"Your teachings are etched in my heart, Master." Glancing at the scythe glowing crimson, Velania couldn't help recalling the first time she had seen it. Though it had only been a projection, the cries of countless souls had seemed to ring right in her ears. In just a few seconds, she had nearly been driven mad by those piercing shrieks.
"You were in such a hurry to summon me. Does that mean the mission is complete?" Fear was necessary, and the Eredar paid no attention to her little thoughts.
"I should say it's half complete." Velania's voice was very soft, and she sounded somewhat guilty.
"Hmm?"
At the questioning tone, an icy wind swept through the room. Velania shuddered and hurried to explain. "We successfully seized control of the Northern Temple's conduits, but Kaidenis is no weaker than I am. He'll soon notice the changes in the temple."
"As for that bitch at the Eastern Temple... Landral and her followers successfully took control of the Fel Crystal. The Fel disrupted the flow of magic, so we can't communicate over long distances, but we still haven't brought the temple completely under control. If things keep going this way, I'll be exposed soon, and your plan..."
"Heh." Sathael lightly scraped a fingertip along the blade, producing a spine-chilling sound. Though her hoarse voice was quiet, it struck straight at the soul. "You should know that the Burning Legion has no use for failures."
Velania clenched her teeth, wounded. Though Sathael had given her what she had dreamed of, she was only one person. Stirring up a storm in Quel'Thalas had always been a difficult task.
If only... if only she had enough helpers...
"But don't worry." Sathael's next words made Velania's eyes light up. "I knew you might fail, so I found someone else to help us unleash the Crystal's power."
"Soon, the Burning Legion's iron hooves will trample this golden forest flat!" Thinking of the death and destruction she would bring to this land, the Eredar couldn't help laughing.
"Before that, Master." Once Sathael had calmed down, Velania lifted her head. A hint of confusion crossed her face. "I have a few questions."
"Go ahead, my elven heroine."
Ignoring the sarcasm in Sathael's words, Velania pictured the assistant mage in her mind. "That Lanlos used the same power we did in front of the Conduit Crystal. Why did you specifically order us not to kill him?"
The green in Sathael's eyes gave way to cold indifference. She gazed calmly at Velania. "You don't need to know."
"But... Ah!"
She had at least done something useful. Sathael's dismissive tone infuriated Velania, but before she could continue arguing, her Eredar master raised the scythe.
Ulthalesh's blade suddenly glimmered red. Thin, pallid threads drifted through the air and sank deep into Velania's soul.
The pain was so excruciating that the Ley Line Warden nearly collapsed. She reacted just in time to avoid hitting the filthy ground.
"Wh-why?!" Velania braced herself against the ground with trembling arms, gathering all her strength just to force the words out.
"As a servant, your only duty is to obey orders... but I admire your ambition." Sathael's tone shifted. Whatever had crossed her mind, she smiled faintly and withdrew Soul Lash. "But you can't afford to provoke that traitor."
"Traitor?" After a brief silence, Velania's eyes flew wide, her face full of disbelief. "You mean he's a demon?!"
"That's right. And he's powerful—and important. You once asked me how we could open a portal connecting the Shattered Abyss and Azeroth, didn't you?" The smile on Sathael's face made Velania feel inexplicably cold all over. "He's the Keystone."
!!!
"Remember, focus on your own task. You can't hope to understand the Legion's plan based on your own assumptions." Sensing that the energy in the altar was nearly spent, Sathael ended the conversation with a "kind" reminder. "Otherwise, I'll take back the gift I gave you."
A gift?
As the projection faded, Velania seemed to remember something. Panic flashed across her face as she hurriedly summoned her magic. A curtain of water appeared before her.
Her reflection was still youthful and full of life, her charming face the thing she had been proudest of all her life.
But now, her once-smooth, rosy skin had split open across large areas. Clusters of solidified blue crystals had appeared on her flesh like tumors.
"No!" Velania panicked at once, looking even more terrified than she had when facing Sathael.
But she soon collected herself and immediately drew upon the evil power hidden deep in her soul.
Tongues of green flame suddenly appeared, clinging to the solidified crystals like parasites. Gradually, the Fel fire devoured them as if they were mere fuel.
Once her appearance had been restored, Velania let out a long breath and slumped unceremoniously to the ground. Looking at the withered, rotting corpses nearby, she watched with a complicated, inscrutable light in her eyes as her thoughts drifted away.
Velania's parents had died in the Troll Wars, leaving her isolated and helpless from childhood. She had suffered abuse and humiliation, but fortune had its turns. Though her youth had been difficult, fate had not driven her entirely into a dead end.
She had a pretty face, and through her charm and looks, she had been lucky enough to pursue the Arcane arts, earning the envy and respect of countless people. Unfortunately, spellcasters valued talent and hard work above all else, and she had neither.
Hoping to improve her spellcasting, she had come to the Western Temple. Using every means at her disposal, she had become a Ley Line Warden in a very short time. Her lack of power drew endless criticism, but the Western Temple was remote and desolate, and there was no clear standard for the strength a Ley Line Warden needed. Before long, people let the matter drop.
At last, Velania had the chance to fulfill her ambition. But when she eagerly absorbed the immense magic around her, her arrogance cost her dearly—a price she would regret for the rest of her life.
The temple's magic was far more powerful than she had imagined. The uncontrollable power had easily eaten away at her body, like cancer. Purple crystals had gradually replaced her smooth skin, and the shadow of death had begun to loom over her. At the same time, she had lost the one thing she had always depended on and taken pride in...
If people found out, I'd become a laughingstock to everyone... No. Never! I'll make those vile elves pay for what they've done!
Wherever people lived, oppression was bound to exist—and all the more so in Quel'Thalas, where the nobility held sway. Velania had been a victim of class division. To take revenge and change her place in the world, she needed power. To gain power so overwhelming that none could challenge her, she was willing to sell even her soul. What was a kingdom like Quel'Thalas, gilded on the outside, in comparison?
Lanlos had no idea that he had already become Sathael's "tool." He sat quietly in his cell, still focused on constructing the spell model before him. Though he had more or less guessed what had happened, he had thought it over from every angle and still couldn't find a way to clear his name. As for protesting his innocence, even a fool could see that he was being made the scapegoat. But Landral was the Warden and had to give Silvermoon City an explanation. Until Velania was caught, Lanlos was that explanation.
Across from him, Vereesa looked around the cage that had originally been used to hold Trolls, her heart filled with hurt and bitterness. But seeing how calm Lanlos was, and how he refused to give in, she managed to hold back the urge to shout and make a scene.
"Of all the times, aren't you worried about our situation?"
"Worried? Would that help?" Lanlos continued tracing the projection that only he could see, sparing just a fraction of his attention to answer.
"But we've been framed. We have to explain everything to them..."
"Vereesa, do you think they have time to deal with us right now?" Lanlos gently shook his head, secretly envying her innocence.
"We can't stay here forever. I never thought I'd be locked up by my own people." Vereesa sounded indignant.
"Don't rush. Once Landral deals with the Crystal, they'll come for us... Look, aren't they coming now?" Lanlos slowly turned his head and looked into the distance.
Following his gaze, they saw several mages in fine robes hurrying toward them.
"Take them to the temple. Magister Landral will question them herself."
Lanlos smiled faintly at Vereesa and walked out of the cage without being asked. Vereesa, meanwhile, pursed her lips and wrenched herself free of the guards. "Don't touch me. I can walk on my own!"
It turned out that having high Charisma had its advantages. The guards looked to the mages for confirmation, and when the latter nodded, they released Lanlos too.
"Lady Vereesa Windrunner, we're deeply sorry for what you've been through, but please understand our position." The elven mage who had brought the order spoke respectfully, but his expression remained stern.
At that, Lanlos narrowed his eyes. Of course, he wasn't concerned about how the mage had learned Vereesa's identity. It was the implication behind his words that mattered.
Only a spellcaster could have tampered with the Conduit Array.
With a half-trained mage like him already in the picture, there was no need for the Eastern Temple to risk offending the Windrunners by blaming Vereesa too.
Lanlos silently shook his head, making no attempt to argue. He followed close behind the mage, carefully considering what might happen next and how to deal with it.
Before you continue