Blessing

Early the next morning, Snyder Rain led his own army, the Hand of the Bright Moon (meaning "the purest army"), to the summit of Mount Hyjal.

The entire army wore silver armor and consisted of warriors, Shamans personally taught by Snyder, and mages. Its battle standard bore a fierce white tiger. This force represented the pinnacle of Night Elf military might. Every soldier possessed a powerful physique and could fight ten opponents alone (you do know what plate-armored Shamans and melee mages are, right?).

"Greetings, Lord Snyder!" A Night Elf ran over.

"It looks like you're well suited to being a general. How's your injury, Jarod?" Snyder praised Jarod as he looked at the orderly, sharp-looking troops.

"I'm much better. But I'd rather live freely than be a general," Jarod replied. Snyder naturally knew that his brother-in-law had no interest in power or status, yet heaven had also given him an unparalleled talent for military command. Thus, a born general who yearned for freedom had come into being.

"If your sister agrees, I'll let you go." With that, Snyder continued on his way, leaving Jarod alone. An image appeared in Jarod's mind: Maiev was hunting him down with a wheel-shaped moonblade in hand. He shuddered as unpleasant childhood memories came back to him. Realizing he could never persuade his sister, he gave a rueful smile and hurried after Snyder.

A long time later, near the summit of Mount Hyjal,

Jarod, who had held his question in all the way, finally asked it.

"Brother-in-law, are we really leaving?" Jarod looked at Snyder, who was dozing atop a rock tiger shaped with elemental power. Snyder neither opened his eyes nor answered. After a while, Snyder opened his eyes and fixed his golden gaze on Jarod.

"Leaving is inevitable. Only by leaving can we find a new destiny." With that, Snyder went to the summit alone, while Jarod ordered the troops to rest where they were and await his return.

On the way to the summit, the guards on watch saluted Snyder one after another, and he returned each salute. His body did so, at least; his mind was occupied with the conversation he had just had with the elements.

"Little Snyder, I've already determined the coordinates of that land. When you cast your spell, I'll help you raise it," Therazane the Stone Mother said.

"The Water Elementals will guide you there," Neptulon the Tidehunter quickly added.

"Your fleet will be blessed by the wind, and the skies will be clear throughout the voyage," Al'Akir the Wind Rider added.

"Then my thanks to you all. I'll keep my promise."

"This is unfair! Boy, you're insulting the great Firelord Ragnaros!" Ragnaros the Firelord's voice boomed like thunder. (In this book's setting, the Elemental Lords were born of the Will of Azeroth. They were not allied with the Old Gods; they only joined them because they lost when the Old Gods first arrived.)

"Ragnaros, your fire elementals are of no use in the deep sea," Neptulon said, his voice full of mockery.

"That's right, Ragnaros. Your fire is completely useless in water," Therazane said as well.

"You fire elementals have already gained plenty from the war," even the reclusive Al'Akir couldn't help retorting. (In this setting, the Elemental Lords needed Shamans to slowly increase their power.)

Snyder withdrew from the elemental space, partly because he didn't want to listen to the elements quarrel and partly because he had reached the summit.

At the summit, the small Well of Eternity that Illidan had created with water from the original Well shone brightly. But the elves around it no longer held the reverence they once had for the Well of Eternity. All that remained was confusion over its creation and fear that it would draw the Burning Legion back again.

"You're here, Snyder," Malfurion said, watching Snyder approach.

"Greetings, everyone." Snyder bowed to the leaders present, and everyone around him, including the Dragon Aspects, returned his greeting.

Seeing that Snyder had arrived, Malfurion prepared to begin the blessing ceremony.

"Wait, Malfurion. I'd like it to take part in the ceremony too." Snyder interrupted Malfurion and took out the seed Maiev had prepared for him.

The oak seed radiated a magical aura, and elemental patterns marked its surface. When Maiev gave him the seed yesterday, Snyder had blessed it with elemental power. (Snyder's strength was equal to a demigod's.)

Snyder's words stunned everyone present, and they all had questions.

"Why bless it, Snyder? I need an explanation." Malfurion was already growing angry. He couldn't understand Snyder's actions.

"Malfurion, I'm going to lead the people of Suramar City, Eldre'Thalas, and Darnassus away from here," Snyder said slowly. (Suramar City had not been hidden, and the Nightwell had not been created.)

Malfurion was still trying to digest this shocking news, but Tyrande, who stood beside him, could no longer contain herself. "Snyder Rain, you're splitting our people apart!"

"The split began long ago. It began when you sealed off this Little Well of Eternity and refused to let the remaining Highborne absorb its magic."

Tyrande was about to retort, but Snyder stopped her.

"Don't tell me you'll open this place after the tree has grown and let the Highborne continue studying magic. You don't dare set that precedent, and the Wild Gods wouldn't allow it either. Otherwise, why can't I see the Spellweaver among the Dragon Aspects?" Snyder's words silenced everyone. The Dragonflights in particular had been enjoying the spectacle, only to suddenly become its subject.

"Mortal, Malygos, the Aspect of the Blue, has been somewhat confused since Deathwing's betrayal. That is why he is absent from this blessing," said Alexstrasza, the Life-Binder and Aspect of the Red.

Beside the Aspect of the Red, Nozdormu, the Bronze Dragon Aspect, watched Snyder, his thoughts unknown, while the Aspect of the Green still looked half asleep.

"That's enough. Stop arguing. We're only adding one more seed to the blessing." Malfurion, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up and stopped Tyrande from retorting to Snyder again.

"One more seed won't matter," Nozdormu, the Bronze Dragon Aspect, said. Beside him, Alexstrasza, the Aspect of the Red, also nodded. The Aspect of the Green, meanwhile, remained drowsy.

"Thank you all for understanding." Snyder bowed in thanks.

"Then let's begin the blessing." With that, the Aspect of the Red took out a seed. It was a seed from Gani, the mother tree where the raven demigod lived. She then tossed it into the sky. Seeing the ceremony begin, Snyder tossed the Seed of Elements up as well. (This has been changed so that the seeds were blessed before being planted, since there were two of them.)

Meanwhile, in Darnassus, many unfamiliar faces had arrived in the city.