Restless Shadows

Upon arriving at the foot of the hillside at Marius Farm, Belorell felt as if he had been transported to an alien place, even though he was accustomed to the desolate landscape of the Eastern Plaguelands. There was no life here. The earth had a sickly pale yellow hue, and the air was acrid, irritating his nose and throat. His eyes and lips also stung.

A deep sense of loss permeated the cracks in the earth, causing Belorell to feel inexplicably sad. The Elf boy stopped and carefully examined the surrounding terrain.

"It's right here," he confirmed, then realized that Marius Farm looked different. Worse still. The last time he was here, the houses were still collapsed, and the tree not far from the ruins was bare. Nothing should have changed, but it was far more complicated than it appeared.

"Have you been here before?" Fiona asked.

"I suppose so." He wouldn't tell this friendly lady about his past experiences.

The darkness would have made it easier for them to conceal themselves; they left Light's Hope Chapel before dawn. However, the others insisted on waiting until daylight to approach the farm, as the threat lurking there was equally adept at using darkness. Ultimately, they knew nothing about this unfamiliar place. Belorell stayed close to Fiona, with Jidwen and Tarenna providing cover from the front and rear. He felt a pair of eyes watching him, as if urging him to leave immediately.

"Stay close," Fiona said. Her husky voice had a calming quality that Belorell was unconsciously trying to mimic.

"Wait," Jidwen whispered, and the others immediately bent down and hid.

"What's wrong?" Belorell stared intently at the Dwarf at the front. Jidwen was looking down at something at his feet. It was probably a coin, stuck in a crack in the ground. Jidwen pried it out with the tip of his battle axe.

"Oh, no." He wiped the trinket he had picked up with his thumb, his expression serious and solemn. "This didn't just fall here by accident."

Belorell's gaze fell curiously on the object. It was a palm-sized silver emblem bearing the Argent Crusade. Inscribed on the back was the text. "This is an award to Kron Encot of the Brotherhood of the Light. The Holy Light will remember your service."

"I know this guy. He's a human from Stormwind City. We only met once, but his drinking capacity left a deep impression on me." Jidwen's almost sorrowful tone made the atmosphere even more somber. "May the Holy Light protect his soul."

"He's not the first," Fiona said quietly, placing her hand on the Dwarf's shoulder armor. "Many more have met their demise here, which proves that eradicating evil from Marius Farm is of paramount importance."

Jidwen nodded and continued to stealthily approach, though he suspected they had already been exposed. Belorell pulled his clothes tighter, his fingers checking the dagger on his belt.

"Can you find any trace of your father's presence?" Fiona asked.

Belorell then remembered why she had come here. "There are many traces here. If I can find something familiar, that would be a stroke of good luck."

Then he stopped, his eyes looking past the Dwarf's figure into the distance. Fiona followed his gaze, and a figure appeared on the ruins. She was clad in leather armor, her face concealed by a hood, only her eyes, gleaming with a cold blue light, revealing her identity. Two purple daggers gleamed, ready to strike.

"Damn it, I knew the Scourge remnants were lurking here." Jidwen said this with a ferocious expression and a cursing tone.

"Be careful, Jidwen," Tarenna said, stepping up from behind. "If she is the source of all this chaos, then she must be very powerful, powerful enough to defeat the Argent Crusade Warrior who came here earlier."

"Is she the only one?" Fiona asked. Her voice was calm and collected, but her violent edge was barely concealed.

"Another bunch of people coming to their deaths." A deathly threat emanated from beneath the Undead's hood. Belorell felt a chill. "Anyone who trespasses on Marius Farm will die."

"You damned bastard!" Jidwen cursed viciously, his face contorting even more, before letting out a roar and raising his gleaming weapon high.

The Dwarf shouted, and the Holy Light emanating from his weapon transformed into a battle axe, which he hurled at the Undead's face.

The axe blade spun toward Lilian. She slid to the side, dodging the flying axe, but this created an opening for the attacking Dwarf. He charged forward, gripping his battle axe tightly. Lilian threw two daggers from her waist; the first grazed the Dwarf's head, the second sliced through his left arm armor, but failed to stop his Charge.

With a battle cry, Jidwen swung his weapon in a deadly arc. The heavy two-handed axe was enough to cleave Lilian in two. She dodged the blow, then immediately turned the tide—though the Paladin possessed immense strength, her speed gave her the upper hand. The Undead assassin retaliated with a thrust, her weapon aimed straight for his chest. This strike should have pierced his heart, killing him instantly, but her attack was blocked by a golden barrier enveloping Jidwen.

The dwarf swung his axe again. Lilian was forced to retreat and jumped off the ruins. Then, Jidwen raised his battle axe high above his head, preparing to deliver a powerful downward slash using the terrain. Lilian dodged the axe by leaping to the side, then threw a smoke bomb at close range as she rolled. The Dwarf coughed, tears streaming down his face, and realizing the situation was dire, hurriedly retreated.

Lilian seized the opportunity and pounced, her dagger precisely pressed against the other man's throat.

"Another kill!" she said, preparing to strike. Suddenly, Jidwen's entire body glowed. The light stung Lilian's eyes. The female Undead hurriedly vanished from everyone's sight.

"Are you alright?!" Tarenna ran over, grabbed Jidwen's arm, and pulled him back.

"I can't open my eyes for the time being."

"She didn't run away," Fiona whispered, her eyes fixed on her surroundings. "I can smell her."

The silence continued, like walking on thin ice, until it was finally broken.

"I can smell you too, Worgen."

The sound came from behind. At Lake Tarenna, instinctively turning and thrusting, the sword pierced between Fiona and Belorell, but missed its target.

"Worgen?" Belorell looked at Fiona in surprise, her body trembling slightly.

The middle-aged woman and her companion offered no explanation. The Elf boy then realized he had been kept in the dark all along.