NOVEL WEB Chapter 117: Chapter 117
The fight between Tess and King Greymane went about as Varrus had expected.
Even with the buffs, Tess was on a similar level as Rho'dan, whilst the speed, precision, and ferocity Greymane moved with was closer to Syra.
In effect, Tess was slowly losing ground, and Varrus saw that it would only be a matter of time before she lost.
Having already revealed his Elven nature to her, Varrus was confident that between him and his wife, they could install Tess as a sympathetic monarch. Which meant he was tempted to violate the honor of the duel, but that would mean he'd have to massacre the Elites and the pair of Heroes that were acting as witnesses.
On the other hand, there was the meta aspect to this duel. As a fight between a father and daughter, Tess having a cursed body, and the dad being a curmudgeonly old man, it simply screamed of shounen bullshit. Meaning he had a suspicion based on Syra's advice on the onset of the battle, that Tess would undergo some stupid transformation and overwhelm Greymane. That or something stupid, like the old man would deliberately lose upon witnessing her determination.
Honestly, it could go any way, and Varrus didn't like this feeling of uncertainty. From what he knew of Greymane, he did love his daughter, but the death of his son in Canon had driven him into denial and madness. It was such a defining event, that Varrus credited this loss with the later loss of Gilneas to Sylvannad and the Forsaken.
Since Greymane had witnessed the death of his child-like any parent-he was sure to be extra irrational.
Uncomfortable with this variable, Varrus decided to fix the odds in his favor.
He was going to cheat.
Waiting for his opportunity, Varrus was readying himself to subtly apply telekinesis when no one was watching him. If he could alter the trajectory of Greymane, or even one of his weapons, then Tess's victory would be secured.
Watching them clash again and again, Varrus enjoyed the spectacle. The power of their enchanted weapons colored the air when white met red, and beams of energy filled the air like something out of an anime.
Varrus internally nodded at the display. A Hero was a Hero alright. What they could accomplish made any normal man look like an ant in comparison.
"You don't have the moxy to run this nation. These Elves are using you for their own gain! Give up, and return to your room!" Greymane pressed, his twin swords broke Tess's guard, and he kicked her in the stomach.
The force of his kick pummeled Tess, and sent her careening through a few trees.
Tess coughed up blood as a purple shroud of Void energy swirled around her dangerously.
To Varrus's Mana Sight, the volatile substance looked like it would destabilize at any moment. Most normal people-including the magically attuned Elves-would be dead by this point.
Varrus raised an eyebrow, and wondered if a Human-Elf hybrid with Greymane blood would be able to command the Void like it was nothing.
Glancing at the broad shouldered Rho'dan, Varrus smirked as an idea began to hatch. From what he had observed, Tess had been giving him flirtatious glances ever since he drove the carriage here. Even now, in the heat of battle, she would occasionally look at him. It was a thought worth exploring should she win this duel.
However, his attention was quickly drawn back to the fight, as Tess was starting to shine like a supernova.
"So what if they use me? At least I'm wanted! All you do is hide in your castle, and refuse to see me. While they killed the Worgen leader, saved my life, and taught me that this so-called curse is a blessing!" Tess loudly admonished, then launched herself at Greymane like a missile.
The older man was put on the back foot for the first time during the engagement, and barely blocked the raving strength Tess was outputting.
She was so strong, she knocked one of his swords out of his hands, and sent him flying with an uppercut.
Greymane backflipped, and gracefully landed nearby Varrus's Mana Stones. When Greymane tried to recall his sword with the aid of binding magic, it rustled in place, as Varrus clamped down on it with Telekenesis.
'Chance!' Varrus thought to himself, and began to ever so slowly siphon away the Gilnean King's mana while the beleaguered king tried to regain his bearings.
Greymane, meanwhile, was working his jaw, and purple corruption force was eating away at his bone, before being halted by a white glow. An amulet hanging around his neck flashed, and removed the gunk.
"A boon? The curse has driven countless Greymane's to madness, girl!"
Tess was breathing rapidly, her mana levels were tanking fast. She maybe had one more clash in her before she either imploded from the stress, and turned into dust, or she dropped the Void-form completely, and received treatment.
The young Princess ran at Greymane in a last ditch effort. Toxic purple puddle dripped from her skin onto the forest floor, and melted leaves and branches, like wax under the heat of a flame.
Greymane twirled his remaining sword, and then gripped it with both hands. His face was slowly losing its rosy coloring as Varrus's Mana Stones started to pick up their draining effect.
The older man clearly suspected something was up, and spared Varrus a baleful glare, but it was too late for him to reposition without exposing himself to Tess's oncoming full throttle attack. So he settled into his pose, and awaited Tess for one final clash where everything was on the line.
'This is it.' Varrus thought to himself.
"Do it." Syra calmly ordered.
Upon Syra's interjection, Tess reacted by channeling all her Void energy into her sword, and out of her body.
A brilliant flash of light exploded when the two warriors' weapons clashed, temporarily blinding Varrus.
Once the spots cleared from his eyes, he saw that they had impaled one another!
Hot fiery flames erupted from Greymane's blade, causing the young teen to scream in agony, whilst all the corruption that had been flowing through Tess worked its way into Greymane's body.
The older man's amulet flashed, then cracked as its defense was overloaded.
King Greymane fell to the floor, and slowly began to dissolve into a puddle of goop.
As for Tess, she largely resembled the very worst burn victim Varrus could ever imagine, like Anakin Skywalker after he got cooked on Mustafar!
Her howls of pain urged Varrus to action.
Without a second thought, he removed the sword that was still burning her insides with a flick of telekinesis, and began to bath her in a healing glow.
After five minutes, Tess had been completely healed, and had risen from the ashes of her burnt out clothes.
Her pale, naked body was striking in the low light environment of the cavern, but Varrus made sure to keep his eyes on the dirt, as his wife was watching him.
Pulling a cloak out from his inventory, he tossed it over the raven haired beauty's shoulders.
"All loyal subjects of Gilneas, kneel for your rightful Queen." Varrus's sonorous voice boomed.
Within 10 seconds, well over three quarters of the Elites and the Heroic paladin got onto their knees.
"Those that remain standing have made their defiance clear. What is your verdict, Your Majesty?" Varrus asked Tess in a calm and clear voice.
Tess looked at the men who stood against her. Her fists tightened, and it almost looked like she would turn away. However, the murder of her father, and the extreme burning must have been quite the experience, because she did not respond as a typical teen would.
"Kill the traitors." Tess grimly intoned.
"Those who are loyal, take up arms and prove your mettle." Varrus ordered the Gilneans who would follow Tess and give them an opportunity to prove themselves.
He then nodded at Rho'dan, silently communicating the need to stand back, and watch the Gilneans handle their own matters.
"Mnn, mm!" The bound abbot screamed into his gag as the Heroic paladin gutted him.
A short fight broke out, and any who tried to flee were cut down by House Vandercross.
Before long, only the Elves, and those sworn to Tess remained standing.
"You used me." Tess looked between Varrus and Syra with a complicated cocktail of emotions.
Hurt, sorrow, and the hope of acceptance flashed across her eyes.
"Yes." Varrus calmly agreed.
"Why? Am I just some tool to you? Did you ever see me as a friend?" Tess pressed.
The surviving Gilneans shuffled uncomfortably at the current trajectory of the conversation. They likely knew that if it went sideways, they would all die where they stood, as the Elven forces out numbered them, and they had already experienced Varrus's magical prowess.
Noticing this, Varrus tossed up a shroud of Muffle to keep their conversation private.
"Quel'Thalas needs friends to destroy the Scourge. Half the reason we came to Gilneas was to discover such a friend. When I learned that there was someone with a condition that my wife was an expert in dealing with, I knew you would be that friend.
As for using you?
Yes, I intend to use you. I intend to use your kindness, your charisma, your intelligence, your leadership, and your friendship. I intend to use everything about you towards the effort of creating a new world. One in which the Elves of Quel'Thalas can provide food, enchanted goods, and good counsel to its neighbors. Where by improving the lives of the Humans, I will have improved the lives of the Elves.
Yes, Tess Greymane, I see you as a friend, and I intend to use your very capable hands to accomplish great deeds for the good of the Eastern Kingdoms, for the good of all of Azeroth." Varrus finished his speech by putting a hand over his heart, and bowing with sincerity, as every word he spoke was truth.
The [Speech +1] notification popped up once he finished, and Varrus barely withheld a smirk knowing he had performed splendidly.
Tess sharply inhaled at Varrus's speech, and still looked a little confused, as if she didn't quite know how to interpret Varrus's doublespeak. She glanced over at Syra to see what she would say.
"Words are not my forte, but it is undeniable, you are my best student. I do not enjoy instructing others, but you were not a nuisance." Syra said, and hugged Varrus from the side, happy to let him carry the conversation.
"Thank you big sister Syra, I'll always cherish the knowledge you have imparted onto me. I hope you can keep tutoring me from time to time?" Tess said with a hopeful expression.
Varrus felt his eyebrow twitch at being so obviously ignored. This girl saw a connection between herself and Syra that had her looking for affection like a drowning man grasping at straws. While it bugged Varrus a bit, he wasn't going to shoot himself in the foot, interrupting their byplay.
Besides, his wife was cute when she didn't want to talk.
"I have created a curriculum with scrying orb."
"Oh, I was hoping for more tutoring…" Tess said, obviously disappointed.
"Of course, Syra will be more than happy to spend time with you, Tess. We will also be happy to host you in Silvermoon, just like you always dreamed." Varrus coughed into his hand, and nudged Syra.
"Really? But can diplomats like you do something like this? What even are your positions in the Quel'Thalas government? I'm sorry if you take this as an insult, but you're just a bard, right?" Tess questioned Varrus with a tilt of her head.
Syra chuckled into Varrus's shoulder, and pecked him on the cheek.
Varrus was stone faced for a moment, then let out a sigh.
"You could say I am somewhat of a big deal in Silvermoon. If the King is number one, then no one else would say they are above me." Varrus explained in brief, as he didn't want to go too in depth about the Highborns political structure.
"So a very important noble, got it. And you want Gilneas to join the Alliance?" Tess stopped being as suspicious, and looked at both Varrus and Syra with a friendly-if now more mature-outlook.
"Close, but not quite. The Alliance is dead. It was a failed organization that anyone could pull out of at any time, had poor leadership, and little to no organization. The poor management meant armies from different nations did not gather together when instructed, and pride between nobles cost valuable time, resources, and a reckless misuse of lives." Varrus heatedly pushed back against the idea of reforming the Alliance.
"Where are you going with this? What new allied structure are you thinking about if not the Alliance? Because while I agree with all the things you said, I can't think of anything better?" Tess shook her head in confusion.
"My solution is to form a coalition government. One in which the member states are all ruled locally by their native rulers, but in terms of military and foreign policy, answer to Silvermoon."
Tess closed her eyes, and had a thoughtful look on her face.
"Your proposal does not bother me. If your promises of trade were true, that is. The nobles, however, will never allow it." Tess eventually opened her eyes, and looked to Varrus with an apologetic look.
"You are, or will be, the Queen. The nation is within the midst of a civil war, and traitors are everywhere. Give me the authority, and I will make the nobles see reason." Varrus pressed.
Tess unconsciously stepped back from the intensity coming from Varrus, and she held onto her arm where she felt the phantom pain of scorched flesh.
Varrus noticed this, and nudged Syra forward.
His wife rolled her eyes, then reluctantly took Tess in an embrace.
The sudden action must have moved the young Monarch, as she was quick to agree to Varrus's proposal.
"Okay, you have a deal. Gilneas will join the Covenant of Silvermoon, but you have to promise not to forget about me, and visit often." Tess shyly nodded at both Varrus and Syra with a shallow smile upon her face.
She seemed to be so uncertain, and looking for approval, it made Varrus genuinely feel bad for her.
Living locked up by ones parents was a fucked up fate that Varrus wished on no one. His own father from back on Earth had experienced something similar, and Varrus took pity on Tess.
Looking at Syra, his wife nodded back, uncharacteristically solemn. As a victim of abuse, she was also sympathetic to Tess's plight.
"Welcome to the Covenant, Tess." Varrus smiled.