"Lady," Wayne sighed, continuing, "although this turned out a bit differently than I expected—I didn't expect it to be you who showed up—even if the great Rhonin himself were here, I would still request his help with these exact words."
"Of course, if that were the case, the atmosphere of our conversation might not be quite this tense."
As Wayne spoke, the alarm on the vending machine went off. Indeed, just like his previous encounter with Onyxia, he had transported himself and Vereesa into the game scene to trap her there, forcing her to have the patience to listen to him.
"Moreover, you surely haven't forgotten that your husband, Rhonin, was once transported by the Bronze Dragonking Nozdormu through time magic to the very moment of your childbirth. He even told you about it afterward."
"So, please trust my words just as you trust him. Compared to his experiences, what I am telling you is not far-fetched at all."
Vereesa was shocked beyond measure! Wayne actually knew about such a private matter—that Nozdormu, as a reward for Rhonin, had teleported him back to be with her during the birth of their children! Aside from the couple and the Bronze Dragonking, no fourth person in the world knew about this.
At least, until Wayne spoke just now. She stood there speechless, her mouth slightly agape, looking at Wayne with disbelief.
"I don't know exactly when it will happen," Wayne said, "but according to my calculations, it should be within the next few days. When the time comes, you will know at a glance who you must protect and who your opponent is."
Vereesa countered, "If you are so powerful, why don't you go yourself?"
Wayne couldn't tell her that his strength diminished significantly outside the net cafe. Although his game account was now Level 28—meaning his strength, agility, stamina, and mana had increased vastly—he was still no match for a top-tier figure like Vereesa, let alone a Black Dragon like Onyxia.
"I have already defeated that Black Dragon once. If I appear there again, she will not show herself, which would completely alter the course of events."
"It's like how I cannot tell you everything about the future right now. Doing so would be revealing the timeline to you at this moment. When a person foresees the danger they are about to face, they deliberately avoid the risk."
"For example, if I were originally going to walk to Stormwind, but a Bronze Dragon told me I'd be attacked by wolves on the path, I would use a Hearthstone or a Mage portal instead. Consequently, the person who was supposed to help me during the wolf attack, or an event I was supposed to encounter on the walk, would never happen because the process was changed. I would never meet that person or experience that event."
Vereesa was familiar with this theory; Rhonin had told her the same thing. He had been sent ten thousand years into the past to ensure the future history remained on track. On a long timeline, a single nudge can cause cataclysmic changes in the future.
But she was still puzzled. "But if I help you, doesn't that also change the future?"
Wayne nodded. "This world is about to face a series of continuous crises. I have seen the future, and I want to change it. I don't think the Bronze Dragons are wrong, but they are too passive. In dire moments, they too use time magic to send key figures across time to ensure the world isn't destroyed."
"Crises? Do you mean the Scourge? Or the demons from Outland?" Vereesa asked.
Wayne gave a bitter smile. "We must resolve the Black Dragon's influence and deal with the two major threats inside Blackrock Mountain. Only then, when the floating necropolis of the Scourge appears above Stratholme, can the Alliance and Horde stand together to stop their plans. Lady, your intervention will put Stormwind in your debt. Believe me, the outcome will exceed your expectations, and in the future, they will surely repay you manifold."
Vereesa was clearly wavering. Wayne's use of visual, tactile, auditory, and even a woman's sixth sense was making her empathize.
"Now, can we end this cursed state?"
Wayne nodded, but then immediately shook his head. "Lady, I have one final piece of advice. This must stay between the two of us, or the Bronze Dragons will come for me as well."
Vereesa felt that among all the men in the world, Wayne was now the most mysterious second only to her husband. She waited involuntarily for his next words.
Wayne's eyes became firm, yet held a trace of sorrow. "Remember, no matter what happens in the future—even if the sky is falling—ensure someone is watching. You must prevent your husband from going to Theramore."
Vereesa couldn't help but ask, "Theramore? Is Jaina going to do something to Rhonin?"
"No, no," Wayne replied. "Lady Proudmoore has always been your husband's loyal ally. Again, I cannot say more, and you must not tell your husband in advance. No matter where you two appear together in the future, it simply must not be Theramore."
Having said this, Wayne told her to put on her glasses. Vereesa complied. She returned to the game world; though the environment was the same as before, her equipment had returned to normal, and the daggers in her hands were once again Auriel's Bow.
She returned the longbow to Wayne. He then told her to take off the glasses again. This time, Vereesa finally returned to the net cafe. She saw her two sons nearby; they were attending a magic class with the Harry Potter trio and participating in a duel between Harry and Malfoy.
Unlike the Night Elves (Kaldorei), the High Elves (Quel'dorei) had always embraced arcane magic. Seeing her two sons, who usually disliked magic, actively studying defensive spells in the movie world filled her motherly heart with irrepressible joy.
"Lady? Lady?"
Vereesa nodded, but watching her sons earnestly mimicking spellcasting gestures, she was loath to interrupt them. However, she knew the "banquet" was actually about Prince Anduin and King Varian. She had only come here today as a temporary guardian and a "shield."
She placed a hand on Anduin's shoulder. Anduin took off his glasses and looked at her. Vereesa said softly, "It's time to go home."
Anduin nodded but sighed, asking Wayne, "Can I take a pair of these glasses? I can pay for them."
Wayne looked at the future High King politely but shook his head with regret. "These won't work if you take them back. If you want to play, for now, you have to come here."
Despite being mature beyond his years, Anduin was still a child under eleven. Disappointment was clear on his face. Wayne patted his head.
The "Fourth Guest" (the escort commander) immediately stepped forward. "Watch your hands!"
Wayne feigned ignorance. "What? I can't pat a kid's head? Is he a prince or something?"
The commander choked on his words. He wanted to shout "He IS the prince!" but couldn't, as this was a secret outing and Anduin was officially introduced as a relative of Vereesa's.
Ignoring him, Wayne said to Anduin, "Young man, why the sighing? If you want to play, say it out loud. Whether it's this uncle or someone else, make them bring you here. Be bold in pursuing what you want to do; don't always worry about others' opinions. Those are just shackles. And don't worry—soon, they'll be happy to send you here."
Anduin blinked, seemingly doubtful but hopeful. "Really?"
Wayne patted his head again. "Have confidence. Don't be so hesitant."
"The money!" the commander interrupted.
Wayne smirked. "Oh? You're going to pay now? Waitress! Bill!"
Tess, who had been watching the drama, shouted, "Coming!"
Wayne turned back to the commander. "You booked the whole place, brother. Because of you, I had no business today. I'm going bankrupt! If I close, how will this golden-haired kid play? Right, kid?"
Anduin gave a loud "Mhm!"
Vereesa understood that Wayne was using his slick-tongued banter to hide the secret conversation they just had. He was also reminding her to maintain her initial look of disgust toward him and the cafe, so the sharp-eyed commander wouldn't notice a change in her attitude. Still, his vulgarity annoyed her.
She looked at Wayne coldly. "If the children weren't here, your tongue would have been cut out and fed to the dogs."
Wayne quickly acted frightened. "Lady, I'm just a small businessman. Don't be so cruel. Besides, a cute little girl is asking you for money; surely you won't refuse?"
The commander was stunned. He hadn't expected the Fourth Guest to be working as a waitress in a net cafe! "Can... can I get a discount?"
Wayne asked Tess, "What do you think? Can we?"
"No way!" Tess replied firmly.
The commander took out two 100-gold notes and handed them to Tess, then called a guard. "Get me 50 gold... I didn't bring enough cash..."
The guard looked troubled. "Sir... I don't have that much either..."
"Go! Collect it from everyone! I'll pay you back later!"
The guard ran a lap, asking every colleague, and finally gathered a handful of gold coins to pay Tess. As Tess happily counted the money, a noise erupted outside. Old Edwin appeared outside the cafe carrying a long-handled weapon wrapped in cloth. The guards blocked him.
It turned out Edwin had brought back Wayne's Skinning Battleaxe. After the battle with Onyxia, the axe had been struck by dragon breath and soaked in black dragon blood. The blade had chipped and the metal had cracked. Wayne had given it to Edwin for repairs.
Edwin discovered that after the crude iron surface fell off, a special metal was hidden inside. Though it was brittle at first, it emitted powerful energy. Using his experience, Edwin removed the iron, smelted the special metal with high heat to let the dragon blood seep in, and finally used intense flames to release the energy of the dragon breath. He had forged a one-hand sword that glowed with a faint green light!
Vereesa walked out with the children and was shocked upon seeing it. "No... impossible..."
"Quel'Serrar?!"
"That is a legendary weapon of the Highborne! Besides needing rare metals, it must be soaked in the blood of an ancient dragon and tempered in dragon breath!"
"You... didn't you say you didn't kill that black dragon?"
Wayne shrugged, acting nonchalant. "I didn't. I just stepped on its head, cut a hole in its neck, and let it bleed a little."
"Just... bled a little..." The commander couldn't listen anymore. This kid was too much! He was fuming—he had been scammed out of 250 gold and could do nothing about it!
Wayne didn't let him off. "What? Does the commander have an opinion?"
"Hmph! Fall in! Teleport back to Stormwind!"
The Royal Mages began chanting a mass teleport spell. Vereesa kept her brow furrowed, looking at Wayne and the Quel'Serrar in his hand. Her two sons waved goodbye to Wayne and Tess. Anduin smiled at Wayne, seemingly looking forward to the day Wayne promised would come.
Wayne laughed. "That little brother, hahaha."
Tess asked, "Boss, how are you going to reward me?"
Wayne replied, "You're even more of a shark than I am. Good job." He lowered his voice. "But it seems he recognized you."
Tess chuckled and whispered, "Well, I still have a bit of that princess flair, don't I?" Then she shouted to the players in the orchard, "Alright guys! Bring your chairs back inside! Let's get to work!"