[30 Oct 25] A Visit Home
There was a reason she returned to the Fel Hammer. It wasn't due to ingratitude. It wasn't due to dislike of her found family.
It started off with noticing the change. The change in the landscape. The change among the people. Eliendre stayed away from those who remained to form re-populated areas, mostly due to what she had chosen to become. Yet in her distance, she had observed the shift in their society over the few years since she accepted Shan'do Sunstorm's offer to return to his family with him.
Tiny dots of flowers hurt her vision as she traversed the edges of the Kingdom away from whatever ruins that still stood; away from places being rebuilt. Paths that were familiar to her prior to the Scourging, that became familiar again through the years of desolation when she had to re-learn them - they no longer felt recognisable. At least the grave markers a distance away from her hometown were still present in the wilderness, despite the the scattering growths of flowers that hurt her vision.
She gently gathered the other wild blooms that didn't sting her fingers and laid the bouquets by the stones engraved with the familiar names. Not too long ago, she could still sit down and contemplate in the reassuring silence of her parents' resting place. Now, the dots of flowers made it uncomfortable for her to linger too long.
How she wanted to simply burn them down with a snap of her fingers, but times have changed, and she needed to behave.
Head bowed, her lips moved in silent uttered words known only to herself and perhaps beyond the veil for whom they were meant. Discoloured, scaled fingers delivered a gentle kiss from her lips to the earth, and she rose.
---
On the northernmost shore, nearly meeting the sea that separated the mainland from Quel'Danas, Eliendre tread on the beach, letting the tide smoothing the white sands to erase her tracks. She passed the wards from the back gate, hidden and only accessible to the staff of the household and her found family. Her Shan'do did not come out to meet her. Perhaps he was angry that she had not returned until now; perhaps he was not home. Eliendre wished he would come out and tell her off. Like he used to do when he trained her. Like her own father did when he trained her.
Her adopted sister appeared in a Blink just as she stepped onto the paved stone steps leading up to the small house. It was at times like this that Eliendre wished she did not have the spectral sight, for her adopted sister's aura was as palpable as the annoyance that radiated off the other woman's posture.
The demon huntress halted, waiting for the scolding or the punch or slap to her arm. But it did not come. Instead, there was a swift rush of air, and the enveloping of her shoulders within strong arms.
"You reek. Go take a bath. I'll help you with your hair and your back, as always."
There were no bright dots of flowers in the grounds of the large estate that hurt her eyes and hurt her skin. Gratefully, Eliendre allowed herself to be led into the house.
---
Magistrix Windblaze did not return home. Taryane said that she had gone to find her father. A spread for dinner was laid out as usual - Narindiel always made sure there was a feast for any moment Vellidan or Eliendre returned home, regardless of how long they were away.
Eliendre expressed her gratitude for not allowing the Lightbloom to pollute their grounds. She did what she does best: listen to Taryane in silent commiseration as the Knight-turned-Mage Apprentice caught her up on what had been happening with her training while Eliendre was away. The grimness of the air was palpable as Taryane related the new laws coming from the upper hierarchies, that not even the Lord of the household was immune to.
"Can they still call themselves blood magi? 'Pyromancer' is now preferred." Scorn edged Taryane's words. She turned to Eliendre -- who, in her freshly washed state, was curled on a cushion in her usual quiet manner, playing with the matching earrings Vellidan gave them both a while back. Her tone softened. "There is still some respect for Sunfury demon hunters, though I heard a rumour that there are plans to delegate them to hunt down unsanctioned demonologists."
Eliendre arched a brow. Taryane scoffed. "It is as ridiculous as it sounds and I hope it remains a mere rumour. I barely listen to the pointless nattering in the Spire so it would be fortunate if my ears were simply deceiving me."
They talked into the night. No blame was laid on Eliendre for choosing to return to the Illidari, even though Taryane appeared mildly resentful.
"I wish I had someone to talk to more often. You're important to us, especially to Ann'da. You were there for him when I couldn't be.
"But I understand why you stay away. Ann'da has left for his hunts more often too. With the puritanical way things are heading and how our House's magisters have become the absolute minority in resisting these new policies, it may only be a matter of time before the use of fel is banned altogether, and will affect you and Ann'da too."
Eliendre digested the information in silence. She never expected to return to Quel'Thalas in the first place, much less be allowed to roam freely among their people. Eliendre preferred isolation, and after finally accepting herself as part of Vellidan's family, ironically chose to be of service away from them.
There was no need for a further cause of liability for the Sunstorm-Windblazes, nor the Firestars. Not in this evolving climate. Eliendre would not burden them with her presence.
---
She promised Taryane she would stay for a few days - at least until Narindiel or Vellidan returned, if she was not summoned away for more pressing tasks first.
Eliendre did not come home empty-handed. She knew too well the value of artifacts, data, and intelligence provided to persons of status within the Sunfury Spire. Presented to Narindiel to give to the Lord or Lady of the household were maps of the stars within the Great Dark in the form of databanks of Titanic origin or otherwise -- valuable resources for Divination and Nethermancy. Otherworldly tomes and scrolls were left in a static chamber in the Magistrix's office, describing spells and wards Eliendre observed during the hunts for Legion remnants. Salvaged pieces of technology from the Fel Hammer itself were curiously claimed by Taryane. Eliendre drew up schematics and blueprints for the arcane-engineer in training, demonstrating their inner workings.
There were other valuable artifacts that were stagnating within the hull of the former Legion flagship. Eliendre chose the ones that gathered the most dust yet would hopefully prove the most useful, but there were always more items that would not be missed. Above all, there was valuable information not privy to anyone else outside the Fel Hammer that could help their people in field missions outside of Quel'Thalas, should they ever need it.
It was the least Eliendre could do for those who have been nothing but kind and generous to her, before she left them again.
She only hoped that she managed to greet Shan'do Sunstorm first.