"Sir Rhodes, is there something you need from us?" Thrall was the first to ask.
"It's like this, guys: the Titan Watchers have rewarded me with a new magic. I can now perform a miraculous resurrection spell. If you bring me the remains of warriors who fell within the last twenty-four hours and whose bodies are well-preserved, I can bring them all back to life," Rhodes explained.
At those words, the demigod Cenarius and Tyrande exchanged a glance. They had already seen the resurrection capabilities of the two Archangels Rhodes had summoned previously. It seemed that in their era, Rhodes possessed this power—and now, this war had finally granted it to him.
"Is this true? Sir Rhodes, you can truly revive all the fallen warriors?" Thrall was visibly shocked.
Shamans possessed a spell to treat the heavily wounded called Ancestral Spirit, but it lacked a true resurrection function. (In Azeroth, resurrection is extremely rare, limited to a few figures like Sally Whitemane, Uther, and High Druids, and even then with significant restrictions. The power of the Resurrection spell and the Archangels' ability was on a completely different level.)
"There are some limitations," Rhodes added. "First, they must have died within 24 hours. I cannot revive those who died of natural causes or disease. Second, the body must be preserved; the more intact it is, the easier the resurrection."
"Understood, Rhodes! I will have all warriors begin gathering the fallen immediately," Thrall nodded excitedly. He hopped onto his dire wolf mount and sped off to summon his Orc Warlords, Chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof of the Tauren, and Vol'jin of the Darkspear Trolls. The Horde was moving.
Tyrande and Cenarius shared a nod and went to mobilize the Sentinels to recover their own fallen.
"How many times can you cast this? Many fell in this battle," Tyrande asked.
"If you've met the 'me' from ten thousand years ago, don't you already know how powerful my resurrection is?" Rhodes countered with a smile.
Thanks to his Intermediate Intelligence, Arcane Brilliance, and Blessing of Wisdom, Rhodes' mana pool sat at 215. A single cast of Resurrection cost only 16 mana. Calculating it out, he could cast it 13 times, and with mana potions, he could theoretically revive as many people as needed as long as they were within the 24-hour window.
"I do know your magic. You are becoming more like the person in my memories every day. Time has been long indeed, my friend," Tyrande said, nodding before riding off on her frostsaber.
"Master Cenarius, I have a question I've been wanting to ask," Rhodes said once Tyrande was out of earshot. He was dying to know why her attitude was so strange, especially with Malfurion standing right there.
"I know what you want to ask, but I am sorry, Rhodes—I cannot tell you. You will understand the answer in time," Cenarius sighed.
Rhodes rolled his eyes. He had tried to be subtle, but Cenarius clearly knew exactly what was going on. Damn it, what is the deal between me and Tyrande?
"Fine, I won't ask," Rhodes shrugged.
"I must return to the Emerald Dream. All Druids will follow me; we must heal the wounds left by the Battle of Mount Hyjal." Without waiting for a reply, Cenarius departed.
Rhodes watched him go, feeling increasingly uneasy. Things were getting weirder by the second.
Meanwhile, Tyrande caught up with Malfurion. They shared a look and retreated to a secluded mountain corner.
"Highness, you shouldn't have too much contact with Rhodes. You know this," Malfurion said.
"I know. Sometimes I just can't help myself. It is... difficult," Tyrande sighed.
Suddenly, Tyrande's aura shifted. She began to radiate a divine, otherworldly energy. When she looked at Malfurion, her eyes were no longer blue, but a brilliant, glowing gold—reminiscent of the legendary "Light of Lights." Only two Night Elves had ever possessed golden eyes.
"Highness, you must wait until he returns from ten thousand years in the past. Only then will my mission be complete," Malfurion said, looking at the divine figure. "If you use Tyrande's body too often, it will place a great burden on her. Even she cannot withstand your full power."
"I know, Malfurion. I will return the true Tyrande to you when the time comes. My own physical form is still gestating," the figure in Tyrande's body replied.
"I only worry about the misunderstandings. You've been using her body to interact with him," Malfurion noted. You're using my wife's body to date the guy! Rhodes is going to think Tyrande is unfaithful!
But the truth was far beyond his imagination.
"I will return her body to her for now. Soon, I shall appear before him in my true form," the divine Tyrande stated.
"Highness, Tyrande might not be the most suitable vessel for you to walk the earth. Perhaps I should drop some hints to Rhodes," Malfurion suggested.
"Don't mention that 'octopus monster' to me. She threw away her blessing, her great glory. I am leaving, Archdruid." The golden light faded from Tyrande's eyes.
Her eyes returned to blue, and she gasped for breath, collapsing.
"My love... has Her Highness departed? It was so long this time," Tyrande panted, her body exhausted.
Malfurion rushed to support her, his hands glowing with a soft green light. If Rhodes had been there, he would have realized Malfurion was using a Healing spell from the Hero system, not Druidic magic.
"She is gone, but she's left us a mess. Rhodes is suspicious. I hate to think of what he thinks of you now," Malfurion said ruefully.
"What choice do I have? But she promised me—no more than twice more, and she will stop using my body," Tyrande sighed.
"I hope so. Sometimes I wish I could just bring the 'Light of Lights' back... or pray another one is born," Malfurion added.
"The Goddess has no interest in the current 'Light of Lights.' Her power is growing; I can barely contain even a fraction of her soul," Tyrande said. Having been nourished by Elune's power, she was one of the few who could host such a soul—a being far more powerful than the Eternal Elune herself.
"Let's go. We have work to do. Rhodes will have to deal with Her Highness himself eventually." The couple rode down the mountain.
Soon, the Night Elves and Orcs brought the well-preserved bodies of the fallen to Rhodes. None had been dead for more than 18 hours. There were Tauren, Orcs, Trolls, Night Elves, and Dryads.
"Rhodes, please. Revive as many as you can," Cenarius said.
Rhodes took a deep breath and cast Resurrection for the first time in Azeroth.
A surge of emerald light enveloped the clearing. Under the nourishment of the magic, broken bodies mended. An elf opened her eyes. Then a Tauren, an Orc, a Troll... the newly revived stood up, looking dazed.
"Don't move too much. You're weak. The Druids will treat you," Rhodes said. He had brought them back with 10 HP—stable, but frail.
"All revived soldiers, come here for healing!" Malfurion called out, surrounded by a circle of Druid healers.
"We can help too! Shamans, set up Healing Stream Totems!" Thrall commanded.
Rhodes cast the spell again and again. For hours, the miracle of resurrection played out on the slopes of Mount Hyjal until every salvageable body was breathing once more.