The Opening

"Mistress, what is it?"

Naisha had just finished handling the teleportation from Darnassus when Maiev summoned her.

"Is the teleportation complete?" Maiev asked.

"Yes. The Shaman troops have built enough houses, and the civilians have been given shelter. The Warrior and mage troops are also stationed outside Suramar City."

"Good. Assemble ten thousand mages and twenty thousand Warriors in the square. Naisha, the nobles of Eldre'Thalas and Suramar are planning an operation against the Water of Eternity."

Naisha was shocked to hear the news. They actually dared to steal Snyder's things? Were they tired of living? Snyder was known as Kalimdor's little tyrant.

"Yes, Mistress. Should we put out a citywide warrant for them?"

"No need. Since they want it, we'll give it to them. Let's see whether they live long enough to take it."

"My lady, Prince Tortheldrin requests an audience."

"What is he doing here? Let him in."

Maiev wondered why Prince Tortheldrin had come, but she decided to see him anyway.

"Lady Maiev, I have important news to report."

"Oh? What news?"

"The conservative nobles of Eldre'Thalas and Suramar are preparing a joint rebellion. I have been watching them for a long time."

As he spoke, Prince Tortheldrin took out a book containing detailed information on the people taking part in the rebellion.

Maiev was startled by Prince Tortheldrin's words. It seemed Snyder had judged him well. What Prince Tortheldrin said was roughly the same as what Arluin had told her, and Maiev formed a plan.

"Prince Tortheldrin, can we trust you?"

"I am loyal to Lord Snyder."

Prince Tortheldrin immediately knelt to pledge his loyalty. Seeing this, Maiev nodded.

"Get up. Go to Moon Guard Stronghold now. There is a force of Moon Guard there, and I've already sent someone to recruit them. They are under your command now."

"Understood, my lady," Prince Tortheldrin replied, struggling to contain his excitement. He knew his initial move had worked. As long as he carried out the next task well, he could achieve his goal.

The three of them made a plan in the room. Elisande would gather the elves of Suramar, and Maiev would announce that she would use a crystal of the Water of Eternity to create a magical field to save the Withered.

At the same time, they would put out bait for the nobles. They believed the nobles would be unable to resist the temptation of the crystal, and the troops under Naisha's command would deliberately leave an opening for them to make their move.

Finally, the Moon Guard under Prince Tortheldrin's command would stand guard. The Hand of the Bright Moon would prevent things from getting out of control.

"You may all leave. Proceed according to plan."

"Lady Maiev, Lady Elisande requests an audience."

"I'm sorry, Lady Maiev. I was held up by some matters just now and couldn't come sooner. Please forgive me."

"It's all right. I need you to gather the elves of Suramar. I have an announcement to make."

"What is it, my lady?" Elisande asked.

"You'll find out when the time comes. Go gather the elves now."

Seeing that Maiev did not want to say more, Elisande did not press her and went to carry out her orders.

"Mistress, this is what Elisande just discussed with her two advisers," one of Maiev's trusted members of the Sisterhood reported to her.

She was a spy Maiev had sent out to gather news from the various factions in Suramar City.

Let us go back to when Elisande had just received her orders.

"All right, I'll go now."

After receiving Maiev's orders, Elisande was preparing to go see her.

"Lady Elisande, there's something I need to discuss with you," Elisande's advisers, Vandros and Melandrus, said as they approached her.

"What is it? Wait until I get back. Lady Maiev is looking for me."

"No, Lady Elisande. This concerns Suramar's safety." The two stopped Elisande.

"What has you two in such a hurry?"

"My lady, are you really going to serve under Snyder?" Adviser Vandros spoke first.

"Yes. If we join him, the people of Suramar can receive the safest treatment, and the Withered can recover."

"My lady, we have the Eye of Aman'Thul. We can try to create a fount to replace the Well of Eternity. There's no need to surrender command of our troops and join him."

"So that's why you came to me, isn't it? You don't want to give up power. I understand. We can develop an alternative energy source, but how many more Withered will Suramar have by the time it's ready?"

Elisande was getting angry.

In the eyes of those nobles, commoners were expendable. Even the magic crystals Elisande had brought out to treat the commoners had been divided up among the nobles, while the Withered had all been taken away and secretly disposed of by the nobles' private soldiers.

Advisers Vandros and Melandrus wanted to say more, but seeing Elisande's expression, they held back.

"This is not up for discussion."

With that, Elisande walked away.

"What do we do? Lady Elisande won't join us," Melandrus said.

"Let's go to the nobles. As long as we capture Maiev, Snyder will surely submit," Vandros said.

The two headed toward the secret room where the gathering had been held that day, unaware that two shadowy figures were following them.

Some time later, a crowd of elves gathered in Suramar's square, summoned there by Elisande.

"I've gathered everyone here today because Lady Maiev has something to tell you."

When Elisande finished speaking, she stepped back to let Maiev come forward.

The elves below were astonished. Usually, Elisande and her followers were the ones up there giving orders.

They did not know what this unfamiliar leader intended to do.

"My name is Maiev Shadowsong. I know what you need: an abundant source of magical energy. You don't want your families to become Withered."

"This is the new source of energy Snyder Rain has brought you." As she spoke, Maiev tossed the crystal containing water from the Well of Eternity into the air.

Maiev said no more. At a time like this, doing more was far more effective than saying more.

The mage troops below Maiev immediately cast a spell, creating a pillar of magical light. The crystal floated within the pillar and was activated by the magical energy inside it.

The light produced by the activated crystal enveloped all of Suramar City, including the settlements built by the people of Eldre'Thalas and Darnassus outside the city.

The elves below were enveloped by the magical energy and instantly felt their vigor return. Those who were close to becoming Withered also began to recover. Everyone immersed themselves in it, as though they had returned to the days when the Well of Eternity still existed.

"Long live Snyder Rain!" Prince Tortheldrin was the first to shout, suppressing his astonishment at the crystal containing water from the Well of Eternity.

The elves below soon took up the cry, their cheers growing louder and louder.

The eyes of the elves below were full of life. They had finally gained a ruler who knew what the people at the bottom needed.

The eyes of the nobles plotting rebellion were also filled with greed, and they headed for their meeting place.

Maiev watched the nobles gradually leave below and sneered inwardly.

The show had begun.