Due to the critical situation at the front, high-end combatants like Malfurion and Maiev had joined the fray, doing their best to bridge the power gap between the Resistance and the Burning Legion. As time went on, it was evident from the atmosphere in the military camp that the battle was becoming increasingly difficult.
When Andreas arrived at the commander's grand tent, aside from Jarod, who sat at the center of command, only a few officers with lower combat capabilities remained. Because an emergency military council was in progress, Andreas was unable to report the completion of his mission to Commander Jarod face-to-face.
He handed the written report, which he had prepared in advance just in case, to the personal guard standing at the entrance. Under the guard's polite military salute, Andreas turned and left the main camp.
Before leaving, he overheard a few officers inside the tent complaining in low voices. They believed that hope should not be placed in foreign races; they argued that when the Burning Legion's reinforcements were not yet so numerous, they should have consolidated all their forces for a direct frontal assault.
Andreas was no strategist. All he could do was use his knowledge of historical progression to "cheat" and reverse-engineer the course of the war. He couldn't say for sure whether choosing to hold the position and wait for reinforcements had been right or wrong, but he believed that Jarod—hailed as a genius commander—must have considered the situation far more comprehensively than he had.
"Andreas!"
While heading back to his private tent after leaving the command center, Andreas heard a familiar and hurried call. Turning around, he saw a frantic Leticia running toward him, with two others trailing behind her.
One was someone Andreas knew: Feren Riverwind, a second-generation druid. To Andreas's surprise, the other person following Leticia was a round, honest-looking Pandaren.
How did these three end up together...
Andreas had heard from Koda that the Pandaren had arranged for envoys to be teleported to the front in advance to scout for the main army and establish initial contact with the Night Elf Resistance. But this clean-shaven Pandaren didn't look like a diplomat at all. Although Andreas didn't want to be too certain since he wasn't familiar with Pandaren growth stages, this very youthful-looking Pandaren was likely not yet of age.
"What's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?"
Leticia rushed up and grabbed Andreas's sleeve, saying in a panicked, helpless voice, "It's terrible! Mother and the rest of the clan still haven't teleported to Black Rook Hold!"
More than half a month had passed since Andreas and the others left Zin-Azshari. Even if the Moon-Song family needed to pack and settle their affairs, under the current state of emergency, it was impossible for them not to have set out after two weeks.
Andreas frowned and comforted Leticia . "Calm down. Has Lady Felice sent anyone to contact you?"
"No." Leticia's hands were trembling as she held onto Andreas. She was, after all, still a minor. The many events of the past two months had made her deeply realize how narrow the world she previously lived in had been.
Strange.
Lady Felice didn't seem like such a careless person. When they parted, although her hatred for the Burning Legion was perhaps too obsessive, it had at least given her a new direction after the pain of losing her husband.
Gently patting Leticia's small head, Andreas pondered for a moment before saying, "Perhaps some new development has occurred within Zin-Azshari. But don't worry yet; I made some arrangements in advance. Lady Felice's safety should be guaranteed."
At least for the time being.
...
"Pick up the pace! To welcome the arrival of the great Lord Sargeras, give it your all! Glory lies ahead!"
Beside the Well of Eternity, a Nathrezim was urging the Highborne mages in a high-pitched tone to channel the power of the Well to expand the portal. Dath'Remar Sunstrider's face was deathly pale due to excessive mana consumption. Seeing this, the Highborne standing behind him hurried forward to replace him.
"Dath'Remar, go meditate and recover your mana. Leave the rest to me for now."
Dath'Remar wiped the sweat from his forehead, a weak smile on his face. "Then I'll leave it to you."
After his comrade took over, Dath'Remar walked toward the temporary lounge along with other Highborne mages who had rotated off the front line. Along the way, he could hear the others whispering under their breath.
"What do these demons think of the noble Highborne? Coolies working 24-hour shifts?"
"Shh! The mass conscription of noble Arcanists was approved by the Queen herself. Be careful not to let the personal guard hear you."
"Tch!"
Dath'Remar sat wearily on one of the beds in the lounge, his eyes staring blankly at the marble-white wall opposite him. Several noble Arcanists who had been grumbling moments ago had already entered deep meditation ahead of him.
For the glory of the Highborne, is it... To place the hope of resolving our internal class conflicts on demons—where is the glory in that?
During his diplomatic mission, Dath'Remar had personally witnessed the firm convictions of the Resistance leadership. In comparison, Queen Azshara's actions were becoming increasingly incomprehensible to him.
She had personally killed Tichondrius for his crime against the Moon-Song family and hung his head over the gate of the noble district as a warning to the Burning Legion. When he first heard this news, Dath'Remar's feelings were complicated. On one hand, he was saddened by the passing of his old friend Leander; on the other, he was relieved that the Queen had finally taken action.
But this positive turn seemed to be a mere flash in the pan.
Before the nobles friendly with the Moon-Song family could unite their magic to send away Leander's widow and the family property, an emergency conscription order suddenly arrived from the court. All Highborne Arcanists were summoned to the palace by the Queen, then diverted to the Well of Eternity to join the ranks expanding the portal. Dath'Remar was one of them.
The sudden order had disrupted the Moon-Song family's evacuation plan. The packed belongings and luggage remained at a standstill with no one to escort them.
Recalling the encrypted arcane letter his younger daughter, Cele-ste, had given him when he first returned to Zin-Azshari, a complex expression appeared on Dath'Remar's face.
The development of the situation was actually predicted by you. Now it depends on my choice, doesn't it? What a devious fellow... but strangely, I don't hate it.
Removing a precious mana gem from his ring, Dath'Remar crushed it without hesitation. The pure arcane energy relieved the weakness he felt from the lack of mana.
"Let's move. As things stand, I can only choose to trust you, Andreas Moonshadow."