"So our dwarven ancestors were made out of stone by the Titans?"
Hemet looked skeptical. The secrets the giantess revealed had overturned everything he knew.
"That's right. All Earthen were created by the great shaper, Lord Khaz'goroth, including myself. Lost travelers, all the secrets lie in the depths of Uldaman."
Looking at the two "little fellows" at her feet, Nablya's exquisite stone face grew wistful. That malformed Earthen turned to flesh reminded her of her brothers and sisters from long ago.
Ironaya and Archaedas, are you doing well?
"Honored Nablya, er, ma'am, could you explain where these crystals came from and what they do?"
Al finally could no longer contain his curiosity and asked.
"Sorry, your clearance is insufficient. I cannot share that knowledge with you," the giantess said regretfully.
"I see..."
Al was not discouraged. After thinking for a long time, he continued.
"Then let me share my guesses. As for whether they're right or wrong, I believe you can give me a definite answer."
"This is the Titans' species laboratory, and you're the observer Lord Khaz'goroth left behind."
An interested look appeared on the giantess Nablya's face. Rather than interrupt the unidentified carbon-based life-form at her feet, she chose to listen quietly.
"There are four kinds of crystals here, corresponding to arcane, life, nature, and time. Could I take that to mean..."
Al looked gravely up at the giantess, watching her expression, then continued:
"The power of these crystals comes from four Titans.
The arcane energy in the blue crystals corresponds to Norgannon, the guardian of celestial magic and knowledge.
The life energy in the red crystals corresponds to Eonar, the Life-Binder.
The power of nature and dreams in the green crystals corresponds to Freya, the high-ranking Titan Keeper created by Lady Eonar.
The power of time in the yellow crystals corresponds to Aman'Thul, the father of the gods.
But here's something curious: why are there no earth crystals blessed by Lord Khaz'goroth?"
Disbelief appeared on Nablya's lovely face, which had remained as still as an ancient well for ten thousand years. Clearly, what this "little fellow" before her had said was the truth.
"Are you a prophet, little one?"
"You flatter me, Lady Nablya. I'm only a lost traveler through time who happens to know a little about the Titans' secrets."
Al slyly held up his pinky to gesture "just a little," then continued.
"Then let's make a bold guess. Lord Khaz'goroth also left behind earth crystals bearing his blessing, but those crystals were destroyed and never spread throughout the testing grounds.
Now, let's think. After Lord Khaz'goroth left Azeroth, who else had the authority to strip away a great Titan's blessing?"
"All right, little one. Since you already know these secrets, let's speak openly."
As she spoke, the giantess gathered her long skirt and sat right down on the ground, facing the two of them.
Hemet: Motherfucker.
Al gestured for Nablya to continue and quietly waited for an answer.
"If you're a prophet, you should know about Neltharion's fall. That corruption is irreversible. The entirety of Khaz'goroth's power has been tainted by parasites of light and darkness.
Anyone who comes into contact with this corrupted power of earth will become bloodthirsty, frenzied, and lose their reason. Neltharion's corrupted offspring are proof. Now, not a single untainted black dragon remains."
Nablya looked sorrowful, as though grieving over that wretched past.
"So you destroyed all those crystals?"
"That's right. Lord Khaz'goroth originally intended to introduce these five-colored crystals into the testing grounds to see whether they could bring forth creatures aligned with order, like the Dragon Aspects. So, to keep those test subjects from being affected, I destroyed all the earth crystals."
A look of relief appeared on Nablya's face.
"Then these crystals?" Al asked in confusion.
"These crystals can promote the evolution of living creatures, giving those that absorb their energy some incredible abilities," Nablya said directly, without keeping him in suspense.
"But... those big guys outside don't seem any different from ordinary beasts."
"I've observed this place for thirty thousand years. Though I hate to admit it, Lord Khaz'goroth's experiment can already be declared a failure."
Al: That settles it. Dinosaurs are all useless trash. No wonder they ended up getting wiped out by a meteor. You were given a chance, and you still couldn't deliver.
"What about the crystals outside?"
"When the gems in the testing grounds are exhausted, this thirty-thousand-year experiment will come to an end. I, too, will fall dormant and await Lord Khaz'goroth's arrival."
Nablya spoke calmly.
"Thank you for answering my questions, honored Keeper."
Al let out a long, emotional sigh and bowed to the giantess before him. Whatever the reasons, enduring solitude and remaining at one's post for thirty thousand years was an extraordinary feat. Someone like that deserved respect.
"There's something I must warn you about."
"Please go ahead, honored Keeper."
"A while ago, a test subject escaped from the testing grounds. It devoured four different kinds of blessed crystals and has become immensely powerful. You must be careful once you leave.
Also, Fire Plume Ridge outside the testing grounds holds secrets of the Titans. Even I have never set foot there. Go and take a look. It will help you."
Nablya looked down at Al at her feet as though looking at her own child, her face gentle as she spoke.
"Mortal, I see limitless possibilities in you. Please make good use of the Titans' blessings..."
"You...?"
Al glanced sheepishly at the "mountain of crystals" Hemet had hidden by the entrance to the great hall. It turned out that this giantess had known his intentions from the moment they entered.
"The Titan is selfless. He blesses every creature that stands on the side of order. I don't wish to perpetuate Lord Khaz'goroth's mistake. So, mortal, stay true to your path. Don't let great power blind you."
"Farewell, little one..." A brilliant smile appeared on Nablya's stone-carved face, and then she slowly sank into the ground.
Al reached out to stop her, but the words on his lips would not come. It felt as though something heavy weighed on his chest.
An unknown amount of time passed.
"Phew."
The boy's expression was complicated, his heart uneasy. Nablya had known that once the crystals were gone, she would fall into eternal dormancy, yet she had given all those blessed gems to Al, whom she had only met by chance.
"So this is what a Titan Keeper is?"
Al walked silently out through the slowly closing doors, not saying a word along the way.
"Lord... Al."
"Hemet, what is it?"
Carrying the "little mountain" on his back, the old dwarf walked ahead of the boy, presenting him with a "towering" back as he spoke quietly:
"Though I don't know what upheavals our world will face, and I don't understand those parasites of light and darkness she mentioned, or that Deathwing fellow and all that.
I do know she passed her hope of living on to you, and it wasn't because she wanted to see you keep moping like this. You must grow stronger, strong enough to take his place and that blasted Khaz'goroth's, to protect our world for them."
Al: That's verging on betraying your teachers and ancestors.
"Ha! Not bad, you old rascal. You've learned to lecture me now?"
Al chuckled, caught up to the old dwarf ahead of him, and slung an arm around his shoulders.
"My lord, where are we going now?"
"I just praised you, and you're already being an idiot again. Obviously, we're going to scour the entire testing grounds for crystals. Haven't those stupid dinosaurs wasted enough of them already?"
Hemet: I'm never dishing out inspirational crap again...
PS: I've always been afraid to devote too much space to Warcraft's backstory because people might call it padding, but some of the setting has to be explained to lay the groundwork for future plotlines. I've made some alterations to the Un'Goro Crater storyline, since Blizz only described Un'Goro as a Titan biological testing ground without giving it much backstory. The broad strokes haven't gone off track, so read on without worry.