The last soldiers to evacuate the coalition witnessed the cataclysm firsthand.
The continent of ancient Kalimdor gradually fractured amidst violent tremors. With the Well of Eternity as the epicenter, the main body of the continent split apart, and seawater began to surge into the gaps between the drifting landmasses.
Standing at the highest point of Hyjal Peak, the still-weakened Andreas used his staff as a crutch, silently watching the violent tectonic movements below.
"Andreas."
A call from behind brought Andreas back to his senses. Shandris, her clothes stained with blood and filth, strode toward him. Beside her were Leticia's two young companions and the female druid friend Shandris had made earlier.
Seeing the expectant look on Leticia's face, Andreas momentarily found himself at a loss for words, unsure how to deliver the tragic news.
Noticing his pale and somber complexion, Shandris assumed her childhood friend was severely wounded. Her expression shifted as she hurried to his side.
"Are you hurt? Why do you look so terrible? Let me see."
"I'm fine, it's just..."
Andreas glanced sideways at Leticia. The sensitive noble girl sensed an ominous signal from the apologetic look in his eyes.
Regulating her breathing, Leticia—having personally experienced the carnage of the battlefield—was much calmer than when she had first heard of her father's death.
"...Speak. I can take it."
Andreas limped toward her with his staff and silently ruffled the girl's hair.
"Given your cleverness, you've probably guessed it. I'm sorry... we couldn't rescue Lady Felice and your kin."
"Is that so..."
Leticia lowered her head, her body trembling slightly, but she was strong enough to keep herself from crying out.
"Look up," Andreas said sternly. "Lady Felice conveyed her intent through her actions. At the final moment, she activated the single-person escape artifact your father left behind to send out Salais of the Sunstrider family. Do you understand her meaning?"
"Salais?"
With tears still on her face, Leticia looked up blankly at her mentor. After a long moment, she smiled toward the sky in realization.
"So that's how it is..."
Sniff.
She sniffed, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and a brilliant smile appeared on her face.
"I understand. Since Mother entrusted the future to me, I won't let her or Father down. From this day forward, I alone will shoulder the future of the Moonsong family."
...
Watching Leticia call her companions and walk away with Leinela—who kept looking back—Shandris stood beside Andreas and sighed softly.
"Aren't you going to comfort her more? That child is clearly forcing a smile."
"No need."
Andreas sat down on the soft grass. "Though it's a forced smile, her resolve is real. Let the child adjust on her own; I believe she can cross this hurdle and turn her grief into the motivation to move forward."
"As for you," Andreas turned to look at Shandris with a half-smile. "Is this considered a successful revenge?"
Shandris rolled her eyes and gave him a light punch in the side, causing Andreas to cough.
"You have a wicked sense of humor. If even the younger generation can let go, I can't stay wallowing in the past forever. Besides..."
She pulled out the pendant her parents had given her from her chest, a relieved and warm smile appearing on her face.
"They wouldn't want me to live my life dragging such a heavy burden. Let this victory over the Burning Legion count as successful revenge."
She lay back comfortably beside Andreas and stretched.
"My father and mother will always live in my memories, but it's about time I start a new life without them. Let's put a temporary full stop to the hatred... at least until the Burning Legion appears again."
Andreas rolled up his sleeve and looked at the identical pendant tied to his hand. He chuckled softly. "I'm glad your 'rock-head' didn't keep overthinking things. Your parents should be able to rest easy by Elune's side now."
"Who are you calling a rock-head?! You're asking for it!"
"Ouch!"
...
"So it has finally come to this. Is this the world-soul's retribution against me? The fate I must endure?"
A short while earlier, inside the Zin-Azshari palace, Queen Azshara—who had remained unseen throughout the battle—stood with her arms crossed, watching the city's disintegration with a flat expression.
Countless citizens were being swallowed by the surging seawater; terrified screams and cries of despair filled the capital. Azshara's eyes were not as calm as her voice or expression; her golden pupils flickered incessantly, revealing the violent turmoil in her heart.
"Heh heh heh..."
A somber laughter echoed from the boundless darkness behind Azshara.
"Exactly. This is the fate you cannot escape. Accept it, Azshara. Submit to me, and I will grant you the power you desire most. Not the empty checks Sargeras wrote, but true, formidable power to rule over everything."
"You again."
Azshara frowned and looked behind her. A giant, single eye of unknown origin floated in the air. Its self-assured gaze deeply displeased the dominant Queen.
"At least Sargeras let me see power of a higher level—an irresistible, destructive power."
A trace of mockery flashed in Azshara's eyes. "And you? Aside from empty boasting every day, you have never shown anything worthy of your words. And you expect me, Queen Azshara, to submit?"
"Presumptuous!"
Azshara's contemptuous attitude enraged the sensitive entity that had been sealed for ages. Once, they had established a Black Empire that flourished for an era, only to have it crumble under the Pantheon's assault. The Titans had only used the Guardians they created to easily crush the Black Empire that dominated Azeroth; its strongest competitor and comrade had even been ripped from the earth and torn apart by a Titan.
Though they called themselves gods, facing the overwhelming majesty of the Titans, even at their peak they dared not claim they could win, let alone in their current miserable state.
Sargeras was fallen, but as the strongest warrior of the Pantheon, his combat prowess had not diminished; if anything, it had grown stronger through the infusion of Fel. When the Burning Legion invaded, these entities hiding in the shadows could only use their newly acquired pawns to carry out minor schemes, not daring to reveal their identities. They knew all too well that Sargeras's primary goal in igniting worlds was not to slaughter life, but to destroy the very foundations of their existence—perhaps even their masters.
Azshara was a critical part of its plan. To convince this ambitious Queen, the entity hiding in the shadows gritted its teeth and spent heavily. Using what little remained of its sealed power, it showed Queen Azshara a vision of the Black Empire's prosperity at its height.
A strange look appeared in Azshara's eyes as she snapped back to reality. "So... that's how it was."
The earth's tremors were intensifying; the collapse of Zin-Azshari was imminent. Even with the palace protected by Azshara's barriers, sinking into the ocean was an inevitable end.
"Fine. I agree to help you."
"Excellent. Then—"
"However!"
Azshara lifted her head high, her arrogant demeanor fully on display.
"I will never submit to you. I am the Queen of the Night Elf Empire. A Queen submits to no one—not even a god. I agree to cooperate with you to recreate the vast empire you showed me, and my people will become the foundation upon which that empire is built."
"..."
After a moment of silence, the entity in the shadows seemed to weigh the pros and cons.
"Agreed. I hope you can maintain that pride after witnessing my true power. Now... let me first give you and your handmaidens a small gift."