Queen of Dragons

"I'm leaving you here."

Kalecgos said. He volunteered to carry Alleria to where she needed to go— the Crystalsong Forest, where Alexstrasza was.

"She wouldn't like anyone disturbing her, especially her own kind."

Kalecgos spoke with deep regret. Alleria had already heard the blue dragon recount the whole story on the way.

After Malygos's fall and the end of the Nexus War, the Dragons held a meeting to consolidate their Wyrmrest Accord. This meeting was interrupted by the Twilight's Hammer, a cult following Deathwing. During the battle, a terrible explosion occurred. All the Dragons sanctuaries in the lower levels of Wyrmrest Temple were destroyed. Alexstrasza's beloved consort, Krasus, disappeared, along with every Dragon Egg in every Dragons sanctuary. And the one who caused this explosion was none other than Krasus himself.

Alleria initially believed this was a premeditated betrayal, but Kalecgos seemed to disagree, saying that the Krasus he knew was calm and caring. There must be something more to this.

Alleria jumped down behind Kalecgos.

Finding a Red Dragon in the air is actually quite simple. Even if the target transforms into a slender female Elf, a splash of crimson against the snow-white ground of Crystalsong Forest is easily spotted. Alexstrasza was currently leaning against a tree, her eyes staring blankly ahead, as if awaiting death.

"Perhaps you should come with me. After all, as one of our own kind, your support is even more important," Alleria said.

Kalecgos shook his head. "She will only feel pain. You have no idea how many people within the Dragons doubt Krasus."

The Female Elf nodded expressionlessly and said, "I can only do my best."

The blue dragon looked at Alleria solemnly. "When you're ready to leave, come here." Then it leaped into the sky.

As she drew closer, the Female Elf could see the Queen of Dragons more clearly. Alexstrasza's body was curled up tightly, her knees pressed against her chest, her head resting against the tree trunk, and her long red hair hanging down.

"I know you, Elf. Quel'Thalas isn't here," Alexstrasza said as Alleria emerged from behind the bushes. Her beautiful, captivating voice sounded so weary and dejected.

"I'm not willing," Alleria replied, taking a deep breath.

Alexstrasza didn't say another word. The Female Elf walked up to the Queen of Dragons, who looked up at her, but her eyes were fixed on the magical city of Dalaran floating in the air.

After a while, Alleria said, "I know who you are. People call you the Lifebinder."

The Red Dragon Queen's exquisitely beautiful face suddenly erupted with rage. "Enough! Don't remind me anymore! I don't want to bear this burden any longer!" Her reaction did not surprise Alleria, but what caught the Regent somewhat off guard was what she said next, "The Oathbinder of Life? The Titan Eonar who granted me the power of protection, I curse her. She is the one who placed such a heavy burden on my shoulders."

"So, you're just going to wait here to die?" Alleria questioned, noticing that Alexstrasza's lips were dry and her face gaunt, while the forest she was in was full of snow to quench her thirst and berries to satisfy her hunger.

"This is none of your business."

Alleria paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Then perhaps I can relieve your pain." As she spoke, she placed her hand on the short sword at her waist.

Alexstrasza's reflexes seemed dulled by her prolonged lack of food and water; she didn't react until Alleria's weapon was halfway out, though the reaction was only visible on her face. Her eyes were tightly closed, as if she were prepared to accept death. This infuriated Alleria.

"Titans are truly blind!"

Alexstrasza didn't reply. The cold wind whipped her wine-red curls, sending stray strands fluttering at her temples. Alleria didn't know how to continue. She had intended to provoke the Queen of Dragons's wrath. Now, Alexstrasza only displayed numbness and deathly despair.

She then asked, "What kind of experience could make a Will guardian so vulnerable? Have you forgotten your duty? Have you forgotten who you are?"

"They're all dead! All dead!" The Life-Binder's voice was filled with rage. "Life revered me as its queen, seeking my aid and protection, and I gave everything for it. But betrayal and death! Why should these two things still befall me after my sacrifice?"

Suddenly, Alleria felt a burning rage. Could sacrificing everything guarantee a good ending? Could asking for nothing prevent disaster? She clenched her fists. Nathanos's death remained a throbbing wound in her heart, and Alleria would never forget him. Her husband's sacrifice was still vivid in her mind. To protect his beloved, Nathanos paid the ultimate price. And he was just a human, a mortal. The Life-Binder was different; her power was immense, she could do things unimaginable to ordinary people, yet she remained here, self-destructively blaming the injustice of her fate.

"Do you think only those you care about have died?" Alleria roared. "Are you the only one who has suffered such a cruel fate? My parents died in the flames of your Red Dragon."

Alexstrasza stared at Alleria in shock; the Female Elf's words and voice sounded so full of resentment.

"If you're here for revenge, then do it."

"Your lover is dead, isn't he?" Alleria seemed not to hear the Queen of Dragons's response and continued with what she wanted to say, "Was he resurrected as Undead? Did you encounter him on the battlefield? Did you have the resolve to send him to his grave with your own hands? Did you experience any of these things?"

Gradually, Alleria suppressed her anger, replacing it with sobs about the past. "Don't think you're the only one grieving for the loss of your lover. As the guardian of life, have you ever considered the suffering of mortals? My husband sacrificed himself to save me; his noble and pure soul was corrupted by evil magic, rising again as a servant of the Scourge. To save him, I had to use force to put him to rest. Can you imagine how difficult that choice was? No matter what he became, perhaps he still remembers me, but until the moment he fell, I never stopped. Whether what I did was right or wrong, I can never forgive myself. Never! If I, as a mortal, feel this way, what right do you have to wallow in your own pain?"