Taelan Fordring gripped the Libram, Blessing of Tirion Fordring, and said to Tirion, "Father, tell me about the Orcs!"
Tirion Fordring leaned against the side of the boat, his eyes half closed. The setting sun fell across his face as he recalled the past. "The Orcs came from a world called Draenor. They're incredibly tall and strong. Every Orc warrior takes two or three Alliance soldiers to match. Their spellcasters are called Warlocks. They use vicious spells we can't understand, and mages call that power Fel. Orcs fight like madmen. The Paladins were a new class created by my teacher, Archbishop Faol, to face the Orcs head-on."
"Truthfully, we were very lucky to defeat them. The Orcs had begun besieging Lordaeron City, and our defenses were on the verge of collapse. But their Warlocks never appeared on the battlefield. Only after the war ended did we learn from the prisoners that Gul'dan, the Warlock King, had betrayed the Orcs. He took his Stormreaver Clan in search of a divine relic. Without their spellcasters, the Great Chieftain Orgrim lost his last chance to defeat us. In the decisive battle on the Burning Steppes, the great warrior and last descendant of Thoradin, Marshal Anduin Lothar, sacrificed his life! Turalyon took over his duties, and we finally defeated the Orcs."
Taelan Fordring followed up, "So the Orcs were invaders from another world! Were they all evil?"
Tirion Fordring replied, "My son, your race doesn't determine your honor. We can't judge people of other races too hastily."
Taelan Fordring thought for a moment. "Father, I think honor isn't bound by race, but heroes belong to their nations and people! To Azeroth, the Orcs are invaders from another world. They killed our people, stole our land, and burned our cities! More than a million people died in the Stormwind Kingdom alone because of their attacks! And they slaughtered so many defenseless civilians! I don't know why they invaded Azeroth, but I know the world's resources are limited. If they want to take away our place to live, they're our enemies!"
"I would never hurt the defenseless, but I will never let these invaders kill our people!"
Tirion Fordring froze for a moment. He had clearly never considered the question of war between two worlds, nor had he ever thought of the Second War as the Orcs plundering the resources that Azeroth's native peoples needed to survive. All he had seen and experienced was the pain and bloodshed war brought. He asked, "Taelan, who taught you all this?"
"No one. I've been reading in your study these past few days, and I came across some things about the Battle of Stormwind. Yesterday, we went to fight the Gentleman. Isn't that just like the war between the Orcs and us? The boar was a gentleman, but that didn't stop him from killing poor little Lena and ruining Aunt Janice's crops. If it weren't for the Gentleman, maybe I could've played with Lena yesterday. She would have grown up, and become a warrior, a mage, or a farmer! She could have been a wife and a mother, but the Gentleman ate her, and now she's gone."
Taelan Fordring's spirits sank as he spoke. He lifted his little face toward the shimmering waters of Lake Lordamere and continued:
"If we'd reached Felstone sooner, or if the sheriff had pursued the boar relentlessly, little Lena wouldn't have died, and Fingal's love wouldn't have ended before it even began. If I hadn't killed the Gentleman, or if I'd spared him because he was a gentleman among boars, clever and brave, then maybe more Lenas would have died because of my choice a few years from now.
"One person's hero is another person's enemy! This has nothing to do with justice or honor! As long as we don't betray our humanity, a war between two worlds comes down to victory, defeat, and choices!"
Tirion Fordring was silent for a long while. Then a proud smile spread across his face. "Son! You truly make me proud! It's incredible that you can look at things from such a broad perspective!
"I'll tell Mograine what you said. I've always thought he was too strict and old-fashioned with his son! In a couple of years, once your martial skills have improved, I'll beg my mentor, Archbishop Faol, to baptize you! You'll become an Initiate Paladin ahead of schedule! Then I can retire early and go home to spend time with your mother, tend the fields, and grow flowers!"
Tirion wasn't Mograine or Uther. Neither of them could match his open-mindedness and broadness of spirit. Taelan said these things to plant a seed for the future! He hoped his father would change, so he could save some comrades and civilians who would otherwise die because of his father's passivity! If only Tirion Fordring had stood up when Kel'Thuzad unleashed the plague, or when the tragedy of Darrowshire unfolded!
Time slipped by as father and son talked. Just then, the captain came over and saluted Tirion Fordring. "Highlord, Dalaran is here!" Tirion returned the salute and patted him on the shoulder. "Old friend, we have to hurry to Dalaran. Be careful on your way back. Don't let a Murloc Shaman zap your backside!" The two men burst out laughing.
After bidding farewell to the captain, Tirion Fordring mounted his warhorse again and took Taelan to Dalaran, the City of Magic. Tirion Fordring couldn't help exclaiming, "The walls are still so tall. As tall as the pride of those mage lords!"
Tirion Fordring handed the guards at the gate Lordaeron's official papers, then entered Dalaran!
Dalaran was both a city and a nation! Taelan had loved the place in his previous life. Back then, it had districts such as Krasus' Landing, Sunreaver Sanctuary, Monument of Antonidas, the Magical Commercial District, Violet Citadel, Silver Enclave, Ruins Square, Dusk Square, and Violet Hold. Mage towers stood everywhere. Towering high into the clouds, their walls set with magical gems, they embodied the mystery and extravagance of mages.
And, of course, there were the Dalaran Sewers! At this point in time, though, Krasus' Landing and the Monument of Antonidas didn't exist yet. The Archmage was still alive and well.
Tirion Fordring introduced the city to his son as they walked. They eventually arrived at their destination, the Violet Citadel. There, Tirion met the gatekeeper, identified himself, and asked him to arrange a visit with Archmage Antonidas. Then the two of them went to Hero's Welcome Inn near the commercial district. Father and son decided to stay there for the time being!
That evening, Tirion Fordring first took Taelan to eat at a restaurant called Magic Honey. Even in the evening, Dalaran's commercial district was bustling with people.
There were humans and High Elves. They hadn't yet changed their name to Blood Elves. Most of them were handsome or beautiful, but haughty. Taelan also spotted a Goblin. Tirion warned him that Goblins were a greedy race. They did business with everyone and would do anything for gold. Their catchphrase was, "Time is money, my friend!"
After their meal, the two headed toward the inn along the main road, admiring the buildings along the way. The tallest building in Dalaran was the Violet Citadel, and the city had many Mage Towers. Tirion Fordring pointed to a tall Mage Tower. "That's Archmage Krasus's tower!"
"He's a mage who's recently become famous. They say he's very knowledgeable and kind to young apprentices and children. That's why so many magic apprentices want to become his students! If he's around, we can visit him too. I heard from an old friend that Dalaran has started inviting promising young people to study here in recent years. Magic isn't the only thing you can learn here. Occultism is also a required subject for spellcasters!"
"Son, you're already quite exceptional, but learning more never hurts. I hope you get an invitation too! I'll help you. You can take Occultism, Principles of Magic, and History as electives, and of course you'll have to take Etiquette!"
Taelan Fordring said, "I think I'm already very 'polite'!"
Tirion Fordring laughed. "My son, you're quite the deadpan comedian. Are you sure you're not talking about your supercharged Hammer of Justice? I don't know why, but you feel different today. You give people a very warm feeling, and they can't help wanting to be near you! It must be the power of the Holy Light you've awakened! That feeling reminds me of Turalyon. His Holy Light was different too!"
I'll post this first and edit it later! Thanks for reading!
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