Missed

Tonight, the temperature in Stormwind City is exceptionally cold. The numerous towers are bathed in the white moonlight of the frigid night. A gust of cold wind blows, and the soldiers stationed outside Stormwind Keep, cloaked and huddled together, shiver with cold.

The guards shivered from the cold, but they failed to notice a strange, eerie wind sweeping across the streets of Stormwind City, entering through the main gate of Stormwind Keep, ascending through the wide fortress corridor, and then turning left. The wind swirled, passing through another passageway, and finally entering a small open courtyard.

Two guards stood facing each other, protecting the entrance to the Stormwind City Royal Library. They couldn't help but shiver as they felt the chilling air. Noticing that the surroundings seemed to have grown even darker, they squinted warily.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept up the shadows, revealing several standing figures. Four of them appeared somewhat thin, presumably human. However, they were shrouded in long, black robes and hoods, with only their eyes gleaming with a fiery red light visible. Standing between the four was another figure, much taller and far more dangerous than the other four.

One of the guards drew his sword, trying to shout a warning of intrusion, but he failed. The middle man stepped forward, swinging his massive hammer, and the poor guard fell. His companion thrust his spear, but it was futile. The man seized the spear shaft, snapped it in two, then nimbly turned, leaped over the top of the shield, and plunged the spearhead into the guard's neck. The second guard fell silently as well.

The group stepped over the still slightly twitching corpse, pushed open the door in front, and entered the Royal Library.

The Blood Maw Demon whispered the order, "We must be quick, and we absolutely cannot be discovered."

The five Death Knight split up and searched the library for what they were looking for. After only a few minutes, one of the Death Knight muttered a curse, "It's not here!"

"What?" The Blood Maw approached and saw the Death Knight standing beside an empty glass case. In one corner of the case lay a small, brown card. Written in human script were the words: The Medivh's Book! Do not open without the permission of the King or the Alliance Commander.

"It used to be here." The Blood Maw looked at the velvet lining of the box, where a large, thick, rectangular object had clearly once been placed. "But where did it go?"

"Here," another Death Knight whispered. Blood Maw hurried toward him. "Looks like someone beat me to it." He pointed to a corpse in a small study. The corpse was dressed in a librarian's uniform, a dagger stuck in its neck.

"Alterac!" Blood Maw looked at the insignia on the hilt of the sword and whispered, "It's their insignia. So it's Alterac who took the Medivh's Book." Blood Maw smiled sinisterly. "But why would he leave such an obvious clue?" he questioned. "That assassin is really careless."

"Perhaps he's trying to convey a message," a Death Knight suggested. Blood Maw glanced at his companion; this remark had given him pause for thought.

Despite Perenolde's betrayal in the last war, he remains King of Alterac, at least for now. The book is also crucial for the Alliance. Alterac could certainly use it as leverage in negotiations—yes, that makes sense.

"Alterac wants to tell the Alliance that it and its King are still in this game. Or..." He chuckled again, and if they weren't in enemy territory, he might have laughed out loud. "Perhaps it really is just a careless assassin." The other Death Knight smiled as well.

"Go to Alterac, the Horde needs that book. And take that dagger with you. We can't be as careless as the Alliance and give them the same clue. The body hasn't decomposed yet, so let the guards think they all died at the hands of the same person when they see these three tomorrow."

As soon as the Blood Maw finished speaking, he mobilized his power, and the shadows once again enveloped the area, causing the temperature inside the library to plummet. Moments later, another gust of cold wind swept past the doorway, over the cold corpse and the surrounding pools of blood, leaving the fortress and disappearing into the night. They left just as they had come, unnoticed by anyone.

Ner'zhul had instructed Blood Maw to proceed as planned as possible, to find the Medivh's Book, and then to go to Blackrock Mountain. The Horde needed the brothers Rend and Maim, and they also needed to investigate the whereabouts of the Dragonmaw Clan.

'Blackrock Mountain is the only way to Alterac,' Blood Maw thought to himself.

Quel'Thalas

Alleria rode her traveling bird alone towards Zul'Aman. She wore a large cloak that completely concealed her face. At the same time, she clutched the Windrunner family's prized weapon, Sathoryl, constantly on guard against potential ambushes.

'Why would Nathanos choose a place like this to meet me?' Alleria wondered. This morning, a letter written in human script had inexplicably appeared on her desk, inviting her to meet in Zul'Aman. The Female Elf knew without a doubt who it was, but the location he chose was too audacious. Why not Windrunner Tower? If he didn't want to be seen by other Elf, he could have chosen a completely safe place like Silvermoon City. The martial law in Quel'Thalas hadn't been lifted, and the Ranger patrols in the forest had increased. Alleria had to evade these eyes and ears. If she were discovered in Zul'Aman, the politicians of the Silvermoon Council would make a big deal out of it.

She walked for two hours and finally reached the city of the Troll, only to find the human she hadn't seen in so long sleeping on a rock. Hawkstrider cried out, startling Alleria, Female Elf quickly calmed the little creature down.

"You've arrived?" Nathanos woke up and stretched.

"I have to admire you; how can you sleep so soundly here?" Alleria said, somewhat complainingly, as she tied the Hawkstrider to a tree. She moved with extreme care, as if on a secret rendezvous, which inexplicably flushed her cheeks.

Nathanos glanced back at the somewhat dilapidated old gate of Zul'Aman. "I think it's nice here, quite quiet."

Aren't you afraid of Troll?

"Aren't you afraid your Ranger will see you sneaking out?"

Alleria chuckled, pulled down her wide hood, and ran her fingers through her hair. "Don't be afraid, because I am their general."

"So you must not lose their respect." Nathanos stood up and walked towards her. "Thank you for the appointment."

But you refused.

The human nodded; he had lost count of how many times this had happened. "I'd rather refuse. I have no patience to wear the hat of a Ranger-Lord and get involved in the conspiracies of that magnificent city. Elsewhere, even here, I can think... I can breathe. Such comfort cannot be found in the shadows of those ancient spires."

"Kael'thas says you hid because you were frightened by the Elf archers," she said, raising an eyebrow.

Nathanos scoffed. "Kael'thas Sunstrider is a complete politician. If he wants a real fight, I'm ready anytime." He suddenly shut his mouth and fell silent.

"A master would use a bow and arrow to bully a mage?" The Female Elf's lips curled into a mocking smile, leaving Nathanos speechless. He would never admit to being a master of archery, especially in front of the Ranger-General.

"But I'm glad to see you've come to me," Alleria said suddenly, her voice soft. Nathanos felt as if he'd been struck on the head, and he couldn't even breathe. He could only stare blankly at Alleria, while the Female Elf looked at him as if expecting an answer.

"Me...me too." Nathanos blushed and turned his head away. Alleria finally couldn't help but laugh, which only made Nathanos more nervous. He decided to end this utterly foolish topic. "I'm here. What brings you here?"

"Too much." Alleria stared intently at him, carefully observing the embarrassment on Nathanos's face. "I need you to come with me to hunt down the Orcs."

"What? You're still...?"

The Female Elf's smile faded, but a hint of amusement lingered at the corners of her mouth. "I've been hunting them all along."

"And then execute them on the spot?" Nathanos asked, this was a serious matter, and Alleria's earlier joy had completely vanished.

She replied calmly, "I wrote you so many letters, but you never replied."

The Female Elf tried to change the subject, but the human bluntly stated, "Those appointment letters and the letters about Quel'Thalas are all kept in a cabinet in my room." He made it clear that none of the letters Alleria wrote were about herself. Nathanos suddenly understood; she couldn't possibly tell him about her hunting of Orcs.

The Female Elf bit her lip, her emerald green eyes flashing with anger.

"Yes, I've been searching everywhere. Rumor had it that some Orcs were hiding in the mountains of Alterac, so I went there." She smiled coldly and continued, "I found ten Orcs."

Nathanos didn't need to ask her what she had done to the Orcs. He was even wondering if she had collected any spoils of war.

What's the point of doing this?

"Meaning?" Her sharp tone shocked Nathanos. The human could hardly believe that the Female Elf in front of him was the Alleria he knew, and he couldn't even imagine her crouching next to an Orcs corpse with a cold smile.

"Do you know how much pleasure I derive from slaughtering those Orcs? Justice is only served when they pay for their sins. I want to witness their deaths, every single one of Orcs! Even if it takes nearly a hundred years!"

"Enough!" Nathanos roared, causing the Hawkstrider beside him to become agitated. "This is not justice. You don't want those Orcs to pay for what they've done; you just want to kill them. If possible, wouldn't you wipe out the entire Orcs race at all costs?"

"So what?" Her smile was cold and ruthless. Nathanos's eyes widened in astonishment at the Female Elf's unwavering conviction. In her heart, she didn't consider the Orcs as sentient beings. "They deserved it!"

The human stepped forward, reaching out a hand to grasp her. "I know you've lost your loved ones, many people have died tragically, and..."

Alleria pushed Nathanos's hand away and said sarcastically, "Loss? A human talking to me about loss? What do you know? Can you understand that guilt and pain? Human life is so short compared to that of Elf!"

Nathanos felt all the color drain from his face. For a moment, he didn't even know how to react. "Elf do have a long lifespan, but that doesn't mean you're more rational than humans."

"So you think you know everything better than I do, is that it?" She glared at him, then roared, "How dare you lecture me? Nathanos!"

The human stood silently for a long time, his eyes trembling slightly as he gazed at her. The Female Elf kept her lips tightly pressed together, regretting the last words she had uttered. Her breathing grew faster and faster, but she could no longer feel Nathanos's breath.

A long time

He closed his eyes, then opened them again after only a second, revealing an expression Alleria had never seen before—no pain, no anger, no helplessness, nothing at all. Then, he nodded, a gesture that felt like a knife piercing the Female Elf's heart. As Nathanos turned to leave, Alleria trembled. He was actually leaving? The Female Elf stared intently at his retreating figure, her fists clenched. Her fingertips ached from her palms. 'Stay! Stay! Please!' she cried out in her heart, hoping Nathanos would stop.

Nathanos walked slowly, perhaps because he suddenly felt weak all over, or perhaps he was waiting for the Female Elf to tell him to stop. If she did, he would surely turn around, rush to her, and embrace her tightly, perhaps even kiss her gently.

But Alleria did not utter a word until Nathanos disappeared into the jungle.

Ultimately, they missed each other.