Rising Again

"Fordring, why do you look so distracted?"

Eitrigg lowered his wooden axe and asked his close friend with concern.

"I'm fine, Eitrigg. I don't know why, but I feel uneasy. My chest feels strangely hollow. I just... I feel awful—"

As he spoke, Fordring suddenly clutched his chest and fell to his knees. Eitrigg hurried over to check on him, only to find that Fordring's face showed no pain. Instead, it was streaked with tears.

"Fordring—?"

Eitrigg called his friend's name anxiously, but Fordring didn't respond at all. With no other choice, Eitrigg helped him back to his room and quietly waited for him to recover.

"Lord Taelan! Lord Reno! I have completed the mission!"

Galenbro knelt before Taelan and Reno, his face full of pride. Before him lay Turalyon, lifeless.

"Hahahaha! Good! Very good, Galenbro! You did an excellent job!"

Taelan stood up, laughing wildly. He walked over to Galenbro, patted him on the shoulder, and praised him lavishly.

"Not at all. It was all thanks to the thorough planning of Lord Taelan and Lord Reno. If you hadn't figured out Turalyon's weaknesses, how could I have dealt with him so easily? This was all your achievement. I wouldn't dare take the credit!"

"Bah! Galenbro, I'm not Turalyon. If it weren't for you, how could Turalyon have defeated the Orcs back then? And what did you get for it? He became Lord General of Lordaeron, while you were left as a mere commander of a thousand. Was that fair?! It wasn't! Turalyon was the one who stood in your way. But I won't do that. If you've earned merit, I'll reward you. From now on, Galenbro, you're the cavalry general of the Scarlet Crusade. You'll command all of its cavalry!"

"Thank you, my lord! If Lord Taelan gives