Her gaze swept over Vereesa—that face so perfect it was irritating, that graceful figure outlined by leather armor into smooth, flowing curves, that lazy, careless posture that looked as though she cared about nothing, yet somehow occupied every place beside Allen.
This woman was her enemy.
She admitted it—the other party really was beautiful.
No wonder Mr. Allen was always so cold toward her. But she was not someone to be underestimated either.
Jaina took a deep breath, straightened her chest, and walked toward Allen.
"Mr. Allen!" She stopped in front of him. "Back in Dalaran, it was all thanks to you. You left too quickly, so I never had the chance to thank you properly."
Arthas stood behind her, nodding frantically.
Allen's eyes lit up.
It's here?
The reward—is it finally coming?
"Back at Menethil Harbor, Captain Dylan promised you a treasure from Kul Tiras. After learning that you were trying to reassemble Atiesh, I wrote to him and asked him to send over the fragment of Atiesh kept in Kul Tiras."
She held out a section of wood with both hands and presented it to Allen.
The wooden branch was about the length of a forearm. Its entire surface was dark and muted, polished smooth by the passage of time into a warm luster.
Arthas stepped forward as well, holding two more pieces in his hands. "Me too."
The eagerness of youth was hidden in his eyes. "Thank you for saving me. After hearing that you were restoring the Guardian's staff, I implored my father to gift you the Atiesh fragment preserved in Lordaeron."
Allen's eyes brightened. "Thank you."
He untied that strange magical bag from his waist, reached inside, and pulled out two copper coins.
The moment the coins left the mouth of the bag, their shapes began to distort—one stretched and thinned, sprouting branches as it transformed into a short rod; the other swelled and warped, wings spreading from both sides as it turned into a wooden raven.
After facing danger after danger, he had never found the time to properly fuse the top fragment of the staff he had obtained from Kel'Thuzad. He had only hastily stuffed it into the bag before rushing to the battlefield.
Now, he planted the short rod upright before himself, pressed the newly obtained branch against one side of the rod, then placed the wooden raven onto the top.
Jaina, perceptive as ever, stepped forward. Her pale fingers pressed against the raven's wings, helping him align it into place.
Arthas followed closely behind, gripping the Kul Tiras branch with both hands and steadily holding it against the other side of the rod.
Then they began to grow.
Fresh buds sprouted from the broken ends. They twisted around one another like vines, fusing together like new flesh knitting itself over a wound.
The raven's talons grew seamlessly into the top of the staff. Every branch became part of the staff's body, the grain flowing from one end to the other as though it had never been broken apart.
A short staff appeared in Allen's hands.
The wooden raven atop the staff slightly opened its beak. Beneath the dim yellow light of the Blasted Lands, the deep violet gemstones embedded in its eyes flickered faintly before dimming once more.
[Atiesh, Guardian's Shortstaff]
[Damaged]
[Quality: Legendary]
[Off-Hand]
[Spirit +5–???]
[Equip: Increases the Intelligence of all party members within 10 meters, including yourself, by +5–???]
[Equip: Increases the spell critical strike chance of all party members within 10 meters, including yourself.]
[Equip: Can open a portal to Karazhan.]
[The Guardian's power flows within it.]
Holding the short staff, everyone around him could sense the magic flowing within it. It felt as though their minds themselves had been opened.
Jaina felt her thoughts becoming clearer and clearer as she continued, "That repays what I owed you last time, and this time, I…"
Allen looked at her expectantly. "Go on, go on."
The young girl blushed shyly. After hesitating for a moment, she handed over a pouch—the one she used to carry herself.
"This… is for you."
In her eyes, this was an exchange of tokens.
Mr. Allen accepted her pouch, and she had accepted his money bag.
Allen's face immediately filled with disappointment.
Come on now, you're the daughter of Kul Tiras' ruling family, and this is what you're using to brush me off?
You think this is enough to tempt me?
Jaina kept her head lowered and had yet to see the expression on Allen's face.
Varian stood nearby, taking in the entire scene.
Jaina was, after all, practically his little sister. And the support and friendship of Kul Tiras were extremely important to him as well. Varian decided he ought to help Jaina a little—he did not want her feelings hurt.
"My goodness," Varian suddenly exclaimed, raising his voice, "this bag—could it be the Six Demon Bag?"
Allen's gaze finally landed on the pouch.
"Just look at this fabric—" Varian leaned closer and tapped the surface of the bag with his finger. "This is the finest silk passed down from ancient Pandaria. You couldn't find a second piece like it in all of Stormwind. And this leather—dragonhide. Look at the texture, look at the sheen."
He paused, his voice growing solemn.
"Grand Admiral Daelin personally invited six archmages to enchant it. A single pouch capable of drawing upon the power of six demons—this was the coming-of-age gift he gave Jaina. It's worth at least two hundred gold coins."
Allen ignored everything that came before it. But the instant he heard "two hundred gold coins," his eyes lit up.
So when Jaina finally raised her head, the first thing she saw was Allen's ecstatic expression.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he eagerly hung those "two hundred gold coins" from his waist—right beside Vereesa's money pouch.
He loved it! This was great!
Jaina pressed a hand against her chest, her fingertips able to feel the rapid, burning pounding of her heartbeat.
We've already exchanged tokens of affection… Mr. Allen and Vereesa probably haven't done anything yet, right?
A courage she had never known before surged up from the depths of her heart, like a tide breaking over a dam.
Suddenly overflowing with confidence, Jaina could not help wanting to challenge that tall, silver-haired high elf.
She stepped in front of Vereesa. "Honored Windrunner! I would also like to do my part and help take care of Mr. Allen. For the next few days, please allow me to look after him!"
Arthas, standing nearby, nodded furiously. "Yes, yes!"
Watching this unfold, Allen finally understood why Vereesa's attitude had seemed slightly off yesterday from the very beginning.
Could it really have been because of Jaina?
Vereesa swept a glance over the two people before her.
The dim yellow light of the sky fell across her silver hair, dyeing it into flowing moonlight.
She stared at Jaina for a long moment. Jaina stubbornly puffed out her chest, fully prepared to stand her ground against her.
Varian leaned against a wooden post with his arms crossed, the corner of his mouth curled into an amused smile as he watched the show.
Stella's large eyes darted back and forth between the two women.
Several passing soldiers slowed their steps, pretending to adjust their equipment while secretly straining their ears to listen.
Vereesa's gaze slowly moved downward from Jaina's face, passing over her neck, passing over her chest—
Then stopping there.
"Whose child is this?" Her voice was calm and even. "Where are your parents?"
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