The newly wed Celeste with her golden hair now pinned up instead of loose, appeared to have gained a great deal of mature feminine charm.
After years of rigorous training, Celeste was no longer the little girl with a lisp that Andreas first met. She simply waved her staff to draw a circle, and a portal large enough for three people to pass through side-by-side appeared before them.
This time, Andreas was determined to take his entire family on a relaxing trip. With Fandral and Maiev keeping Tyrande in check at the council, Andreas believed she wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.
The adult Onyxia's carrying capacity had significantly increased, and many people were seated on the back of the black dragon princess as she flew over Azsuna.
Celeste chose a teleportation landing point in the center of Azsuna, with the submerged Nar'thalas Academy not far away.
Compared to the Nar'thalas Academy seen in the Legion expansion, this ruined building had no discernible entrance at all.
The collapsed ruins had completely buried the entrance to the academy. Onyxia, in her dragon form, dug for quite a while before finally clearing a path.
Aurora, curious, tugged at Celeste and asked, "Stepmom, what's the principle behind the existence of the ghosts here? They seem to retain a considerable degree of self-awareness."
Celeste observed her surroundings, then nodded and explained, "Indeed, normally, unless there's strong resentment, ghosts usually lose their sanity over time and eventually dissipate from the world. But the ghosts here are different."
"Although most ghosts merely maintain their ingrained habits from life, mechanically repeating the experiences of their last day before death, their sanity is indeed remarkably intact."
Andreas walked over, ruffled Aurora's head, and said, "The ghosts here weren't naturally generated. They were cursed by Queen Azshara due to the rebellion."
"They won't find release until the end of the world, forever repeating the 24 hours before their death. However... this rule isn't absolute."
"Look."
Following Andreas' finger, everyone looked towards a small, waterlogged garden south of the academy.
Highly disciplined guard ghosts diligently patrolled near the garden. The ghosts living here didn't appear as mechanized as other civilian ghosts and clearly possessed strong self-awareness.
"If I'm not mistaken, with the news of Nar'thalas Academy opening up, someone will soon come to talk to us."
Just as Andreas said, about five minutes later, a male ghost dressed in a magnificent robe and holding an exquisite staff rushed over from a large section of ruins to the west.
"Who are you? Why have you trespassed into Nar'thalas Academy?"
Shandris was startled when she saw the handsome, scholarly-looking male ghost. "You are... Prince Farondis, the former governor of Azsuna?"
The man called Farondis looked at Shandris with some surprise. "Yes, I am Farondis. And you are?"
Unlike Andreas, who hadn't inherited memories, Shandris, born in Val'sharah, had met this governor who guarded Azsuna before, as these two regions were neighbors.
Shandris shook her head, took a step back, and ceded the lead to her husband.
Andreas smiled and bowed, placing a hand on his chest. "Prince Farondis, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Andreas Moonshadow, Speaker of the High Council of the Night Republic."
"Night Republic?"
Farondis, who had been confined to Azsuna, was full of questions. "What is that? A new national system for the night elves?"
"Simply put, yes."
Prince Farondis gave a bitter smile and said, "My apologies. Living in Azsuna for so long, I've already lost touch with the world."
"Never mind that. Is there anything I can help you with at Nar'thalas Academy?"
Farondis smiled gently and politely. "Although I am a sinner of Azsuna, I believe I know this place better than anyone. Being a guide is no problem."
Andreas smiled and waved his hand. "Nothing important, just wanted to go down and see if there are any arcane tomes still preserved in the academy."
Nar'thalas Academy was once the largest academic base of the Night Elven Empire, training a large number of excellent arcanists for the nation.
Andreas had done a world quest in the 7.0 version that involved drawing shapes and fighting monsters in books, which proved that a considerable number of books were still preserved in the submerged academy.
Andreas cordially invited Farondis, whose expression was a little strange. "Would you like to come down with us, Prince? You might find quite a lot."
Farondis shook his head bitterly. "No, the academy certainly won't welcome me. I'll wait for you outside."
...With Slow Fall cast, the group floated down the hollow passage to the lower levels of Nar'thalas Academy. Many ghostly apprentices were still practicing spells, maintaining their habits from life.
"Stop!"
A female mage in a pointed hat blocked Andreas and the others. "Where are your pointed hats, robes, and spellbooks? Your attire is not in order, you are not allowed to enter..."
"Let me handle this."
Moon-white light shimmered in Shandris' hand, and countless golden chains appeared around the ghost, binding her. Her expression was frozen on the last word she uttered.
Andreas approved, "Binding Undead, quite useful."
All the undead who questioned the group along the way were bound by Shandris. Andreas, following his memories, first turned left into the classroom area.
Numerous apprentice ghosts, under the guidance of their mentors, were waving wands to practice spell precision. Some books on the shelves had been damaged by the passage of time, but just as Andreas had guessed, many spellbooks were still readable.
"Shandris, you deal with the surrounding ghosts. Celes, pack up all these books and take them. Aurora will have plenty to read for a long time."
Aurora rolled her dead fish eyes and twitched the corner of her mouth. "Heh heh~"
Unlike the large number of historical and archival ancient texts preserved in Eldre'thalas, the books in Nar'thalas Academy were all related to arcane combat and application.
Not to mention Aurora, even Celeste was very interested in these precious texts.
After sweeping the bookshelves clean, Andreas and the others admired the arcane murals on the walls as they returned to the academy's dividing point and headed right towards the staff room.
Compared to the well-preserved classrooms, the staff room was already in ruins. A female ghost in a purple robe with a red cloak draped over her back stood in the deepest part of the staff room, muttering to herself and staring intently at a four-lobed blue stone before her.
"That's it!"
Andreas smiled happily when he saw the cracked stones. "One of the Pillars of Creation left by the Titans—the Tidestone of Golganneth."