Meeting

The newcomer concealed himself beneath a long black robe, and his jawline suggested he was an Undead. However, the staff on his back instilled fear in Nathanos, indicating that the newcomer was a mage.

After observing for a while, Nathanos could no longer glean any information from this person, so he began to observe another person, or more precisely, an Elf, or a dragon.

She had light brown hair and wore a light blue crop top and a matching long skirt. It accentuated her slender figure well, but Nathanos was more interested in her face. The Witherer recognized that face; it had been many years ago.

"Christalyssa?" Nathanos called out the name of the person walking behind first, noticing that she wore illusory purple iron rings around her neck and hands. It was a kind of binding magic that prevented her from using her powers and speaking.

Hearing someone call her name, Christalyssa raised her drooping head and then examined Nathanos with a curious look.

"You know her?" The man who had captured the Red Dragon seemed to be smiling. He glanced around, his eyes never meeting Nathanos's. "Where are your men? Are they all celebrating?"

"And who are you?" The Witherer asked.

"Who do you want me to be?" the man said.

Nathanos's gaze darted back and forth between Christalyssa and the man. If he could capture a Red Dragon, his power would be formidable.

"Let me guess, there are at least ten arrows aimed at me right now, aren't there?"

"If you are the enemy."

"Then... I am not your enemy."

"How can you prove it?" Nathanos narrowed his eyes. To date, few people in his known memory knew of the Forsaken's existence, let alone their whereabouts. This man's demeanor was somewhat similar to Medivh's, but Nathanos knew he was not a Guardian.

"This!" The man smiled slightly and stretched out his hand. His withered hand drew mysterious symbols in the air, and a simple, oak-colored staff appeared out of thin air in his hand. "You should recognize it."

"Atiesh? Who exactly are you?"

"My name is Meryl, Meryl Eastwind." The mysterious figure removed his cloak, revealing his Undead form to Nathanos. "Do you recognize me?"

The Witherer stared at Meryl in disbelief, unable to utter a word, yet still wary. Meryl Eastwind was a figure from the Arathi Empire era, a being from three thousand years ago.

Why him... Nathanos began, "Meryl Eastwind. One of the founders of the Tirisfal Council, and the mentor of the first Guardian, Alodi."

Upon hearing Nathanos recount his life's achievements, Meryl's face showed a hint of disappointment. "Is that all Medivh wrote in his book?"

"So what do you want to hear?"

"I'm asking you," Meryl tapped the dry ground of Razor Ridge with her staff, "Did you participate in the War of the Ancients?"

"You know quite a lot," Nathanos replied. He was also certain that Meryl was brought in by Medivh or Aegwynn, and that not many people knew about his past.

"There were no Orcs or Undead during the War of the Ancients. Do you know what consequences your appearance will bring?"

"I only know that what is meant to happen will happen; the process is not important at all."

Meryl found Nathanos's words laughable, but he didn't laugh. He asked, "There are many life forms in the universe, so why did the Burning Legion choose to let the Orcs invade Azeroth? Undead creatures are not the most powerful killing machines, so why did Kil'jaeden create the Lich King?"

"You mean, because of Broxigar and me, the two of us have attracted the attention of the Burning Legion?"

Meryl nodded. "There are many things in the universe that cannot be explained. Any small thing, any detail, can affect this world. You and your Forsaken invaded Maraudon and Razor Ridge, slaughtered Centaur and Wildkin, and you think everything you did was very secretive, but..." The mage turned to look at Christalyssa. "The commotion you've caused has already attracted attention."

"Alexstrasza, the Queen of Dragons, governs life, so perhaps she sensed the Centaur's plight. That's not surprising."

"That being said, have you ever considered that Alexstrasza might send people to contact the Alliance and the Horde to announce the existence of the Forsaken to the whole world?"

Hearing Meryl's words, Nathanos once again focused his gaze on Christalyssa. He had changed drastically, and he believed the Red Dragon didn't recognize him. The mage's meaning was clear: Christalyssa was sent by Alexstrasza to investigate them, and she already knew of the Forsaken's existence...

"What do you mean?" Nathanos asked.

Meryl pointed the tip of Atiesh at Christalyssa. "This dragon witnessed your entire attack on Razor Ridge, but I caught her when she tried to leave, and now..." He then pointed at Nathanos, "Her fate is in your hands. To kill or to spare is entirely up to you, though of course, if you choose the former, I can help you."

"I know her," Nathanos said, surprising Meryl and Christalyssa, especially the latter, who had no recollection of ever knowing an Undead creature.

"Please let me speak with her alone."

"Are you sure?" Meryl's question seemed to be testing Nathanos's resolve, but to his surprise, the Witherer did not hesitate at all.

"I'm sure. Please let me speak with her," the Lord of the Forsaken said again, then raised his hand and waved it towards the depths of the thorn forest, revealing all the Forsaken lurking in the shadows. Their sheer number was astonishing to Meryl.

Christalyssa stretched her limbs, and now she and the Undead before her had reached a secluded spot, the magical chains binding her now broken. She could transform, and was even able to subdue the Undead creature leading the way.

"Do you remember Grot?" Nathanos, who was walking ahead, suddenly spoke, startling Christalyssa into withdrawing the magic she was about to unleash.

"You mean that Orcs?" the Red Dragon asked hastily. "How do you know him?" Christalyssa would never forget Grot, the Dragonmaw Orc. That Orcs had once been Dragon Knight of the Dragonmaw Clan, and Christalyssa had been enslaved by him. If it weren't for this arrogant Orcs leading her to attack Nathanos's home, he wouldn't have been defeated by that human. And in that battle, Christalyssa broke free from the Orcs's control.

"Because it was I who captured him." Nathanos removed his blood-stained hood. "And I saved you!"