"Hateful Liar"

Of course, the idea of a "ship that could fly" was cool enough, but it was also a little unrealistic. Liam didn't have a clear understanding of how powerful mages were. However, in another set of memories, even a magical prodigy like Jaina couldn't do something like that until she was in her forties. Liam couldn't wait that long.

Right now, he was only considering one thing: whether he should make a trip to Kul Tiras. Whenever anyone mentioned the sea in Azeroth, the human kingdom of Kul Tiras was impossible to ignore.

The Tidesages there could guide ships, dispel mists, and bestow special blessings that let vessels sail like the wind. Even ordinary sailors there could row a small boat as if it were flying, so a place that produced professional seafarers like that was one he couldn't afford to miss. Especially a flashy navigator like a Tidesage—even if he had to tie one up and bring him along.

At the main gate of Lordaeron City, before the elegant marble steps, Liam finally got his wish and laid eyes on the legendary city of Lordaeron.

Unlike the "Ruins of Lordaeron" that would later be reduced to the remains of its royal palace, Lordaeron was now a vast city, far larger than Stormwind City. With hundreds of thousands of permanent residents, it was also the most populous city in the human kingdoms.

But to Liam, who had memories of cities with populations in the tens of millions, none of that seemed particularly impressive. Still, it would take a long time to explore a city this size.

After finding a place that looked clean, Liam settled in for the time being. His daily routine from then on was to wander around and ask about the chances of setting sail.

As expected, Liam learned from the locals about a place that didn't exist at all in his memories: Lordaeron Port.

It was on the westernmost coast of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, west of Silverpine Forest, in a small valley between a range of mountains. A natural harbor, it was the only outlet to the sea for the entire kingdom. Though geographical constraints kept it from growing very large, it was the sole route for the Kingdom of Lordaeron's maritime trade.

This port hadn't appeared in the world from Liam's memories, but other information in his mind told him it was the Kingdom of Lordaeron's largest military harbor.

It was the thirteenth year after the opening of the Dark Portal. Seven years later, in the "twentieth year of the Dark Portal," Arthas Menethil would order a northern expedition to Northrend after the massacre at Stratholme. Elite troops from across the kingdom would assemble at Lordaeron Port within forty-eight hours. Under the leadership of the "good prince beloved by the people," they would take their first step down a road from which there was no return.

"Too bad about Gilneas's geographical position. If it could be developed..." Liam didn't care what happened to that idiot in the future. He didn't yet have the influence to get involved in something like that.

As a prince, the first thing Liam thought of was Gilneas's long coastline. Compared to it, a port squeezed into a narrow gap like Lordaeron Port was hardly worth mentioning. If they could solve the problem of Biting Reef, or find some excellent navigators, they might even challenge Kul Tiras's status as a "seafaring kingdom."

After all, no matter how advanced Kul Tiras's sailing technology was, it was still only an island nation. It couldn't compare to Gilneas, backed by an entire continent.

But that was all for later. Liam first had to build up his own maritime power. Otherwise, there was no point in discussing any of it.

Now that he had a goal, all that remained was to wait for Wilton to come meet him. Liam had nothing to do each day, so he wandered the streets, taking in the sights and people of Lordaeron.

But one day, as he walked down the street, he happened to run into someone he never expected to see again so soon...

As he strolled through the streets of Lordaeron, taking in the human atmosphere so different from that of the later Undercity, Liam was in an excellent mood.

After getting used to living in seclusion in the valley, he found that visiting a bustling city every now and then had its own special charm.

With no sense at all that he was a stranger here, Liam wandered around, admiring the sights.

He casually snatched two bright red apples from a nearby stall, tossed a handful of copper coins onto the counter, and walked onto the main avenue leading to the heart of Lordaeron City as the vendor called out his thanks.

The apples grown in the Lordaeron region were soft and mellow, quite different from the varieties in Gilneas. They gave Liam a vivid sense of how places could differ from one another.

A finely made open carriage appeared on the road. Its purple body and mithril decorations made it look both luxurious and tasteful. The emblem on it looked familiar to Liam—not from the past dozen years, but from that other set of memories in his mind. A great anchor with a sunburst behind it—the crest of the Kingdom of Kul Tiras!

"Oh no. It can't be this much of a coincidence!" Liam was startled. A carriage like that, bearing the emblem of Kul Tiras, made its passenger's identity all but certain. He turned to slip away, but a crisp female voice rang out behind him.

"You hateful liar! You've come to Lordaeron again. What lies are you planning to make up this time?!"

Hearing that voice, Liam could only smile wryly to himself, regretting that he hadn't thrown out a handful of "flash powder" and fled in the confusion.

Now that she'd recognized him, it was too late to run. Liam could only turn around with a smile plastered on his face, look up at the girl in the carriage, and wave, his grin impossibly "sincere."

"What a coincidence! You're in Lordaeron too? Well... I've got somewhere to be. Let's talk next time."

The carriage, which had been moving at a leisurely pace, stopped at the girl's words. Liam looked up to see a graceful blonde girl standing in it. Her eyes were bright, and the lively smile she usually wore had turned slightly angry at the sight of him.

The way she strode toward Liam showed that she was accustomed to riding horses and going on long excursions. The skin on either side of her nose was lightly tanned, too, a sign that she often spent time outdoors. She was clearly an active sort.

She wasn't yet the Ice Queen known as the "Harbinger of War." Her petite frame still carried the warmth and vitality unique to a sixteen-year-old girl. Her long golden hair hung lazily to her shoulders, not yet turned snow-white and cold by the passage of time. Her pair of azure eyes shone brightly; even as she glared at him with a hint of anger, they held an irresistible charm.

She was the "Daughter of the Sea," the Pearl of Kul Tiras, and the youngest daughter of Daelin Proudmoore—Jaina Proudmoore!

From the girl's reaction, this clearly wasn't the first time Liam had run into her...