"Thank you very much for your help."
It was truly astonishing to witness someone's demeanor change so drastically in the blink of an eye.
The previous Varian Wrynn, upon entering, carried a fierce, bloody aura. Even though his appearance was upright and not at all intimidating, no one thought he was someone to be trifled with. The aura radiating from his body made many people afraid to meet his gaze.
After regaining his memories, Varian's aura changed significantly. While he still exuded a powerful presence, it was now more restrained, with an added quality that was difficult to describe.
"Is this the legendary 'king's aura'?"
Ethan wasn't overwhelmed by this aura, nor did he immediately bow down or act like a lackey. However, he did feel that the man before him was someone worthy of admiration and respect—perhaps because Ethan already knew Varian's life story and what he would eventually accomplish.
Seeing Varian about to express his gratitude, Ethan extended a hand and clasped Varian's. But Varian offered both hands, gripping firmly to show his sincere appreciation.
"As long as your request doesn't endanger the Kingdom of Stormwind or the Alliance, I will fulfill it."
This was a weighty promise. Ethan felt that Varian's sudden and significant commitment was not just a simple repayment for helping him recover his memories.
Indeed, Varian immediately stated his requirement. "But you know my current situation. I must first return to Stormwind to reclaim my throne and kill that damned black dragon."
No one who becomes a king has a simple mind. Varian might seem like a reckless warrior, but when it came to necessary tactics, he showed no hesitation.
Fortunately, this request was already within Ethan's expectations. His original plan had been to help Varian regain his memories, send him back to Stormwind to reclaim his authority, and naturally, a battle with Onyxia would be part of that process.
These were all things he had already anticipated, so of course he wouldn't refuse.
"I also have some understanding of the situation in Stormwind. I'm more than willing to contribute in whatever way I can for the sake of humanity."
Varian hadn't expected Ethan to agree so readily. In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. He understood that this young mage was no ordinary person. But this was a black dragon they were going to face—something that not just anyone had the courage to confront.
Based on this alone, regardless of what Ethan might want in the future, he had earned Varian's respect.
"Now we should discuss our next steps."
After Varian's identity as king was confirmed, among those present, only Jaina had equal standing. After all, she was the rightful heir of Kul Tiras, one of the original Seven Kingdoms, and now governed Theramore, a city-state no smaller than Stormwind, making her a leader of a significant faction.
The others, including Windsor, should technically stand when discussing matters with His Majesty the King.
However, Varian deliberately acted unconcerned, allowing everyone to remain seated. Even Windsor, who had been standing at the side, was gestured to sit and speak casually.
"We need to return to Stormwind as quickly as possible."
As soon as everyone was seated, Varian set the tone.
Returning to Stormwind was inevitable. The question was how to get there as quickly as possible. In the original story, although Varian confirmed his identity here in Theramore, he hadn't fully regained his memories and didn't know who was behind everything. Thus, he returned to Stormwind with only a few companions.
The route he took was similar to the one Ethan and his group had used to arrive in Theramore: sailing to Menethil Harbor, then heading south through the Wetlands. Along the way, he unexpectedly learned about the Dark Iron Dwarves and discovered that Marshal Windsor was imprisoned in Blackrock Depths. So, he rescued Windsor along the way.
Only then did he learn from Windsor that the one stirring up trouble in Stormwind was the black dragon Onyxia, who had been disguising herself as Lady Katrana Prestor.
But now the situation was different. Ethan and his group had already exposed the plot, and Windsor had been rescued by them much earlier and brought to Theramore.
As soon as Varian regained his memories, he was informed of Stormwind's situation and realized that everything he had experienced, even the death of his wife, had been caused by Onyxia's schemes.
Bang!
Varian slammed his fist heavily onto the table in front of him, shattering a large piece of the fine hardwood. "Onyxia must die!"
Perhaps due to the influence of his recent persona, Varian seemed to be having difficulty controlling his anger. Of course, even if he were the original Varian who hadn't suffered magical torment, it would still be perfectly normal to react this way after learning his wife had been murdered and not killed in an accident.
Ethan didn't say anything foolish like "I've already claimed Onyxia, don't kill her." He clearly remembered that his goal was to obtain the knowledge he sought through Varian in order to further enhance his own power.
It was just a mount. It didn't have to be this particular black dragon.
"I can help."
Jaina generally maintained a neutral stance. She would lend aid when important figures from either the Alliance or the Horde were in danger, but if the conflict involved both sides, she would usually withdraw after resolving any life-threatening emergencies.
However, if it was a black dragon—a creature that even sought to overthrow the Kingdom of Stormwind, a vital member of the Alliance—she would not stand idly by.
"I can teleport everyone directly into Stormwind."
Everyone's attention turned to Jaina Proudmoore. They all knew this beautiful woman with golden hair was a powerful mage. But exactly how powerful, most didn't fully understand until now. Only upon hearing her state that she could directly teleport everyone here to Stormwind did they begin to grasp the scope of her abilities.
Ethan knew this wasn't even Jaina's limit. In fact, if she unleashed her full strength, she would be a game-breaking force in battle. Perhaps that was why, in his previous life, that company was always reluctant to let Jaina fully commit to any single faction. Even after she went on a rampage and swore to destroy the Horde, she still ultimately chose neutrality for the sake of the "greater good."
"In that case, we can certainly give that black dragon a surprise."
Being able to bypass the journey and assault Onyxia directly was undoubtedly the best option. It would also reduce unnecessary conflict with the Stormwind army. No one knew how much influence Katrana had over Stormwind. If they had to fight their way in from outside, they might end up clashing with their own soldiers, which was something Varian didn't want to see.
"Even if we go straight in and face Onyxia, if we can't expose her true identity immediately, there's no guarantee that some fools won't stand in our way."
Windsor took this opportunity to criticize Bolvar again. This wasn't the first time today. In fact, ever since Varian recovered his memories, Windsor had already called the Grand Duke of Stormwind a fool more than once.
"Is there any way?"
"I can solve this problem."
Ethan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up to remind everyone of his presence. His Mirror Dimension spell was perfect for this kind of "isolation" scenario.
Jaina glanced at Ethan again but didn't say anything this time. She simply continued discussing various details with Varian.
Ethan didn't interrupt again. While Varian wasn't the primary force in defeating Onyxia, as the King of Stormwind, he was undoubtedly the central figure in this battle. Following him gave the fight legitimacy and placed them on the side of "justice."
"So, this is following the plot, huh?"
Ever since arriving in Azeroth, Ethan had been concerned about another troublesome matter: the Bronze Dragons, said to oversee the timeline of this world. Would he and his group of outsiders be targeted by them? And if so, how would he deal with it?
After much thought, he saw only two options—leave this world immediately or face the Bronze Dragons head-on.
The former left him unwilling, the latter was too difficult given his current strength. So, after weighing everything, he decided that following the timeline while reaping benefits was the only viable path.
"What annoying guys."
The Bronze Dragons themselves meddled constantly, yet didn't allow others to touch the timeline. To put it bluntly, they had claimed this territory for themselves. If Ethan were just a bit stronger, he wouldn't hesitate at all to give them a proper beating.
"Looking at it this way, Onyxia has to die, doesn't she?"
While he was deep in thought, Varian and Jaina had already finalized the entire plan. They would rest and make final preparations for the upcoming battle, after which Jaina would use her magic to teleport them into Stormwind.
"Facing the black dragon directly, huh."
Ethan checked the time. Basically, after this battle with Onyxia, there wouldn't be much time left. Once he collected the knowledge and items he needed, it would be time to leave this world.
"I'm very curious, Lord Ethan. What kind of reward do you seek?"
After the plan was set, Varian's only concern was that Ethan would ask for something excessive or troublesome. However, when Ethan finally stated his request, Varian was stunned, and even Jaina found it hard to believe.
"Your Majesty doesn't need to worry. I merely wish for some information."
(To be continued.)
***
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