Manaforge: Bunar

A tall figure stood in the shadows outside the domed building, his massive frame blocking the moonlight and creating a dark silhouette. Sylvanas watched with eyes filled with doubt and wariness. Just a few feet away, two guards lay on the ground, unconscious, but still alive.

"Who is it?" Sylvanas jumped off the bed, grabbing the short sword leaning against the side. The Female Elf was only wearing a thin shirt and shorts; if a fight broke out, she would have no way to defend herself.

Who could be outside her resting place so late at night?

The figure snorted in response, its voice hoarse. "Kael'thas... the Nethergarde Keep."

A flicker of curiosity filled Sylvanas's heart. "What do you know?" she asked, surprised to find that the other person could speak Sauras language. In Shattrath, all sorts of races were commonplace, and this figure looked like Draenei, but Vortar and his Starcaller disdained associating with Draenei, much less teaching them their language.

"The Nethergarde Keep!" the man kept repeating. Sylvanas had learned about it at the previous War Council meeting—a spaceship orbiting around Tempest Keep.

Sylvanas shook her head. "What's wrong with the Nethergarde Keep? Do you know something?" She took a step closer to the dark figure while carefully observing him. She noticed that a pair of scythes were hanging from his waist.

"The answers to everything lie in the Nethergarde Keep." The shadowy figure's gaze seemed to pierce Sylvanas, yet his words carried a heartbroken quality. "Once you're here, you have no choice. Go and save Uldar."

Uldar? The Female Elf blinked. Who was this? Why save him? But she didn't even have time to ask; by the time Sylvanas tried to accept the request, the shadowy figure had vanished.

"What? How is this possible?" Sylvanas looked around and rushed out again, but there was nothing there except for the two guards lying on the ground.

"Uldar?"

She understood, she knew. Alleria and Alleria's eyes met.

"Sister, I think the Blood Elf ... shouldn't try to stop Kael'thas."

"Then the Horde will do?" Alleria countered. "Even if we join the Horde, it doesn't mean that the hatred of the past will be completely erased from people's hearts. This is just a temporary measure. If the Horde defeats Kael'thas, it will be a huge blow to us."

"We can't hide it, and the people need to know the truth. Some will make different choices; there will be Kael'thas's die-hard supporters, but there will also be those who support you, their regent. You must make a choice as soon as possible." Alleria revealed the truth; though she was only Ranger-General, she could sense Alleria's unease in the regent's position. Whether Kael'thas was ultimately captured or killed in battle, it was tantamount to detonating a bomb in Quel'Thalas.

Alleria knew Alleria was right; a choice had to be made. She could only nod. The Regent gazed thoughtfully at the newly restored Sunstrider Court. Joining the Horde had brought Silvermoon City much aid; their supplies and ever-filling coffers were enough for the Sin'dorei to use for years. Following the Prince would prove the Sin'dorei's loyalty, but destruction would inevitably follow; all of Azeroth would see them as enemies, and they would become slaves to demons... Alleria dared not think further.

After struggling for a moment, Alleria said, "Prince Kael'thas is a beacon of light for the people in their darkest hour." The Regent took down the banner hanging on the wall; the Sunstrider emblem on it still shone brightly. "But what if the light goes out..."

Alleria's eyes widened. The flames on the candlestick slowly eroded the banner, burning in Alleria's hand.

"... Then it's nothing at all."

"Elder sister?"

"Go and prepare, Alleria." In private, Alleria never spoke to Alleria in such a tone; she spoke to him as the Regent. "Tell the Sin'dorei, tell them of the Prince's crimes, and... send the Farstrider to Silvermoon City."

Sylvanas's sharp gaze didn't miss a single detail below; the scenes tore at her heart. Even the person with the worst eyesight could see the countless acts of destruction. What kind of brutal atrocities could have made this land so unbearable? The Netherstorm was composed of shattered floating islands of varying sizes, with the Naaru's massive starship Tempest Keep, hovering in the far east. The air was thick with Arcane Energy from the Nether. The land was a scorching landscape of grey and purple, desolate and bleak. One after another, and yet another...

The Manaforge: Bunar was a remarkably successful one. The battle was over in just two hours, and Sylvanas was astonished by the Aldor and Starcaller's willingness to follow her orders and their thorough execution of her tactical arrangements.

The Female Elf's gaze fell upon the kneeling prisoners. She recognized the guards; they were all members of the Sunfury Legion, but not its Legion force. Her gaze then shifted to the Manaforge: Bunar's robust yet intricate siphon tubes appeared before her, surging with magical energy that extended outwards from within the forge, its destination unknown.

She couldn't help but wonder why, for so many years, the Sin'dorei people had believed they were doing the right thing—striving to reach Outland so they could reunite with Kael'thas sooner. But now, after seeing what Kael'thas had prepared for his people, Sylvanas hoped the Blood Elf would stay put in Silvermoon City.

"We have captured two important prisoners." The Aldor representative approached; she was a female Draenei and scholar named Kaelia. She leaned close to Sylvanas and said seriously, "One is a captain, and the other is a foreman."

Sylvanas turned wearily to look at the soldiers cleaning up the battlefield. Most of the fallen bodies were from the Sunfury Legion, with some belonging to her own men. Her gaze passed over Kaelia's shoulder; several Draenei were controlling an enemy soldier who was trying to escape.

"Bring those two men to me!" Sylvanas hissed. "I want to interrogate them myself."

Kaelia waved his hand behind him, and the two Blood Elf prisoners were brought to Sylvanas by the Draenei guards.

"Sylvanas?" the Blood Elf captain called out.

"I remember you." Sylvanas stared coldly at the Elf who had called her name. "You are Arathas of the Sunfury Legion, a loyal follower of Kael'thas."

"Why did you betray His Prince?"

Betrayal? No, it was Kael'thas who betrayed us. Sylvanas didn't respond, but silently looked at another bowed Elf prisoner. Compared to Arathas, his attitude was much more devout, meaning that communicating with him would be fruitful and wouldn't take too long. Kaelia said he was a technician? Perhaps he could provide some useful information.