CHAPTER TWO
A Place to Call Home
From the great mother tree of Darnassus, to the vast forests of Ashenvale, Rahlynn traveled the roads north and south, east and west, and north again. He found himself passing village after village. Several more years passed until Rah found himself in a place known as south shore. Just an inch into his 27th birthday and reran to go for another adventure. He learned of a secret organization of mages known as the Kirin Tor. Intrigued after hearing many stories of their past he pushed out to find them. After several days of travel and searching he found a group of mages tending to a destroyed village, there he had found what remained of the once powerful and noble Kirin Tor. He worked with them some, learned of their magic and ways, until one day a man came to him seeking his aid.
The man introduced himself as Archmage Arugal and told Rahlynn that he was an esteemed member for the Kirin Tor, and that he had mission for Rahlynn sent down by the leader of the Kirin. The mission was to infiltrate the Undercity, and to �retrieve� a bit of information about an attack that was to happen on the Kirin Tor. Excited that he would get to work with such powerful mages he agreed to take up this mission and Arugal sent with him 5 of his best guards to assure that Rahlynn was unharmed. It was merely hours later that Rahlynn made it to the Undercity, and along the way came to realize that his guards where not there to protect him. Many times he thought to run and hide but kept assuring himself that this was all a test. When he realized there was no test it was only moments to late. It only took a second, which is all the time his guards needed. Rahlynn found himself turning his back just long enough for a white cloth to cover his mouth, and before all went silent he found himself being dragged into a secret door in the rear of the under cities walls.
He woke up several hours later but kept the image of being asleep so that he may calculate his odds and determine what type of situation he was in. He over heard of the guards delivers a message to a man. The guard spoke:
�Master Arugal wishes you to use him, to gather information, he has become trusted by the Kirin Tor, use your magic on him warlock. Arugal will not have him unpleased, so this is what must be��
The guard was cut off by the entrance of another guard; one dressed a little more �shiny�. The spoke for some time but Rah had no chance of making out the words. All he knew is that he had to get out of there, and get out fast! He looked around the room for any means of escape and then quickly realized, he was not bound in any manner. Thinking it a bit of his luck or just the stupidity of the undead he quickly got up and started searching around. He couldn�t help but peek out the door one more time, and when he did he was caught off guard to find out the certain someone the guard was reporting too, was a high elf! Completely taking back by this turn of events, a high elf willingly in a chamber of the Undercity working with the undead, surely this news must be reported! Quickly he returns to his hunt when he notices a strange picture on the wall covered by a cloth. The picture was strange for it radiated magic that Rah had never felt before. Drawn by his need to know things he walks to the picture and lifts the cloth, there in all his shock and dismay he finds a portrait of a demon. Not just any demon, a demon that he knows but cannot put his finger too. This demon if judging the size of the picture correctly must have been 11 feet tall, the bulk of his height made up by his massive horns. But this was not the identifying trait, surely not, it would be nothing more than a single cloth wrapped around both his eyes, but it was not the cloth itself oh no, it was the empty sockets filled with green fire that made it so known to him. Before he could find time to figure out who this was a sound echoed in the room. Following the echo in reverse to determine the source he found himself looking back into the fiery eyes of the portrait where in a second moment two green flames short from it and smack him directly in the face. Tossed across the room Rahlynn attempted to resist the force of the blow. His face blew up in agonizing pain and he could hear in the distance noises rushing towards him to the commotion. Realizing this was his last chance he seized the moment and did the only thing he thought to do. Through all the pain and noise he managed to find a moment, only a second to find a spot any spot that he could remember and visualize, and in that second that very moment Rahlynn was gone.
He could feel himself in nothingness for what felt like hours, only second had gone by since he vanished from the Undercity but it was enough time land himself in a spot next to a single blade of grass. This blade of grass for some strange reason was all that Rah could remember in his time of trouble. Hands covering his burning face he attempted to peek at his surroundings but all was black, and it caused him horrible pain to move his hand. He started yelling but after ten minutes no one came, then he projecting his scream miles. About an hour later a servant of the Kirin Tor came to his aid and he was taken to a place to rest.
He woke up three weeks later, and quickly learned that that his eyes site would never return to him in full. That whatever magic was at work at burned him so badly it had permanently damaged eyes to the point of no repair. Several mages and priests had been summoned even a druid at some point, all to help. They were able to mend his exterior wounds flawlessly but as for his eyes, he would be left blinded forever.
Several days pass and Rahlynn started to wonder when he would be quested, and as if answering his question several of the Kirin and a druid entered his chamber to do just that. Rahlynn told them of Arugal�s treachery, but revealing it only made him feel worse, for he had found out that Arugal had betrayed them long ago, and had not been a member of the Kirin Tor for some time now. He continued with his story but as he was talking a voice entered his head. He quickly knew it to be the druids voice for a druids voice was unmistakable; it had the tranquil tone of a waterfall to it, followed by the musical notes of a bird. And to make it all the more confusing it was combined with the fierceness of an earthquake. The druid said only a few words �leave out the picture, that is for us to discuss�. And so he did and finished his tale with a little twist involving two men holding him down with rode iron pokes lit to bright enough to burn a whole through rock. Satisfied the Mages and Priests all left, but the Druid stayed back. Once all become quiet the druid sat on the bed next to Rahlynn and spoke softly;
�I apologize I cannot tell you my name, and I apologize for invading your thoughts in such a way. But I had to make sure you did not reveal more than what needs to be revealed.� The druid began.
Rahlynn nodded
�I am also sorry to tell you that I am remaining here more so to gather information, rather than give it. So please do not ask anything I have not already answered.� The druid continued.
Confused by this statement Rahlynn with his weakened voice lied. �I understand,�
�I must know this picture you saw, what where the color of the creatures eyes?� The druid asked.
�Green� replied Rahlynn.
�Hmmm. And its head, did it have horns?� the druid then asked.
�Aye, great big ones, dwarfing that of most beasts.� Rahlynn responded kindly yet again.
�Then it can only be one person. I am afraid this is bad new, bad news indeed.� The druid added. �Is there anything else you can remember Rahlynn that you think might be of some use to me?� The druid asked this time while handing him a drink that smelled awful.
Thinking for a moment Rahlynn tries to remember. First he answers no and drinks the tonic given to him by the Druid, but as the druid being to make his leave he remembers... �High Elf! skin as pale as any , no mistaking the difference in ear pitch!� smirking the druid bow, �bad news in deed, thank you.. Rahlynn� and without another word... He vanishes.
Weeks pass, which turn into months, and Rahlynn finds himself being trained by mages who would dwarf the other mages in the world ten fold. After a day of particularly intense training he pulls his trainer aside and he inquires. �Why do you teach me so?� laughing the mage trainer respond, �I thought that was obvious boy, now that you are blind, you have no means in taking care of yourself, with our training you will be a fine mage, and you will be able to survive!�
Several more years pass and Rahlynn finds himself waking up on his final day of this adventure. He�s now 29 years old, master of his arts in his own way, able to sense the movement of people before they even make it. He is still torn apart inside about being blind, about not being able to see the beauty of the world, of his magic, but he knows that the world holds another beauty that he will learn to cherish even more. After several hours of packing and saying goodbye to his new friends he finds himself walking the same road again. As he walks he finds that something has been added to his belt, by magic. He stops and inspects it and out he pulls a small silver orb. The orb speaks to him with a faint hint of magic that he knows will not last long, so he listens intently.
�Dear Rahlynn. This is your friend,� knowing it to be the Druid by his voice, �I have given you the gift of site through magic in return for your information. I know it will not replace the eye site you have lost, but with this orb you will be able to see where other cannot. Into the very soul. You will see colors others will never know exist. And you will see movement others will never know have happened. Although you shall never see the faces of your friends again. You say know them as you have never know them before. This � Rahlynn� Is my gift to you?� And as the voice faded a tear slide down his cheek. Instinctively Rahlynn put the orb to his head and he felt it latch on like a leach, being only a little larger than his them he�d never image that it posed such strength. After a few seconds of struggling he felt over his forehead to find a small smooth lump in the center. He closed his eye lids, which the healers where so nicely to give back to him in their healing, and right away he began seeing little spots of lights everywhere. On the ground in the air, miles away. He reached down and picked on up and by the fierceness of the bit realized that he had just picked up a living creature, some sort of insect. Opening his eyes and touching the orb on his forehead again he started moving his fingers away when he realized without a struggle the orb came free. He quickly placed it back into his pouch and continued his journey back to south shore.
From south shore he flew to Menethil Harbor, from they�re to Iron Forge, and for the excitement of getting home quickly he continued on Griffon back to Stormwind. He walked through the trade district as if he had never left. He walked through it as if he could see it all; with his nice shiny new eye site patched tightly on his forehead he made his way directly to the cathedral square. Ironically enough along his way Boomus and Firaawyn had caught sight of him and started following silently behind. He made it to the center of the square and stopped a moment as he sensed the same set of footsteps following him for a long period of time. With a gleeful voice he heard Boomus step forward and say:
�You have become a fine tracker, no other excuse would explain you picking us out of the crowds that easily.� Boomus said followed by Firaawyn, �Or maybe it was just a lucky guess Boomus, or your over weighted thumping would give us away to a deaf corpse!�
�How about a blind fool who has come home at last.� He responded to Firaawyn and listed as their voiced jumped in shock, watching the unique glows of her soul shift around revealing movement. Using his memories from long ago he pictured Boomus and Firaawyn as they were before he left. And when he opened his silvery burnt eyes he saw them, as he had seen them, long ago.
Boomus and Firaawyn showed Rahlynn to Faeroth who invited them all to a grand feast. In which stories were told and tales were shared.
After dinner was finished Faeroth and Boomus looked to each other. With a look of agreement Boomus walked over to Rahlynn and asked him to stand. Without thinking about it Rahlynn stood and quickly said to Boomus, �I am sorry I am in no condition to duel you tonight.� Laughing Boomus slapped Rahlynn on the back almost hard enough to topple him over, but Rahlynn held his ground. �No no, I mean to speak with you, not as friends, but as comrades.� Boomus signed, �Blind or not blind Rahlynn if all that you tell us is true about your training with the Kirin Tor and such, then I feel safe to say that I trust you with me life.� Quickly Faeroth and Firaawyn respond in agreement. �Which is why� Boomus continues, �Faeroth and I would like you to join us, to help restore peace on Azeroth, for the good of all man.� Boomus beings to continue until cut off by Faeroth, �And horde!� laughing Boomus finished, �What say you?� They all stay silent for a moment, until Rahlynn responds, �Aye, I would� I would see this world have peace again and its people not fear the other races. I would see people like Arugal dead and his corruption gone so that people do not have to suffer from their tricks. Aye you have my allegiance to such a cause, and every bit of magic in my body to go with it.�
And so Rahlynn Delsuvius joined the Order of the Divine Knights.