On the way back, news of victory spread throughout Shadowmoon Valley.
Half a month seemed to have passed, and The Everbloom and Blackrock Foundry had fallen one after another. It was indeed worth celebrating. Not wanting to spoil everyone's mood, Nathanos quietly returned to Fallen Moon. Along the way, he noticed that some Dark Rangers were among those celebrating. While people danced around bonfires with mugs of beer, Nathanos slipped into Sylvanas's tent. His arrival left the Female Elf both surprised and delighted.
"Have you settled everything?" Sylvanas looked at him curiously.
"Mm." Nathanos sat down beside her and found that she was assembling arrows. "Why aren't you celebrating?"
"Someone has to stay vigilant, doesn't he?"
Though the light was dim, she could still see the fierce battle on Nathanos's face between his guilt toward her and his worries about the current situation.
"That day..."
"We both shouldn't have said those things, right?" Sylvanas wanted to ask what Nathanos had gained from acting alone, but she decided to leave some secrets between them. Perhaps one day, he would tell her on his own.
Nathanos nodded. "I didn't want you involved. If the trouble I brought upon us hurt you, I'd be in agony."
Sylvanas placed the assembled arrows into her quiver, then raised her head to look at Arthas, studying his face carefully in the faint candlelight. Nathanos's focus and determination always made her feel safe. Yet at the same time, he kept his heart tightly sealed away, making Sylvanas feel that he was very far from her, as though he were thousands of miles away.
"Nathanos, I have a question for you."
The Witherer froze for a moment. "What is it?"
"If one day—I mean, if—if I died, what would you do?"
Remembering her tone just now, Nathanos choked