Intensifying Conflict

Sylvanas woke up in a simple inn room.

Although nearly four years have passed since the invasion of the Sunwell, the wounds left behind have yet to heal.

Of all emotions, the most stubborn seems to be longing, followed by conflicts with family members. These cannot be hidden or pushed away; they simply cannot be ignored. And so they continue on.

Her head was throbbing, she felt weak all over, and there was a thin layer of sweat on her skin.

She hadn't absorbed magic for a long time. As Ranger, her resistance to external stimuli was extraordinary, and the effects of Fel Addiction weren't as severe as on other Elf, but that didn't mean she could resist it indefinitely.

She needed magic! Windrunner sat up, then struggled to her feet, rummaging through the bedside table to find several glowing crystals. She had received several crystals over the past few weeks, always secretly delivered, but she knew who sent them.

She looked at the magic crystal... wanting it closer to her, wanting to hold it tightly in her hands, but she closed her eyes...

... Then she forcefully pulled the crystal back. "No, no!" Her eyes snapped open, dull and lifeless. Sylvanas held her breath, letting her mind go blank for a few seconds. This would temporarily help her forget the pain of her Fel Addiction, though it would only make her feel better for a short while. But it was better than absorbing magic, especially the magic Alleria had given her! She refused to give in to her sister. She reminded herself that she had to persevere, until the Fel Addiction could no longer torment her.

After a long pause, Sylvanas smiled, let out a heavy sigh, leaned back, and relaxed once more. She knew this relaxation was only temporary. Every few days, that hunger for magic would return.

After the Sunwell was destroyed, every Blood Elf felt a void, an emptiness that deepened with time. The youngest and oldest Blood Elf died in their slumber, while the most vibrant Elf —like her—grew increasingly frail.

The Elf are doing everything they can to adapt to this change. Prince Kael'thas himself is also searching for a way to free the Blood Elf from this dependency, and he is willing to go anywhere for it.

Including another world.

The Prince promised to bring back a way to alleviate the Blood Elf' suffering, to find a cure... or a suitable alternative to the Sunwell.

Several years passed, and news about the Prince became increasingly scarce. Sylvanas began to doubt whether Kael'thas still cared about his people.

Windrunner stood by the window, looking out at the Shepherd's Gate in the distance.

In fact, what she wanted to see was the world outside the Capital City gates.

Her homeland, the Ghostlands, a few miles to the south, was once a vast and vibrant land, but now only ruins remain of the pristine Elf mansions. Where once lush forests stood, only the spirits of withered trees wander. The peaceful times are gone, and the land of enduring beauty is no more.

Just then, a noise outside the porch caught her attention. Someone was coming, or something was coming.

Silvermoon City should be safe now, but Sylvanas immediately reached for the short sword beside her.

She turned around, gripped her weapon, and prepared to strike, just as Vareesa entered the room.

"I should knock first," the silver-haired Female Elf said sincerely.

"I'm used to your recklessness," Sylvanas replied calmly. "But you didn't inform me of your arrival beforehand, or perhaps someone sent you. If that's the case, please tell her I'm not dead!"

"Do you have to talk like that?" Vareesa looked helplessly as her second sister turned away. "Are you alright?"

"It's not good, we'll just have to get through each day as it comes."

"You didn't use the crystal Alleria gave you, did you?" Vareesa felt a pang of heartache looking at her sister's frail body, yet also immense admiration for her Will. "Alleria sent me to see you," the Ranger-General said tentatively, but Sylvanas only responded with silence. "The construction of Silvermoon City is going very well. You can go and see it, if you don't mind letting me come with you," Vareesa, raising an eyebrow inquiringly.

"You should have the Regent accompany you."

"Regent..." Vareesa clenched her fists. Why couldn't the conflict between Sylvanas and Alleria be resolved? "Alleria spends all her free time with Belorell."

"Belorell... is he alright?"

"He's doing well, Alleria is teaching him to read..."

Sylvanas's lips curled up slightly.

"I'm quite curious how Belorell would answer if she had any questions about the word 'father'?"

"I knew it!" Vareesa's tone rose, no longer pleading with Sylvanas as before. "I know you love Nathanos, sister. Although he ultimately chose Alleria, he is dead. I believe that if he were still alive, he would not want to see you and Alleria like this."

"If he were still alive?" Sylvanas saw a patrol of Spellbreaker pass by outside. "He should still be here, why don't you all understand?" She said this almost in tears, which greatly surprised Vareesa.

"He broke free from Arthas's control long ago, he regained his self-awareness long ago..." Sylvanas's lips twitched with grief, a mixture of pain and resentment. She stared wide-eyed at Vareesa, who almost thought she was about to attack. "Can you imagine? Can you imagine the pain Nathanos felt when he faced Alleria, when his beloved drew her sword against him?" the Female Elf cried out, freezing Vareesa in place. "Even I felt despair, let alone Nathanos. My only regret is underestimating Alleria. I originally thought that if she knew what had happened to Nathanos, she would at most cry for him, choose to run away, and even if she didn't accept him, she would just exile him and then slowly forget him. But..." Sylvanas almost gritted her teeth as she said the last two words, then gave a bitter laugh, "I never expected that my sister's foresight surpassed that of her when she was still Ranger-General. She knew I would stop her, which is why she kept it from me. The Lord Regent is truly far-sighted. She doesn't even spare her beloved, let alone other Undead creatures? She showed her determination to Kael'thas and to all the Elf. The Sin'dorei, the Blood Elf, in the name of blood, her actions are enough to secure her position as Regent."

"How could you speak so ill of Alleria, Sylvanas?" Vareesa was arguing with her two older sisters for the first time ever. Her two older sisters had always been the people she respected most, but this time her sister had gone too far.

"Very well then." Sylvanas's tone plummeted. Vareesa felt a chill run down her spine. Her older sister seemed to have suddenly reverted to her usual self, her eyes filled with determination, which meant she was about to do something. "Then so be it, sister."

Vareesa awoke from her rage, a nameless fear paralyzing her. When Sylvanas turned away, the look of farewell she gave her made Vereesa feel as if she could never touch her again, even though Vareesa was right there.

"Go back and tell Alleria that she had better watch out; there's an arrow always on her side."

The chilling warning was like a vicious curse, leaving a rift that was difficult to mend.

The golden spire of Silvermoon City had indeed risen, and the eastern half had been completely recaptured and largely rebuilt. Lor'themar told Alleria that the entire Isle of Quel'Danas had also been recaptured and was, in fact, thriving.

At the very center of the Shepherd's Gate, a colossal statue of Kael'thas stands against the inner wall. On the other side of the wall is an identical statue, facing the main city. Red banners hang inside and outside the courtyard, with braziers burning fiercely beneath them. The streets shaded by trees along the Elder's Walk, the ornate archways, the floating urns, the towering spires, the gilded balconies, the cascading waterfalls...

For most Blood Elf, Silvermoon City began to feel like home again. A bustling city, with a heartbeat and breath. Even the Arcane Patrol constructs had returned, their duties being to maintain order, protect the city, and sometimes disseminate information to the public.

The city has almost returned to normal.

But for Alleria, that wasn't enough! They walked through the newly built Royal Trade District, climbed narrow staircases, and arrived at the magnificent Gardens of the Sunstrider Court. Then they came to the foot of a grand spire, adorned with banners Falcon's Wingtip Banner.

"Belorell, look, this is the symbol of the Windrunner family," Alleria said with a smile as she knelt down to explain to her child.

Belorell was not yet four years old. He had Elf healthy skin of an elf, half the dazzling golden hair of Alleria, and pointed ears that twitched from time to time. The child resembled Alleria in many ways, the only difference being his eyes, which were like meticulously polished black gems, always sparkling with starlight.

Alleria knew whose eyes they came from, but she had grown accustomed to not dwelling on it. Belorell was Belorell, her child.

"One day, he too will become a hero, a Ranger, just like you," said the Ranger-Captain, Halduron, who had always been by his side. Whenever he saw Belorell, he would feel a sense of envy, because almost no Sin'dorei could avoid being corrupted by Fel Addiction, especially children born during this period, whose survival rate was terrifyingly low. But the Regent's child seemed to be an exception, half human and half Elf Ranger. Perhaps magic was not meant to favor this child from the start.

"Thank you, Halduron, but I will not stop Belorell from venturing into any field of knowledge in the future."

"You are truly an enlightened mother," Brightwing said, bowing.

"Elder sister!"

Alleria flinched and turned to find Vareesa standing before her. Before she could ask what had happened, her sister grabbed her hand and said, "We need to talk alone."

Is it about Sylvanas? Alleria wanted to ask, but Vareesa's eyes had already answered her.

"Go to my study," Alleria said. "Halduron, please bring Belorell back to the Sunstrider Royal Court."

The study's layout is extremely simple, entirely function-oriented: a bookshelf filled with grimoires, a desk and two chairs against the wall, a divination stone in the near corner, and a large table in the center of the room with a long, narrow box on it. The overall style seems rather out of place for the Windrunner family.

When Vareesa entered, Alleria's expression and demeanor were half warm approval, half nervousness and worry. She forced a smile and poured her sister a cup of herbal tea.

"What's wrong with her now?"

Go back and tell Alleria she'd better be careful; there's an arrow always watching her.

Vareesa wanted to convey Sylvanas's original words, but how would Alleria react? Enraged? Heartbroken? Or indifferent? The silver-haired Female Elf didn't want any of these reactions to happen, so she swallowed her words, thinking it best to keep them to herself.

Vareesa's eyes darted quickly to the bookshelf. "She's fine," the Ranger-General said dismissively, feeling uneasy under Alleria's gaze. Vareesa then glanced back at the door. "She received your crystal..."

"But she never used it, and she still hates me, doesn't she?" Alleria walked around the large table, getting as close to Vareesa as possible, and spoke in a very low voice, "You are also my sister, Vareesa. There should be no secrets between family members."

Vareesa felt all her strength drain away, and she lowered her head. "Second sister, she..." She had no choice but to relay every word Sylvanas had said.

The regent stared intently at her with an extremely serious expression.

"She sees my siege of Nathanos as a means to secure my position? Is it a political conspiracy? Is it for power?" Alleria's voice grew increasingly cold. She wanted to laugh, but couldn't. "So what does she want?"

"My second sister wants to attack Dalsom. She says that whether you agree or not, she will gather the Elf who are willing to follow her. She also said that Dath'Remar was involved in the death of Nathanos, and if you are not willing to avenge Nathanos, then let her do it."

A surge of emotion welled up within Alleria, and she roared, "Nathanos is my lover, he is mine!" The anger in the Regent's eyes vanished in an instant, her eyes trembling slightly, though Vareesa could see she was trying to conceal it. Soon, it was replaced by a calm indifference.

"It's mine, it's mine!" she murmured as she left, her eyes vacant.

The door closed behind her, leaving Vareesa alone.

The light seemed to have dimmed.

"They've all changed," Vareesa whispered, but she knew her two sisters knew it too. She looked up. "I curse you, Nathanos. You're dead, long dead. So much time has passed, and yet you're still tormenting two women who loved you so deeply."