However, Rhode never managed to complete his tour of the southern regions.
Because... they went by ship!
After returning to Southshore, Rhode brought Lilia along and joined Marin at Southsea Port, where they boarded a ship bound for Westfall.
Lilia simply had to come. Otherwise, spending every day of such a dull sea voyage staring at a middle-aged mage like Marin would have bored him to death!
They had chosen to sail because it was clearly the most convenient way to reach Stormwind City-apart from a portal.
Since Stormwind City had yet to build a harbor, they would first have to land at Lighthouse Pier in Westfall, then enter Elwynn Forest to reach the city.
That was the sea route.
It might have looked rather troublesome, but compared with traveling overland, it was far more convenient.
If Rhode traveled by land, his route would be: Hillsbrad Foothills-Arathi Highlands-Wetlands-Loch Modan-Searing Gorge-Burning Steppes-Redridge Mountains-Elwynn Forest-Stormwind City...
That would mean trekking across more than half the Eastern Kingdoms. By the time he reached Stormwind City, it would be far too late.
With so many towering mountain ranges across the continent, the overland route twisted and wound all over the place. It was nothing like the sea route, which was practically a straight line along the western coast.
By comparison, traveling by sea really was much faster.
When Rhode caught sight of the boundless horizon, the vast sky gradually turned silver-gray. Low clouds mingled with the gray evening haze, as though a thin veil had been draped over the heavens.
Rhode knew they had reached Westfall.
Yellowed grass and sparse shrubs covered the distant land, giving it the desolate, bleak appearance unique to Westfall.
In truth, however, this was fertile land.
Although the wind here still felt dry, and Westfall remained yellow even in