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Don t talk nonsense! I m going to save Kalimdor! I ll be its beloved hero! He turned on her. Don t you
understand? Nothing else has worked! We fought and fought and the Legion just keeps coming! I finally came to
realize that the only way to deal with demons was to understand them as only they can understand themselves! We
must use what they were against them! That s why I came here and pretended to join their ranks! I even fooled their
lord into granting me his greatest gifts
Gifts? You call what he did to your eyes gifts?
Malfurion s brother loomed over her, looking at that moment more like one of the demons than any night elf. If
you could see as I do, you d know how amazing the powers are he gave me& With an unnerving smile, Illidan
allowed her again to see the pits where once his eyes had been. He paid no mind when Tyrande, just as she had
upon her first view of the horror wrought upon him, involuntarily pulled back. Replacing the scarf, he concluded,
Yes, the greatest gifts imaginable& and the greatest weapons against the Burning Legion&
The sorcerer pulled her along again and although it was within the priestess s power to struggle free of him, in
truth, Tyrande did not exactly wish to leave Illidan. She feared for him, feared for his heart and mind and wanted to
do what she could to try to save the misguided spellcaster. The teachings of Elune only in part guided her; Tyrande
Whisperwind still recalled vividly the younger Illidan, the Illidan full of dreams, hope, and goodness.
She only prayed that some part of that younger Illidan still existed within this more jaded, highly-ambitious figure
eagerly dragging her through a demon-benighted land.
Thinking of the armored horrors she had already fought, Tyrande glanced around as they wended their way through
the fallen city. Each moment, the priestess expected one of the monstrous warriors to pop up from among the ruins
and attack. Surely, Mannoroth knew of Illidan s treachery by now.
Perhaps noticing her glances or even reading her thoughts, the black-clad sorcerer slyly informed Tyrande, The
spellwork over the Well has Mannoroth s full attention and he thinks little of me as it is. I ve cast the illusion that
I ve returned to my quarters and am meditating. He grinned wide. Besides that, the flight of several of the
Highborne the priestess of Elune with them has also taken their focus elsewhere.
In the distance, they heard Legion horns again sounding the chase. Tyrande prayed to Elune to watch over
Dath Remar and his comrades. They had a long, long way to ride and so many demons to fight through.
Oblivious to her concern for the Highborne, Illidan grinned and added, Yes, this should give me just enough time
for what I planned!
And what is that? Even as she asked, Tyrande saw in the distance the black, foreboding waters. Why are we
headed toward the Well?
Because I intend to turn Sargeras s portal into a full-fledged maelstrom, one that will suck the demons back out of
Kalimdor and into their nether world! I ll utterly reverse the effect of the dragon s disk! Think of it! With one spell,
I ll save not only our people, but everything!
His expression shifted, now almost seeming hopeful of her approval. However, when Tyrande did not immediately
show such emotion, Illidan quickly became his harsher self again.
You don t believe I can do it! Maybe if I was your precious Malfurion, you d be jumping up and down, clapping
your hands at my cleverness!
It isn t that at all, Illidan! I just
Never mind! He peered around the stormy landscape, seeking something. His monstrous gaze alighted on a fallen
tree home. The angle of the dead oak meant that they could climb inside and get a perfect view of the Well of
Eternity. Just Perfect! Get in there!
Practically tossed forward, the priestess wended her way into the ruined domicile. The sorcerer followed right
behind, all but shoving her as they went.
As she climbed into the overturned structure, Tyrande s foot kicked something.
A skull.
She found herself standing amidst a pile of bones from at least five or six figures. No skeleton was complete and
most of the bones had long, telling scratches and gouges in them. Tyrande shuddered, hoping that the felbeasts had
feasted on dead carcasses, not living, helpless victims, but from experience fearing the worst.
You can pray over them once I ve saved all of us, Illidan remarked disdainfully. Just ahead looks like the best
A monstrously-familiar form leapt out of the shadows.
It took down Malfurion s twin before he could react. Tyrande screamed, then immediately called upon the power of
Elune.
But before she could do anything, the felbeast, its tentacles already seeking Illidan s chest, howled painfully. The
demon hound writhed as the sorcerer calmly rose. Illidan s right hand held both suckers together.
I could use the magic you ve been gorging yourself on& he commented almost blithely to the creature.
The night elf planted his left palm against the suckers. However, unlike times past, this felbeast showed no interest
in trying to drink from its intended victim. Instead, it fought however futilely to pull its vile appendages back.
Illidan s left hand glowed an eerie green that Tyrande recognized as the same color as the horrific flames
surrounding the demons. Malfurion s twin inhaled and Tyrande watched in horror as the demon literally crumbled
to dust from end to front, whining to the last. Its very essence was sucked into the sorcerer s palm.
As the horrific vision unfolded, Illidan s aspect became something frightening to behold. Even though he had
replaced the scarf over his eye sockets, she could see the terrible fires burning within. The sorcerer wore a wide,
almost drunken grin and around him flared green flames as potent as those surrounding any demon. Illidan seemed
to swell
Then, the flames abruptly died away and the sorcerer instantly returned to his normal appearance. He wiped clean
his hand, then kicked a little at the ash that was all that remained of the felbeast. Smoothing his hair, Illidan gave
Tyrande another confident smile. Well! Shall we proceed?
The priestess hid her shock as best she could. This was no longer the Illidan with whom she had grown up. This
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