When Celeste served as a secretary, her job performance was quite poor.
However, this was mainly because Celeste tended to get confused over minor details at work, leading to small blunders that were both exasperating and amusing.
Yet, under Dath'Remar's careful cultivation since childhood, her sense of the bigger picture was quite excellent.
The negotiations with the Drakkari Trolls did not require Celeste to handle the minute details personally. Her duty was to represent Andreas in a war of words with the trolls—a task that required verbal wit rather than physical labor, which was exactly where her strengths lay.
With the intention of grooming the next generation, Andreas sent out both Letizia and Celeste, leaving only Onyxia, whose work abilities were exceptional in every aspect, by his side.
"Do you plan to let them stand on their own?"
Andreas shrugged and replied, "It's only a matter of time. I've been trying to cultivate Letizia in various ways for a long while now."
"But that girl doesn't seem very interested in administrative work. With her restless and high-spirited nature, she prefers earning glory on the battlefield."
"Celeste is the exact opposite. Even though she possesses a powerful arcane talent, because of Dath'Remar's teachings on keeping a low profile, she never easily reveals her true strength. Instead, she is more interested in clerical work."
"...Though she does get confused quite often."
"Hehe~"
Onyxia chuckled softly. "No one is perfect. Work skills can be developed over time, but a person's personality is largely innate."
"However, how long do you think Celeste will stay in Kalimdor?"
Andreas knew what Onyxia meant. Given Celeste's deep affection for her father and brother, she would joyfully return to her family the moment Dath'Remar gave his permission.
"Who knows."
Andreas spoke with a conflicted expression. "I'm not sure if it's just my imagination, but I get the feeling Dath'Remar doesn't want to recall Celeste to his side."
Onyxia nodded calmly. "I have the same feeling. That Highborne leader seems to intend to entrust Celeste to you entirely."
Andreas sighed in frustration. "Is that fellow trying to force a seniority jump? Or... does he have other plans?"
Onyxia shrugged. "It's not hard to guess. You've probably had a premonition for a while now."
"The Sunstrider family's focus has shifted to the Eastern Kingdoms. Given the current status of the Sunstriders among the Highborne, Dath'Remar will likely become a founding monarch."
"Dath'Remar's eldest son, Dannahs, has the air of a wise ruler. He should be able to take over the throne once Dath'Remar's life reaches its end, passing the Sunstrider legacy down through generations in the Eastern Kingdoms."
"So, where does Celeste fit in?"
Onyxia analyzed calmly, "If she follows Dath'Remar to the Eastern Kingdoms, she would at best be used as a political bargaining chip to win over the great families within their nation."
"But if Celeste stays in Kalimdor and remains by your side, in case you can't control yourself..."
"What do you mean 'can't control myself'!?"
Ignoring Andreas's protest, Onyxia continued with a smile, "Regardless, that is Dath'Remar's goal."
"He wants Celeste to be the link between the Highborne and the Night Republic. Whether or not she succeeds in seducing you, as long as Celeste remains in Kalimdor, your personality makes it unlikely that you'd let the eastward-bound Highborne fall into a desperate situation without helping. This is his contingency plan for the Highborne."
Andreas scratched his head gloomily. "Is my personality that easy to read?"
Onyxia rolled her eyes and quipped, "You aren't a naive pushover like Malfurion, and you're capable of ruthlessly ordering a genocide against enemies, but you place immense value on those close to you. That is your greatest weakness."
"Shandris once told me that perhaps because you lost all your biological family, you subconsciously tend to treat close friends as family."
Andreas was stunned by her words, failing to notice when Onyxia left the room.
Is that so? Although the real reason isn't quite what Shandris speculated, a journey through time indeed caused me to lose all my kin.
Looking up at the heavy snow falling outside the city of Shandaral, Andreas's eyes turned vacant. "Family... huh?"
...
With the capture of Drak'Tharon Keep, the strategic goal Andreas had initially set was preliminarily achieved.
The road from Shandaral to the Grizzly Hills was now completely open. The original plan was to continue south after obtaining permission from the Furbolgs, attempting to establish a Night Elf outpost in Howling Fjord.
However, the situation had changed. The Drakkari Trolls and the Furbolgs had concentrated their main forces near Drak'Agal in the east, signaling an imminent major war.
The Furbolgs, whom he had thought were harmless, had suddenly become enemies. To fulfill the commissions of Cenarius and Ursoc, Andreas intended to try a temporary alliance with the Drakkari Trolls to strike the Furbolgs, forcing them to release the bound soul of Ursol under pressure.
While Celeste headed to the front lines to negotiate with the Drakkari envoy, Andreas issued a secret order to Nawaz. General Summer Moon would lead a Sentinel force as a flank, continuing south along the western part of the Grizzly Hills.
Prysim's previous reconnaissance report had mentioned the location of the Furbolg headquarters, situated near two temples at the foot of the snow-capped mountains in the south-central Grizzly Hills.
These were the Ragefang Shrine and the Heartblood Shrine, belonging to Ursoc and Ursol respectively. The offspring of the Great Bear Brothers resided in these two temples, but now these demigod scions were under a form of house arrest by the Furbolgs, just like their fathers.
Since the main Furbolg forces were concentrated in the central and eastern regions, the Sentinel troops led by General Summer Moon faced almost no obstacles as they marched south.
Following the detailed map Andreas had provided, the Sentinel force found a bay near the eastern exit bordering the Dragonblight.
Venture Bay... of course, that was the name future generations would give it.
However, considering the large icebergs and countless hidden reefs protecting the bay in a fan-like shape, ships did indeed need to take a great risk to enter. Calling it Venture Bay seemed fitting enough.
The Sentinels established an outpost at Venture Bay, and the accompanying Arcanists immediately began constructing magical positions. Soon, someone was teleported out to deliver the news to Andreas in Shandaral.
...
The negotiations with the Drakkari took time.
Unlike the Sandfury Trolls whose cultural heritage was broken, the Drakkari Empire had maintained a complete legacy from start to finish. They far surpassed the savage Sandfury Trolls in culture, politics, diplomacy, and military affairs.
Celeste didn't reveal her hand immediately. She withheld the true purpose of the Furbolgs and spoke slowly and methodically with the Drakkari ambassador.
Celeste was in no hurry, but the Drakkari, facing pressure from both the Furbolgs and the Night Elves, were forced to be anxious.
Ultimately, it was the Drakkari who softened first, asking Celeste about the true intentions of the Night Elves in a tone of surrender.
At that moment, Andreas, who had been overseeing the battle from Shandaral, received General Summer Moon's report.
"Hehe~ the timing is ripe."
Andreas simultaneously issued orders to Celeste and the fleet stationed off the southern coast of Moonshadow's Rest.
"Have Celeste drop the bombshell. Also, notify the Second Fleet to head east, straight for Venture Bay."
Tapping heavily on the location of Venture Bay, a smile curled on Andreas's lips. "As long as we take this place, the route to eastern Northrend will be essentially open."