Two Princes Born in the Same Year

Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas escorted Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider's party all the way beyond the borders of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas before stopping.

Once they passed through the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas's magnificent magical gates, the abundant magical energy within its borders vanished instantly. It was as though they had entered another world, yet the enormous difference lay separated by only a single gate.

Even the trees before them had changed from the perennial red maples of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas to green shrubs.

Not long after leaving the borders of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, a human force appeared, every man wrapped in armor like iron cans. Their leader was a tall, burly human Warrior with a full beard and a huge, broad double-headed axe on his back. Judging by his uniform, he should have been a general of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, but the intense hatred and disdain in his eyes were impossible to miss.

"Welcome, Prince Tyrel Sunstrider of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas. I am Osmar Garithos, a general of the Kingdom of Lordaeron. King Terenas Menethil II of Lordaeron ordered me to receive you here." Though General Osmar Garithos spoke words of welcome, no one could detect the slightest hint of hospitality in his cold tone. His broad face held nothing but disgust.

Although the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas had left the Alliance, it still maintained some ties with its southern neighbor, Lordaeron. Trade frequently took place between the two sides, and Stratholme, the Kingdom of Lordaeron's second-largest city, had developed through trade with the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas.

It was Tyrel Sunstrider's first time truly seeing humans, but the other's expression and tone displeased him. He replied coolly, "Thank you for your trouble, General Garithos."

Afterward, General Osmar Garithos turned his horse around and quickly left the elves' party, leaving his adjutant to lead the escort.

General Osmar Garithos's rude behavior was merely a brief interlude. Before long, Tyrel Sunstrider's attention was drawn to the hundred-man human force before him.

Unlike the ornate armor of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas's legions, human armor was extremely plain, resembling iron cans. Yet such armor offered excellent protection and could effectively safeguard its wearer.

Moreover, every Warrior in this human force gave off a powerful impression. Their eyes were fierce, their bearing aggressive. They were undoubtedly the elite among humans.

The Kingdom of Lordaeron had directly dispatched a general and an elite human force as escorts, which was enough to show how much King Terenas Menethil II valued Little Prince Tyrel Sunstrider of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas receiving the Paladin's baptism.

After several days of travel, they finally arrived at the destination of their journey: Light's Hope Chapel in northern Lordaeron. Here, Tyrel Sunstrider would receive the baptism alongside Prince Arthas Menethil of the Kingdom of Lordaeron and become a Paladin.

Light's Hope Chapel was the sacred ground of Paladins. It housed the Kingdom of Lordaeron's most powerful Silver Hand order, and Paladins were a powerful profession established after the Orc Wars.

Light's Hope Chapel was enormous, more like a town than a chapel. It was built entirely from white marble, giving it a solemn and sacred feeling.

Before Tyrel Sunstrider could closely inspect Light's Hope Chapel, the High Elves' party was settled in a relatively luxurious room within it. To receive Tyrel Sunstrider, the Little Prince of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, the decorations inside were all produced in the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, with gold and red as the dominant colors. This must have been a special arrangement by the Kingdom of Lordaeron.

After resting well for several days in the room arranged by Light's Hope Chapel, the baptism to become Paladins would begin. When the time came, several Lord Commanders of the Silver Hand Paladins would be present.

"Tyrel, this is my first time leaving Quel'Thalas. You know, my second sister keeps far too tight a leash on me." As the only direct male descendant of the Windrunner family, Rilas Windrunner's safety was regarded by the three Windrunner sisters as the highest priority. Although he possessed talent no less exceptional than that of his second sister, Sylvanas Windrunner, and had already attained outstanding strength at a young age, he had never been allowed to leave the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas or participate in battles against the Forest Trolls of Zul'Aman.

Watching Rilas Windrunner complain to him while looking like a bird released from its cage, Tyrel could only smile. After all, anyone would be helpless with such a forceful second sister.

"Perhaps once you are close to the strength of a Ranger Lord, General Sylvanas will send you to fight the Forest Trolls. Then you will officially become one of the Farstriders." As a male member of the Windrunner family, although there were currently far more women than men in the family, Rilas Windrunner's lifelong wish was still to become a Farstrider who fought the Forest Trolls and protected the people of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas.

"I heard that Lordaeron's prince, Arthas Menethil, was born in the same year as you, Tyrel. Tell me, who do you think is stronger, Tyrel or that Arthas?" The one who said this was Cain Sunfury. The three had grown up together, so they spoke without restraint in private.

"Of course Tyrel is stronger. Even my second sister and Mentor Salorian say Tyrel's talent is the most outstanding, enough to break the kingdom's records." Rilas Windrunner was the oldest of the three, already over a hundred years old. Among humans, he would have been old by then, but to the High Elves, just like eighteen-year-old Tyrel, he was merely a child who had only recently grown up.

Listening to the two argue, Tyrel said nothing. He had also heard that Prince Arthas Menethil of the Kingdom of Lordaeron was exceptionally talented, held in the same regard among humans as his elder brother Kael'thas Sunstrider.

"Do not underestimate any human. Though they do not have lifespans like ours, they cherish their time more, rather than wasting decades playing around as you do." A deep, authoritative voice rang out, immediately ending the argument between Rilas Windrunner and Cain Sunfury. Both of them jolted. Salorian Dawngrasper had arrived.

"Mentor." Tyrel Sunstrider bowed respectfully. Though given his status, there was no need for him to do so.

Rilas Windrunner and Cain Sunfury also hurriedly stopped arguing and followed suit with respectful bows.

Looking at his three disciples, Salorian Dawngrasper was satisfied with their talents. The three were also among the few High Elves who could be considered diligent, but even they could not avoid wasting time. For instance, after Rilas Windrunner's eldest sister, Alleria Windrunner, joined the Allied Expeditionary Force and entered the Dark Portal, never to be heard from again, he had wasted several years. Every day, he merely held a harmonica and played his eldest sister's favorite tune. As the saying went, an eldest sister was like a mother, and Rilas shared the deepest bond with Alleria.

"I have already met Prince Arthas of the Kingdom of Lordaeron. He is excellent, and I have heard from humans that he is also a prince who loves his people. Let me tell you about him." Salorian Dawngrasper told the three of them about Arthas Menethil, allowing them to learn about the future king of the Kingdom of Lordaeron.

Meanwhile, in another room, the young and handsome blond prince, Arthas Menethil, likewise asked the bearded dwarf before him, who was drinking strong ale, "Muradin, what kind of person is the High Elf prince who was born in the same year as me?"

Hearing his disciple and friend Arthas ask, Muradin Bronzebeard set down his ale, thought for a moment, pulled over a wooden chair, and sat down. Then he said boldly, "I have not heard of that little prince called Tyrel Sunstrider either. You know, we dwarves do not get along well with those arrogant long-ears. All I know is that he is a Warrior, hahaha." At that, Muradin Bronzebeard slapped the table and burst into laughter. After laughing for quite a while, he said, "You know, those male High Elf long-ears look just like human women to me. How could they possibly be powerful Warriors? Don't worry, Arthas. You are the finest disciple I have ever seen. Even among dwarves, there is no one who can compare to you."