Helping Out

The meeting ended on a sour note. Even Zul'ra Jin, as a guest, had to endure their sour faces. He could only hurry after Rasorius, stop him, and ask what exactly had happened in Darnassus.

Rasorius said nothing in response to Zul'ra Jin's question. He led him straight outside Darnassus. The city was fused with the natural forest—the forest itself was the city—and it looked exceedingly flammable.

Setting aside the fire hazard for now, Zul'ra Jin followed Rasorius beyond Darnassus and found the surroundings in utter disarray. The gloomy air was thick with miasma. Fallen leaves piled upon the ground reeked of decay. Poisonous mushrooms and thornbushes grew everywhere, while green lights flickered in the dark woods—the gazes of twisted forest sprites.

"What exactly is going on here?" Zul'ra Jin could not help being astonished at the desolate scene outside Darnassus.

Zul'ra Jin personally held druidic teachings in high regard, because they were full of understanding and practical application of nature. Though druids were not widespread among the Horde, they still used druidic magic to manage agriculture, industry, and the environment quite well. How had the Kaldorei, who excelled in the ways of the druids, turned the land outside Darnassus into such a state?

"It has been like this ever since Teldrassil was planted. This place is like Felwood—it has been cursed." Rasorius wore an utterly exhausted expression. Had the Kaldorei had it easy? Nordrassil had been nearly destroyed, stripping them of immortality and health. Now Teldrassil had been cursed as well, and they were close to losing even a place to settle down.

"Then why not purify it as you did Felwood, or break the curse?" Zul'ra Jin asked in confusion. Felwood had been purified through forceful measures; what a fine precedent that was!

"It's useless. We tried, but