I traveled through time and space and became the Archbishop of Stormwind!

As the storm disappeared, the fiery look in the eyes of the Blue Dragon Mage also disappeared.

Like a candle flame that was suddenly extinguished, the concentration in her eyes and all the complex emotions quickly dissipated and peeled off like the receding tide. Her straight back collapsed in an instant, as if the strength supporting her was instantly drained away.

She staggered, her eyes becoming empty again, and a chaos even deeper than before spread out again, swallowing up the brief light.

Green Shadow hurriedly supported her, and she stared blankly at the empty eastern sky. Her lips moved unconsciously, but in the end no sound came out.

"It seems that the thing in the storm is very likely our target."

Alvin opened his mouth, but found that the sound he made was extremely dry.

Green Shadow also frowned and fell silent as he looked at the strange sea area.

The heavy oak door of the Hunter's Hall closed behind Alvin, blocking out the low roar of the wind outside.

Shandris Feathermoon was hunched over the huge wooden table.

The table was covered with a sheepskin map that almost covered the entire surface. The edges were worn and curled, and faded ink and colored arrows representing different forces marked the complex terrain of the ruins of Eldaras and its surroundings - twisted streets, collapsed towers, polluted canals, and the enemy's presumed defense points.

Her slender but powerful fingers were pressing on a point on the map that represented the core area of ​​the ruins. Her long braid fell from her shoulders, almost touching the ink line.

Her brows were furrowed, her thin lips were pressed into a firm straight line, and her whole body was like a bow ready to be released.

Next to her, Akalitasa was tapping the stone floor intermittently, making a soft "tap, tap" sound out of boredom.

When Alvin and others walked in, Akalitassa's ears instantly perked up.

She raised her head suddenly, and her eyes suddenly burst into bright light.

"Brother Alvin!"

Her excited voice stirred up a small echo in the hall.

"You guys are finally back! I was suffocating!"

The noise finally alarmed Shantis, who was immersed in the map world.

She suddenly raised her head and her eyes swept over the three people who came in from the door.

Her gaze lingered briefly on Alvin's face, then dropped back down to the map, as if those intricate lines were the only world she cared about.

"Thank you."

She uttered a short syllable, without even raising her jaw completely, her voice cold and calm, like a mountain stream sliding over stones. The thank you was concise and almost stingy, an expression of gratitude for his treatment of the wounded in the camp, but that was all.

Her mind had obviously already flown to the upcoming bloody battle.

Alvin waved his hand casually.

"It's a small matter, General."

He walked to the table and his eyes fell on the detailed yet depressing map, but his eyes became focused.

Shandris looked up again, this time her eyes locked on Alvin.

"The plan is set,"

Her voice was not loud, but it clearly penetrated the somewhat empty hall, carrying a decisive tone.

"Tonight, after moonset, raid the ruins of Eldaras."

Alvin nodded slightly to show his understanding.

He certainly understood Shandris's considerations: the thick night was the natural cloak of the night elves.

Their talent for escape allows them to blend into the deepest shadows, like ghosts;

Their innately superior dark vision allows them to see every detail of the darkness, which is pitch black for humans. Night combat is an advantage that flows in the blood of the night elves.

but.

"A very reasonable plan,"

Alvin's voice calmed down. He bent his knuckles and tapped lightly on the map at the entrance to the ruins, which was marked heavily with a red arrow by Shandris.

"Just be careful, Shandris."

He raised his eyes and looked directly into the elf's eyes.

"If those naga have been battling you on this very land for millennia, then they're probably more familiar with your methods than you are with your own. They must have anticipated your attack at night. They must have prepared traps, ambushes, and countermeasures to Shadowmeld, waiting for you to step into their carefully woven web."

A smile appeared on Shandris's lips, and she seemed to approve of Alvin.

"That's right,"

She admitted it very readily.

"These sea monsters must have already laid their nets and sharpened their claws, waiting for us to run headfirst into them."

Her slender fingers tapped heavily on the core area of ​​the ruins.

"Just as we understand them, they understand us as well. This thousand-year blood feud has long been engraved into our bones."

"Oh?"

Alvin raised his eyebrows, deliberately lengthened his tone, leaned forward slightly, and glanced at Shandris's chest with a hint of ill intent.

"It sounds like our commander has a plan in mind and a brilliant plan to deal with this situation?"

A very subtle blush, like the rising morning glow, instantly dyed the white tips of Shantis's ears.

This rare flash of shyness was so fleeting that one could almost mistake it for an illusion caused by candlelight.

She quickly hardened her face, regaining her cold, commanding demeanor, and spoke in a more decisive voice, "Divide the troops into two groups."

Her finger drew a clear arc on the map,

"Lian and I will lead the main force and launch a frontal assault from the south. We need to make a big noise, so they think this is all our strength and keep their attention fixed on the southern front!"

She turned her gaze to Alvin again, her silver eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness: "Alvin, I need you to do me a favor." She turned her fingertips and pointed accurately at the northern end of the ruins on the map. There, the terrain was more fragmented and complex, and there were fewer markings.

"You and Sister Green Shadow will go around to the north and sneak in from their rear, where their defenses are weakest and most unexpected. You have only one mission—sneak through the ruins as silently as a shadow, strike straight into their heart, and find the fish-headed warlord named Kus who is entrenched in the command post. Then..."

She paused, a cold light flashed in her silver eyes.

"Shut him up forever."

She took a deep breath and lowered her voice.

"This mission is very dangerous, Alvin. You will be alone deep in the enemy's territory, surrounded by enemies on all sides. Once exposed, there will be no reinforcements. So, I say again, this is very dangerous. I will not force you to take this mission."

Her gaze was frank and direct.

The playfulness on Alvin's face had long since disappeared, and he grinned, revealing his white teeth.

"You know I would never turn my back on you, Shandris."

"Infiltration? Assassination? Creating chaos? I don't think that's difficult. If it doesn't work, Green Shadow can transform into a Storm Crow and take me away."

"what about me?!"

The little red dragon, who had been listening with his ears perked up, could no longer hold back, "Am I going with Brother Alvin?"

Shandris turned to the young dragon.

"Akaritassa, your strength is crucial. I need you to stay on the front lines."

She pointed to the key node of the southern attack route on the map.

"When my horn sounds, and our troops clash with the enemy, I need you to use your fiery dragon breath to ruthlessly tear through their supposedly impenetrable defenses! Burn a flaming path to victory!"