As they spoke, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hall.
"Lord Rhodes! You are finally back!" Anveena called out as she walked in.
As the avatar of the Sunwell, Anveena was now far more powerful than when Rhodes had left, her body pulsing with Holy Light and magical energy. Upon seeing him, she could immediately sense the change—his life essence had ascended to her own level; he was now a true demigod.
Following closely behind was Capurnia Dawnwind, the elegant Blood Elf mage. She held the hand of a small girl, about two and a half years old. The girl had the pointed ears and delicate features of an elf, but her hair was deep black like Rhodes's, and her eyes were the emerald green inherited from her mother. She was a beautiful half-elf, her appearance surpassing the common beauty of humans.
"Rhodes, welcome home," Capurnia said. Her voice was calm, but the glimmer in her eyes betrayed her deep emotion.
The little girl, Elise, looked at Rhodes with curiosity, shyly hiding behind her mother. Rhodes walked toward them and stopped before Capurnia . "Thank you, Capurnia. Thank you for taking care of our child."
"She is my daughter too," Capurnia whispered. Originally, she had intended to raise the child alone. She had chosen to live in Lordaeron because, despite Rhodes's high prestige among the Blood Elves, half-elves were often looked down upon there. To give her child a perfect environment, she had settled here. She looked down at Elise. "Dear, this is your father."
Rhodes knelt and reached out his hand. Elise hesitated for a moment before placing her small palm in his.
"Hello, Elise," Rhodes said softly.
"Father," Elise whispered, then suddenly asked, "Did you really defeat the demons? Mother said you went to a place long ago to fight them."
"Yes, I defeated many demons," Rhodes smiled, patting his daughter's head. "I'll tell you all the stories later if you'd like."
Suddenly, a flash of blue teleportation light filled the palace. Jaina, her blonde hair flying, burst into the room with her son in tow. This child also inherited Rhodes's black hair but had blue eyes like his mother; he was about six months younger than Rhodes's eldest son.
"Good heavens, Rhodes, you bastard! You're finally back!" Jaina shouted. Though she practiced frost magic, her temper was fiery—motherhood had made her fierce. "You left without even saying goodbye!"
"It was sudden—blame the Bronze Dragon King," Rhodes chuckled. "But everything is resolved. I've set the timeline back on track."
"If you had waited a few more years, I promise you wouldn't have seen your son for the rest of your life," Jaina joked as she sprinted forward to give him a massive hug.
"That wouldn't do. I have to tell the kids my legendary stories—I'm the man who dared to trick a Creator Titan, after all."
"I want to hear it!" Arthas (Rhodes's eldest) cried excitedly in his arms.
Looking at the children—Arthas, Jaina's son Arthur, and Elise—Rhodes felt a surge of complex emotion. They were his deepest bonds to this era. Azeroth had said eternal life meant learning to say goodbye to mortals, but Rhodes vowed to create the best possible future for his family.
That night, Lordaeron held a grand banquet to celebrate the return of the Prince Regent. Breaking tradition, Rhodes insisted on the presence of a Horde messenger—the green-skinned orc veteran, Broxigar.
Despite the murmurs of the nobility, Rhodes held his ground. He respected this orc veteran deeply. He hoped that once Azeroth was truly born, she could help repair Draenor so the orcs could return to their home world, ending the struggle for living space.
A month later, leaders from across the Alliance arrived to witness the return of the "Grand Marshal who was missing for three years."
King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind came with young Prince Anduin.
King Magni Bronzebeard of Ironforge and High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque arrived together.
Kael'thas Sunstrider, now the crowned King of Quel'Thalas, came personally.
Thrall sent a representative—the young Tauren Druid Hamuul Runetotem, bringing a letter of peace and the news that their missing veteran had been found.
Rhodes held a closed-door meeting with the Alliance high command, including Uther, Alexandros Mograine, and the mages Jaina and Rhonin.
"I need to know what happened while I was gone," Rhodes began. "Specifically the relationship between the Alliance and the Horde."
"Friction has increased," King Varian stated. "Mostly over resources in Ashenvale and the Barrens. Thrall tries to control it, but the radical elements of the Warsong Clan don't listen well."
"Trade routes between Lordaeron and Theramore have been hit by pirates," Jaina added. "My investigation shows they are a mix of Goblins, Humans, and even some Blackrock Orcs and Dwarves."
"The Horde is changing from within," Kael'thas reported. "Our spies in the Undercity say the Forsaken are expanding. Queen Sylvanas seems to be conducting... experiments. However, the Death Knight High Lord is staying quiet, maintaining a dominant but neutral position in the Sepulcher."
Rhodes nodded. It was the Azeroth he knew—strained, complicated, and full of brewing shadows.