Chapter 6: The Avenger (Part I)

"Mograine, as a High Lord and a High Paladin, your weapon looks rather ordinary."

Arthas noticed that Mograine's two-handed sword seemed to be a standard-issue weapon of the Silver Hand; although its quality was slightly better than average, the margin was limited.

Mograine could only reply with a helpless smile, "I actually have a preliminary concept in mind, but I haven't been able to put it into practice yet."

"You mean that crystal you captured during the great battle?"

This matter was no secret among the upper echelons of the Silver Hand, as most of those who purified that dark crystal back then were leaders of the Silver Hand and the Holy Light Church.

"I haven't found a suitable blacksmith to work with it. The veteran blacksmiths in the army all say that using this crystal to forge a weapon would be an absolute waste of divine material."

Mograine sighed. Who wouldn't want to possess an invincible weapon? On the battlefield, the blade in one's hand was the most reliable companion.

"Perhaps I can recommend a wonderful candidate for you." Arthas thought of the king in Ironforge. "After we resolve the threat of the dreadlords, I will take you to visit him."

"That would be truly wonderful, Prince Arthas." Mograine's eyes lit up; this problem had troubled him for a long time.

"A small matter, and it is all for the sake of enhancing our strength. Our world still faces many dangers and requires courageous warriors like you to step forward."

As Arthas spoke, he scanned the pedestrians around the fountain, and soon, he noticed a familiar face.

The archmage also noticed Arthas. Approaching him, the mage offered a greeting.

"Good day, Prince Arthas."

The helper Kael'thas had sent was none other than Grand Magister Rommath, who had previously delivered messages for him. Evidently, as a trusted confidant of the elven prince, this archmage had been dispatched to accomplish this crucial mission.

"Good day, Lord Rommath. I am glad to see you again—though it would be even better if it were not under such urgent circumstances," Arthas replied.

Rommath maintained his usual expressionless demeanor, making it impossible to tell whether he was pleased or indifferent. "His Royal Highness the Prince has already briefed me, but there are currently no particularly abnormal situations arising."

"I know. If a dreadlord merely wishes to hide, he can be even more of a mage than a wizard," Arthas nodded. "Therefore, we must take the initiative."

"As you wish. However, before that, we may need to wait a moment longer. Another person wishes to join our ranks, and she can also provide us with considerable assistance."

"She?" Mograine was slightly surprised. Was another female mage joining the investigation?

Rommath looked off in a certain direction and said, "She has arrived."

Arthas turned his head and saw a very familiar face, prompting him to blurt out almost instinctively, "Sylvanas?"

***

In the conference room, Kael'thas listened to Antonidas's lengthy speech, smiled bitterly to himself, and whispered to Krasus beside him, "You knew the Archmage would say all this, didn't you?"

Krasus glanced at the elven prince and nodded slightly. "Isn't this entirely normal? It is not your first time attending a council meeting."

"That is precisely why I am more surprised that you chose to attend as well when the Archmage speaks of such things."

"That is because the situation this time is indeed extremely urgent." Krasus clearly had little interest in Antonidas's official rhetoric. He looked at the elven prince. "You should have already met with that prince from Lordaeron, shouldn't you?"

"Indeed. Just last night, I went to visit my good friend at the inn where they are staying."

There was nothing to hide about this matter; even his colleagues knew he had gone to visit an old friend last night.

Yet what made Kael'thas sensitive was what Krasus had just said.

"You said... the situation this time is indeed extremely urgent?" Kael'thas asked in a low voice. "Where did you get this information?"

"Intuition."

Krasus was concise and to the point, though Kael'thas certainly did not want such a simple explanation. Yet Krasus's words forced Kael'thas to take the matter seriously.

Among the Tirisfal Council of Six, if one were to ask who possessed the greatest power and the most noble status, the mages of the entire city could debate for days and nights.

But if one were to ask who was the most mysterious and elusive in their actions, it was undoubtedly the grand magister named Krasus who stood beside Kael'thas.

Kael'thas himself was a supporter of this view, because even with his long life and the passage of time as an elven prince, he had never heard of a grand magister named "Krasus." His origins remained a genuine mystery.

"You must know some other information. Why are you unwilling to share it with me?" Kael'thas tried to pry something out of Krasus.

Krasus remained unmoved. "I told you, I merely have a feeling that this matter might truly be as serious as that prince claimed, which is why I came to attend this meeting."

Clearly, however, Antonidas's approach left both him and Kael'thas somewhat disappointed. The stubborn archmage ultimately adopted a compromise, choosing to let the Kirin Tor cooperate with Arthas's investigation without providing any additional assistance.

Krasus remained silent for a moment before continuing, "If I remember correctly, his student is romantically involved with Arthas, isn't she?"

"That is correct, but Antonidas clearly will not change his consistent style of conduct over such a matter—you should understand that as well."

The others on the Council of Six were well aware of the archmage's operational style. Most of the time, Antonidas was shrewd and wise, handling problems and events exceptionally well.

Yet once the old mage made up his mind, he was simply more stubborn than a dwarf.

"Of course..." Krasus's gaze flickered, though it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. After a moment, just as Antonidas's speech was finally drawing to a close, the mysterious archmage said to the elven prince, "Come to my wizard's tower after the meeting concludes. There is something I wish to show you."

With that, Krasus quietly left the assembly, leaving a bewildered Kael'thas behind, completely unaware of what Krasus intended.

***

"Brother, hurry up! Mother has already prepared dinner and is waiting for us!" a young girl's brisk voice rang out.

"Teresa, slow down. You'll fall if you run like that." Sasheran looked affectionately at his younger sister. After their father's death, to keep their mother from overworking herself, the young Sasheran had taken on many chores around the house.

However, when the kingdom began distributing recruitment flyers, Sasheran recalled his father's teachings and resolutely followed in his footsteps, becoming a proud soldier.

After undergoing numerous selection processes and overcoming a few minor hiccups, Sasheran successfully entered the First Legion, stationed with the troops south of Andorhal.

Before his departure, his mother had handed him an amulet. Facing the reluctance and worry of his family, Sasheran promised them that he would return home safely.

"Brother..."

"Teresa, I am going to serve in the First Legion. You must help mother around the house more and stop being so mischievous, alright?"

"I... I will be good... but... but I don't want brother to go." Tears welled in the corners of the young girl's eyes; her father had died in the war, and she feared her brother would also vanish like their father, never to return.

"Teresa, this is Sasheran's choice." Sasheran's mother, Vivian, embraced her younger daughter, comforting her sorrow.

"I am sorry, Mother, but I truly want to see the places where my father fought before. I want him to know that his son loves our homeland just as deeply as he did."

Vivian stroked her son's face. "I understand, Sasheran... You are the spitting image of Kieloren... Go. Teresa and I will wait for your return."

"Goodbye..."

Endless darkness swallowed the sorrow before parting. Having enlisted for merely a few days, Sasheran encountered a tragedy that drowned him in pain and self-reproach.

He had failed to protect anyone... If Prince Arthas had not arrived in time, even innocent little Sally would have been ruthlessly slaughtered by the demons.

"I... failed to fulfill my duty... I am not a qualified soldier..."

Sasheran remained in a daze for some time after that, until Arthas led him to Northrend to track down the dreadlord.

And when he learned that the prince had ventured alone into the demon's lair, he could scarcely restrain his desire to follow in the prince's footsteps, willing to pay with his own life if it meant making that dreadlord taste defeat.

Yet he failed. He could not find Arthas, and instead found himself tracked by the dreadlord, who led him right into the marching path of the First Legion.

Guilt and remorse tortured Sasheran's soul, driving him to fight desperately without regard for his life. In the end, he drove his sharp sword into the demon's waist and abdomen, but was himself pierced by the dreadlord's claws.

Amidst the demon's curses, Sasheran gradually lost consciousness, sinking into endless darkness.

—Is it all over? I'm sorry, Mother... I'm sorry, Teresa... I'm sorry, Uncle Matt... And little Sally, I... accomplished nothing.

The young warrior lowered his head. He was a failure, a good-for-nothing.

"So, do you yearn for vengeance? Vengeance against all the darkness and evil in this world, even if it drags you down into the abyss?"

Sasheran raised his head in the dark void where up and down could no longer be distinguished. A voice of unknown origin echoed through the darkness.

"I..."