The Mage Behind the Scenes

The Elf still held the sword, then carefully took the badge with her free hand. It felt very cold and had no lethality whatsoever.

'It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Windrunner.'

A sentence echoed in her mind. She wasn't startled by the voice. The speaker actually knew her name; it was obviously Rhonin who had told him.

"Who are you?" the Ranger demanded.

'You should have heard of me. I am Krasus of the Kirin Tor.'

Krasus? So that's the mage.

"It is a great honor, Senator Kirin Tor, that you hold the same rank as Prince Kael'thas."

Then there was a moment of silence.

'I'm sorry for what happened to Quel'Thalas.'

Sorry? Anger surged within Sylvanas. Why was he apologizing? Did all of this have anything to do with him?

"Was it you who sent this monk with me? What exactly is your purpose?"

"I can't tell you that right now, especially after Rhonin told me about your attitude towards the Red Dragonflight."

The Elf sneered, thinking to himself that this was a completely unconvincing argument. "So you admit it."

' Rhonin was originally going to Grim Batol. Your sister has completed her mission, and now you and that Dwarf shouldn't be here in the first place. This wasn't part of the plan.'

"But your plan has already put someone in danger, and now it's unclear whether they're alive or dead!"

Rhonin, standing beside her, looked completely bewildered. Unable to communicate with Krasus, he could only guess what was being said and what Sylvanas's answers were.

'Nathanos... is truly fortunate to be favored by the Windrunner family,' Krasus replied.

"If he were still alive," she said, almost through gritted teeth.

'Yes... if he's still alive, then we should think about how to rescue him.'

This answer surprised her. She hadn't expected him to say such a thing. Why would he do that? This mage, especially as a member of the Kirin Tor, would actually care about the life of someone he had no connection with.

'Sylvanas Windrunner, listen to me. My original plan went... very wrong. And Nathanos' fate was one of those wrongs. You want to save him, don't you?'

"That's right."

Even in a place inhabited entirely by Orcs? A place teeming with dragons?

"Yes."

"Which would you choose: to kill the Queen of Dragons or to rescue Nathanos?"

"What?" The Ranger was stunned. Why bring this up all of a sudden? What's the connection between the two? Sylvanas didn't believe that choosing one meant giving up the other.

"For me, saving Nathanos is more important. However, I will not give up the opportunity for revenge."

Another silence fell. Rhonin stood to the side, sweating for Krasus. He knew his mentor was trying to secure an ally with whom he could cooperate absolutely. Sylvanas was such an ally.

'You and I are so alike, Windrunner. And I hope all those we care about are safe and sound. I will do everything I can to help you with this difficult task. Of course, all real threats must be faced by you alone.'

"That's how it should be," the Elf replied coldly. At the same time, a bizarre thought suddenly occurred to her. Krasus's words just now—that he was similar to her, that he also cared about someone—could it be that he also had someone he wanted to save? That person couldn't be Nathanos, so who was it? The Ranger recalled Krasus's question—would you choose to save someone or the Queen of Dragons? If there was a connection between the two answers... Sylvanas couldn't help but be surprised. Could the person she was speaking to have another terrifying identity?

'Please return the insignia to Rhonin.' I need to say a few words to him.

Sylvanas had wanted to get rid of it for a while, so she promptly handed the insignia back to the mage. Rhonin took it and stared at it. He nodded occasionally, but it was clear that Krasus's words had made him somewhat uneasy.

Finally, he looked up at Sylvanas. "Krasus told me that your sister is on her way here."

What does this mean?

"It's just a message. Besides, he wants you to take this with you on your journey. It serves as a token of cooperation and communication."

Sylvanas did not take the item back, and said sternly, "No need. I don't care what your purpose is, but if you try to sabotage me, watch out!"

"Okay. So what should we do next?" Rhonin nodded obediently and asked.

"Go back, let's set off."

Rhonin, clutching the insignia, returned to Falstad with Sylvanas.

'I will guide you and your companions into the mountains ahead, leading you to Grim Batol.'

Krasus couldn't provide everything Rhonin needed, but it was enough to get the young mage to agree.

Sylvanas walked ahead, knowing without looking that he was still talking to Krasus. "Hurry up! We've wasted too much time, Spokesperson."

Rhonin didn't seem bothered by the new title; in fact, Sylvanas was quite right. Krasus continued talking as he followed behind.

'Do not mention this emblem to anyone. Do not speak to me in front of others unless you have my permission. Currently, only you and Sylvanas know of my existence, and I trust she will not tell anyone else.'

"What role are you playing?" he couldn't help but ask. In fact, Rhonin had always been puzzled as to why Krasus would choose him to complete this seemingly impossible task.

'I'm trying to protect a future.'

The mage muttered something to himself, but didn't say it aloud. He chose to trust Krasus; he had no other choice.

Krasus guessed what Rhonin was thinking. 'Listen to me, young Rhonin. You may not understand everything I ask you to do, and you may be full of doubts. But please believe me, it's the best choice for you. There are many dangers ahead that you don't know about, many dangers that you cannot face alone.'

You still haven't said anything. Rhonin thought to himself, Krasus had only said he was going to rescue the Queen of Dragons, but hadn't explained why. Just as Sylvanas believed Rhonin had ulterior motives, Rhonin also suspected Krasus had ulterior motives. He felt like a puppet, being manipulated.

"You'll be back at your original location in a little while. Now I have something very important to attend to. Don't act rashly before I give you instructions. Goodbye."

Just as Rhonin was about to speak, the voice vanished. He could only accept Krasus's dubious help and now had to obey his orders. But would Sylvanas obey him? Rhonin realized Krasus had left him with a dilemma. He was certain the Female Elf wouldn't entrust her own life, and Nathanos's life, to a mage secretly issuing commands. Even worse, Sylvanas might blame him for having the same mage task Rhonin with that insane mission, putting Nathanos in danger while protecting him.