Since the intelligence provided by Onyxia consisted only of a vague geographical overview, Saragosa needed to spend a considerable amount of time locating the leyline coordinates of the snowy mountains mentioned in the report.
Taking advantage of this window, Andreas intended to make a trip to Astranaar. On one hand, he wanted to test whether Malfurion's anger had subsided; on the other, he needed to observe the current state of the capital.
With the Highborne's abrupt change in attitude, those greedy individuals who had once intended to ride on their backs and act with unbridled arrogance were now suffering wretchedly.
Although Dath'Remar had kept them under restraint and the Highborne hadn't caused any fatalities, for these shameless scoundrels, the arcanists—who had endured for a thousand years—ensured that the hyenas blinded by greed once again saw the vast disparity between them.
Having vented their long-held frustrations, the Highborne quickly took advantage of Malfurion's expulsion order to logically depart from Nordrassil. However, the mess they left behind had not been fully resolved.
While the Highborne led by Dath'Remar numbered only a little over ten thousand, as former nobility, the area they occupied was massive. When Tyrande had been planning the city, she had even designated an entire district specifically for them.
Although a small portion of this territory had been encroached upon by daring opportunists due to the Highborne's proactive retreat in earlier years, those lands were a mere drop in the bucket compared to the core residential area of the Highborne.
The sudden evacuation of the Highborne left a vast expanse of land without owners. The hyenas, who had just taken a severe beating, disregarded their wounds and, in the blink of an eye, turned their fangs toward the peers who had once been their allies in oppressing the Highborne.
Their goal, quite simply, was to seize the spoils.
An overwhelmed Malfurion had no heart to focus on these trivial matters of the lower social strata for the moment. Had it not been for the Sentinels under Shandris's command struggling to maintain order, blood would have already been spilled over the vacated lands.
When Andreas and Shandris teleported together to the abandoned teleportation tower in Astranaar, the entire city was shrouded in an atmosphere of oppression.
While most civilians held little affection for the Highborne, except for a few extremists or those with muddled minds, the general public didn't spend their days looking for excuses to flex their superiority over them.
For 2,000 years, the Highborne had provided a great deal of convenience to Astranaar. Much of the automated equipment driven by Arcane magic was operated by the Highborne.
With the flight of the Highborne, these devices all ceased to function. Astranaar's social order plunged into chaos within a short period.
As productivity plummeted, the living standards of the populace naturally suffered as well.
The long-term slumber of the High Priestess had caused a slight sense of restlessness within the faith system under the influence of the recent situation, and the Archdruid's irritation had also affected the Druidic community.
Coupled with the "hyenas" constantly loitering outside the cordoned-off old Highborne quarters, a multitude of chaotic matters made the capital city very restless lately.
"You stay here."
Commanding the small Moon Guard squad that had followed them to guard the teleportation tower, Andreas disregarded the city's flight ban and transformed directly into a gryphon at the edge of the towering structure.
Once Shandris leapt nimbly onto his back, Andreas flapped his wings and erupted into his maximum speed, aiming straight for the Great Temple of Elune in the city center.
Due to Tyrande's reforms over the years, the Great Temple served as the supreme headquarters for both religious and political power.
When the gryphon landed before the gates of the temple, the Priestesses of Elune responsible for guarding the entrance warily raised their weapons toward Andreas.
Shandris jumped down from the gryphon's back and immediately shouted for them to stop.
As the General of the Sentinels, Tyrande's confidant, and one of the greatest heroes of the Satyr War, Shandris possessed considerable prestige in Astranaar. Seeing the arrival of the Sentinel General, the priestesses immediately bowed their heads in respectful greeting.
Bothering little with these rookie combat priestesses Tyrande had recruited after the War of the Ancients, Andreas and Shandris entered the Great Temple without pause.
The three high-ranking officials of the Night Elves—including Maiev—were currently sitting around a circular table in the hall with troubled expressions.
Upon seeing the approaching Andreas, Malfurion's expression appeared somewhat complicated.
He had already learned of Elune's "suggestion" from the recently awakened Tyrande. One of the topics the three had been discussing was how to view this matter.
Tyrande was bound to be reluctant in her heart, but her devout faith in Elune was indeed second to none.
Furthermore, a thousand years of "simulated management" had allowed her to recognize the disparity between her governing abilities and those of Andreas. Ultimately, she had gritted her teeth and decided to comply with Elune's instructions.
Before Moonshadow's Rest orchestrated this incident of assisting the Highborne's escape, Malfurion had always maintained goodwill toward Andreas. The relationship between the two was that of both mentor and friend; Andreas even held a seat among the high-ranking members of the Cenarion Circle.
Leticia's ill-considered decision had cast a shadow over this relationship. At this moment, Malfurion's anger had not completely dissipated, and suddenly hearing Elune's instructions triggered a subconscious sense of resistance in his heart.
As the Warden in charge of the penal system, Maiev held no particular view on Andreas's ascent.
Years ago, Andreas had privately discussed with her how to prevent the Highborne from resorting to extreme resistance. However, as Dath'Remar fled while Andreas and Tyrande were asleep, the original plan naturally fell through.
Although he knew his side was at fault, Andreas did not adopt an overly humble posture. He apologized for Leticia's unauthorized actions in a casual, matter-of-fact tone.
Malfurion also knew that this matter couldn't be blamed entirely on Andreas. Though he was still fuming, he nodded with a dark expression, indicating his acceptance of the apology.
The past was the past; the most important thing now was how to handle the turmoil sparked throughout Astranaar—and the entire Night Elf race—by the mass exodus of the Highborne.
Malfurion rubbed his somewhat stiff cheeks with a weary face. "Shandris has likely told you the general situation. Let's start with Eldre'Thalas."
"Some of the Shen'dralar Highborne believe that Dath'Remar and his people fled because of long-term unfair treatment. Mordent Evenshade, the leader of the Shen'dralar Council of Scholars, has sent a sharp and veiled inquiry regarding this."
"Black Rook Hold in Val'sharah has followed suit. The Highborne scattered across various regions are restless. If this problem isn't handled well, it could lead to a second exodus."
Andreas glanced sideways at the silent Tyrande, a hidden flicker of sarcasm passing through his eyes.
"If I may be blunt, is the issue raised by the Shen'dralar not a fact?"
Malfurion was momentarily at a loss for words. "This..."
"Hmph!"
Maiev took the opportunity to sneer. "If it weren't for a certain 'important figure' applying extreme pressure on the Highborne, how could the mild-tempered Dath'Remar have led the entire race to flee?"
Slam! "Enough!"
Tyrande, her face ashen, slammed her palm onto the stone table. "I admit that I misjudged the intensity of the Highborne's backlash! But is now the time to discuss who is right or wrong?"
"We must first quell this disturbance as quickly as possible. I promise to give everyone an account of my actions afterward!"
Andreas nodded solemnly. "I agree. Let's put aside the issue of accountability for now. Finding a way to handle the immediate problem is the key."
"I propose that the High Priestess and the Archdruid personally travel to Eldre'Thalas and Black Rook Hold respectively to explain. At the very least, we must first stabilize these two important strongholds where large numbers of Highborne are gathered."