Heading to the Trial
Unable to refute Zul'ra's words, and faced with the undeniable fact that the Scarab Wall couldn't be breached without the Scepter of the Scepter of the Shifting Sands, Bolvar and Brann had no choice but to reluctantly accept their orders and head to the mountains southeast of Tanaris to face the test. 💜💜 👺🐳
Early the next morning, before the sun had even risen, the entire camp began to tremble. One by one, knights emerged from their tents, donned their armor, led their warhorses, and brought ample water and food. They then formed a long procession and began to enter the desert of Tanaris.
Compared to the main force, which included some Kaldorei and was preparing to head to the front lines, Zul'ra quietly left the ranks with Bolvar, Brann, and Shandris to undergo trials in order to obtain the Scepter of the Shifting Sands from the dragons.
Before their departure, command of the main force was temporarily handed over to Shandris's lieutenant, Toranicus Moonspear, and Bolvar's lieutenant, General Marcus Jonathan. Zul'ra also ordered Tarecgosa and the Kaldorei troops to proceed first and deliver supplies to the front lines.
Zul'ra had also told Toranicus about her identity beforehand to avoid her being ostracized. The Kaldorei also disliked High Elves and Blood Elves, but they respected dragons.
"Didn't you tell me to follow you on the battlefield?" Tarecgosa was particularly dissatisfied with Zul'ra's decision to renege on her promise.
"The war hasn't even started yet! And supplies must be sent to the front lines first. This matter should be handled with urgency. Once you get there, meet up with Hamuul Runetotem first." Zul'ra patiently advised the Blue Dragonflight girl. This trial in the southeastern mountains of Tanaris was just a formality and nothing serious would happen. Although bringing Tarecgosa would make it easier to pass, anything could happen.
"... Alright!" The Blue Dragonflight girl was a little reluctant, but she was eventually persuaded.
"Alright, be good on your way." Zul'ra patted the girl on the shoulder, telling her to catch up with Toranicus's Kaldorei group, and then turned to meet up with Bolvar, Brann, and Shandris.
"Why not bring this lady along? Perhaps with her, we can pass the test more easily," Brann asked Zul'ra, wearing an explorer's hat, simple armor, a musket at his waist, and an axe slung over his shoulder.
"Does this count as cheating?" Zul'ra blinked and asked.
"No, since we don't even know what the test will be!" Brann shook his head and then looked at Shandris.
"I am also one of those being tested." Shandris nodded to the Dwarves. Her slender body was covered in an exquisite suit of fine armor, with several daggers tucked into her waistband and back, a full quiver of quivers hanging behind her, and a hardwood bow slung over her shoulder.
"No matter what the test is, we will pass it, right, Zul'ra Jin?" Bolvar, dressed in exquisite plate armor, with a sword and shield hanging behind him and a tall steed standing beside him, asked Zul'ra, who was standing in front of him in simple armor with a long sword at his waist.
"Of course, Commander." Zul'ra smiled at the nominal commander-in-chief of the allied forces. Unwavering belief in victory was a prerequisite for success.
"We can't do without your help. We should get going." Bolvar looked at the tall Trolls, then climbed back onto his horse and looked towards the mountain shadows to the southeast.
"Perhaps we're missing two mounts." Brann blinked and whistled. A sharp cry rang out in the sky, and a shadow fell on the sand beside him—a Gryphindin with a gleaming head and a lion's body, sharp claws, from Eagle's Gryphon Aerie Peak, Brann's pet and mount.
"I am a Warrior skilled in long-distance running." Zul'ra looked at Brann's pet mount without much thought. He could fly himself, Kulai Mao'er far more impressive than horses or Gryphon. He also kept several Worg at home, but he had left all these mounts and pets on the Eastern Kingdoms without bringing them over.
"Me too." Shandris looked at Zul'ra, her expression showing her unwillingness to be outdone.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Bolvar whistled, yanked the reins sharply, Mardum took off, kicking up a cloud of dust on the beach.
"Let's go!" Zul'ra and Shandris took off together, catching up with him at a speed no slower than Bolvar on horseback, while Brann barely managed to climb onto the back of the Gryphon Gryphindin. With a flap of the Gryphon's wings, they caught up with the three of them from the sky.
Under the gradually warming sky and taking advantage of the cool weather, the main force packed up their camp and headed southwest into the desert, while Zul'ra, along with Bolvar, Shandris, and Brann, broke away from the main force and headed southeast.
As the sun rose fully above the horizon around mid-morning, bathed in the cool morning sea breeze, the temperature on the beach began to rise gradually. When white foam appeared at the mouth of Bolvar's warhorse, the mountain in front of the four was still far away.
"When will we arrive?" Bolvar paused to rest, soothing his warhorse, and gazed with a slight headache at the distant mountain silhouettes on the sea.
"I'm afraid it's not far." Zul'ra looked at the distant mountains, feeling a bit of a headache. This was a recipe for disaster – looking at mountains and running yourself ragged!
"By the way, do we have a target, like that mountain?" Brann asked Shandris while climbing on Gryphindin's back. He was more interested in the specifics of the trial, even a hint would be helpful.
"Sorry, no." Shandris shook her head; she had only been told the destination and nothing else.
"Actually, the content of the test can be deduced from our test objectives. We need to obtain the Scepter of the Shifting Sands, start the Second War of the Shifting Sands, defeat the Insectoids, and protect the world. Therefore, the test should be aimed at whether we have the ability to participate in and command the battle." Zul'ra stretched his slightly warm body and slowly made his deductions.
"That's a good idea, but it might just be speculation. What could a test for soldiers and commanders be?" Brann said, slightly bored. Although the idea was just conjecture, they still had to consider it.
"Patience, conviction, and combat prowess—perhaps we've already stepped into the testing ground from the very beginning." Zul'ra continued to speculate. The Scepter of the Shifting Sands was crafted by the Bronze Dragons, so the reforging should also have been carried out by them. Hmm, their lair is also in Tanaris, which means that the trials the four of them are facing might also be presided over by those lunatics.
"Really?" Bolvar looked around, feeling as if a giant dragon was watching him from the shadows. Should he try to show off?
"I don't know, this is just my guess." Zul'ra looked at Bolvar, who was looking around, and shook his head with amusement. His words earned him a look of disdain from Shandris and Brann, while Bolvar was a little discouraged.