Princess Calia beamed with a heartfelt smile and raised her glass once more: "Then let us all raise our glasses—to Marshal Rhodes, and to the unity and future of the Alliance!"
Standing to the side, Alexandros Mograine gave a slight nod. Though he said little, his stance was clear; as the wielder of the Ashbringer, he had always been one of Rhodes's staunchest supporters. After more than a year of arduous combat, Rhodes had finally secured the true status he desired.
The newly joined Draenei also attended the banquet, notably High Sage Akama. Their Light-bound forces had brought fresh knowledge and a new theoretical framework of the Holy Light to the Paladins and Priests of the Alliance. They also brought word of the Naaru. For the first time, the Alliance learned of such beings, though most members simply viewed them as higher-order Light entities—perhaps a step above a Holy Phoenix or a Light Archangel.
Only Rhodes understood their true significance. They were the true "scions" of the Light, possessing a status equivalent to demigods or even true deities—assuming a future lore shift didn't introduce a "Light Pantheon" with even higher-ranking beings.
Rhodes felt this was likely. After all, the Void already had Dimensius the All-Devouring, a Void Lord far superior to the Old Gods. Therefore, the Light must have a corresponding tier of existence equal in stature to the Titans.
"To Marshal Rhodes! To the Alliance!" This time, the cheer was even more synchronized and thunderous, brimming with sincerity. Rhodes's position as Grand Marshal was now a reality, backed by the two great human kingdoms and their core military leadership.
The atmosphere grew even warmer. Servants wove through the crowd, refilling wine and serving delicacies: roast boar from the heartlands of Lordaeron, smoked fish from the Hillsbrad Foothills, rare fruits from Dalaran's magical greenhouses, and stout dwarven ale.
The conversations turned deeper. Varian, Uther, and Alexandros discussed the shared threats facing the Eastern and Western Kingdoms and the logistics of joint military operations. Jaina exchanged magical insights with envoys from Dalaran and Lordaeronian mages, occasionally whispering with Tyrygosa; the blue dragon's profound knowledge was a goldmine for the human sorcerers.
Prince Anduin listened intently to Finnall's tales of Outland. Though blunt by nature, Finnall was patient with children, and her vivid descriptions of exotic races and creatures left Anduin spellbound.
Rhodes remained the focal point of the evening. A steady stream of nobles and generals approached to offer toasts. He handled them with ease—displaying the dignity of a Grand Marshal while maintaining an approachable air. Two years into this world, he had mastered the nuances of noble society; in the art of social politics, his Eastern heritage gave him a natural advantage.
Most of the nobility in Lordaeron and Stormwind had been "thinned out" during his rise. Rhodes had eliminated a faction of Lordaeronian nobles during the early exodus, while the Onyxia affair had indirectly purged several in Stormwind. Despite this, the survivors were exceptionally polite, going out of their way to flatter him.
Onyxia sat quietly, sipping her red wine as if the world didn't concern her. However, her eyes never left Rhodes and the power players surrounding him. Hearing their praise and talk of hope, her heart filled with cold mockery.
Unity? Hope? How naive, she thought. Wait until my brother and father make their move. Everything you cherish will turn to ash in dragonflame and shadow. Rhodes... I want to see how much your Light can protect then.
She wondered if her brother had received word of her capture and if he would come to "rescue" her. Though she was at the banquet, she was effectively suppressed by two powerful beings sitting beside her: Anveena, the avatar of the Sunwell, and Tyrygosa of the Blue Dragonflight. Even while Rhodes was busy with the nobles, she didn't dare make a move.
The banquet lasted until late into the night. King Varian was settled into a nearby guest house, but Rhodes received a special summons from the Princess.
"Rhodes, regarding the future of Lordaeron and... certain royal matters, I wish to speak with you privately when you are free."
Rhodes nodded immediately. "Of course, Your Highness. I am at your disposal."
Uther and Alexandros Mograine were also summoned.
"You've worked hard, Rhodes," Calia began. "Your mission to Stormwind was a complete success."
"It was no trouble; it was the blessing of the Light," Rhodes replied casually. "I received a revelation that allowed me to unmask a certain Black Dragon and bring her to justice, securing Stormwind's favor in the process."
"Every battle you fight and every journey you take reads like a legend, Grand Marshal," Alexandros noted. "But I have one question: why didn't you kill the dragon?"
Uther and Calia also looked curious. Normally, Rhodes was relentless against evil. He usually charged the front lines to deliver the killing blow himself (mostly because the system provided rewards like resources, treasures, and special buildings for doing so). Why the change of heart?
"I spared her because I am playing a longer game," Rhodes smiled. "The Black Dragonflight has always threatened humanity. I intend to use her as bait to lure the rest of the flight out so we can annihilate them in one stroke."
He didn't mention his plan to "rebuild" the Black Dragonflight yet; the idea was too scandalous for mortals. To them, any member of the dragonflights was a top-tier powerhouse—excluding a certain "Combat Power: 5" blue dragon (who, rumor had it, would be knocked over again in future expansions).
"Those wicked dragons have indeed meddled in our affairs too often," Alexandros said, his hand tightening on the Ashbringer. "If there is a chance to strike them down, I will lend you my strength."
"Do not forget the Silver Hand, Rhodes," Uther added, tapping his chest. "You are our Deputy Commander; every Paladin is your shield."
"I am grateful for your support," Rhodes said. "By the way, much happened in Quel'Thalas during my travels. I met Anveena, the avatar of the Sunwell. She is now a Princess of Quel'Thalas and a close ally. Her power is immense—once she fully masters it, even I might not be her match." He briefly explained his role in restoring the Sunwell for Kael'thas.
"It is good the Blood Elves have their well back," Calia said. "And if this avatar is our ally, that is a blessing for the Alliance."
"I agree," Rhodes said. "That is why I brought her along. I am effectively her mentor. With her help, I have perfected the Summon Light Element spell. I no longer need Fire Element scrolls; I can summon them directly, in greater numbers, and I can now teach this spell to ordinary Paladins and Priests."
This was the best news for the Alliance rank-and-file. Uther, wielder of the artifact The Silver Hand, knew the value of these beings. Originally a mutation of fire elements infused with Light, they had evolved into a "junior" version of Light Archangels, complete with divine wings and concentrated holy energy. Uther had been researching a way to stabilize such summons but lacked a proper "shaping" method.
"Lord Uther, I will teach the technique to you and Alexandros first," Rhodes said. "The version I'll show you is the complete one; only the strongest users of the Light can manifest the perfect form of these elements." The version he had taught in Stormwind was a more basic iteration; Anveena had helped him refine the spell significantly in the days since.