He Said Something Scary

The victory on the front lines swept away the gloom hanging over the tribe. The negative impact of Zhakun's death in battle was completely wiped out. The tribal leadership prepared a grand welcome ceremony, greeting the returning forces ten miles out to show their honor. Looking at the smiling faces of his tribesmen, Azar felt incredibly excited and gratified; his efforts had finally paid off. He truly wished he could protect them forever, allowing them to face everything with the mindset of victors. Azar knew this was difficult, but he would keep striving. He wanted to change the fate of the Night Elf; he did not want them to be mere supporting characters again. Parades, banquets, speeches—Azar was surrounded by these trivial matters for days, yet a sense of loss lingered in his heart. Why hadn't Azshara come? Did she refuse to accept him?

Finally, he could rest. Half a year of campaigning had left Azar feeling exhausted. He truly needed the break, and he also needed to summarize his experiences from these battles, refine his combat skills, enhance his strength, and explore his Arcane potential. Every day, he practiced martial arts with his four guards, instructed them on how to perceive the Power of Order, and took time to check on Maiev's Sentinel troops. Though monotonous, it was fulfilling.

Night fell, and the two moons still hung high in the sky. Azar recalled a legend from the game in his past life: when the two moons aligned, it was a sign that a major event was bound to occur in Azeroth. He didn't know if it was true; he hadn't seen it happen yet. He decided to meditate instead. This was a habit Azar had cultivated for years, replacing sleep with meditation. He firmly believed that diligence could compensate for a lack of natural talent. He wasn't the favorite child of Blizzard, so he had to do everything in his power to improve himself. In truth, it wasn't that hard; Azar found that meditation provided better rest than sleep and allowed him to continuously increase the intensity and purity of his Power of Order. Just as he entered a meditative state, a sudden surge of Arcane energy appeared at his door. Azar quickly prepared for battle, charging up! To appear here without alerting the guards, the intruder's strength cannot be underestimated. Arcane fluctuations... could it be Azshara? Unlikely. She didn't even come to my welcome ceremony; why would she come to my bedroom at this hour? Could it be that my spring has finally arrived? His fantasy was shattered. It wasn't her. It was him!

"Relax, my child. It seems that even back home, you maintain a high level of vigilance. The battlefield is truly a place that tempers a man," the Chieftain's gentle voice drifted in.

"Uncle, why are you here?" Azar lowered his combat stance and asked, looking puzzled. He was full of questions he couldn't voice. What couldn't be said during the day that required a visit at this hour? He had plenty of time to talk to me over the past few days. And how does he know Arcane magic, specifically high-level spatial magic? It seems there is still much I don't know.

"I came to see you, to have a chat," the Chieftain said, his expression still kind and gentle. Azar didn't respond, waiting for him to continue, using his expression to show he was listening intently.

"Regarding your marriage, you don't blame me, do you? I apologize for not telling you beforehand."

"How could I? I know you have my best interests at heart. In fact, I've always liked Azshara; I should be thanking you, not blaming you. I just don't know if she agrees," Azar replied, feeling a bit shy and blushing slightly.

"That is good. Girls can be a bit shy, so I asked her teacher to speak with her. I believe she will be obedient," the Chieftain said with a smile.

"Are you wondering why I know Arcane magic?" The Chieftain stared at Azar, his gentle expression replaced by a sharp, piercing gaze!

"Yes." If it's a blessing, it's not a curse; if it's a curse, it cannot be avoided. Azar decided to go all in.

"What I am about to tell you must not be told to anyone else, including your future wife!" The Chieftain seemed satisfied with Azar's answer and nodded slightly, though his tone remained serious. Is there something important to say? Why be so mysterious? As soon as he finished speaking, he cast a high-level spell: a spatial barrier! Azar knew this was the ultimate tool for preventing eavesdropping.

"I know about your arrangements for your subordinates." The Chieftain's first sentence stunned Azar. It wasn't the content, but the bluntness of the delivery. A leader who didn't have his own power base wouldn't last long before being replaced; Azar had been prepared for this.

"I approve of your methods, and I will use my own power to help you." Azar felt his brain struggling to keep up. This wasn't a script he was familiar with. What was he trying to do?

"I don't understand," he answered honestly.

"You are my nephew. Your cousin, my only son, died in battle. Do you understand?" When the Chieftain said this, Azar could clearly feel the grief in his heart.

"Although we all know the Well of Eternity is slowly transforming our bodies, and I can feel that I have recovered the physical strength of my youth, I know I will still die, because I was already too old when I arrived here."

"You want to groom me as your successor? Is that why you arranged for me to marry Azshara? To help me find strong allies?"

"The first half is correct; the second half is wrong. Appointing you to lead the team was because we believed in your ability. The new troops were all trained according to your methods; you were the most qualified to lead them. That was also your first test. If you hadn't passed, you would have remained a mere captain of the guard. But you completed the mission perfectly, even better than the best-case scenario."

"Just like that? Isn't that too hasty?"

"No, no, no. The test has actually been continuing these past few days. I am very satisfied with your performance. You maintained a certain level of interaction with everyone, making them feel comfortable, yet you kept a distance from each of them. This is a quality essential for a leader. Furthermore, I did not see you become arrogant because of this; you were still able to calm your mind and improve yourself. For a young man, that is rare. Combining this with your previous actions, I have reached a conclusion: you are very ambitious!"

"Are you not worried about me?"

"Worried? No, this is your mission! Because you possess the bloodline of Alazan!"

"Then what did you mean by the second half being wrong?"

"Because we are not on the same path as the High Sorcerer!" This was shocking. Azar never expected this. A second wave of surprise hit him.

"Political power and divine power have never coexisted harmoniously; each has its own agenda! They depend on each other, guard against each other, and more importantly, are always looking for an opportunity to replace the other! Do you understand now?" Azar understood. He understood perfectly. This old man was something else; he had even thought through such profound issues. Why had the civilization of China on Earth remained prosperous and enduring? The other three ancient civilizations had died out, but China had survived. Even if its level of civilization wasn't necessarily the highest, its life cycle was definitely the longest—a unique case with no predecessor and no successor.

"I understand now. I just don't understand why you agreed to my marriage with Azshara if that's the case? She is the High Sorcerer's prized student! All signs point to Azshara being the next High Sorcerer."

"How do you know Azshara isn't my person?" A triumphant expression appeared on his face! Oh my god. A third wave of surprise left Azar feeling completely stunned. This kind of maneuver exists? No, this is very likely. The Chieftain also knows Arcane magic and is proficient in it! Azar had naively thought he was clever, thinking three steps ahead, but he hadn't realized the other party had been thinking ten steps ahead. Remember not to underestimate anyone in this world. Young man, you need to be more low-key in the future; you still have much to learn. In his past life, Azar was just a small teacher; although he had seen many people, putting it into practice made him realize the gap.

"Think about it carefully, young man. You still have much to learn." That expression, that tone—why was it so similar to how Azar used to speak to students who asked questions?

"That is enough for today. Get some rest. Prepare yourself; the wedding will be held in three days, along with the ceremony for the founding of the nation!"

The wedding of Azar and Azshara would surely go down in history. This was truly a tremendous honor!