boyutpedia Page 64
Page 64
As the first golden rays of dawn pierced the sky above South Sea Town, the entire camp awoke. The tranquility following yesterday's banquet and the sorrow of bidding farewell to their homeland were replaced by a tense yet hopeful busyness.
The paladins gave the airship's cables a final check of the connection points to the magic ships, while the goblin engineers made final adjustments beside the airship's steam boilers. Lordaeron's militia guided the civilians orderly into the five space magic ships suspended in mid-air by the goblin airships.
Princess Calia Menethil stood on a makeshift platform, with Uther, Rhodes, and Jaina standing side by side behind her.
She changed into a simple yet dignified blue outfit of Lordaeron, preparing to give her final farewell speech to her people, and took a deep breath.
"People of Lordaeron! I am Calia Menethil, the last of the Menethil royal family of Lordaeron."
"First, please allow me to apologize for the atrocities my brother Arthas committed against you." Princess Calia finished speaking and bowed 90 degrees to all the people.
The uproar subsided instantly, and tens of thousands of eyes focused on her, paying their respects to the princess.
"Darkness once shrouded our homeland, the iron hooves of the dead trampled the land we loved, and the icy chill of betrayal pierced the heart we trusted most."
We lost our loved ones, we lost our homes, and even... at one point, we lost hope.
We stand atop the ruins of Lordaeron, witnessing a living hell; on our escape, we repeatedly repel the relentless pursuit of the undead.
"We sheltered our homeless compatriots at the port of South Sea Town, where we faced indifference and scheming, and experienced the bitterness of betrayal." Princess Jialiya's words resonated with all the people, who had endured too much suffering along the way.
“But!” Calia’s voice suddenly rose.
"Look around us! Look at the Silver Hand Knights who have fought valiantly all the way and never given up protecting us!"
Look at our Kul Tiran allies who have stood by us through thick and thin! Look at our friends from Dalaran, Quel'Thalas, Ironforge, and Monoregan who have chosen to walk alongside us!
We are not alone, we are not fighting alone, I am proud of you, my people.
"More importantly, look at yourselves! Every single one of you standing here!"
You did not fall in despair, you did not succumb to fear!
You measured the hardships with your own feet, protected each other with your own hands, and illuminated the road ahead with hope! It is your indomitable spirit that has brought us to where we are today!
The Holy Light protects us, and it protects Lordaeron.
Today, we stand here not as fugitives, but as pioneers! As trailblazers.
As the future creators of Lordaeron! The Holy Light has not abandoned us; it has guided us to a new direction—Kalimdor!
Princess Calia turned around abruptly, pointing westward to the vast, boundless, and unknown endless sea.
"That will be our new home! A home far from the shadow of the Scourge, a home we will build with our own hands!"
A home that embodies our remembrance of the deceased, our responsibility to the living, and our hope for the future!
"I, Calia Menethil, swear in the name of the last bloodline of the Menethil family, that I will always be with you!"
We will carry the will of Lordaeron, the yearning for freedom, and the belief in rebuilding our homeland.
“My father once said that there is no eternal monarchy. Our Menethil family has always ruled this country through diligence and wisdom, not through power.”
My people! The spirit of Lordaeron—unity, resilience, protection, and hope—will endure forever! It will flow in our blood and be etched deep within our souls!
Even if we travel across oceans, Lordaeron has never truly perished; it lives in the hearts of each and every one of us!
One day, we will carry this spirit and return to this land that belongs to us with an even stronger presence!
Avenge my brother Arthas! For Lordaeron! For the dead! For the living! For the future!
Now I declare, let us set sail! Our destination: a new home.
His final words were like a thunderclap, exploding across the harbor and instantly igniting the passion of everyone present!
"For Lordaeron!"
"For Her Highness the Princess!"
"For our new home!"
"Holy light is above!"
"set off!"
As Rod watched this scene, he was filled with emotion. Sometimes, a terrifying upheaval can truly transform a person, making them unrecognizable.
Princess Calia has truly grown up. She is no longer the weak princess hiding under her father's wing, but has truly become the spiritual leader of the people of Lordaeron.
Her words, a perfect blend of sorrow, anger, gratitude, and hope, ignited the flame of the migrating caravan. Although his and Jaina's help were in preparing the speech, it still took talent to deliver it so passionately.
"Board the ship!" Rhodes gave the final order.
Uther himself stood by the entrance of a magical ship, helping an elderly man with faltering steps onto the vessel. Paladins were scattered throughout, maintaining order and assisting the elderly, women, and children to board.
Renault, Darian, Gwenrad, Ballard and others bustled about in the crowd.
Jaina then guided the high elf mages and Dalaran mages onto another ship.
The dwarven artisans, along with the gnomes, traveled on a magical ship; this voyage included almost all the races of the Alliance.
Every four airships lifted one magic ship, and the steam roar of the goblin airships suddenly increased, as the huge propellers began to spin at high speed, creating powerful air currents.
With the slings taut, the five space magic ships began to sway slightly, lifting off the ground and slowly ascending into the air.
Inside the magic ship, the expanded space makes the boarding process efficient and orderly.
Although the refugees were numerous, the interior space was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside, as if they had entered another world.
The common people found their places according to the signs, looking at the amazing Titan creation with curiosity and trepidation.
The children were captivated by the novel environment and temporarily forgot the sadness of parting. The mothers hugged their children tightly and whispered words of comfort.
The wounded soldiers were placed in a special area under the care of priests and medical staff, while the remaining soldiers and paladins stood on the bow of the ship.
Rhodes stood on the edge of the deck of the flagship magic ship (the largest one), looking down at the increasingly smaller town of Southsea below, and the last remaining paladins and militiamen in the port—they would be responsible for receiving the refugees who would arrive later and waiting for the subsequent fleet from Kul Tiras.
Princess Calia and Uther stood beside him. Everyone took one last look at the coastline that had witnessed so much pain and farewell. Their eyes were filled with complex emotions, but ultimately they turned into unwavering resolve.
Goodbye, Lordaeron, we... will be back.
"All airships, begin takeoff! Target—Kalimdor!" The goblin airship commander Grizby's voice blared through the loudspeakers, filled with the characteristic goblin excitement.
"Time is money, dear passengers, let's get going! Welcome aboard the Hot Sands Group flight."
Twenty goblin airships simultaneously increased their power, emitting a deafening roar. The massive airships, towing the five magical ships below, began to steadily ascend. Powerful air currents whipped through the hair and robes of those on deck.
Below, Renault Mograine, Sally, Saji, and the others who remained led all the remaining personnel in a neat military salute, watching the fleet carrying the last embers and hopes of Lordaeron rise into the sky, gradually disappearing into the distance, eventually becoming a string of small black dots on the horizon, merging into the azure sky and the boundless sea.
"Rhodes, how long do you think it will take for us to return? To return to this homeland?" Princess Calia asked Rhodes, gazing at the distant horizon.
“In five years at most, we will be back, and in seven years at most we will defeat Arthas,” Rhodes said with a smile.
It is now the 20th year of the Dark Gate. In the 25th year of the Dark Gate, Rhodes will lead everyone back. In the 27th year of the Dark Gate, Arthas will die.
“You’re really an optimistic Rhodes, but don’t try to comfort me. I think we might never be able to come back,” Princess Calia sighed.
Lordaeron is now in ruins, and with the Scourge undead so powerful, can they really return?
“Princess Calia, and everyone else, it’s time to tell you something,” Rhodes said as he approached the princess.
At this moment, Jaina, Uther, and the high elf representative, the mage Caponia, were also drawn over by Rhodes' voice and gathered around.
"What secret do you want to tell us, Rhodes?"
"This is what the Titan Guardians told me. In fact, the Scourge is just a bunch of cannon fodder or vanguard. There is an even more terrifying force behind them."
A terrifying force called the Burning Legion is led by the Lich King, but its true mastermind is the mastermind behind Arthas's corruption, as evidenced by the dreadlord.
"The Burning Legion has never given up on invading our world. Even the first time the orcs crossed the Dark Portal 20 years ago was a plot by the Burning Legion." Rhodes told everyone some information about the Burning Legion.
Azeroth is not entirely ignorant of the Burning Legion, so there's no need to wait until the Legion arrives to discuss it further.
"The Burning Legion? Our ancient Quel'Thalas records that these demons are said to have set foot in our world ten thousand years ago, only to be defeated by the native inhabitants of Azeroth at that time."
"According to the records, the Burning Legion does indeed have dreadlords among its minions; they are extremely evil demons," Caponia said.
“My teacher also told me about the Burning Legion, and we saw the dreadlord in Andorhal with our own eyes. Its name is Mal'Ganis,” Jaina nodded and said.
The high elves and even the mages of Dalaran knew of the Burning Legion's existence, and it was precisely to defend against the Burning Legion that the Guardians were created.
"Rhodes, where did you hear this news? Is the Burning Legion really behind the Scourge?" Uther asked, looking shocked.
“That’s right, Lord Uther. This is what the Titan Guardian told me personally, which is why I chose to bring everyone with me to Kalimdor.”
Even if the Titan Keepers help us defeat the Scourge, the Burning Legion will still launch an invasion.
To defeat the Burning Legion, our current strength is insufficient; we need to unite the forces of both continents.
The Burning Legion failed to invade our world ten thousand years ago because a powerful race opposed them; that race was called the Night Elves.
As soon as she finished speaking, the high elf mage standing to the side suddenly changed her expression. The term "night elf" was not unfamiliar to them, because high elves were, in a sense, a kind of night elf race.
"Night elves, what a distant word!"
However, their ancestors, the high elves, were nobles among the night elves and a group that researched magical power. The first Sun King was unwilling to accept the night elves' idea of abandoning arcane magic.
Thus, a conflict arose between the ancestor and Malfurion Stormrage, the leader of the night elves at the time, and Tyrande. Ultimately, the ancestor led all the high elf nobles to the Eastern Kingdoms.
Therefore, having lost the power of immortality, elves may have long lifespans in the eyes of humans, but in the eyes of their fellow night elves...
They are nothing. After the war, the night elves received the blessing of the guardian dragons, gaining eternal life and completely transcending mortal races, becoming a truly immortal race.
"Rhodes, do you mean, or rather, do you mean, the Great Titan Guardian, that we need the help of this Night Elf race?" Princess Calia asked thoughtfully.
“That’s right, Your Highness. Night Elves are an extremely powerful race. Every member of them is immortal and is an extraordinary race.”
"And they also possess powerful wild demigods as protectors; this race is key to defeating the Burning Legion," Rhodes said.
Without the Guardians appearing, the only way to defeat Archimonde is for the Night Elves' World Tree to self-destruct.
"I never imagined that the enemy we are facing would be such a terrifying existence. Can we really win?"
"Don't worry, Your Highness, and Lord Uther, the Guardians will guide us, and the Holy Light will guide us as well."
"We're not the only ones fighting the Burning Legion; we'll have countless allies in the future," Rhodes said, trying to reassure everyone.
"Hopefully, Rhodes. If that's the case, then we'll have to go find this night elf after we head to Kalimdor."
“Yes, I’ve already spoken with the goblins. They’ll send me to the night elves’ territory. We’ll head to a place called Dustwallow Marsh first,” Rhodes said.
The next ten days or so were spent on the airship, and the days were a little boring.
On the 17th day, the group saw a coastline.
Chapter 111 Arrival in Kalimdor, Refugee Camp, Old Tree