Blade Dance

The incident of the bonfire party did not cause much noise at the time, but it was like a spark igniting a pile of withered dead leaves.In the following two or three days, there were at least five more violent incidents in various districts of Shattrath. Some people had disputes because of different ideas, some people had no way to vent their anger and attacked unrelated people for no reason, and one even happened because they were training each other. He took the wrong sword, and then directly fought with the opponent's sword.The number of patrolling soldiers on the streets increased overnight.All citizens who went from the central city to the Aldo Heights were intercepted and searched without exception.Archbishop Nasuen personally issued an order, and there were people patrolling around the commander's mansion day and night to prevent any suspicious people from approaching.In just a few days, the atmosphere in the whole city was tense.

This morning, the sun broke through the thick clouds and poured on the earth.The rare sunshine would always dispel the haze and bring warmth, but today it has no such effect.Several main roads in the central city were empty, and many people crowded into the Holy Light Hall early in the morning, waiting to watch what was about to happen inside.Today is an unusual day for the garrison, Shattrath City, and even Outland in general.

In the dead silence, Vincent squeezed at the front of the crowd, watching Harlan pass by.Harlan held the neatly folded battle robe in both hands, and on it was the long sword that symbolized his identity—at least at this moment, he was still the commander.His back was straight, his steps were steady and firm, and he glanced at Vincent very briefly as he walked in front of him.Even a quick glance was enough for Vincent to catch his eyes.There was no darkness in Harlan's eyes, no pain, no sorrow, and no grievance or resentment.The moment their eyes met, he told Vincent with his eyes that I was fine.

I found the answer.It is born from the heart.

Vincent laughed almost helplessly.

Harlan stopped in front of the archbishop.He lowered his head and held the battle robe and long sword in his hands forward.

There was no sound, and everything in the temple seemed to be still.

"You have voluntarily withdrawn and have the right without explanation. It is your only right. From this moment on, your identity will be stripped, your oaths will be annulled, your powers will be withdrawn, and your orders will be No longer has any effect."

He took two items from Harlan.

"The naaru testify that you are no longer the supreme commander of the combined forces defending Outland.

"May the Holy Light be with you."

A moment of silence, as if waiting for the archbishop's voice to dissipate in the temple.Then, Harlan saluted him, and then returned to the exit of the hall along the same route.This is the end.As if the heavy stone that had been hanging high in his heart finally fell down, Vincent watched him and suddenly felt a burst of relief.The crowd was silent, all staring at Harlan.Vincent could feel completely different emotions coming out of the surroundings - there was resentment and consternation, feeling unbelievable about the ending in front of him; And support, but indecisive, like an island in the ocean, insignificant.These complex emotions and concepts come together, merge, interweave, collide, and finally present in the form of a whole, turning into solidified and fragile silence.

Suddenly, a shout came from the crowd opposite, shattering the silence in an instant.

"dross!"

The crowd suddenly burst, and a draenei woman in armor rushed out from the crack, the iron sword in her hand bursting out with a fierce cold edge.She rushed towards Harlan, as if throwing her whole body.Harlan quickly reached out and drew his sword.At the same time, Vincent struggled to push the people in front of him and rushed out.Everything happened in the blink of an eye, just when Draenei rushed in front of Harlan, and the short sword was about to be unsheathed, there was a scream, which attracted everyone's attention.It was the wind sound of weapons ripping through the air.Surprises erupted all around, and the crowd scattered like waves hitting a huge rock.A war blade with a blue light flew between the draenei and the high elves, accurately splitting the sword in the former's hand.The huge momentum made the woman let out a cry of pain, and the broken sword fell to the ground, reflecting her frightened face.

The war blade whirled back and shot into the sunlight outside the hall.

Everything happened so fast that Vincent was as stunned as everyone else.

The woman covered her bleeding hand and stared at Harlan with wide eyes.Anger and fear boiled on her face.The crowd suddenly became agitated, and the sound of discussion seemed to flood the entire temple. Everyone looked out the door, but no one wanted to go out to find out.Vincent clenched his dagger, vigilantly monitoring everything around him, ready to fight at any time.At this moment, the archbishop's resounding voice came from Naru's direction.

"guard!"

As if such a situation had been expected long ago, several guards and believers rushed out from the restless crowd in response, and blocked a solid defense wall in front of the people.The crowd began to retreat, and Vincent heard various shouts and curses coming from around him.At the same time, two guards rushed forward and took the broken sword from Delaney, grabbed her by the shoulders and took her away.The woman screamed hoarsely, struggling frantically to break free from the guards' grip, but to no avail.In the end, all she could do was stare at Harlan viciously, cursing loudly in draenei.Harlan ignored her, but walked around her to look at the Archbishop standing in front of Naaru.When their eyes met, he nodded slightly, then turned and walked out of the hall.

Vincent watched his back across the crowd until he disappeared into a golden sun.

"Why didn't you draw your sword?"

Roy retracted the war blade and walked side by side with Harlan.

"Always give you a chance to show your talents."

"How is my skill?"

"Convincing."

"Really?"

Harlan glanced at him, and saw Roy's face full of ulterior motives.Harlan gave him a helpless look, but didn't answer.The glare of the sun pierced his eyes as he looked up, and Harlan suddenly realized that they had never walked side by side in the middle of the street at such a leisurely pace.

"Where to go next?"

Harlan thought, or hesitated for a moment.

"Can I come to your house?" he asked.

Roy watched him, a smile flickering in his eye, lingering long enough for Harlan to catch it.

"It's our home."

Harlan laughed.

"I'm going to say goodbye to Joanna."

"of course."

The sunlight outlined two clear shadows on the ground, and they were trying their best to imitate every move of their master.

"Is it okay?"

"what?"

"all."

Harlan stopped and turned to meet his gaze.The sunlight shone into his eyes, making the irises show an almost transparent ice blue color, which made Roy feel dazed for a moment.

"You gave me something I wanted to do. I've made every decision I've ever made with a mirror in mind. So..."

He smiled. "Never mind."

Roy stared at him.

Harlan picked up his footsteps and walked forward: "If it's a matter of fact, judging from the qualities and talents of the leader, I wasn't the best candidate to be the commander. As a mediator, the time is long enough now. Moreover, I really I prefer a normal life, like this—”

His words came to a halt as Roy suddenly stepped in front of him and turned and walked backwards.Harlan looked at him with some confusion.The golden sunlight shone on his face, making the lines of his facial features fully visible, showing a pure and dazzling beauty.

Roy stopped suddenly, so Harlan had to stop too.

Their still shadows were cast on the ground, some overlapping.

There was some incomprehensible emotion, or a combination of emotions, in Harlan's face, but there was no joy in it.Roy watched his face, only to feel that the sunlight was unbearably strong.Dazzling, and no temperature.He suddenly took a step forward, stretched out his hands to hold Harlan's face, and leaned over to meet his gaze at a very close distance.Harlan froze for a moment, his thoughts suddenly lost.Not knowing whether it was the heat of the sun or the temperature of Roy's palm, he felt his cheeks burning.Although there were only a handful of pedestrians at a glance, and no one was looking at him, he still felt a little embarrassed, so he began to avoid his gaze, and glanced to the side almost in a panic, like a frightened young deer.

"Don't... look at me like that."

Roy laughed and let go of him.

"Remember what you said a few days ago?" he asked.

"Which one?"

Harlan looked at him puzzled.

"You're not going anywhere unless I let you go."

Roy lifted his jaw, kissed his lips and said, "I'll never let you go."

----------

"You really have a different kind of attachment to honey fire wine."

Joanna walked towards them, smiling.On a large platter she brought a buttered salmon, a grilled clefthoof, a Moknazza rib, a salad, and three glasses of firewine.Harlan looked at her in amazement, surprised at such a feast.

"Practice." Joanna explained to him casually, then turned her gaze to Roy, and threw a sweet smile, "Please enjoy it as you like." Harlan rolled his eyes at her far-reaching attitude.He suddenly remembered that Joanna had commented on Roy. That was when Roy was still recuperating in the hotel, and that was when Joanna saw him for the first time.At that time, she said with great anticipation that Roy's appearance was quite outstanding even among the night elves, and it was more mysterious and attractive to be blindfolded.If it weren't for the unbearable killing smell of ordinary people, any woman would be fascinated by it.

He pushed the glass domineeringly in front of Roy.

"I've never had alcohol," Roy said, "let alone fire wine."

I thought this reason was sufficient, but Harlan acted like he didn't hear it.He tapped the table next to the glass with his slender fingers, then tilted his head to look at Roy, raised the corners of his mouth, and showed an affectionate smile.

"For my sake." Even his voice became soft.

Roy quickly turned his face away, and then downed the wine in one breath under his gaze.His face suddenly turned bright red.

"How about it?"

Roy didn't answer, but suddenly said "Sorry" to Joanna, then turned around and pressed over.Harlan dodged all the way back, eyes widening.He was convinced that if he hadn't moved so fast, Roy would have bumped into his face.

"You...what are you doing..." His head had already reached the cold window, and he couldn't retreat.Roy didn't move forward, but raised his jaw, and his lips swept over his nose, cheeks, jawbone, and lips, as if a rich lord was inspecting his territory one by one, while confirming his own Property, while showing a smug smile.

"Not as delicious as yours," Roy said.

Harlan felt a big explosion in his body, so hot that he wanted to pour ice water from the top of his head immediately.Joanna let out a light cough, which became his life-saving straw at this moment, because Roy quickly sat up straight again.Harlan also sat up, only to see Joanna with an unconcealable sneer on her face.He looked at her coldly, but realized that his face must be flushed at the moment.

"How?" Joanna asked Roy nonchalantly, "Have you been bullied?"

"how you said that?"

"Because he is really cold." Joanna glanced at Harlan with a stiff expression, "If he is cold and violent to you, you must remember to tell me. If he ignores you for no reason, or even goes to find him Other men, also remember to report to me. I will find him."

"In your eyes, I am that kind of person?" Harlan couldn't help it.

Joanna laughed: "No. I just want Roy to know that I will always be on his side." She gave Roy a wink as she spoke.Harlan stared at her blankly—she actually gave Roy a wink.But then they looked at each other and smiled again.Harlan looked at Joanna and then at Roy, his face was full of indifference and despair.

"Thank you." Joanna said suddenly, her green eyes sparkling.

Roy was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "You didn't entrust me to help, and I didn't do anything because I wanted to help you. So... there is nothing to thank me for."

Joanna showed a relieved expression: "That's good."

Harlan looked at her suspiciously: "What are you talking about?"

Roy looked at Joanna, and Joanna glanced at him and said to Harlan, "It has nothing to do with you, it's between the two of us."

"You two? When? When he was healing here?"

Joanna smiled and shook her head.

Harlan turned to Roy again: "You're not going to tell me?"

"Yes, I'm not going to tell you."

Harlan complained to Joanna: "He's not going to tell me."

Joanna laughed.The two of them repeated each other's words, like couples embracing and caressing each other, provocatively.

Who could stand such flirting?

Time flows unconsciously.The golden sunlight gradually turned light yellow, then orange red, and finally brought the setting sun through the window to draw dark red shadows in the room.The door of the hotel has always been closed tightly, and the space surrounded by four walls and a door is the world of the three of them.

Harlan and Joanna chatted happily, mostly about interesting trifles in their respective lives, as well as some anecdotes and grotesques from hearsay.Roy found that Joanna liked to speak with some sarcasm, and she was able to say very serious things lightly and ridiculously.And Harlan was probably used to her way of talking since he was a child, and he could always answer her teasing or criticism accurately and wittily, causing the three of them to burst into laughter at the same time.

Joanna hardly ever left Harlan, as if she could never get enough of the smile on his face.

And when it comes to rising, Harlan can't help putting his arm on Roy's shoulder intimately.Whenever this happened, Roy would wrap his arms around his waist and let him lean on him completely.

The speed of time passing is unbelievably fast.They all froze for a moment when the evening bell rang.

After a short silence, Joanna lit a lamp to disperse some of the night.

"Time is up."

The brilliance of the stars and the moon shone on the street outside the door, and only occasional figures hurried past in the quiet night.

They stood at the door looking out into the empty street together.

Joanna suddenly said: "You can come back anytime, the door of the Dragon Eagle Hotel is always open for you."

Harlan turned his head and stared into her eyes, suddenly feeling sore in his heart.

In the past countless farewells, he had never experienced such strong emotions, but at this moment, he felt his heart beating wildly.Surging emotions welled up from the bottom of his heart, flowing through his blood and viscera.I don't know when it started, this kind of perception brought him warmth, happiness, hope, and at the same time made him feel pain at this moment.

"I love you," he said to Joanna.

Joanna looked at him in surprise.Tears welled up suddenly.

She walked over and hugged Harlan tightly: "Me too."

She whispered in Haran's ear, "Naru has heard my wish."

"what is that?"

"Hmm...a lot." Joanna sniffed and laughed, "But he seems to have heard them all."

Harlan tilted his head and kissed her cheek hard, holding her tighter.

"Thank you."

Joanna let go of him and took a step back, looking into Harlan's eyes like she had done so many times when she was saying goodbye.

There was a sad smile in the green eyes.

"Please live well."

Harlan turned his gaze to Roy who was aside.They smile at each other.

"We will."