The Coming

Winter passed and spring arrived, bringing all things back to life.

In the distance, the snow atop the Alterac Mountains had begun to melt, yet the breeze blowing north from Lake Lordamere still carried a hint of chill. It slipped into one's collar, enough to make a person shiver involuntarily.

In the lazy warmth of the afternoon sun, two young boys were engaged in their daily drills on the empty training grounds. The sounds of their youthful shouts and the clashing of wooden swords rang out incessantly.

"Hah!"

With a loud cry, the boy in the snow-white knight's tunic skillfully parried the incoming wooden sword. He used the momentum to press down on his opponent's blade, simultaneously sliding his own sword along the length of the other's to strike.

His swordsmanship was brilliant, but before the boy could complete his maneuver, his disadvantaged opponent voluntarily dropped his wooden sword, stepped back, and waved a hand. "Alvin, you're always pulling these tricks. You should know that strength and endurance are the foundations of combat!"

"That's because I'm not as strong as you," the boy in white shrugged. "Archbishop Alonsus Faol said that wisdom is the most powerful weapon we humans possess."

"Fine, you win."

As the first heir to the Kingdom of Lordaeron, Arthas would never truly be angry at a little trick played by his younger brother. Even that previous remark was merely an attempt to fulfill his duties as an older brother, trying to lead his sibling back to the "right path."

After the Trolls of Zul'Aman surrendered to the Kingdom of Lordaeron, Archbishop Alonsus Faol had hurried him onto the road home. They traveled with great haste, finally arriving one week before the refugees from Stormwind City reached the capital of Lordaeron.

The leaders of all the human kingdoms and the leader of the Wildhammer Dwarves from Aerie Peak would gather in the capital of Lordaeron in the coming days to discuss how to resist the approaching Orcs. Anduin Lothar and Khadgar, who had witnessed the Orcs' immense power and bloodthirsty brutality firsthand, would be the protagonists of this meeting. Archbishop Faol would also attend on behalf of Lordaeron, which was the reason the old man had rushed the boy back.

"My dear brother, you're daydreaming again," Arthas said, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders and shaking him firmly. "Father mentioned that the guests from Stormwind would arrive at the capital by this evening. We need to head back and prepare."

Stormwind. Awakened from his stupor by the reminder, the boy felt his heart sink. He quickly followed in Arthas's footsteps, his expression solemn as he watched the back of the boy walking briskly ahead of him.

So it has finally come, Anduin Lothar and Varian Wrynn?

Thinking of the impending war between the Orcs and humanity, Alvin felt a bone-chilling cold despite the sunlight. The Orcs were coming; could the Scourge be far behind? Having spent eight winters in Lordaeron, he had never realized that spring here could be so cold.

At the same moment, a middle-aged warrior with graying temples led a group of soldiers in tattered, blood-stained armor toward the gates of the Lordaeron capital, escorting a carriage with unusually disciplined steps.

These lucky survivors who had escaped before the fall of Stormwind City were exhausted in body and spirit, yet they maintained a perfect formation, their hearts filled with a fierce fighting spirit. They were the last remaining elites of the Kingdom of Stormwind—the men of the Brotherhood of the Horse and the elite guards of Stormwind City.

"The Orcs are preparing to move north. The fate of humanity lies in our own hands."

Anduin Lothar gazed at the tall, sprawling city walls before him, silently steeling himself. If humanity could not form an alliance and concentrate its strength, they would inevitably be crushed by the Orcs. If that happened, not only would the Kingdom of Stormwind never be reclaimed, but the entire continent of Lordaeron would fall.

Burning buildings, destroying cities, slaughtering civilians—those bloodthirsty Orcs were capable of anything! He did not want to face that scene of misery and desolation again; humanity had to win this war!

At this thought, Lothar clenched his fists and rode his mount through the open gates to face Terenas, who had been waiting in the city for a long time, and all the other leaders of the human kingdoms on the continent of Lordaeron who were arriving in his name.

Led by King Terenas, the people of Lordaeron welcomed the guests from the Kingdom of Stormwind with generosity and warmth.

After the banquet that evening, a large number of messengers were quickly dispatched to every kingdom on the continent of Lordaeron, urging all human leaders to accelerate their journeys to discuss strategies for the coming war. The Kingdom of Lordaeron itself began to stockpile supplies, preparing to face the challenges ahead.

A week later, as representatives from each kingdom arrived in person, a stifling atmosphere began to shroud the hearts of every adult.

In the empty garden, a worried Varian was using a wooden training sword to spar with the two young boys. Although Arthas and Alvin coordinated well, Varian's strength—nearly that of an adult—and his height advantage allowed him to deflect all their attacks with ease.

Finally, after having his sword knocked away for the fourth time, Alvin, dressed in his training gear, decided he didn't want to continue with these childish attempts at comfort. Perhaps Arthas's intentions were good, but it was clear that Varian, who was currently worrying about the future of his kingdom and his people, could not be distracted so easily by two unskilled children.

Seeing the older boy, who had lost his father and his kingdom, looking so depressed and sorrowful, Alvin rolled his eyes and said in a tempting tone, "Tell me, don't you two want to go to the meeting hall and find out what the current situation is?"

Compared to Arthas's well-intentioned but naive plan for comfort, the younger brother's proposal clearly resonated more with Varian. Although the youth tried his best to control himself, his trembling voice betrayed him. "Is... is that really okay? No, I mean, wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"No problem, as long as we don't get caught."

The boy flashed an innocent smile, knowing how to use his own advantages. "Even if we are caught, there's nothing to worry about. You have to realize, those kings are all famous big shots; they wouldn't really hold a grudge against three little kids!"

Although he was slightly annoyed at being lumped into the "little kids" category by the other boy, the proposal had indeed stirred the restless Varian.

Just then, Arthas, who had been silent, looked up and patted his chest toward his new friend, speaking with the pride of a little golden lion: "Don't worry, we're very familiar with the guards at the gate!"

Under Alvin's encouragement and Arthas's guarantee, Varian, who had been restrained due to living under someone else's roof, finally decided to commit the act of "eavesdropping."