Regret

"I am right here, Alleria."

Those smoldering crimson eyes moved through the darkness. Alleria Windrunner was trapped in this silent, terrifying forest, and she could feel the withered branches and leaves constantly scratching her cheeks and skin as she moved, and scraping against her exquisite cloak.

Nathanos was nearby, mocking Alleria.

A heavy, persistent black fog had appeared on the edge of Alleria's vision, swirling and billowing incessantly. The entire forest provided excellent cover for Nathanos, but it also hindered her approach to her target. Alleria, however, did not give up hope. She deftly leaped from one dead tree to another, finally catching a glimpse of her husband's cloak in the blurry distance. Without hesitation, the Female Elf charged forward.

Just as she was about to grasp the somewhat tattered cloak, her hand didn't touch anything; instead, it passed through the black cloak, and then her entire body was pulled in by a strange suction. The scene before her reminded Alleria of that important moment—when she returned to Marius Farm. Just like now, the farm's ruins were the result of her burning it. There shouldn't be anyone here anymore, but a figure knelt before the ruins, head bowed in meditation.

Alleria did not approach the guy immediately; her senses as Ranger made her wary.

"What are you still dawdling about?" The deep voice came from the other person, like a puppet string constantly controlling Alleria's movements, forcing her to draw her bow and aim at her. This shocked the Female Elf and left her bewildered.

"Nathanos?" Alleria murmured to herself. "You... you're still alive."

Suddenly, Nathanos stood up, and the impression he made as he turned around reverberated through Alleria's mind like a thunderclap. Was this the appearance of an Undead? The Female Elf slowly released her grip on her bow. His face was unharmed, his body strong and upright. His skin was pale, stained with traces of tears. He was fully armed, wearing a mix of leather and chainmail armor. His quiver was overflowing with arrows. A sheathed sword, its hilt gleaming, hung at his left hip.

When the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile, Alleria's heart leaped into her throat. This was Nathanos at his most spirited, a man tempered by war, mature and composed. The Female Elf would never forget that it was during this time that they came together. Why this sudden burst of energy? Why did it trouble her so deeply? Did he still...

A chill gripped Alleria's body like an icy claw, almost suffocating her. She shook her head desperately, telling herself that Nathanos was dead, that the man before her was not the husband she loved and knew. Those crimson eyes were the best proof. No matter how much he looked like a living person, it was just a disguise.

What are you still dawdling about?

"I won't hesitate because of memories!" Alleria drew her bow again, aiming at Nathanos' heart. Sweat beaded on her forehead, some seeping into her hair, some sliding down her cheeks. She admitted to herself that she was lying; she hesitated. But to her surprise, besides hesitation, fear also lingered in her heart. Fear slowly robbed the sweet air around her, and now each breath Alleria took felt like swallowing sharp shards of glass. Then, when a slight stinging sensation came from her cheeks, she realized that what was flowing down her face wasn't sweat, but tears. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks. "I should let you rest in peace. I've done it before. This time I won't be negligent."

"Then what are you still dawdling for?" He repeated the same question, but with a smile on his lips, a smile that Alleria could only see in confidence.

Why was he so calm? Was he convinced that my arrows couldn't hit him?

"What are you still dawdling about?" Nathanos said again, his voice carrying a deep, Tranquility. "What are you hesitating about?"

Alleria bit her lip and took two steps back, a movement that made Nathanos's eyes widen slightly. He became more talkative, but it sounded like he was asking and answering himself.

"Don't leave me, Alleria. No matter what happens, no matter what, don't leave me."

"I never will, Nathanos. Never!"

"It seems no one can refuse you anything, Nathanos. I especially can't."

"Shut up!" Alleria roared, her words like daggers churning within her, infusing her blood with sorrow and etching some kind of sin into her heart.

She would never forget the vows she and Nathanos had made, vows as deep as the sea and as enduring as the mountains. At that time, she was sincere. She had considered that whatever might happen in the future, she and Nathanos would never be alone. But in the end, she made the opposite choice—she rejected him, because she wanted him to rest in peace.

As if knowing what she was thinking, Nathanos responded to her in an even louder voice, "Then give me a quick death!"

The Female Elf's hands trembled; she was somewhat surprised. This scene seemed familiar, a recollection of the darkest moment in her memory. Why did she have to relive it again?

"Vendel'o eranu. (Let me forget)," she said, not consciously, but destined to utter this Sauras language. Before Alleria realized her mistake, the arrow she had drawn had already been released...

The excruciating pain made the Female Elf's eyes widen, and her body tilted backward like a kite with a broken string. The arrow had clearly struck Nathanos, yet she was the one bearing the brunt of the pain.

"Alleria."...

She heard a voice calling her, over and over again.

How could you... abandon me?

Did I abandon him?

"You treat me like a monster."

Monster!

"You've forgotten for whom I died."

I have never forgotten.

I won't lose him! This vow was deeply etched in her mind. He won't lose me either!

Guilt tormented Alleria, lingering in her ears, blaming her for extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in Nathanos' heart—hope for the living.

No, that's not how it is, it shouldn't be like this.

She heard crying; it was her crying, crying for a long time. Was she really crying? Alleria stared unblinkingly at the distant stars, desperately wanting to know the answer. Then... she closed her eyes and heard the last words before the world went dark.

Vendel'o eranu. (Let me forget.)

Nathanos, is this how you punish me?

Alleria accepted her sudden death with a bittersweet acceptance. She felt neither warmth nor cold. As she slowly awaited the moment her consciousness faded, the conversation between the two people echoed in her ears.

"We're surrounded!"

"Yes, I believe we've held out long enough, and Silvermoon City must be ready. You can rest assured now, Alleria?"

She heard Nathanos's voice; he was speaking to her. And she heard her own voice too.

"No, I'm not at ease yet. And you, Nathanos. You should get out of here quickly. There aren't many Undead surrounding us. You can break through their encirclement."

"And then leave you here? I won't abandon you, Alleria."

"This is my war, you know? Protecting my homeland is my duty, Nathanos. I don't want to see you shed blood in Quel'Thalas."

"Yes, Quel'Thalas is not my home."

"So you should leave now, my love!"

"Do you remember? My homeland has been destroyed."

"I remember."

"I've lost some things, so I won't make the same mistakes again."

"But if you stay, you'll just be going to your death with me."

"You can live too."

"I will not desert. If I cannot stop Arthas, I should die here."

"I understand. But there is hope as long as we live."

"I can't..."

"Listen to me!"

"Nathanos, what are you doing?"

"So that you can live."

"No! Let go! I can't leave, I can't abandon this place..."

Goodbye... Alleria!

"No!"

Alleria's eyes snapped open. She found herself on a battlefield, and through her blurry vision, she could vaguely make out two figures. One lay sprawled on the ground, supporting himself with only one arm. The other rode a sinister skeletal horse.

"No," she murmured. This was a scene she hadn't been able to witness, but one she desperately didn't want to see.

The skeletal horse roared and charged at the helpless man. The runic Greatsword sliced through the air. With his last ounce of strength, the man met the deadly blade head-on, trying to parry with his own weapons, but they shattered upon impact. The Rune Sword pierced him.

"No!"

Nathanos let out a sob. The brief, hoarse sound was filled with regret. Alleria knelt in despair; though so far away, she could still hear the last murmur of the man whose life was rapidly slipping away.

"Alleria... forgive me."

The Female Elf sobbed as painful memories she should have remembered, tragic pasts she had never witnessed, unfolded before her. Even more terrifying was her inability to stop what was about to happen.

"By the Lich King's command, rise once more and become Warrior of the Scourge! Azeroth will fall into chaos and destruction in your hands!" Frostmourne hummed, chanting the most ancient incantation...

... The world was instantly shrouded in a black curtain. Alleria could see nothing but darkness. There was no noise, nothing at all. This darkness was not frightening; it was soft, warm, peaceful, and comfortable. Over time, the Female Elf even began to consider staying there, a place where she could lay down her arms that held high over her people and kingdom.

"Nathanos?" She stared wide-eyed at the only light in the darkness, which shone on her husband. He sat there barefoot, wearing only a linen blouse and shorts, his gaze vacant. To Alleria's surprise, she saw that Nathanos' eyes were still a bright, deep black.

"Nathanos!" Alleria ran excitedly towards him, only to find that each step she took only pushed them further apart. The Female Elf stopped, trying to prevent this from continuing. "Nathanos!" she called again, hoping her lover would respond, even just look up at her.

But he didn't. Nathanos seemed to have lost his soul, his gaze empty. Even when three winged beings suddenly appeared beside him, he didn't react at all.

Fear pierced Alleria's nerves like a sword. The three enormous figures were clad in black skull armor; they resembled the Valkyr, yet Valkyr were not. They were far more terrifying. They were the embodiment of death.

Death surrounded humanity, whispering, narrating, pulling at his soul. Under Alleria's gaze, Nathanos's once healthy skin lost its luster, and bloody tears stained his pupils.

"No, no!" Alleria screamed, trying to rush forward to stop it, but a sudden impact knocked her to the ground. She couldn't stop it. Nathanos gradually regained consciousness, his face contorted, his eyes blazing with rage. His body floated uncontrollably. The three black-armored monsters' incantations never ceased, each word inflicting unimaginable pain on Nathanos. He was being torn apart, yet he didn't utter a single scream. Alleria admired her husband's resilience; she couldn't imagine the torment he was enduring.

But she was wrong, and she immediately realized her mistake. Nathanos was not enduring it; rather, pain was swelling within him, bursting from his lips as a sound.

Alleria felt her blood boiling, her heart pounding faster than she could bear. This deep and agonizing wail came from the pain of a single person.

"Nathanos!"

The human ignored her desperate cries, staring intently into the darkness before him. His skin was withered and tattered, and the red light emanating from his eyes was the only color in this dark realm.

But Alleria remained unyielding. She frantically called his name, trying to change everything before he completely merged with the darkness, but even that last chance had vanished. In her extreme agony, she saw Nathanos walk towards the edge of darkness, towards the Death Knight who had corrupted him. Then, he knelt on one knee and said, "At your service, Prince Highness."

"Don't want!"

Alleria screamed, and then she awoke with her own scream. One hand strained to grasp something, but only felt a cold wind brush against her palm. Her armor was gone, replaced by a loose nightgown. The blankets provided warmth. Alleria had finally awakened from that terrifying nightmare.

"Your Excellency the Regent?" Mareia, the maid who was in charge of her daily life, rushed into her bedroom and said with a worried expression, "I heard your voice."

The fear from the nightmare vanished instantly. Alleria believed she could tell she had a nightmare, so she didn't argue and said, "I'm fine, you can go now."

"I'll be right outside. Call me anytime if you need anything." The maid bowed and left.

When she was all alone, Windrunner could no longer hide her emotions. She burst into tears, buried her head in her knees and chest, and questioned herself, "What have I done? What have I done?!"

At that moment, Alleria felt remorse.