Point of View: Tharok
He said he had saved me… but from what exactly?
I didn't understand those words.
Then I looked at the abominations kneeling around us.
And the answer came on its own.
My breathing grew heavier.
—You brought them… —I muttered.— You called them to this place… and that's why my father ran away.
He smiled faintly.
—That's right, Tharok.
His voice sounded normal again. Calm. Childish.
For a moment, I thought what happened earlier had been an illusion.
But the abominations were still kneeling.
Motionless.
Trembling.
And that destroyed any remaining doubt.
—I used these little ones to save you, —he said casually.— But they've already fulfilled their purpose.
His eyes swept over the creatures.
—Now their presence annoys me.
He snapped his fingers.
And everything descended into chaos.
The abominations began attacking each other.
Roars.
Claws.
Flesh tearing apart.
Some lunged at one another like starving beasts. Others tried to flee, only to be ripped apart before they could get away.
I watched in silence.
Stunned.
—They no longer have any value.
His voice sounded cheerful.
Light.
Like a child excitedly telling his parents something fun.
And that was the most disturbing part.
If I only looked at his face…
I would probably think he was adorable.
But the contrast between that innocent smile and the massacre unfolding before us…
Only made my unease grow stronger.
The roars slowly faded away.
Until the forest fell silent once more.
The abominations' bodies began dissolving into dark particles.
Only the smell of blood remained.
And my ragged breathing.
—Now that we're alone… —he whispered.— Would you like to hear what I want from you, Tharok?
He tilted his head with an innocent smile.
He looked like a child asking for attention.
But my body tensed even more.
The calm I had regained thanks to the energy stabilizing my wounds vanished instantly.
I wasn't an idiot.
And I wasn't a coward either.
I understood perfectly well that this wasn't a question.
It sounded like one.
But it wasn't.
It was an order.
He was telling me to listen.
And I didn't dare refuse.
That being… that monster wearing the form of a child…
Wasn't adorable.
Wasn't innocent.
It was something terrifying.
Something that had enjoyed watching that massacre.
And now…
We were completely alone.
I swallowed hard.
Gathering what little willpower I had left, I answered quickly.
I didn't want to keep him waiting.
He had already made it clear he hated wasting time.
—I'm listening…
His smile widened.
—I'm glad you're interested.
I wasn't interested.
I didn't want to hear anything.
I just wanted to die.
That was what I truly wanted to tell him.
But I didn't have the courage.
I didn't want to find out what he would do if I refused.
He slowly stood up and brought his face closer to mine.
—I've been watching you for days…
My body trembled.
He began circling around me slowly.
Like a predator toying with its prey before devouring it.
—I was very fortunate to find you.
I didn't respond.
—At first, I followed your father. I needed a pawn for a little project of mine.
He stopped in front of me.
Waiting.
He wanted me to ask.
I took a deep breath.
—Why?
He nodded, satisfied.
—Nothing too important. I just need someone to cause thousands… perhaps millions of deaths across the three continents.
My heart nearly stopped.
He said it with complete calm.
As if he were talking about the weather.
As if millions of lives meant nothing.
He even waved his hand dismissively.
His voice filled with disgust.
—But your father didn't qualify.
His eyes stared directly into mine.
—He wasn't worthy of being used by me.
Then he sighed in annoyance.
—And I truly tried to settle for him.
He radiated a strange disappointment.
Like someone forced to accept a defective tool.
But then he smiled again.
And that smile froze my blood.
—Then I found you when he returned from Dalaran.
My hands trembled.
—I followed you from that moment on.
My breathing became even more unstable.
The idea that a creature like him had been watching me for so long…
Was unbearable.
—I already knew you would end up like this.
His eyes seemed to pierce through me.
—I knew you would eventually break.
He leaned slightly closer.
—I just had to wait.