After the negotiations concluded, Eliones did not press Leylin any further. The Jeweled Estate was unnaturally quiet.
Instead, she personally arranged a guest chamber within the Jeweled Estate—a place reserved only for honored visitors or trusted allies. The chamber was spacious, softly illuminated by arcane crystals embedded in the walls, their glow mimicking the warmth of sunlight Suramar itself lacked.
Leylin was more than satisfied. He had crossed seas, fought unknown dangers, and dealt with relentless intrigue since setting foot on this island.
Even his mind—sharp as it was—needed rest. Once the doors closed behind him, Leylin finally exhaled.
'At least for now… no one will disturb me.'
He sat cross-legged upon the bed, letting his consciousness sink inward. Arcane energy circulated naturally through his body, smoothing the fatigue left behind by repeated confrontations with time magic and spatial transport.
For the first time since arriving on this island, Leylin allowed himself to relax completely.
His muscles loosened. His arcane circulation stabilized. The faint fatigue accumulated from repeated spatial transfers, time-element interference, and constant vigilance gradually faded.
'Suramar truly spares no expense,' he thought idly. Yet even in rest, his mind did not stop working. This city was preserved within an artifact.
The Nightborne lived beneath an artificial sky, sustained by arcane energy instead of sunlight. Their reliance on magic was not merely cultural—it was biological. And beneath all that elegance lay rot. The Burning Legion.
With a quiet breath, Leylin closed his eyes. A familiar presence stirred within his consciousness. Leylin's eyes opened slowly. "Yes."
The moment he confirmed, the shadow surged outward like ink dropped into water. The air in the chamber darkened.
From the pooled darkness beneath the bed, figures began to rise—tall, thin silhouettes clad in indistinct armor. Their forms flickered between material and immaterial, eyes glowing faintly with cold, obedient light.
Shadow Khans.
They knelt as one, silent and absolute. Leylin studied them carefully. These beings were not meant for direct combat. They lacked brute force and speech, but their utility lay elsewhere—infiltration, reconnaissance, and silent execution if necessary.
"You already know your task," Leylin said calmly. He extended his hand, shadow rippling outward from his palm.
"Disperse throughout Suramar City and its outskirts. Avoid attention. Avoid conflict. Observe only." His voice was steady, commanding. "Record what you see—demon presence, corrupted areas, ley-line distortions, patrol routes, and unusual arcane fluctuations."
He paused. "Write everything down. Sketch layouts. Mark entrances, exits, and hidden passages."
The Shadow Khans bowed deeply. Then, without a sound, they melted into the shadows cast by the walls, disappearing as though they had never existed. Leylin exhaled softly. 'Information is the foundation of survival.' Only then did he allow sleep to claim him.
When Leylin awoke, several hours had passed. His body felt light, his mind sharp.
Outside the chamber, Suramar remained wrapped in perpetual twilight. The artificial sky glimmered faintly, casting soft violet hues across the city's spires.
Leylin sat at a long desk conjured from arcane energy and began preparing parchment and ink. He preferred physical notes when dealing with volatile information magic could be traced, paper could not.
As if responding to his thoughts, the shadows in the room stirred. One by one, the Shadow Khans returned.
They knelt before him and extended their hands. From the darkness, sheets of shadow condensed into thin black parchment, covered in angular writing and rough sketches. Leylin's eyes sharpened. He began reading.
The first reports detailed outer Suramar—ruined districts sealed off long ago. Several demon scouting groups were stationed there, primarily lesser demons: felhounds, imps, and void-tainted constructs. Their purpose was not conquest, but observation.
'Forward monitoring posts', Leylin noted.
Another report showed ley-line disturbances beneath the city. Demonic summoning circles were subtly embedded within ancient arcane conduits, siphoning excess energy without triggering major alarms.
Leylin frowned. 'They're parasitizing the city itself.'
Further notes detailed Withered zones—areas where Nightborne had succumbed to arcane deprivation. Demons were using these zones as cover, blending corruption with decay. One sketch caught his attention.
A partially collapsed spire beyond the city's eastern perimeter. Beneath it, a minor Legion node pulsed with unstable fel energy. According to the Shadow Khan's observations, it was guarded by a single elite demon and several lesser entities.
'Likely a test site,' Leylin thought. He continued reading.
There were also reports of Nightborne patrol patterns, gaps in surveillance, and areas where Elisande's influence was weaker. The Shadow Khans had even mapped underground passages—maintenance tunnels long forgotten, now crawling with corruption. Leylin worked methodically.
He rewrote the information in his own hand, organizing it into categories: Confirmed Legion Nodes, Corrupted Ley Lines, Enemy Composition, Civilian Risk Zones, Hidden Pathways.
As he wrote, he added personal annotations. Legion strategy here is subtle. No full invasion yet. Likely probing the artifact's stability. Elisande may already be aware—but choosing not to act.
That thought lingered longer than the rest.By the time Leylin finished, the desk was covered in neatly arranged notes and sketches.
He leaned back slightly. "This will do," he murmured.
Later that day, an elven maid arrived to escort him.
"Eliones requests your presence," she said respectfully. Leylin followed her through the estate until they reached a high observation chamber. Eliones stood before a floating arcane projection of Suramar and its surroundings. Dark marks pulsed across the map.
"You've been busy," she said without turning. Leylin stepped beside her and glanced at the projection.
"So have you." Eliones waved her hand, expanding the image. "These are confirmed Burning Legion sites," she said. "Minor nests and summoning points. Individually insignificant. Collectively dangerous."
Leylin nodded. "You want them removed."
"Yes."
She turned to him.
"This mission is unofficial. No city patrols. No record. Elisande must not know." Leylin considered her words.
"A test," he said. Eliones did not deny it.
"I need to know how effective you truly are," she said softly. "And you need to know whether Suramar is worth involving yourself in."
Leylin smiled faintly. "Fair." He pulled out his notes and placed them on the table. Eliones's eyes widened slightly as she skimmed the pages.
"…You gathered all this already?"
Leylin shrugged. "I don't move blindly."
She looked at him anew. "Very well," Eliones said. "Eliminate the eastern node first. Quietly. Leave no trace."
Leylin gathered his notes. "I'll handle it."
As he turned to leave, Eliones added, "Return alive." Leylin paused.
"That depends on your enemies," he replied.
That night, Leylin stood alone atop a secluded spire. Below him, Suramar slept.
Above him, the false sky shimmered. In his shadow, darkness stirred.
The first mission had been set. And somewhere in the ruins beyond the city…
The Burning Legion waited—unaware that they had already been mapped, measured, and marked for elimination.