No Need to Wake Up

Is this real or a dream? Nathanos's pupils trembled. He stood on an incredibly familiar piece of land, the tranquil fragrance of rice blossoms intoxicating him. Footprints sank into the damp soil, and the poplar tree behind the house looked newly planted, only its crown visible. At this moment, he forgot that he was deep in Neltharion's lair, forgot that he was stealing a powerful treasure. He had only one thought—to go home.

This is the home I remember, but...

How could that be?

Nathanos realized that his breathing was becoming increasingly rapid. Yes, it was his breathing; he was surprised that he was still breathing. Moreover, he could hear the thumping of his own heart. He covered his chest with his hand, trying to feel it with his heart; it really was his own heartbeat.

In his panic, Nathanos looked down at himself. He couldn't see his face, but his clothes were neat and tidy, no longer the black Ranger outfit he used to wear. He noticed his hands; the skin was intact, the flesh was full, and most importantly, they were warm!

"This is impossible!" Nathanos exclaimed, then suddenly touched his throat. His voice, though deep, was strong and no longer hoarse. "This is clearly a living person," he remarked, but he couldn't believe that the assessment was being applied to himself.

Nathanos galloped toward the farm stables. His appearance startled the horses, who were resting with their heads down. They stared at the suddenly appearing human with puzzled eyes, his behavior quite strange. The human leaned over the water trough and touched his face, his expression as if admiring a work of art, or perhaps he had something on his face that needed cleaning. Whatever the reason, his audacity stirred up the stables; the horses became restless, wanting the man to get away.

"This is impossible!" Nathanos shouted as he ran out. He was alive, he was still alive! But he didn't believe it. He was going to prove that it was just a dream. Soon he found the evidence. He looked out over the plains of the Eastern Plaguelands. Of course, it shouldn't be called the Plaguelands now, because the road from Marius Farm to Stratholme was full of lush farmland and tall trees, and caravans were traveling on the official road below.

This was his homeland of memory, a homeland long since destroyed, yet now it reappeared before his eyes, so real, so worthy of remembrance. Nathanos touched his face once more, feeling it, pulling and tugging, feeling the pain...

... Is this true?

Nathanos suddenly collapsed to his knees, utterly powerless, unable to believe his eyes. The change had come so abruptly, leaving him bewildered. What struck him even more astonishingly was the sound of laughter—not the sounds of chasing and playing, but the sounds of family chatting over a meal. Among them were his father, his cousin, his uncle, and... and his mother!

Nathanos wanted to rush in, but he just stared blankly, not standing up. Yes, it was definitely his mother's voice; she seemed to be discussing something about the wedding. Who's getting married? Stephan? But he's too young!

"What exactly is going on?"

Human finally stood up and, step by step, tiptoed toward the threshold that separated him and his family. The door was ajar, and the closer he got, the clearer the sounds from inside became.

Nathanos held his breath. He dared not think about it, yet he kept thinking about what kind of expressions his family would have when they saw him. He had killed his mother!

Thinking of this, Nathanos withdrew his hand from the doorknob, a heavy sense of guilt gnawing at his heart. But to his surprise, the door opened at that moment...

"Excellent!" Illidan smiled, convinced that the Fel had worked on Nathanos. The Undead seemed to have come to life; his head swayed slightly, his brow furrowed, as if he might wake up at any moment. But Illidan quickly realized he was wrong.

He didn't wake up; in fact, it might be worse. Nathanos's initial reactions gradually faded, and his eyes remained closed. He seemed quite comfortable; if he was dreaming, it must have been a very pleasant dream.

But for Illidan, his situation is deteriorating.

"Damn it!" the blind Elf cursed, inadvertently increasing the power he unleashed on Nathanos.

"Alleria ..." Nathanos had almost forgotten the last time the Female Elf in front of him smiled at him like that. He only remembered the pain and despair on Alleria's face when she last looked at him.

Unlike the Ranger- like Alleria he remembered, the Female Elf was now dressed in the commoner style of Lordaeron. She lacked some of her heroic spirit and gained more simplicity. She was so plain... yet so unique that Nathanos was so surprised that he couldn't give a single reaction.

"You're back?" the Female Elf asked with a smile. Nathanos had been watching her face until he noticed something amiss with her hand movements, then looked down. Alleria was stroking her swollen belly with her left hand.

She's pregnant!

The question arose in Nathanos's mind, and the answer followed immediately. She was indeed pregnant; Nathanos had secretly seen her once in Quel'Thalas, when Alleria was already pregnant.

"What's wrong, Nathanos?" Alleria was puzzled by the human's lack of response. She reached out to touch the human's face, but Nathanos took a step back in fear.

The awkward atmosphere was difficult to ease until it was finally broken by another voice in the room.

"What happened, Alleria?"

Upon hearing this voice, Nathanos wanted to turn and run away immediately, but his legs wouldn't obey him and he stood rooted to the spot, afraid to see the person—his mother.

Daphne Marius lifted the hem of her pudding-stitched skirt, stepped out the door, and immediately noticed the astonished Nathanos.

Unbelievable, it really was her mother! Her hair was completely white, with only a few wrinkles around her eyes, and her kind smile remained unchanged. This was how Nathanos remembered his mother at her youngest, at her most perfect.

"My child, you've returned?"

The stinging sensation in his eyes left Nathanos bewildered; she was standing there, right in front of him.

This isn't true. I killed her with my own hands. I couldn't save her. My hands are stained with her blood!

The last vestige of reason reminded Nathanos, and the human painfully closed his eyes.

"This is a dream! This is a dream! Wake up! Wake up!!"

He muttered to himself, but suddenly... two hands were placed on his cheeks at the same time, the palms of which were different temperatures, and these two hands belonged to two different people. One hand was very warm, like a newborn baby lying in its mother's arms, while the other hand was filled with a variety of emotions: worry, trust, and love.

Nathanos opened his eyes, and a tear fell. After so many trials and tribulations, everything he had lost had returned.

Welcome home, child!

Everyone is waiting for you, my love!

His hands were held by his mother and Alleria, who smiled and invited him back to their home—the cabin where he lived. Like a puppet on a string, he relinquished control of his actions, not caring who controlled them, as long as he could continue moving towards home.

Just a second before stepping across the threshold, Nathanos's rational mind was still reminding him: this is just a dream.

But another voice told him: You don't have to wake up.