Chapter 670

Chapter 670: A Heavy Loss

In the afternoon, everyone arrived at the entrance of Thelsamar’s streets, and it was almost time to part ways.

Jesse gazed at the rolling hills and pine forests in front of him, then looked at the elven woman beside him. "When will your Ranger Lord promotion ceremony be held? Will I miss it if I return to Stormwind now?"

Vereesa rested her elbow on Jesse’s shoulder and leaned sideways, saying, "They have to inform me the promotion is decided first, then set the ceremony. Jesse, I can write to you then; maybe I’ll even catch you when you go to Quel’Thalas."

"Can I come too?" Greed asked. "Not that I want to intrude; I really want to see Quel’Thalas, Elven Wisp."

"Of course, you can," Vereesa smiled. "We were just talking about this; you should come if you can." "Haha, great!" Greed nodded.

"How do you plan to return to Stormwind?" Vereesa asked.

"Stormwind has a gryphon nest now," Greed said. "I know the nearest one from Loch Modan is at the watch station in King’s Valley. Want me to take you on a gryphon back, Jesse?"

"Won’t that cost a lot…?" Jesse asked.

Greed replied, "The priciest part is the rider’s fee. Since you have your own knight, I won’t charge you; just pay for the gryphon’s food. The flight to Stormwind only takes two or three days. You can afford the gryphon’s food for that long—it’s cheaper than the boat from Menethil Harbor to Stormwind! Plus, you don’t want to take that long detour through the Wetlands, do you?"

"Then I’ll rely on you, Greed," Jesse said.

"No problem, just follow me," Greed replied. "Let Molofeel sneak along… I’ll pick a big gryphon, and if you keep quiet, I will too…"

Jesse looked around, nodded slightly, and asked, "What about you, Vereesa?"

"I’ll head to the Farstrider outpost east, Jesse," Vereesa said. "They’ll help me contact the dragonhawk knights to return to Quel’Thalas."

"Then let’s meet in Dalaran," Jesse said.

"Meet in Dalaran," Vereesa leaned over and kissed Jesse, saying, "I’ll miss you." "Me too," Jesse replied.

After that, Vereesa smiled, turned, and jogged down the slope. Greed looked at her back and said, "Jesse, I couldn’t say it with her here, but there might be trouble in Quel’Thalas. Not every elf is as friendly as Vereesa Windrunner."

"I know," Jesse said. "Honestly, I don’t care much."

"Ah, of course—you killed Deathwing!" Greed chuckled.

"Strictly speaking, I didn’t kill him," Jesse said. "He went crazy, but I definitely saved the Red Dragon Queen."

"If you’re that strict, the Red Dragon Queen wasn’t saved by you; it was that Orc commander." "Molofeel charmed him."

"Then Molofeel saved her."

"Molofeel is my servant…"

"Then it’s the little elf who saved her; you’re almost her servant now." "You’re talking nonsense."

Returning from Loch Modan to Stormwind wasn’t simple. It wasn’t a straight shot north to south over the mountains; they had to skirt Blackrock Mountain…

After all, black dragons roamed Blackrock Mountain now, and if they met one, gryphons had little chance to escape.

Detouring through the Badlands into Redridge was safer, but not guaranteed. Jesse kept his eyes on the sky for any shadows, but luckily, he saw no trouble until they entered Elwynn.

The gryphon landed in the Valley of Heroes. Jesse gazed at Turalyon’s grand statue, feeling different this time.

Truthfully, even facing Deathwing at Grim Batol, he was consumed by thoughts of destroying the Demon Soul, helping the Red Dragon Queen fend off the black dragons, and surviving. He felt no fear, doubt, or hesitation…

Until Deathwing swallowed the Dragon King’s power, he still hoped for a chance… Only when he saw no way out did he accept it.

But now, a wave of fear washed over him.

He doubted he could do it again if he had to.

Thinking how Turalyon beat Orgrim Doomhammer at Blackrock Mountain, won the Orc War, then with Khadgar and others led the army through the Dark Portal to face the Horde’s root threat in an unknown land…

That took unimaginable courage.

The whole Alliance admired such a leader; no wonder Alleria Windrunner fell for a hero like that.

He touched the burn scar on his arm, no longer a dragon claw shape, as the Azuresong Mageblade scar broke the pattern.

Now he just wanted to get home, sleep well, forget Grim Batol, eat familiar food, see familiar faces, then go back to Lordaeron. If possible, fall into his mother’s arms… The torment, pressure, threats, and near-inescapable terror had nearly driven him mad.

He didn’t feel like a hero, he thought bitterly.

As the gryphon landed at the nest on the walls, the dwarf gryphon administrator rushed over to help control it. He glanced at Greed and said, "Greed? You’re back?! Goergette was sent back already; don’t worry."

"Ah, I’m not worried about him," Greed replied.

"Who’s this, Greed?" the administrator asked. "How do you have so many mage friends?"

"Not that many, it’s… uh." Greed hesitated.

Jesse straightened his luggage and robe, saying, "Jesse Seso, nice to meet you, sir."

The gryphon administrator adjusted his helmet and peered closer, saying, "So you’re Jesse Seso?! Why didn’t you tell me, Greed? I was at Nethergarde then, Mr. Seso. Damn impressive! Really sorry; I thought you were dead."

"Not dead, but close," Greed said. "You’ve no idea how dangerous it was, right, Jesse?"

"It was truly dangerous," Jesse confirmed. "I barely recovered after. Thanks for your concern, sir."

The gryphon administrator seemed full of questions, and Greed held him explaining. Jesse looked toward the city and breathed deep the stale air inside.

Gazing at the bustling trade district past the walls, smoke from Old Town, the white Cathedral of Light, Stormwind Keep against the distant hillside, the magic tower ringed by tall trees in the Mage Quarter—he’d thought a month ago he’d never return. Jesse Seso thought he’d never return.

Then he spotted the faint red roofs in the Garden District, feeling something off.

What was off? What…

Oh right, damn it—no word from Deathwing! Did the Garden District survive?

Then did I buy the wrong house?! Wasn’t this a heavy loss?!