Xavius's Curse

Kalei rode Big Black quickly back toward the highlands along the path they had come by.

The closer they got to the highlands, the stronger the traces of shadow energy in the air became. A faint smell of blood hung in the air, making his heart leap into his throat. Would Thisalee be all right facing Etherix alone?

By the time they reached the highlands, the battle had already ended.

Five Felhounds lay sprawled across the highlands, their dark green blood soaking into the ground. The surrounding stalagmites and stone pillars had toppled in every direction. Some had been broken in half, while others had been smashed to pieces—a clear testament to how fierce the battle had been.

Kalei scanned the area but couldn't see Thisalee. Afraid something had happened to her, he hurriedly searched for her with Big Black. They soon found her behind a large boulder.

Thisalee had returned to her Night Elf form. Her once-neat T1 Set was covered in dust and grime, and a trace of blood stained the corner of her mouth. She looked much worse for wear.

When she saw Kalei approach, she managed a faint smile but said nothing.

Seeing that she was only tired and hadn't been seriously injured, Kalei breathed a sigh of relief and quickly asked, "Where's Etherix?"

"After I wounded that bastard with the advanced spell Starfall, he abandoned the Felhounds and ran off. He's probably escaped. How did things go on your end? Did you find out where your father is?"

"No. Sigh, that traitor refused to talk even when he was dying!" Kalei then told her how his fight with Ordos had ended, leaving out what had really happened and only saying that he'd ambushed Ordos while he was still recovering from his injuries.

When Thisalee heard what had happened, she comforted him. "Don't get too worked up over not finding out this time. We can try something else later."

"I guess that's all we can do."

Kalei then told her how Ordos had struck back just before dying.

Thisalee fell silent for a moment, then said, "From what you've told me, it sounds like he offered his eyes and part of his soul to some higher power just before he died, and cast some kind of curse."

Kalei tensed. "A curse? It wasn't a fatal one, was it?"

Thisalee shook her head. "It probably wasn't. A fatal curse is incredibly powerful and usually requires the sacrifice of a powerful life and soul. Given Ordos's condition just before he died, he couldn't have cast one."

"Good, good." Kalei let out a breath of relief, then continued, "What kind of curse do you think it was?"

Thisalee raised her head and thought for a moment. "My guess is that it has something to do with the eyes. Its purpose is to draw the attention of some higher power to you."

Some higher power? Could it be Savatheras?

No, impossible. Savatheras is a hero-level warrior. He couldn't target someone from afar.

Then who else could it be? The only possibility I can think of is Xavius, the Satyr King.

At the thought of Xavius, a chill ran through Kalei.

Since the War of the Ancients, Xavius had ascended to become a powerful demigod over the long ages. He was far beyond anyone Kalei could afford to provoke at his current level. If that bastard set his sights on Kalei, it would be all over for him.

Seeing Kalei suddenly fall silent, his face filled with alarm, Thisalee hurriedly asked, "Kalei, what's wrong? Has the curse started acting up?"

Kalei came to his senses and composed himself. "N-no, nothing. Thisalee, if you're right and some powerful being has set its sights on me, what should I do? Can I get rid of the curse?"

Thisalee reassured him. "Don't worry. The curse may be strange, but it'll take time to fully take effect. You can go to the Temple of the Moon and ask the priestesses to cleanse it in the meantime."

"Thanks. I understand."

They first discussed the curse on Kalei, then turned to their current situation.

"We've spent too long in this cave," Thisalee said. "We need to recover our mana and get out as soon as possible. Then we can report the news about Fel Fire Valley to Maestra and ask them to send troops into the mountains to clear it out. It'll be difficult to find those demons if they escape."

Kalei agreed.

They said no more. Each ate a little, drank some Moonwell water, then found a place to sit cross-legged and recover their mana.

Several dozen minutes later, Kalei felt that the nature energy in his body had recovered by about seventy or eighty percent. Thisalee's complexion had also improved considerably.

Without further delay, the two of them and Big Black reentered the underground river. This time, the channel was unusually calm. They encountered no obstacles and saw no sign of pursuit.

Half an hour later, the underground river suddenly grew turbulent. A powerful force came from downstream, as if an invisible hand had shoved them forward.

Kalei and Thisalee had no time to react before the rapids swept them out of the underground river's exit. Splash! They landed in a vast lake.

By the time they climbed onto the shore, the sun had risen above the horizon.

Warm sunlight filtered through the trees and fell across their faces. For the first time, they felt that sunlight was so wonderful. Even Big Black, who hated the sun, stretched luxuriously in its warmth.

Kalei sat on the ground and let the sunlight fall on him. He breathed out in relief. "We finally made it out. I thought we'd be trapped underground forever!"

Standing in the shade behind him, Thisalee smiled. "You didn't have much faith in the route I chose, did you?"

"I didn't have much faith in my own abilities." Kalei shrugged and admitted, "If you hadn't been there, Big Black and I would probably have ended up as a Satyr's dinner by now."

"You did very well," Thisalee said earnestly. "Your tactics were clear, and you were decisive in battle. I even learned quite a bit from you. We can exchange ideas more often in the future, but not today—we have more important things to do."

"You're right, Thisalee." Kalei got up from the ground and looked at the lake ahead. "Where are we? It looks familiar, but I can't remember."

"This should be Lake Falahim. Have you never been here?"

"Oh, so this is Lake Falahim. My father brought me here once or twice when I was young, but I've long since forgotten it. How far is it from Maestra?"

"Not close. It would take two or three hours at a full gallop on a Saber, or six or seven hours at a leisurely pace."

Kalei frowned. "It's that far?"

Thisalee nodded. "It is a bit far, which is why I have to go. I need to get to Maestra as soon as possible and report the results of my reconnaissance so the council can immediately notify the Sentinel Corps to surround and eliminate those traitors in the mountains."

"You've been cursed, so don't come with me. Go straight to the Temple of the Moon in Maestra and ask the priestesses to cleanse it."

"All right. Let's do that."

They said no more and immediately went their separate ways. Thisalee transformed into a medium-sized Black Raven, took off from the ground, and disappeared into the northern forest in the blink of an eye.

Kalei mounted Big Black and headed for Maestra.

Big Black knew his master was carrying a curse. Without needing to be told, he endured the sunlight and raced toward Maestra Town.

They passed through dense forests, crossed rushing streams, and rode over low hills. Before long, they reached the Ashenvale Road.

But not long after they entered the Ashenvale Road, a powerful sense of unease suddenly welled up in Kalei.

Sitting on Big Black's soft back, Kalei watched the tall trees on either side fly past. The unease grew stronger and stronger, as if countless eyes were staring at him through gaps in the dark woods.

Who did those eyes belong to? Satyr sent by Savatheras? Remnants of the Burning Legion? Or both?

Had they been sent by Xavius, the Satyr King? Had that powerful betrayer already found him?

Just then, he heard a deep, distant voice coming from far away. "Yes, I've already found you, little bug!"

"Who's there?" Kalei shouted. He braced his right hand against Big Black's back and gripped his staff tightly in his left, warily scanning the surroundings. But all he saw were dense woods, and all he heard was the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Yet the voice still came from far away. "You know, don't you? You know who I am."

Xavius! Kalei hadn't expected to encounter this Night Elf traitor so soon, and fear surged through him.

He couldn't help being afraid. Xavius was simply too powerful for him now.

Kalei couldn't see Xavius anywhere, nor could he smell the distinctive stench of the Satyr. Yet just hearing the other's voice felt like an invisible force was gripping his heart, leaving him barely able to muster any thought of resisting.

All he could do was grip his staff and urge Big Black to run faster, to escape the other's sphere of influence.

Big Black felt the threat too. Without needing Kalei to urge him on, he ran with all his might.

But no matter how fast Kalei and Big Black ran, the powerful traitor stayed right on their heels. His voice grew louder and louder, until it boomed in Kalei's ears like thunder.

"You can't escape, bug. My eyes are always watching you. No matter where you run, you can't escape the fate of being sacrificed."