Blade Dance

"Are you talking about spell enchantment?"

"Yes. Its scope and intensity."

"At present, we have only set up an enchantment against demons on the north side of the city. According to the distance of the target, from far to near, we can detect, deter and imprison respectively. It is not yet possible to release spells that can directly cause damage from a long distance. "

The commander was lost in thought.The index finger of his right hand unconsciously touched his lips back and forth.After a moment he said:

"Advance the priority of the spell enchantment, and achieve full coverage around the city in the shortest possible time. What about the deployment of the patrol team?"

"Occupations and numbers have been reassigned according to your instructions."

"What about the rest of the fortifications? Arrow towers?"

"There are still five unfinished. It is expected to be completed within two months."

The commander frowned.

"We still know very little about demons. If there is no perfect defense, if the Legion makes a comeback tomorrow, and this time we..."

He stopped suddenly, as if considering whether to say what to say next.Steele guessed what it was that he hesitated to say, and there was a faint dissatisfaction on his face.

"Sir, with all due respect. I think the coalition garrison is fully capable of fighting alone after two battles." He looked into those blue eyes, "If no one gets in the way.

Harlan stared at him.

"Besides, the fortifications that have been completed so far are sufficient in my opinion. Even if the legion is not injured, it will need time to rest. Therefore, we still have some time. But I will still urge it to complete the remaining parts as soon as possible .”

His tone showed impatience, as if to make up for this impatience, he lowered his head slightly after speaking, waiting for an answer.It was late, the conference room was illuminated by the dim light of the fireplace, and the lamps on the table were about to go out.The deputy commander was still wearing a suit of armor, but the skirts were messy and the cuffs were not arranged properly.There was a strong smell of alcohol coming from him.Harlan felt uncontrollably tired, and would accidentally fall asleep at any time, and could only stay awake by the night wind blowing in from the window.He rubbed his temples, then sat up straight, staring at the deputy commander.

"Please be sure to urge it, Mr. Steele."

"Yes, sir."

"It's been so hard, is there anything else?"

"No. Then I'll go back and stand by."

The deputy commander bowed and walked towards the door.

"Please wait."

Steele stopped and turned to look at him, expressionless.

Harlan said: "Please pay attention to rest, as it is so late today, it must affect your sleep. As the deputy commander of the coalition forces, you have a long way to go, so I hope you can pay more attention to your body."

Steele looked a little surprised, but a thankful smile appeared on his face, and there was a subtle smile in his voice.

"I'm sorry, sir. That's right. I've got some important business to do today, so I'm delayed a little bit, so I'm late. This is really unintentional. I'm really sorry if I disturbed your rest."

Harlan returned an understanding smile.

important matter?When Steele walked in, the smell of alcohol immediately filled the conference room, and there was also a smell of cheap powder.Neglect of duty, deliberately did not abide by the agreed meeting time, and did not send someone to explain.Now, it is refreshing to be able to give such a rhetoric without shame.

The corners of his mouth hooked up, and the smile deepened.

"Don't worry, I have something to deal with. You didn't bother me. What I said just now was purely out of concern that you were overworked. If you fall, I can't think of anyone who can take your place. You do the job."

"Thank you for your concern, I have my own measure." The deputy commander maintained a smile on his face, and his voice was also very respectful, "Then I will take my leave first. Please rest earlier."

Harlan watched him walk out of the meeting room, and a moment later he heard the door slam shut.He sighed and leaned back in the chair, letting the melancholy and exhaustion overwhelm him.

There are too many things.There were so many that he was almost overwhelmed.There is a long to-do list in my head that hangs down to the ground at my feet.There are other things to worry about, some threats, or troubles.

The blood-stained land of the swamp, the Illidari in such a mess.Unfinished fortifications, coalition ignorance of demons.The provocation and resistance of subordinates, as well as the arrogance and laziness of people.An easy win can lull them into a narcissism that the defense is unnecessary.

The night outside the window is like a phantom, and the sleeping city falls into silence.The sky was covered with stars, and the heights were deserted.

There are still five arrow towers, two months... The matter of the magic enchantment still needs him to meet the mages in person, Steele is very likely not to do as he ordered... Eredar is better than tricks, The Morg is known for its brute force, the Doom Guard is part of the assault force, and the Abyss Lords... the Legion was completely defeated in the Battle of the Swamp, and it should take some time to regain their strength... So have all the Illidari withdrawn... Are they still there? How many people are left... It's been almost a month... Although they won't die... But why...

Go out in the dead of night, don't take the main road, don't take the front door, Joanna said.To some extent, there was no need to follow these rules, but Roy really didn't want to get into trouble.There were guards at the door, so he walked in profile.The night is like a black miasma, which is the best shelter.He walked around the house, only one room was lit, and using ghost vision again, he was sure he was alone.

Harlan fell asleep in the chair when he climbed in through the window.

There were only a few sparks left in the fireplace, and the lamp on the table had been extinguished not long ago.There was only the moonlight shining through the clouds, covering the floor, the table, the drawings and reports on it, and the silver hair.All stand still, like a painting.

Why are you sleeping here?

Why worry?

He walked over.

Harlan's head was tilted to one side, half of his face was covered in shadow, and the other half was illuminated by the bright white moonlight, which was as crystal clear as a moonstone.The closed eyes seem to be a little less indifferent, but there are only two graceful lines, delicate and graceful, and there are two dark shadows under the eyes.Straight nose bridge, smooth and clear outline of jaw, Adam's apple floats and sinks with breathing like a bait, and there is a long and thin scar close to it.

Roy moved closer to him and gently touched the scar with his fingers.It was perfectly healed, leaving only an indelible mark.Does the owner of the scar remember the pain?

His clothes seemed to have been put on in a hurry, and from a bird's-eye view, it was possible to see that the neckline of the shirt inside was wrinkled due to squeezing.

When he held his waist with both hands and brought his lips close, would he puff up his chest, open himself, and welcome his kiss?

When his shoulders rubbed against his knees, and his palms stroked the base of his thighs, would he shudder under his teasing?

When he hugged him tightly, merged with him, and rubbed against the secret place that made him surrender again and again, would he moan uncontrollably because of the overflowing lust?

The moonlight cast an icy pale pink on Harlan's lips.Roy heard his own breathing.

He gets closer, and closer.

Harlan didn't know how long he had slept, but when he opened his eyes, he found that there was an uninvited guest in the room, standing against the wall by the door.

He stood up suddenly, and immediately felt dizzy.He put his hand on his forehead and glanced back at the wide open window.

The room was silent, and the black image by the door merged with the wall behind it.He smelled a fragrance.It was the scent of the terra fruit that Joanna always kept in his room.When at the Dragon Eagle Hotel.

They look at each other.

The night outlines the motionless figure behind the table, which appears illusory and fragile even though it is just a few steps away.

Harlan cleared his throat suddenly.

"Please wait."

He walked to the cabinet by the wall, took out a bunch of keys from the upper drawer, and knelt down to open the lower locker.Roy was still standing at the door, silently watching his every move.When Harlan saw him just now, his sleepy-eyed face was full of alertness, but after he saw clearly that it was him, that expression suddenly relaxed.But this kind of relaxation is not due to meeting familiar people, let alone being able to finally meet "him" in such a peaceful and quiet place after going through life and death.He suddenly realized that Harlan had just discovered that he was no threat.

Like the time in Terokkar Forest, let go of the hilt and approach him, maybe just because he was found to be too weak to be a threat.

Sleeping and waking up, it seems that he is not alone at all.

Harlan took out two familiar weapons from the cabinet.He walked around the tables and chairs, put the warblade on the table closest to Roy, and stepped back a few steps.

"I'm sorry, if you were always holding a weapon when you returned to the city, it would be difficult for me to make the soldiers obey the orders. The war blades will cause panic, so I took them away without authorization. I am very sorry. I will return them to you now."

Roy didn't move.It seemed that the weapons on the table were not his and had nothing to do with him.

He had so many questions he wanted to ask that he didn't know where to start.Why did you become a commander?Is it because of the high elves?But what does race matter?Why go to Zangarmarsh alone?Why did you bring an entire army with you when you went again?

Why do these.

Why save him?

He suddenly felt bored.He missed too much.But now Harlan was waiting for him to get the Glaive, waiting for him...

He took a step forward, half of his body got rid of the shadow and entered the range of the moonlight.

"I--"

"If it's thanks, there's no need to say it." Harlan said, "You can go."

Roy froze for a moment, feeling that his blood was blocked by his words, and the resulting suffocation made his heart ache.He hated the indifference because it lingered in his mind.Just like the encounter in Zangarmarsh, the same indifference with resentment only deepened his desire.He seemed to be stepping on a thousand miles of wilderness covered with snow, uninhabited, but someone was always looking at him through a certain snowdrift, a certain rock, or a certain star.

"I've ordered the patrol team to let you go. You don't have to worry about obstacles on the way out of the city, just hurry up." Harlan said, "You can go back to the Dragonhawk Hotel again, bring what you want, and then take advantage of the time when you are in the city. There's no one there, just leave now."

Roy stared at him for a long time.

He knew that Harlan might have seen through his determination long ago, from the details he showed, his expression, his movements, his stiffness and lack of security.That's what happens to a man who's determined to throw everything at his fingertips.

Now that he has seen through it, he still insists on resisting, or pretends to resist.Use indifference as a last pretense.

And he had decided to fight that pretense to the end.

Harlan looked at him silently, with a puzzled expression.

"If you need, I can provide you with a mount. When you leave, please go through the main entrance and tell the guard at the gate that his name is Nix. He will take you to the stables."

Then there was nothing more to say, he began to wait for a response, withdrew all unnecessary expressions, sober and calm.But Roy didn't move, just looked at him straight, as if tracing his whole body with his eyes.

"You've lost weight," he said.

Harlan was taken aback.

"Perhaps. There are many things to consider."

"for example?"

Tentative.

"I thought you knew."

"You think I know."

As expected.Roy laughed.

"Maybe. Just take it as I know."

"Then what are you asking?"

"Because I want to hear it from you."

Harlan was silent.

Say it yourself.

Let me know that you have been in the same position, in the same predicament, at that fleeting point where you don't know what to do.To advance, or not to advance.Do it, or don't do it.

Roy suddenly realized that Harlan must understand, and for so long, he has been wandering between nothingness and eternity just like him.But that doesn't help.It is because it is useless to understand everything, and it will be deeply trapped in the predicament.

And now that he had decided to go through the gate of the brave, he wasn't sure if Harlan wanted him to.Does he know what he wants?

Or do you not want to know?

How he hopes that ghost vision can see through people's hearts.

"Samsara" lay on the table, the blue fluid slowly flowed along the blade, the halo spread around, and some of it projected onto Harlan.The light and shadow reflected by the water ripples fluctuated on the handsome face, making those facial features vivid at this moment.There were turbulent waves rolling under the calm face, but they were still unable to break through the ice-like shell.

The long silence that seems familiar, the ending that such silence ushers in has also been seen many times.

Roy asked: "Do you have to be a stranger?"

"Yes."

As soon as his words fell, Harlan responded.The red-hot iron was quenched into cold water.

"I can't even be friends. Maybe I could do it before, but I can't do it now."

The answer I have long thought of.The water temperature continued to drop.

"why?"

"A stranger who has never met before, a passerby who met a few times, a friend who shares the same goal, and an enemy who draws his sword, there are nothing more than these kinds of relationships."

Harlan stared straight at the black cloth sash.

"I'm the commander of the coalition now, what about you? Why can't we be strangers? Why try a relationship other than strangers?"

His eyes were like two icy blue flames.

Roy walked over to them.

At this moment, the sound of a violent collision came from the front hall, and the tranquility of the night was shattered in an instant.Roy's forward steps also stopped.After a while, Nix had already rushed to the door of the meeting room.

"I'm not saying there's no order from me—"

"Sir!"

Nix's face showed a panic that he had never seen before, and after seeing that there were not only commanders in the room, the expression became more complicated.But he didn't react more to the presence of the uninvited guest, he just stared nervously at the commander.His voice has changed.

"Report! There is an abnormality in the enchantment, and a legion team has been found north of the city!"

There was deathly silence, and the air seemed to condense.Nix stared at the commander with wide eyes, expecting him to say or do something.But Harlan didn't respond for a long time.

Roy turned to look at him.

"How many people are there in the enemy army? What kind of demon?"

His voice revived the frozen air.

Nix turned his gaze away from the commander's face to the demon hunter.His eyes were dull, as if he didn't understand his question.

"What's wrong? Can't the enchantment detect this information?"

The young Draenei seemed to have been awakened suddenly, and looked at the commander again.

Harlan said, "Answer his question."

Nix froze for a moment, his brows furrowed.

"The number of people in a team. It should be... it's called Mo... Mo..."

"Morgo."

There is something strangely oppressive about the Demon Hunter's voice, which is intimidating.Nix lowered his head in bewilderment.

"That's right, it's Mo'arg."

"Morgo..."

Harlan repeated in a murmur, then fell into thought.

Soon, he said in a stern voice: "Send me an order, and our army will attack head-on. The two, five, seven and eleven long-distance teams will set off immediately, and there must be druids and mages. Also, order the deputy commander Steele Serve as the temporary commander of the main city. Prepare the horse, I will go there in person.”

Nix looked up and gave him a surprised look.The commander glanced at the demon hunter at the side, and said, "Also, during the time I'm out of the city, if anyone disobeys my previous order and attacks the demon hunter, they will be dealt with according to military regulations."

"Yes."

Roy suddenly took a step forward and picked up the war blade on the table.Harlan took a step back as if startled by his sudden action.

"The last one is unnecessary," said Roy.

He turned his head to look at the commander next to him, the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Anyway, I'll go with you."