Before the Ritual

The Nexus appeared to be divided into many layers, connected not by stairs, but by magical passages formed by Arcane Energy. Alleria had always thought Silvermoon City was a more magnificent magical city Dalaran, but the Nexus revealed a different kind of beauty to her.

Surrounding the main body of the Nexus, several small, disc-like platforms floated in mid-air. As Alleria approached, she could even see beautiful crystal trees growing on some of these platforms, as if sculpted from ice and snow, with frost clinging to their leaves.

The wondrous scenery temporarily eased the somber atmosphere, but Alleria's curiosity about the Guardian Ritual only grew stronger.

"Since Kalecgos is one of the candidates, he must have other competitors as well, right?"

"Yes," Tethys replied, "But I don't like the man who is competing with Kalec, not because he might take my brother's place, but because, as you suspect, he intends to follow in Malygos' footsteps."

"Who is that person?" Alleria asked.

"Arygos, son of Malygos."

The Female Elf frowned slightly. "Direct bloodline? It seems your brother's opponent was formidable. Malygos may have fallen, but his bloodline remains. Must the Guardian's power also flow through bloodlines?"

"Arygos has said the same things as you many times. He keeps emphasizing his lineage, believing that the new Arcanist must be a direct descendant of the previous Arcanist, but there's no evidence to prove it." Tethys glanced back at Alleria. That single look was enough for Alleria to be convinced of her loathing for the blue dragon named "Arygos." But undeniably, hereditary systems also influence races more intelligent than mortals, Malygos's son naturally believed he had the right to inherit his father's position.

However, things aren't always absolute. Alleria couldn't help but recall how she had become the supreme ruler of Quel'Thalas many years ago. When Kael'thas followed the demons, some Elf chose the Prince's path, while others remained rational and turned to support Windrunner fought the demons to the bitter end. In the end, she won, but the Blood Elf paid a heavy price in that catastrophe and needed a long time to recover.

Now, the Blue Dragonflight faces the same challenge. Arygos has chosen to follow his father's path, so Kalecgos will inevitably do the opposite, leading the Blue Dragonflight into a new era. The remaining blue dragons will certainly choose sides between the two. Alleria, as an outsider, hopes that the Blue Dragonflight will not split, otherwise, if war breaks out, mortals will certainly be affected. But such a situation is unlikely to occur, since they only have one Arcanist. When a new leader is born, even those who are unwilling will have to obey the Arcanist's Will.

Alleria sat quietly in the guest room that Tethys had prepared for her. The spacious room had two braziers, and fur covered the surrounding floor, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. A chair also had its curved armrests covered in thick fur. Food and drinks were laid out on a small table. The blue dragon lady had temporarily left, instructing her not to wander around. Feeling extremely uncomfortable, Alleria had no appetite for the food on the table. In the time that followed, she simply waited, wondering when Tethys would return, or at least how long she would have to wait.

Blue runes, like spells, appeared on the walls around the room from time to time. This made Alleria suddenly realize that the dragons' power did not only come from their physical strength, but also from their extraordinary understanding of the world. Their thoughts even extended to illusory dreams and the vast expanse of time.

The Regent sighed, his pointed ears twitching as he heard fast yet elegant footsteps approaching. Tethys pushed open the door to the reception room and sat heavily in the large, imposing chair opposite Alleria, rubbing her tired eyes.

"I can feel the tension within you all here." Alleria took a sip of the wine in front of her.

Tethys a bitter smile and replied, "Turbulent times are often unsettling. I apologize for the commotion, Lady Regent."

Would you mind sharing what's going on over there with me?

"Of course, why not? You're a distinguished guest brought by my brother." Tethys smiled at Alleria, her slightly greenish eyes sparkling with pleasure. The Female Elf's question reminded Tethys of Arygos. Thinking of the blue dragon, the candidate for Arcanist, her mood gradually sombered, and her face became solemn. These changes in expression gave Alleria a vague idea of what was going on.

"Kalecgos believes that the Blue Dragonflight should strengthen its ties with other Dragons and mortal races, but Arygos scoffs at this, as he is more concerned with the blue dragons' own affairs. Soon, the ceremony to elect the new Arcanist will begin."

The Regent gazed out the only window in the room at the setting sun. Dusk was falling, and twilight was beginning to form. In a few hours, the Blue Dragon's ritual would begin. "It seems that Arygos is very eager for the power of the Arcanist," Alleria remarked. Tethys shook her head in disapproval. "Is there a problem?"

"The Arcanist is not a power, but a responsibility," Lan Long emphasized.

"But you must obey the Will of the Arcanist, mustn't you?"

These words struck at Tethys's weak spot. The Elf -like blue dragon growled, but Alleria meant no harm. Instead, she voiced her deepest concern: if Arygos was truly after the Arcanist's power or authority, as the Female Elf claimed, it would be a catastrophe for the Blue Dragonflight.

"At least, Arygos is not yet the Guardian," Tethys said sternly. "But if he is chosen as the Guardian, he will have the final say in all matters. After that, his Will will be the decision of the Blue Dragonflight."

Alleria looked at Tethys with some doubt. The blue dragon's words seemed to echo her own views, and she sounded as if she lacked confidence in Kalecgos's ability to become the Arcanist. Perhaps it was because of bloodline; Malygos's bloodline garnered more support. However, Alleria didn't believe that having more supporters guaranteed becoming the Arcanist, and the power of the Titans wasn't something that could be obtained solely through voting.