News from the South

The courtyard was surrounded by lawns and flowerbeds. In the gentle spring sunlight, various delicate flowers unfurled their graceful forms, their enchanting fragrance and pleasing colors showcasing the vitality and life of spring to all.

Mayor Martin and Archbishop Faol had not been in their private meeting for long, and just as Alvin, who was being surrounded by a crowd of strangers, was about to succumb to the urge to use prayer as an excuse to escape, the two finally arrived at the backyard of the town hall.

Following behind them were a quiet-looking girl who appeared to be in her teens and an elderly man in a black tuxedo, dressed like a butler.

The girl wore a simple, pale blue dress, her silky long hair fluttering slightly in the soft spring breeze, reflecting a pale golden luster. On that delicate and charming face, a pair of water-blue eyes shimmered with a faint light, revealing a touch of melancholy.

Alvin did not recognize this young lady, but he knew he was not the only one here who found her unfamiliar, as the group of nobles who had been hovering around him began to whisper about the girl who had suddenly intruded. He could even hear some giggles that bordered on discourteous amidst their hushed conversations.

It seemed that this portly mayor did not have an easy life, the young prince thought, his lips curling into a subtle smirk. Alvin felt a sense of schadenfreude toward the man who had thrown him out to attract the attention of those nobles.

Covering the distance of only a few dozen steps, Mayor Martin soon brought his new guests to the center of the courtyard. Ignoring the somewhat strange looks from those around him, the middle-aged man squeezed a smile onto his round face, his eyes narrowing into slits, and he bowed to the prince with a grin before beginning the introductions.

"Your esteemed Highness, please allow me to introduce this honored guest from the Kingdom of Stormwind, Lady Tiffin Ellerian, the fiancée of Prince Varian Wrynn, the future master of Stormwind City."

Tiffin Ellerian? Upon hearing this name, Alvin raised an eyebrow. He did not reveal much of his thoughts, instead bowing formally to the young girl: "Alvin Menethil. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ellerian."

The girl nodded without speaking, the expression on her face remaining a mix of calm and distress.

Compared to the indifference shown by Alvin, the group of nobles who had been hoping for a show were practically in an uproar. Although the people living on the continent of Lordaeron had always held a sense of psychological superiority over those from the Kingdom of Stormwind, the person before them was the future queen of the Kingdom of Stormwind!

Alvin believed that if not for the restraint of the upbringing and etiquette they had cultivated over the years, the courtyard would have become noisier than a vegetable market. However, even if those nobles remembered to maintain their poise and decorum, hushed discussions and exchanges were inevitable.

Except for a few who knew the inside story, everyone in the courtyard was curious as to why the future queen of the Kingdom of Stormwind had come to the continent of Lordaeron, and why she would choose to stay in such an unremarkable place as Andorhal?

That was right, unremarkable. Although Andorhal was beginning to stand out due to its busy transport industry and convenient traffic, within the Kingdom of Lordaeron, the status of this town was not very high, as could be gleaned from the titles of the nobles surrounding Alvin.

For these individuals, most of whom were merely lords with few barons among them, seeing a prince and a future queen in a single day could already be considered a major event.

Mayor Martin scanned the chattering crowd and finally looked at Archbishop Faol, who had remained silent, as if seeking instruction. Once the old man holding the white staff nodded, he took a deep breath and clapped his hands loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our ally, the Kingdom of Stormwind, is currently suffering through a war. A barbaric race has launched a wicked invasion against our friends from the borders of the Kingdom of Stormwind. Lady Ellerian has come to Lordaeron with her father and the Stormwind delegation to request aid."

Having said this, the middle-aged mayor paused. He glanced at the crowd, who were stunned by the sudden news, and announced the order issued by the King to everyone present.

"To support our allies, the wise King Terenas has announced an order—local militias will be organized and trained by local officials and commanders appointed by the kingdom during the slack farming season. After the Harvest Festival, we will conduct a sweep of the humanoid beasts wandering near Lordaeron to select the most excellent warriors to assist Stormwind City."

Although this explanation was full of holes in Alvin's eyes, to those nobles who felt it had nothing to do with them, it seemed reasonable and in line with the interests of all the people of Lordaeron.

In their eyes, the so-called autumn sweep was merely a gesture, a means by which the King intended to deflect the Kingdom of Stormwind. The goal was simply to let those bumpkins from Stormwind City understand that even a landlord's house had no surplus grain; if our own country is in such a mess, how could we possibly have the capacity to support you?

Nobles certainly had the obligation to defend their home and country, but as long as the flames of war did not burn in Lordaeron, they could continue to live their comfortable little lives rather than charging into battle on the front lines.

At the same time, their attitude indicated one thing: most people living in Lordaeron—whether nobles or commoners, and even including King Terenas himself, who had already begun to take precautions—were not interested in the war happening in the distant Kingdom of Stormwind. Almost everyone, from the bottom of their hearts, did not believe this war would truly have much impact on their own country.

Humans had held a dominant position on this continent for a thousand years, and the confidence accumulated over the years made them believe they would not be defeated by a barbaric race that had suddenly appeared from who knows where.

Before truly witnessing the brutal power of the bloodthirsty Orcs, even the cautious King Terenas regarded them as nothing more than a minor nuisance that could be easily resolved, much like Gnolls or Kobolds.

Unless the tide of Orcs descended upon Lordaeron, or some truly trustworthy and respected Champion revealed the true face of the Orcs to the people, none of the northern kingdoms would place much importance on this massive threat lurking in the shadows, eyeing humanity with hostility.

The future queen of the Kingdom of Stormwind and the ongoing war gradually became the focus of the banquet, freeing Alvin from the predicament of being gawked at. Having finally escaped the trouble, the prince quickly filled his stomach and, under the guise of prayer, left the courtyard, which had returned to its relaxed atmosphere.