Caesar's Eagle

In Zin-Azshari, there was an inn called the Traveler's Home, where Daphne and her two companions were staying.

"Dear guests, you've returned!" the beautiful landlady greeted them warmly.

"Yes, Lina. Is there anything delicious for tonight?" Daphne responded with a smile.

"It has already been sent to your room." The landlady remained all smiles.

"Sent to my room?" Daphne looked at the landlady in confusion.

"Daphne! Did you make a date with a lover?" Maiev stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Daphne and feigning a look of surprise. She never missed an opportunity to tease Daphne. Daphne rolled her eyes at her, then turned back to look at the landlady, waiting for an explanation.

"Why, aren't they your guests? I saw they were elegant and spoke kindly, so I just..." The landlady grew a bit flustered and hurried to explain.

"What are you all dawdling for? Come up and eat! The roast suckling pig today is excellent!"

Everyone looked up toward the upper floor; it was Gandalf! He was holding a piece of roasted meat, waving it gently to grab their attention. The three of them relaxed, said nothing, and headed straight for the room. Maiev was the fastest, entering the door first to find someone already at the table carving the suckling pig.

"We were just waiting for you; that guy couldn't help himself and started eating first."

"Saruman, stop talking, your drool is splashing onto the pig." Maiev pushed Saruman away with a look of disgust, intending to help herself.

"Did you wash your hands?"

"Uh... I don't think so."

"Then hurry up and go!"

While the two were bickering, Daphne and Falco entered and sat down at the table.

"Alright, have you ever seen her wash her hands before eating?" Daphne teased with a laugh.

Falco generally didn't care about such things; he had already stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth and mumbled, "Delicious. It would be even better if there were some Morning Dew Wine."

"How did you know I brought some?" Gandalf was walking over with a bottle of wine. Daphne quickly stood up, snatched the bottle, opened the cap, and took a sniff. "Three-hundred-year vintage! Bless you, Gandalf." She shouted excitedly. Everyone crowded around to get a taste, and the scene instantly turned chaotic. Eating good food, drinking fine wine, and trading barbs, they finished a wonderful dinner and then gathered around the tea table on the terrace to smoke and chat.

"The time is almost here." Saruman blew a smoke ring, spoke in a measured tone, and casually cast a sound-dampening barrier.

"What, are you afraid?" Gandalf gave him a look of contempt.

"Are you stupid? Where do I look afraid?" Saruman glared at Gandalf and retorted irritably.

"Enough! Listen to me for a moment."

Daphne spoke, and the others turned serious, watching her quietly.

"Saruman is right, guys. The time is almost here. All signs indicate that His Highness's prophecy is true."

"What should we do, Daphne?" Falco didn't speak much, but every word hit the mark.

"His Highness once said, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.' Let's start by sharing what each of us has discovered."

"I'll go first. The Well of Eternity has been very unstable lately, with frequent energy fluctuations. I suspect they are using the energy of the Well of Eternity to summon extraterrestrial beings."

"Extraterrestrial beings?"

"Nothing good. I smell a conspiracy."

"Can you get detailed information?"

"It's difficult. The Council of Mages has tightened monitoring of Arcane Energy, and my Eye of the Observer can't get in. You know, although I despise that bunch, I can't deny they have a few formidable characters among them."

"Is there no other way?"

"It's hard. The Queen's Palace has also increased its guards, making it difficult for news to get out."

"Difficult? That means there's a chance?"

"They can't get out, and I can't get in."

"Just because you can't get in doesn't mean others can't." Maiev, who had been listening all along, spoke up.

"If it's you, then I'm sure you can succeed." Fearing she might pester him, Saruman quickly offered a compliment.

"Alright then, I'll go in and take a look." With that, she tied up the hair she had let down during dinner.

"Wait a moment, Maiev." Before she could finish her sentence, Maiev was already gone.

"It's fine, let's continue. She knows that using her brain isn't her strong suit; she's just finding something to do for herself."

"Falco, I disagree with that. The fact that she thinks this way and acts on it shows she is a wise person, doesn't it?"

"Alright, Saruman, we all know she is wise in a way that appears foolish." After saying this, Daphne turned to look at Falco, signaling that it was his turn.

"My turn, is it? I took a trip to Pandaria. His Highness liked that place the most, and I wanted to see it." Whenever Azar was mentioned, Falco's mood would darken. He composed himself and continued, "I met the Jinyu, a race of intelligent beings led by The Wise, famous throughout Pandaria for their prophecy arts. Their leader is known as the Grand Sage, and every generation of Grand Sages has served as military advisors to the Pandaren Empire. This generation's Grand Sage granted me an audience. We talked a lot, for a long time. I mentioned His Highness's prophecy to him, and he was astonished that someone else had foreseen The Cataclysm just as he had. So, I sought a solution from him, but the Grand Sage said he was powerless. The Pandaren Empire is also caught in a great predicament and can no longer provide support to its allies. Even worse, this Cataclysm will affect all of Kalidom, and they will not be spared."

"Did the Grand Sage mention any omens for The Cataclysm?"

"Yes! He said something like: 'Forces in the universe, beings from the void.' Yes, that's the phrase!"

"Hey! Buddy, your intuition is spot on." Gandalf nudged Saruman with his shoulder, not forgetting to crack a joke.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Very well, let me share my findings. I have been studying the data for a long time. For instance, all records from the Arcane Purifier indicate that the energy composition of the Well of Eternity is slowly changing. An alien energy is constantly increasing—a type of energy that is the complete opposite of the arcane, which I call Fel."

"Will this affect the power supply to Eldre'Thalas?"

"Not for the time being. The Arcane Purifier has rejected this energy."

"That is good. Oh, I am terribly sorry for interrupting you."

"It is quite alright, Saruman. Arcane Energy is the lifeblood of Eldre'Thalas; it is only natural for you to be nervous."

"There is another set of data that caught my attention: the Queen's Palace is constantly recruiting."

"What does that signify?"

"Gandalf, stop interrupting!"

"The important thing is that no one ever comes out of the Queen's Palace! Where have they gone?"

The four of them fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

"I have some ideas." Gandalf broke the silence, and the three of them quickly looked up, turning their gaze toward him.

"Don't look at me like that, you're scaring me."

"Stop the nonsense and speak!"

"Synthesizing all the information, we can conclude that The Cataclysm is imminent. Energy fluctuations, the Queen's Palace, Fel, heightened vigilance, the prophecy of the Grand Sage, and the missing people—when these pieces are strung together, it means: an evil extraterrestrial entity has been summoned to Azeroth by the Highborne."

"You guessed it!"