As the carriage rolled onward, Anthony looked through its window and got a clear view of their destination.
It was a village unlike the traditional villages of Azeroth.
Wisps of cooking smoke rose slowly from the peaceful village like soft white ribbons, dancing lightly beneath the azure sky. As the breeze brushed past, the smoke scattered and gathered again, complementing the green hills and clear waters in the distance to form a picturesque pastoral scene.
As the carriage traveled down the middle of the concrete road, Anthony could clearly see the relaxed smiles on the farmers' faces as it passed.
The villagers here struck Anthony as remarkably unusual. In his younger days, he had visited remote villages to wipe out demons invading Azeroth.
Compared to those places, this village basked in a sunlit spring, while the others seemed trapped in an oppressive abyss of suffering.
Most villagers in those places wore worried faces. Only children too young to understand wore such carefree smiles.
Anthony had never seen a village like this one, where happy smiles were everywhere.
Just as Anthony and Jaina became absorbed in the sights, the carriage slowly stopped before a blue sign bearing the village's name.
"Emerald Village, old sir! You can get off here!" the driver called back to Anthony.
Anthony paused briefly before remembering what the two of them had come for, then stepped out of the carriage sheepishly. He nodded to the driver in thanks and watched as the carriage picked up another group of passengers, set off again, and slowly rolled away.
Anthony withdrew his gaze and turned to Jaina. "Come on. Let's visit this village and see where all of this began."
"Teacher, I'm suddenly not sure I want to go in!" Jaina pursed her lips.
"Why?" Anthony looked at his student