First Meeting with Jaina

First Meeting with Jaina

A man had to stand at attention when taking a beating, and admit his mistake when bowing his head.

Roderick sincerely said to the Night Elf, "I am Roderick Northumberland. I offer my apologies to this lady who worships Elune, the Moon Goddess, and hope for your forgiveness. I will compensate you for the losses caused by the fight."

"Me, Baine. Human, you, very good." The Night Elf's Common was unclear, and Roderick could only understand those few simple words.

With the misunderstanding cleared up, Kindi once again immersed herself in the pursuit of desserts. Remi held candied fruit and teased Kindi with it, the two happily sharing the delicacies bite by bite nearby.

"Is this Miss Remilia your younger sister?" Jaina was also curious about the man before her. He had fought Baine to a draw and earned praise from the proud Night Elf. Such a powerful human knight was actually completely unknown, not to mention that he had a younger sister unanimously regarded highly by Dalaran's upper ranks.

Roderick answered with perfect courtesy, "Yes. Thank you all very much for taking care of Remi."

"Could we go somewhere over there and talk?"

"As you wish, my lady."

The tall and imposing knight walked side by side with the beautiful, noble-tempered mage. Two mischievous girls followed behind them, their playful bickering occasionally drifting over. Do not misunderstand; there was absolutely nothing between them. As for that mysterious Night Elf guard, no one knew where she had hidden herself again.

"Roderick, where are you currently serving? With your abilities, you could not have been an unknown figure in the Order of the Silver Hand." Jaina's voice was as sweet as a nightingale's, carrying none of the sharpness one might expect from a high-ranking mage.

Unfortunately, Roderick had indeed been an unknown nobody in the Order back then. "I currently serve as captain of Southshore's militia. The Order of the Silver Hand is full of experts. Back then, I was merely an ordinary knight among them."

Jaina had not expected this man to truly have been a member of the Silver Hand. The knights she had associated with in those days were either Prince Arthas or Commander Uther. Ordinary knights rarely had a chance to appear before them. Thinking of her former lover and mentor, her heart still ached faintly.

"That is truly unfortunate. Roderick, if you wish to go to the Kingdom of Stormwind, I can recommend you to Prince Anduin in Stormwind City. Duke Bolvar's fairness is known to all. If you go there, you will certainly be able to display your talents to the fullest." Jaina had unquestionably taken control of the conversation's pace.

"Your warmth makes even Azeroth's sun pale by comparison. Southshore is my hometown. I would rather remain there and protect the Kingdom's surviving people. Please forgive the selfish feelings of a small man." Roderick, who had long made his plans, remained unmoved.

"Protecting one's homeland is everyone's wish. How could I not understand how you feel? By the way, what plans do you have for Remilia's future?"

"She will remain in Dalaran to study magic until she grows tired of it."

"Even Lord Rhonin was astonished by Remi's talent. I have a new suggestion."

"I would like to hear it."

"On this return to Dalaran, I hope to select several exceptionally talented magic apprentices to go to Theramore. There are simply too few humans with magical talent there. Archmage Rhonin previously recommended Kindi to me. She is an adorable little one, isn't she?" Jaina spoke lightly, smiling as she did.

"After arriving in Dalaran, I discovered that your sister's magical talent is even more outstanding. I hope that she can go to Theramore with Kindi to study. They will receive the finest magical education and live like princesses. I guarantee it with my name." Jaina's expression grew solemn, and her originally gentle, beautiful face became somewhat serious.

"Please forgive me, but I cannot accept your request. Remilia will not go." The respectful knight from moments ago had vanished. Even before this mage renowned across the world, the Space Marine did not yield an inch.

"What are you worried about? They can return to Dalaran every week to visit the relatives they miss. If you are still concerned, I can invite you to Theramore as well. You will receive whatever position you desire." Jaina continued trying to persuade him.

Jaina did not receive the answer she wanted. The man before her was incredibly stubborn on this matter. The man beside her radiated an indescribable aura, and his answer was even harder for her to accept.

"I believe in your accomplishments in magic, and I also believe Kindi would receive princess-like treatment with you. But I am afraid you do not understand me. We are completely different kinds of people. In some respects, we are like light and darkness, ice and flame. Such utterly opposing auras would harm those who draw close to one another, so you understand." Roderick put Astartes' warning out of mind and calmly refused according to a warrior's logic.

"Although you are her brother, Remilia's fate is not yours to control! She is free!" Enraged, Jaina was no longer polite, and her words carried a chill.

"You are welcome to try." Roderick's matter-of-fact attitude further provoked Jaina's resentment. She adjusted her expression, restoring her smile, then repeated the question to Remilia in a tone full of goodwill and sincerity.

"Is Theramore fun?"

"Can you buy strawberry ice cream there?"

"I want to see my brother every week."

Though she felt the girl's questions were childish, Jaina patiently answered the curious-looking girl. Once every question had received an affirmative answer, Remilia looked into big sister Jaina's beautiful eyes and replied with complete seriousness, "Theramore sounds so nice, so I think I'll stay in Dalaran instead."

Jaina was nearly angered to the point of coughing blood. If she did not want to go, why ask so many questions? But the girl's innocent expression made Jaina feel that she was still only a child. Teasing someone like that could not possibly have been this girl's doing.

"Why don't you want to go to Theramore? We can go home every week," Kindi asked curiously.

"So those questions just now were for your sake, dummy." Remi struck back cleverly.

Watching the two start bickering again, Jaina could not help but smile bitterly. How could this girl be so cunning and strange, angering people half to death without showing it? As the leader of a faction, Jaina had been rejected several times. Even with her good temper, she was unwilling to try again. Once or twice was broad-mindedness; continuing any further would simply be idiocy.

Having made her decision, Jaina gracefully bid farewell to the strange brother-and-sister pair. Watching the younger sister affectionately take her brother's hand as they left, she seemed to recall something as well.

Baine silently appeared at Jaina's side and said to the reminiscing mage, "Human, Roderick, Remilia, they, do not like you."

Jaina began to understand what that inexplicable aura had been. It was a revulsion originating from their very instincts. The brother's refusal, the sister's teasing—they fundamentally did not wish to associate with her. Recalling Roderick's earlier words, light and darkness, ice and flame, we are two utterly different kinds of people in some ways, the clever mage connected it with Knight Roderick's background and understood why. Only Kindi beside her was still puzzled: Why did Remilia and her brother dislike Lady Jaina?

On Dalaran's streets as night approached, the brother and sister walked side by side.

"Remi, what you did just now was very rude."

"How was it rude? I answered Lady Jaina's questions very seriously."

"Theramore probably is not a very fun place. It is better to stay here."

"Of course. I know you do not like her, Brother. She kept pestering you, too."

"What exactly do you think about all day?"

"Don't hit my head. It will make me stupid. Besides, I do not like her either. She wants to take Kindi away. So annoying..."

"Forget it. Let's not talk about that. Let's go find Brother Albert for dinner."

"HOHO, forward! Let's eat my favorite pineapple rice."

After seeing Remi back to Star Tower, Albert and Roderick strolled across the empty plaza and began chatting.

"Do you know that Night Elf lady's background?"

"Not very well. But after the battle at the Holy Mountain, she was assigned by High Priestess Tyrande, the leader of all Night Elves, to serve as Jaina's guard. She also represents the Night Elves' attitude toward Theramore."

"No wonder. She was quite formidable. My shield was scrapped."

"I know you are brave, fighting Tyrande's Sentinel to a draw. By the way, do you really not want Remi to go to Theramore with Jaina?"

"We walk different paths, Albert. Remi will not go."

"All right, I understand what you mean. But by your logic, does that mean humans cannot live peacefully with other races, like Orcs?"

"They can. Either dead Orcs, or Orcs who have rolled back to their homeland."

"Ahem, Roderick, that joke was not funny at all..."

In Roderick's heart, his evaluation of Jaina was actually quite favorable. She was poised, warm, and generous, and showed no noble airs even toward an unknown nobody like him. After being rejected, she did not use her status to pressure others into agreeing to her terms. She was not arrogant, but as gentle as a spring breeze; she was beautiful and unmarried, too. There was simply no justice if a woman like that could not thrive in the Alliance.

And so the Dalaran episode passed. After meeting Jaina only once, the siblings Roderick and Remilia had already ground their reputation with Theramore down to cold. That was an impressive feat indeed. But it also completely extinguished Jaina's designs on Remilia, and everything returned to calm.