Son of the Legion
It was dark when Valezahr came too, the strange thing was he didn't recall going to sleep...he felt like he’d been whacked over the head with something that or hung over but he hadn't been drinking.
He opened his eyes and blinked a few times and that was his first clue that something was wrong. He looked down and saw light purple skin however it was strangely devoid of familiar green designs, a sash still hung around his waist but it was black in colour instead of green and gold. He still had Bi-jointed legs with hooves, curling horns, and wings but again they were different, on his legs where gold and black legguards and his wings had a deep blue membrane. He looked down at his hands and sure enough there were only four digits on each hand.
This was his body, his old body, the one that had been destroyed back on Nathreza ages ago. He didn’t understand how this could have happened. He turned hearing hoofsteps down the hall and the door opened, there stood Tichondrius and Gul’dan who both seemed unsurprised to see him.
“As you can see mortal this is the Dreadlord I was talking to you about, the one you found in the body.” Tichondrius said waving a hand in a sweeping motion toward Val. “Gul’dan this is Valezahr perhaps on the the last of the Nathrezim to remember Nathreza as it was before it was destroyed by the likes of the Illidari, due to his ah….unfortunate condition.”
Val was surprised Tichondrius usually would never resist the urge to put Dreadlord who had broken their laws under heel, especially one who had proven himself as incompetent as Val had. “Valezahr, Gul’dan is the warlock who proposed finding out what happened to your body. We found it still in pieces in the nether I suppose that will teach you not go messing around with unstable portals again won’t it.” The Lord of the Nathrezim said with a dry tone of voice.
Val was getting it now Tichondrius was expecting him to rejoin the legion as if nothing had happened he wasn’t making light of the younger demons time with Illidan because he assumed that surely Illidan had been the one to keep Val in check all this time. He was scared he couldn’t deny that but he would do what he had to to protect Illidan even if it meant turning his back on everything Illidan had once worked for.
“I think I have learned my lesson Lord. After all you can’t even imagine how terrible it was to be subjugated by the demon hunter for years.” Val replied in Nathrezim and tucked his wings close to his body in a dreadlord symbol of respect for Tichondrius. “I am grateful that you have allowed me back among you my Lord, I was a tab worried you would have me dewinged and sent to Balnazzar’s dungeon for not stopping the Illidari from their strike on Nathreza.”
“Believe me Valezahr, I know you would have stopped them if you could but with way it worked in our favour didn’t it. Obviously his mission to our home took a more lasting toll on the elf than he thought it would have, he died shortly after and now we have him.”
Is that what the Legion thought lead to Illidan’s demise at the hands of the armies….well it was better than what had actually weakened the Demon hunter he supposed. He nodded and chuckled.
“Mortal’s am I right they think they know everything but compared to us, compared to legion, they are no better than a bug under my boot.” The more he talked like this the more he found himself enjoying it like it was natural… no no this wasn’t who he was he didn’t like what the legion he didn’t want to be part of it… he couldn’t let this facade down and he couldn’t let Tichondrius see through the cracks either.
He could feel fel all around them, it floated in huge crystals anchored to the floor. He was hungry and he hadn’t been allowed to feed properly in ages instead having to be weakened by Illidan feeding on Shanarra’s druidic power. Val took a breath and drew the fel inwards from the corners of the room into himself it felt good like eating your favourite food after years and years of being unable to have it.
He smiled this is how he should be, how he was made to be, Nathrezim were not supposed to question their place in life, they were assigned one at creation and should it change or should it stay the same it was not their place to ask if they should be anything other than what they were. He had once been but a simple Portal maintenance worker but now he was here alongside the Lord of the Nathrezim and some of the greatest Dreadlords to ever grace the battlefield. This was where he belonged.
“I have set the bait to lead a group of mortals here, mortals who have an attachment to the Demon hunter.” He stated a proud smirk crossing his face.
“Good good, I want to see the hopelessness on their faces when they realise their precious defender is gone forever. And in his place, Sargeras.” Tichondrius purred clearly getting excited just thinking of the negative emotions that they would spill. “It will be easy enough to disguise ourselves as the Archdruid and the High Priestess once they’re disposed of and we can do away with the pesky elves once and for all.”
“Indeed, this world and all other like like will burn.” Val hissed now fully sold on the side of the legion no matter how much the small voice in his head, his own voice begged him to stop that he was going to far. He couldn’t help it, it felt so good and he had gone so long making concessions for Illidan, it was time he did something for himself.
“You’re job will be to watch over the crystal we’re holding the demon hunter in. Make sure nobody but the Mortal here gets near it. Simple enough right Valezahr?”
Tichondrius’ tone made it clear there was no room for screw ups, but Val wouldn’t screw up. Not this time nor ever again, he was committed to his task and he would see to it that he did right. He nodded at the elder Nathrezim and then poofed away to the Nighthold’s spire gazing at the crystal that held the body Illidan. One way or another Val knew that things would never be the same after this.