The sea breeze roared, and waves lapped against the hull as the vast, unending ocean stretched out before Alpha's eyes, its briny scent filling his nostrils. "Heavens, it's been nearly a month and we're still not there. This journey has been quite enough. Why did I take on this task? Why was I so easily persuaded back then? Sigh," he muttered, his azure eyes gazing into the distant sea, lost in contemplation.
"Alpha, what are you doing here? It's almost time for a meal; you should go eat," a gentle voice floated from behind, striking Alpha like a bolt of lightning.
"Ah, please don't tell me it's more sea fish. I've been eating sea fish for almost a month. When will we arrive, Captain Sally?" Alpha turned to look at the elf with a smile. Yes, an elf—Captain Sally was an undeniable elven beauty. Her white hair was casually tied back with a purple ribbon, and her tall figure was not concealed by her robes. Even after years at sea, time had not left its mark on her face, proving that elves were indeed blessed creatures. Alpha thought bitterly to himself.
Looking at his own reflection, he had short grey hair, a fair face, light blue eyes, and a tall stature. Well, although not as handsome as an elf, he was still presentable.
"About a week, perhaps sooner if the wind stays favorable, but the sea is unpredictable. As for lunch, go see for yourself. Willy is in a good mood today; he might have prepared something different," Captain Sally said.
"Alright, I'll go check. Hopefully, there's a change," Alpha murmured as he silently made his way into the cabin.
Sally watched Alpha's retreating figure and couldn't help but shake her head. She wondered if this young one could handle the task, but recovering from that disaster was already quite an achievement. Thinking this, Sally's expression turned serious. She hoped the one in Stormwind could accept all that had happened.
Four days whisked by like a gust of wind, and on the horizon, the dark coastline gradually materialized before Alpha's eyes. For him, it was a sight for sore eyes—no more sea fish, no more lurching on the rolling ship, and most importantly, a hot bath awaited. Alpha was inwardly overwhelmed with relief.
As soon as the vessel docked, Alpha leaped from the side, his feet touching the solid ground with a sense of elation. "Captain Sally, shall we dine first?" he asked eagerly.
"No, we must report to the captain of the guard first, and then we will have an audience with the king tomorrow. Remember your mission?" Sally replied.
Alpha fell silent for a moment, as if the weight of his task had suddenly descended upon him. But it was fleeting, and with a renewed spirit, he said, "I understand. Let's go."
As they made their way through the city, Alpha couldn't help but observe the grandeur of the capital. Directly opposite the dock stood the symbol of the Wrynn family—a majestic lion, golden and imposing, watching over the sea. It was said that the lion kept watch over Kalimdor and the Horde across the waters, which explained the military structures dotting the harbor. Passing through the dock area, they arrived at the renowned Cathedral Square, where the Light's Hope Chapel shone with a radiance that defied description.
Facing the chapel stood the statue of the Lightbringer, Uther of the Ebon Hand, a great paladin and symbol of the Silver Hand, tragically slain by his own apprentice.
"Such a pity," Alpha muttered to himself. "King Genn Greymane himself once attended their rites."
As evening approached, they arrived at the Goldleaf Inn, located in the Trade District. Stormwind, being a city of diverse races, was home to dwarves, elves, and gnomes, so Alpha's group did not attract much attention.
"Captain Sally, let's eat quickly. I'm famished from all this walking," Alpha pleaded with a look that could melt the heart of a newborn nightblade panther.
"Barkeep, a cherry pie, a buttered bread, and two cups of moonberry juice," Sally ordered with a smile. "And add a juicy bear meat burger!" Alpha quickly added, "Hehe, Captain Sally, let me have some meat. After so much sea fish and fruit, I almost forget the taste of meat."
Sighing, Sally acquiesced, "Alright, but after eating, rest well. We have an audience with the king tomorrow. Are you ready?"
"Trust me, Captain Sally, I'm absolutely ready!" Alpha boasted, thumping his chest.
That night, after a bath, Alpha lay in his robe on the bed, his face buried in the pillow, eyes shut, his short grey hair still dripping water. Suddenly, he shuddered, and his hair began to grow and darken, his ears lengthened, his hands bulged with veins, and his nails grew longer, covered in dark grey fur. With a sharp intake of breath, a flash of green light pierced the air, and he sprang from the bed, only to find everything back to normal, as if it were a dream. The claw marks on the pillow, however, were a testament to the transformation. Touching the faded bite marks on his arm, Alpha gave a self-mocking smile. "After all this time, I still haven't adjusted. I can't afford any mistakes tomorrow, or King Genn will have my head," he thought, blowing out the candle on the table and settling back into bed. The night remained as silent as ever.
The following morning, the Goldleaf Rose was already abuzz with activity, adventurers exchanging tales and information in the hall. Captain Sally and Alpha were seated, enjoying their breakfast in the midst of the chatter.
"Captain Sally, don't you ever tire of eating bread and fruit?" Alpha inquired.
"Young Alpha, we must be grateful for the bounty of nature, understand it, and maintain its balance," Sally began.
"Stop right there, I've got it," Alpha quickly interjected, thinking to himself, 'Phew, if Sally really gets started, we'll never get to finish our meal today.'
"Did you hear? Gilneas in the north has fallen," one adventurer suddenly mentioned.
"Gilneas? The kingdom that seceded from the Alliance after the Second War and built the Gilnean Wall?" another asked curiously.
"Which other Gilneas is there? Praise Elune, that country has finally fallen. When the Scourge came, they didn't lift a finger to help, only caring for their own people," the adventurer said with a tone of disdain.
"But how could it fall with such towering walls? It survived the Scourge," another adventurer from a nearby table chimed in.
"I heard it was some kind of curse. A portion of the people turned into worgen and it spread throughout the city. They say even the king was bitten," one adventurer remarked, wiping his greatsword as he spoke.
"Terrible," another muttered, a shudder in his voice.
Upon hearing this, Sally quickly looked at Alpha, who continued to eat in silence. "Are you alright? Don't listen to their nonsense," she said.
"I'm fine. Besides, it's the truth and cannot be disputed," Alpha replied in a somber tone. "Let's go. It's about time we went to see the king." With that, he rose and left. Sally followed closely behind.
Passing through the old quarter, they arrived at the entrance of Stormwind Keep.
"Halt, this is Stormwind Keep. No admittance for unauthorized personnel," a soldier of Stormwind in armor barred their way.
"Sir, we are representatives of the Night Elves here to see King Varian. We reported our arrival yesterday; here is the document," Sally said, handing over a scroll bearing the Night Elf insignia.
The soldier glanced at it without unrolling it, scrutinizing the two for a long moment before calling for a messenger to report. After a while, when the messenger returned, he said, "Please follow me; the king is expecting you."
Walking down the lengthy corridor, they arrived at the throne hall, where a tall and imposing man in armor sat on the throne. His raven hair was tied back, and his stern face with cold, black eyes seemed to radiate a chilling aura. A scar ran from his left to his right cheek, accentuating his severity. His heavy armor bore an eagle on the left and a lion on the right, exuding majesty.
This was King Varian, a king with a legendary past. To his left was a young man with blond hair, youthful in appearance but with a similar countenance—presumably Prince Anduin.
"What brings an elf and a human from Kalimdor to Stormwind?" Varian asked nonchalantly, propping his head up with one hand.
"Your Majesty, I have followed the High Priestess's guidance to escort this noble here. This is Sir Alpha," Sally bowed, adopting the elven etiquette with reverence.
At that moment, Alpha knelt on one knee, his right fist pressed against his chest, and declared in a resounding voice, "Your Majesty, I am Alpha of the Wolftotem, from the northern kingdom of Gilneas." As he finished speaking, King Varian stood up, and the entire hall fell silent. The name "Gilneas" echoed through the hall for a long while...