Dawnblade Legion Sets Out

"Tyrel, does Ranger Lord Lothmar have some urgent matter?" Rilas Windrunner knew Ranger Lord Lothmar Theron's character as well, so he asked with concern after Tyrel Sunstrider returned.

Tyrel Sunstrider smiled and said happily, "The test has come, Rilas. The thing you have always dreamed of can now be realized."

"Tyrel, you mean fighting the Forest Trolls?" As the only male of the Windrunner Family's direct line, Rilas Windrunner had always wanted to fight the Forest Trolls. Yet his second sister, Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, had never permitted it. Fighting the Forest Trolls could be said to be what he longed for most.

It was not only Rilas Windrunner. As a man himself, Kaelen Sunfury was equally fired up. Defending the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas and fighting the Forest Trolls was the dream of every High Elf man.

The blood feud between the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas and the Forest Trolls ran far too deep. The two races had fought for thousands of years, and no one knew how many had fallen. Nearly every High Elf family had someone who had died at the hands of the Forest Trolls.

Kaelen Sunfury clenched his fists and forced out through gritted teeth, "The day has finally come!"

"Yes, the day has finally arrived. At last, we can take up our blades and protect our kingdom and our people." When one studied the history of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, one would find a history of resistance against the Forest Trolls, filled with countless heroes and martyrs.

Between the High Elves and the Forest Trolls, it was no longer possible to say who was righteous and who was evil. Both sides merely fought for their own people. The initial conflict and millennia of blood feuds had made it inevitable that the two races would have to settle things once and for all.

Tyrel Sunstrider had led by example in becoming a Paladin and founding the Dawnblade Legion precisely so that more High Elves could be protected in the battles against the Forest Trolls.

Before long, the High Elf Paladins of the Dawnblade Legion were assembled at Dalsom's Training Grounds. They were somewhat confused as to why Prince Tyrel Sunstrider had suddenly gathered them all.

As he looked upon the Dawnblade Legion, composed of ten thousand High Elf Paladins clad in Dawnblade Armor Set plate, Tyrel Sunstrider's heart swelled with pride. This was the legion he had founded. In the future, it would charge at the forefront of every battle in the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, using their bodies to defend the people behind them.

Tyrel Sunstrider could not hide the smile in his eyes as he declared loudly, "I believe you are all wondering why I interrupted your training and summoned everyone here."

"Today, I bring you good news. The great Sun King has ordered us to assist Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner in investigating the Forest Trolls! Dawnblade Legion, it is time to move out. Let the people of Quel'Thalas witness your strength!"

Most of those who had joined the Dawnblade Legion were hot-blooded youths under five hundred years old. The moment they heard the words "Forest Trolls," their blood boiled. Blazing Holy Light erupted instinctively from them, and the ten thousand High Elf Paladins of the Dawnblade Legion shone like a small sun.

Without bloodshed, no mighty army could be forged. Sun King Anasterian Sunstrider's order had named the entire Dawnblade Legion, meaning that every High Elf Paladin in the Dawnblade Legion would take part in this mission.

Aside from the more than one thousand High Elf Paladins who had initially followed Tyrel Sunstrider to Hearthglen, the rest were still recruits who had not undergone baptism and training for very long.

But there was no longer time to continue training them. Their opponents would no longer be training dummies or fellow soldiers, but Forest Trolls wielding butcher's blades. Casualties were inevitable, but bloodshed could also awaken their ferocity.

"Prince Tyrel, please allow us to accompany you and protect your safety." Magister Dath'Remar Sunstrider and Countess Liadrin wished to travel with Tyrel Sunstrider. Both were among the High Elves' strongest, and both possessed practical experience fighting Forest Trolls.

Tyrel Sunstrider looked at the two of them. He could not refuse their goodwill, and having someone familiar with the Forest Trolls at his side would be even more effective. Thus, he made his decision. "Magister Dath'Remar, you will accompany me. Countess Liadrin, remain in Dalsom. You possess the methods for training Paladins. Should anything happen to us, only you will be able to rebuild the Dawnblade Legion."

Every Paladin of the Dawnblade Legion, including the recruits, would be going. If some unforeseen change occurred and the Dawnblade Legion fell, then only Countess Liadrin, as a High Priest, would be able to select and train High Elf Paladins. Tyrel Sunstrider had made preparations for the worst. The battlefield was full of uncertainties; even a prince like him could very well die at the hands of the Forest Trolls. Therefore, he had to leave behind a spark for the Dawnblade Legion and the High Elf Paladins.

"Prince Tyrel, I will await your triumphant return in Dalsom. The Holy Light and the sun will both hear my prayers." Countess Liadrin accepted the order. Looking at this prince who was only in his twenties, she could not help but reflect that every generation of the Sunstrider family had been like this, willing to sacrifice their lives for the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas. That was also why she, a hereditary countess, had become such an unwavering royalist.

The ten thousand High Elf Paladins of the Dawnblade Legion swiftly prepared the supplies needed for the march: spare weapons, healing medicines, rations, tents for encampment... Fortunately, the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas was exceedingly wealthy. Coupled with their use of the arcane, they could easily carry essential items in precious magical Space Bags obtained from outside sources, greatly reducing the burden on the High Elf Paladins.

Upon hearing the news, the High Elf citizens of Dalsom voluntarily came to see them off. The Dawnblade Legion had arisen from Dalsom; it was Dalsom's legion. Every High Elf Paladin was a child of Dalsom, and they all knew that fewer would return than had departed.

Amid the send-off of Dalsom's High Elf citizens, the High Elf Paladins of the Dawnblade Legion held their heads high and strode out of Dalsom beneath the guidance of the Phoenix Banner. The plate armor of their Dawnblade Armor Set rang heavily with every step, while blazing blood flowed through their veins.

Countess Liadrin watched the Dawnblade Legion depart. She had long regarded herself as part of the Dawnblade Legion; she too was one of them. Yet for the sake of the Dawnblade Legion and the future spark of the High Elf Paladins, she had to remain in Dalsom.

She placed her hands over her chest and prayed devoutly to the Sun King, the Holy Light, and An'she.

Tyrel Sunstrider rode atop a fully armed military horse of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas.

Hawkstriders were the primary mounts of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, and the Sunstrider family even provided rare White Gryphons. After establishing the Dawnblade Legion, Tyrel Sunstrider had designated military horses of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas as the legion's mounts, because only such horses could carry High Elf Paladins clad in plate armor into battle.

These magically modified military horses possessed unparalleled load-bearing capacity and speed. However, because they had only been bred for a short time, only Tyrel Sunstrider and the original one thousand High Elf Paladins had been equipped with them.