Thisalee

Kalei slept soundly throughout the day. When he rose from his bed the following night, the White Lady was already hanging in the sky, her cold, clear moonlight spilling through the window and draping the floor in a veil of silver.

Kalei dressed, washed up, and made his way to the living room, where Matt Hardwood had already prepared a meal and was waiting for him.

The table was spread with simple fare: freshly baked bread, cheese, fruit, and a pot of herbal tea.

As usual, the two ate while discussing their upcoming plans.

Matt asked, "How was your rest?"

Kalei replied, "I rested very well, Teacher. What did the Council say?"

Matt said, "I have already consulted with Dalaen. She also agrees that it is necessary to conduct a detailed reconnaissance of the location you mentioned. She has already written to Astranaar, and I believe they will soon send a high-ranking member to assist you."

Kalei said happily, "That is excellent. With a high-ranking member's help, the investigation will go much more smoothly."

Matt smiled. "The good news doesn't stop there." He took a pale green circular badge from his magic bag and handed it to Kalei, continuing, "The official appointment from the Council has come down. From this moment on, you are an official member of the Cenarion Circle. Put this on."

The badge was crafted from a special type of wood. The front was carved with a full moon, symbolizing the radiance of the Moon Goddess Elune, while the back bore the profile of the greatest Wild Demigod, the white stag Malorne, representing the power of druids and nature.

The edges of the badge featured intricate vine patterns, and a tiny emerald was embedded in the center, emitting a faint aura of natural energy.

Kalei quickly took the badge and pinned it onto his person with solemnity.

You have discovered the Cenarion Circle Badge.

The Cenarion Circle Badge itself had no practical function, but it was a symbol of one's status as a member of the Council. Possessing this badge not only marked an elevation in Kalei's status, granting him the authority bestowed by the Cenarion Circle, but also required him to fulfill certain necessary obligations periodically.

Seeing that Kalei had secured the badge, Matt nodded with satisfaction and pointed to a wooden crate in the corner of the living room. "Beyond that, the reward from the Council has also arrived. It is in that box. Go take a look for yourself; I trust it won't disappoint you."

Kalei followed his finger to see a waist-high wooden crate resting quietly against the wall, the emblem of the Cenarion Circle carved into its surface.

"Thank you, Teacher." Kalei finished his meal quickly, set down his utensils, and walked over to open the crate in the corner for a closer look.

Inside lay a finely crafted robe that emitted a faint blue glow.

Kalei picked up the robe and slowly unfolded it.

You have discovered the Druid Robe.

Name: Cenarion Circle Standard Robe

Quality: Fine

Common Effect 1: Increases mana regeneration speed by 20%.

Common Effect 2: Increases physical defense by 50%.

Common Effect 3: Increases magic resistance by 10%.

Special Effect: None

Description: A standard robe crafted by the Cenarion Circle, embroidered with an exquisite Cenarion emblem. It feels supple and exudes the scent of the forest.

Kalei's eyes lit up—it was actually a piece of Fine-quality equipment!

He stripped off his basic robe on the spot and donned the new one. He immediately felt a surge of pure natural energy swirling around him, significantly boosting his defense while providing a steady increase to his recovery.

He took a few steps around the living room, tried swinging his arms, and performed a few spellcasting motions, finding the robe both lightweight and flexible—it didn't hinder his combat movements in the slightest.

One had to admit that equipment crafted by the Night Elf was quite unique; not only was it comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, but it also automatically regulated temperature and repelled stains. It was truly an essential robe for home and travel.

With this robe, Kalei's strength had increased by at least thirty percent, if not fifty, giving him much more confidence for the mission ahead.

Watching Kalei in the robe, Matt couldn't help but sigh to himself. He remembered that back in his day, he had served the Council for a full hundred years and completed over fifty missions just to earn a robe of this quality.

Yet, Kalei had obtained it based solely on his contribution during the Furbolg crisis. He had to admit that this disciple's luck and talent far surpassed his own at that age.

After finishing their meal, the two chatted over tea while waiting for news from Astranaar.

Near noon, a series of cawing sounds suddenly drifted in from outside the window.

Kalei turned to look, only to see a massive black bird fly in through the window.

The bird's wingspan was at least two meters wide, its feathers slick and glossy, and its talons as sharp as iron hooks.

The creature used its claws to pick up a snack from Kalei's plate just like a human, tossing it into its beak.

Kalei was just about to curse at the black crow.

The bird turned its head to look at him and said, "Tastes good. Got any more?" The voice was crisp and rich with magnetism—clearly that of a woman.

Kalei asked in surprise, "You are a druid?"

The black bird laughed. "What, can't you tell? I heard you were the most promising druid the Council has recruited in hundreds of years. Heh, doesn't look like much to me."

Matt chuckled. "Lady Crow, don't tease my disciple. When it comes to shapeshifting, even some Archdruids can't spot the flaws in your form without a close look. How could a young man who just joined the Council possibly tell?"

Hearing this, the black bird seemed quite pleased. She tilted her talons and cleared her throat. "Alright, enough idle chatter. I am Thisalee Crow. The Council sent me to help you investigate that Fel Fire Valley. Who is in charge here, and when do we set off?"

Thisalee Crow—the black crow who followed the Archdruid!

Kalei had been in Azeroth for so long that he had finally encountered a celebrity.

He checked the celebrity's strength and found that while she had only cultivated as a druid, her level had already reached 59, touching the very edge of the Heroic tier.

He quickly stood up and smiled. "Greetings, Lady Crow. My name is Kalei Nightdew. I discovered the leads regarding Fel Fire Valley, so I am in charge of this reconnaissance mission. I am very happy to work with you."

Thisalee said, "Is that so? Then let's go." No sooner had she spoken than she turned, spread her wings, and took to the high sky, vanishing into the night as a Little Black dot in the blink of an eye.

"Hey, wait..." Kalei stared, dumbfounded, at the retreating figure of Thisalee. It seemed this girl had been this reckless from the very start.

Matt laughed heartily, "No need to panic, Kalei. That lady is just like that—a bit impatient. She'll be back soon enough."

Sure enough, not long after, the giant black bird plummeted from the sky like a cannonball before landing steadily on the windowsill. She tilted her head to look at Kalei and asked in a high-pitched voice, "Why aren't you moving yet?"

Kalei spread his hands, "Regrettably, Lady Crow, I haven't mastered shapeshifting yet. I can't fly like you; I have to ride a Saber to get there."

Thisalee finally understood the situation and muttered, "Troublesome." Then, a flash of light swept over her avian form, and in the blink of an eye, she transformed into a white tiger with a toned body, lustrous fur, and sharp, piercing eyes.

In the game, Druids could transform into specific forms like cheetahs, bears, moonkins, or birds, but reality was different.

According to what Kalei understood, in reality, Druid shapeshifting was a rare spell that could alter both physical and spiritual forms. As long as the caster had enough mana and a sufficient understanding of the animal they wished to mimic, they could theoretically transform into any creature.

The large white tiger stretched her full, powerful body and glanced at Kalei, the meaning clear: hurry up and don't waste time.

Kalei hadn't expected to meet a Night Elf more impatient than himself. He quickly packed his things, donned his newly acquired Druid Robe, took up his Crescent Staff, mounted Big Black, and set off with Thisalee, leaving Maestra to head toward Fel Fire Valley.

Along the way, Kalei rode Big Black in the lead, while the white tiger form of Thisalee followed at a leisurely pace.

Not long after the pair left Maestra, Thisalee remarked, "Your leopard is too slow. It's running like it's out for a stroll. Can you speed it up?"

Kalei laughed, "Apologies. This guy has been eating too much lately and lacks exercise, so he's put on quite a bit of weight. There's really nothing I can do."

Hearing both Thisalee and Kalei call him slow, Big Black let out a dissatisfied roar and quickened his pace, trying to leave the white tiger in the dust.

Unfortunately, carrying Kalei added significant weight, and even at full effort, he could barely maintain his speed. Meanwhile, the white tiger form of Thisalee remained relaxed and effortless, catching up in a few strides and staying just behind him, as if toying with him.

Big Black had no choice but to complain to Kalei in frustration and abandon his attempt to compete.

Kalei was left between laughter and tears, comforting him, "Alright, alright. You haven't gone for a long run in a while; running a bit now isn't so bad. Just think of it as losing weight."

Big Black opened his large mouth and panted a few times, unwilling to respond.

Driven by Thisalee, the man and the leopard ran along the main road for over an hour until they reached a fork.

Kalei called out to Thisalee, "Lady Crow, the path ahead leads to Moonshadow Village. We need to head right."

Thisalee stopped and returned to Kalei's side, looking up at the right-hand path. The entire trail was hidden beneath towering trees, making it impossible to see anything.

In the regions inhabited by Night Elves—whether mountains, canyons, or plains—there were towering ancient trees everywhere. Once inside, it was impossible to get a clear view.

Thisalee asked, "Does this direction lead to Fel Fire Valley?"

Kalei replied, "I've checked the map. There is no direct road this way, but we can cross the valley; it's a shorter route."

Thisalee offered no objection. Both she and Kalei were Druids who could harness natural energy to traverse the land, so crossing mountains and ridges was no issue at all. As for Big Black, he was not within the scope of her concern.

Thisalee said, "Fine then, you take the lead."