This story was told during the Nightfall Memoirs event [8/25/2019]
We were at the Sanctum of Enlightenment, or more commonly known these days as The Academy. And I had just finished my lecture, so thoughtfully called “Ley Lines: Sensible approximations”, when we heard the turmoil…
Everyone was aghast as they saw the magical barrier fading away… The same barrier that saved us from an inescapable death thousands of years ago when the Well of Eternity engulfed in chaos.
There were rumors going around… That the Elders were considering bringing the shield down because we were at risk, threatened from those horrible demons.
But we never fully believed it. Why would they bring the shield down!? All the land around is nothing but ashes and death, we’re all that’s left on this world and our beloved shield is all that’s keeping us safe!
-Evidently, we were wrong about this world and its habitants ability to recover from a cataclysmic event such as the sundering-
It would have been wonderful if our first sight of this new world had been the might and resolve you all have displayed, your vigorous and vibrant civilizations, your delightful meals and charming personalities.
Thelesia lets out a long, drawn-out sigh
By the stars! Even the foul-smelling and obnoxiously spiked streets of Orgrimmar would have been acceptable.
Thelesia shakes her head as she struggles not to get sidetracked
Instead, our first sight comprised a green sky, and an army of demons coming for us…
We went outside and joined the throng muttering on the gardens, watching as the Legion descended upon us. Some of them started to seek for shelter, but not me… And not out of bravery as you might think, but rather shock… Sheer disbelief was holding me in place.
One of my students then shook my shoulder, almost yelling at me in an attempt to get me back into consciousness
“Magister, we must make haste. Into the academy, quick!” Her voice trembling
We headed back into the towering doors that led into the academy, but as we were about to shut the doors a horde of bloodthirsty demons closed on us.
They carried fel infused chains and instruments of torture, which suggested their instructions were not to execute us, but to enslave us.
And we couldn’t allow that, we held the knowledge of the Nightwell, source of unimaginable power. If it were to fall into The Legion’s hands, we would all be doomed.
We of course were prepared for this moment, knowing our history with the Legion, it was mandatory to include combat training in the curriculum regardless of the school of magic.
One of the demons put his polearm on the ground and a smug smirk appeared on his face.
“Don’t feel intimidated, pitiful elves. We come here to bargain” Says the demon
“We don’t bargain with the Devil” I stated, as I began to arrange a set of runes on the ground meant to burn their fel infused bodies.
The demon laughed “Pity… Your souls will do, then”
Naturally, the clash of arcane and fel magics produced substantially loud explosions, but we fought fearlessly, knowing dying would be a far better outcome than surrendering our souls to the Legion.
Our robes shredded and scorched, skin bruised and sweaty. The battle went on for a while, but their troops seemed inexhaustible. For every demon we slew, two more took its place…
We all looked at each other knowing we would have to abandon The Academy in order to save ourselves…
We ran across the army of demons that had formed up, casting shields and shock waves in order to open up a path to the arcane elevator. We easily managed to get to the elevator, mostly due to the ineptitude demons displayed to such well-placed conjurations.
Thelesia stares off into the distance for a second and smiles
Thankfully, my students had already received their master qualification on “Abjuration and Preventive Spellcasting” prior to these events.
We made our way into the top halls of The Academy and ran across it, warning the others about the circumstances, they certainly joined us, and it was crucial that they did. Otherwise our efforts to slow down the Legion’s attempt to take over the Nightwell would have been futile.
We reached the alternative entrance, which to our convenience was located just a few meters from the outskirts of the city, and as soon as we set foot outside the city we looked back and stared at the chaos.
It felt wrong… To abandon our city in such a dire state felt almost like treason, but we had no other choice. If we had done otherwise, we would have condemned ourselves and the Nightwell.
Thelesia looks down
And by the curse of the Nightwell, we were damned to wither away, as our city… burned.
Thelesia recomposes herself and smiles brightly
But this would mark the beginning of a hopeful endeavor, one that eventually would make things right for our people and free us of our curse.
But that’s a tale for another time!
Thelesia places her right hand on her chest and bows to the crowd