"I can sense the sincerity in your words, child," M'uru's voice resonated with a hint of gratification.
"Your faith in the Light is indeed the foundation of your power. It is well that you recognize the dangers of the Fel and seek to cleanse yourself with the Light. Perhaps this understanding of the 'shadow' is part of the unique mission the Light has bestowed upon you—to fully dispel the darkness, one must first understand it. I can comprehend your path, child."
Clearly, the Naaru was satisfied with Rhodes's response. He could forgive a young man's curiosity about the Fel, provided it was tempered by research and self-purification. After all, if the prophecy claimed the "Child of Light and Shadow" would destroy the Burning Legion, some contact with opposing forces was expected. M'uru had no way of knowing that the actual Child of Light and Shadow, Illidan, was currently a full-blown Fel-user.
"Thank you for your guidance, Naaru," Rhodes replied. "In the omens granted to me by the Light, I have seen you before. I have seen the Army of the Light you assembled, and how you traveled the cosmos to unite mortal races against the Burning Legion."
Rhodes knew this was his moment to secure M'uru's long-term endorsement. As long as Xe'ra remained absent, Rhodes was the undisputed Son of the Light—the man fated to end the Legion.
"It seems the Light has revealed much to you," M'uru said. "We have indeed labored across the stars, gathering races and teaching them the way of the Light to oppose the Legion. They burn worlds to ash, dragging them into the Twisting Nether to become demon hives."
"I know of Sargeras's ultimate goal," Rhodes added, "but I find his methods utterly foolish. If the universe could give birth to the first Shadow, the first Light, and the first Order, it can do so again. Burning the entire cosmos to stop the Void's invasion is a madness that cannot be justified."
Rhodes recalled from the lore that the Naaru were aware of the Shadowlands—and had even waged war there. Newer revelations suggested the Shadowlands was a structured "laboratory" created by the First Ones, which only fueled his own theories.
"You surprise me; you know a great deal indeed! You are correct, Sargeras was deceived by the demons," M'uru said. He then paused, his light pulsing with curiosity. "Can you tell me, child... who is the presence behind you? Who gave you this power and these miraculous beings?"
Rhodes composed himself, preparing a grand narrative. "It is a being of such holiness that I cannot describe his form. He appeared in my dreams. At first, I thought he was a Titanic Watcher who granted me new magic and the ability to manipulate the primal forces for the sake of Azeroth. He showed me visions of the past and future, but I eventually realized he was far more powerful than any Watcher. I suspected he was a Titan—until he revealed the secret of the world's birth. That the Titans were not the true creators. The First Ones were the first sentient beings; they created the six primal forces and everything in this universe."
"So it is so..." M'uru thought, deeply shaken. He began to form his own conclusion about the "mysterious benefactor" behind Rhodes.
M'uru looked at the Holy Archangels, the Sacred Fire Phoenixes soaring above, and the Light Elements hovering near the Paladins. He looked further at the golden Metal Men and the Diamond Constructs. He understood the Light Elements—they were pure, non-sentient manifestations of the Light, essentially "lesser" versions of a Naaru's form. M'uru realized that if the Naaru could master this shaping technique, they could create massive armies of their own.
It was well known that while Naaru possessed immense Light, they were not natural-born fighters. They relied on mortal soldiers because a mid-level Legion squad could theoretically capture a Naaru. These Light Elements, however, were the perfect "rank-and-file" soldiers.
The Phoenixes were different—a hybrid of 50% Light and 50% Solar/Fire. These, the Naaru could not create. And the Archangels were even more startling: pure Light-beings with physical flesh, as powerful as a minor Naaru, yet mass-produced.
In M'uru's logic, only the First Ones—the legendary architects of the cosmos—could achieve such feats. He concluded that Rhodes was a chosen pawn of the First Ones, tasked with a pivotal mission.
"Remember, Rhodes," M'uru cautioned, "the Light is your greatest weapon and your ultimate destination. Do not lose yourself in the surface allure of other powers. Never stray from the path."
It was a gentle warning. M'uru wouldn't force Rhodes to abandon his other powers immediately, preferring to guide him toward total devotion.
Rhodes felt a massive weight lift. The Naaru hadn't just accepted his "simulated" Light; they had "auto-filled" a grander purpose for him.
"I hear and obey, Great M'uru," Rhodes replied. "The Light is the root; all else is but a tool. May the Light guide me to protect this world."
"Very well." M'uru's glow grew warmer. "I look forward to your performance at the coronation, Son of the Light. May your radiance illuminate Lordaeron and lead the way for Azeroth."
Their mental dialogue ended in what felt like a split second to onlookers. To Uther, Velen, and the others, it looked as though Rhodes had simply offered a respectful salute, and the Naaru had returned a silent blessing.
Velen beamed with joy. To him, the Naaru had just personally verified Rhodes's identity. The search was over. The legend was real. The countless millennia of wandering were finally coming to an end.
Rhodes turned to the crowd and announced: "Great M'uru has given me precious guidance and a deeper understanding of the Light. Let us prepare for tomorrow's grand ceremony!"
Princess Calia stepped forward and bowed. "Welcome, Great Being."
M'uru turned his gaze toward her, specifically toward her abdomen. "I can feel it, Princess—or should I say, future Queen. You are also a chosen of the Light. You shall give birth to a hero. I feel this small life; it is a blessing of the Light."
As he spoke, M'uru descended a beam of holy radiance upon Calia, bathing her in light. To the people of Lordaeron, this was the ultimate divine endorsement of their future Queen and her heir.