First Meeting with Jaina

Jaina's First Meeting

Men had to stand at attention when taking a beating, and admit their mistakes when they lowered their heads.

Roderick sincerely said to the night elf, "I am Roderick Northumberland. I offer my apologies to this lady who believes in Elune, the Moon Goddess, and hope for your forgiveness. I will compensate you for the losses caused by the battle."

"I, Baine. Human, you, very good." The night elf's Common was vague and unclear, but Roderick could understand these few simple words.

With the misunderstanding resolved, Kindi once again threw herself into the pursuit of desserts. Remi held candied fruit and teased Kindi, and the two happily shared the treats bite by bite nearby.

"Is this Miss Remilia your younger sister?" Jaina had become curious about the man before her as well. He had fought Baine to a draw and earned praise from the proud night elf. Such a powerful human knight was somehow completely unknown, and he even had a younger sister unanimously favored by Dalaran's upper ranks.

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

"Could we go over there and have a talk?"

"As you wish, milady."

The tall, imposing knight and the beautiful, noble-tempered mage walked side by side in front. Two mischievous girls followed behind them, their playful scuffling and laughter occasionally carrying over. Make no mistake—they had absolutely no relationship whatsoever. As for that mysterious night elf guard, no one knew where she had hidden herself again.

"Roderick, where are you currently employed? With your abilities, you could not have been an unknown figure in the Order of the Silver Hand." Jaina's voice was as melodious as a nightingale, utterly lacking the sharp edge one might expect from a high-ranking mage.

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

Jaina had not expected him to truly be a member of the Silver Hand. The knights she had associated with in those days had either been Prince Arthas or Commander Uther. Ordinary knights rarely had the chance to appear before her. Thinking of her former lover and teacher still brought a faint ache to her heart.

"That is truly a pity. Roderick, if you wish to go to the Kingdom of Stormwind, I can recommend you to Prince Anduin of 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 undoubtedly taken control of the conversation's pace.

"Your warmth makes even Azeroth's sun pale in comparison. Southshore is my hometown, and I would rather remain there to 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 hometown is everyone's wish. How could I fail to understand your feelings? By the way, what plans do you have for Remilia's future?"

"She will continue studying magic in Dalaran until she grows tired of it."

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

"I would be glad 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 girl, 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 she can go to Theramore with Kindi to study. They will receive the best magical education and live like princesses. I guarantee it with my family name." Jaina's expression turned solemn, and her originally gentle, lovely face became somewhat serious.

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

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

Jaina did not receive the answer she wanted. The man before her was astonishingly stubborn when it came to this matter. An indescribable aura emanated from him, and his answer was even harder for her to accept.

"I believe in your attainments in magic, and I also believe Kindi would receive princess-like treatment under your care. But I fear you do not understand me. We are entirely different kinds of people. In certain aspects, we are like light and darkness, frost and flame. Such utterly opposing auras would harm those who draw close to them. So, you understand." Roderick put the Astartes' warning out of his mind and calmly refused according to a warrior's logic.

"Though you are her brother, Remilia's fate cannot be controlled by you! She is free!" Enraged, Jaina was no longer polite, and a chilly edge seeped into her words.

"You are welcome to try." Roderick's matter-of-fact attitude only intensified Jaina's distaste. She adjusted herself, piled a smile back onto her face, and repeated the earlier 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 found the girl's questions childish, Jaina patiently answered them as she watched the curious-looking girl. Once every question had received an affirmative answer, Remilia looked into Big Sister Jaina's beautiful eyes and replied with perfect seriousness, "Theramore sounds so nice, so I think I'll stay in Dalaran."

Jaina was practically ready to cough up blood from anger. If she did not want to go, why ask so many questions? Yet the girl wore such an innocent expression that Jaina felt she was still just a child. Teasing people like that could not possibly have been her intention.

"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 you, dummy." Remi counterattacked cleverly.

Watching the two start fooling around again, Jaina could not help but smile bitterly. How could this girl be so tricky and strange, angering people half to death without showing it? As the leader of one side, Jaina had been rejected several times. Even with her good temper, she had no desire to try again. Once or twice was called broad-mindedness; continuing would be idiocy.

Having made her decision, Jaina bid the strange brother-and-sister pair farewell with grace. Watching the younger sister affectionately take her brother's hand and leave, she seemed to remember something as well.

Baine silently appeared beside her and said to the reminiscing Jaina, "Human. Roderick. Remilia. They, do not like you."

Jaina finally began to understand the inexplicable aura surrounding them. It was a loathing that came from the depths of their very being. The brother's refusal, the sister's teasing—they fundamentally had no desire to associate with her. Recalling Roderick's words, light and darkness, frost and flame, entirely different kinds of people in certain respects, the intelligent mage connected them with Knight Roderick's background and understood why. Only Kindi beside them remained puzzled: Why did Remilia and her brother not like Lady Jaina?

On Dalaran's streets near nightfall, 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 is probably 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'll make me stupid. Anyway, 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, to my favorite pineapple rice!"

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

"Do you know the background of that night elf lady?"

"Not very well. But after the last battle at the Holy Mountain, she was assigned as Jaina's guard by Tyrande, the high priestess and leader of all night elves. She also represents the night elves' attitude toward Theramore."

"No wonder. She was pretty formidable. My shield was completely wrecked."

"I know you were brave, fighting Tyrande's sentinel to a draw. By the way, do you really not want Remi to follow Jaina to Theramore?"

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

"All right, I understand what you mean. But according to you, does that mean humans cannot peacefully coexist with other races, such as Orcs?"

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

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

In Roderick's heart, his opinion of Jaina was actually quite favorable. She was poised, warm, and generous, and showed none of a noble's arrogance toward an insignificant nobody like him. Even after being rejected, she did not use her status to pressure others into accepting her terms. She was not overbearing, but gentle as a spring breeze; she was beautiful, and she was still unmarried. It would have been utterly unreasonable for a woman like that not to thrive in the Alliance.

Thus the Dalaran episode passed. After meeting Jaina only once, Roderick and Remilia had managed to grind their Theramore reputation down to indifferent. That was an impressive feat indeed. But it had also completely extinguished Jaina's designs on Remilia, and everything returned to calm.