An hour later, all the elite rangers, including Aminel's mage squad, had evacuated Zeb'Nowa.
Farstriders' Ranger Lieutenant Halduron Brightwing had pre-positioned a large number of dragonhawks to help the exhausted rangers depart immediately for Tranquillien for rest and recuperation.
Leylin's mage squad, however, was spared the same privileges; they had only hawkstriders for transportation.
Fortunately, Leylin was accompanied by a familiar face: Vereesa. After leaving Zeb'Nowa, the troll territory, Vereesa and Leylin headed southward, not towards Tranquillien.
They used their hawkstriders to reach a place southwest of Tranquillien called Windrunner Spire. As the name suggests, it was once the residence of the Windrunner family.
"I see everyone is exhausted, but you're the only one so energetic." Leylin said towards Vereesa who was standing on the top floor of Windrunner Spire, gazing out at the endless sea.
Vereesa nestled in Leylin's arms, gently cradling his hand. "Of course, I'm the youngest among these rangers, so of course I have the best physical strength."
"Well, I'll believe you for now, but I think we should find a place to sit down first. Even if you're not tired, I'm a little tired." Leylin said.
Vereesa knew that Leylin didn't believe her, and she blushed and snorted, "Hateful!"
Leylin leaned against the red wall on the top of the tower, letting Vereesa lie in his arms. She grabbed Leylin's clothes on his chest, held his hands and said.
"Tell me, where did this cloth you bandaged your hands come from?" Vereesa looked at Leylin resentfully. Without hiding anything, Leylin told her the whole story.
"Is it the shirt of that female mage? You heart-stealing bad guy, why are you so nice to all girls? Can't you protect yourself well?" Vereesa said sadly while feeling sorry for Leylin.
Leylin shook his head. He knew what the girl in his arms was thinking, "Don't be jealous. That was a mission. If I hadn't done that, and let that female mage fight the beast without magic, would you still be lying in my arms?"
She placed Leylin's hand on her chest and whispered, "Forgive me, I didn't mean to be jealous. But, but that's just how I am. You know, I love you, Leylin."
"I love you too, silly." The night breeze was chilly. Leylin took off his mage robes, draped it over her back, and hugged her.
For some reason, Leylin relished this feeling. Whenever she lay obediently on Leylin's body, Leylin felt an urge to escape. He longed to hide with Vereesa, somewhere in this world where no one could find him.
"Do you know where this is?" Vereesa asked.
"The home of the Windrunners?" Leylin said.
"Yes, a hundred years ago, we lived here. Back then, our family had nearly a hundred elves." She smiled, but it was a helpless smile.
Leylin knew that the Windrunner family no longer had more than a few elves left. Years of war and questing have left the Windrunners the most vulnerable family in Quel'Thalas.
"Don't be sad. Whether elves or humans, they all die one day." Leylin comforted his beloved.
She nodded and said, "Actually, I'm most heartbroken for my second sister. She used to be a quirky elf, very lively, not the sullen one she is now."
"Has the war changed her?"
"After my mother died, my second sister became what she is now. I really don't like her now. Ever since she became like this, there's no one to cheer me up or play with me at home anymore." Vereesa said sadly.
Imagine Sylvanas, the lively, confident, cheerful, and generous one. Then compare her to the current Ranger General, and Leylin couldn't help but feel a surge of pity.
But changing a person's personality is difficult, even for elves.
"Your second sister has been hurt. The pain can heal, but the scars will remain. If you can't change, just try to adapt." Leylin had no way to help her, so he could only offer this comfort.
She frowned, then suddenly straightened her slender waist and looked Leylin face to face.
"You rascal, you fool! Why does my second sister have a crush on you?"
Was this a compliment? He didn't feel honored, but rather a little depressed.
Leylin couldn't believe Vereesa's words. He tried to hug her back to his arms, saying, "Don't be silly! Your second sister is not naturally attracted to males."
She puffed out her chest, holding Leylin's face in her hands, her pale blue eyes reflecting the moonlight.
"I've seen my second sister secretly grinning as she held the painting you gave her. I've seen her staring blankly at the arrow you gave me. I've seen her lose consciousness after talking to you. Just this morning, I saw her resting comfortably on your back, completely defenseless. I know my second sister. Although she appears indifferent and aloof now, beneath this cold exterior, she's still a girl who longs to be protected. Can you share some of the love you have for me with my second sister?" Vereesa began to sob softly, knowing exactly what she had said.
After listening to her words, Leylin reassessed the ranger in his arms. He knew her character; she liked him, and only allowed him to like her.
"So what should I do? Treat her the same way I treat you? Or perhaps marry her as my wife?" Leylin echoed his beloved's lead.
He expected her to rebuke him, but she didn't. She snuggled back into Leylin's arms and said, "I really don't want to do this, but I don't want my second sister to live like this for the rest of her life. I love you, and I love my second sister too."
Oh my god, Vereesa actually encouraged me to do something to her second sister. What a ridiculous plot.
She paused for a second before continuing, "But you have to understand, I was the one who started all this. I was the one who found you and fell in love with you first. So, you have to treat me as well as before."
"I'm so happy for Sylvanas that she has such a loving sister. But your approach is so unreasonable. You don't need to use such methods when asking me to help her regain her former self. Besides love, other feelings can heal wounds, too, like family. You can have a good talk with Sylvanas and try to enlighten her." Leylin said.
Vereesa looked up at her familiar lover and thought to herself: Silly boy, this is my own second sister. I know her better than anyone.
"No matter what, you have to help me. Putting aside other things, find more opportunities to spend time with my second sister. If that doesn't work, we can discuss other methods. I'm sleepy now. Put me to sleep," she said coquettishly.
Leylin was indeed moved by what she had said tonight. Indeed, he had such an idea in his mind, that one day he could live with the three sisters, hugging them on both sides.
Although the possibility of it coming true was very small, Leylin never wanted to refuse such a life, if it was really possible.