A few days later, the journey to Silvermoon finally commenced. At the peak of the Mage Tower in the capital of Lordaeron, Rhodes, Jaina, and Finnall stood ready.
"Are you prepared?" Rhodes asked, looking toward Jaina and Finnall.
"No problem, great Son of the Holy Light. We are ready."
"Let's move out quickly, Rhodes. I can't wait to see the reborn Sunwell." Jaina nodded, her eyes full of anticipation. Humans had heard much of the Sunwell's fame but had rarely seen the fabled fount of power.
Now, she and Rhodes would witness its rebirth—and according to Rhodes, he still possessed a vial of the Well of Eternity's water to create a source of magic for humanity as well.
Finnall appeared somewhat nervous. Not only was she about to witness a historic moment, but it was also the first time she would truly step onto the ancestral lands of her mother's bloodline.
Though raised by her mother, she had little contact with High Elven settlements; as a child, she had been bullied by other elves, leading her mother to move them to human lands. This was ultimately why she had joined the Silver Hand to become a Paladin.
Rhodes nodded and, without another word, began to channel powerful arcane energy. He initiated the teleportation spell, and complex runes lit up beneath their feet. The blue arcane brilliance intensified until the group was completely engulfed.
When their vision cleared, they had left Lordaeron. A second later, they appeared in the elven lands of Eversong Woods.
The trees here wore an unnatural ashen-white hue; many were withered, broken, or mottled by the corruption of dark energy. The air was not filled with a vibrant magical aura, but rather a stagnant, thin atmosphere tinged with the scent of death and arcane dust. Though the streams still flowed, they had lost their former ethereal glow. This was Quel'Thalas—the ravaged Eversong Woods.
Like Lordaeron, this land bore the deep scars of the Scourge. The flow of magic that the High Elves once prided themselves on had nearly run dry. Only a few remnant runestones and elven structures flickered weakly, barely maintaining stability in isolated pockets, yet failing to hide the overall decay. Arthas's assault had dealt an unimaginable blow to the kingdom.
In the original timeline, it wasn't until the victory over Kil'jaeden in the Burning Crusade that Prophet Velen used the remains of the Naaru M'uru to purify the Sunwell with Holy Light, eventually restoring life to the land and purging the shadows and death. (In the latest lore, this Holy Light also affected the local flora, causing some plants to "awaken" and attack passersby.)
A squad of Blood Elf Spellbreakers in red-and-gold armor, led by a Magister in ornate robes, was already waiting. This was the escort Kael'thas had sent to receive Rhodes.
"The eternal sun guides us. Welcome to Quel'Thalas, Lord Rhodes, Lady Jaina Proudmoore. Prince Kael'thas is currently at the Sunwell Plateau. Everything for the reboot ceremony is ready. Please follow me; Silvermoon has prepared accommodations for our honored guests." The lead Magister bowed slightly.
Rhodes returned a polite smile. "Thank you. We are honored to witness this moment."
As they followed the guides toward Silvermoon, Rhodes saw the legendary Dead Scar with his own eyes. This was the mark of Arthas at his most powerful, carved using the twin tragedies of Frostmourne and the Scourge.
In the game, zombies would occasionally spawn here, but in reality, there was only lingering death energy infecting local beasts. There were no "infected Blood Elves" roaming about; Kael'thas had no reason to leave such monsters at his doorstep—certainly not just to let "players" level up.
"Lord Rhodes, Quel'Thalas is no longer as glorious as it once was. Arthas dealt us a blow of unimaginable destruction," the Spellbreaker leading them sighed.
"Everything will improve," Rhodes said encouragingly. "Soon the Sunwell will be rebuilt. The power of the Sunstriders will heal this death energy, and the forest will regain its vitality."
"We hope so, Lord Rhodes," the elves replied with forced smiles. Their people were counting on the Prince. Currently, many civilians were suffering from severe magic withdrawal; only the restoration of the Sunwell could solve the crisis.
The party passed through the grand gates of Silvermoon. Within the city, things were slightly better. Though battle scars remained, the elves' superior architecture and magic had repaired most major districts.
Towering spires still looked beautiful under faint magical glimmers, though they lacked the brilliance that once seemed to emanate from the sun itself. Elven citizens on the streets looked weary and parched—the visible symptoms of mana addiction. They watched the newcomers with curiosity and a sliver of hope.
They were led directly to the Sunfury Spire. Inside the royal court, Kael'thas Sunstrider maintained his elven elegance, but Rhodes could see the deep-seated exhaustion and the frantic urgency in his eyes caused by the mana thirst.
"Rhodes! Lady Jaina! Welcome to Silvermoon. Your presence at this historic moment brings great honor to Quel'Thalas." Kael'thas stepped forward and gave Rhodes a warm embrace.
"No need for such formality, Kael. I'm looking forward to the Sunwell's return," Rhodes smiled. After all, my Holy Light Phoenix depends on that water, he thought.
Kael'thas nodded and then looked at Finnall. He could tell immediately she was a half-elf, possessing both human and elven blood like the Windrunner descendants. "And this lady is...?"
Jaina stepped forward and took Finnall's arm. "Prince Kael'thas, allow me to introduce Finnall Goldensword—my sister, a powerful Paladin, and a member of the Silver Hand." She purposefully omitted the details of Finnall's birth; the matter of the Admiral's illegitimate daughter was a family secret for now.
Kael'thas, having lived for a thousand years, caught Jaina's intent instantly and nodded without prying. He offered Finnall a perfect noble's greeting. "Welcome, Lady Finnall. A Paladin of elven blood is a rare and honorable combination. Thank you for coming to witness this moment."
Finnall, somewhat overwhelmed, returned a knight's salute. "It is an honor, Prince Kael'thas. Being in Silvermoon means a great deal to me."
"Milady, you share our blood; there is no need for such ceremony. There are many priests in the city; perhaps you could speak with them about the path of a Paladin."
Kael'thas had long been pondering the strength of human Paladins. After the wars in Outland, he realized how powerful these Light-wielding warriors were. If Quel'Thalas had its own Paladins, it would be perfect.
Many elven priests could no longer call upon the Light; Rhodes's gift of Light Elementals was a drop in the bucket.
Kael'thas was even considering Velen's suggestion to infuse the Sunwell with Holy Light once it was restored, providing a natural defense against demons and shadows. He planned to discuss this with Rhodes later—along with the formation of a Blood Knight order.
"You must be weary from your travels. The ceremony is vital, but we need not rush this second," Kael'thas gestured for them to follow. "I have prepared a banquet and rooms in the Sunspire. Allow me to show you hospitality first. You can rest and sample some of our specialty Morning Dew Wine before we talk business."
"When in Rome—ahem Silvermoon," Rhodes chuckled. "I've been wanting to try that wine you're always talking about."
"Haha, there is plenty! Please, come in!" Kael'thas laughed heartily, leading them into the banquet hall.