Grakkar did not think much of his orders, at the time. Being paired with a scout of another race was a possibility he’d prepared for when joined with the Honorbound. He’d seen Nightborne around, heard a thing or two about them… but Grakkar liked to judge for himself. Other races had surprised him, before - both on Draenor and here on Azeroth. He liked to think he developed an open mind, reserving judgement and judging others based on their deeds rather than what he’d heard of them beforehand. He traveled to Warfang Hold in Stormsong Valley with this mentality, in preparation to meet his Shal’dorei scouting partner.
He never expected that meeting Aelissah Ambrose would change his life forever.
The sun had set. Grakkar had finished his watch for the night, and rose to retire to his bedroll. As she wandered out of the gates of Warfang Hold to take his place, Grakkar and Aelissah nodded wordlessly to one another. Tomorrow would be a busy day for the both of them.
His thoughts turned again to their initial meeting. He remembered the scene well enough. Establishing outposts, making casual conversation… chatting about their homes, their peoples, their cultures. It was as cursory as a conversation could get, as far as he figured. Until…
“...Our people are led by skilled arcanists, those with the intelligence and skill to manipulate the arcane.” Aelissah explained, eyeing the growing fire between them. “Some to the point of bending space and time itself.”
"Bending space and time... how do you mean?" Grakkar asked, brow raised.
"All of the portals set up in Zuldazar. Even the feat to bring your people here... It could not have been done without our magic." Aelissah grinned, proudly. “Sadly, I am not gifted in the arcane, but…”
“--Your people did that?” the Orc perked, immediately interested. “Connected this world to Draenor?”
“With the help of the Bronze Dragonflight, I believe, yes.”
Grakkar stroked his chin, thoughtfully.
"Do you... think they could do so again?"
"Hmm... Bringing your people here was a very large feat. It was not easy to do... To do so again would be a very large undertaking. I would not even know where to begin, but... I would not say it would be impossible." Aelissah tilted her head in thought. “Twice now, your world and mine have been connected by a portal. Even with portals closed, there is always a permanent link.”
She glanced to Grakkar, brow askew.
"You wish to return home?"
"No, not to stay…” Grakkar grunted, frowning lightly. “Draenor is no longer safe for my people. The Draenei have twisted the world into their zealous design. Those of us who don't follow their Light have no place there.”
He sighed. The very memory of that place seeming to exhaust and upset him. He continued, however, eyes meeting Aelissah’s.
“But... there is someone still there I wish to save from the Draenei's cruelty and oppression.”
“You... wish to bend the laws of time and space... to save a single person?” the Nightborne asked, brow skewing further. “A wife? Child?”
“A friend.” he responded. “She resisted the Draenei to give the rest of us time to escape. She, and my Warchief... though I don't suspect the Warchief had any intentions of surviving…”
His frown only deepened.
“So she may already be dead…” the Nightborne put forth, cautionarily.
“It's... possible.” came Grakkar’s grunted response. “But she put herself at great risk to buy us time. If she did survive somehow... I wouldn't feel right leaving her there; not if it's possible to go back and save her.”
Aelissah blinked at Grakkar, before pensively eyeing him over. Curious.
"Embarking on a near impossible, dangerous mission. One of which you may never return... to save a friend." She smiled at that. "What an honor it must be... to have you as a friend."
Grakkar raised his brow - his cheeks grew a little flush, at that. He grunted, looking away.
"--Hmph, it is... well. It is the right thing to do." he replied. “To do nothing would be to damn a friend to death. Or... worse, in her case. Torture, abuse…”
"I will do what I can to help you.” Aelissah suddenly nodded, decidedly! “While I lack the abilities my people are gifted with, I can get you in contact with the right arcanists, perhaps..."
Grakkar was surprised, but smiled warmly to the Nightborne.
“I would take it as a kindness, Aelissah. Thank you.”
It seemed foolish to hope something could come of that. Though, Grakkar appreciated Aelissah’s intentions. Until now, he hadn’t told anyone about his friend, left behind on Draenor. For good reason, too.
She was a Draenei.
He considered disclosing that to Aelissah, to make sure she knew what she was getting into. But the possibility of saving his beloved Sinafay was still so… abstract. He did not think much of it, until it came up again later. A conversation about Suramar gave greater promise that Grakkar’s seemingly lofty hope was more within reach than he had considered.
“You will see it soon, I am certain.” Aelissah nodded, speaking about her home city of Suramar. “We will need to travel there to research how to help your friend.”
Grakkar visibly perked at that - the conversation coming up without him instigating it?
"--Yes... we should. I worry for her." he looked to Aelissah, a glint of hopefulness in his eye. "Have you... thought of anyone who could help with that?"
“Oculeth would be the best person to speak with, but he is being kept extremely busy by the Horde efforts. We would not be permitted to approach him with a request.” she began, thinking aloud. “Suramar has a number of talented telemancers. Only a handful would be willing to attempt an adventure such as this. Perhaps one or two who would not ask an outrageous fee…”
She frowned, and shook her head. “My people are vain. Money talks. I prefer to rely on someone I can trust not to abandon us part way.”
“Hmph... We must find someone.” Grakkar grunted. “When our outpost is better established, and we earn our few days of leave... would you take me to Suramar?”
"I can do that, yes.” Aelissah replied, before eyeing Grakkar over. “...How is your diplomacy?"
“Uh... well....” Grakkar cleared his throat, before nodding. "I know when to keep my mouth shut."
"And... how is your temper?" the Nightborne asked, expression growing more worrisome.
"Moderate." the Orc growled, nearly snarling!
While her brow raised, Aelissah managed to keep her expression neutral.
"Some will speak to you as though they are superior and will try to get you to react. You will have to avoid any violent outburst for us to achieve our goals."
“Hmph... I can keep them to a minimum well enough.” Grakkar replied, taking up his flask again. "But any I'm afforded, I'll be tearing spines out..."
Aelissah nodded, before turning away from him to reach for her flask - hiding her expression from him momentarily. ‘Eeeeeeeesh!’
“I can ignore irritation when I need to. Whatever it takes…” he assured her. "All the same, I'll leave the talking to you."
"I trust that you will. You're friend's life depends on it.” Aelissah's expression returned to normal as she faced him again. “Know that we will not be able to go back in time, only connect to the path already connected by Oculeth to bring your people over. You are certain she would still be alive after these past few months?”
"She is a survivor.” Grakkar nodded once, resolutely. “Stalwart, durable... resourceful. She's alive. I know it."
Aelissah's ears flickered as she observed him. She then smiled.
"I look forward to meeting her. She sounds like a fine addition to our ranks."
Grakkar frowned to himself. That part likely would not come to pass. He wanted to tell her… but he was afraid. What if she changed her mind about helping? He owed it to her to tell her everything… and yet nothing he’d already told her was untrue. Was that enough?
He struggled with the thought, as he settled in for the night. He closed his eyes, doing his best to relax - though his heart raced! Tomorrow they set out for Suramar, to meet with a contact Aelissah had arranged. The Orc was both excited and scared. So much was still tentative, unsure…
Exhaustion finally claimed him, sleep setting in for Grakkar. His final waking thoughts were of his beloved Sinafay… and how soon he’d hoped to be in her arms once again.
You wake up in a dark room. The room isn’t dark, per se.
The wooden floor is clean, the shade of birch trees. The walls were painted a pale purple color, and another sky of that particular hue flashes in your mind, without letting you hold onto it. There is little furniture; the bed you’re sitting onto, a table, and that’s it. Both are a darker brown than the floor, but wouldn’t grant you the right to call this room “dark”.
No, what makes you think that is the sky.
The wall opposite to you, a few strides away, is a window. A window longer and wider than you are tall. There is no moon, but a slight radiance seems to glow from outside into the room, just enough for you to distinguish color.
Who are you?
A voice says a name you recognize.
Leez Haias.
Is it your voice?
The name doesn’t sound quite right. No, it is not who you are. This was a name you used to protect yours.
You are Kubera Leez. Kubera. The girl with the name of a god.
Another image flashes in your mind. You remember a girl with green hair and green eyes, tan skin, tightly clad in yellow and orange. The outfit was important. You don’t remember why, but it was important.
You look at your knees, take note of the orange skirt you’re wearing. It is just as you remember. That girl wearing happy color was in the mirror.
You know what your name is. You know what you look like. Your memory is fuzzy, but it comes back bit by bit, as if you had woken up from a long nap and lost your identity in too-real dreams.
You notice a gray bracelet on your wrist. It’s warm. You remember it was important, too. It feels like a part of you, it’s been clinging onto that wrist for so long.
Nevertheless, something is missing. You’re not sure what, but it was also important.
What do you do?
Look through the window
Examine the room
Other
The number is 0001.
Write in the beginning of your ask for it to be counted! I’ve never done this, but let’s have a lot of fun.
