A mistake? How could that be possible?
Could the future version of himself have erred?
Nozdormu was utterly perplexed. Of course, he couldn't understand because Duke didn't belong to the time domain he controlled. In a strict sense, Duke was governed by the laws of space more than his own laws of time.
Without concrete evidence, Nozdormu wouldn't dare act rashly in front of his fellow aspects.
The colossal Dragon Aspect, made of sand, blinked, looking at the massive red wings spread by Alexstrasza, as if shielding her dragonlings. He felt somewhat embarrassed.
"No, actually… Everything we do today will affect the future. Some impacts may lead to the world's collapse. Lately, Duke seems to have changed many destinies, making Azeroth's future a bit… different. Crucially, Duke is not a native human of Azeroth." Facing the imposing Alexstrasza, Nozdormu hesitated, seemingly choosing better words.
Ysera, who had been silent, spoke. Her human form, with closed eyes, resembled a delicate sleeping beauty. A surreal voice echoed, "Change? I understand your duty to guard the timeline, Nozdormu, but remember, Azeroth is not isolated. What if there are already other external beings exerting their influence? We are guardian dragons, protecting Azeroth's entirety is our greatest charge."
Pausing briefly, Ysera seemed to glance at Duke. Not a physical glance, but a felt one. She continued, "If the change benefits the world, even if the timeline alters, isn't it a minor issue? After all, your ultimate duty isn't to guard an unchanging timeline, but Azeroth itself."
"Yes! Yes!" Alexstrasza interjected, "Without Duke, who knows how long I'd have been trapped in that damned cave, enduring humiliation from those wretched orcs."
The Red Dragon Queen undoubtedly was of a more straightforward nature.
Often, such beings have astonishing intuition.
She didn't realize she had touched on one of Nozdormu's secrets. Historically, she had suffered until the second Dark Portal war before being liberated. Eggs stolen, smashed, heavy casualties for the Red Dragonflight--just one tragedy after another.
Suddenly, Nozdormu felt sheepish. Seeing the near future was easy for him, and he knew of Alexstrasza's original tragic future. For a moment, the huge sand dragon lowered his head unnaturally.
Alexstrasza immediately connected the dots, "Wait! So, you saw my future humiliation and not only did you not come to rescue me, but you also opposed Duke's early rescue?!"
Nozdormu's face turned green with embarrassment, "Damn it! I hate intuitive female dragons!"
"Truly, a self-imposed predicament" Thought Malygos as he looked on in astonishment, while Ysera gently placed a hand on her forehead.
Sure enough, remembering her days of confinement, Alexstrasza, filled with pent-up anger, lunged.
Dragon teeth bite!
Dragon wings strike!
Dragon claws assault!
Dragon tail sweeps!
Guilty Nozdormu took the beating, even losing his neck.
However, for Nozdormu, whose true form is the power of time, the sand body was merely ornamental; Alexstrasza's attacks were painless.
After a while, when Alexstrasza vented, Nozdormu's form quickly restored. Still, under the scrutiny of the massive red dragon, he fell silent.
"Enough, Nozdormu! I trust Duke. If you can't prove his existence threatens Azeroth, then for my sake, stop opposing him, okay?" Despite the conciliatory phrasing, her menacing dragon claws and exposed sharp teeth gave off a fierce aura.
In plain Dragonic, it translated to: I've got Duke's back! Back off!
Duke was overjoyed. He initially sought protection from the guardian dragons and hoped to negotiate with Nozdormu. He never expected Alexstrasza's outright support.
Duke was so touched he nearly teared up.
Well, he was feeling a bit under the weather.
Suddenly, Nozdormu's voice resonated within Duke's mind, "Hmph! Boy. Whether intentional or not, I'm watching you. If you're proven a timeline disruptor, I'll deal with you, even if it means confronting that naive female dragon."
Duke sternly responded, "Nozdormu, I might not understand your implications fully, but I'll continue to improve this world and resist invaders of Azeroth, like the Burning Legion."
Nozdormu's enormous head in Duke's mindscape snorted, causing Duke's entire consciousness to shake.
Okay, for now, I'll let it slide. But when my future self hunts you, don't come crying.
The endless tragedy of the Bronze Dragonflight, guardians of the timeline for tens of thousands of years, this magical race that traveled time nodes, gradually faced extinction. Corrupted future versions killing uncorrupted past selves, and vice versa, in a seemingly endless loop, is undeniably tragic.
Hope for the future arises because it's uncertain. Yet, their despair came from knowing their fate.
Duke sighed inwardly, thinking if he weren't a successful time-traveler, such a scenario might drive him mad, even corrupt him.
But for now…
Duke extended his right hand to Nozdormu, smiling, "I believe the future will get better, right?" He then flaunted a platinum disk, now only a fifth full.
Buddy, fancy a handshake?
After Duke settled matters with the four guardian dragons, he returned just in time to witness the triumphant Alliance forces pass through Elwynn Forest.
To be precise, the Dark Portal closed on November 15th. After leaving behind the Stormwind Gryphon Legion, the Dwarven First Infantry, and the First Mechanized Division, the remaining hundreds of thousands of troops turned back.
Initially, the army had to fight its way south, crossing the Thandol Span that divides the continents, then laboriously trekking through the Wetlands, Loch Modan, the Badlands, Searing Gorge, Burning Steppes, Redridge Mountains, and Swamp of Sorrows, finally reaching the Blasted Lands.
Their return journey was less arduous. After passing through the Swamp of Sorrows and Redridge Mountains, they veered west through Elwynn Forest. From the ruins of Stormwind, they could board ships that had recently brought Stormwind refugees to Southshore. Meanwhile, the Lordaeronians and Gilneans chose to head directly to the Southshore coast.
As they traversed the fertile lands and dense foliage of East Elwynn Forest and learned it was the domain of the Windrunner sisters, expressions of astonishment and envy appeared on the faces of humans, dwarves, and even the Quel'Thalas elves of Alleria's lineage.
"Alleria, when we heard you renounced your position as the Quel'Thalas Ranger-General to serve under a human figurehead Duke, we thought you acted foolishly out of love," remarked Haduron Brightwing, still a junior in Alleria's presence, despite his own promotion to Ranger-General.
"Indeed! The things we do for love... such a lie," Lor'themar Theron mused, standing on a hillock and gazing at the expansive forest. He felt a twinge of envy, contrasting his own rank to Alleria's newfound status as 'Countess of East Elwynn Forest'. Her domain was equivalent to the combined holdings of a third of the Silvermoon Council.
At that moment, many Quel'Thalas rangers contemplated forsaking their homeland to serve under Alleria.
"I... I didn't expect Duke to grant me such vast lands. I thought a small village would suffice," Alleria replied modestly.
The expressions of the elves around her darkened, thinking of the struggles in Silvermoon for just a fraction of such land. Duke, standing nearby, rubbed his forehead, thinking, My dear, don't you know that humility can be a deadly weapon?
But to outsiders, Alleria's rise wasn't just because of her relationship with Duke. Since the Alliance's formation, she and her Windrunner family had continuously supported him. On the other hand, her illustrious record of slaying over ten thousand Horde members spoke for itself.
The envy was palpable among the elves. Their gazes filled with longing, comparing their small holdings with Alleria's vast domain.
"We should capture this moment with a magical crystal. I'll show those council members in Silvermoon their place," declared Haduron, eliciting laughter.
"Be wary of the council's retribution," Lor'themar teased.
"If they dare, let them disband the rangers!" Haduron retorted defiantly.
As the festivities wound down and they learned that Duke and Alleria would be staying in their domain, Haduron and Lor'themar's expressions grew somber.
Glancing at Lady Windrunner and her sisters, Haduron inquired, "Alleria, you and your sisters will attend the victory ceremony next month, right?"
"Of course," Alleria replied, her arm linked with Duke's—a sign of her stature. "I'll wear my Quel'Thalas Ranger-General's uniform as a last tribute to the high elves."
Everyone knew, however, that she would be attending the ceremony as a countess of Stormwind.
After Haduron and the others left, Duke and his party stayed on. After a brief return to Karazhan and dealing with an overly clingy Khadgar, Duke finally enjoyed a peaceful vacation, spending intimate moments with Alleria and Vereesa.
For nearly two years, Duke bore the weight of the Alliance's future. Now, with a brief respite, he could finally relax.
However, Northern Kingdom politicians noticed Duke's lack of intervention in their affairs. Many speculated he was too enthralled by his vast domain to care.
But on November 30th, an unexpected envoy arrived— Illucia Barov, mother of Jandice.
"Pleased to meet you again, Duke," she greeted.
Their relationship had been fostered when the Barov family aided Stormwind refugees upon their arrival at Southshore.
After exchanging pleasantries, Illucia got to the point, sipping her authentic Lordaeron tea, "Duke, are you aware of the northern situation? King Terenas might exploit the upcoming victory ceremony, where various nation leaders gather, to extend his reach into Alterac."
Duke smiled, "You're referring to Lord Daval Prestor, I presume?"
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