Lilian Voss

"You should have killed her."

Captain Vasong removed his helmet and spoke to his superior in a questioning tone.

"This is a troublesome prisoner." Scarlet Captain Gabler opened his water bag and took a big gulp. "She is Benedictus' daughter! She cannot be executed yet."

Wason was angry. He waved his hand forcefully in the air. "Not now, but what about later? Gabler, the Crimson Crusade must exterminate all the Undead." He raised his head to look at the captain and asked, "Even if His Holiness the Bishop tells us to show mercy, we can't let his daughter go, can we?"

"I have already corresponded with His Excellency the Bishop. In any case, we must test his attitude."

"That's between you two. What I'm saying is, she's become the source of evil, and she should pay with her life..." Vasson was about to finish speaking when Gabler leaned back in his chair, his expression carrying a deeper meaning.

"Are you testing Lord Benedictus?"

"Archbishop Isilien once said: 'The dregs of Scourge lurk all around us,'" Gabler murmured. In his view, how things were resolved was irrelevant; what mattered was always the outcome.

The result is that Lilian Voss will definitely die, and Benedictus's attitude will determine his own life or death.

"I see." Wason finally smiled. "That's a very good idea. Let's wait and see."

Lilian peered through the hazy mist outside the iron cage at the gloomy sky. Her lips were tightly pressed together. Death had paled her cheeks, and black lines could be clearly seen creeping up her neck from beneath her silk scarf.

Her legs were together, and her hands were on her knees. She was imprisoned at the top of a watchtower at Scarlet Watch, and she looked utterly helpless.

Her childhood friend Gabler, captured her and threatened to kill her. If Lilian hadn't told Gabler in desperation that her father was Benedictus Voss, she might have died again.

"My father will come to save me," Lilian told herself.

"Lilian!"

Someone is calling her name. People only called her name when she was alive; after she died, no one wanted to mention her anymore. Even Gabler called her the Scourge Undead.

"If you're willing to come with us..."

Lilian knew who was speaking to her. Although she couldn't see the person, she could sense their presence—just a Stealth trick. "I told you, I won't join you. My father will come to save me!" she blurted out instinctively.

As a member of the younger Voss family, Lilian was heavily favored by Benedictus from a very young age. She was raised to be a weapon against the Undead. Her father demanded that she master Stealth, magic, Martial Arts, and anything that could make her stronger. She sacrificed her childhood for the sake of the family.

"Father?"

The person in the shadows uttered only two words, but Lilian was enraged. This person was laughing at her, mocking her from out of her sight.

"Stay away from me," she said. "Get lost!"

"I intercepted a letter written by your father. Would you like to see it?"

Lilian hesitated. The other party didn't wait for her answer. A letter appeared out of nowhere in front of her. She could reach out and grab it.

Her eyes lingered on the rain-soaked envelope for a moment. Even as Undead, her eyes remained the same deep blue of the Voss family, undiminished by disease or death. Lilian picked up the letter, casually opening it to indicate that the Stealth figure had already secretly read it.

Why did he use the word "father" to mock her after reading the letter? Lilian couldn't help but wonder. She began to worry, but her eyes still shone brightly, refusing to let fear destroy her hope.

She stared directly at the envelope, her eyes filled with pleading.

Captain Gabler:

Your decision to detain a prisoner is strange... and an Undead prisoner at that. What are you thinking? Do you believe that because of the prisoner's past circumstances, she can override the laws of the Crimson Crusade?

This is extremely distressing. Gabler, I must remind you that this will be punished. I suggest you execute the prisoner immediately; she is no longer one of us.

"No!!!" Lilian screamed shrilly, tearing the rain-stained letter to shreds. This was the Undead's trick; he had forged the letter. None of this was real.

As dusk approached, the weather in Tirisfal grew increasingly cold. Lilian shivered, burying her head in her chest, sobbing silently; the raindrops from the sky were her tears.

Why did her father abandon her?

She asked herself, and then another voice from her memory answered her: We are all the same.

Lilian shook her head, trying to forget that memory and throw it into the Great Sea, but the memory became clearer and clearer.

The man who called himself the Forsaken found her in a long-abandoned hotel, gave her a mirror, and said to her: We are all the same.

"No, I'm not!" Lilian roared, startling Gabler in front of her. When did the Scarlet Captain appear?

"What aren't you?" Gabler teased Lilian mockingly. "Are you saying you're not an Undead? How ridiculous. I should bring a mirror so you can see yourself clearly."

Enraged, Lilian reached for her waist, only to find her dagger was gone.

"But you won't have that chance!" Gabler suddenly changed the subject. "Time's up, little prisoner. Your father hasn't sent word. I think he's already tacitly approved of your execution. You've truly disappointed him; he thought you could fight against the Scourge Undead's powerful weapons. What a pity... It's unfortunate that you were in danger when you were alive, and now you're in even more danger." The Scarlet Captain unlocked the iron cage with a key. "Die, Scourge Witch!"

"No!" Lilian leaped with all her might, her explosive power catching Gabler off guard. The Undead that had been locked in the cage landed easily behind him, its two hands like the sharp ends of blades, swiftly embedding themselves into Gabler's neck.

"Gabler, Father, why..." Lilian said softly, her voice low.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably. She was a little excited. Fresh flesh and blood! Lilian's throat tightened, but thankfully reason prevailed in the end.

She had only one thought: escape!

How much time had passed? Lilian returned to the inn she had stayed in before. She didn't know where to go. She could only go there. Since her resurrection, she had only found peace in that dilapidated inn. In the darkness, no one could see her face, but someone knew she was there.

There should be no footsteps inside the hotel.

"If you move, I'll slit your throat," Lilian said to the intruder. To her surprise, the intruder responded with a hoarse voice.

"I can feel you trembling. And... do you really think a stick can slit my throat?"

"For the insult you've brought me, I should kill you," Lilian said, gauging the other woman's reaction. "Your name."

"Belmont." His voice was steady, without any panic. "Do you remember me?"

"Have we met before?"

"Yes, ma'am. I introduced myself last time. I also brought you a mirror."

"I remember now. You're a Scourge minion!"

Belmont turned to face her. If Lilian truly intended to kill him, this was her chance. "The world of the living will no longer accept us, but we are fundamentally different from the Scourge! We are free."

Doubts surged like a tide, flooding Lilian's mind and settling on her pale cheeks, leaving an inscrutable expression.

"Freedom?" Lilian murmured, finding the word laughable. "What freedom is there to speak of? My father..."

"My master has had the same experience as you. He sympathizes with you, so he sent me to find you. He asked me to bring you a message." Belmont smiled and handed Voss a crumpled piece of parchment.

An urgent message:

A Scourge spy named Lilian has escaped from Scarlet Watch. She is extremely dangerous. Execute her on the spot if discovered. We've already had fifteen killed by her, without even finding a trace of their wounds.

Do not attempt to arrest her, or you will likely lose your life. She is an enemy of the Crusaders and must be executed immediately.

Simply bring her insignia back to the High Priest to receive a reward of 1000 gold coins. If in doubt, seek assistance from your Commander.

——BV

"This is a forgery!" Lilian threw the parchment at Belmont's face. The latter wasn't angry; instead, he laughed.

"You can think that way, but I can tell you that if you continue to refuse to join us, my master will give up, and he will no longer help you fend off the Crusaders' assassination attempts!"

"Assassination?" Lilian's voice trembled.

"It's written very clearly here, 'She has killed fifteen people.' Except for that Scarlet Captain named Gabler, whom you killed, the other fourteen met my master while searching for you." Belmont paused, his eyes scanning the words on the parchment. "A clever move, offering a bounty on your head but not calling you by your full name, just Lilian. The attribution at the bottom, BV, is your father, Benedictus Voss."

"Enough!" Lilian's voice, though choked by the sound of flowing air, still betrayed her anger. "Where is he?"

"If you're willing, my master can help you..."

"I'll go myself!"

"Of course, of course! So, Master has brought you a gift." Belmont pulled out a pair of daggers covered in purple runes from behind his back as if by magic.

Lilian was in need of a suitable weapon, but he was more interested in knowing where Benedictus was.

"Your father is in the watchtower west of Scarlet Monastery, and he has many guards."

The bodies had been cold for some time, and Nathanos walked among Warrior Crusaders lying in pools of blood. Inside the watchtower lay three more corpses. Their throats had been slit, but Nathanos marveled at the skill of their killers.

"It was almost an instant kill. No blood even spurted out."

"She has run away, master."

Nathanos forced a smile through his dry lips. "She needs some time to think things through. Follow her and bring her back."

Belmont nodded. The bluish light gradually dimmed, but Nathanos could still be seen looking down at Benedictus's profile, with black veins crawling like a spider web.

Belmont stepped out of the watchtower, preparing to leave.

Would you do that too?

Nathanos didn't turn around. He knew Belmont's expectant face must be trembling, like rows of flickering flames on a cult altar. How dare he ask him that question!

In the end, Nathanos neither answered nor reprimanded Belmont. Because he hadn't forgotten his own doubts and wavering. So much time had passed, and Nathanos had questioned himself with similar questions.

My heart—and her, will I miss her?

Belmont was already preparing to leave; after bowing, he hurriedly ran away. Even so, Nathanos could easily have pierced his heart with an arrow, but the Witherer ultimately did not. His thoughts were a jumbled mess of turmoil, first witnessing Lilian's fate, then Belmont's sudden question, and finally, the emotions that had long since died within him. Nathanos felt a long-suppressed energy surge violently down his spine, desperately seeking an outlet.

"The murderer is here!"

The sound forced Nathanos to turn around. Five Warrior with shields? Were they here to die?

"He's the one who killed Lord Benedictus!"

Valiant and Will were Nathanos's two closest allies. He charged forward, sweeping his sword and kicking down the shouting Crusaders. Sulfuras's blade fell instantly, a dark red line appearing on his armor.

Nathanos gave a sinister smile: After thinking it over for so long, it's time to stretch my muscles.

Warrior other Crusaders didn't laugh. They were all strong-armed and outnumbered. But after Nathanos killed one, they hesitated, unsure who should go first, essentially giving Nathanos an easy opportunity. The Witherer didn't hesitate. They would all die!

Nathanos took a few steps toward the nearest Crusaders, simultaneously swinging his sword upwards and knocking the shield from the human's hand. The opponent was completely caught off guard. Next came a low, horizontal slash. Sulfuras kissed the Crusaders's pulsating artery in his neck.

A clean, swift, and decisive death. Sudden death is painless.

Then another one, his throat was slit, just like Lilian had done to his father.

"I am Nathanos the Witherer!" he introduced himself. The three large figures lay dead at his feet.

"The sword and shield of the Forsaken," he told Warrior remaining two Crusaders. Every word was as cold as ice. "My lover wanted to kill me. I am indeed dead! My heart died long ago! And you..." Nathanos pointed at the two trembling humans with his bloodstained Sulfuras, "You will not see the sunrise." He said.

He leaped into the air, then Sulfuras slammed down, smashing the pebbles on the ground. The impact sent people flying. A crater was left in the ground...

The rain is getting heavier!

Nathanos could see the deep terror on the faces of the Crusaders' corpses. Whatever their views on the Undead, they had greatly underestimated the situation. If Belmont were still here, he would have seen that any remaining shred of pity in the Witherer' hearts had been utterly extinguished.

The soul that once wanted to protect everyone has burned out, leaving only a cold darkness and ashes.

Lilian cowered in terror behind a dead tree. When Nathanos approached her, she acted as if he were a highly easily startled animal.

She sized up the person hidden beneath the cloak. The master Belmont had spoken of didn't seem as imposing as she'd imagined, yet her face still trembled with a different kind of fear. How was this person different from the Lich King? Once this question entered her mind, Lilian began to realize that the Undead before her was different from both herself and Belmont.

"Are you willing to be Forsaken?"

What is the Forsaken?

"No one outside the world knows you exist!"

Unable to form words, Lilian nodded and stumbled out from behind the tree. Belmont had found her, hoping she would make up her mind before dawn. Now, she had met with Nathanos.

The gentle breeze that stirred the banners also passed through Nathanos's cloak.

"We have a great future." His gaze seemed to linger over every mountain and river in Azeroth. "We keep the living unaware of our existence, while we secretly control their fate."

Controlling one's destiny? Lilian was astonished. She couldn't even control her own destiny, let alone anyone else's. But Nathanos's words ignited that desire within her. She hadn't died because of her father's betrayal; she had punished those who had betrayed her. She had slit her father's throat with the sharp dagger at her waist. She felt no guilt, only relief... Yes! Controlling one's destiny... not just one's own.

"I swear to obey you." The words of the oath were deeply imprinted in Lilian's mind. She said effortlessly and without regret, "The Forsaken are supreme. I will serve you faithfully, without betrayal or desertion. For this oath, I will give everything, with weapons and with strength."

"I accept your oath, Lilian." Nathanos's voice carried the chill of the air. "Welcome to the Forsaken. How... sharp a blade!"