The Founding of the Kingdom

The four Elemental Lords released from the Elemental Plane felt a freedom they had not known in ages.

Ever since the Titans had sealed them in the Elemental Plane, they had not appeared on Azeroth for a long time.

"This is the place I chose for you to live. You can use your powers to reshape it. It will also serve as a place where Shamans can cultivate in seclusion."

At Snyder's words, the four Elemental Lords' avatars signaled to one another and began reshaping the mountain.

The Fire Elemental Lord plunged into a lava pool deep within the mountain, the Water Elemental Lord became a cascading waterfall, the Elemental Lord of Air summoned many clouds to shroud the peak, and the Earth Elemental Lord merged into the mountain itself.

Thus was born the sacred mountain that Shamans would later call the place closest to the elements.

With his work there done, Snyder returned to Neverfall Fortress in Faletai'an.

The fortress had been built to protect Faledor. It was also where Snyder lived, and would become the palace where he later ascended the throne.

The fortress surrounded Faledor and extended a long way outward. It was also known as Faletai'an's city within a city.

A month later, Snyder, who had already ascended the throne, was seeing off Fandral Staghelm and the other departing Druids in the port city of Dankfort.

"Thank you for your help to the kingdom, Fandral."

"It was what I should have done. We gained a great deal from the experience as well." Fandral Staghelm and the Druids who had accompanied him had also been struck by the surge of energy during the celebration, and their strength had increased to varying degrees.

"Your Majesty, I have a question I hope you can answer."

"Go ahead."

"Why didn't you have the Green Dragon Queen open a passage to the Emerald Dream here? It would greatly help the Druids grow in strength."

"The kingdom has just been founded, and this continent has only just been raised. I need the Druids to work with the Shamans to establish a connection with the nature and elements here."

"And they are the first Druids. They have a heavy burden to bear, and I can't let them fall into a long slumber."

"Besides, I hope they can enter the Emerald Dream on their own instead of relying on the green dragons' power."

Fandral Staghelm fell silent. In Kalimdor, Druids relied on the green dragons' power to enter the Emerald Dream. Entering it on their own would take a very long time of cultivation. He could not understand why anyone would refuse a shortcut, especially one with no consequences.

"All right, Fandral, it's time for you to go. A storm is coming."

Snyder used the power of the elements to sense the Great Sea. The wind and water elementals told him a storm was approaching.

Snyder raised a hand and bestowed a blessing on Fandral Staghelm's fleet to keep it from being affected by the storm.

"Thank you for your blessing, and thank you for your hospitality these past days."

Fandral Staghelm thanked him, then boarded the ships with the other Druids and began the journey home.

Aboard the ships.

Fandral Staghelm watched the continent recede into the distance, his mind filled with thoughts, until the fleet sailed out of Hailidos's territorial waters. Hailidos vanished completely from his sight, even when he used the power of nature to sense it.

He took out the communication crystal Snyder had given him as payment for his teaching. Through the crystal, he could obtain aid from Aikaite'er.

After seeing Fandral Staghelm off, Snyder returned to Neverfall Fortress and began dealing with the accumulated affairs of state.

"Your Majesty, Queen Maiev is here."

A royal Spellbreaker guard came in to report.

Maiev entered in a splendid gown. Since becoming queen, Maiev wore gowns except when she was on a mission, when she wore armor. Even so, she wore a layer of close-fitting soft armor beneath her gowns, and the ornament in her hair became a deadly weapon when pulled out.

"What brings you here to see me today?" Snyder asked.

"Can't I come unless something's the matter?" Maiev teased him.

"Of course not. I was just surprised, yes, very surprised," Snyder hurriedly explained.

Maiev laughed at his flustered reaction.

Seeing her expression, Snyder realized she had been teasing him. He pulled her into his arms.

Before Maiev could react, Snyder had embraced her.

"Why are you still wearing soft armor?" Snyder asked, giving Maiev's waist a squeeze.

"I've had this habit for many years. I can't break it," Maiev said proudly.

"All right, enough fooling around. What did you come to see me about?" Snyder asked, holding Maiev.

"The Watchers have finished their training. Their base and the prison have been established in a valley near Faletai'an."

Maiev spoke slowly, nestled against her lover's chest.

"Mm, the founding of the Watchers and the establishment of the prison will be a great help when we enact laws. Laws are indispensable when a kingdom has just been founded."

"By the way, now that the kingdom is on the right track, shouldn't Jarod go investigate that place you mentioned?"

Maiev suddenly remembered Snyder telling her back then that he wanted Jarod to go on a mission.

"Mm, I'd have forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it. In a month, then. I'll first select the people who'll take part in the investigation."

"After all, that place is extremely dangerous."

Snyder's expression turned serious.

"All right, Jarod will take care of everything. There's another very important matter."

"What is it? Are resources being distributed unevenly, or is there somewhere Faledor's influence hasn't reached?"

Snyder stood up from his stool, and Maiev, who was in his arms, was startled by the sudden movement.

"No, everything in the kingdom is being established in an orderly manner," Maiev said, looking at Snyder reproachfully.

"Then what is it that's more important than those things?"

Snyder looked puzzled.

"The kingdom has been founded, but its monarch has no heir. Isn't that important?" Maiev's expression grew even more reproachful as she spoke.

"Ah, well, that's not something we can have just because we want it," Snyder said awkwardly.

"At my current level of strength, leaving offspring is rather difficult. After all, the greater one's strength, the less likely one is to have offspring," Snyder explained to Maiev.

Though Snyder kept explaining, Maiev clearly did not believe him.

"It's only less likely, not impossible. If we try a few more times, we'll have one." Heaven knew how much courage it had taken Maiev to say that. Her ears turned red, letting Snyder know how embarrassed she was to say it.

"Then let's try another day, another day," Snyder said, preparing to resume dealing with state affairs.

"I don't want another day. I want today!" Maiev said. Then she pulled out a teleportation crystal and took Snyder with her as she teleported to the bedroom.

A new day began.

Snyder emerged from the bedroom with a hand on his lower back. Heaven knew what he had been through the night before.

"Have Captain Jarod come see me," Snyder said to the guard at the door as he reached the office.