To be honest, hearing that they were "just ordinary friends" made Rhodes feel incredibly relieved that his future self hadn't dug an inescapable hole for him.
But wait! You could fool a primitive native with that line, but don't even try to trick a modern person. There was definitely something fishy going on here.
"Ordinary friends..." Rhodes muttered to himself. "Do 'ordinary friends' make jokes that crude? Do they discuss topics like 'dried bananas'? Future me, just how many landmines did you bury for me?"
Tyrande seemed to see right through Rhodes's embarrassment. She let out a light laugh—a sound tinged with mockery and... was that nostalgia?
"Don't worry, Rhodes. To me, the current you is indeed more like a familiar stranger. It's just... seeing your face makes me want to tease you."
"Oh," Rhodes replied, falling silent. They didn't speak much after that, with Tyrande simply providing directions.
After a full night of flight, they arrived the next morning at a hidden cavern—a place pitch-black and suffocatingly gloomy.
"We're here, Rhodes. This is the place. To be honest, I didn't expect Cenarius and Malfurion to imprison Illidan in a place like this," Tyrande said, staring into the dark abyss of the cave.
"How does he eat or drink? In a place with no sun, and apparently no guards," Rhodes remarked, scanning the area.
He remembered from the game that Malfurion and Tyrande had come to a mysterious cave to awaken the Druids of the Claw, a place that hadn't seen visitors for 3,000 years. That cave was filled with Furbolgs, giant spiders corrupted by Fel, and sleeping Druids. He clearly remembered a quest involving a Fountain of Life to save a Furbolg Shaman. In that timeline, Malfurion had barely remembered that Illidan was even kept there.
However, later lore described this place as the Vault of the Wardens, guarded by the Shadowsong family. If this was supposed to be a high-security prison, it looked remarkably desolate.
"I don't know. I'm not even sure if Illidan is still alive," Tyrande said, her knuckles cracking as she clenched her fists. "The Wardens kept him in secret. The location was hidden from me; only Malfurion and Cenarius knew."
Though she loved Malfurion, his handling of Illidan had always been a source of friction. Who was the most critical individual in winning the War of the Ancients? It wasn't Rhodes or the other travelers—it was Illidan. Yet, after the war, the Night Elves grew terrified of magic. The Highborne were exiled, and Illidan's crime was attempting to create a second Well of Eternity. Despite their fear, they had planted the World Tree atop that very well.
"Night Elves are a peculiar race," Rhodes said, walking to her side. "You're easily shaped by the fundamental forces—Fel creates Satyrs, Arcane created the Highborne, and Nature created the Druids. Illidan won't die easily, even without food or water."
"Heh, that sounds exactly like what you said ten thousand years ago," Tyrande sighed. "Our scholars reached the same conclusion. Maiev Shadowsong hates Illidan to the core; I can't imagine what she's put him through."
"Don't worry. Maiev hasn't killed him. I'm certain of that, otherwise, my past self wouldn't have said I'd meet Illidan again in the future," Rhodes reassured her.
"I hope so. By the way... about that rumor? Is it true that Vashj and Maiev both have secret crushes on Illidan?" Tyrande suddenly asked.
"Ahem... Tyrande, where did you hear that? It wasn't from me, was it?" Rhodes asked, feeling a cold sweat.
"Who else would tell me such things? Let's verify your theory. Back then, you patted your chest and swore that after ten thousand years together, the relationship between Illidan and Maiev would 'change'—something about a man and a woman alone in the dark. You also said Vashj's distance would create 'aesthetic longing' and that she would follow him to the ends of the earth."
Rhodes shrugged. In World of Warcraft, players had invented many "ships" for Illidan. Lady Vashj was Queen Azshara's handmaiden who later became a Naga and served Illidan, but that was likely on Azshara's orders. As for Maiev, she was the one person who wanted him dead more than anyone else. Ten thousand years together hadn't bred romance; it had bred an obsession that ended with her killing him in Outland.
"I wouldn't know! I haven't even met him yet," Rhodes said. "I only know him from history books as a hero who fought the Legion."
"I'm not so sure. You haven't experienced the ancient war yet, but I have a feeling you know us—Malfurion, Illidan, and me—far better than you let on. I used to think we'd become best friends in the future, but it seems there's more to it," Tyrande noted. She knew Rhodes was hiding things; the details he knew about the Highborne and Illidan weren't the kind of things recorded in standard history books.
"Let's move. There will be fighting ahead," Tyrande said.
"No problem. I can summon some Light Elementals." Rhodes pulled out his scrolls and summoned nine Light Elementals to act as a vanguard.
They entered the depths. Tyrande drew her massive bow while Rhodes used Fireball to clear out Fel-corrupted spiders.
"The spiders have mutated. The Fel corruption here is severe," Rhodes observed.
"Then we must hurry. Fortunately, since Cenarius awakened the Druids early, some of these corridors have already been cleared," Tyrande noted.
They reached a massive, dark iron door—the entrance to Illidan's cell. Two fully armored Wardens stood guard.
"Lady Tyrande, what brings you here?" one Warden asked sharply.
"Warden, I bring the command of the Demigod," Tyrande said, presenting Cenarius's hand-written order.
"The Burning Legion has invaded once more. Fel has already seeped into Hyjal. I am here to release Illidan, who fought them ten thousand years ago."
"Lady Tyrande, are you sure this is the Demigod's order and not your personal whim?" the Warden asked suspiciously. "And why have you brought this strange creature instead of Malfurion or a Druid?"
"Rhodes is a disciple of Cenarius. He is no stranger," Tyrande snapped.
"Without a direct order from Mistress Maiev Shadowsong, no one releases that demon," the Warden replied coldly.
Tyrande's expression darkened. As the leader of the Night Elves for ten millennia, she wasn't used to being spoken to this way. Maiev Shadowsong had always been a thorn in her side—the two women simply could not get along.