Fracture

Alleria Windrunner stared at the letter on the table. The green wax seal reflected her gaze in the flickering lamplight. The Female Elf sighed, unfolded the parchment again, skipped the piercingly incisive words, and turned to the second page. In a long, almost accusatory interrogation, Sylvanas Windrunner, the second daughter of the Windrunner family, announced her decision to visit.

However, after several months in power, Alleria had refused Sylvanas's request more than once. She knew why her sister wanted to see her, so she chose to ignore her, thinking that this would avoid an argument. Vareesa, who was beside her, disagreed.

"You should see her, sister," the Ranger-General said. "Perhaps Sylvanas just wants an explanation."

Unbeknownst to Vareesa, Sylvanas had made similar requests several times over the past few months, hoping to gain an audience with the Regent. However, a direct confrontation was something Alleria desired, so the previous requests had been intentionally or unintentionally ignored. Undead and Troll were convenient excuses for Alleria's avoidance, but she still tried her best to avoid recalling what had happened there. That man, the shadow he had cast upon her, had not yet faded.

Her fingers loosened, and the letter fell back onto the table. Sylvanas's visit was ill-timed, as Alleria had planned to travel to Isle of Quel'Danas to inspect the situation, precisely the day before her sister's arrival. She began to consider whether she would have to postpone her trip.

Alleria sighed again. The strong fingers that had once gripped the Farstrider's arrows traced the surface of the parchment. She knew perfectly well what Sylvanas would ask when she arrived, but she hadn't yet decided how to answer.

"No." She shoved the letter into her sister's hand.

"Why? Don't you want to see her?" Vareesa asked curiously.

"I wouldn't dare!" Alleria stared wide-eyed at Vareesa, almost uttering those four words aloud. The harsh truth lingered in her mind, refusing to fade. Vareesa was right, and Alleria knew that simply avoiding the issue wasn't a solution; it would only breed more suspicion.

"Then let's meet in the evening. And then... remove the guards, and make sure no one hears our conversation."

The Ranger-General followed the regent to the center of the royal court.

At this moment, Alleria was wearing the green uniform that symbolized Farstrider. Archmage Rommath had previously commented on this, arguing that as Regent of Silvermoon City, Alleria shouldn't reveal her preference for any particular force through her attire. Although Rommath often played the role of the opposition in politics, Alleria wouldn't argue with him.

"My second sister is inside," Vareesa reminded her, implying whether or not she should come along.

Alleria stopped and smiled at Little Moon of the Windrunner family, "No matter what happens inside, you can't come in, and don't let anyone else in, understand?"

The Ranger-General looked slightly worried, but in the end he didn't say anything.

On the white tiles of the royal court, Sylvanas appeared behind a beaded curtain. She was completely captivated by something. Alleria noticed her stroking the runes on Quel'delar. It was easy to guess what Sylvanas was thinking.

"You're finally willing to face me."

"I just don't want to lose you, Sylvanas."

"You lost me when you killed him."

Anger burned in Alleria's eyes as well. "Did you see what he became? Do you know how twisted he looked?"

"Of course I know!" Sylvanas roared, pointing Quel'delar at Alleria, the blade just centimeters from her throat. "He lay in my arms, and my heart broke when I touched him. He was so cold, no matter how hard I held him, I couldn't warm him at all. I thought... I thought he must have needed you so much then, needed your help so much, but you weren't there."

Alleria blinked, wondering what Sylvanas did next. But she didn't continue, instead stating definitively, "I ruined him, and you ruined him too."

"What's the meaning?"

"What good will it do to tell you now?" Sylvanas looked directly at her, Alleria noticed she was fighting back tears. "Why did you do this? He's your husband!"

Vareesa couldn't offer any help in this situation; she could only pray that Alleria wouldn't get overwhelmed by the various difficult questions.

"It's precisely because I'm his wife that I don't want to see him like this. Do you think he wanted to become like this?" Alleria shook her head frantically.

"He just wanted you to accept him," Sylvanas said sternly. "He never thought he could ever come back to you; he just wanted to know if you still remembered him. But you abandoned him!"

Alleria was too grief-stricken to speak, a grief that seemed unnatural, for it was genuine. "I don't know if I abandoned him, I don't know if Nathanos has regained his freedom, I only know... that living as a dead man is painful, and I don't want him to live a painful life."

"So you chose to let him die in despair?"

Sylvanas's words terrified Alleria, and a wave of guilt washed over her. For a moment, the Female Elf felt remorse.

Seeing that Alleria remained silent for a long time, Sylvanas knew she had won. "Fine, I don't want to hear your explanation, and I don't want to stay here either."

"Stay here, Sylvanas. Quel'Thalas needs your strength now." Alleria reached out to her sister, but she dodged it.

"I will not stay; I have only returned to retrieve Nathanos's relics."

Alleria then noticed that she was carrying Nathanos's bow and arrows on her back, and now Quel'delar was also in her hands.

"If you want to stop me, you can kill me the same way you killed Nathanos."

"No, I won't stop you. I... I've already lost him."

Karazhan

"It's over!"

"Damn it!" Nathanos cursed after his twenty-sixth failure. With each defeat, Medivh would say "It's over," as if mocking his own failure.

'That mage must have done it on purpose.' Nathanos gritted his teeth as he looked at the fallen King Llane, who was, of course, just a pawn.

It always happens like this: just when Nathanos is about to win, when his pieces are about to surround Blackhand, some inexplicable magic will change the course of the battle. His chessboard will set on fire, and the Orcs pieces will go berserk.

'There wasn't even enough time to control the pieces and dodge the attacks.' Nathanos clenched his fist.

"Medivh, why are you putting me through this test? What... are you trying to tell me?"