Taresa Foxglove

Taresa Foxton forced herself to get up very early—it's easy to cultivate an early rising habit when living outdoors, but it's a different story when sleeping on a cashmere mattress under a cotton blanket. The curtains were wide open, and warm sunlight streamed into the room. She had slept with the curtains closed the first night she arrived in Goldshire, and didn't wake up until two hours past sunrise.

She quickly rolled out of bed, walked naked to the window, and gently tapped on the clear glass. The shimmering light on her skin outlined her slender yet athletic figure. Looking around, she saw many vendors already setting up their stalls, hoping to capitalize on the early morning business of Winter Veil. Brightly colored flags hung between the houses, filling Goldshire with festive joy. This atmosphere was vastly different from that of Lordaeron in the past. The flags fluttering in the distance seemed designed to attract customers.

Thinking this, Taresa smiled and turned away from the window. Her room was tidy and organized, even though it was just a rented house. Breakfast consisted of bread rolls, cheese, and dried fruit. After finishing her meal, Taresa knew she would soon be joining the ranks of merchants. She was going to town to sell her handmade powder boxes and perfumes. The ladies of high society loved her wares. Especially in a transportation hub like Goldshire, there were plenty of nobles who coveted her items.

She quickly put on a coarse cloth coat: plain leggings, a shirt with many Patch, and a fitted overcoat. Standing before the mirror behind the door, she straightened her clothes, combing her long blonde hair behind her ears and securing it with a leather strap and brass hairpins. Taresa gently stroked her high cheekbones, running her hand down her cheek to her chin; she was satisfied with her reflection. Her deceased parents had always told her to be mindful of her appearance, but she already knew that striking beauty could bring danger.

Taresa placed the wooden box filled with powder and perfume into her satchel, and also took paper and a pen. She unlocked the door. Compared to Lordaeron, Stormwind Kingdom was a safe city, free from the Scourge Undead. She wouldn't have to face the violence she was used to elsewhere.

During the Winter Veil, Taresa made plans to earn a considerable sum of money. She waved to a few passersby who greeted her, but didn't stop to talk. When she first arrived in the Stormwind Kingdom, she intended to live in Stormwind City, but the rebuilt city's housing prices were prohibitively high. She could only temporarily reside in Goldshire, living on low-rent housing, and then began saving money, hoping to buy a house in Stormwind City.

The tall buildings along the streets of Goldshire were all constructed of limestone bricks and beveled timber, with eaves of Elwynn Forest oak everywhere. The streets bustled with people dressed in respectable yet understated festive attire. Messengers pushed aside the roadside clerks and weaved through the crowds. Carriages left two straight tracks in the snow as they passed.

As Taresa walked, she kept an eye on them, looking for any business opportunities she could dabble in. The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted from a newly opened bakery, making her mouth water. But instead of going in, she stopped a still-attractive woman and sold her a few powder boxes.

"Happy Winter Veil, madam!" Taresa accepted a silver coin. The other party indicated that change was unnecessary. "Have a safe journey."

A week's rent was no longer a worry. Taresa began looking for her next client. Many buildings had porch lights installed, their flickering glow adding a touch of warmth to the morning air.

Taresa saw many couples strolling down the street, both husbands and wives dressed in luxurious attire, likely made of imported Dalaran silk. Others on the street, like her, looked at them with envy and admiration.

Like many girls her age, Taresa had dreamed of a happy marriage, but the upheavals in Lordaeron shattered her peaceful life. Her parents died one after the other, suffering from hunger and cold. She was left all alone. Without the support of her family, no one introduced her to a potential partner.

Taresa crossed the central square of Goldshire, carefully dodging the messengers rushing by. Just then, a bishop with a thick beard, wearing gold-trimmed shoulder guards and a top hat approached. Taresa immediately recognized him as a preacher from Northshire Abbey. He walked past her. She paid him no mind, for he wouldn't spend money in her presence.

When it starts to snow, she turns back home. All year round, Taresa chooses to rest for this special day of Winter Veil.

"Running too fast in the snow makes it easy to slip and fall," a man's voice came from behind her. He was handsome, with dark hair and smooth skin—signs of wealth. His breath carried the scent of last night's shimmering wine. "If you're going to make money, you should sell out all your goods."

Taresa ignored him and kept walking. He followed her relentlessly, partly because he was still hungover, and partly because his wallet was too fat.

"Hey, wait a minute, don't be in such a hurry to leave, ma'am."

"It's snowing, I'm going home, I don't want to talk to you," she said.

He followed her, bursting into laughter. "You've been selling those little women's trinkets, haven't you?" He stared at the handbag on her shoulder. "You're saving money, huh? I've noticed you earn a considerable amount every day, but your quality of life hasn't changed. You must be really short of money, right?"

"It's none of your business, but that's true," she replied, secretly hoping he would sense the disdain in her tone and wisely leave. Instead, he quickened his pace, blocking her way home. He sized her up, his gaze as if he were selecting livestock at a market.

"You're quite a sight for sore eyes. You've lost a bit of weight, but a few good meals will fix that. Today is Winter Veil, everyone should have some fun, shouldn't they?"

"Not interested," Taresa said, thinking about how to leave. "Get out of the way, please move aside."

"Listen up, I am Theo Weiss. Have you heard of the Vess family? The great nobles of Stormwind City." He continued to block her path. "If you spend the rest of your time with me today, I promise I'll buy everything you own for three times the price. You know what I mean?"

"No, thank you," Taresa said. She had never heard of this family; she only knew that the Stormwind Kingdom was notoriously unsafe, and that the seemingly peaceful kingdom concealed hidden dangers. "Please stay away from me, or I'll go find the sheriff," she said calmly. "I don't need your help, nor do I need your money."

She sensed that the other person was about to reach out to her in a fit of rage, and she shrank back in fear.

"What's going on?" The sheriff patrolling Goldshire noticed the unusual behavior of the two people on the street. "What are you doing?"

Taresa let out a weary sigh of relief. "Your Excellency, this man is drunk and he's harassing me."

The human in blue armor glared at the drunkard blocking Taresa's path. Theo Weiss's arrogance had vanished instantly. Taresa increasingly felt that his self-introduction had been a lie. "Apologize to this lady immediately, then go home and sober up, and don't let me see you again!"

Theo hurriedly bowed and scraped to Taresa, then slipped away the very next second the sheriff raised his fist.

The fire in the fireplace had warmed the room considerably. Taresa felt her hands were no longer so cold. She exhaled a puff of white breath. She began to tally up her day's work...

There were three silver coins and twelve copper coins in total.

This was her happiest time; she would put the money she earned into a small wooden box hidden under the second layer of plywood on her mattress. The more money she had, the happier she smiled.

Today was a happy day, and the thugs she encountered on her way home did little to diminish her smile.

But the white label on the wooden box is acceptable!

As the first bell of sunset rang in Goldshire, Taresa felt the hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stand on end.

A note? How could there be a note? Taresa only keeps accounts in her little notebook and never uses any white notes.

She didn't open the wooden box immediately; there was something else that concerned her more.

The note was written in human script, and it was written with a quill pen from Lordaeron. This was the other party hinting at their identity.

The note read:

Long time no see! You've saved a lot of money, but you probably want more. Open the wooden box. We'll meet again soon.

Her eyes lingered on the handwriting. A sense of unease crept in. Long time no see? The person was someone she knew, and they knew she needed money. Taresa began to feel afraid; she felt she was being watched.

'Could it be that Theo?' Taresa recalled the look in Theo's eyes when he fled: the look of a hunter. 'But he couldn't possibly know where I hid the money. Nor could he have gotten into the house before me.'

Fear and panic overwhelmed Taresa. Holding the wooden box containing the money, it took her a while to realize she hadn't counted it yet. If it was a thief... Taresa mistakenly felt the box had become noticeably lighter.

The blonde girl opened the wooden box, then her eyes widened. The box almost slipped from her hands.

The amount of money had changed, but it hadn't decreased. The rows of old, worn copper coins inside the wooden box reassured Taresa; none of the shiny silver coins were missing. But amidst the earthy tones and silvery whites, Taresa saw a new color, one that stirred her emotions even more intensely than the previous two.

A gold coin! A gold coin! There was an extra gold coin in the wooden box.

Taresa nervously pulled out the book of gold coins that shouldn't have been there, making sure she wasn't dreaming. The icy feeling almost melted her heart.

Take another look at the note: But you should want more.

Taresa understood that the gold coin, worth a hundred silver coins, was left by the "visitor." But this made Taresa even more uneasy. What was the other person's purpose in doing this? Was he just another spoiled brat with ill intentions, trying to use money to get what he wanted?

She wanted to throw away the extra gold coin, but couldn't bring herself to do it. Perhaps it was a kind old man who had given it to her, like Winter Father. So in the end, she let the gold coin stay in the wooden box.

Unlike usual, she locked the door very early today.

"May the Holy Light protect you!" Taresa had uttered these words long ago. This phrase, uttered by almost every human, often proved ineffective. Long ago... far too long ago, when Taresa was still under Brockmore's control, she prayed that the Holy Light would help her escape danger. Later, when her parents were on their deathbeds, she again prayed that the Holy Light would save them. Each time, the Holy Light did not answer her, and gradually, the blonde girl lost her hope in the Holy Light. She didn't know who to trust, so now, she had no choice but to once again place her hopes on the Holy the Holy Light, which she had long forgotten.

Over the next few days, Taresa rarely went out, but strange things began to happen more and more. First, she woke up to find a gold coin on her windowsill. Then, while adding firewood to the fireplace, she found several more gold coins in the ashes.

This money brought forward her plans to move to Stormwind City by almost a year.

Who could it be? At least she couldn't guess the person's identity from that letter. And every night, she would stand by the window for a long time, hoping to catch that person.

The unexpected finally arrived on the fifth day of Winter Veil. The weather that night was far from friendly; a blizzard swept through Elwynn Forest.

However, amidst the howling wind outside, Taresa unexpectedly heard footsteps. Her heart began to race. She could feel the person stopping at the door. Then, a deafening knocking startled her, causing her to stumble back several steps and bump into the wooden cabinet holding the vases. The glass vases fell and shattered on the floor.

But Taresa didn't hear the sound of cracking. She stared in horror at the increasingly unstable wooden door, which might collapse at any moment.

"Who is it?" she shouted, her voice trembling, hoping to deter the other party, but the result was the opposite.

Finally, the door collapsed with a crash. The biting cold air was mixed with the smell of alcohol.

"Ah, you're here!"

Taresa couldn't see the other person's face clearly; the light and the snow blowing into the room made it difficult for her to see. But she knew who it was just by the voice.

"Theo Weiss! It's you! What are you going to do?"

"I just wanted someone to drink with me." The person who broke into Taresa's house stumbled against the wall and took two more gulps of strong liquor.

"I don't drink! This is my home, please leave. Otherwise I'll call for help."

"Look outside, is anyone there?"

These words filled Taresa with despair. There wouldn't be a soul, not even an insect in the snowstorm. In a daze, Taresa felt as if she had returned to many years ago, to her time as a slave in Blackmoore's castle; that darkness now loomed over her once more.

"No... don't come any closer!"

The air was thick with the smell of strong liquor.

"Have two drinks with me!"

"No, you're drunk! Get out of here!"

"A disobedient woman."

Theo pinched Taresa's cheeks. No matter how much the girl struggled, she couldn't stop him from pouring the wine into her mouth.

Theo, drunk, shouted and insulted Taresa, calling her nothing more than a lowly merchant. His words grew increasingly offensive, bringing tears to Taresa's eyes.

"Let's see who else can do it this time..."

Before she could even make out the threat, Taresa felt a great sense of relief; no more wine was spilled on her face and clothes. Theo's strength seemed to have vanished. But the truth was far more terrifying than she had imagined.

The human fell to one side.

A figure came into view, its slender silhouette appearing delicate in the dim light. A gust of wind blew from behind her, driving away the strong smell of liquor from Taresa's nose and bringing another, even more pungent odor.

Rotting corpse!

The person who helped her escape danger held a purple dagger in one hand, and another was fixed motionless to the back of Theo's head.

Through the faint light emanating from the purple dagger, Taresa saw the opponent's withered, white fingers, devoid of flesh and blood, entirely composed of bone!

"The Undead!"

"Shh!" Taresa's savior gave a dry warning, startling the girl who quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

"What a sensible little girl. I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Lilian Voss." Lilian said as she pulled out another dagger covered in brain matter.

"Why have you come to me?" Taresa asked, hardly believing she could still speak. "Why are there Scourge Undead here?"

"Tell me, Taresa. Have you hidden the gold coins I gave you?"

The blonde girl's eyes widened. The gold coins were a gift from the Undead who called herself Lilian?

"Why did you do this? And... you said in the note: 'Long time no see.' Do we know each other?"

"Of course I don't know you, so it's not that I want to see you, but rather..." Lilian walked to the side of the doorway and bowed. Just as her head lowered, the sound of footsteps crunching on the snow rang out. Taresa didn't want to hear that sound again; she didn't know if the person who walked in would be another madman who drove her crazy.

"Lilian, dispose of the body without leaving a trace." The person who commanded such respect from Lilian spoke before even reaching the door, and every word sent chills down Taresa's spine.

"I'd be happy to." With a cunning tone, Lilian carried the corpse and left first.

As dusk deepened the darkness, a tall figure left Taresa with only darkness and two hellish red dots in the darkness.

"Taresa!"

For some reason, when the other person called her name, Taresa's fear dissipated considerably. She also noticed that the other person's face began to become clearer.

"You and I should have been forgotten," he said.

"What are you talking about?" Taresa protested. "I'm still alive, and you're dead!"

The man's eyes darkened considerably. "No need to remind me. Besides, death doesn't bury a person. I believe you should remember me."

Throughout, all Taresa could see was the man's thin jaw and prominent nose. The most striking feature was the blood scar on his left cheek.

He slowly raised his hand, preparing to remove the black cloak. Taresa's heart leaped into her throat.

She saw it clearly, her mind reeling as if struck by magic, and she lost consciousness. Her gray hair was whipped about wildly in the wind. Even though many things had changed, just as he had said, death could not bury a person, Taresa remembered him.

She still remembered her ordeal at Durnholde Castle. The man before her had rescued her from Blackmoore. For this, Taresa would forever be grateful.

"Why..." She slowly stood up, supporting herself against the wall, "You... how could you... Na..."

She tried to call out his name, but he covered her mouth with his hand first. The cold temperature of his fingers told Taresa that it was all real!

"Forget my name, and don't mention it to anyone."

Taresa nodded.

Nathanos released her, his eyes gradually brightening. "Let's talk, Taresa Foxton."