Family and Career

Tirion Fordring led his family into the main hall of Light's Hope Chapel, where the baptism ceremony was to be held.

As soon as Taelan Fordring entered the hall, he sensed the presence of a unique energy. It was different from the energy that permeated the rest of Azeroth; it felt akin to World Power. Here, he felt as if he had returned to his mother's embrace, enveloped in a sense of warmth and relaxation.

Taelan carefully contemplated this strange energy and suddenly realized that its flow was distinctive, moving in a peculiar, constant frequency.

At Caer Darrow, his insight into the Light had deepened, allowing him to learn Power Word: Shield. Thinking of the divine shields found in Dungeons & Dragons rules, he had attempted to project the Light outward. After some practice, he had created the Shield of the Holy Light.

The cute system prompted him that this shield could withstand a certain amount of damage. What would happen if he incorporated this strange frequency into it?

Taelan Fordring then thought of the quest regarding the Lost Sun. Could this power be related to the Sun God Anser? He began to observe the layout of the chapel.

The high, vaulted ceiling of the church gave the hall a solemn and grand atmosphere. The four walls were adorned with stained-glass windows, each depicting stories of the Light.

At the far end of the hall, a raised platform had been erected, surrounded by flowers that emitted a scent that calmed the soul. These were Peacebloom. Who knew they could bloom into such beautiful flowers!

Below the platform stood a table, somewhat resembling the one witnesses stood behind in the courts of Taelan Fordring's past life. It was crafted from a wood Taelan had never seen before, and upon it rested a brass holy emblem with a smooth, polished center. Beside it lay a thick book. From a distance, Taelan could see the book encircled by a flame emblem on the brass plaque.

This was the place where members of the Order of the Silver Hand took their oaths. It differed from the Cathedral of Light in Stormwind, where one knelt on one knee to swear an oath to the Archbishop.

Taelan Fordring's gaze remained fixed on the holy emblem on the dais. Just then, Bridget walked toward him. Although Taelan admired the future Crusader's command abilities, he did not care for her personality. She was too stubborn and too fanatical. Every encounter he had with her was just as unpleasant as the first. Compared to the likable Jaina, he had no desire for much contact with Bridget.

He always felt that Bridget looked at him as if he were a child. She was always trying to dictate his actions. As an old man at heart, he had always kept his distance from fanatical, strong-willed women.

Bridget was wearing light armor today, complete with a shield and weapon. It made Taelan Fordring feel as if he had walked into a military camp. Her attire was identical to the 3-cost 3/1 Divine Shield card in Hearthstone. The tomboyish nature of her personality stood in stark contrast to her beautiful appearance.

Bridget walked up to Taelan Fordring, looked at his handsome young face, and said, "Taelan! Long time no see! You've grown stronger again!"

Taelan Fordring nodded politely. While he was always pursuing greater power, he still invested time in his family and interesting pursuits. He would never be like Bridget, thinking of training every single second and bringing the atmosphere of the barracks entirely into the home.

The center of the Fordring household was always the family. Provided there was politeness, it was always comfortable and warm; thus, the core figures of the house were Karandra and the later-joined Solarian, rather than Tirion or Taelan. The two ladies often handled chores themselves or organized short trips.

Taelan Fordring had always known that in a family, the warmth of the mother and wife was the warmth of the home. The father provided cognition, while the mother provided life. They were equally important and indispensable.

Bridget, on the other hand, should have gotten along with Renault, as they both lived in militarized households.

But in reality, Bridget and Renault did not get along at all; they were merely strangers who had known each other for a long time.

Taelan Fordring recalled a famous saying: "Acquaintances for a lifetime, yet still like strangers; strangers for a moment, yet like old friends."

Setting aside Bridget's stubbornness, he felt that he and she were very much the former. In common parlance: they couldn't see eye to eye.

Yes, that sounded much more normal. Meanwhile, he and Iris Havinfar felt like the latter. From their first meeting, they had been able to open their hearts to one another; their understanding of the Light was so compatible. Their perception of power and their attitude toward people of different professions were perfectly aligned.

Bridget, however, did not think so. She liked Taelan Fordring—his speech and demeanor, his formidable power, his disciplined life, and his innate charisma as a leader.

People from all walks of life could appear around him, and he could get along with them all. He could even organize a militia in minutes just by shouting a few times in Mardenholde, because he could always connect with farmers, cobblers, soldiers, and priests. He looked down on no one, nor did he curry favor with anyone; he always extended a helping hand to those in need.

He certainly wouldn't go around peeking at Sally Whitemane's long legs, even though he was surrounded by everyone from cobblers' daughters to the Princess of Kul Tiras.

He always carried the warm Light with him. Nothing could stump him. In all of Lordaeron, only that Prince possessed knowledge that could rival Taelan Fordring's. He wondered where that knowledge came from.

Bridget looked at the boy who was two years younger than her but stood just as tall, and said, "Let's go for a walk outside. It's too stuffy in here."

It was indeed too stuffy. He was not suited to participate in the social interactions of the adults, and the noble children spoke only of magical geniuses or pretty maids. Now, it was Bridget, with her military background, who could actually talk to him about something.

"Alright!" It would be a good chance to look outside the chapel and search for clues about that Sun God. Since the Acherus and the Plaguelands did not exist yet, there was still a beautiful snowy landscape to behold.

The two stepped out of the hall, and the cold wind hit their faces. Even with her coat on, Bridget couldn't help but shiver.

Taelan Fordring projected his Light outward, adjusting it to the frequency of the chapel. The shield he formed underwent a strange transformation, resonating with the energy of the chapel. In Taelan Fordring's consciousness, a massive mountain made of crystal appeared—this was the Crystal Dome!

The energy within the shield flowed according to that strange frequency, and it was now connected to Taelan Fordring's own Light. As long as he kept channeling his power, he could change the size of the protective barrier according to his will!

The system then notified him that he had mastered the Holy Shield. This discovery was no less significant than finding a new continent. Since the Light could be projected to form a shield, could it also be condensed into a mirror?

Bridget looked at Taelan Fordring in astonishment as he released his Light, shutting out the biting cold wind. The interior of the shield was filled with warm Light, a feat many mages could not even accomplish. No wonder he hadn't worn a cloak.

Bridget wanted to ask how he had done it, but her military training told her that even the King had no right to ask such a question. Everyone had their own secrets. That Taelan Fordring could use the Light to shield himself from the cold was already a display of great poise.

The two walked out of the chapel, strolling along the road toward Corin's Crossing.

Bridget happily shared the "interesting" things that had happened in the barracks recently. As she spoke, she suddenly asked, "Taelan, will you join the Order in the future?"

"Why not? Renault has asked me that before, too."

"Some say you'll go to Dalaran, and others say you'll become a Prince of Kul Tiras."

Taelan Fordring...

Was it really that absurd?

"Bridget, I will not join Dalaran, nor will I be any Prince of Kul Tiras. I am just me!"

"I will join the Order of the Silver Hand. I will fight for the Alliance and for Azeroth for the rest of my life, until the day I depart."

Two chapters released at once; I'll come back tonight to edit.