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I’ve never stepped foot into Shadowmoon Valley before. I had heard the skies were green both night and day. I had hoped the rumors I had heard about this territory were exaggerated. The ground was rough, the air in this wasteland was thin. I could feel my skin chapping in the harsh climate. Every so often gusts of wind blew by, blowing the coarse pale ash up. If there ever was a place that personified despair and loneliness; this was it.
As I walked down the beat up road, following close behind the quiet lead of Xerathos, I began to wonder what was going through his mind. I had never seen this man this quiet. In Silvermoon he was the life of the party. Women bouncing off him for his attention, even if for a moment. For example, I witnessed the other morning, an associate of Lady Volanthius, Sindrasa Oriter, had come up behind him and pleaded for him to help her pick out a dress. I personally found it humorous that she’d ask a blind man for his opinion on what gown she should wear. Then it clicked to me. If Xerathos is leading me through Shadowmoon Valley, how is he able to see where we are going?
We passed through a place known as Coilskar Point. From the wreckage, it was a Naga camp at one time. Like most things here, they were now nothing more than ruins of a previous battle. A single banner stood up on a point; the Illidari banner. The banner slowly flapped in the wind, sandblasted and dingy. Straying from our course, I climbed the sand drifted path leading to the old naga camp. Xerathos stopped and waited by the bridge still not breaking his silence. I couldn’t think of all the battles that had been fought here. The Illidari against the combined forces of the Scryers and Aldor, both under the Sha’tari. How this banner remained standing all this time astounded me.
I’ve asked Xerathos to bring me here for a book, a book to hunt demons. I wasn’t intending to go through the proper training and gouge my eyes out. What I wanted might be out of the question if I don’t proceed with the training, but what choice do I have? A good friend, one whom I had allied with months ago in order to cripple a group of Scourge followers told me of their plan to plant seeds of distrust into the Sin’dorei people in order to bring their destruction. While she claimed she was looking out for her own young, the fact she had this plan was a call for concern.
Xannivard Ral’kas told me I was not prepared to fight a demon. He was right, but if negotiating with the demoness failed then I’d have no other choice then to fight her. A fight I was ill prepared for. The Sin’dorei have survived the scourge and I am confident we can survive this puny little threat to our race. As I looked at the banner of the Illidari, I realized it stood as a symbol, a marker in history that a battle once took place here. While they were wiped out, the banner remained standing through the seasons. It wasn’t a battle to be forgotten by those who survived. Rather than burning the fabric in holy fire, I left it as a reminder to those who pass by, to see what impacts a war can have.
I walked back to the path, and Xerathos continued his quiet pace upon hearing my footsteps come closer to his. His silence was killing me; maybe he didn’t like the idea of what I was going to do. I started questioning my own faith. I never doubted my intentions though. Where do I draw the line on what is the right way and wrong way to do things? I had planned on studying an art that was outside of the everyday studies of priesthood. I had never been a priest until my return to Silvermoon. I began studying the Light of the Sun with Xannivard who later introduced me to the High Divinst Sinsaria Dawnrose. Maybe it’s guilt why I do this, guilt that I feel I owe something to the people or I’m looking to atone for my past deeds.
We finally reached our destination. The ruins of Karabor, the Black Temple. To my knowledge the Illidari were no more. It didn’t stop a few handful of the most devout demon hunters to keep up with their practice. This group didn’t accept outsiders so easily, so asking to borrow their book was out of the question.
My attention quickly turned to Xerathos when he finally broke his silence. “We climb.” We made our way up the slope, the sounds of metal clashing against another got louder each step. Stopped at the base of the stairs. He paused and took a deep breath while unbuttoning his coat. Within moments the coat was on the ground, he stood just footsteps infront of me, wearing a demon hunters wardrobe. He took one more breath before telling me he never actually finished his training, came close. It made sense why he was so quiet all the way here. He was preparing himself for this moment. Perhaps his final test. I don’t know anything about Xerathos other than he was a demon hunter and that this was his fight and his fight alone. I stood back far enough to where we wouldn’t first be noticed, until he suddenly yelled. “Remember me, I’m back!” What was he doing? The hunters stopped their sparring and now faced towards us, it looked like I was gonna have to fight after all. I steadied myself, pondering in my own thoughts what mental infliction should I use on them. Which one would work? I had no idea how to fight a demon hunter. I assumed they’ve had training to fight against shadow magic.
Before I could react, Xerathos ran forward, jumping into the swarm of hunters, his swords clashing against their glaives. Part of me was horrified at the display, the battle of blood and steel pressing up against one another. I couldn’t tell how badly Xerathos was getting hurt, if at all. By now his body was painted in blood.
As I stood there watching these men punish themselves, battering their bodies, it dawned on me. This bloodbath is the one I’m trying to prevent back home. Regardless of the outcome if I go through with this, there will be a battle of blood. Do I want this on my hands, starting a war between the Sin’dorei and the demons? This is not what I had signed up for. Avaraelia was in the protection of Xannivard Ral’Kas. Xannivard was my guidance into the ways for Light of the Sun. If it came down to it, which side would I be on if I had to go after Lady Volanthius. Would I have the backing of the order, or would they hold their word on protecting her and I’d be the lone banner on the field?
The sounds of Xerathos yelling into the skies brought my focus back to Karabor, he stood victorious against all odds. His fight here was over. Mine, I had hoped wouldn’t take place. We found a copy of the book we needed and began down the road we came.
I’m no shining beacon of light. Like everyone I have many flaws and have made many mistakes. If the Sin’dorei end themselves, then so be it. However, I will not standby and allow a force to purposely tear us apart little by little from within. Avaraelia was a good friend of mine, she was one of the first to befriend me upon my return to Silvermoon. Her agenda may split us apart. I just hope she understands I have to do what I must for the good of the Sin’dorei.