Every Moment

Felwood is a forest located in Kalimdor. This prosperous land, comprised of forests and meadows, was ruled by the Night Elf and under the protection of the demigod Cenarius. However, the demigod has fallen. A babbling brook flows through the quiet, lush meadows, and the summer heat is alleviated by gentle breezes and cool rain. Birds sing loudly in the leafy corridors of the forest. It is so much like paradise.

However, the Burning Legion's Ironhoof trampled this land!

Nathanos arrived here a few days ago, following Illidan to this unfamiliar place. After several unsuccessful attempts to contact the Lich King, he stopped seeking his instructions. This decision would leave him disoriented. Since he didn't know what to do next, he could only temporarily follow Illidan, waiting to see what would happen.

"Ten thousand years later, I am finally free. Yet my brother still considers me a scourge! I will show him my true power! I want him to know that demons cannot control me." Illidan muttered to himself in the distance, below the camp. Nathanos could hear him. This Elf reminded him of the Orcs of the past, who also possessed demonic power and were lost in slaughter and bloodshed. Now, Illidan's words made Nathanos doubt whether he could truly keep his word.

As he was deep in thought, a voice he knew all too well rang in his ears. Nathanos immediately looked up and saw Arthas standing on a hillside, along with his mount— Invincible.

The once-human Prince has become a slave to death, and the Rune Sword that caused this tragedy is now in his hand.

Arthas laughed. "Are you sure, Demon Hunter?" The Night Elf below whirled around, raising his weapon. "Are you sure your Will belongs to you?"

Although the Elf was blind in a conventional sense, Arthas could feel his gaze. Nathanos didn't appear and run to Arthas's side; he remembered the Death Knight saying to him, "We are all the same now."

This was an undeniable fact, yet Nathanos continued to resist, and this resistance grew stronger with each passing year since his resurrection. Moreover, he knew Arthas had made a grave mistake—he shouldn't have provoked Illidan with such a question. He had already witnessed the power of this elf, brimming with demonic Elf.

Illidan scoffed. "Another undead Undead of death. You'll regret getting close to me."

Arthas grinned. He was eager for a proper one-on-one duel. "Then let's go," he said, as if extending an invitation to the duel. "You'll find we're evenly matched." Invincible leaped up on its forelegs, letting out an excited neigh, and then charged down the hill as eagerly as its master.

Illidan let out a fierce battle cry, gripped his green battle blade, and charged away.

It was like a magnificent dance, just as Arthas had said, they were evenly matched! Nathanos thought to himself as their weapons clashed. Illidan was strong and graceful, his Fel enhancing his combat skills. And Arthas had surprised him just as much. The Death Knight had improved rapidly, he was no ordinary man, Frostmourne was no ordinary weapon. The duel was fierce and swift; they fought for a long time until they both retreated.

"We can fight like this forever," Illidan said. "What exactly do you want?"

Arthas withdrew Frostmourne; the battle hadn't affected him. "The one commanding the Felwood demon Legion is a Demon Lord named Tichondrius. He possesses a powerful artifact called the Skull of Gul'dan. It's the power of that treasure that corrupted the forest."

Illidan raised his head, understanding his meaning. "And you want me to steal that thing? Why?"

Nathanos also wanted to know the answer to this question; he remembered that Arthas and Kel'Thuzad were the ones who brought the Burning Legion into the world.

Arthas raised his white eyebrows and answered without any concealment, "To be honest, I have no liking for Tichondrius, and my master... will profit from the Burning Legion's defeat."

'I see!' Nathanos stared at Arthas in surprise.

Illidan planted his battle blade in the ground, crossed his arms, and said, "Why should I believe you, you insignificant human?"

Arthas shrugged. "My master is all-knowing; he foresaw everything, Demon Hunter. He knows you've spent your life seeking power. Now it's in your hands! With it, your enemies will vanish."

Illidan slowly raised his head to face Arthas. The blind man clearly could see, which was unsettling. The Night Elf took a step back and nodded thoughtfully. Arthas said nothing more, turned his horse, and galloped away.

But Nathanos discovered something surprising—he hadn't been exposed! Why was that?

Arthas has just revealed the Lich King's entire plan, and Illidan is the key to this plan. If this Night Elf hadn't stolen Skull of Gul'dan, or if he had told Tichondrius everything, the Lich King would have faced annihilation.

This is undoubtedly a huge gamble!

Ensuring Illidan agreed to help the Scourge was the first step. The Lich King would definitely be monitoring Arthas; given his abilities, it was impossible for him not to know that Nathanos was lurking nearby. Yet, even after Arthas left, he didn't feel the Lich King's control or oppression.

What exactly happened?

' The Lich King will have no effect on you for now. Go witness Illidan's fate, then head to Mount Hyjal.'

"It's you!" Nathanos responded to the voice in his mind...

Sylvanas had never encountered such an awkward situation. She stood up in a panic and looked at the old man who was approaching her with a blank expression.

"Are you Alleria?"

The Female Elf noticed that the old man with white hair and beard was also wearing armor, carrying a shield in one hand and a sword in the other.

'Someone like this is going to join the fight?' Sylvanas frowned, thinking. It wasn't surprising that the other person mistook her for her sister. Even Jaina had told her that when they first met, she had also mistaken her for Alleria.

"Who are you?" the Ranger asked in return.

The other person didn't answer her question, but instead continued, "How is my son? And his mother?"

"Son? Mother?" Sylvanas felt the world spinning around her. This old man was Nathanos's father, and he was actually in Jaina's expedition. For a moment, she didn't know how to answer this question.

"They..." The Female Elf looked at the humans again, sighed heavily, and felt extremely depressed. "They are very good, very good."

"Really?" Old Bred laughed. "That's wonderful! I've been worried sick about what happened to Quel'Thalas, but seeing you here and hearing from you personally that Nathanos is safe and sound, I can finally relax. Alleria, please tell Nathanos to take good care of his mother, and tell him every single moment!"

Every moment? Sylvanas blinked. What did that mean? She wanted to tell Bred that he would definitely see Nathanos again, his fine son, but this desperate hope was something the Female Elf would never convey in her entire life. She never managed to utter those words.

Bred slowly turned around and went to relay the good news to the other relatives of Nathanos.