A Sudden Upheaval

"It's been a long time, Snyder," the four Elemental Lords said to Snyder as he arrived.

"It looks like you've been living well here." Snyder could sense that the place was brimming with elemental power. Even the nearby beasts had been affected by the elements, their bodies containing varying amounts of elemental power.

If things continued this way, in a few thousand years, animals possessing elemental power would be born on the Helidos Continent.

"Of course! This place is far better than the Elemental Plane the Titans created," Ragnaros's avatar said loudly.

The other three Elemental Lords all agreed with Ragnaros.

"Of course, it would be even better if these three eyesores stayed farther away from me." As expected, Ragnaros did not disappoint Snyder. That one remark earned him the hostility of the other Elemental Lords.

The other three all thought to themselves, You should be grateful we put up with you. You spend all day picking fights with one of us and bullying another. It's good enough that we've managed to keep ourselves from attacking you, and now you're complaining about us?

"That's impossible. You might as well give up on that idea now." Snyder rejected Ragnaros's request.

"All right, I came here to train. We can catch up after I'm finished."

Snyder interrupted the Elemental Lords before they could continue complaining. He found a place where elemental power was relatively abundant, sat down cross-legged, and entered a meditative state.

Seeing Snyder enter meditation, the other Elemental Lords stopped arguing and returned to their respective homes.

Soon, Snyder was the only elf left there. It was so quiet that all he could hear was the sound of water, wind, crackling flames, and grains of soil rubbing against one another as the wind stirred them up.

Snyder entered his consciousness space, which was connected to the will of Azeroth.

"You're here, my child. It's been a long time. It looks like you've been doing well." A figure appeared in Snyder's consciousness space.

"Not bad, I suppose. At least things have been going well lately," Snyder replied as the familiar figure appeared before him.

"You look a little tired. Have you run into some trouble?"

"Yes, I have run into a few problems."

"Is it that poor person cursed by N'Zoth?"

"How did you know?"

"You live on my body. I know your every move," the figure said, stroking Snyder's head.

Snyder felt his fatigue and worries vanish.

"You don't need to worry too much. Just follow your heart, especially when it comes to friends of the opposite sex."

"I've already made up my mind. I won't let something like this hold me back." Snyder's words were firm. He had already decided how to handle the matter.

"As long as you have a plan. What brings you here?"

"It's been a long time since I trained. I feel like I've been slacking off."

"You've already done well. You're still young, so there's no need to push yourself so hard. Sometimes enjoying life is a way of living too," the will of Azeroth said. She liked Snyder's diligence, but sometimes being too diligent could hinder his growth.

"I've become a king. Protecting my people is my responsibility. Heavy is the head that wears the crown," Snyder said to the will of Azeroth. His eyes were perfectly clear, untainted by power.

Looking into Snyder's clear eyes, the will of Azeroth said no more. She could only praise herself for choosing a representative who gave her so little cause for worry.

He was so outstanding. He had not become a slave to power, but held it firmly in his grasp.

"Then, as you wish." The will of Azeroth waved her hand and brought Snyder into her own space, where his will would be tempered.

Let us leave Snyder aside for now and turn to Jarod and Naisha.

After a night's rest, the two prepared to go to Faletai'an and see how the guardian tree was doing.

They walked along the road to Faletai'an in ordinary clothes, looking just like an ordinary Eternal Elf couple.

Watching the Eternal Elves coming and going, Jarod could not help feeling that time really could heal all wounds.

Compared to ten years ago, the elves here were no longer affected by their magic addiction.

Faledor really had cured the Eternal Elves' magic addiction. The Withered no longer existed.

Watching the elves coming and going in the streets, Jarod believed that, given a little more time, things would become even better here.

Before they knew it, the two had drawn close to where Faledor stood.

Snyder had not isolated Faledor, instead allowing him to interact with the Eternal Elf populace. On one hand, he wanted Faledor to better understand his mission; on the other, he wanted to convey that those in power had not separated themselves from the people and would stand with them through good times and bad.

"Halt! The guardian tree Faledor is ahead. If you want to approach him, you'll need to submit to an inspection."

The guards protecting Faledor stopped Jarod and Naisha. Snyder had put this measure in place to keep Faledor safe.

Neither resisted. They knew this was a necessary checkpoint. The guards used magic to check whether Jarod and Naisha had anything on them that might endanger Faledor.

After a while, the guards finished their inspection and signaled that the two could enter.

"Let's go." Jarod took Naisha's hand and walked inside.

Naisha did not refuse, letting Jarod take her hand.

The two saw Faledor in the center. He was answering an elf's questions. After receiving his answers, the elf thanked Faledor and left, leaving only Naisha and Jarod there.

"Hello. What questions can I help you with?" Faledor looked like a kindly old tree grandfather with a smile on his face.

"We don't have any questions. I came to ask for your blessing," Jarod said to Faledor.

"A blessing for what? Come here and tell me quietly." Faledor waved a large hand made of branches at Jarod, beckoning him over.

Jarod went over. Naisha, beside him, was puzzled, but said nothing. She planned to ask Jarod later.

Jarod approached Faledor and told him what the blessing was for in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Hahaha, I give you my blessing. This is for you. It will help you when you need it," Faledor said with a laugh. A leaf fell, and Faledor handed it to Jarod.

Jarod put the magic leaf away safely and thanked Faledor.

"What's that in your shirt?" Faledor asked, pointing at the bulge on Jarod's chest.

"This?" Jarod took the Silver Hand from Tyr's Tomb out from inside his shirt.

Just then, the Silver Hand shone with dazzling light. A figure emerged from it: none other than the vanished Keeper Tyr!

Snyder, who was training, also sensed the change in Faletai'an and woke from his cultivation.