Old Friend

Chromatus seemed to have lost its mind. While battling the Guardian Dragons, the monster's five heads had fought independently, but now they had united as one. They leaned back together, inhaled deeply, and then opened their mouths in unison to launch an attack. Their breath was mottled with color, fierce and dangerous, but it wasn't aimed at Alexstrasza and her companions, but rather at the sky, or rather, the air, for all their attacks missed.

The Queen of Dragons stared in shock at everything. She realized she was still within the Twilight Domain, but the realm had no effect on her. It was as if Chromatus was being tortured, but wasn't that his power? Why? The Life-Binder thought of Nozdormu's unusual behavior earlier, and a sense of inconsistency arose in her mind—someone was coming.

One that freed them from suffering, one that was difficult to detect, and one that made Chromatus feel threatened by a terrifying presence.

"I sensed two domains." Kalecgos's words exploded in Alexstrasza's mind. Domains were a kind of magic, and the Arcanist was the only one who could pinpoint the problem. "But both domains were Twilight Domain."

"They are different," Ysera said. "The Twilight Domain of Chromatus would have killed us, but the newly emerged Twilight Domain saved us."

"But why?" Alexstrasza asked, her face pale. "Who is it?"

Her call seemed to have an effect. The moment her words fell, the slow, powerful flapping of wings broke into the decisive battle.

The opponent was a dragon! The dragon kings were secretly astonished. And the voice came from directly above them.

Alexstrasza was the first to tilt her head back, her golden eyes magnified at that moment, her breath stopped, and what she saw before her eyes occupied all her senses.

It was a massive, semi-transparent black shadow. Its silhouette unmistakably revealed it to be a dragon. The flapping of its wings carried purple flames, like swirling snowflakes. The light of these flames couldn't illuminate its body. Its appearance seemed to devour the light, yet Chromatus's heart-wrenching roar signified that it brought hope. It was there, visible to all, yet its power was unfelt. Alexstrasza couldn't comprehend what she saw; she could only stare blankly, while the shadow seemed to be staring back at her.

"No one can stop me!" roared the blue dragon head of Chromatus. All five heads simultaneously attacked the shadowy figure. All magic was absorbed by an invisible protective barrier surrounding the figure as it approached. The Chromatic Dragon's attacks were completely ineffective.

"Who are you?" The chilling question came from the black dragon head.

Then the shadowy figure finally moved. He made only one move: raising his head and shifting his gaze from the Life-Binder to Chromatus. His mouth opened, and a terrifying, gathering sound erupted from within. The air around Alexstrasza was being sucked away, and then, the instant the sound faded, a torrential downpour of purple flames erupted. This wasn't Arcane Magic with a slight hint of purple, nor was it any spell the Queen of Dragons had ever seen. In the form of flames, Alexstrasza saw the purest, or perhaps most chaotic, purple she had ever witnessed.

Chromatus immediately retaliated, its five heads spewing out rays representing their respective powers, which converged to form a dark purple color.

The two forces collided and exploded violently. The resulting intense light caused a rapid fluctuation and illuminated the entire battlefield. Alexstrasza struggled to stay on her feet and had to shield her eyes with her hands to avoid being blinded by the intense light.

Although she couldn't see it, she heard Chromatus's agonizing screams. The Life-Binder couldn't believe it; she struggled to adjust to the blinding light, in which lay a hideous, deformed shadow, its five heads swaying incessantly, its entire body trembling violently, like a piece of ill-made silk being torn into pieces before finally vanishing.

Chromatus?

Alexstrasza was speechless for a long time, as were the other Guardians, who were also completely shocked by what had happened.

The being that even the Life-Binder, the Arcanist, the Awakened, and the Time Lord combined couldn't defeat was pulverized by this shadowy figure in a single blow! Alexstrasza slowly raised her head again. Just like before, the shadowy figure gazed at her, doing nothing. The Queen of Dragons naturally looked into the shadowy figure's eyes. Although she couldn't see them, she could sense the emotion, joy, and... hope filling his gaze. Why did he have such emotions?

The Queen's mind was already filled with all sorts of questions.

"Who are you?" she asked again, extremely cautiously, unable to discern whether the other person was friend or foe.

This vigilance was met with a heavy sigh, shrouded in contradiction and disappointment. The shadowy figure hesitated, seemingly reluctant to leave, but finally departed. When he raised his head again, facing the north of Dragonblight, he uttered a soft cry that surprised everyone, "Father!"

Before everyone's eyes, the enormous figure vanished.

Khadgar sat in his private study, one of his favorite places. Returning to Dalaran, or even to Azeroth, was a few years ago. Fortunately, the city hadn't forgotten him, and the Kirin Tor hadn't been cold to him. The Mage Tower accommodations Rhonin had arranged for him were warm and welcoming. Given his standing among the mages, he was fully entitled to this Mage Tower.

Every flat surface in the room that could hold something, including the desk, side table, and bookcase, was covered with open books or other items.

Now, Khadgar was enjoying a slice of fruit and a cold drink. Both things would help him concentrate on his reading for the rest of the time.

Just then, he heard a knock on the door. "Come in," Khadgar called out without opening his eyes.

"Archmage." The speaker was a young human mage apprentice. "Someone has come to visit you."

"Who wants to see me, apprentice?" Khadgar asked.

"It's an Elf with an owl face, and his... friend, but..."

"But what?" Khadgar smiled slightly, curious about what made the apprentice so uneasy.

"That gentleman seems... a bit problematic. He meant no harm, but..." The apprentice shook his head, frowning slightly, as if still troubled by the problem, "He also brought an Undead, a Forsaken."

The Forsaken? The word immediately alarmed Khadgar. It was an Undead organization recognized by Tirion Fordring, leader of the Argent Crusade, yet many still harbored hostility towards them. Khadgar was puzzled as to why an Undead would seek him out; none of the people he knew Undead.

"Thank you, apprentice. Now, please let them in," Khadgar said.

The apprentice quickly did as instructed, and the door opened again, allowing Khadgar's guest to enter. Khadgar stood up, looking at the Elf man with an inquisitive gaze. The mark on the man's belt immediately made the mage realize who the newcomer was.

"Excuse me, are you a Bronze Dragon?"

The Elf man frowned slightly but did not answer Khadgar. He simply nodded to the Undead had come in with him, then walked to the window of the Mage Tower and gazed at the view below.

Khadgar understood; it wasn't the Elf who wanted to see him, but this Undead.

"This is truly astonishing," the Undead murmured, from which Khadgar gleaned no message. "I never imagined we would meet again."

"'Us?'" The Archmage frowned in confusion, then smiled and asked, "Do we know each other?"

"Oh, I think so." The Undead pulled down his hood, and in that instant, he heard Khadgar's tense heartbeat.

Nathanos?