In case you missed them, here are Part 1 and Part 2.
Elwynn Forest is quiet; the Defias stay hidden, and the murlocs don’t dare to venture too near.
Must be the armor.
I’ve been trying to think of a solution all morning, but it’s plainly obvious that I have no expertise in this matter. I need help, and I need information. I’m just not sure I’m properly equipped to deal with the person who can provide both. Ready or not, though, I don’t have much choice.
“So where are we going?” Esmerellda is obviously curious, but this is the first question she has asked all morning. Probably because I’ve been lost in thought and barely seem to be paying attention to where we’re going. Esmerellda doesn’t mind following along on our various adventures, but there is always a defined purpose behind them. Right now, I’m sure she thinks we’re just wandering aimlessly.
“But ‘Lissa, we’re lost. We’ve been wandering around in Terokkar for hours now, and you still don’t know how to get back to Shattrath. I told you we should have just waited for father.”
Lelissa sighed, shaking her head. “But we couldn’t just wait for father. We weren’t supposed to be at the Temple today at all. He forbade us to go, but you just had to go see Boros’ promotion ceremony. I know you want to be a paladin, ‘Nessa, but was it really that important?”
Minessa frowned, angry and impetuous, as she shoved a tree branch aside. “I don’t expect you to understand. You can’t touch the Light. You can’t even harness Nature.”
Lelissa stopped, hands clenched at her sides. Minessa’s words stung, and it was hard to fight back the tears. It was bad enough that her mother was disappointed, but Minessa as well? It was too much.
Minessa winced, realizing that maybe she had spoken too hastily. She approached her twin, resting her hand on the other’s shoulder. ” ‘Lissa, I -”
Lelissa spun, her full-armed slap catching Minessa by surprise and knocking her to the ground. Anger and fury were painted clearly on Lelissa’s face, despite the tears rolling down her cheeks. Lelissa just shook her head and spoke briefly before darting off into the forest, leaving Minessa where she fell. The words were tinged with venom: “I guess you don’t need me, then, since you’re so much better than me. You’re on your own from now on.”
Now I understand.
“Well, first we go to Ironforge. I have questions, and I only know one person who will have the answers. After that, we go after my sister.”
Esmerellda nods, taking all of this in. Then, a followup question. “So you know where she’s going?”
I nod. “I’m pretty sure. She’s on her way to the Black Temple.”
“I don’t get it, what could she possibly want there?” I know that tone: confusion and annoyance over being confused. Esmerellda is getting frustrated, and she isn’t going to like my answer. I put on my best sheepish smile, and feel myself blushing…
“I have no idea. Just call it a hunch.”
Esmerellda is not pleased. “We’re basing all of this on a hunch?”
“Minessa… er, Malyss and I spent a lot of time there while we grew up. We were children when those halls were still called the Temple of Karabor. Our father spent his days in the temple, and the Hand of Argus, her order and heroes, were stationed there. During her travels in outland, Malyss must have gone there looking for our father, or at the very least, others of her former order. I think… perhaps… that she was corrupted there. It makes sense that she would go back. At the very least, we might find clues.”
Esmerellda is quiet for a few minutes while we walk through the gates of Stormwind, probably working through my reasoning. “Well, you may be right. It’s somewhere we can start, and it’s not like I have any better ideas. So who are we going to see in Ironforge?”
“The only expert I know on demons and souls. You know her.”
“I do? Who… oh, no. Do we have to? She’s so… abrasive.”
I nod in agreement. “Sometimes, but I can’t imagine anyone better for the knowledge. We have to go see Siasha.”
