Tea

"Draw the bow, nock the string, release!" Sylvanas shouted under the blazing sun of Theramore. She was a strict instructor, but the soldiers she was training were far too clumsy. Since arriving in the port city, the Female Elf's daily routine consisted of only three things: training soldiers, visiting Nathanos's father, and going to the inn in Theramore at night for a steak.

These soldiers are utterly useless! Sylvanas gritted her teeth inwardly. What angered her were the humans and Dwarf participating in the training, not the High Elf. When she left Quel'Thalas, she only took a few hundred people with her, very few of whom were Ranger. Since the founding of the Silver Covenant, she had intensified her recruitment efforts and agreed to let the people of Theramore participate in such training. Sylvanas believed that since Nathanos had become a highly skilled Ranger in just over a decade through his own efforts, others could too, especially under her tutelage. However, the reality exceeded her expectations.

Those of other races weren't there for training; they were there to kill time and have fun. Some soldiers stole glances at her beauty when she turned away. While Sylvanas repeatedly emphasized the importance of accurate shooting, the soldiers only focused on the Female Elf's slender figure, muttering disrespectful remarks. In Quel'Thalas, she would have been furious and punished these ignorant fools severely. But now it was different. Being a dependent wasn't pleasant. Although she had gained Jaina's approval, there was still much criticism of her in Theramore, with people saying she and her Elf brethren had come to beg for mercy. The Female Elf didn't blame such comments; she needed time to prove her worth to Theramore.

The day was drawing to a close, and Sylvanas had briefly escaped the lewd talk of the training grounds. She went to the inn alone and sat down in her usual spot. She said to the innkeeper Jennie, "Stormwind City cheese, Mulgore spice bread."

The food was quickly served to her. The innkeeper, Jennie, already remembered Sylvanas. The Female Elf was a regular customer, and even if Sylvanas didn't say anything, Jennie knew what she needed.

"We need more spirits." A heavy creak of wood came from ahead, and the inn door was pushed open. Sylvanas squinted and could make out a burly silhouette—no, two, with a human behind them.

The Female Elf remained calm and composed; she knew they were there to cause trouble. The smirks on their faces disgusted her, but Sylvanas didn't show it.

"You're here, General?"

Sylvanas's public identity is that of the Ranger-General of the Silver Covenant, but only her Elf and Jaina truly address her as "General." Undoubtedly, the human speaking is mocking himself.

They sat down opposite Sylvanas. The Female Elf glanced at them and realized they were brothers who had come to participate in the Ranger training, and were also the two laziest ones: Yotasi Tanvir and Hubert Tanvir.

"A beautiful night wouldn't be complete without wine." Yotasi's eyes remained fixed on Sylvanas, wondering how the Female Elf would respond to him.

"We don't have any spirits here." The human frowned, and Jennie's sudden answer made the Tanvel brothers, who had barged into the inn, feel somewhat embarrassed. "We only have plum juice and morning dew wine."

"Then let our lady decide what to drink," Hubert said, and his brother nodded in agreement. The two clowns' synchronized performance was repulsive.

"Do you have tea?" Sylvanas suddenly asked.

Jennie was caught off guard, but quickly nodded, "Yes."

"Please brew me a pot of tea."

The innkeeper nodded and left, while she went to prepare what Sylvanas wanted. However, the Female Elf hoped that she would not return, otherwise she might accidentally hurt someone when she took action later.

I turned to her and felt that half of my face was swollen and painful, and my mouth was clenched together. I tried to move my swollen jaw.

"Can any of you tell me if you like tea?" the Female Elf continued. She was facing the two human brothers, the flickering candlelight illuminating her slender waist.

"Of course we like it, but we like other things," one of them said.

Sylvanas no longer cared who was who between them; she was just waiting to see if these two would challenge her bottom line.

What do you like?

"We two enjoy skinning," Hubert muttered the last two words, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Would you like to see our skills? The rooms upstairs are quite nice."

Sylvanas smiled in response, "So you're quite skilled at your craft."

"Certainly!"

The Female Elf shook her head. "I don't think so." Sylvanas explained with a smile, "I think your greatest skill is turning 'bad' into 'completely ruined'."

Jennie was making a pot of hot tea when a sudden scream startled her so much that she dropped a cup.

What happened?

The screams continued, along with the sounds of wooden tables breaking and glass shattering.

"Go ahead and beat up the Horde pigs, woman," Hubert muttered.

Yotasi tried to move his swollen jaw, but a metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. He thought to himself that Sylvanas was right; his brother Hubert was best at turning "bad" into "completely ruined."

"Humans are quite adept at speaking," the Female Elf said, sitting in a chair facing the two brothers. "But neither of you considers the consequences of your actions."

"Why should we even consider it?" Hubert scoffed. "You're nothing but a pathetic, dependent wretch."

Sylvanas leaned forward slightly, the sound of her shoes scraping against the ground. "And you? Skinners skilled at undressing women?"

Now, Hubert is quiet. As soon as Sylvanas finished speaking, she kicked the human in the forehead.

"He won't die," the Female Elf said to the other human. Yotasi lay aching all over on the broken wooden table, his left arm broken by Sylvanas, and she was now gesturing with that hand.

Yutashi stretched her neck and looked over, only to find Jennie standing there, holding a pot of tea, trembling uncontrollably. The appalling scene before her stunned her.

"You!" Sylvanas's voice reached Yotasi's ears, and the humans knew she was calling them. She was still smiling, but it sent a chill down Yotasi's spine. "We can have a cup of tea together, and you can tell me how many men like you and your brothers are in my army. I want to hear their names," she said slowly.

The Female Elf and walked to Jennie, taking the teapot. She poured a cup into a ceramic teacup, a wisp of steam rising. She looked at Yotasi, her expression haughty yet full of regret, as if Yotasi were an innocent child. He couldn't escape her smile. A smile that could take lives and see through everything.

"Tea?" Yutas said the word almost as if he were crying.

"Child, only after drinking tea can one speak fluently," she said.