Spring Water

The next morning, near the Mount Hyjal.

Night Elf, Orcs, and humans gathered together to set up their defenses...

There is only one winding road leading to Teldrassil, the World Tree. The Allied Forces protecting Azeroth have established three strong lines of defense.

The first line of defense was at the foot of the mountain, guarded by humans. Jaina had never participated in a war, so she relied more on Sylvanas. The Female Elf had disappeared for a day, but thankfully she returned ahead of schedule and suggested building a low wall along the defensive line, which, combined with the steep mountains on both sides, would form a narrow pass, making it easier to defend.

The second line of defense was the Orcs camp. Thrall chose to hold it halfway up the mountain. This chieftain had considered things more thoroughly; besides setting up wooden stakes, he also sent some Darkspear Troll to lay traps in the camp. Furthermore, he had far more advisors than Jaina; the Tauren chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof and the Troll leader Vol'jin were both able to offer insightful ideas.

The third line of defense was located on the mountaintop, not far from the World Tree, where the Night Elf had already assembled. The sentinels and Druids formed a massive force, outnumbering even the combined forces of humans and Orcs. Coupled with their enormous Ancient of War, this line of defense appeared to be the most formidable.

With some time still available, the leaders of the coalition held a final meeting.

Warchief Thrall, High Priestess Tyrande, and Archdruid Malfurion have already met, but they must wait carefully for Jaina Proudmoore. The mage's delayed arrival is causing concern; at this crucial juncture, any mishap could have disastrous consequences.

The atmosphere was quiet yet tense, until Jaina appeared before the Orcs and Elf using a teleportation spell.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," the mage said breathlessly, but she believed there was no time to correct this bad habit she was so hard to break, so she got straight to the point. "Just as I feared, Archimonde and his demons have begun their attack! They could arrive at any moment."

Compared to her nervousness, Malfurion Stormrage appeared calm, every word revealing his wisdom. "Ten thousand years ago, we Night Elf defeated the Burning Legion. Although the world was shattered afterward, we were freed and spent our immortal years peacefully around the World Tree."

Jaina blinked. Immortal life? So the two Night Elf leaders standing before her had lived in this world for tens of thousands of years?

"We are the guardians of the World Tree, through which we gained supernatural immortality and immense power. Now, it is finally our turn to return this power."

Malfurion's words clearly made Tyrande uneasy. As the leader of the Night Elf, Tyrande had to speak on behalf of all her people, even if she had to put aside her own personal feelings.

"You know we grow old like mortals." Her words naturally drew Malfurion's attention. "Our natural powers also diminish with age."

Malfurion had already anticipated Tyrande's concerns. His lover wasn't trying to persuade him to abandon the idea, but rather subtly inquiring about the future. In fact, Tyrande knew Malfurion after all this was over, many more people would come to him seeking guidance.

"If pride allows us to stop, my love, perhaps we have lived too long. I will go to the mountaintop and prepare our defenses there, whatever fate may bring, my love, please remember... the bond between our hearts is eternal."

"There are no guards here?" Nathanos exclaimed in surprise. Medivh had brought him here to obtain the water of the Well of Eternity. Although Nathanos didn't ask, Medivh had told him many things, including the Well of Eternity and the origin of the World Tree Teldrassil.

"Their attention is all on the Burning Legion." Medivh walked past Nathanos and led the way.

"I remember you saying something like that the Legion's minions are endless. Does that mean the Night Elf's resistance is futile?"

"I just mentioned the War of the Ancients to you before we came here." Medivh walked to a tree and placed his hand on the rough bark. He could feel that every inch of life here contained the purest magic.

"But there's no second Well of Eternity Azeroth." Nathanos snorted, then immediately understood. She looked up at the massive roots of the World Tree that clung to the mountaintop. Medivh nodded at him, confirming his idea— the Night Elf would use this tree against the Burning Legion, just as they had ten thousand years ago.

"Does this tree truly possess the power to defeat the Burning Legion? And now that the Burning Legion has already suffered one defeat, will they repeat the same mistake?"

"Don't underestimate the power of the Well of Eternity. This tree is actually a seal, used to lock the magical spring at the base of its roots."

"I know that. What Archimonde really wants is the spring beneath the tree roots, and the Night Elf also need the power of that spring to fight the demons. But what will they do?"

Nathanos's question hit the nail on the head, but Medivh didn't give a full explanation, only telling him that the World Tree was now a bomb.

What was it that detonated the bomb?

During the rest of the journey, Medivh became a completely different person, unusually quiet.

We've arrived!

"We've arrived?" Nathanos looked up; they had come to the World Tree. For some reason, he felt that the tree was emitting a faint, soft light. Anyone standing under the tree could feel the preciousness of life, but he couldn't.

"What are you going to do? You can't just dig this tree up, can you?"

"Of course not." Medivh shook his head. "Tens of thousands of years have passed, and this tree has absorbed a great deal of magical energy. Illidan Stormrage used three vials of water from the Well of Eternity here back then."

Two out of the Guardian's three sentences were reminiscing about the past, which Nathanos was already somewhat tired of. Now, he crossed his arms and said, "You've already told me, this is also why Illidan was imprisoned for ten thousand years."

"Do you know how the Sunwell came about?"

"Wasn't it created Sunstrider Dath'Remar Sunstrider, the first King of Quel'Thalas?"

"A mortal does not have such power. The Sunwell, in the end, is also derived from the power of the Well of Well of Eternity."

"What?" Nathanos exclaimed in surprise.

"Moreover, Dath'Remar only used one bottle of water from the Well of Eternity."