Holy Water

Rhine woke up the next morning. She quietly slipped out of bed, dressed, and tried to make as little noise as possible. After getting dressed, she checked her water bladder, and once she was sure everything was alright, she immediately left her tent.

The sky was just beginning to lighten with the first light of dawn.

She had just reached the middle of the bridge over the lake outside the chapel when a voice called out, "Can you tell me what you're doing?"

Rhine turned to face Rebrath. The Earthshaker's face was resolute and etched with attention.

"I'm going to the Plaguewood. If I'm lucky, I might run into those three Undead," Rhine said bluntly.

Rebrath nodded. "Alright. Then I'll go with you."

"I don't want to be with my companions. I have to do this myself, Rebrath," Rhine said. His voice was firm, but the Tauren's concern was all the more apparent.

"I don't like this, Rhine. I heard about your conversation with Maxwell yesterday. I know what you're trying to do, but this time, I hope you'll think it over carefully."

"Of course I've considered it, Rebrath. If those three Undead are still my enemies, then I hope I won't drag my companions down with me when I'm in danger." Rhine lowered her gaze, responding somewhat awkwardly. She then took a deep breath and said briefly, "I'll be back in a few hours, if I can't find them." She sped towards the edge of the bridge.

Feeling no unease, Rebrath watched the Night Elf transform into a cheetah and gallop away, disappearing into the distance. The elements told him there was no need to worry.

Finding the way back to the Plaguewood was a simple task for Rhine. She spent an hour locating the site of the battle two days prior. The morning mist still clung to the earth, drifting along the winding path, but she could already discern a tree damaged in the fight. As she approached, she slowed her jog, relying on her hearing for any signs of danger. She needed to be careful; after all, while Maxwell had stated he could accept the Undead, the reality was that those Undead had regained consciousness. Something deep within her told Rhine that she seemed to have overlooked something.

Rhine saw many small craters on the once-flat road, marks left by a meteorite impact. They weren't very large; that was the extent of her power. She looked around for any trace of the Undead. She found nothing. They seemed to have left.

A low, guttural gurgling sound caught her attention. She turned and saw an Undead she had recently encountered sitting in a tree, but not the one she had fought. The creature was also female, appearing calm and composed, though her dagger was resting within easy reach of her waist. At the same time, she was also cautious.

Rhine took a deep breath and then slowly walked towards her.

As she moved forward, she realized she might have made a grave mistake with this Undead, a problem she had overlooked. The creature showed no signs of fleeing; its equipment was excellent, and its weapons were formidable. Rhine had initially assumed these Undead, once they regained consciousness, would be hunted down by the Scourge and would be in dire straits. But...

Perhaps there was some unexpected reason, perhaps. But she had to confirm it somehow. When she was only a few steps away from the tree, the Night Elf stopped, transforming back into her original form to indicate that she meant no harm.

The Undead pushed off the tree branch and landed lightly five steps behind Rhine.

"You Night Elf do it this way, don't you?" the Undead asked in fluent Darnassian. Her voice was deep and like grinding Shali, but its pronunciation was surprisingly accurate, and she bowed, mimicking the salute of the Night Elf. Rhine gasped in astonishment, her shock fully displayed on her face. The Undead's face contorted, which Rhine guessed was a grin.

"You can speak our language?" Rhine asked, trembling.

The Undead glared at her sternly. "You think we've existed for so long and all we know is killing?" she asked. "The Argent Dawn has seriously underestimated us. But that's understandable."

Rhine was only surprised by her. Sitting there was something dark—a sinful, bloodthirsty creature. But she spoke with a sharp mind and intelligence. The creature didn't rush to tear her heart apart, even though she had expected so. It essentially stood still, scrutinizing her with its intelligence, its knowing gaze. Rhine felt a chill run down her spine, a sense of shock and defeat washing over her. Without thinking, she blurted out the question she had asked herself countless times, "I must know. Why did you and your companions spare me? Why did you stop your companions from harming me?"

The Undead stared at her for a long time, then nodded. "We never intended to kill you."

Rhine sighed sharply, "Why did you do that?" she asked. "We are sworn enemies."

The Undead seemed to consider this for a moment. "Your hatred is for the Scourge, for the Lich King, and for us too. To us, you are the enemy of our enemy," the Undead finished speaking. Rhine wasn't sure what she wanted to hear, but she was certain this answer was unexpected. "Besides," the Undead continued, "You didn't bring your friends to wipe us out afterwards."

"In that case, I should thank you," Rhine began, wondering how to properly address the Undead. Sensing Rhine's unease, the Undead said, "My name is Lilian Voss, Elf. You can call me Lilian or Voss."

Relieved, Rhine replied, "Thank you, Lilian. Thank you for your rationality."

Lilian nodded again. Rhine noticed that the Undead's protective gear was new. She deduced that Lilian was not an exiled Undead.

"I am Rhine," the Night Elf began. "I have come to see you and your friends, Lilian. Your attitude toward me has disturbed many within the Argent Dawn, and I must know whether you are truly different from the Scourge, or if this is yet another of your schemes?"

Lilian smiled gently. "I know it's much easier to trust Orcs than Undead. I've been wandering the Plaguelands for many years, Elf. I move from place to place, hunting down targets of the Crimson Crusade and the Scourge."

"You mean, you've already broken free from the Lich King's control?" Rhine blinked in surprise. "Are you the only one? Are there others like you?"

Lilian didn't answer the question; instead, she gave an enigmatic smile. Rhine sighed and continued, "Perhaps, but your appearance tells me that your origins are not simple. The armor you wear and your weapons suggest that you come from some organization... or power."

"How sensitive you are, Elf," Lilian said with a smile. "But I must find a way out for the Undead like myself, mustn't I?"

"So you found it? Who are you?"

Rhine asked the crucial question, but Lilian remembered Nathanos's order: under no circumstances should the existence of the Forsaken be revealed to outsiders.

The Undead smiled slyly, "I told you, and then the Argent Dawn sent people everywhere to search for and wipe us out, right?"

"I would never do that!" Rhine blushed, clearly angry. "I just wanted to understand you, and then help you?"

How can I help?

"The Argent Dawn will unite all forces capable of dealing with the Scourge."

"Are you using us as cannon fodder?"

"No!" Rhine immediately rejected the idea. "You will be treated equally, just like I was."

"That sounds good," Lilian replied without hesitation. "But will everyone be as willing to listen to us as you are?"

Rhine's expression brightened. "Baron Maxwell, the commander of the Argent Dawn, has made it clear that he will accept you."

"Where are the others?"

"They will do the same."

"I have one last question." Lilian suddenly became serious, drawing her dagger and immediately putting Rhine on guard. "If this is a conspiracy, Lich King sent us to infiltrate your ranks and find an opportunity to dismantle you, what would you do?"

The question was posed by the Night Elf, and she was suddenly caught in a dilemma. It seemed to be a test from Lilian. Rhine hesitated for a long time, her face and lips turning pale, before finally saying, "I believe you. You won't do it."

Upon hearing the answer, Lilian Voss slowly sheathed her weapon, replying with a forlorn expression, "Not all the living are like you." Her expression told Rhine that she had been rejected by the living, even by her closest relatives. "We need to prove our innocence." Lilian pulled a conical bottle from behind her back and tossed it to Rhine. The liquid inside was pale blue, like fruit juice.

"What's this?"

"You can call it Holy Water. With it, you can reclaim Stratholme!"