Val'sharah, Grove of Cenarius.
Under the curious gazes of hundreds of Druids, Andreas closed his eyes and entered a state of deep meditation. He was currently communicating with Cenarius, who remained within the Emerald Dream.
A few minutes later, Andreas reopened his eyes. Almost simultaneously, a shimmering green portal composed of pure Nature energy appeared in the very center of the grove. A magnificent creature—with the upper body of a man and the lower body of a stag—stepped through the gate with an elegant stride.
"The Forest Demigod!"
"Lord Cenarius!"
The Druids present collectively lowered their posture, bowing in deep respect to the half-man, half-stag being. Cenarius, wearing a gentle smile, raised his hand. Every bowing Druid felt a soft, warm breeze gently straightening their bodies.
"No need for such formality, and there is no need to call me 'Lord.' We are all maintainers of Nature; there is no rank among us. You may simply call me by my name."
Cenarius looked around at the familiar scenery with a touch of nostalgia. "Val'sharah... it has been several years. It seems the destruction caused by the Burning Legion has mostly been restored."
While Cenarius was reflecting on his long-awaited return to Val'sharah, a dozen or so Druids clad in leather armor began to emerge from the still-open portal. Leading them was Andreas's mentor, Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage.
Malfurion's expression was somewhat complicated when he saw Andreas. Andreas, however, did not mind his teacher's gaze and bowed with his usual smile.
"Mentor, it has been a long time. I trust you have been well?"
Malfurion let out a long, heavy sigh. "I have heard the details from Fandral. Andreas... you have been wronged."
"Mentor, please don't say that," Andreas replied with a shake of his head and a smile. "Actually, right as the war ended, I was already planning to find an opportunity to leave Mount Hyjal."
"After all, the form of my power and that of High Priestess Whisperwind are complete opposites. It's only natural that our compatibility is poor. Staying together long-term would only breed more conflict. You needn't feel guilty; leaving was entirely my own choice."
"Sigh~" Malfurion said nothing more, only giving Andreas a heavy, supportive pat on the shoulder.
Fandral Staghelm was also among the group of Druids. Standing at the back of the line, he was winking and making faces at Andreas. Beside him stood a female Druid who appeared to be quite close to him.
Andreas shot Fandral a "dead-fish-eye" stare. Is this guy specifically here to show off his relationship and feed me "dog food"? But then again...
He stole a thoughtful look at the gentle-looking woman and rubbed his chin. Fandral has found his partner. That means... the countdown to Valstann's birth has begun, hasn't it?
...
With the Demigod Cenarius leading and Malfurion and Fandral assisting, a bridge was quickly established between the Grove of Cenarius and the Emerald Dream.
However, this was only a temporary measure. Since Val'sharah was not covered by the roots of the World Tree, its connection to the Emerald Dream remained very weak. After most of the summoned Druids dispersed, Cenarius and the others accepted the invitation from Andreas and Mayor Fleet to visit Lorlathil.
Malfurion, ever concerned for his people, was the first to bring up the most pressing issue facing Val'sharah.
"We must find a way to bring Val'sharah under the coverage of Nordrassil. Otherwise, the residents living here will not only find it difficult to communicate with the main continent, but more seriously... they will be unable to enjoy the blessings bestowed upon the World Tree by the Dragon Aspects."
After the loss of the Well of Eternity, the Night Elves were no longer immortal. They now relied solely on the blessings granted to Nordrassil by the three Dragon Aspects to maintain their immortality. Since the Broken Isles sat far across the sea, beyond the reach of Nordrassil, the Night Elves of Val'sharah would once again be subject to the concepts of aging, sickness, and death.
Mayor Fleet sighed. "Indeed. In recent years, the number of people falling ill in Lorlathil and the surrounding villages has been increasing. While the impact on lifespan won't be visible in just a few years, if this continues... things will likely change within a millennium."
Malfurion's question plunged everyone into silent contemplation. Although they could attempt to persuade all residents of Val'sharah to move back to the continent, that was a last resort. No one enjoys frequent relocation. Having finally settled into new homes after the war, convincing the populace to move would be far harder than it was during wartime.
Andreas glanced sideways at Fandral. Having recently been nourished by love, the man clearly wasn't focusing all his attention on solving the problem. That's Fandral for you—valuing family above all else.
With a silent sigh, Andreas raised his hand to propose his idea.
"Cenarius, Mentor... I was thinking. Could we plant a new World Tree here in Val'sharah and link it to Nordrassil? That way, the blessings of the World Tree could extend to Val'sharah as well, right?"
Both Malfurion and Cenarius looked up sharply.
Cenarius was the first to strike his palm. "A brilliant idea! If we cannot convince the people to move, we simply find a way to expand the reach of the World Tree's blessing!"
Malfurion also nodded with satisfaction. "Although the details will need careful deliberation, it is a feasible plan. Andreas, your mind is as quick as ever."
"Uh~ you flatter me, Mentor." Andreas scratched his cheek awkwardly. I'm just taking credit for someone else's future work. If only Fandral weren't so busy doting on his wife.
However, Andreas's suggestion did significantly move up the timeline for the planting of Shaladrassil, effectively saving a generation of Val'sharah's people. Although he couldn't remember the exact dates, Andreas vaguely recalled that Fandral's world-wide tree-planting spree occurred after the exodus of the Highborne and the founding of Quel'Thalas.
Being interested in High Elf history, Andreas had some memory of when Quel'Thalas was founded—around 7,000 to 6,500 years before the Dark Portal. If he could facilitate the early planting of the World Tree, the residents of Val'sharah would regain immortality at least 3,000 years earlier than in the original timeline. Considering the High Elves' lifespan of 2,000 to 3,000 years, the Night Elves who lost their immortality would have precisely lost an entire generation during those 3,000 years.
After Andreas proposed the concept, the remaining details would be refined by Malfurion and Cenarius, who would convene the leadership of the Druidic orders.
Through the dream portal constructed by Cenarius, the Forest Demigod sent Andreas directly across the ocean back to Astranaar, a major town in Ashenvale, saving him half a year of arduous travel.
"Ah!"
Walking out of Astranaar, just as he was about to transform into flight form to head home, Andreas suddenly froze. He slapped his forehead in frustration.
"I forgot one thing—exploring the Academy of Nar'thalas."
Shaking his head helplessly, Andreas transformed into a golden eagle and soared into the sky. "Forget it. Once the second World Tree is planted, it will be much easier to reach the Broken Isles via the Emerald Dream. I'll do it next time."
Shelving his to-do list for now, Andreas flew at high speed toward Moonnight Town. He was somewhat worried about the state of his territory. Having been away for nearly a year, he wondered if Leticia—the mischievous girl whose true nature was gradually being revealed—had caused any trouble at home.
I hope it's just my imagination... but I have a feeling that little brat was up to something while I was away.