Wayne: "Name?"
Hooded Man: "Why do you need to know that?"
Wayne: "I need to log you in so you can have your own game account."
The hooded man fell silent for a moment before uttering a word that was unclear if it was a first or last name: "Arannas."
Wayne asked for the spelling and, putting on his goggles, filled in the details. The account was generated instantly. However, the onlookers saw Wayne's mouth drop open as he made a visible swallowing motion, looking utterly shocked.
Zaldimar: "Did Miller see something?"
Raymond: "Teacher looks like he's in total shock."
Sandal: "Is there something special about that name?"
After a moment, Wayne took off the goggles and handed them to the man. The hooded man still refused to remove his hood, so Wayne watched as he took the goggles and placed them over his head, resting them against the fabric of the hood.
Wayne didn't overthink it anymore. Seeing the man start the movie, he figured the man could do as he pleased.
He let out a long sigh and walked to the entrance of the net cafe. Marshal Dughan had just finished dealing with Bowles and the five bodyguards and was walking toward him.
"You kid have caused me another huge mess," Dughan said irritably. "That guy is a Duke, after all. It's too late today; we wouldn't reach Stormwind until midnight, and I can't take the risk if something happens on the road."
"So, I have to let him stay on the third floor of the inn for the night. I've assigned two men to watch him and asked Doctor Belly to treat his wounds. You... why do you always run into such chaotic situations?"
Wayne wasn't in the mood to listen to his complaints. He asked, "Uncle, what was that guy in the hood holding earlier? Was it some kind of token?"
Dughan looked around cautiously.
Wayne: "Who... exactly is he? Do you know?"
"And it's strange. He barely spoke the whole way here, and I only caught a glimpse of his facial profile. But he specifically demanded to see your net cafe. I thought you had met some big shot when you were knighted."
"I didn't expect him to get so agitated when he saw Bowles."
Wayne: "He specifically asked for the net cafe? Aside from here, did he mention anywhere else in Goldshire?"
Dughan: "No, just the net cafe."
Wayne: "Did he mention me?"
Dughan: "It didn't seem like it. But who else would he be looking for at a net cafe if not you?"
Wayne clapped his hands. "It all makes sense now... I understand..."
Dughan: "What do you understand?"
Wayne: "Uh, I said my stomach hurts a bit, I'm going inside to sit for a while..."
Returning to the room, Wayne sat in his original wooden chair. After making a face at Little Tess, he began to doze off.
His machine was occupied by the hooded man, so he could only wait for him to finish.
On the other side, Raymond and the others saw the drama come to an abrupt halt and turned their attention back to the movie.
All was peaceful until the five o'clock bell rang. Outside the window, it was clear that even in this world, the late autumn sun set earlier.
The hooded man took off the goggles and stood up, turning his gaze toward Little Tess again.
Tess still rested her head on her arms, looking out the window, avoiding eye contact with him.
However, Wayne noticed her eyes were red.
"Time is up. I must leave."
The hooded man's voice seemed even deeper. Wayne immediately pulled out his coin purse and started calculating. "Initiation fee is 5 gold, 2 hours is 2 gold, total 7 gold. You gave me 100 gold, so I owe you 93 gold..."
He reached for the coins.
"Keep it. Kid, come outside."
Though his words were directed at Wayne, his eyes remained focused on Little Tess until they walked out of the net cafe.
Hooded Man: "You don't need to give me change."
Wayne: "Huh? Then I'll credit your account. You can use it the next time you play."
Hooded Man: "Next time? I hope there is a next time..."
Then he asked, "What does that little girl usually eat?"
Wayne: "Food from the inn across the street. She buys whatever she likes. Just bring me a portion too—hey, I'm the one paying, Old Man."
Hooded Man: "And you let her... such a young child do your chores?!"
Wayne: "Well, I saved her. It's normal for her to do some odd jobs... and I pay her 2 gold a month in wages! 2 gold!"
The hooded man seemed to suppress his displeasure. "Absurd! What can 2 gold buy?!"
"Let me ask you this: where does she sleep at night?"
Wayne: "At night? She sleeps on a floor bed inside the net cafe."
The man was about to explode again. "You... you didn't even prepare a bed for her?!"
Wayne: "Old Man... this is the countryside. Do you think this is a palace?..."
The hooded man sighed deeply, his eyes constantly checking the clock on the inn's tower.
He reached into his robes again and pulled out a small stack of notes, handing them to Wayne.
Though the long sleeves covered most of his hand, leaving only a few fingers visible, Wayne noticed that the man's fingers looked different than when he had slapped Bowles. They appeared mutated; the nails were sharp and thin, the joints protruded significantly, and thick grey hair was visible on the back of his hand.
Wayne pretended not to notice as he took the money. Upon closer inspection, it was four 100-gold notes.
"Kid, that money isn't for you to squander. Listen well: from now on, that little girl inside must eat better than you and live better than you. You've seen it—crushing a Duke is like stepping on an ant to me, let alone a low-ranking little Knight like you."
"If anyone tells me this girl has suffered even a bit of grievance under you, or if someone bullies her and you don't back her up, I will settle every single account with you."
Wayne nodded quickly. "Alright, alright, Old Man. I've got it."
The hooded man seemed surprised. "You don't ask why I care so much about this girl?"
Wayne chuckled. "Old Man, if you wanted to tell me, you would. You won't even take off your hat; what use would it be if I asked?... Hehe."
The hooded man sighed again. "I wonder what he is thinking."
He took a few steps forward, hesitated, then stopped and looked back at Wayne. "If you ever encounter something you cannot solve, go to Stor—"
Wayne: "Old Man, I remember."
Hooded Man: "However, do not mention this conversation or our meeting today to anyone from this moment on—if you want to stay alive."
Wayne agreed. "I can promise you that. But can you promise me one thing in return?"
The man seemed displeased. "I don't make deals. My words are orders."
Wayne: "It's not a deal. It concerns my life and Little Tess's life."
Hearing this, the hooded man realized Wayne knew something, though he wasn't sure how much. He walked back toward Wayne and lifted his hood slightly.
His face had changed. His nose protruded forward, his ears grew pointed and large, and his teeth became jagged. Most noticeably, his eyes no longer just carried a wolf-like aura; they glowed with a feral yellow-brown light.
In an instant, the man who looked like he was turning into a beast lowered his hood again.
Wayne knew that for a split second, the man had felt the urge to kill.
"Whatever you do, do not tell the Regent or the Countess beside him that Little Tess is here."
The man's voice grew lower and more menacing. "Why?"
Wayne showed no fear. "You have things you cannot say, and I have things I cannot say. But I can guarantee that I will do what you asked me to do."
"Oh, and the Archbishop of the Light."
"There might be others, but I can't think of them all at once. Basically, don't tell any of them."
The hooded man stepped back and whispered, "He is a Bishop of the Light; he has nothing to do with me. The Light abandoned me long ago."
He looked up again, his previously hidden aura resurfacing with overbearing dominance. "Since we have a mutual understanding, I shall agree. But remember: do not try to trick an elderly, cursed father. My claws will not spare any enemy who harms my family or my people."
Wayne looked at the clock. "It's getting late, Old Man. You should head out."
The sun was sinking. The late autumn night in Azeroth seemed to arrive even earlier than it did before his crossing. Both men knew exactly what would happen to the hooded man once the sun vanished and the moon rose.
The man's voice was now a low growl, like a beast. "Kid, you are an interesting person. There isn't enough time today, but I will find out your secrets sooner or later. If only my son could be as sensible and understanding of the difficulties of being a father and a king as you are."
With that, he turned to leave.
Wayne waved his hand. "Old Man, your son loves you far more than you think."
The hooded man took the reins of his horse from the guard at the door, mounted, and galloped away. He called back over his shoulder, "Hmph, what do you know, you self-righteous youth?"
Though he said that, images from the movie he had just seen flickered in his mind.
Wayne waved goodbye, though he knew the man could no longer hear him. "Goodbye, Old Wolf King. The future of this world still needs you to save it in many places."