Under Malfurion's deliberate arrangement, Andreas, who had just returned from a major mission, was not immediately thrust back into the meat-grinder of the main battlefield. Instead, he was granted three days of rest.
Andreas had no intention of wasting these three days away from the front lines. He decided to first fulfill his promise to Lady Felatris by taking Leticia with him, using Highborne teleportation magic to reach the Resistance's rear base established at Black Rook Hold.
"Caw— Caw—"
Black Rook Hold, as its name suggests, was a fortress that once served as a vital defensive stronghold for the capital's perimeter, and it was home to a vast number of crows. There was another saying that the hold was named by the Lord Ravencrest family, who had ruled the area for generations. Ravencrest, in the Highborne tongue, means "Crow Crown," and the family was historically known for their affinity with crows and ravens.
After the Resistance raised their banners, the previous Lord Ravencrest set out toward the capital, Zin-Azshari, under the banner of "protecting the throne." Although he, as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Resistance, fell on the path to success without completing his goal, Black Rook Hold continued to grow. Under the collective efforts of supporters who flocked from all over to seek refuge or join the cause, it gradually took on the scale of a city.
Black Rook Hold is situated in the western part of Val'sharah. Heading south leads to Azsuna, known for its academic atmosphere, and Suramar, the jewel of the Night Elf Empire. To the northeast, one could find Highmountain, home to the Tauren, while to the west and north, it directly borders the greater capital region of Zin-Azshari.
When Andreas and Leticia stepped out of Black Rook Hold's teleportation tower, the vibrant side of this fortress-city immediately unfolded before them. The Resistance's weapons, equipment, and logistical supplies were all dispatched from Black Rook Hold. Numerous merchant caravans continuously transported goods from various villages in Val'sharah to sell here, and bustling crowds gathered in the temporary commercial streets planned in the city center.
In the artisan district, the constant "clink-clank" of blacksmithing could be heard. Freshly forged weapons and armor were bundled and loaded onto carts, waiting to be sent to the front-line camps. It seemed as though no one in this fortress-city was leisurely enjoying life; everyone was working with the efficiency of a tightly wound clockwork toy.
Having grown up in the slow-paced noble district of Zin-Azshari, Leticia was quite amazed to see a city scene so completely different from her past experiences.
"It's incredible. Is it like this every day?"
Andreas also looked down curiously from the tower's railing. "I can't say for sure, but it's probably close to this."
"Alright, stop staring." Patting Leticia's head, Andreas reminded her to attend to business first. "Let's find a suitable place to settle down first; Lady Felatris is still waiting for your signal."
"Oh... alright." Reluctantly pulling her gaze away, Leticia climbed onto the back of the griffon Andreas had transformed into, and they glided rapidly down from the heights of the mage tower.
During the spiraling descent, Leticia took a rough observation of Black Rook Hold's layout. The city, after all, was modified from a fortress, so the habitable space within the sturdy walls was limited. Aside from the Highborne who received personal hospitality from the Ravencrest family, most refugees who had come from various places lived in temporary settlement areas outside the fortress walls.
As a descendant of the prestigious Highborne Moonsong family, Leticia had received permission from Illysanna Ravencrest to select a suitable vacant mansion within the city as the Moonsong family's new home.
After Andreas dropped the girl off in the residential area, he watched silently as Leticia carved the Moonsong family's arcane mark onto the entrance of a grand mansion she favored.
"There, it's done," Leticia said with a sigh of relief. "When mother leads the clan to Black Rook Hold, they should be able to find this place through this mark."
Being the scion of a noble Highborne family who had received elite education from a young age, Leticia quickly found her rhythm with Andreas by her side once she overcame the initial nervousness of practical operation. She first contacted the Ravencrest members remaining in Black Rook Hold and presented Illysanna's letter of permission. Then, she hurried to the Great Bazaar to recruit labor, thoroughly cleaning the long-vacant mansion from inside out.
While the workers were cleaning the estate, Leticia busily returned to the market to purchase some simple furniture based on her preferences. The mansion Leticia chose had originally belonged to another Highborne, but after Black Rook Hold raised the flag of rebellion, the original owner had moved their entire family to Suramar to avoid the war, taking almost all the valuable furniture with them.
After the cleaning and initial arrangement, the mansion was barely habitable, and the two moved into the refreshed estate that very night.
Early the next morning, leaving Leticia—who was becoming familiar with the city's streets—to visit the neighbors, Andreas went alone to a staff shop in the city called "Anna's."
Due to the massive population density, shops throughout Black Rook Hold were packed with people buying goods, yet shops related to the arcane—such as those for enchantments, staves, and robes—remained sparsely visited. In the Night Elf Empire, the arcane had always been a "noble" craft monopolized by the Highborne, whose population was like a drop in the ocean compared to the vast empire.
When Andreas entered the staff shop, the female owner sitting behind the counter was bored, watching an arcane broom sweep the floor.
Ding-ling-ling~
The bell hanging on the door rang as Andreas pushed it open. The shopkeeper perked up, stood, and offered a business-like smile. "Welcome! I am Anna Starwhisper, the owner of this shop. Are you looking to purchase a staff, sir?"
Andreas took a general look at the shop's decor. This shop seemed to have some years behind it, and being able to stay open until now proved its quality.
"Hello, Shopkeeper Anna. I'm not here to buy a staff." Taking the Branch of G'Hanir from his back and placing it on the counter, Andreas gestured toward it. "I'd like to ask for your help in crafting this raw material into a staff."
Anna said with a smile, "No problem. We also accept commissions to craft staves from materials provided by the customer. Please allow me to identify the material first."
"Go ahead."
Faint blue arcane light flickered on Anna's hand as she gently brushed over the Branch of G'Hanir. Her expression gradually turned to one of amazement.
"Guest, this material of yours is extraordinary. This level of energy affinity is absolutely the highest I've seen in my life. Forgive my intrusion, but what kind of wood is this?"
"Well..." Andreas appeared a bit troubled. "Is it necessary to answer?"
"Not at all," Anna waved her hand with a laugh. "It's just my personal curiosity; it won't affect the crafting process much. However, depending on the source of the material and the customer's needs, we choose different processing techniques. Could you at least tell us what kind of attribute affinity you want for the staff? Arcane? Nature? Or Moonlight?"
"Well, about that..." Andreas scratched his cheek with his index finger, feeling a bit awkward. "A staff with Shadow attribute affinity... can you make that?"