"Queen Killer"

"So that's how it was." Vincent Godfrey finally pieced together what had happened. This little prince really hasn't changed. He's too embarrassed to even ask to borrow something.

It was normal for boys to like playing with weapons, but these two guns had been passed down through Lord Godfrey's family. They had taken years to craft, using a great deal of exceptionally rare mithril. Their creation had also cost the family a favor owed to a master dwarven artisan, making them extremely valuable treasures.

Lord Godfrey wasn't worried that Liam would borrow the guns and fail to return them. A prince who had received a noble's education from childhood wouldn't do such a thing. But he had no idea that the Liam of today wasn't the same well-mannered prince as before. The memories of two lifetimes had blended together, bringing about a huge change in the young prince's personality. He still seemed like the same gentle, refined noble on the surface, but the wolfish nature within him was gradually showing through.

Still, Lord Godfrey was cautious about lending out such a family heirloom.

"These two guns are treasured heirlooms of my family. You can borrow one to play with, but as you know, I only have one daughter, and these guns are meant to be passed on to my son-in-law..."

"Don't worry, Uncle. I'll return it as soon as I can," Liam hurriedly cut off Lord Godfrey before he could say more.

Good grief. Vincent Godfrey wasn't yet the later Undead, all skin and bones. With that bear-like build, Liam couldn't imagine the chubby little girl of the Godfrey family growing up and somehow turning into a "diamond in the rough."

Lord Godfrey was decisive. After Liam tactfully made it clear that he had no intention of becoming his son-in-law, the lord promptly reduced Liam's request from borrowing two guns to just one. He also made it clear that this was a "loan," not a "gift."

Of course, he didn't know that Liam had no intention of returning the gun once he'd borrowed it...

The following afternoon, the Godfrey family's butler arrived under the guard of two sentries and carefully handed Liam a case. He repeatedly warned Liam to take good care of it and, above all, not to damage it.

After sending off the butler, who kept looking back every few steps, Liam eagerly opened the case. He wanted to see what the gun that could kill Sylvanas with a single shot was like.

Though the gun was made of mithril, a fair amount of dark iron had been mixed into it. Its body didn't glow with mithril's eerie green light. Instead, it was glossy black, while only the inlaid mechanisms showed a bright silver sheen, giving the weapon a dignified, mysterious air.

Liam examined the gun closely. As expected, no status panel appeared above it, unlike with his parrot. Clearly, his unusual ability only worked on a limited range of living creatures, and this gun was outside that range.

"It doesn't even come with bullets. What a cheapskate. I wonder how powerful it'll be with ordinary gunpowder. From now on, I'll call you 'Queen Killer.' Believe me, you'll get to see plenty more important people."

As he stroked Queen Killer, Liam sorted through his storage space. The journey to Southshore by water wasn't far, but he still needed to prepare food and fresh water. Now that he had space to store a large amount of supplies, he wasn't about to hold back. He filled it up, packing enough food to last several months and plenty of other necessities. He figured he'd have enough for the trip even if he ended up going all the way to Stormwind City.

With plenty of supplies, a firearm for protection, and the two long swords he'd had made earlier to help him learn martial arts, Liam was all set for the journey. All he needed before leaving was a small boat. At this time of year, the sea breeze blowing in from the west would carry him straight toward Southshore.

Three days later, before dawn, Liam left several letters in the manor's main hall. Then he set off on his journey away from home with Coral, who was still half asleep. A boy and a bird began their travels together.

But Liam, who had left without looking back, had no idea that two figures were watching his sailboat from afar atop the watchtower.

"Mia, why don't you ask me why I didn't stop him?"

Only after Liam's little boat had disappeared into the morning mist did Genn Greymane finally look away and turn to his wife, whose eyes were slightly red.

"If you'd wanted to stop him, you would've done it days ago. Why would you need me to say anything? Our son and you are both so stubborn. You never make things easy for anyone. It's just that Liam's never been outside the kingdom before, and now he's suddenly going off all by himself..."

Queen Mia felt sorry for her young son, but she also understood that young people needed to weather hardships. So while worrying, she gave her husband a reproachful look.

"Don't worry. I've already asked a high-ranking Druid I know to keep an eye on him for a while. A while to the Night Elves doesn't mean just a few days. Liam will be safe on his journey. As for what happens after that... well, that'll be up to him."

Queen Mia pinched her husband in annoyance. Though they were nearing forty, the couple still understood each other as well as newlyweds, a rare thing in a great noble family like theirs.

As the couple chatted, their breathless old butler climbed up the watchtower with a stack of letters. He handed them to King Genn, then stepped aside to catch his breath. The watchtower was simply too tall; climbing it was quite a challenge for an old man like him.

King Genn took the letters and examined the handwriting on the envelopes. He shook his head with a wry smile, then handed them to his wife, who was watching eagerly beside him.

"That little rascal really thought of everything. He gets to leave and enjoy some peace and quiet, while Vincent will probably come and pester me again."

Queen Mia was absorbed in the letters in her hands, so she had no time to pay attention to her husband. "This one's for you. Oh, this one's for me. And there's one for Lord Godfrey, Tess, Lorna... What's this?"

A freshly picked rose, still beaded with dew, was tucked into the letter addressed to Lorna. The envelope also bore a rather mischievous drawing of a little girl with a rose stuck in her hair.

Liam had thought of Lorna's iconic look twenty years in the future and had been seized by a playful impulse. He'd had no idea his mother would misunderstand.

"This little rascal is just like you were when you were young. He's only fourteen, and already full of tricks! You'd better have someone keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't come back from this trip with a bunch of girls in tow. I won't accept them!"

King Genn's face reddened at his wife's teasing. He could only clear his throat and let the comment pass, while secretly adding Liam to his list. If you really try anything like that, I'll break your legs.