Snyder Under Scrutiny

As he watched Vashj and her companions leave, Snyder was overcome with emotion.

Different choices had led to different destinies. Snyder sighed.

Snyder returned to Faletai'an and resumed his work.

"Where did you go just now? I came looking for you, but you weren't here." Maiev walked in.

"I went out to see an old friend. How did you know I'd gone out?"

"You were the one who gave me the magic key to this place. We can tell whenever someone uses the teleporter." Maiev rolled her eyes at Snyder.

"Who did you go to see?"

"Uh, Vashj," Snyder answered after a pause.

"Who? Vashj! Did that woman send her?" Maiev bristled like an angry cat. She grabbed Snyder by the collar and tried to lift him up.

Snyder knew he was in the wrong, so he didn't resist and let Maiev lift him up.

"Calm down first and let me explain," Snyder said soothingly.

"How can you expect me to calm down? That woman was after you even back then."

"Put me down first, and I'll explain everything."

"Fine. You'd better give me a good explanation."

Maiev put Snyder down, then sat in his seat and glared at him angrily.

Looking at his angry lover, Snyder walked over and pulled her into his arms despite her resistance.

Snyder looked at his angry partner in his arms and began explaining everything that had happened.

"So you gave Azshara a necklace?"

"Mm. You could say it was repayment for how she looked after me in Zin-Azshari."

"Ending up like this is punishment enough for them."

"By the way, what does that necklace of yours do? It can't just be an ornament, can it?"

"Uh, it doesn't have any offensive power, but it has the energies of the Well of Eternity and the Titans, so it should have a purifying effect," Snyder said.

"Purifying? How?"

"It should counter the curse the Old Gods placed on them."

"You mean the necklace you gave her can turn her back into what she was before she was cursed?"

"Uh, that's right."

Maiev's expression changed when she heard Snyder's answer. Her face went through a range of expressions before she abruptly pulled him up.

"What are you doing?" Snyder asked.

"Having a baby! I'm going to tie you to me."

"But it's still daytime."

The sun still hung in the sky outside, and the magic lantern inside the room was also glowing.

After throwing Snyder onto the bed, Maiev pulled two daggers from the wrappings around her legs. She threw one at the curtains and the other at the magic lantern on the ceiling.

Darkness instantly engulfed the room. Snyder was stunned by Maiev's sequence of actions.

Perhaps this was a sweet burden.

Elsewhere, Jarod began selecting members for the mission.

He also sent his adjutant to the port city to commission warships.

Jarod was taking a steady, methodical approach. He planned to establish a small outpost in the Eastern Kingdoms to serve as a backup base.

He took out the map of the Eastern Kingdoms that Snyder had given him and began studying where to land and establish the outpost.

Looking at the destination Snyder had marked, he began considering a landing route.

The people Jarod recruited were a diverse bunch, with members of all sorts of professions. Snyder even assigned part of the royal army to assist him.

Inside the room, Jarod finally settled on a landing route and an exploration plan.

"My head maid, how did the mission go?" Azshara asked from her throne.

"My queen, I delivered the gift to Snyder Rain. He asked me to convey his thanks to you," Vashj answered respectfully.

"Very good. Wasn't he surprised that we were still here?"

Azshara asked, but a hint of anticipation could be heard in her voice.

"He thought we were dead and was surprised that we were still here. I told him what happened to us."

"You told him I look like this now!" Azshara rose from her throne, her voice revealing anger and panic.

"Please forgive me, my queen. I didn't mean to tell him. Snyder didn't laugh at us, he just... he just..."

"Just what? Speak!" There was no panic left in Azshara's voice, only anger.

"I just saw pity in his eyes."

Vashj answered.

Boom! A surge of Arcane energy blasted Vashj into the wall.

Vashj's entire body was pinned against the wall, the tremendous force leaving her unable to resist.

Azshara was blinded by rage. She didn't want the person she loved to know she had become like this, but she also wanted him to know she was still alive.

"My queen, please don't be angry. Snyder also gave me a gift to bring you."

Vashj spoke with difficulty. The powerful magic was consuming her, and she could only hope Snyder's gift would save her life.

"Where is it? Give it to me." Hearing that Snyder had sent her a gift, Azshara's anger largely faded, and she released the magic holding Vashj. She felt a hint of anticipation for the gift.

Vashj, who had fallen to the floor, struggled to her feet and took the box containing the necklace out of her magic bag.

"My queen, this is Snyder's gift to you."

Seeing the box in Vashj's hands, Azshara grew even more eager. He used magic to teleport the box into his own hands.

She held the box carefully, cradling it steadily in two hands and opening it with the other two.

A beautiful necklace appeared before Azshara's eyes.

As Azshara looked at the necklace in the box, her love for it was already plain to see.

"What is it called?" Azshara picked up the necklace.

"Aikatelle's Devotion," Vashj said.

"Aikaite'er's Devotion? It seems Aikaite'er is the name of his kingdom. But as for the devotion, I wonder if it means he's devoted to me."

With that, Azshara shook her head and added self-mockingly, "I've become like this. I'm no longer worthy of his devotion."

"Vashj, I'm very happy." Azshara cast a spell to heal Vashj's injuries, enveloping her in warm healing energy.

Feeling the healing energy, Vashj knew she had survived and breathed a sigh of relief.

"All right, go out. I want to try on this necklace." After healing Vashj, Azshara dismissed her, then he put on the necklace.

"As you wish." Vashj was about to leave, but then stopped.

She saw something impossible happen.

When Azshara put on the necklace, its effect was triggered.

A pure white light enveloped Azshara and began purifying the Old Gods' curse on her.

When the light faded, Azshara, Light of Lights, had returned.

"Don't tell anyone what happened today," Azshara said, struggling to contain her joy.

"Now I have another chance to compete for you."

There was a line of small writing beneath the necklace: "Though we have taken different paths, we still wish you well, our Eternal Queen, Light of Lights."