Chapter 288 - Sun Empress
Ling Pingan was finally in the mood to write after dinner.
Thus, he began his intense work.
The kitten slowly closed its eyes amidst the tapping sound of the keyboard.
The busiest time of the day had begun outside the bookshop.
Cars came and went, and pedestrians came and went in a hurry.
Ling Pingan was immersed in his fantasy world.
He had smooth writing with the help of the material from the game world.
The time slowly reached nine o’clock as he wrote.
He raised his head and looked at the clock on the wall, then looked at the word count on the screen. It was exactly two thousand words!
He nodded in satisfaction, then stood up and made himself a cup of fragrant tea.
His phone beeped as he drank the tea and received a text message.
Ling Pingan picked it up and looked. It was from his aunt.
“Oh…” Ling Pingan was surprised. “My aunt’s department has the travel and recuperation benefits of the Fragrant Hills Islands!”
“Not bad!”
“Looks like the ancient culture major has a future…”
He thought of the girl from a few days ago and felt ashamed for his ignorance.
Ling Pingan nodded as he looked at the photo of the plane taking off, “No wonder the requirements are so high!”
So, he casually replied with a text message. “Aunty, have fun!”
… … … ..
As she walked onto the passenger plane, carrying her luggage.
Li Anan took out her phone and looked at the reply.
She was instantly furious.
Did she want to hear that from him?
Little Pingan?
But she was also helpless. Her nephew had grown up, so she couldn’t be responsible for his matter…
Of course…
She hadn’t been responsible for him before.
To be more precise, it was her nephew who takes care of her more.
Whether it was cooking, washing dishes, or housework.
It seemed that her nephew had always been the guardian.
It seemed that it was her nephew who helped her with the preparation of all kinds of exercise books and so on even when she was taking the college entrance examination…
Therefore, she could only sigh.
She was a little worried about the future of the Ling family.
She looked at Chu Weiwei, who was in front of her.
Where would Little Pingan find someone with such looks, character, and family background if he missed out on her?
Li Anan shook her head again when she thought of that.
Chu Weiwei turned around and saw Li Anan’s expression, so she asked with concern, “Captain, what’s wrong?”
“Don’t mention it…” Li Anan sighed and pretended to be sad, “Children won’t listen to you when they grow up…”
..
Sylvanas finally returned to Quel’Danas.
What she saw was a devastated island.
The crisscrossed ravines cut through the island densely.
Stone sculptures stood tall all over the island.
These stone sculptures were entangled in vines.
These vines were like roots, firmly securing these stone sculptures.
More and more stone sculptures appeared as she walked forward.
They stood there one after another and were lifelike.
One would know that these stone sculptures were living people if they observed them.
Humans, elves, Naga.
However, their souls had already disappeared.
There was a strong energy in the air that made Sylvanas sensitive.
She could smell it.
She had smelled it when she was a child.
She had smelled it near the Scarab Wall when her father took her to the Cenarion Circle in Silithus.
The nobles of the Cenarion Circle had said.
It was the scent of a burnt soul.
It was the scent of the Qiraji Bug-men behind the Scarab Wall when they sacrificed the sacrificial person to the ancient gods they believed in.
However, the scent behind the Scarab Wall was faint.
The scent on the Isle of Quel’Danas was so strong that it was beyond imagination!
“General…”
One after another, the Highborne Elves walked out of their bunkers trembling.
They looked at Sylvanas as if they had seen their backbone and gathered around.
Everything that happened during the day was too soul-stirring.
The impact on every Highborne Elf was no less than the invasion of a catastrophe!
Whether it was Prince Kael’thas that brought the human fleet or Lor’themar bringing the Naga.
They all told every Highborne Elf refugee their status.
They were pawns and cannon fodder!
And what happened afterward proved that they weren’t even qualified to be pawns. They weren’t even qualified to be cannon fodder.
Archimonde of the Burning Legion.
The master of the Death Knight who had invaded the Quel’Thalas Kingdom.
He had been crushed to death by a large hand like a bug.
The flesh and bone marrow of the Legion leader rained down on the highlands of the Sunwell.
It had become fertilizer just like what the big hand had said!
The fertilizer for the Sacred Mother Tree!
Thus, almost everyone had survived until now in fear.
They were afraid, extremely afraid!
They were afraid of the revenge from the Burning Legion, afraid of the catastrophe coming back, and even more afraid of the wrath of the sacred mother tree.
Sylvanas glanced at her compatriots.
She looked at the frightened people.
Although she didn’t see everything during the day with her own eyes.
But…
She had heard about it from some refugees who had escaped from the island.
So, she looked at them and said in a low voice, “I already know what happened during the day…”
“I will send people in my name…”
“To protest to Stormwind City and Darnassus!”
That was something that had to be done.
Humans and Night Elves had blatantly interfered with Quel’Thalas!
They even had the idea of abducting the Sunstrider Family, destroying the Sunwell, and seizing the Yggdrasil.
That was an undeniable fact!
However, Sylvanas wanted to do more than that.
She raised her head, and golden flames burned in her eyes.
“From today on, I will stay in Quel’Danas!” The Ranger General said seriously.
“Long live!” Everyone cheered. “Long live the Windrunner!”
“From today on, I will teach you the cultivation techniques of the Sun Elves!” The youngest member of the Windrunner family said in a deep voice. The flames of the Sun emerged from her body, and the scorching light was even brighter than the arcane crystal!
She gently held her palm. The sunlight that she breathed during the day diffused from her skin.
Red, orange, blue, green, purple…
A rainbow appeared in her palm.
She threw the rainbow into the sky and immediately exploded like fireworks.
“Quel’dorei…” Sylvanas said in a loud voice, “From today onwards, you all will be Sun Elves!”
“I, Sylvanas Windrunner… will be the first Sun Empress!”
“We…” she said firmly, “Will withdraw from the Alliance from now on!”
“Whether it’s Stormwind City, Stromgarde, or Darnassus…”
“No one, or no matter what can restrain us anymore!”
“Great Sun Elf!”
“Eternal child of the Sun!”
The people looked at her and saw the power of the sun blooming on her body.
It was indeed sacred.
And it was indeed powerful!
More importantly…
People could feel that if they could be like Sylvanas…
The demonic addiction would become the end!
All the Quel’dorei didn’t need to worry about the demonic addiction anymore.
Because the sun was their source of energy!
Thus, one by one, the surviving refugees knelt on one knee.
“As your will…” they respectfully offered their loyalty. “Great Sun Empress!”
Quel’dorei could only rely on Windrunner at that point.
That was because the truth had already proven that they could not rely on anyone else.
Be it the humans or the night.
Be it the Sunstrider or Lor’themar.
They were all unreliable!
Even the Silvermoon Council that the people believed in the past had proven with irrefutable facts on the battlefield that everything they stood for and believed in was so weak!
The Highborne Elves were utterly defeated under the scourge of the catastrophe.
The old king died in battle.
All the Silvermoon Council died in battle.
Lor’themar took the remnants of the army and ran away cowardly, leaving the people behind.
Kael’thas of the Sunstrider Family came with outsiders, wagging his tail. Moreover, they wanted to destroy the Sunwell and seize the sacred young mother tree!
The people had had enough!
But Sylvanas was different.
The youngest daughter of the Windrunner family was the first to appear in the ruins, to save the people.
She hanged the traitors and retaliated with cruel punishment.
She burned the claws of the catastrophe one by one.
She summoned the Holy Mother Tree and begged him to purify the Sunwell.
And she protected everyone that day.
So…
The people chose the Windrunner!
History chose the Windrunner!
Sylvanas looked at her people, her compatriots.
The Sun Empress raised her head and looked at the Sunwell on the top of the mountain.
There was also a shadow kneeling beside the Sunwell.
“Let’s go and see the Prince…”
“The Sunstrider of Quel’dorei…”
The Sun Elves needed the approval of the Sunstrider if they wanted to truly establish themselves!
The bow and submission of the last bloodline of the Sunstrider would be a sign of the transfer of power!
Although Sylvanas knew that she didn’t have to do so.
However…
The deeply rooted tradition still affected her.
Therefore, she led the people toward the Sunwell.
..
Arthas lowered his head. His master’s voice echoed in his soul.
“Come back… come back…”
He raised his head. The Death Knight’s pale face was expressionless.
Although his beloved horse was dead, it was still connected to his master.
The Frostmourne in his hand let out a low cry.
So, he knew it was time to go back.
Archimonde was dead.
Completely dead.
He was crushed to death like a bug by a large hand that suddenly appeared in front of everyone in the world who could feel it.
Thus, his master had a chance to break free from the Burning Legion’s restrictions.
And that was also a good opportunity for him!
A good opportunity to clean up his enemies!
“Kel’Thuzad…” the Death Knight called out to the Lich.
Without turning his head, he said, “Kill all the Dread Lords of the Burning Legion…”
“Our era has already begun!”
The Lich’s bones were making small sounds in the night sky. Faint green ghostly flames lingered around the white bones.
“Yes…” Kel’Thuzad said in a low voice, “Our era is about to begin!”
Ner’Zhul…
He wanted a new body.
However, the Death Knight wanted his strength!
A strength that could control everything!
Now was the best time!
The Burning Legion was without a leader. Ner’Zhul no longer had those unfaithful allies.
That meant that he was isolated.
Next, it was time to create an opportunity!
Just like how he had teamed up with Kel ‘Thuzad and had Illidan kill the Dread Lord, who was supervising the army and seize Gul’dan’s skull.
Now, the traitor could be used again.
All he needed to do was to tell Illidan that Ner’Zhul wanted to stab him in the back.
Illidan had always known about these things.
But…
The traitor and the Death Knight pretended not to know.
… … … ..
The sacred Sunwell became extremely dazzling under the illumination of the energy of the Sun.
Sylvanas looked at the Sunstrider prince, who was kneeling in front of the sacred mother’s well.
“Your Highness…” she said, “I have decided to lead all the people to withdraw from that hypocritical alliance!”
She knew enough.
The Quel’dorei had shed blood and sweat from the second war until now.
They had even started a war with the orcs for the sake of the humans.
What was the repayment of the humans and the Alliance?
Betrayal…
Betrayal again and again!
The first betrayal had caused her parents to die in battle.
The second betrayal had caused the entire Quel’dorei to fall.
The third time, they had even directly planned to create a puppet king and control him.
The alliance, the so-called alliance.
Where was the justice and fairness they claimed to be?
The extremely shameful behavior made Sylvanas feel deeply ashamed.
Kael’thas raised his head. His face was pale.
The Prince of Sunstrider knew that his fate had reached a crossroads at that moment.
Should he agree? Or should he disagree!
He would have to become enemies with the Alliance from then on if he agreed.
He would be cutting himself off from the people if he disagreed.
But the problem was that he would lose everything if he agreed.
The Highborne Elves would rebuild the kingdom with the Windrunner Family as the core.
The Sunstrider Family would completely abdicate.
The Windrunner might not dare to do anything to him or might even send him out according to tradition if he disagreed.
Just like how the Night Elves exiled their ancestors 10,000 years ago.
And he would be valued by the alliance.
He would become a high-ranking member of the Alliance!
Dalaran and Kirin Tor would be happy.
“General…” Kael’thas lowered his head and said, “You are right…”
“I, Kael’thas of the Sunstrider, wholeheartedly support and approve you!”
That made Sylvanas look at the prince.
That prince had lived in Dalaran since he was young, and had only come back to the Silvermoon City a few times.
“General… I know that you suspect me…”
“But, please believe…”
“I hate those despicable betrayals as much as you do!”
Everything that happened during the day had made him aware.
He was just a puppet without strength.
The humans and the Alliance wouldn’t trust him.
Moreover…
He looked at the burning energy of the sun on Sylvanas.
Why did he go to the alliance that even the orcs could go against?
The alliance was already beyond saving.
The catastrophe, the orcs, the Burning Legion… They attacked from three sides…
But…
Here, in the sacred Quel’Danas.
The leader of the Burning Legion was crushed to death!
Archimonde’s death was worse than that of a human soldier.
He was crushed to death and obliterated without any dignity like a bug.
His flesh and soul became fertilizer for the Mother Tree of the Sunwell!
Therefore, Kael’thas knew that his choice was extremely correct.
He looked at Sylvanas and said, “I heard that you renamed Quel’Dorei as a Sun Elf…”
“I sincerely support your decision!”
“In the name of the Sunstrider Family… ” Kael’thas knelt on one knee and submitted to his former subject, the younger daughter of the Windrunner Family. “I am willing to serve you, Your Majesty!”
Sylvanas looked at Kael’thas.
The Sunstrider’s choice was beyond her expectations.
It even left her at a loss.
Because she had imagined that the most ideal outcome would be that Kael’thas would insist on the sanctity of his throne.
But he had tacitly agreed to her change.
But…
Now, he had directly surrendered.
He surrendered in the name of the Sunstrider Family.
That meant that her transformation of Quel’dorei had gained all legitimacy.
But it also meant that how to deal with the Sunstrider became a problem.
Sylvanas knew that the best choice was for her to be the Empress and the Sunstrider to be her husband.
The combination of the Windrunner and the Sunstrider would make any dissenter have nothing to say.
But she couldn’t.
Because…
She didn’t belong to herself anymore.
From the moment she stepped into the fog.
Everything about her had been anchored.
Otherwise…
Why would that voice choose her?
Why would the mother tree help her?
Sylvanas knew and understood that nothing was free in this world after the Battle of Silvermoon City and witnessing the destruction of her country.
Everything had a price.
Many things had already been secretly marked out.
So…
The Sunstrider’s surrender brought a new problem.
How could he be settled reasonably?
After all, Kael’thas was a prince and the only royal blood in the kingdom of Quel’Thalas.
Now, it seemed that the people supported her.
But, it was inevitable that the royalist would come out to cause trouble after the situation stabilized.
The former King’s death in battle could also be added to his score to a certain extent.
Therefore, an independent prince could become a bomb in the future at any time.
A crisp voice sounded in her ear just as Sylvanas was hesitating.
“Leave it to me…”
“Let him and his trusted men become servants to serve me… The great and only mother tree…”
The tender green leaves swayed in the Sunwell.
The edges of the leaves reflected in the golden well water, the jagged area, and countless sharp teeth-like things wriggled.
Sylvanas watched. She knew that this was the only and best solution.
Let the Sunstrider serve the mother tree.
They would be separated from the future Sun Elves by becoming the servant of the mother tree.
Even if the Sunstrider wanted to rebel, he would not be able to cause any trouble with the monitoring and control of the mother tree.
Therefore, Sylvanas nodded and said to Kael’thas, “Your Highness…”
“I accept your loyalty!”
Kael’thas immediately kissed the soil beside Sylvanas.
He was full of confidence that the Windrunner would announce that he would be the Empress’s husband.
The Winrunner Family would be connected to the Sunstrider Family’s sacred bloodline.
But…
Sylvanas’ indifferent voice entered his ears.
“Your Highness…”
“The sacred mother tree needs someone to serve it…”
“There is no one more suitable than you…”
“In the name of the Sun Empress…”
“I appoint you as the High Priest of the mother tree…”
Kael’thas raised his head, his face filled with disbelief.
But…
He had no choice but to lower his head and agree!
That was because vines that looked like roots began to coil around his body as soon as Sylvanas finished speaking.
If he disagreed…
He would die!
That was the will of the mother tree in the roots.
He could only bow. “As your will!”