Sylvanas

In the thin, warm sunlight, Kael'thas rode a white Hawkstrider in good spirits, traveling along a neat, level road with many rangers and mages.

They were heading to the front in the lower right of the Ghostlands. With the sudden increase in Troll military activity, Kael'sala had finally sent him to the front as well, a day after leaving himself.

This was something Kael'thas had long anticipated, and he had also received a new quest: Reach the Sanctum of the Sun.

"Reach the Sanctum of the Sun: Reach the command post on the front lines, the Sanctum of the Sun!"

It was a very simple quest, but it looked as though it would lead to many different quests afterward.

With the phoenix resting on his shoulder, its eyes narrowed, Kael'thas happily felt the wind caress him. The winds blowing inland from the sea behind them still carried the ocean's fresh scent, which was very pleasant.

"Your Highness, with me here, I won't let you get hurt!!"

A voice came from beside him. Kael'thas turned to look at him with some exasperation-the Warrior named Audilon Firewing.

"I know. You've already said that twelve times..."

When they met last time, Kael'thas hadn't expected this guy to be such a chatterbox.

They had only been out of Windrunner Spire for half an hour, and Audilon had already declared his intention to protect Kael'thas twelve times and given him twenty pieces of combat advice on top of that. Kael'thas felt as though his head might burst.

Buddy, can't you be quiet for a bit...

He muttered and picked up his pace.

"Where does that road lead?"

The group headed right and passed a fork. Kael'thas pointed at the other road, which ran straight down, and asked Audilon, who was still chattering away.

"That road leads to the human kingdoms."

Audilon finally stopped talking and answered Kael'thas's question. "Our territory is surrounded by mountains. That's the only road leading to the outside world."

"The border at the very bottom is also the boundary of our magical barrier."

As he spoke, he seemed to be having trouble stopping himself.

"But don't worry, Your Highness. The humans over there are our allies, and there are guards posted there too. There's no danger!"

"And to the left of this road is our border fortress, Deatholme. Believe me, Your Highness, it's very sturdy..."

So this is the Thalassian Pass?

Kael'thas tuned out the rest of what Audilon was saying as it dawned on him. The reason he hadn't recognized it was that the actual road was too big, more than ten meters wide. It didn't look anything like the path in the game.

As for Deatholme being sturdy, Kael'thas reserved judgment. He knew full well how vulnerable it was in the face of a powerful enemy. In the game's future, it would even become the Undead Scourge's main base for destroying Quel'Thalas.

Is Dar'Khan there now?

A chill flashed through his eyes as Kael'thas searched his memory. Unfortunately, he had no recollection of where the traitor was at this time.

After passing the Andilien Estate, the group arrived safely at the Sanctum of the Sun.

It was the primary command post directly responsible for the front against the Trolls. Arriving here meant they had reached the front lines.

"Ding..."

"You have completed the quest Reach the Sanctum of the Sun and gained 2,000 experience points!"

Sure enough, for simple quests like this one that only required him to travel across the map, the system didn't give Kael'thas much experience.

"Huh? Where's our commander? Why aren't we going to report in?"

Kael'thas came back to his senses and looked in confusion at the group, none of whom had moved.

"Your Highness, she's already gone in..."

A high-ranking adult mage turned back and smiled at Kael'thas as he spoke, clearing up the confusion of many of the other young people there as well.

So she got here before us.

Everyone, including Kael'thas, thought the same thing.

Poor Aqiang...

Kael'thas began looking around. They were now in the square in front of the Sanctum of the Sun, along with many other elves.

Most of these elves stood together, serious and solemn, but quite a few newcomers with uneasy, bewildered eyes were mixed in among them.

"It looks like the Trolls' offensive is a big one this time..."

Audilon glanced at the recruits and spoke somewhat gravely.

"A lot of newcomers have gone to the battlefield this time. I hope the losses won't be too heavy!"

Because of their limited population, the High Elves had always placed great importance on training recruits. Generally, they would not send them straight to the front before they had been adequately trained.

So, just by looking at their eyes, one could tell that many young elves here had not received enough training!

At that thought, Audilon couldn't help casting another admiring glance at Kael'thas.

This gallant prince was younger than everyone present, yet the look in his eyes was completely different from those newcomers', full of confidence and optimism.

Worthy of being our prince!

As he thought this, he couldn't help feeling a surge of fervor.

Many other High Elves were looking at Kael'thas with the same thoughts. They knew the prince, but this was their first time seeing his bearing.

Kael'thas, however, was already accustomed to being watched. He sat at ease on his white Hawkstrider, wearing a brightly colored mage's robe, his smooth golden hair falling down his back and an ordinary sword glowing red at his waist.

The young prince looked straight ahead, the corners of his mouth slightly raised. There was nothing solemn about his face; he looked as relaxed as if he were taking a stroll. With the golden phoenix on his shoulder, its body wreathed in flames, he seemed like a little sun in the square, radiating an air of confidence and optimism.

This is how we High Elves ought to carry ourselves...

Watching Kael'thas, the young elves felt the pride in their bones stir and slowly came to this thought. One by one, their bewilderment faded.

What no one knew was that the only reason Kael'thas wasn't nervous was that he had yet to truly recognize the reality of this world. The system had made him what he was, but it had also made him feel as though he were in a game...

"The bearing of a born king. Who could compare to him?"

In the distance, Alleria quietly led her group inside. Looking at the youth shining like sunlight in the square, she suddenly sighed.

At his age... such a gallant bearing... even I can't compare...

Sylvanas, perhaps only you can compare to him.

"Your Highness..."

At that moment, Liadrin also spotted Kael'thas. She cried out in surprise and started forward, delighted.

"Don't go over there! Do you want to die?"

Alleria immediately stopped her and warned her.

"Stay here if you don't want to die..."

Her pupils had contracted in disbelief because she had seen someone appear. It was also because of this person that Kael'thas didn't notice Liadrin.

"I look forward to working with you. I'm your new commander, Sylvanas!"

A clear, teasing voice rang out.

Kael'thas stared dumbfounded...

At the smiling girl before him, the one who had accompanied him through seven years of music...

He hadn't expected... to meet her again so soon...

And...

She was Sylvanas!!!

Sylvanas was the future Ranger-General of the High Elves. She was killed when the Undead invaded Quel'Thalas and was transformed into the Banshee Queen by the artifact Frostmourne. Later, she broke free of their control and led many Undead in founding a new nation, calling themselves the "Forsaken," with her as their queen.

He had longed for this day and finally met the legendary queen, but...

He had never expected her to be this girl, and he thought of the tragic fate from history that would soon be repeated in her life.

Countless thoughts tangled together in Kael'thas's mind, and his heart... fell into turmoil in an instant...

Impossible! Impossible!!

She isn't Alleria's younger sister, so it must just be a coincidence that they have the same name!!