The travelers made their way from the balcony back to the Terrace of the Twin Dragons, their steps echoing on the stone floor. Bits of sha remained in the air, forever corrupting the one pristine temple. The paladin stared at the death knight as he sheathed his greatsword, hoping to get a reaction out of him.

 

“Huh,” grunted Vel’rosh, edging him on, “your prowess in battle is quite strong…for a weak death knight, ahaha!” Sahtra ignored the orc and let his insults slide like rain off his dark blue armor, continuing his conversation with Mori without so much as batting an eye.

 

“Thank you all for your help in defeating the Sha of Doubt,” a deep, graceful, female voice echoed throughout the temple as a giant serpent slithered into being around the travelers, “I am Yu’lon, the Jade Serpent, one of the August Celestials. is there anything you wish to have in return?”

 

Halvor began to raise his hand to speak but then abruptly lowered it. Sure, money would be good, he thought to himself, but I don’t know what I would do with money right now. He shrugged and shook his head. The Jade Serpent looked from the vrykul to a small blood elf who was staring back at her in awe, a wide grin spread across her round face. “Good afternoon, my child,” Yu’lon spoke endearingly.

 

Mori waved and returned her greeting. “Hi! You’re a big serpent! You look really pretty!”

 

Yu’lon smiled warmly. “Thank you, dear,” she responded, eyeing the blood elf from head to toe, “and perhaps I may fix your robe for you? It looks to be in much need of hemming.”

 

Mori’s eyes widened in surprise. “You…you can do that? For me?”

 

The Jade Serpent nodded. “Watch,” she spoke, and a green glow twirled around the child and seeped into the edges of her mana-infused robe. Mori watched with amazement as her garments themselves appeared to fluoresce with a blinding green light, and after a flash, the light had vanished. She smiled happily as she studied her sleeves, now the right length for her short arms, and the bottom of her robe neatly reached her feet, not a bit longer. She beamed at Yu’lon and exclaimed, “Thank you! Wait until I tell my mama the Jade Serpent fixed my robe! She’ll be excited because she’s a dragon, too!”

 

Halvor scowled at the blood elf’s remark. “Not dragon again,” he spoke with a sigh, “silly child.”

 

“Has necromancy clouded your judgement?” Vel’rosh spit with scorn. He, too, did not believe Mori. The young blood elf frowned at both of them and crossed her arms. Someday she’d prove it.

 

Yu’lon smiled warmly at the little necromancer. “Please give your mother my warmest regards,” the serpent then turned to the others, “and if I may request your assistance further, there is more trouble to the northwest of here at the Kun-Lai summit. Will you help us?”

 

The massive vrykul looked around at the others and, seeing no objections, turned back to the serpent and nodded. “I suppose so, yes.”

 

“I am most grateful,” the Jade Serpent sounded relieved, “please climb onto my back so that I may take you to Binan Village, where the…incidents have most recently occurred.” She lowered herself to the floor, and Mori was the first to scramble up her back. The death knight sat directly behind her, a precautionary act to make sure she didn’t fall off, and the others opted to sit further behind. The paladin especially kept his distance and took his place at the back.

 

Mori squealed with glee as Yu’lon took off into the air. The young blood elf was reminded of the many times she had sat on her mother’s red and black back while Kaelstrasza took her on adventures, whether to meet new people or to explore new places. She held onto the Jade Serpent’s green scales with care and looked at the scenery below.

 

“Look! The broken statue!” Meechi exclaimed, pointing below, “It looks so small from up here!”

 

“Yes, and it is most unfortunate,” the Jade Serpent sighed, “the builders had toiled for many years, and it was nearly complete. Now they will have to start repairs anew, though I fear there isn’t much time.”

 

“Much time?” the vulpera inquired, confused.

 

“Every hundred years, a statue of jade is built in this very spot. When the time finally comes, I will transfer my life essence into the statue, and a new guardian will be born.”

 

“Your life essence,” Mori wondered aloud, “does this mean…you’re going to die soon?”

 

Yu’lon laughed softly and shook her head, puffs of smoke snorting out from her nostrils. “Do not be saddened, my child,” she replied, “the cycle is clear – it neither begins nor ends with me. There have been many Jade Serpents before me, and many more shall follow.”

 

The young blood elf stroked the Celestial’s green scales in thought and was silent for the remainder of the journey.

 

An hour or so later, they had arrived. Yu’lon slowly began her descent near the flight master’s post. Long before they had reached the ground, Mori could hear many voices, some yelling, some cheering, yet others crying out for help. She looked down to see dozens of black and white dots, presumably pandaren, scattered around on the dark green grass swarming around like ants.

 

“Look! One of the Celestials!”

 

“It’s Yu’lon, the Jade Serpent!”

 

“What is she doing here?”

 

“She has foreigners with her!”

 

“Help save us, mighty Yu’lon!”

 

The Jade Serpent gently landed on her belly and allowed the travelers to dismount. Jo the Wind Watcher, a warm pandaren woman who served as the local flight master, ran up to Yu’lon and bowed.

 

“Jade Serpent, we are honored that you grace us with your presence,” Jo began, “long have we prayed to the Celestials for their aid.”

 

“Greetings, little one,” responded Yu’lon, “I heard the pleas for help from my brother and have come to help.” The Jade Serpent rose several feet off the ground and raised an arm to silence the murmuring crowd.

 

“A warm hello, my children,” she spoke with the tenderness of a mother, “I have brought with me a group of travelers who have just defeated the Sha of Doubt back at my temple.” Several shouts of amazement rang up at that, and the serpent cleared her throat to quiet the crowd down. “They have agreed to help combat the yaungol plaguing Binan Village and it is my hope that they help us find the roots of their foul magic. We have lost many a brave warrior in this pursuit already. Treat them with respect, as you would me.”

 

“The yaungol!” cried out an elderly pandaren male, “You can help free us from them?” He panted as he jogged over to Yu’lon and the group and fell to his knees, bowing profusely.

 

“Please help us, warriors,” he begged, “help me protect my city from this horrible fate!”

 

“Yes, yes, we help you,” Halvor started, “but perhaps we get some rest first? We just finished fighting big Sha.”

 

Color came to the pandaren’s cheeks and he abruptly stood on his feet. “Yes, of course, I apologize,” he bowed again, “I will grant you and your companions immediate hospitality.”

 

“Very well, it seems my work here is done,” spoke Yu’lon, “may joy be in your hearts and wisdom guide your paths as you overcome these struggles.”

 

“Yes, Jade Serpent,” responded the pandaren, and bowed once more. Yu’lon turned her head towards the sky and took off, the folk around her cheering with awe and admiration.

 

“Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner,” the pandaren turned to Halvor and the rest of the group, “I am Mayor Bramblestaff of Binan Village. Welcome to our home. I will have fine rooms at our inn prepared for you. In the morning, I will brief you on the situation with the yaungol! Will that suffice?”

 

“Yes, that sounds good,” replied the vrykul. He had often assumed the role of leadership in the group, but even when he didn’t, those who approached them took him to be the head member due to his size and checked with him instead of the others. It did not please the death knight, so he often went ahead and did whatever he wished to regardless. He strode silently past Halvor and up to the mayor.

 

“I would like the information about these yaungol now.” Sahtra’s voice was cold and curt, his demand simple. He did not intend to threaten the mayor, but Bramblestaff shook as he replied, “I…I can show you some…some of it now…right now.” The death knight nodded and followed him into a nearby building full of wounded pandaren guards and soldiers.

 

“These are the brave ones who have stood up against the yaungol before,” explained the mayor, “Ask them whatever you wish.”

 

Sahtra looked three of the wounded guards over. They lay in crude cots, their arms, legs, or foreheads wrapped in bandages. One of them noticed the death knight and reached out for him, pointing a fat finger.

 

“You,” his voice was raspy and quiet as he mustered his strength, “you have all come to help us with the yaungol?”

 

Sahtra looked over his shoulder at the vrykul, vulpera, orc, and blood elf, and turned back to the injured pandaren. “Yes, we have.” His response was brief and to the point.

 

“Maybe you’ll listen, then,” the pandaren placed his hand back down at the side of his torso, “the others don’t believe me.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“These yaungol, you’ll never defeat them. They keep…coming back…the exact same ones…the beasts cannot be vanquished!”

 

Mayor Bramblestaff chuckled nervously and attempted to position himself between the wounded pandaren and the death knight. “Please,” he laughed dismissively, “this old fool doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Do ignore him—” He abruptly cut himself off as he noticed the death knight’s eyes glowing angrily.

 

Sahtra turned his attention back to the injured man. “Thank you for the information,” the death knight spoke courteously as he nodded, “I have acknowledged your concerns.”

 

“Th…Thank you, sir!” The pandaren confined to the cot held his hands high. “Finally…someone listens…and understands!”

 

Without speaking another word, the death knight turned around and walked out the small building, his cloak dragging down the steps and onto the ground. He bore a wide smirk on his face. It is crystal clear to me, Sahtra thought to himself, the others have not experienced undeath enough to recognize necromantic powers when they hear of them. He chose to ignore Halvor and the rest of his traveling companions as they listened intently to what the other wounded pandaren had to say, and quietly entered his room at the Binan Village Inn.