With the last troll in the ancient city slain, the dark clouds of war that had long shrouded this place finally dissipated for good.
At the same time, the storm clouds over Zul'Aman gradually dispersed, as if in perfect timing, allowing sunlight to once again bathe the ancient troll capital that had borne witness to the passage of history.
For the Alliance, the complete eradication of the Amani trolls was of monumental significance.
This was especially true for the high elves of Quel'Thalas.
For them, this moment marked the definitive end of a conflict that had lasted for thousands of years. Their long-standing war and hatred against the trolls had reached its conclusion, signifying the end of an era.
Perhaps the grudges and wars of the old times would continue to entangle the various races of Azeroth, but they would no longer dominate the world. New troubles and new enemies awaited the mortals of Azeroth.
When Alaric stood before the gathered forces in the Alliance camp and officially declared this reality, cheers erupted from all around. Among them, the most emotional were, unsurprisingly, the high elves.
Yet after their initial elation, a profound sense of emptiness followed.
Especially for Alleria and Sylvanas—these two high elven rangers had stood frozen at the gates of Zul'Aman ever since, staring blankly at the ancient city with expressions too complex to describe.
It wasn't until Alaric had finished handling military affairs and approached them that the sisters finally snapped out of their daze.
"Is it... really over?" Sylvanas asked the mage in a dazed tone. "The Amani trolls... are they really gone?"
Among the Windrunner sisters, Alleria, the eldest, had the most experience fighting trolls and should have been the one most affected by their downfall. Yet, it was Sylvanas, the younger sister, who seemed most lost in the aftermath.
Seeing Sylvanas, usually resolute and cold, now looking utterly bewildered, Alaric gave her a firm nod.
"Aside from a few stragglers, the Amani trolls have indeed been wiped out for good. Quel'Thalas no longer has enemies at its borders. The high elves will never again have to suffer at the hands of trolls."
"Yes... the high elves will never have to suffer at the hands of trolls again," Sylvanas murmured, lowering her head. "Then what meaning remains for us rangers, for all these soldiers?"
"Sylvanas, you mustn't think like that," Alleria said, gently patting her sister's shoulder in comfort. "The end of war is a good thing, isn't it?
Think about how many of our people we'll save from dying every year now that the trolls are gone."
"I... I know," Sylvanas replied. "But... we..."
Despite her remarkable growth in both personal strength and leadership, even surpassing Alleria in cold decisiveness, Sylvanas was still young. The sudden shift in the world left her struggling to adjust.
"Sylvanas, do you understand the meaning of war?" Alaric's voice suddenly rang in her ears.
"The meaning... of war?" She looked at him, puzzled.
"Yes. The meaning of war, and the meaning of a warrior's existence," Alaric sighed. "War is merely a method of resolving disputes. Its causes are many—hatred, greed, honor, wealth—but at the core of all of them, war ultimately boils down to survival and development. These are the fundamental goals of every race."
"Survival... and development," Sylvanas repeated softly, her eyes gradually lighting up.
"Exactly," Alaric nodded. "Every being must survive, but once survival is secured, they seek to live better. In that pursuit, conflicts arise—between individuals, between nations, between races. When those conflicts escalate, they lead to war.
Though war stems from conflict, it is also a way to resolve it. The ultimate goal of war is to establish a more stable peace."
"A more stable peace..." Sylvanas mused, deep in thought. "Then what is the purpose of warriors?"
"To end war and preserve peace," Alaric answered without hesitation. "War is always just a means to an end.
We take up our bows and swords so that others won't have to. If one day, all conflicts can be settled without weapons, then warriors will have fulfilled their greatest mission.
Wouldn't that be an honorable conclusion?"
"Yes, I understand now!" Sylvanas declared, her resolve returning as she pushed aside her doubts.
But before Alaric could feel relieved, she gave him a sly smile.
"You're quite something, aren't you, little brother?" Sylvanas hooked an arm around his neck, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Taking this chance to lecture me—how do you propose I repay you?"
"Well..." Feeling her warmth and the faint fragrance lingering near his neck, Alaric was briefly tempted to make a slightly flirtatious request.
But upon noticing Alleria's gentle yet watchful gaze, he wisely abandoned that thought.
"Forget it, Sylvanas," he said, feigning indifference. "It's my duty as a commander to care for my subordinates' mental well-being."
"Oh, you're quite the smooth talker," Sylvanas chuckled, her voice carrying a hint of mischief. "Fine, if you won't ask for anything, I'll just have to decide on my own."
With those words, she gracefully leaped away, disappearing into the Alliance camp with ease. Only her melodic voice drifted back from afar.
Alaric sighed, shaking his head as he touched his cheek.
There, where Sylvanas had left just moments before, were two faint, damp marks.
"Don't mind her," Alleria said, naturally stepping closer until she stood beside Alaric, their shoulders nearly touching.
"Sylvanas enjoys teasing people, but she wouldn't do anything too outrageous."
She hadn't noticed what her sister had done, and Alaric quickly withdrew his hand, pretending nothing had happened.
To change the subject, he asked, "What about you? With everything that's happened, do you have anything you'd like to share with me?"
"Hmph, I'm not as fragile as her," Alleria huffed. "But... I am a little tired."
Alaric paused for a moment, realizing how much she had been through.
Ever since she had met him, Alleria had been constantly busy on his behalf—persuading the Quel'Thalas leadership, training volunteer forces, coordinating alliances, and leading troops into battle.
Ever since she had expressed her feelings for him, he had relied on her far too much.
A sense of guilt welled up inside him.
"Now that the war is over for the time being, why don't we take a walk?" he suggested on a whim.
His words brought a smile to Alleria's face. His concern filled her with warmth.
"That sounds like a great idea. All I've ever known in this jungle is war. I've never really had the chance to appreciate its beauty.
There's a lake over there—I've been meaning to take a proper bath for ages after all this fighting. We could start there..."
The ranger took Alaric's hand excitedly and led him forward, the setting sun casting their figures in a golden glow as they walked into the distance together.
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