Moreover, Quel'Thalas needs a leader, and Liadrin only harbors suspicions about him, so she will not rashly reveal information that could cause unrest.
Liadrin only mentioned the possibility of the Sin'dorei's corruption, and the things Zul'ra instructed her on, including reforming the faith in the Light, stopping the exploitation of M'uru, and helping him.
Astalor had no objection to the reforms regarding the faith in the Light; these were matters that needed to be resolved anyway. It was understandable that Liadrin, as the current head of the Blood Knights, would raise the issue. However, he expressed doubts about the matter concerning M'uru.
"Would that Amani Trolls be so kind?" Although Astalor felt guilty towards M'uru, this guilt remained only in his heart. He would not easily compromise on M'uru's matter, even with Zul'ra's promise to lend out the Sacred Pool.
M'uru is the current energy source for the Blood Knights of Quel'Thalas. Once they lose the supply of the Light from him, the Blood Knights will become useless. Although Zul'ra promised to lend the light of the Sacred Pool, what belongs to others will always belong to others.
"I don't understand Zul'ra Jin's thinking, but we can't continue to treat M'uru like this. Although the Light around him has never weakened, it's a fact that he's in great pain. What will we do when he dies?" Liadrin didn't refute Astalor's doubts, but instead pointed out something else.
The Light emanating from M'uru seemed inexhaustible. Although the Sin'dorei engineers detected no weakening of the Light, M'uru's continued resistance indicated that he was conscious and alive. And the living must eventually die. Once he died, where would the Blood Knights find new energy?
"I will pass this problem on to Master Rommath and His Highness Lor'themar." Astalor was somewhat troubled. The question raised by Liadrin was indeed one they needed to address. The Sunwell was destroyed, and there was no reason for M'uru to remain eternal.
"Until then, we can't treat M'uru like that anymore." Seeing that Astalor had agreed, Liadrin turned to M'uru, who was bound to the platform by a magical field, and spoke up.
"This means the Blood Knights ' training will have to come to a standstill." Astalor frowned slightly. In the current special circumstances, is reducing military equipment really a good thing?
"The essence of this issue is still about religious reform. I will draw up a plan. In addition, I believe we can ask King of the Amani for help. He gave us very good advice, and I think there must be some purpose behind it!"
Liadrin quickly calculated in her mind. She was grateful, and the King of the Amani had given her very good advice. He certainly had his own motives, but that didn't matter. If he had his own needs, he would be even more helpful to Quel'Thalas.
"No help is ever given for free." Astalor was somewhat frustrated. For the past few thousand years, they had regarded the Trolls as despicable enemies, but now they had to accept their help, which would require them to pay a price, and they would also have to be grateful to them.
"Precisely because he has a need, he needs to help us even more; otherwise, his efforts will be like water scooped up in a basket, and we cannot expect their help without expecting anything in return." Liadrin's expression was very serious. Only the Sin'dorei themselves could save the Sin'dorei and Sin'dorei fate.
"Liadrin..." Astalor looked at the Countess with some surprise. He noticed that the Countess seemed to have changed after communicating with M'uru with Zul'ra Jin. The former Liadrin was depressed. Even though she showed fanaticism in organizing the Blood Knights, it was only a facade. Now, however, she was showing warmth from within.
"What's wrong?" Liadrin looked back at Astalor.
"You seem different now." Astalor looked the Countess up and down, then glanced at the flickering M'uru in the distance, pondering how likely it was that Liadrin had been bewitched. If she had been bewitched, was it M'uru or that Trolls who did it?
"It's different now." Liadrin raised her hands involuntarily as she listened to Astalor's words. If it weren't mentioned, she wouldn't have noticed that she seemed to have really changed. Was it because of her interactions with M'uru and Zul'ra Jin?
"Yes, it's definitely different now." Liadrin thought about her conversations with M'uru and Zul'ra Jin, the possible fall of the Sin'dorei, Quel'Thalas's past prosperity and present ruins, and her gaze hardened.
"Times have changed, Astalor, the Sin'dorei. We absolutely cannot accept that fate. Only we ourselves can save us." Liadrin turned her gaze to Astalor without hesitation, resolutely uttering her innermost thoughts.
"..." Countess Astalor's resolute words stirred a feeling within me, and I nodded silently.
While Liadrin was talking to Astalor, Tae'thelan had already arranged for Zul'ra to rest, returned, and the three of them went over the matter again.
"We face too many problems right now. That King of the Amani may not be trustworthy, but as Liadrin said, it's best if he actually has ulterior motives towards us, because where there is need, there is sacrifice. We can't expect to receive help for nothing. In the end, only we ourselves can save us."
After hearing the news, Tae'thelan, like Astalor, was surprised by Liadrin's change and agreed with Liadrin view that in this era, the Sin'dorei could only save themselves.
After exchanging their opinions, the three quickly reported to Lor'themar, Rommath, and other high-ranking officials in Silvermoon City. Lor'themar and the others were discussing the three requests that Zul'ra had made earlier when, before they could finish their discussion, the matter of the Blood Knights came up again.
Faced with a series of events, the attitudes of the high-ranking officials differed. The royalists, led by Rommath, did not look pleased, because in their view, after Quel'Thalas ceded the Darkwood, Amani's two subsequent demands for the port of Quel'Danas had already crossed the line, and the ruins beneath Sunstrider Isle were even more troublesome.