After leaving Kel'Thuzad, Aaron stood on a street in Dalaran and looked around. Seeing no sign of Vereesa or Rhonin, he thought for a moment, then headed to the inn to get some rest.
Upon entering the inn, he saw Rhonin and Vereesa idly chatting out of boredom. Hearing movement at the entrance, Vereesa looked up and happened to spot Aaron. She smiled and said, "Aaron, you're back."
"Yes, I'm back." Aaron took a few quick steps, sat down in a chair, and answered casually.
Vereesa looked at Aaron in surprise. "Aaron, you seem very happy?"
Aaron nodded. "I just did a very good deed. Of course I'm happy."
Though he said that, Aaron was hardly certain that those few words of his could really keep Kel'Thuzad from becoming the great Lich of the future. After all, Ner'zhul's power was not so easily dispelled. If Ner'zhul contacted Kel'Thuzad again later, Aaron did not think his few words could counter Ner'zhul's whispers.
Aaron could only hope that Kel'Thuzad would become absorbed in researching the power of the Val'kyr and would not be easily lured away by the Lich King.
While the three were chatting, they suddenly heard a warm, resonant voice from outside the inn:
"Good afternoon, everyone."
Aaron turned to look. The first thing he noticed was three large fireballs darting about behind someone's head. Only then did he see the blond elf illuminated by their glow.
That made the man's identity quite obvious. Who else could he be but the prince of Quel'Thalas? Quel'Thalas had yet to suffer the catastrophe that would wipe out more than half its population, and the prince had not yet become embittered. Nor did he put on any lofty airs. He seemed no different from an ordinary human.
Aaron, who had noticed him first, rose to greet the elf. "Good afternoon, Prince Kael'thas."
The other two hurried to greet him as well. "Good afternoon, Archmage."
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"So even the hero who dealt with the threat of the Red Dragonflight knows my name? I am truly honored." Kael'thas wore an exceedingly friendly smile. One look told Aaron that Kael'thas must have practiced that smile in front of a mirror many times.
Whatever the case, the gesture conveyed his goodwill. Aaron offered a polite, false smile in return and explained, "You jest, Your Highness. Your reputation has long since spread throughout the human kingdoms."
The two exchanged a lengthy round of mutual flattery. Only when Vereesa and Rhonin were already growing thoroughly uncomfortable did Kael'thas finally explain why he had come. "We just contacted the leaders of the various kingdoms. They are very interested in the experiences of you three, particularly His Majesty Terenas of the Kingdom of Lordaeron. He would like to invite you to Lordaeron."
"Invite us?" Aaron paused in surprise. The king's intentions were not difficult to guess. After all, from what Aaron had learned over the past few days, humans generally distrusted mages, so news delivered by mages tended not to be trusted by others.
The king who would one day be hacked to death by his own son probably wanted to hear about the incident firsthand from those involved. After all, it concerned whether the human kingdoms could successfully reclaim Khaz Modan. Although the mages were unlikely to deceive the kingdoms of the Alliance about such a matter, that distrust was deeply rooted in their hearts.
"Then shall we go?" After a brief discussion, none of the three had any intention of declining the invitation.
Aaron wanted to see the old king who would be stabbed to death by his own son with his own eyes. Vereesa was simply curious about a human king. As for Rhonin, a single look from Kael'thas was enough to stop him from expressing any further opinions.
Seeing Kael'thas's attitude, Aaron grew thoughtful. Perhaps Dalaran's Archmages also intended to use this opportunity to ease relations with the other kingdoms. After all, Dalaran was a member of the Alliance. Constant estrangement from the other nations would certainly hinder cooperation.
Once they had decided, Aaron looked at Kael'thas and asked, "Your Highness, when do we leave?"
Kael'thas smiled and said, "Since you have made your decision, we can leave right now. Please follow me this way."
With that, Kael'thas turned and led the three out the door, heading off in a certain direction.
Watching Kael'thas's elegant figure from behind, Aaron suddenly felt that something was off. He turned to Vereesa and asked, "Vereesa, are you not on good terms with the prince?"
Aaron's question was not without reason. In his mind, Kael'thas and Vereesa were both High Elves, so surely they ought to be closer to each other than to a human like him. Yet Kael'thas had clearly spoken more with him earlier, while he and Vereesa had merely exchanged greetings and nothing more.
Hearing Aaron's question, Vereesa first looked up at Kael'thas, then lowered her head and sidled over to Aaron in small steps. In a voice too quiet for Kael'thas to hear, she explained, "His Highness has an exceptional talent for spellcasting. He was a genius from childhood, but... he once pursued my older sister, and then... so he might feel a little awkward when he sees me."
"What?" In his surprise, Aaron nearly cried out. He only knew that Kael'thas had once wanted to pursue Jaina and ultimately failed. He had never expected that he had also pursued Vereesa's older sister.
"Wait, which older sister?" Aaron glanced at Kael'thas. After making sure he had not turned to look at him, he whispered to Vereesa.
"...My second sister." Vereesa first shot Aaron a fierce glare, then answered quietly.
Huh, Kael'thas once pursued Queen Sylvanas and failed? That's really... this prince's love life is pretty miserable. Whoever he pursues turns him down. He's the sole heir to the High Elf royal family, yet he has such a wretched time in this department.
Thinking this, Aaron completely forgot that he had lived two lives and was still single. He was hardly better off than Kael'thas, and could even be called a little worse off.
Following Kael'thas, Aaron suddenly found the scenery on either side of the road familiar. After rounding a corner, he saw a shimmering curtain of light standing beside a wall. Beyond it appeared the image of a magnificent-looking city.
"So we're teleporting there?" Yalu muttered.
Kael'thas finally stopped and pointed at two figures, one old and one young, standing a short distance away. "Allow me to introduce the three of you to Dalaran's most powerful Archmage, Lord Antonidas, and his prized pupil, Lady Jaina."
Aaron was momentarily taken aback upon hearing those two names. Looking up, he indeed saw a white-bearded old man wearing blue mage robes. The old man wore a long blue robe, his thick white beard hanging down over his chest. A faint purple light flickered in his eyes, revealing his mastery of the arcane.
Beside Antonidas stood a little blond girl who looked four or five years old. She held a crude staff, her large, lively eyes moving curiously over the faces of the three visitors.
"Good afternoon, honored guests, and... ahem, Mage Rhonin." Antonidas's aged yet vigorous voice rang out, though he paused when he came to Rhonin. There was no telling just what bad impression Rhonin had left on these Archmages. It seemed that none of them had a good impression of him.
"Prince Kael'thas, Mage Rhonin, Paladin Aaron, Lady Vereesa, good afternoon to you all." Beside him, Jaina politely bent her knees slightly in a curtsy to the group.
Aaron carefully studied the little girl who would become so renowned in the future and found that she was already growing into a graceful young lady. At this point, Jaina was still only a little girl attending school. She had yet to experience the hatreds born of national and family tragedies, and she gave an impression of pure innocence.
Then Aaron turned his gaze to Kael'thas, only to find that the prince showed nothing unusual at the sight of Jaina. It seemed His Highness had no intention of making a move on an underage girl.