For Kael, the subsequent voyage seemed to be on fast forward.
Sun rose and set, the sea breeze remained, but the mysterious Dracthyr never appeared in his sight again.
Whether in the various cabins of the ship, the smoky little bar, or any corner of the deck.
He vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated into thin air.
However, the parchment and Obsidian token, kept close to his body, constantly reminded Kael that the brief meeting and gift were by no means an illusion.
Knowing his inexperience and with his goal changed, Kael completely gave up the idea of performing at the bar again.
However, his youthful ambition and the subtle desire to prove himself in front of his own kind had not completely faded.
He seized the opportunity and invited all Dracthyr on board who were willing to participate.
On a calm afternoon, he gave them a few free small performances in a corner of the deck.
This time, he was much more relaxed.
With familiar Dracthyr epics and facing compatriots who understood and resonated with him, his singing regained its clarity, and the lute's melody flowed smoothly.
The Dracthyr audience responded with sincere applause and approving gazes, and some even hummed along softly.
These few small-scale successes barely soothed the wounds from his previous public performance failure.
It proved that he was not without talent, he had just chosen the wrong stage and audience.
The Seagull broke through the deep blue waves and finally, on a foggy morning, slowly sailed into Zul'warg, the central port city of Howling Fjord.
This city is roughly located between Vargarde and Utgarde Keep on the game map.
Kael stood by the ship's rail and took a deep breath.
Unlike the dry, biting cold air of Borean Tundra, the wind here was more humid and warm, mixed with the earthy and crop scents of distant farmlands, blended with the salty smell of the sea.
Looking as far as the eye could see, vast expanses of neatly cultivated farmland could be seen outside the city.
Green seedlings swayed in the wind; this place was clearly more suitable for farming than Borean Tundra.
Kael could also hear the iconic wind of Howling Fjord, like a beast's low growl.
That was the sound of the sea breeze passing through the towering cliffs and rock pillars on both sides of the fjord, pervading the entire region.
Zul'warg city was built against the mountains and by the sea, with stone and wood structures arranged in distinct levels, and its docks bustling with ships from all over the world, appearing busy and vibrant.
Kael's gaze was quickly drawn to a spire in the city center. A platinum flame burned atop the tower, clearly visible even in daylight, its soft glow enveloping a large area of the city.
"The Tower of Cinder Light—" Kael sighed inwardly, his eyes revealing relief and reverence.
This was the core symbol of Dragon God Obsidian's faith.
Any city with him as its primary faith would erect a Tower of Cinder Light, which served as both a lighthouse, a sanctuary, and a source of order and protection. Seeing it was like seeing the one in his hometown city, giving Kael a grounded sense of belonging.
He did not linger long in Zul'warg.
After hastily disembarking, Kael found a sizable Dragon of Radiance temple near the docks.
Just as he was asking the duty priest for the best route to Dekonor, he unexpectedly learned a piece of news that made his heart pound.
"Going to Dekonor?" The middle-aged Ice Troll priest asked casually, pointing at a map on the wall, "Then you're in luck, big guy."
"I heard that His Majesty, the Black Dragon Emperor, 'Prestor,' is holding his ascension ceremony in Dekonor soon!"
"That's a once-in-a-millennium event, and now the roads are almost jammed with believers and attendees rushing from all over."
Kael felt as if his heart wanted to leap out of his chest, pounding uncontrollably.
His Majesty Prestor!
The legend he aspired to emulate was about to ascend to godhood?
And it was in Dekonor!
He suppressed his excitement, thanked the priest, and became even more determined to set off immediately.
Following the instructions, he reluctantly paid several silver coins to share a beast-drawn carriage heading to Dekonor, joining the congested road.
Because of the anticipation, the journey no longer seemed long.
Days later, when Kael's beast-drawn carriage finally climbed the last ridge, the driver shouted, "Look ahead! You can see the Golden Tree!"
Kael eagerly poked his head out.
Then, he was so stunned that he temporarily lost the ability to speak.
A tree so immense it defied imagination and common sense.
Its trunk was like a giant pillar supporting heaven and earth, its diameter so vast that it would probably take hundreds of people to encircle it, and the patterns on its surface vaguely resembled overlapping Dragon scales.
The crown spread out like a gigantic umbrella, obscuring a large part of the sky.
The dense foliage was not the usual green, but a strange color flowing with soft golden light, as if each leaf was meticulously cast from liquid gold and jade.
A majestic life force and a divine aura of order poured down from the towering crown, enveloping the four wilds.
This was the legendary Golden World Tree—Dracofyrrassil.
Kael had studied this World Tree in class, but seeing was believing; when he actually saw it, he was still deeply shaken.
And beneath this towering tree that reached the heavens, the mortal city of Dekonor appeared exceptionally small.
It seemed like merely a model toy placed at the foot of a giant.
This city had not built any city walls.
Its boundaries merged indistinctly with the surrounding fields and woodlands.
Thanks to the nourishment of Dracofyrrassil, vegetation was exceptionally lush both inside and outside the city.
What surprised Kael even more was the architectural style of the city. Due to the long-term coexistence of multiple races, the building sizes in the city displayed huge differences:
There were tall houses and wide streets built for Dragons, as well as low, exquisite houses designed for smaller races.
There were also some areas clearly prepared for robust races like Dracthyr and Tauren, with slightly larger building specifications.
These street blocks of different scales were cleverly interwoven, connected by gentle slopes, stairs, and roads, forming a unique rhythm of order within chaos.
The Tower of Cinder Light also stood majestically here, located in the city center, adjacent to the World Tree's root system, near Dekonor's main temple.
Its light shimmered with Dracofyrrassil's golden radiance, jointly guarding this "Dragon's Temple."
The beast-drawn carriage continued for a considerable distance before finally merging into the bustling flow of vehicles and people.
Kael leaned by the carriage window, his red eyes gazing at this miraculous city, vibrant under the golden shade of the tree, his heart pounding fiercely in his chest.
After getting off the carriage outside the city, Kael followed the crowd into Dekonor, feeling as if his eyes weren't enough.
He had read countless descriptions of this city in school and libraries, but the shock of text versus seeing it with his own eyes was completely different.
At this moment, Kael was much like a country boy entering the city for the first time, every step filled with novelty.
The streets followed the natural undulations of the terrain and the giant tree's roots, paved with smooth flagstones.
Along both sides of the streets, architectural styles were distinct yet strangely harmonious:
A totem house in the Ice Troll style might be next to a small building in the Elven style;
At the entrance of a hotel clearly designed for large-sized races, several Furbolgs were clanging away, installing a metal sign for it;
One could even see some Goblins, freed from the enslavement of the Zandalari Trolls, diligently researching various devices that Kael found incomprehensible.
To prevent inevitable explosions from harming others, their laboratories were completely isolated from other houses.
The air was filled with a complex mixture of scents:
The aroma of freshly baked bread, the rich fragrance of meat stew, the smell of burnt coal from the blacksmith's forge, and the warm scent emanating from Dracofyrrassil itself.
The sounds of hawkers with various accents, haggling, the clanging of tools, and the flapping wings of Proto-Dragons intertwined, forming a vibrant clamor.
Kael carefully avoided a Tauren carrying a huge wooden box and then curiously glanced at a Night Elf merchant's stall, where she was selling herbs and runestones.
He even saw a small, disciplined squad of Dracthyr soldiers patrolling, their sharp eyes scanning the crowd.
Kael's current destination was clear: Dekonor's main temple, located directly beneath the World Tree Dracofyrrassil.
That was one of the most important Dragon of Radiance temples on the continent of Northrend, renowned alongside Ital'ruk, Gundrak, Sendarra, and two others in his hometown of Borean Tundra.
The closer he got to the temple district, the denser the crowd became, and the solemn atmosphere that originally enveloped the temple was greatly diluted by the hustle and bustle of the people.
Finally, he arrived at the temple square.
The temple itself was a magnificent Obsidian building, occupying a vast area.
Stepping into the main hall, the interior space was open and well-lit.
In the most prominent position within the hall, three divine statues were enshrined.
In the very center was the majestic black Dragon statue of the Dragon God Obsidian.
The Obsidian-carved scales were distinctly detailed, and the molten gold-like Dragon eyes seemed to gaze at every worshipper.
To its left-rear was the statue of Rhunok, the King of the White Mountain.
Golden-red flame patterns were painted on the silver-white stone, the bear's head bowed, its gaze serene, imbued with the gravitas of a mountain.
And to the right-rear...
was a divine statue completely covered by a deep red velvet curtain.
The curtain's material was luxurious, its edges embroidered with various runes in gold thread.
Kael understood the identity of this statue in his heart, his body tensing slightly with excitement.
Concealed beneath it was undoubtedly the statue of His Majesty "Prestor," who was about to ascend to godhood, waiting for the moment of the ceremony to reveal his true form.
The temple was bustling with people, crowded with believers who had traveled from all over Northrend.
They were orderly queuing to register for the viewing.
Kael looked at the long line and gave up the idea of patiently waiting.
From his old leather pouch, he hesitantly pulled out a slightly worn badge.
It was engraved with a simple flame ring, the symbol of an apprentice Dragon of Radiance priest.
He had failed to complete the final assessment and become an official priest.
Now, taking it out, his face couldn't help but flush, tinged with a hint of shame.
However, to avoid a long wait, Kael finally decided to wear it and quietly blended into the queue of priests.
After waiting for about ten minutes, Kael met the receptionist who served only priests.
"Name, residence, priest registration location?" the receptionist asked without looking up.
She held a quill in her hand, ready to record.
"Kael Ember-voice, from Borean Tundra." Kael took a deep breath, handed over his apprentice priest badge, "Registration location is Morton Town."
The receptionist took the badge, casually inspected it, and recorded the information in a thick register.
Then she handed the badge back to him, her tone flat: "Alright, registered."
"On the day of the ceremony, enter with this emblem; your spot will be on the outer perimeter of the square."
"Apprentice priests do not have fixed seats; you'll need to arrive early and find a spot yourself."
"Thank you." Kael retrieved his badge, carefully put it away, and then bravely asked, "Excuse me, does the temple still—still provide rooms for passing clergy?"
Kael's red face flushed even deeper; an apprentice priest was at most a level 0 cleric, but you tell me, is a level 0 cleric still a cleric or not!
The receptionist finally looked up, staring at him with a "how could you ask such a question" expression: "They've been full for ages! All booked up a month ago!"
"Now, it's probably hard to find an empty bed anywhere in Dekonor. Next!"
Hope shattered.
Kael left the noisy temple, disheartened, and rejoined the flow of people on the street.
By then, it was almost dusk, and Dracofyrrassil's golden glow was gradually replaced by a warmer twilight, as magical lamps and glowing mushrooms lit up one by one in the city.
He began to anxiously search for lodging.
However, reality was harsher than he imagined.
He walked along several main streets, inquiring at no less than ten inns and hostels.
From those that looked expensive and comfortable, to those with simple facades offering only shared dormitories, the answer was invariably the same:
"Full!"
"No room!"
"All booked up long ago!"
Even some lodgings that looked like converted private homes, with fairly basic conditions, displayed "full" signs.
The crowds drawn by the ascension ceremony far exceeded the city's capacity to accommodate them.
After all this trouble, night completely enveloped Dekonor.
Kael dragged his weary feet, aimlessly walking along the still bustling streets.
The surrounding clamor and bright lights only made him feel more isolated and helpless.
He touched the two precious tokens in his bosom, then felt his almost empty money pouch—the dozen or so gold coins inside seemed particularly meager in the face of Dekonor's prices.
Was he, with a thousand gold starting fund and a great opportunity, to sleep on the streets on his first night?
He stopped at the entrance of a relatively quiet alley, gazing at the magnificent silhouette of the temple district and the World Tree outlined against the night sky, feeling a sense of bewilderment.
Where should he go next?
Kael had no answer in his heart, so he could only wander aimlessly through the streets and alleys.
He walked without purpose, not even noticing that the scenery around him was slowly changing.
The houses gradually thinned out, and the flagstone path was covered with more dirt and fallen leaves.
When he came to his senses, he was suddenly startled: ahead was no longer the city's streets.
Instead, there was a quiet and dim forest.
The night wind brought the fresh scent of damp earth and vegetation, invigorating Kael's spirit.
Tall oak trees and other towering trees intertwined to form a canopy, their branches and leaves casting dappled shadows under the moonlight and golden glow;
Moss and vines clung to them, adding a touch of ancient vicissitudes of life to this forest.
Faint specks of light flickered in the air.
Kael then suddenly realized that he had unexpectedly stumbled into that sacred Druid land.
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