Chapter 538: The Moment of Manhood

Duke and Vereesa's necks stiffened simultaneously, and in the next moment, their reactions differed greatly.

Duke was flustered. Before his world changed, he was a student at an engineering university. In a place where any hint of romance was so rare that having a girlfriend was enough to incite jealousy and resentment from roommates, he felt lost.

Perhaps Duke was wise, perhaps he had become a hero of the Alliance, but it seemed none of that mattered now.

Because he saw the state of Alleria. Dust-covered, with scrapes on her neck, shoulders, ribs, and waist. Some of her wounds were bandaged, some looked recently healed.

The sight of those harrowing injuries conveyed the intensity of the battle between Alleria and Sylvanas against Grom Hellscream. Those wounds were so close to vital areas!

How many times had she brushed with death?

How many times had she narrowly escaped only to fall into peril again?

Seeing Alleria's rapid breathing, and the reopened wounds on her, Duke realized that she must have hurried back as soon as she heard he was in danger.

Such profound affection!

In that moment, Duke's mind went blank.

Alleria looked at Duke, deeply torn. Duke was right: she had pushed herself, despite her injuries, to return.

News about Duke was increasingly dire. He had been ensnared by the Horde's chief warlock, Gul'dan, who reactivated a death curse on him. To reverse the Alliance's disadvantage and seek redemption, Duke formed a strike team, including Vereesa, to infiltrate deep into enemy lines. They aimed to enter the heavily fortified Grim Batol fortress, guarded by numerous flying dragons and nearly two hundred thousand orcs.

The desperation! The risk!

Alleria felt immense guilt. Why had she not taken a mage with her? Why had she wasted so much time for a trivial Horde chieftain when Duke needed her most?

Yet, on her way, she received uplifting news: Duke was safe. Not only was he safe, but he had also become a hero of the Alliance, successfully rescuing the Red Dragon Queen.

But when she saw Duke's aged appearance in a magic mirror, her heart shattered. She traveled to Lordaeron City and took a portal to reach him.

And what did she find?

Duke, restored to youth, sharing an intimate moment with her dearest sister, Vereesa.

If it had been anyone else, Alleria might have unleashed her fury. But it was her sister, Vereesa!

Joy? Loss? Anger? Regret? Pity? Or should she simply let go and bless them?

Alleria was overwhelmed. She stood still on a tree branch, paralyzed.

Vereesa had prepared words to say, but seeing her sister's expression, she couldn't utter them.

A cold wind blew, intensifying the chill of the moment.

Caught in this tangled love triangle, Sylvanas was also stressed. Choosing between her beloved elder sister and cherished younger sister was impossible. The usually decisive Banshee Queen felt utterly conflicted.

Suddenly, perhaps due to emotional turmoil, the tree branch beneath Alleria broke. Without hesitation, she tried to leave the scene swiftly.

Sylvanas's eyes flashed with murderous intent, directing a clear message to Duke: if either sister is hurt, she'd take him down.

But Duke finally... finally... finally stood his ground!

"None of you leave! Or someone here will regret it for life!" His thunderous voice echoed through the inn.

Every onlooker was startled and stood still.

In a blink, Duke activated his Phoenix Flame magic circuit, evaporating the water from his body. With precise control, he didn't let a single droplet touch Vereesa. He clothed himself with Mage Hands, then swiftly levitated with a Slow Fall spell in front of Alleria.

Releasing the slightly dazed Vereesa, he addressed Alleria, "Let's take a walk."

It wasn't a request, nor a plea. The determination in his voice made Alleria believe that Duke was about to speak a profound truth.

Before she could react, Duke took her hand, leading her away like a puppet.

The inn of Dalaran was vast. In a quiet corner, Duke took a seat on a stone bench. Vereesa obediently sat to his left, while Alleria hesitated for a moment before occupying his right.

Taking a deep breath, Duke gently caressed Alleria's golden locks, "Alleria, you've been through a lot these days. Can you tell me about your experiences during this time?"