Azeroth: Starting with Eagle Eye in the Necropolis.

"Sisters," the high priest's voice echoed in the quiet temple council chamber, carrying an unprecedented solemnity.

Just now, we all felt the will of the goddess Elune, a clear and unmistakable... displeasure descended upon the world.

The goddess issued a divine decree, summoning a being named 'Rhodes' to the Temple of the Moon.

"High Priest...who is the 'Rhodes' that the goddess spoke of?" A moon priestess asked, looking completely bewildered.

"I have never seen this name in any list of devout believers or in any noteworthy druid register. Who is he? Where does he come from?"

Rhodes' name only circulated among the Highborne and did not reach the common Night Elf population, so these Moon Sisters did not know who Rhodes was.

“We have served the goddess for over a thousand years and have never felt such a clear…anger. What on earth did Rhodes do to provoke such a reaction from the goddess?” another priestess added.

"Since the founding of the empire, the goddess has never directly summoned her people, has she?" Senior priestess Elena frowned slightly, her tone filled with undisguised surprise.

"Could it be because of the spatial anomalies above the royal city earlier?" another priestess, Sophia, speculated.

As one of the highest organizations in the Night Elf Empire, the Sisterhood of the Moon also sensed the unusual phenomena in the royal city. The power of Eternal Love was frequently erupting, seemingly indicating some kind of spatial fluctuation.

The Sisterhood of the Moon also inquired about the reason, but Azshara only said that she was conducting a magical experiment and there was nothing wrong with it.

"The goddess has not explained the reason, which is a mystery in itself. Should we investigate first to ensure that this person's background and character will not tarnish the sanctity of the temple before deciding how to proceed?"

"Esteemed elders, please forgive my bluntness, but the will of the goddess is as vast as the starry sea. Since she has directly named 'Rhodes' and demanded an audience, rather than imposing punishment, it may mean that this person himself is the key to the answer. Our speculations here are probably far less than the truth that bringing him to the goddess's throne could reveal." At this moment, Tyrande, who was an apprentice priest, spoke up.

She felt that now was not the time to discuss who this man named Rhodes was, but rather to bring him here. The goddess had already bestowed her divine authority and explained his purpose; they, the priests who served the goddess, only needed to do as she said.

“Child, do you mean we should execute this unconditionally, without any screening? What if this person is an utterly wicked person?” the high priest asked.

They had all felt the anger contained in that moonlight; the goddess was furious.

Tyrande bowed slightly, her attitude respectful yet unwavering: "I am not advocating indiscriminate judgment, but rather I believe that the goddess's gaze penetrates time and appearances."

Since the goddess wanted to see him, there must be a deeper meaning to it. Perhaps this audience itself was a trial, or the beginning of a crucial... dialogue.

Our role is to be the bridge connecting the goddess to the goal, not a filter.

“Recently, the arcane fluctuations in the direction of the Well of Eternity have been unusually active, even… carrying a disturbing distortion. Her Majesty’s court is increasingly immersed in that power. Could this ‘Rhodes’ be related to that place?”

The high priest immediately raised his hand to stop further speculation: "Be careful what you say! The Queen's affairs are not for us to discuss lightly."

However, fulfilling the goddess's request is our top priority. Prepare immediately; I will personally lead the team to the Queen's palace.

Tyrande is right, these are not within their considerations. What they need to do now is to bring this being called Rhodes here as soon as possible.

Over the next few days, a small group, led by the high priest and including several high priestesses, rode nimble nightblade leopards and left the tranquil Temple of the Moon. They traversed forests shrouded in the hazy moonlight and crossed valleys where silver streams flowed.

This journey is anything but easy. The closer they get to the royal city, the more restless the powerful energy permeating the air becomes, clashing with the tranquility and peace of the Moon Temple.

Along the way, they occasionally encountered some night elf civilians. From those gazes, which were a mixture of awe and alienation, the priestesses could clearly feel Queen Azshara's far-reaching influence and the ever-deepening chasm between the high elves and ordinary people.

At some point, the night elves had split into two groups: ordinary night elves, commoners, and the high-ranking high elves, seemingly becoming two different races.

They had no time to linger, only gathering together during necessary breaks to whisper their anxieties about the future and the unfamiliar name that had stirred the goddess's will—"Rhodes".

"Your Majesty... will you release them so easily?" A young priestess finally couldn't suppress her unease.

“We are here representing the will of Elune. Even someone as noble as the Light of Light should show respect to the Goddess. As for everything… let’s play it by ear,” Tyrande said.

Given her previous remarks at the Sisterhood of the Moon, Tyrande was specially appointed to accompany the High Priest to pick up this person named Rhodes.

After several days of trekking, when the magnificent royal city, built upon the Well of Eternity and constructed of dazzling crystal and magical metal, finally stood before them, the priestesses straightened their dust-stained robes, revealing once again their inviolable solemnity and holiness.

They approached the heavily guarded palace gates and clearly announced their purpose: "High Priestess of the Temple of the Moon, by the oracle of Elune, requests an audience with Her Majesty the Queen and seeks a gentleman named 'Rhodes'."

The news, like a pebble thrown into a still lake, created ripples that quickly spread throughout the palace corridors, eventually reaching Azshara and Rhodes, who were admiring the arcane illusion.

"What did you say? The great moon goddess has issued a divine decree, requesting to see Rhodes!" Queen Azshara frowned.

Several days had passed, and after Rhodes praised himself, the Moon Goddess did indeed cast her gaze down, but as a deity, she shouldn't be so petty.

Or perhaps it was her unparalleled beauty and captivating dance that even aroused the jealousy of the moon goddess. (Azshara was always extremely narcissistic.)

“Yes, Your Majesty, this is the decree of the Moon Goddess, and the priestesses are waiting,” the messenger said respectfully.

Rhodes, sitting to the side, was also speechless. What kind of situation was this?

I only gave Azshara a little praise and used a slight analogy, and you're already coming after me?

To be honest, Rhodes is a bit nervous this time. After all, Elune is officially recognized as a true god by Warcraft, with a status similar to the Titans, and might even surpass them with future version updates.

After the Shadowlands storyline unfolded, it was established that at least the Queen of Winter and Elune were sisters, and Elune was at least at the Eternal level.

Chapter 339 Royal Power and Divine Power, Tyrande in her youth

Rhodes felt a little innocent. All I did was praise Azshara a few times. But Her Majesty the Queen is a narcissist. You should know her as the Moon Goddess. Is it worth it to deal with me over such a trivial matter?

Honestly, loose lips sink ships! There was nothing wrong at first, but one compliment and she got upset. Women are so petty.

Azshara's red lips curved into a half-smile as she turned her gaze to Rhodes beside her. "My dear chief advisor, when did your reputation reach the Temple of the Moon, even alarming the usually silent Elune? It seems your 'praise' that day wasn't just something that made me overjoyed!"

Haha, how wonderful! The Moon Goddess is so jealous that she even sent her messenger to take Rhodes back, which means that her beauty surpasses Elune's. This is perfect for Queen Azshara.

As for whether Rhodes would cause any problems, Her Majesty the Queen hadn't thought that far ahead. The Moon Goddess probably wouldn't do anything to him. If he didn't even have that much magnanimity, he wouldn't be worthy of having the entire Night Elf race serve him.

Rhodes's heart was filled with alarm bells, but he maintained his composure on the surface: "Your Majesty, please understand. That day I was merely captivated by your unparalleled dance and spoke from the heart. Perhaps my words were... a little too emotional."

If this offends the Moon Goddess, it was never my intention, and I never imagined that a few words of mortal sentiment could reach the ears of a deity.

Azshara sat on her throne, the lingering smile of pleasure from Rhodes' praise not completely gone, but a hint of amusement had crept into her golden eyes. She did not immediately dismiss Rhodes, but instead waved her hand gracefully.

"Summon them in. I'd like to hear why the goddess Elune has suddenly become interested in my chief advisor."

A moment later, the Moon Goddess Temple procession, led by the High Priestess, entered the palace. The serene moonlight surrounding them created a subtle tension with the surging arcane energy within the palace.

Elune, the goddess of the moon, is a deity who leans more towards the life aspect. Why? Because her sister, the Queen of Winter, is on the death aspect, while Elune, as her twin sister, is a deity of the life aspect.

"Greetings to you, Light of Light, Queen Azshara." The High Priestess of the Moon bowed respectfully.

At this moment, Rhodes also looked at the delegation and saw a somewhat familiar figure in it: Tyrande. However, Tyrande did not have the mature and sophisticated demeanor she had when they first met, after all, this was Tyrande from 1 years in the future.

The Tyrande of 1 years ago is now a night elf girl, dressed in an elegant moon-white priestess robe, her figure beginning to show its gracefulness yet still carrying the immaturity of a young girl.

Her waist-length silver hair flowed like moonlight, making her clear silver eyes even brighter. Her violet skin was smooth and delicate, and her exquisite features seemed to be sculpted by moonlight. She had a youthful innocence that had not yet faded, yet she also subtly revealed the resolute and compassionate spirit that she would have in the future.

She stood quietly in the group, like a newly blooming night-blooming cereus, pure and radiant. It must be said that Tae-suk was absolutely stunning during her teenage years.

So stay away from her. Rhodes doesn't want to be hunted down by his ally Illidan. As for the future, that should be over once I get back.

Rhodes was observing the Priestesses of the Moon, and the Priestesses of the Moon were also observing Rhodes. The aura emanating from Rhodes was completely different from that of Azshara and the Highborne under her command.

The Highborne elves emanated arcane magic, while Rhodes exuded a divine radiance and boundless life force.

When the priestesses first saw Rhodes, they even thought it was because he was a legendary druid, and the natural aura around him was just too strong.

Could it be that the goddess summoned Rhodes personally because of the strong life force emanating from him?

"No need for formalities." Azshara's voice carried a hint of authority; at this moment, Azshara had reverted to her queenly demeanor.

"The High Priest has come in person and mentioned the Goddess's oracle; it must be of great importance. I wonder how my advisor, Rod, can persuade the Goddess to issue a decree?"

Royal power and divine power sometimes clash. Azshara's relationship with the Temple of the Moon is not good. However, as the chief god worshipped by the entire race, Azshara cannot easily erase Elune's faith.

The high priest remained calm, unfazed by Azshara's imposing presence, and did not reveal the underlying truth: "The goddess's will is vast and unfathomable. The divine decree merely indicates that a person named 'Rhodes' must be summoned to the Temple of the Moon, and that he is to be told that he is in Her Majesty the Queen's palace. The reason is unclear, and we are merely obeying."

"Oh, you only mentioned the name? Then it might be another Rod. I actually have several Rods here, including several bear-men named Rod. Oh, and there's also a pandaren who seems to be named Rod. This is really troublesome! Which one is it? If it's just one name, I don't know either."

"Oh, right, do we night elves have anyone named Rod? I need to send someone to check, it might take some time. Why don't you stay here for a year or two?" Queen Azshara said with a half-smile.

This was clearly an attempt to shirk responsibility, but Rhodes felt a little awkward. "Fine, the Pandaren are one thing, but what's with the bear monsters? You've gone too far, Azshara," he thought. "But if we can avoid the goddess's summons, that would be a good thing."

“Your Majesty Azshara, you jest. The oracle of the goddess points to Lord Rhodes, who stands beside your throne right now, radiating an extraordinary light and possessing a powerful life force. The guidance of the moonlight has never been wrong. We are not looking for Pandaren, nor bears, nor any other night elves.”

A flicker of displeasure crossed Azshara's eyes, but it was quickly masked by a wider smile. She knew she couldn't escape it; her earlier excuse was merely a small test to demonstrate her authority, or rather, a deliberate, silent mockery of the Moon Goddess's "stingy" behavior, and something she did for Rhodes's benefit.

As you can see, I did speak up for you, but there was nothing I could do. The Moon Goddess specifically requested that you go there, and I had no choice!

“I see,” Azshara deliberately drew out her words, turning her gaze to Rhodes.

"It seems the goddess has specifically named you, my dear Rhodes. Your 'poems' seem to have not only been sung in my court, but have also reached the ears of the heavens!"

Since the goddess herself has personally requested it, I can't force you to stay. Rhodes, you should go to the Temple of the Moon with the High Priest!

Remember, you are my chief advisor, Azshara. After your audience, you must return immediately. The arcane radiance of the Well of Eternity needs your wisdom more than the cold moonlight.

"I think the Moon Goddess must want to hear your poetry, and wants you to write a poem for the great Moon Goddess. After all, the Moon Goddess is a benevolent deity, and you will be alright," Azshara said.

I'm sorry, darling, that's all I can do for you. I'll put a few layers of protective charms on you, but the Moon Goddess shouldn't do anything to Rhodes.

Rhodes bowed and accepted the order: "I will obey Your Majesty's command."

Unfortunately, I have no choice but to go! Besides, I need to meet Cenarius, which will be a good opportunity to ask him about the Way of Life.

Before the last battle at Mount Hyjal, Rhodes and Cenarius learned some druidic spells, but Rhodes was not very strong at the time.

Moreover, the life force in his body is not as strong as it is now. It's time for him to seriously study, since he relies on the Holy Light for everything.

If one day the Holy Light becomes my enemy, then things will get really messed up.

The High Priestess neither confirmed nor denied this, but simply bowed again: "Thank you, Your Majesty, great Elune, blessings be upon you." Then, she gestured for Rhodes to follow.

Rhodes nodded, bowed to Azshara, and then left with the priestesses of the moon. In just a short while, the group left the palace and arrived at the city gate.

Rhodes stood in front of the procession led by the High Priest of the Temple of the Moon.

“Lord Rhodes, please come with us. We will return on the Nightblade Panther.” The High Priestess of the Moon Goddess made a “please” gesture, pointing to the Nightblade Panther, which was waiting to the side and was adorned with moon-white saddle.

"The journey is still long. In order not to delay the goddess's summons, we need to return to the temple as soon as possible." The high priest's gaze swept over the group and finally landed on Tyrande. His tone was calm but unquestionable: "Tyrande, you will ride with Lord Rhodes to look after each other and save energy."

This outsider probably didn't have a mount and had never ridden a Nightblade before, so he had to share one. Of all the mounts, Tyrande's was the largest—a majestic, enormous white tiger. (Note that this is not the one from ten thousand years later; Nightblades can't live that long. However, later Priestesses of the Moon all switched to this type of mount, likely bred by Tyrande herself using a special breed she captured.)

Upon hearing this, not only was Rhodes stunned, but Tyrande also widened her silver eyes slightly, and a faint blush instantly appeared on her fair cheeks.

Riding together? This meant that during the long journey, she would have to stay close to this stranger of unknown identity who had just been "questioned" by the goddess. This... this was against etiquette, making her feel extremely embarrassed, especially since she had already established a relationship with Malfurion in private.

“High Priest, I…” Tyrande instinctively wanted to speak, but was stopped by a look from the Moon Goddess Priest. In the Temple of the Moon, the High Priest’s arrangements were not to be questioned easily.

Rhodes felt a chill run down his spine. Please, I have no desire to have any interaction with Tyrande! The awkward situation ten thousand years later is just too unbearable.

Especially when Tyrande speaks to him, sometimes she is very enthusiastic, but sometimes she is as cold as ice, as if she were two different people.

"Your Excellency High Priestess of the Moon, thank you for your arrangement. However, since we are of different genders, it would be inconvenient for us to ride together."

"It might tarnish the sacred reputation of the Temple of the Moon. Besides, regarding the issue of mounts, you don't need to worry about it; I have my own solutions," Rhodes said.