Capurnia's shock was written plainly across her face. She stared at the elegant, powerful firebirds—beings of divine beauty—with eyes full of disbelief. Mixed with her excitement was a deep, lingering sense of trepidation.
"This is the symbol of the Sunstrider dynasty..." Capurnia murmured. She stepped forward and cautiously extended a hand, as if to touch the phoenix, but the sheer intensity of the heat forced her to pull back. "This... this gift is too precious, Rhodes. I cannot accept it."
Her voice trembled. The lingering headache and fatigue from the magic transfer seemed to have been incinerated by the miracle before her.
"The significance of a phoenix to Quel'Thalas is beyond words," she continued, her mind racing through the political implications. "It isn't just a powerful combat force; it's... it's a matter of faith, a unique symbol of sovereignty."
She noticed that these birds differed slightly from Prince Kael'thas's personal phoenix, Al'ar. While the size was similar, these birds glowed with an orange-yellow hue, whereas the Prince's phoenix was a deep, crimson red. The magical aura felt distinct as well, though she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
"Rhodes, you might not understand. For High Elves—or Blood Elves—the phoenix is a royal icon. Only the Sunstrider line is meant to command such power. How did you get them? Does the Titan Watcher truly have the power to manifest phoenixes at will?" Capurnia asked.
Jaina was equally stunned. While human culture didn't revere the phoenix as deeply as the elves did, as a mage, she could sense the terrifying magnitude of the fire mana and the boundless life force within them. It was said phoenixes hailed from the Fire Plane, but these felt... different.
"So what if they're royal symbols?" Rhodes said with a shrug. "Yes, these are miraculous creatures granted by the Titan Watchers. I hold the ultimate authority over them, but I can command them to obey the two of you."
"Please, my dear little man, stop acting so nonchalant," Capurnia sighed, her longing for the bird clashing with her pragmatism. "You have no idea what this means. Your 'Watcher' might have summoned them from the Firelands, and it's fine for you to use them, but we shouldn't. Keep them for yourself."
As a fire mage, the temptation was nearly unbearable. No one knew the true potential of a phoenix better than a High Elf. But she was merely an advisor to the Prince; riding a royal mount was a breach of protocol that could cause serious friction.
Jaina agreed, shaking her head. "Capurnia is right, Rhodes. Keep them. Just like your Angels and Diamond Golems, they are yours. Besides, I am a Frost mage. A fire phoenix is... a bit of a mismatch for my affinity."
"There's nothing to worry about," Rhodes said, dismissing their concerns. "These aren't from the elemental planes, and their abilities differ from Kael'thas's birds. In fact, I plan to talk to Kael'thas about them—my phoenixes have a rebirth ability, but it's not as efficient as his. As for the 'royal symbol' thing? It's just a symbol. Stormwind uses a lion as its symbol, but they don't ban people from hunting lions, do they? And Gina, you've summoned fire elementals before. A phoenix is ten times the fighter an elemental is. Just take them."
Rhodes had a grander plan: he intended to bring the entire Blood Elf race under his wing. Once he had hundreds of phoenixes, he planned to gift one to every elite Blood Elf fire mage. Since he held the master override, he never had to worry about a "phoenix coup."
"Rhodes... just how many of these things do you have?" Capurnia asked, narrowing her eyes. She suspected he was using these as bargaining chips for his upcoming meeting with the Prince.
"Does the specific number matter?"
"It matters a lot! If you're going to ask Kael'thas for advice on strengthening their rebirth, he will undoubtedly demand a phoenix as payment," she said seriously.
"Fine. I won't give you a precise headcount, but the Titan Watchers gave me a new mission: to save the High Elves. By the time we reach the Eastern Kingdoms, I should be able to manifest at least ten. Eventually, I'll have enough to give one to every high-ranking mage in your race."
Capurnia looked skeptical. "Even a Prime Designate Watcher shouldn't be able to solve our problem. Our 'addiction' is beyond their jurisdiction."
"I told you, I have a way," Rhodes smiled mysteriously.
"And that is?"
"Have you heard of the waters of the **Well of Eternity**?"
Capurnia's expression shifted instantly. "Of course I know what that is. Our ancestors used a single vial of those waters to create the Sunwell. Rhodes, don't tell me you can get your hands on that!"
"In fact, I can." Rhodes' face was dead serious.
"Impossible! The Well exploded ten thousand years ago!"
"Think about it. Where did Dath'Remar get his vial from?"
"Our records say he had the foresight to fill a vial before the explosion," she replied.
"I don't mean to insult your ancestor, but that's a fairy tale," Rhodes shrugged. "He stole it from Illidan Stormrage. Before the explosion, Illidan secretly kept seven vials. He poured three into a lake on Mount Hyjal to create the second Well—which is why he was imprisoned for ten thousand years.
The Night Elves grew the World Tree, Nordrassil, on top of it to contain it. Archimonde wanted the tree because of the Well beneath it. As for the other vials... one was 'liberated' by your first Sun King."
"How dare you! Our ancestor was no thief!" Capurnia snapped, her elven pride stung.
"I know it's a bitter pill to swallow, but it's the truth. My plan is to get a vial from Illidan. If we pour it into the ruins of the Sunwell, your people's problems vanish."
Rhodes knew from his "future knowledge" that Illidan still had at least three vials. Given that Rhodes had just helped save the world (and potentially Illidan's life/sanity in the process), a vial was a reasonable ask.
"And if he refuses?" Capurnia challenged.
"Then I have a second way to get the waters," Rhodes said, his eyes glinting with the knowledge of a certain time-traveling dungeon he might one day access.