The night passed in restless vigilance, my thoughts consumed by the affairs of Sheogh. With a heavy heart, I returned to oversee the reconstruction of the fortress and delve into the forbidden tomes of demon-slaying. It was a grim irony that we demons were more proficient in extinguishing our own kind than in facing external threats.
The fortress echoed with the clang of metal and the crackling of magic as Malar marshaled the chaotic imps into a semblance of order. "Emissaries" were dispatched to distant outposts, seeking to bolster our ranks with new recruits for the Legion.
Skirmishes between rival legions had ceased, with Tor-Berith emerging victorious over the Legion of Voracity. Malar assured me of the Legion of Pain's loyalty, citing their longstanding alliance with the Legion of Knowledge as a deterrent against internal strife.
News of the impending summit, held every hundred years at Urgash's Hearth, reached my ears. It was a tradition forged by Kha-Beleth, respected by all lords and princes of Sheogh. We received our invitation, a summons to the heart of demonkind, where even the fiercest rivals were bound by an unbreakable truce.
As I departed Sheogh and returned to Azeroth, my mind dwelled on the pact. Signed under the rule of Kha-Beleth,it stood as a testament to the precarious balance of power among demonkind.
Emerging from the chamber, I was met with a clamor echoing through the corridors of the castle, beckoning me to investigate.
"Hey you!" My voice reverberated sternly, startling a young man nearby. "What's happening?"
"I heard that the body of Master Huglar was found horribly mutated during the night," he stammered, his voice quivering under my scrutiny.
"Lead the way," I commanded, and he complied with a meek nod.
We traversed the labyrinthine halls until we reached a gathering of mages and priests, among whom stood Aegwynn and King Llane, engaged in hushed conversation.
Nodding in acknowledgment, I directed my gaze toward the chamber, where the ghastly sight of the mutilated body awaited. It bore the marks of brutal mutilation, as if savaged by the claws of some infernal creature and then consumed by flames.
The priests cast wary glances my way, some even beginning to chant incantations in preparation for arcane retaliation. Aegwynn swiftly intervened, silencing their spells and reprimanding them for their aggression.
"Do you dare to attack a guest of your king?" she demanded, her tone slicing through the tension. The priests, though still harboring resentment, remained composed—save for one middle-aged man.
"Shall we permit demons to roam freely within our castle?" he challenged, his accusatory finger pointed squarely at me.
King Llane fixed him with a steely gaze, causing the man to shrink back. "Benedictus, Val-Beleth is a guest, regardless of his origins. He has proven to be a valuable ally for the time being."
As Llane defended my presence, I couldn't shake the feeling of skepticism creeping into my thoughts. It seemed that my role was being exploited to gain favor with Aegwynn, especially in the absence of Medivh.
I requested everyone to allow me entry into the chamber, using my magic to heighten my senses in an attempt to detect anything unusual. However, it seemed that Sargeras had covered his tracks well, as I found nothing except the sheer lunacy of a mage of his caliber being killed by summoning a simple demon.
Exiting the chamber, I made my way toward King Llane and Aegwynn, who were engaged in conversation with a handsomely dressed elderly man in priestly attire.
"There's no way a mage of his caliber could have been killed so easily," I informed them as I joined their discussion.
"Indeed," Aegwynn concurred, while the priest regarded me with a keen gaze.
"Oh, where are my manners," the priest began with a chuckle. "My name is Alonsus Faol, Bishop of the Church of the Holy Light and leader of the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics."
I respectfully acknowledged him with a nod of the head. "Val-Beleth, Member of the Legion of Knowledge," I introduced myself before turning to the Archmage. "This is undoubtedly the work of Sargeras."
"I share the same suspicion. The ease with which Hugar was killed, despite being a member of the Council of Tirisfal, is deeply concerning," Aegwynn replied, her tone grave. I felt a shock at the revelation of Hugar's status. A mage of the council was the epitome of anti-demon warfare, trained to defend Azeroth against such threats.
"We should depart immediately for Karazhan, King Llane, or Sargeras will continue to target our mages and important figures," Aegwynn declared, already turning to leave.
"Lady Aegwynn," the king interjected, his voice hesitant. "I learned overnight from members of SI:7 that Medivh is hosting a party at Karazhan, and many nobles have been invited to attend. The event is supposedly happening tonight."
Aegwynn grumbled something under her breath before turning back to face Llane. "We don't have time for the whims of some pompous noble. When we arrive, you'll attempt to evacuate them. But if that fails, they'll have chosen their fate for the greater good," she stated firmly before striding off towards her chambers.
Alonsus cleared his throat before turning to me with a smile. "Could we have a word?" he asked politely.
"Of course, Bishop," I replied, following him towards what appeared to be his temporary residence outside the main keep of the castle.
"Uther!" exclaimed the Bishop, surprising me. I turned to see a young man in his twenties, his eyes widening as he looked at me. I sensed a significant power of light within him, though it was weaker than the Bishop's.
"Mentor, this is—" Uther began, but Alonsus interrupted him.
"I know, Uther. Can you prepare some tea for our guest?" Faol asked with a warm smile, glancing at me. Uther nodded and quickly left the area, seemingly avoiding eye contact.
As we settled in the small garden, Faol gestured towards the table adorned with beautiful flowers. "Let's take a moment to relax before Uther returns," he suggested warmly.
I nodded, taking a seat on a chair that creaked under my weight. "Why did you invite a demon into your home?" I asked, curious.
Faol smiled gently. "I see no issue in inviting a demon who is not aligned with the Burning Legion. After all, we know so little about your species," he explained.
Just then, Uther returned with a tray holding tea and some biscuits. "Thank you, Uther. Please, join us," Faol invited, as the tea seemed to serve itself into three cups, surprising me.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Lady Aegwynn," Faol remarked, looking past me.
Aegwynn materialized another chair and sat to my right. "I was curious about what you were going to discuss with a demon, especially as the Bishop of a church that abhors demons," she explained calmly.
"Did you really think I would harm him?" Faol asked with a smile.
"You can never be too sure with a servant of the Light," Aegwynn replied instantly, her tone guarded as she placed two books on the table.
"Thank you for the books. They were quite informative. Naturally, I've already mastered the spells within," she said smugly, glancing at me.
"Good for you," I grumbled, dismissing the book back to Sheogh.
Aegwynn huffed before turning her gaze to Faol. "So, what I wanted to ask you, Val-Beleth, was if you were aware of other cultures utilizing the Holy Light as a religion or in mundane tasks," the Bishop inquired as he delicately sipped his tea.
I drew in a breath, considering his question carefully. "Yes, I am aware of one civilization that embraced it, though they have long vanished from the annals of history," I replied, meeting Uther's inquisitive gaze.
"Why did they vanish?" Uther pressed, his tone laced with suspicion.
"They perished with their deity," I answered solemnly, choosing to omit the darker truth of their demise at the hands of demons. It was a cowardly omission, but one born out of necessity to maintain solidarity in our present alliance.
"A god of Light, I presume," Faol deduced, his keen eyes studying me intently.
"Yes, Elrath, the dragon god of light," I confirmed, feeling a surge of bitterness tainting my voice despite my efforts to mask it. It seemed my demon nature still lingered, betraying my facade of humanity.
"A dragon?" Aegwynn's voice betrayed her surprise.
"Yes, indeed," I confirmed, nodding. "Ashan was a realm where the gods took the form of dragons. It is from there that we demons hail, as the Children of Urgash, the Dragon god of Chaos."
"Returning to the Holy Falcon Empire, they were humans much like yourselves. Despite their lineage tracing back to Asha, they shared certain similarities with you. One notable observation I made was their physical stature; all of you humans from Azeroth are taller than their counterparts in Ashan. They worshiped Elrath and established a society that, by human standards, could be considered admirable. However, for a demon such as myself, their society was abhorrent—rigid order, zealous worship, and brutal inquisitions against those who deviated from their faith. It was, in essence, a xenophobic society."
Aegwynn, Faol, and Uther listened intently as I suddenly clenched my gloved hand, the weight of history bearing down on me.
"They were resolute in their determination to eradicate us demons, fueled by reasons both real and imagined. We demons are considered abhorrent, creations of Urgash meant to spite Asha's divine handiwork," I confessed, my gaze piercing as I met their eyes.
Faol appeared perplexed by my revelation. "But how can this be? The Holy Light is benevolent. How could they harbor such xenophobia?" he murmured, a furrow forming on his brow. Uther placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, offering silent support.
"Did they combat the darkness with the Light?" Uther inquired eagerly, his eyes alight with hope.
"Uther! We've already had this discussion," Faol chided gently, though his own curiosity seemed piqued by the question.
I pondered my response carefully, knowing the weight of my words. Yet, behind my helmet, I couldn't help but smile.
"Yes, their Paladins were formidable warriors, blessed by the Light itself. Their prowess in battle rivaled our own Heretics," I confirmed with a nod directed at Uther, who returned it with a grateful smile before turning to Faol, his expression expectant.
Faol sighed heavily, his gaze fixed on me with a hint of reproach in his eyes.
"Uther, the Light was forged to aid and uplift, not to be wielded as a weapon of war. We must not lose sight of that fundamental truth," Faol admonished gently, his voice carrying the weight of wisdom.
"But master, people are perishing, and our prayers alone cannot stem the tide of darkness threatening our lands. You've taught me that the Light is meant to shield all, yet we find ourselves unable to safeguard our own. Look at Stormwind—assaulted by otherworldly beasts, with naught but our prayers to offer in defense!" Uther pleaded, his voice tinged with frustration and desperation.
Faol's expression softened, touched by the earnestness of his pupil's plea. He placed a comforting hand on Uther's shoulder, a silent gesture of support.
"As much as I hate to admit it," I interjected, drawing their attention, "I find myself in agreement with Uther's sentiment. Despite my disdain for the teachings of Elrath, there's a demon proverb that resonates: 'Might makes Right'."
Faol frowned, his expression troubled. "I don't know if a demonic proverb can be applied to humans," he retorted, his voice laced with skepticism as he glanced at me.
"Well, here's another one for you: 'If you want peace, prepare for war'," I countered, raising my hands before me. "This one isn't demonic; it's a human proverb."
Faol paused for a moment, contemplating, before turning his attention to Uther.
"We'll delve deeper into this matter upon your return from Medivh's abode," Faol said, his gaze shifting between us. "It's time for your departure. Please, return safely, Miss Aegwynn. Azeroth cannot afford to lose its last guardian."
"Don't fret over me; worry about the scolding I'll deliver to my son," Aegwynn replied with a grin as she gracefully rose from her seat. I nodded appreciatively to Faol for his graciousness before standing up.
"Val-Beleth," Uther's voice halted me, and I turned to face him. "Should I ever discover that you pose a threat to Azeroth, I will track you down and end you," he vowed, his gaze unwavering.
"You're welcome to try, Lightbringer," I countered, eliciting a shared glance of curiosity between Faol and Uther.
As I followed Aegwynn towards the entrance of Stormwind, where we would be transported to Karazhan, a wry smile played on my lips. 'His title, though not for now ,' I mused silently to myself.
--
Last chapter before the big showdown at Karazhan
See you soon