The Path of the Paladin

Although Prophet Vortale had used Salorian Dawngrasper as an example, he was also trying to enlighten Sun King Anasterian Sunstrider himself, because Sun King Anasterian was likewise a powerful Warrior.

When the former king, Dath'Remar Sunstrider, ruled, he had likewise allowed the eighteen-year-old Anasterian to make his own choice. At the time, Anasterian had chosen the path of the Warrior, but Sun King Anasterian had not persevered as Salorian had. After reaching a standstill, he had helplessly turned to focus on fire magic. Fortunately, the High Elves' long lifespan had ultimately allowed Sun King Anasterian to become a top-tier spellcaster.

Although Paladins differed from Warriors, the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas did not consider them to have much of a future either. Even Uther Lightbringer, who now stood at the pinnacle of the Paladin path, was not a top-tier powerhouse.

"Who says I can't become a Lord Commander Paladin? Mentor Vortale, please do not underestimate me. And even if I lack the talent to become a Lord Commander Paladin, I can switch back to being a Mage like my father did. We are Quel'dorei. I have a long life ahead of me to make my choices." Seeing Sun King Anasterian hesitate, Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider could only speak up himself to refute Prophet Vortale.

The strongest among Mages and Paladins would receive honorary titles: Archmage and Lord Commander.

The reason Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider had been so impatient for quick results on the Warrior path, and why he had chosen to become a Paladin, was because he had learned of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas's weakness from its inherited historical records.

That weakness was its lack of Warrior classes capable of standing on the front lines. The thousands of years of war between the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas and the Forest Trolls had fully proven this point. Because there were too few Warriors to resist the Forest Trolls head-on, countless frail Mages and Rangers had fallen beneath Forest Troll axes.

Among the classes of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, fifty percent were Mages, thirty percent were Rangers, and the remaining twenty percent comprised all other classes. It was clear just how scarce Warriors were.

The Kingdom of Quel'Thalas was not entirely without Warriors. In his youth, Sun King Anasterian Sunstrider had likewise noticed the Quel'dorei's shortage of Warriors. He had therefore led by example and become a Warrior himself, while using the kingdom's strongest legion, the Sunfury Legion, as a foundation to recruit and train Quel'dorei Warriors.

However, limitations of physique had prevented Quel'dorei Warriors from ever truly rising. Over the past thousand years, their numbers had remained at an extremely low level, only enough to meet the Sunfury Legion's staffing requirements. Thus, aside from the Sunfury Legion, the other legions possessed very few Warriors.

All these reasons had led Tyrel Sunstrider to want to become a Paladin.

Paladins were a combination of Priests and Warriors. Most of the current Lord Commander Paladins had previously been merely Priests, without particularly strong physiques.

A Paladin's power came from the Holy Light, an independent energy just like the arcane.

Hearing Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider's words, Sun King Anasterian thought of the stubborn younger self who had once wanted to change the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas's shortage of Warriors. In the end, he agreed to Tyrel Sunstrider's choice.

Once Sun King Anasterian Sunstrider had resolved to support him, Prophet Vortale said nothing more. Though he was reputed to be the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas's most learned scholar and prophet, and was also a powerful Mage, he had no way to change Sun King Anasterian's decision.

Several days later, a High Elf party numbering several hundred departed Silvermoon City and headed steadily south.

To ensure Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider's safety, Sun King Anasterian had not only sent Salorian Dawngrasper along, but had even assigned a squad of Spellbreakers.

Before the Scourge invasion, the Ghostlands and Eversong Woods had been one. Throughout the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, apart from the regions inhabited by Forest Trolls, crimson maple trees covered the land.

The Kingdom of Quel'Thalas was not small. It was even much larger than an ordinary human kingdom, but the High Elves did not seek excessively vast territories.

After several days of travel, Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider's group finally crossed Eversong Woods on hawkstriders, warhorses, and other mounts, arriving at the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas's border.

To Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider, Eversong Woods was the most beautiful place in Azeroth, just as the High Elves sang: "Eversong Woods, beauty everlasting."

Eversong Woods remained forever in its pleasant autumn, giving it an exceptionally mild climate. The towering golden-red maple trees were Eversong Woods' most beautiful sight, nurturing countless living things.

Because of Eversong Woods' abundance, great numbers of birds and dragonhawks lived there. They became friendly neighbors with the elves, singing loudly together when the time was right. This was also the origin of Eversong Woods' beautiful name.

The time spent crossing Eversong Woods was not dull in the slightest. Its beautiful scenery and the High Elf villages along the way all captivated Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider.

Yet every journey had to end. After reaching Southern Eversong Woods, Tyrel Sunstrider's party encountered a group of High Elf Rangers.

"It's been a long time, little Tyrel. Sigh, your sister still thinks you should become a Ranger Lord instead of some Paladin." A slender, valiant yet gorgeous female High Elf Ranger in blue ranger leather armor pinched Tyrel's cheek as she spoke.

Though he was already eighteen and an adult, in the eyes of the High Elves, eighteen was still far too young. For instance, this High Elf before him appeared to be only in her early twenties, but she was actually over a thousand years old.

"Sister Sylvanas, mind your image. Besides, my talent for being a Ranger isn't as high as Rilas's. The kingdom's future only needs one Ranger Lord like him. As for the Ranger-General, naturally only you are suited for the position, Sister." The High Elf Ranger before him was the daughter of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas's former Ranger-General, Lireesa Windrunner, and Alleria Windrunner's younger sister. Among Quel'Thalas's many Rangers, she possessed unrivaled strength, yet her personality was like that of a girl next door.

As the Little Prince of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, Tyrel Sunstrider had three mentors: Salorian Dawngrasper, Vortale, and Sylvanas Windrunner before him. Every year, Tyrel spent several months at Windrunner Tower, learning the path of the Ranger from Sylvanas.

Because of Tyrel Sunstrider's appearance and the butterfly effect it caused, when the Warsong Clan invaded the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas's border, all the High Elf villages along the border had moved inland. Thus, the Windrunner sisters' fourth younger brother, Rilas Windrunner, had not died.

At the same time, Rilas Windrunner had become one of Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider's childhood companions, and in the future he would also become one of his advisers.

It was like the relationship between Prince Kael'thas and the Council of Six. The Council's members all came from Silvermoon City's great old families and had grown up alongside Prince Kael'thas since childhood.

Besides Rilas Windrunner of the Windrunner Family, Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider also had Cain Arthas Menethil of the Sunfury Family and Valeera Sangunar of the Sangunar Family at his side. Like Rilas Windrunner, she had not been abducted and sold.

Hearing Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider's words, Sylvanas was very pleased. She liked this little prince very much.

After giving Tyrel's cheek another gleeful pinch, she turned serious and said to the handsome High Elf Ranger behind her, "Lothar, bring Rilas here. Have him accompany Prince Tyrel to Lordaeron."

"At once, General Sylvanas." Lor'themar Theron had little presence. Although he could be considered handsome, he looked no different from other Blood Elf Rangers. Yet he was the adjutant of Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner, a powerful Ranger Lord.