Better to Go Home

Time passes, years fly by; time is forever the most formidable weapon. Perhaps you do not feel it, but the moment you do, it means it has already changed something. Its most lethal move is the changing of the human heart.

A long life is the most precious treasure of the Kaldorei. They can endlessly research whatever they wish, never needing to worry about the constraints of time—one year, ten years, one hundred years, or even a thousand. The Night Elf have always been obsessed with the secrets of the Well of Eternity, for they discovered that she seemed to possess infinite mysteries waiting to be uncovered. They delved into Arcane energy, becoming learned mages, then Archmage, then... then... They used the power of the Arcane to build breathtaking structures, and magic gradually became an essential part of their lives. Azshara was the standout among them. She commissioned a brand-new temple to pay tribute to Elune, naming this magnificent hall the Throne of the Heavens. She led the Highborne in constant research into the Well of Eternity, hoping her empire could forge a new brilliance. Yes, she had returned to being that Azshara full of ambition and desire. She was Queen Azshara!

She was in no hurry to reclaim her daughter's authority. For now, it seemed her daughter was managing the entire empire quite well. Sophia continued her father's philosophy of letting things take their natural course; under her rule, the people were prosperous, peaceful, happy, and content. The commoners supported and loved her. Azshara simply took back control of the mage corps, taking her followers to continue researching the Well of Eternity. These followers believed they were different from the average Kaldorei; they were the Queen's intimate comrades, they were the nobility, and they deserved to be superior. Thus, they began to call themselves Highborne. They rebuilt the larger, more luxurious magical capital of Suramar, where they established the Council of Mages to control everything related to magic. They enjoyed everything magic brought them; they studied it, understood it, and mastered it, believing they should be the masters of magic. Consequently, conflict arose. The mages of the Mage Research Institute strongly disagreed with their philosophy. This was an organization of The Wise who believed the relationship between mages and magic should be one of equality, inclusion, and mutual aid, where no one controlled or enslaved the other. Prince Azar had once warned them, "Do not think of enslaving the power of the Arcane. Do not even think about it. If you do, one day you will be consumed by the power of the Arcane."

"They never had good intentions from the first day they learned of the Arcane. They are accustomed to enslaving others, and now they fantasize about enslaving the power of the Arcane. Their first thought is always enslavement and exploitation. In the past, they were parasites; now, they are the scum of the mages." This was how Saruman evaluated the Council of Mages.

"They are just a bunch of bumpkins who cannot comprehend the beauty of the Arcane at all." The Highborne looked down upon their opponents even more.

The endless arguments intensified under the tacit approval of Her Majesty the Queen. The ideological disputes began to affect every stratum of the Kaldorei, and class contradictions continued to escalate, eventually leading the Highborne to choose to monopolize the Well of Eternity and isolate themselves completely from the commoners. The commoners had no choice; some Kaldorei chose to accept their fate, but more chose to leave Zin-Azshari for Eldre'Thalas in the west. Just like that, Zin-Azshari returned to the control of the Queen and the Highborne. The ruling Princess Sophia was powerless to stop this; she would not defy her mother, as it did not align with her personal creed. She actively ran about to appease both sides, but she failed. Mediation had no effect; individual power was so pale and weak in the face of class conflict. Her only gain was the hearts of the commoners, and in the end, she chose to return to Eldre'Thalas to begin her new political career.

A great man is called great because no matter when, you can benefit from what he has done. In Eldre'Thalas, Prince Azar was the recognized great man. From the first day of its birth, this beautiful elven city was deeply branded with the mark of Azar. Prosperity, democracy, civilization, and harmony were the calling cards of this city; freedom, equality, justice, and the rule of law were the true reflection of social life; dedication, professionalism, integrity, and friendliness were the virtues possessed by everyone here. This city always maintained its unique cultural philosophy; she was both the pearl of the Kaldorei and an outlier among them. Everything was because of Prince Azar. He injected a soul into this city and established a faith for the commoners. The people of Eldre'Thalas supported him, loved him, and revered him, but today, they would lose this great prince. Facing his wife's actions and her fickleness, he finally could not bear it any longer. He had struggled, he had tried, and he had fought, but now he was tired. He wanted to rest; he felt he was unable to cope with the complex situation of the entire empire. In fact, he had a choice: he could have ended all this strife through war, but he did not, because of Azshara, and even more because the damage war itself would cause to the empire would be far greater than the impact of class conflict. This was the inevitable path of development; no one could change it, not even a Titan. In the end, he chose to escape, choosing to distance himself from this world. He sealed himself away!

Two letters of home, two debts of heart, a lifetime of love that can never be repaid. If we meet again in the next life, I will give my all to settle the score.

Dear daughter:

When you see this letter, I will already be sleeping in the earth. When you first came to Eldre'Thalas, you asked me why the main city had six satellite cities? Why was there a hole in the center of Eldre'Thalas? At the time, I smiled and said nothing. Now, let me reveal the answer to you. I brought back the purest water from the Well of Eternity and poured it into the hole; she will provide energy for this city. And those six satellite cities each possess a giant stone engraved with a magic circle; their function is to form a massive barrier to wrap around the entire city and protect it from interference. As for why I did this, you will know in the future.

I really like the statue you made for me; it reminds me of the days in Pandaria. After the Mogu emperor died, he would erect a stone statue for himself. I sent Falco to place the statue at the entrance of the hole, and I will sleep inside the hole. If you miss me, come and talk to me. When the statue is placed, the well water will begin to provide energy. You must activate the magic circle of the giant stones in time; I have already told Daphne the method, and you can arrange for her to do it.

I am very at ease leaving Eldre'Thalas to you. Do not blame your mother, and take good care of yourself. Remember a piece of advice from your father: your power is given by the people; without the people, you are nothing. You must serve the people.

Well, that is all.

Your loving father

Dear Azshara:

My love, I am leaving. Do not be sad, do not be sorrowful. We loved each other deeply, and we have Sophia; for me, this is enough. Vashj and Dath'Remar are people you can trust. Beware of Xavius!

Your loving Azar

The bronze statue fell, and with it fell the tears of two women.