Blade Dance

The fierce battle lasted for two days and two nights, and finally ended with the defeat of the army across the board.The Seventh Legion pursued the victory and wiped out the remnants of the demons on the border of Hellfire Peninsula.After that, the large army set off to return, and Herman led the Knights of the Silver Hand and the night elf sentinels left by Maiev Shadowsong to continue to Hellfire Citadel, and wiped out the legion troops stationed in the fortress. up.

Until all the battles were over and Herman led the army back to Shattrath City, Maiev Shadowsong did not rush back to join the large army.The last time Herman heard from her was an urgent report from the frontline scouts one day after the war started, saying that the Warden had safely arrived at the Temple of Stars and was making final preparations for entering the Temple of Darkness.

After that, there was no news.

As soon as Herman returned to the city, he dispatched the fastest horses in the army and asked the scouts to rush to Shadowmoon Valley to check the situation immediately.

The post-war city was in shambles.The magic barrier is riddled with holes, and the northeast barrier is gone, leaving only a small part of the city's western edge intact.Correspondingly, the central urban area and the western slums were not affected by the flames of war, but the eastern slums, the Scryer's Terrace, and Aldo Heights were all damaged to varying degrees.In terms of military forces, the Allied forces of Azeroth and the Allied defense forces in Outland each lost troops and generals, and the Allied forces with less experience suffered heavy losses.At the same time, due to the remaining fel energy left by the legion, the battle area on the outskirts of the city could no longer set up camp, and most of the soldiers lived in the city.Shattrath City has become more crowded than ever.

Herman decided to stay in Outland for a period of time to reorganize the army, replenish armaments, treat the wounded, repair city buildings, and wait for Maiev Shadowsong to return.

The garrison coalition has no objection to this.

"It's not a big problem that you want to stay longer, Major General." Commander Steele said solemnly.It was the day after the war, and they were walking together in the barracks in the slums.Miserable screams and cries of pain came from everywhere, and priests, priests, and paladins ran back and forth between the houses.Herman walked shoulder to shoulder with Steele, with the sergeant walking ahead to count the casualties.

"But it will indeed bring great pressure to us, and to the people of Outland."

Herman glanced at him, the commander's intentions could not be more clear.

"We will pay the corresponding funds as compensation." He promised quickly and firmly, "The repair of the city will be mainly completed by my army. And during our stay, Shattrath will be garrisoned by us."

A smile spread across Steele's face immediately.

Herman didn't hesitate on this matter, he needed to stay and wait for Maiev.She might be fighting a bitter battle with Illidan Stormrage, pitting an army against a demon hunter.This is not an exaggeration at all, Illidan's strength is terrifyingly powerful.Maybe he has to help Maiev in the next moment, after all, the night elf soldiers in the city are all restless now.Perhaps he stayed only because he wanted to know the outcome of the battle far away in Shadowmoon Valley, and he didn't care who died or who lived.Curiosity, that's the reason to stay.

The rain was pouring heavily, pouring on the roof with a splashing sound.The rain curtain blocked the line of sight, covering the field of vision with a layer of gray and black, so that the rows of houses, empty streets and few pedestrians all lost their luster.Herman walked into the central square, his black cloak was wet by the wind and rain, and the cloudy sky made his skin look extra pale.

In the afternoon of pouring rain, there were only a handful of people in the temple, and as far as the eye could see were a few scattered prayers.The thick walls kept the sound of the rain out, and the inside of the temple was still quiet.Herman glanced around and secretly let out a long breath.During times of war, the number of people who come to pray usually increases dramatically, and the places near the naaru are especially crowded.So if it wasn't for the weather and the time, he might not have been able to come in.

He didn't know what he was doing here.

It has been four days since I returned to Shattrath City, and there is still no news about the warden.Humans do not believe in Naru, but worship the Holy Light.But in the former Draenor and the current Outland, Naaru is the elemental body that carries and produces the holy light, and it is also the common belief of the people in Outland, so it may be useful to pray to this god.He tried to explain—do as the Romans do.

He took off his hood and walked straight to the naaru, his sideburns tied back, revealing the clear outline of his forehead and cheeks.At this moment, this young and handsome face was covered with a thin layer of water vapor, and his eyes were piercing, as sharp as the eyes of an eagle.He stopped in front of the god named Shatar, and looked up at the beam of light that lifted the sky.The dazzling holy light cast two deep shadows in his black pupils, as if to penetrate his heart through them.

The rain bursts, as if it will never stop.

He lowered his head, placed the palm of his right hand over his heart, and closed his eyes.

If you don't know what to pray for, then pray about everything.

The moment he closed his eyelids, he felt thoughts rushing into his mind like a wave.They turn upside down, twist and twist.He was seized by a suffocating confusion, all the things that had been briefly put out of his mind because of the expedition came to him at this moment.Thinking of humming in his head, or the gathering of various inner voices from the outside world, he couldn't help frowning, and the fingers on his heart tightened.

When he saw the holy light again, he realized that he was pursing his lips and breathing hard.

At the same time, five yards away, there was another prayer.

He stood in front of Naru, praying devoutly just like Herman.Hermann could see him with a roll of his eyes, and had a full view of him when he turned his cheek slightly.Wearing a long black coat, he was tall and tall, standing there quietly, with his eyes closed and no expression on his face.He was not armed—sword, knife, staff, bow, etc.—so it was difficult for Herman to identify him.

They were not the only two people in the Holy Light Hall, so he shouldn't care so much about his existence.A quick glance was enough, and he was an ordinary man of prayer like everyone else.

However, he couldn't afford just a cursory glance.

The man had long silver-white hair tied up with a black rope and hung down the back of his neck.His skin was pale, his cheeks were slightly sunken, and his cheekbones protruded. Even under the holy light, there were two shallow shadows under his eyes.

high elves.

Herman frowned, and didn't care that the other party suddenly opened his eyes and found someone staring at him abruptly, but just watched him intently without moving.It was the astonishment that was at work, the astonishment that took hold of his gaze.With the appearance of an elf, plus the silver-white hair, it is undoubtedly a high elf.

Why are there high elves in Outland?

Is he the only one?

No, not likely.High elves take the concept of "family" very seriously.They are rare in number, and they want to continue their pure bloodlines, so they always carry out any activities with the family as a unit.

So where is his family?

Several guesses flashed in my mind.At this moment, the man suddenly spoke.

At such a distance, it was difficult for Herman to hear what he was saying.I saw him clenching his right fist on his chest, opening and closing his lips to reveal words, perhaps prayers.A few trivial syllables made Herman realize that he was speaking an unfamiliar language, perhaps High Elvish, or the language of the High Elves themselves.He needed time to recall those furs he had learned as a child and those languages ​​he had rarely come into contact with when he grew up. Even Maiev Shadowsong had never spoken a word of Elvish to him.

He became aware that the high elf was repeating the same sentence, repeating it over and over, as if casting it into the light of the naaru.

Then, the man let go of his clenched hands and slowly knelt down.First the knees, then the hands and arms, so low that it seems that even the forehead is attached to the ground.

He kept doing this for a long time.

Herman froze.He subconsciously turned his head away, and drove the elf's figure out of sight.He had never seen anyone beg the gods like this, at least not in Azeroth.Yes, beg.

When he looked to the side again, the elf had already stood up.At the same time, a woman wearing a dark gray cloak appeared in the picture.She was walking towards the silver-haired man from behind, patted his shoulder lightly, said something, smiled at him when the man turned his head, and then leaned forward to kiss his cheek.The woman was a blood elf, with green eyes and beautiful blond hair that shone even in this weather.But Herman focused all his attention on the high elf. The moment the man turned around, Herman noticed his light blue eyes.

He had the good fortune to meet Vereesa Windrunner when he was young.Those were very similar eyes.

The man and the woman were talking in low voices.The woman strokes the man's face, and the man grabs her hand and puts his face close to her palm, smiling from time to time.It's just that his cheeks are thin, his expression is tired, and his smile always seems to be produced by pulling his facial muscles.

Herman imprinted the face of the high elf in his mind, and a series of questions, turned and walked out of the hall.

Regarding the history of the high elves in Outland, does that exist?Before today, he had never heard of high elves in Outland.

And their status in Outland.He didn't know that the high elves could live in the main city as unnoticed as anyone else, even among ordinary blood elves.Is it because people here are ignorant of who they are?

Or did they simply not know he was a high elf?

Maiev Shadowsong should also know about this.And if necessary, you need to inform Vereesa Windrunner after returning to Stormwind City.

Speaking of Maiev...

"Major General."

Herman lowered his head and thought, not noticing the soldiers in full armor coming in front of him at all.He stopped abruptly, raised his head with a vigilant expression on his face.

Then he frowned tightly, and his eyes dimmed.

"General." He lowered his head.

A familiar figure came out of the formation, with his hands behind his back, and walked slowly in front of Herman.Herman couldn't see anything, only heard the sound of steady footsteps stepping through the wind and rain in shallow puddles gradually approaching, and then a pair of half-wet military boots appeared in the field of vision.

The wind is howling, and the rain is rushing to the ground.They stood together at the gate of the temple, the wind was blowing cold rain on their faces, and the accompanying soldiers were all standing in the pouring rain.

"General." Herman still bowed his head, "Sorry, I didn't expect you to come. It's inconvenient to talk here, if you have anything to do, please—"

"Why didn't you come back?"

Herman froze for a moment, thinking quickly, only then realized that he didn't send anyone back to Azeroth to send a message.

"Sorry, it was my negligence that I didn't send anyone back to report, so I trouble you to go there yourself. I have decided to stay in Shattrath City for a while, waiting for news from the warden, Maiev Shadowsong."

The other party was silent.

Hermann waited.He didn't know when he was used to waiting for this person in front of him.What you say, do, and think is always denied and dismissed, so just wait for the other party to act first.Someone should give in, otherwise it will only be embarrassing.

The raindrops slapped heavily on the armor, making a "click" sound.

"Come back with me."

Herman was stunned for a moment, and then said: "General, it's inconvenient to talk here, there is—"

His words came to an abrupt end, as the Chief Admiral suddenly placed a strong, wrinkled hand on his left shoulder.Hermann froze for an instant, as if such an abrupt and unfamiliar gesture offended him unforgivably.The strangeness was real, and he couldn't remember the last time the person in front of him made such an action.

This kind of action belongs to the father to the son, not the action of the superior to the subordinate.

"Herm."

Herman tried his best to control his muscles, so as not to shake off the touch that made him extremely uncomfortable.But the strength on his shoulders seemed to be getting heavier and heavier, and he felt that his shoulders were about to be crushed.

"General—"

"You did very well."

He raised his head sharply.

The father's face was full of pain, mixed with a stiff smile.Hermann's face twitched, feeling that he was staring at him in surprise, and his father was bewildered by this stare.

It took him a while to realize that the twisted pain and the ill-timed smile were a whole, and together they made up guilt.

Suddenly, there was a strong soreness in the heart.

He heard himself say: "It's inconvenient to talk here, and it's raining so much. Please go back to the fortress on the outskirts of the city to rest first. I'm going to Odor Heights, and I'll be there soon."

□□The admiral nodded in agreement with his words.

"I'll wait for you there," he said, then turned and led the guards away.

Herman watched him leave first, and heaved a sigh of relief.

He raised his hand to put on the hood, only to find that all the muscles in his body were stiff and sore.He fastened his cloak and glanced back at the naaru, seeing the high elves and blood elves coming out together.

Just then, he heard a shout behind him.The voice came through the rushing rain, making him feel dazed for a moment.

"Illidan Stormrage is dead!"

He turned his head to look at the street outside the temple, and then caught a troll warrior running wildly and screaming in the rain with his eyes.He repeated that sentence as he ran.For a moment, all the people walking in the rain were disturbed by the shout, and at the same time, more people ran out of the room.To Herman's disbelief, there was joy on everyone's face.The torrential rain could not dampen their excitement at all, but instead became the rain that nourished them.They shouted in the rain, telling each other over and over, as if to confirm the news.

All things come to an end, the villain is dead, and the joy accumulated in the victory of the war is erupted at this moment, and the whole city revels in the rainstorm.The rain mixed with people, some opened their mouths to welcome the sweet rain, some took off their shirts and ran in the pouring rain.Looking at the chaos on the street, Herman felt a little overwhelmed.He hasn't seen such a carnival for a long time, even the annual Midsummer Fire Festival is not as crazy as this.

A dark figure flashed by and rushed into the rain, almost hitting him.

It was the high elf.

"Hey!" Herman subconsciously followed, trying to stop him.But the figure was running as hard as it could, pushing through the crowd until it caught up with the troll warrior.

He grabbed the warrior's arm and yelled at him, his voice muffled by the rain.And the troll warrior tried to break free from him, with expressions of shock and disgust on his face.

"Dead," he said.

The elf didn't respond.Then the warrior shouted to him:

"They are all dead! Maiev Shadowsong ambushed in the Dark Temple, and they were executed as soon as they returned from Mardun!"

Then he shook off the elf's hand effortlessly, turned and strode away.

Hermann didn't know why he was drawn to this scene.He and the high elf were the only two people standing still on the chaotic street at this moment. They didn't join in the carnival, but they didn't seem to be consciously aware that it was pouring rain at this moment.

In Hermann's eyes, there are people of all kinds, men and women, running or walking, not knowing where they are going.Leaving a person standing in the rain, like a tree in the middle of a rushing river.He looked up to the sky, then closed his eyes.Most of his clothes were wet, his hair was completely wet, the hair tie was broken, and strands of silver hair hung down his shoulders.

Then he fell silently to the cold, wet ground.

A woman's scream came from behind, tearing the sky apart at the same instant.

"Harlan!"