Bathed in the Holy Light that brought him both pain and warmth, Unas fell into a strange dream.
In a warm and luxurious bedroom, a tall, middle-aged man wearing a crown takes a tiny baby from a woman who is half-lying on the bed and looks exhausted after giving birth.
"Haha, my son," the noble middle-aged man turned his head, his face indistinct, "Calia, come and see your little brother, he will be your best playmate and brother."
The chubby little baby in its swaddling clothes gently sucks its fingers; its adorable appearance could melt any little girl's heart.
"Father, I will definitely take good care of him."
On a stormy night, in front of the magnificent palace gates, a dirty, blond little boy was being carried by guards, but he looked completely unconcerned.
"Arthas! Do you know how worried your mother is? Don't run around at night anymore!"
"Enough with the chatter, I was just playing hide-and-seek with them!"
"Hmph, I'm ignoring you! Mother will punish you!"
"Calia, I'm sorry, you cannot marry Lord Prestor."
"Why!? He loves me, and I love him. You said I could choose for myself."
"Stop asking. He doesn't love you. He's just deceiving you and using you. Even his identity is fake."
I want to ask him myself!
"Trust your father, Calia. Stop thinking about that man; it will only bring nightmares."
"Waaah, I won't marry anyone but him!"
"Sigh, the truth will make you forget him; I didn't want to tell you."
"My dearest sister, I have some fantastic news to tell you! I'm going to become a Paladin!"
The youthful exuberance of the teenagers was filled with excited chatter, completely abandoning any semblance of royal decorum they had carefully cultivated in front of others.
"Yes, congratulations, my dearest little brother! You're finally becoming a real man. From now on, it'll be your responsibility to protect me."
"I won't protect you," the boy made a face, "That's your future husband's job."
"You little rascal, what if I don't have a husband in the future?"
"Then go become a nun at the Cathedral. I've heard that's where all the women no men want go."
"You little rascal, it seems my usual discipline hasn't been enough. Copy royal etiquette a hundred more times!"
The boy cried out, "Spare me, my dearest sister, I love you the most!"
The fragmented memories, like a movie, immerse Unas in the experience, finally leading to the final scene:
"His Highness has returned in triumph!"
Although the tragedy of Stratholme was still fresh in everyone's memory, and news of horrific plague outbreaks continued to pour in from all over the country, the victory in the expedition to the North was met with the warmest welcome, and the cheers of triumph shook the entire city.
Calia arrived at the top of the Cathedral early in the morning—the highest point in the city, offering a direct view of the city gates.
Beneath the city gates, amidst cheers and flowers, the prince, shrouded in black robes, led the way, followed closely by a solemn and orderly army. The silent and dignified atmosphere of the entire procession caused the roar of voices from both sides of the street to suddenly subside.
The prince and his army neither waved to the crowd nor stopped to deliver a victory speech; they simply marched leisurely toward the palace.
After being taken aback and then disappointed, the people who had been ignored gradually dispersed, leaving only a few curious individuals who stayed to observe this strange army.
Of course, Calia on the tower was oblivious to all of this. She was only happy for her brother's safe return. Only after the triumphant procession entered the palace did she descend from the tower with her guards, preparing to rush back and greet her long-lost family members.
But they were stopped halfway by a group of people, including several royal ministers, who shouted in panic, "The prince has murdered his father and betrayed the country, and is currently wreaking havoc in the palace! We fought our way out! Your Highness, you cannot return to the palace!"
"How is this possible?"
Calia couldn't believe it, but the growing commotion was coming from the direction of the palace, and people were fleeing one after another. Her confidence gradually eroded.
"Your Highness, let's retreat to the Cathedral for now. Whatever happens, there's nothing we can do to stop it!"
The ministers and guards desperately carried her back to the Cathedral, where she remained numb. At that moment, everyone thought it was a bloody coup and did not realize that a massacre and extermination of the city and her clan were about to befall them.
The crowd climbed to the top of the Cathedral tower and witnessed Arthas' army sweep across the city like a black torrent, with screams and cries becoming the main theme of the city.
When the Undead soldiers with their eerie, gleaming eyes surrounded the Cathedral, everyone was already numb with fear. Although the cathedral doors were sturdy, it was only a matter of time before they were breached.
In the final, critical moment, the Archbishop of the Holy Light of Lordaeron led Calia to a secret chamber deep within the church, where he retrieved the most precious treasure of the entire Church of the Holy Light — the Holy Book —from behind layers of locks.
This sacred text, passed down from ancient times, is the source of the Holy Light doctrine. Only a very few people can understand its words, and its sacred power is enough for all beings to worship.
"Your Highness, I will seal this book within you and summon a Heroic Spirit to protect you. Behind this secret chamber lies a hidden passage leading directly outside the city. You must escape!"
"No, Godfather, you are more qualified than I to protect this holy relic. You are the one who should live! I want to stay here. I want to see Arthas as he is now!"
"Even now you still refuse to believe it? You won't see him; the Undead outside won't show you any mercy!"
No matter what, I will not run away!
Seeing that the stubborn princess could not be persuaded, the Archbishop's cross staff suddenly shone with white light. Calia was caught off guard, was struck by this spell and firmly bound by a golden chain.
"Forgive me, Your Calia," the Archbishop said, his eyes filled with remorse. "I could have stopped this tragedy. I could have. The great Holy Light had given me guidance, but my shallowness prevented me from understanding this terrible future. This is my sin, and I will repent with my life."
Calia made "mmm" sounds, her mouth was also sealed.
"If Arthas retains even a shred of humanity, you are the only one who can make his blade hesitate. The future of Lordaeron is in your hands, Calia. When the opportunity arises, please pass on my Redemption to him."
Bathed in brilliant golden light, Calia fell into a deep sleep. When she awoke, she was in a carriage traveling along a remote mountain road, surrounded by several loyal royal guards.
Having lost almost everything, the princess began a life of wandering, hiding here and there, but the Scourge was everywhere, and the royal guards were either killed in battle or lost, their numbers dwindling.
After the rise of human power in the Distant Mountain Monastery, they also sought refuge there, but were turned away due to their unknown identities.
The head guard—who is also Uncle Gail —repeatedly tried to persuade Calia to reveal her identity in order to gain the protection of the Silver Hand and the North Maple Legion, but she resolutely refused each time.
The countless hardships of the past year have transformed the stubborn and proud princess into a timid girl. She constantly asks herself: Will the people of Lordaeron still accept the name Menethil?
She heard far too many curses and insults directed at her brother. The calamity Arthas had created had harmed countless people, and the survivors' hatred for the fallen prince was beyond words.
The crime committed by her own blood burdened Calia with immense guilt, a guilt that suffocated her. Menethil owed the entire nation and her people; that was all she could think about.
Therefore, she was unwilling to reveal her identity to anyone, and did not even want to survive in Lordaeron.
After yet another failed attempt to smuggle themselves across, Gail was left as the only loyal guard. The two who managed to escape had no choice but to seek refuge in Venomspider Gorge, which was recruiting new members.
When the Canyon's Warden agreed to send her underground, she finally felt a long-lost sense of relief, hoping that the foreign land would alleviate the guilt that weighed heavily on her back.
Unexpectedly, the exposure of her identity attracted kidnappers, and she could only watch helplessly as the number of people dying for her increased, as the Paladin risked his life to save her was toyed with by demons, and as the Paladin fell into the very demon he should have sworn to be.
At that moment, she seemed to see how her dearest brother had fallen into darkness.
How could that boy, who so deeply revered justice and protection, transform into a cruel and insane Lich King?
The question that had troubled her every night was answered right before her eyes—too fast, too easy; it only took an instant for a noble Paladin to fall into demonhood.
Arthas, my dear brother, did you also fall into this abyss?
The Paladin's figure gradually merged with her brother's. Calia's will strengthened. "I must not hurt him. I must save him!"
Even with her neck snapped by the Paladin, Calia's obsession didn't vanish; the Archbishop's words echoed in her mind once more—"Pass on Redemption to him!"
The dying soul was able to exist briefly through the powerful holy energy of the Holy Book. Calia transformed into a golden heroic Heroic Spirit and released the spell that the Archbishop had instilled in her.
The Holy Book landed on Unas's chest, and the immense holy power entered the demon's body, igniting the dark Seed of the Holy Light between his brows. The cracks in the demon's heart were widened infinitely, and the evil thoughts were being cleansed and purified by the holy power.
The Holy Light spell that the Archbishop of Lordaeron sacrificed his life for was meant to Redemption Arthas's soul, but now Unas has "enjoyed" it.
Even Bessarius, located at the heart, was rendered powerless by the Holy Book and could only accept purification under its magnificent holy power.
Unas's demonized body gradually recovered, his skin regained its healthy rosy hue, his hands and feet returned to their original state, and his bat wings and demon horns silently peeled away. The human Paladin had returned.
After a long wait, he opened his eyes, stood up, and looked around in disbelief. The demonization was like a nightmare, and he finally woke up from the dream.
The Holy Book and the white figure that fought him were gone; only Luisa's body lay silently on the ground not far away.
In his dream, Unas experienced her entirety—her hatred, her love, her pain, her joy—and became the person who understood her best in the world.
"It is my turn to Redemption you, my dear princess."