Companions

Companions on the Training Ground

"Your shoulder injury has completely healed, and your lung function has recovered to over 80% of normal. You can undergo regular weapons training, but don't overexert yourself..."

"How is the genetic augmentation procedure progressing?"

"Energy is insufficient, and progress is slow. The second heart embryo is developing, the blood modification system has only extended to the arteries in the torso, and the skeleton has currently only been reinforced at the ribs..."

"But I have no way to use Holy Light. I'm a paladin of the Silver Hand! Do you know why?"

"You are Reserve Paladin Roderick, Second Lieutenant. The cause is unknown. It should be related to the degree of integration with your soul..."

Thoroughly confused, Roderick let the subject drop. The knight's excellent physical condition, combined with the Martian technology from Astartes, had allowed him to recover far faster than anyone had expected. In just a few dozen days, he was already able to swing a longsword in his family's training yard.

Although he was a reserve paladin of the Silver Hand, Roderick still could not understand how Holy Light worked. That problem would have to wait until later.

Today was the day Roderick officially returned to the Southshore Militia Guard. Dressed in fresh, orderly gear, he headed for the training ground on the outskirts of town under Remilia's watchful gaze.

"Be careful, big brother!"

Roderick raised an arm and gave it a vigorous wave. Without turning back, he soon disappeared from the girl's sight.

Southshore's training ground was not large. The townspeople had leveled the land and thrown up a simple ring of wooden fencing around it. When Roderick arrived, a disorderly crowd stood inside. Rather than a barracks, it had the noisy bustle of a marketplace.

The moment they saw Roderick, his old familiar companions had already gathered around him.

"Roderick, you really came? I thought Alwyn was fooling us!" The boy before him still had childish features. He was Darezzo Folett. He looked quite young, wearing a ringmail shirt over his upper body. The dense iron links had been maintained with exceptional care, without a trace of rust.

Besides a shortsword, Darezzo Folett carried a diamond-shaped shield roughly two feet long. Its innermost layer was canvas padded with cotton, with a protruding handle for an easy grip. The middle layer was sturdy oak with dense grain, made from excellent century-old timber. Its outermost layer was covered in iron sheeting treated against rust. White paint formed the base, while the front bore the image of a sharp iron sword crossed vertically over a stylized letter—the emblem of the Kingdom of Lordaeron. This shield was also standard issue for the Kingdom of Lordaeron's army, so its craftsmanship was naturally excellent.

The others seemed more mature by comparison. They merely smiled at Roderick's arrival instead of clustering around him like Darezzo.

"I'm fine now, aren't I? Don't worry, Murlocs won't take my life. All right, get back into formation." Roderick patted Darezzo on the shoulder, turned, and climbed the steps in a few strides. He stood upon the wooden platform, facing the scattered formation before him.

"Knight Roderick showed no fear in battle against the wicked Murlocs. Facing powerful enemies, he slew more than twenty Murloc warriors and held his ground until the main force arrived, making a great contribution to the complete defeat of the Murloc forces. At the proposal of Mr. Bass Jerman, Mr. Roderick Northumberland shall serve as captain of our Southshore Guard. Mayor Heni has approved this proposal. Now, let us welcome Captain Roderick, returned from his recovery!"

Before the speaker had even finished, the small formation erupted into enthusiastic cheers. It was clear that Roderick commanded considerable prestige among the militia.

Roderick smiled as he looked over the visibly excited group, but he was not as pleased inside as he appeared. What a rabble. There were fewer than three hundred people gathered here in total.

Most were residents of Southshore. More than a dozen, like him, were descendants of knights from military noble families, and they formed the guard's main fighting force. The rest were mostly ordinary townspeople who had not left their livelihoods behind, joining the guard only out of sheer fervor. Most could not even maintain a basic stance, let alone properly hold their mismatched weapons. After the brief ceremony, Roderick saw off the equally young mayor's secretary, dismissed most of the people to return home, and kept only the several dozen who had always been close to him.

Alwyn Jerman had messy short gray hair hanging over his forehead, and his eyes looked especially lively. His father was the town's master blacksmith and weapons merchant. The products in his shop carried a strong military style: simple and reliable. This quiet blacksmith was the very person who had proposed Roderick as captain.

Having grown up under his father's fists, the young man had naturally developed considerable skill. After losing to Roderick's wooden sword many times, he had become one of Roderick's most devoted followers. Since he had never received systematic training, he only wore leather armor and carried a shortsword at his waist. He would likely find it difficult to ever return to the path of knighthood.

"Roderick..." Arnold Kuhlman greeted him without much confidence.

That day, Arnold's greed had driven him to search the Murloc tribe for a Gold Pearl to use in a sacrifice, only for him to end up surrounded by Murlocs. Had Roderick not risked his life to save him, Arnold would likely have become a Murloc meal by now. Roderick said nothing more and simply smiled at the guilty Arnold, putting him at ease. By Imperium law, Arnold was still a minor, merely a playful older child.

"By the way, why isn't Albert here?" Roderick asked curiously.

Albert Stonal had studied magic since childhood and had spent many years studying in Dalaran, the city of mages. When Arthas breached Dalaran, the Kirin Tor Council had sent him and many other apprentices out of the city. Because Albert Stonal's beloved teacher had died at the hands of the Scourge, he had not returned to Dalaran. Instead, he remained in Southshore and joined the Southshore Guard, becoming the guard's only magical force.

"Same as always. Albert is holed up at home again, tinkering with that strange magic of his," someone who knew said.

Magical power! Roderick, usually so composed, could not help but feel a spark of curiosity about magic. Would he ever have a chance to come into contact with it himself?

Then another hearty voice rang out. "Roderick, forget about Albert. Have you finished the bear meat I sent to your house last time? I never expected you to recover so quickly. There couldn't be anyone better than you to lead everyone in protecting Southshore. I'm really not cut out for this job."

Adrian Vele relied on his inherited yew longbow and was nearly unerring within a hundred feet. He could skillfully use low-level magic alongside a wide variety of hunter traps to restrain his enemies. He also had a hunter companion brought from Duskwood: a worg named Lupos. Even Roderick, who had received Silver Hand training, did not dare claim he could reliably defeat Adrian in a duel.

At Adrian's words, Roderick gave him a fierce bear hug, his face brimming with smiles. These were the companions he had grown up with, and they would be his most dependable support in future battles.

"The bear meat was great. You ought to teach Remilia how to make grilled bear steaks." Hearing Roderick tease his sister, everyone burst into cheerful laughter. Only then did Roderick notice someone standing silently in the shadows at the edge of the crowd, a dagger flickering in and out of sight between his fingers with impressive control.

"Antoine, it looks like your skills have improved again." Roderick greeted him without changing expression.

"Hi, Roderick. It's me. I'm glad to see you appear safe and sound." Antoine stepped out of the shadows, and his figure became clear: an utterly ordinary-looking young man, the sort with no presence at all in a crowd.

An orphan, Antoine had grown up in the Arathi Highlands before later coming to Southshore. He clearly did not get along well with this group of knights' descendants. Everyone seemed to deliberately ignore him, and Antoine had no desire to approach them either. Roderick was one of his few friends here.

"All right, at noon I need to visit Uncle Heni and thank him for taking care of me during this time. And Priest Keston, Uncle Roy... Anyway, come to my house tonight. A lavish feast will be waiting for everyone."

Amid the others' cheers, Roderick kept his eyes fixed on Antoine. In the end, Antoine nodded helplessly. Roderick smiled in satisfaction, bid everyone farewell, and headed alone toward Mayor Heni's home.

"Astartes?"

"Yes. I have recorded everyone's information, but the most important combat capability data cannot yet be determined."

"You know that isn't what I wanted to ask."

"These people are valuable support. More importantly, they are trustworthy. In your plan, these humans who grew up with you are your most important force at present. And those human farmers with terrible stances—while rabble is indeed a fitting description, they will likewise be an indispensable part of your plan. A suitable training program, excellent combat equipment, and most importantly, they need a resolve to fight that can convince them to persevere..."