Blade of the Highborne

As a political outsider, Charlemagne certainly could not fathom Aoxisi's thoughts. He merely had a vague sense that the man did not seem intent on retiring completely.

But judging by what he had observed and the information his mentor had provided, the situation within the Silvermoon Council seemed rather troubling.

Dar'Khan's influence had grown ever greater in recent years. His radical approach was difficult for the moderates to accept, and even members of his own faction seemed somewhat estranged from him beneath their outward accord. At the very least, there was no sign of the unspoken understanding one would expect between those three allies.

According to the original course of history, the Silvermoon Council as a whole should not have suffered any major upheaval before the Undead Scourge arrived, at least. But its usual undermining of the royal family was unavoidable.

Just as Charlemagne finished observing the Silvermoon Council and was about to look away, Dar'Khan suddenly turned a piercing gaze toward him, seemingly aware that someone was watching him. Upon seeing that it was Charlemagne, he gave him a gentle smile and nodded.

What sharp instincts! He noticed me even though I was only watching him out of the corner of my eye. This fellow was probably already in the upper stages of the eighth circle, not far from epic...

Though startled inwardly, Charlemagne still nodded politely to Dar'Khan. Looking around while the king spouted nonsense was hardly unusual, and observing the rarely seen Silvermoon Council was not enough to arouse Dar'Khan's suspicions.

At the very least, Sylvanas was also studying the plump councilor from the Flameglow family with interest as he kept wiping away his sweat...

Now that he had been noticed, Charlemagne could hardly keep looking in that direction. Yet Anasterian's impassioned nonsense continued. At the height of his enthusiasm, he even raised a fist and waved it, though few below the platform responded.

An unusually muscular elf standing behind the king caught Charlemagne's attention.

He was probably a warrior, an extreme rarity among the High Elves. Judging by his practiced, flawless movements and the sharp eyes that constantly scanned his surroundings, he was likely a very high-ranking warrior.

"That man is Salorian Dawnseeker, captain of the royal guard. His Majesty the Sun King bestowed Quel'Delar, the Blade of the Highborne, upon him. He has protected His Majesty for thousands of years and is a heroic warrior through and through."

The one explaining this to Charlemagne was his mentor, Lireesa. The ranger-general stood in the foremost position beside him.

After hearing his mentor's explanation, Charlemagne nodded lightly in understanding.

Salorian Dawnseeker, one of the few heroic warriors among the High Elves, and the current wielder of Quel'Delar.

Many people probably knew little about the name Salorian, but the sword Quel'Delar was quite famous.

The high elven dragon-forged blades, also known as the Blade of the Highborne, were two enchanted swords forged by the dragons and personally passed to the Highborne by the Red Dragon Queen, Alexstrasza the Life-Binder.

Quel'Delar was one of the Highborne's sister blades. The other was the renowned Quel'Serrar.

The two sister blades bestowed upon the Highborne had met different fates. Dath'Remar had taken Quel'Delar along when he crossed the sea eastward, and it had been passed down among the High Elves ever since. Without exception, each successive wielder had been one of the most outstanding warriors among the High Elves.

No one yet knew Quel'Serrar's whereabouts, but Charlemagne, a transmigrator, clearly remembered that the sword was currently in Dire Maul, or rather, the city of Eldre'Thalas.

After Tyrande and Malfurion expelled the Highborne all those years ago, the several branches that scattered had each come to face different circumstances.

First were the High Elves who now called themselves the Quel'dorei. They were one of the larger branches, and needed no further elaboration.

Next were the inhabitants of Suramar, who still lived within their barrier. They now called themselves the Shal'dorei-the Nightborne-and had survived on the magic provided by the Nightwell, which had been created using the Eye of Aman'Thul, one of the Pillars of Creation left behind by the titans, as its source of power.

Suramar, located in the Broken Isles, had yet to suffer any interference from the outside world. An enormous barrier still shrouded the entire city, and its people continued to live peaceful lives... for the time being.

Another branch of Highborne, known as the Shen'dralar, lived in the ancient city of Eldre'Thalas in Feralas, on Kalimdor. Quel'Serrar was kept by their leader, Prince Tortheldrin.

Like the Shen'dralar, who had now begun drawing on demonic energy, the sword had lost its former splendor. Charlemagne did know how to restore its past glory, but it was far too early to discuss that now.

For Charlemagne, who was committed to strengthening the High Elves, both the Shen'dralar still clinging to life in Eldre'Thalas and the Nightborne of Suramar were powerful allies he had to make every effort to win over.

The Shen'dralar's leader, Prince Tortheldrin, had already lost his mind. Discussing serious matters with him was impossible, and Charlemagne was not currently confident he could defeat the fellow either...

He had already noted a trip to Eldre'Thalas in his little notebook, but he had no intention of going there to get himself killed before he was confident he could deal with the demon Immol'thar and Prince Tortheldrin.

The Nightborne were even more troublesome. Their powerful barrier was still operating, completely cutting them off from the outside world. One could leave, but not enter.

Apart from a handful of Nightborne who had been exiled after losing political struggles and become Nightfallen, there was simply no way to make contact with them.

There was also that group of Highborne... ghosts, who likewise lived in the Broken Isles, in Azsuna. But Charlemagne doubted whether they could even leave Azsuna, and had no intention of recruiting them until he understood the situation.

As Charlemagne stared blankly at Salorian, lost in thought, a sudden chill jolted him awake. Salorian had noticed him and swept a piercing glance over him.

But upon seeing Charlemagne's unfocused eyes, Salorian realized the lad had been daydreaming. He did not dwell on it and looked away again.

Salorian Dawnseeker. After being jolted from his thoughts, Charlemagne recalled what would later befall this elf.

The Scourge breached Silvermoon City under Arthas's command. After King Anasterian fell in battle, Salorian learned of Arthas's ultimate objective-the Sunwell.

After he led the surviving defenders back to the Sunwell and destroyed the portal leading there, the Scourge attacked Quel'Danas across the sea, eventually landing on the island and launching their assault.

Salorian knew that, with the troops available at the time, there was no way to stop the vast Scourge army on such short notice. To preserve their strength, he ordered all his subordinates to retreat and went alone to the entrance of the Isle of Quel'Danas, using his own life to form a defensive line and buy time for his troops.

Heaven lay to the left, warriors went to the right.

Salorian lived those words with his own life. Yet although his heroic sacrifice bought time for the High Elves... the outcome still could not be changed.

The Sunwell was breached and corrupted. Quel'Delar, the Blade of the Highborne, was also destroyed with the fall of its final wielder, Lana'thel, and ultimately vanished entirely from the High Elves' sight.

(End of chapter)