Clue

Silence spread between them. The Regent pondered. She was certain of Sylvanas's abilities, but her sister shared a striking resemblance to Nathanos: once she made up her mind, she would never change it. She knew all too well the deep wounds she had inflicted on Sylvanas that day, and therefore, her sister would never forgive her.

Perhaps I have already lost the power to stop her.

Alleria sighed, "Your actions will be misunderstood. If you fail, you will die, and your people will not see you as a hero, because your purpose in destroying Dath'Remar was not out of national hatred or personal vendetta."

"I'm only doing this for myself."

"You will not receive any assistance. This operation was planned by you personally."

"Even if someone helps me, I will refuse. This is my battle."

Alleria was still pondering. She still couldn't just let her sister go to her death.

"I have one last request."

"I know." Sylvanas smiled, tearing off the insignia from the seam of her cloak and examining the eagle wing pattern on it. "I am no longer a member of the Windrunner family."

"You've gone mad," Alleria finally blurted out. "Have you forgotten the honor of the Windrunner family?"

"My heart is like an arrow, sister." Sylvanas reached out her hand, waiting for Alleria to take her insignia, which bore the weight of her past. "An arrow on a bowstring can never be pulled back."

Alleria hesitated for a long time, staring blankly at Sylvanas. Finally, her sister placed the insignia on the square table to the right of the curtain and walked out.

The Regent wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say. Should she continue to persuade Sylvanas, or say "Have a safe journey," or simply "Goodbye"?

She said nothing. She felt guilty. After her parents' death, Alleria vowed to protect her family...

"Someone come here!"

She called out. A Spellbreaker entered, a title reserved for the most elite guards of Silvermoon City. Their duty was to maintain order within the city and obey the ruler's commands. The tall Sin'dorei now wore an enigmatic expression. "What are the Regent's orders?"

"Go and summon the Ranger-General, immediately!"

Time has passed, and Sylvanas has returned to the Ghostlands.

She wasn't alone, but she could be considered alone.

She looked back and saw hundreds of untrained Elf resting in the Dawnstar Spire. They acted independently, without any unified group, and would soon perish. They were gathered there solely out of sheer fervor. Sylvanas felt a pang of doubt; she thought she shouldn't have brought them along, perhaps she would be better off alone.

She scanned the entire dark woodland, but even if she wasn't looking in the right direction, she couldn't see where Nathanos had fallen. She took down her longbow, Lo'gresh, the only relic she had found on the battlefield related to Nathanos.

"Bless me to complete my hunt, Nathanos."

"Madam, the Scourge hasn't found us," the scout reported back.

Sylvanas nodded. It was good that there were no Scourge in this area. But it wasn't just the Scourge that needed attention during this time. Recent intelligence indicated that a group of Troll was flowing into Zul'Aman, and many had been spotted scouting the Troll surrounding the current raid group's location.

She gazed at the building before her. Though all the manors in the Ghostlands had crumbled, the Dawnstar Spire seemed largely untouched by time. Perched atop a jutting rock at the foot of the mountains east of Lake Elrendar, the tower might have been mistaken by an unsuspecting observer for a place still inhabited.

Sylvanas knelt down, astonished to find some vegetation sprouting anew on the neglected land. She looked up, and the Morning Star Tower shone brightly as it pierced the night sky. Sylvanas saw the magnificent tower seemingly floating beside its central spire. Truly, for a desolate, empty shell on the edge of the dead, it looked brand new.

'What's so strange about that?' the Female Elf thought.

This manor was actually once Dath'Remar's home. It was here that she had discovered increasing signs of Scourge activity in recent days.

This must be some kind of signal. It has to be. Is Dath'Remar about to show up?

Sylvanas absolutely hoped so.

The interior of the tower looked the same from the outside, almost perfectly intact. Furniture was neatly arranged in the corners, and banners adorned with the Silvermoon City crest hung from the surrounding pillars. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, and spiral staircases surrounded the tower.

Sylvanas began her search. She didn't know what she was looking for, but perhaps something incongruous would explain why the Scourge was interested in this place.

The Female Elf walked up the stairs. The first thing she saw was the carpet under her feet. There were wrinkles on the edges, as if the carpet had been pulled open and then hurriedly put back in its place.

Sylvanas bent down, pulled back the blanket, and revealed a square hinged door. It seemed she had found something very important. The Female Elf knelt and lifted the door. In the small recess lay a purple-covered journal. Between the pages was a piece of parchment, not the old, yellowed kind, but white—it was new!

"What is this?" Sylvanas unfolded the parchment, revealing rows of runes. She had studied inscription, but could only decipher a fraction of the message. "Anomaly... Lordaeron ... Plaguelands ... defection? What does this mean?"

"General!" A soldier knocked on the door three times. He was a veteran, and it was very likely that he was still serving under Sylvanas, so he did not change his address to her.

Hearing someone call her that, Sylvanas was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

"What's up?"

"Several soldiers are discussing that your purpose in attacking Dalsom is for a human named Nathanos."

This was no secret! Sylvanas felt her heart skip a beat. It was common knowledge that Nathanos had perished in the battle against Arthas and was later transformed into Undead. When he had finally rid himself of Arthas, he sought even the slightest bit of Alleria's trust, but he failed. The Regent's heart held only that of the noble and courageous human soul he once knew.

"Tell them that this is indeed my purpose," she announced loudly.

"You...?"

"Dath'Remar will definitely die. It's just that we have different reasons for killing him."

The Female Elf concealed her discovery.

The following afternoon, as Sylvanas rode her Hawkstrider into the withered forest, the sun was casting its last rays of the day.

"Move out," she ordered. The soldiers moved at her command.

The troops sped south, passing through dense forests and following the foot of the mountains. Soon they stopped beside a patch of bushes that had been crushed and deformed.

Dalsom... is right in front of me.

Dath'Remar was troubled by the news from the Eastern Plaguelands. Numerous signs indicated that a hidden force was turning the Undead against the Scourge right under their noses, and this activity had been ongoing. Kel'Thuzad had informed him of this a week ago, and it was not good news. Dath'Remar knew that the Lich's actions were tantamount to suspecting him. Kel'Thuzad had never cared about the Scourge stationed in the Elven Kingdom.

Unless he finds out who's behind this... he'll likely lose the Lich King's trust in the future. However, he did find a clue: his messengers to the Plaguelands discovered an Elf stronghold, but everyone inside was dead, though the killer seemed to have left their name.

Suddenly he heard the sound of Elf horns— Charge, and they came from the Windrunner family. Could it be Alleria? Ever since Dath'Remar heard that the Female Elf had become the regent of Silvermoon City, he knew that sooner or later they would settle things once and for all.

"What happened?"

While Dath'Remar spoke outwardly, he was already calculating in his mind how many Elf had arrived.

A friar rushed in, "My lord, it's Elf! They've broken through the city gates, but we've surrounded them."

Dath'Remar couldn't help but laugh. The enemy was surrounded. What did that mean? They were just a small force, sent to their deaths.

"I'm going out to take a look!"