Chapter 697

Chapter 697: Return to the Owner

After the evening banquet ended, neither wanted to stay overnight in the palace, so they said goodbye to the King and left the royal palace.

They walked home along the canal. The streets of the royal city were still lively. Jesse noticed many people celebrating the Feast of Winter Veil. War had united the different races and cultures on this land, which were once divided; customs had spread quickly in just a few years.

“This is unfair to you, Jesse,” Ms Vereesa said.

“I didn’t expect them to accept me fast,” Jesse replied. “Tirisfal suffered from Black Magic and demons for a thousand years… it’s hard to blame the King and nobles for being careful.”

Vereesa nodded and said, “Luckily, you don’t plan to stay here.” “Are you tired of this place too?” Jesse asked.

Vereesa said, “I dislike the palace, but not this place, Jesse, especially your home.”

“Then let’s stay a few more days before going back to Dalaran,” Jesse suggested. “We can find a chance to hunt in Tirisfal’s forests with my dad. Show him what a true archer is like. I’ve had enough of him bragging about his archery for over ten years; you must help me teach him a lesson.”

“That doesn’t seem right…” Vereesa said, but her face almost broke into a grin.

Jesse picked up a stone, looked at the river, and said, “Why not? Maybe my mom wants him to face some setbacks, or he’ll rush south to hunt demons…”

He tossed the stone, and it skipped several times before sinking. Ah… such a simple, satisfying game.

Vereesa grabbed a stone and threw it too. It skipped across the water and vanished into the dark, who knows how many times it bounced in the shadows.

Jesse glanced at her, picked up another stone to challenge her, but changed his mind and tossed it in. That wasn’t satisfying at all.

“Mr Jesse Seso, Ms Vereesa?”

A strange voice called from behind. Jesse turned to see a young man who had appeared out of nowhere.

He wore common traveler leathers, with a deep blue cloak and hood hiding his hair. His face was narrow, not quite human, but he was broad-shouldered and tall, not like an elf.

A half-elf?

He was handsome, even for a half-elf.

Wait… Jesse felt his outfit was familiar but never thought he’d meet him here. “Who are you?”

“My name is Kalrek,” the man said. “I came to return what belongs to you, on my master’s orders.”

Kalrek?

Wasn’t that the blue dragon Kalecgos?

Jesse peered at the hair under the hood; it was an unnatural deep blue.

Kalecgos wasn’t the strongest among dragons, but he was a brave, trustworthy mage.

That’s why, after Malygos lost his mind and tried to destroy the world, only to be killed by the Alliance, he became the new Guardian of Magic.

Kalrek unstrapped a longsword in a beautiful blue sheath from his waist and drew it slowly. When Jesse saw the handle and guard with blue gems, he knew it was…

“Azuresong Mageblade?” Vereesa gasped. “It’s fixed?”

“My master repaired it,” Kalrek said. “He was furious about the damage and scolded us, blaming Quel’Thalas for leaving the sword with a… mortal who tried to stab that thing.”

Jesse remembered: using a dragon’s weapon on a dragon’s enemy was foolish, but he’d had no choice.

“Your master is… the Spellweaver?” Vereesa asked.

“Yes,” Kalrek’s voice sounded hurt. He said softly, “But don’t worry, Ms Vereesa, Mr Jesse Seso. We know he doesn’t blame anyone; he’s always… like this. I think he just regrets not being at Grim Batol then.”

“He personally reforged the sword and told me to hurry and give it back, so I came.”

Kalrek drew Azuresong Mageblade fully. Jesse saw the blade was nothing like before.

It was still silver but not pure metal; the edges were slightly transparent. Jesse couldn’t tell if it was the material, magic, or both.

Kalrek noticed Jesse’s doubt and touched the blade lightly. “These are my master’s scales.” “The Spellweaver’s scales?” Jesse asked in surprise.

“Yes,” Kalrek said. “Azuresong Mageblade isn’t a normal magic sword, and it broke in an unusual way. There was no good way to reforge it. My master replaced the blade with his own scales and fused it with magic to make this decent result.”

“Decent?” Vereesa said. “I think it’s much stronger now.”

“I agree,” Jesse said.

“I’m glad you’re happy with it,” Kalrek said. “Though my master didn’t say it, he’s thankful for what you and Ms Vereesa did at Grim Batol. My siblings and I feel the same. With the Demon Soul gone, nothing can easily break this sword now.”

“Thank you, Mr Kalrek, and your… master,” Jesse nodded.

“I’m just doing my master’s will,” Kalrek said. “I’ll head north to report to him.”

“Wait,” Jesse asked. “North? Did you come from Northrend?”

“Yes,” Kalrek nodded.

“Is anything wrong in Northrend? I heard black dragons are there; I wonder if Deathwing’s actions in Grim Batol… affect them.”

Kalrek paused before answering, “Northrend is fine for now, Mr Seso.” “Maybe I’m overthinking,” Jesse said.

“Well,” Kalrek looked at them. “I’ll leave you to your date.”

He left. Vereesa watched him go, whispering, “His siblings… so he’s a dragon?”

“Likely,” Jesse replied.

He answered Vereesa, but his mind was on Northrend.

Had the blue dragons missed Ner’zhul’s soul ice falling there? If they hadn’t, the Lich King couldn’t have grown in secret for so long.

Maybe reaching Northrend’s icy north was too hard. The blue dragons were weak, the magic king’s mind unclear. Probing the Lich King could lead to worse.

After all, the Scourge Legion’s frost dragons came from blue dragon corpses.

Vereesa held Azuresong Mageblade upright, listening to its soft music. “I thought it would never be as beautiful; now it’s even better.”

“I’ll protect it,” Jesse said.

“You said that last time,” Vereesa said.

“Special case…” Jesse said helplessly.

Vereesa smiled. “Be careful next time.”