Awakening

"Who dares to disrupt the ceremony?" one of the Paladin roared. Nathanos remembered his name as something like Saidan Dathrohan.

"The Holy Ring hasn't been released yet!" Tirion Fordring, standing beside Dathrohan, rose to his feet. Nathanos then noticed that the four Paladin who had presided over Arthas's trial were none other than the four besides Turalyon. Whatever Fordring's meaning, it certainly wasn't good news for them, and Nathanos's interruption was perfectly timed.

Silent Gavinrad Doom observed the man who had rushed onto the judgment platform; he was an ordinary-looking, thin civilian. His dark hair and fearless gaze in the face of the Paladin highlighted his youth and courage. As soon as he appeared, Dathrohan anxiously ordered the guards, "Men, throw this fellow out!"

"You have no right to do this!"

"You have disturbed a sacred ritual..." the Paladin said.

"Enough, Dathrohan!"

Dathrohan merely glanced at Uther impatiently. "I apologize for my rudeness, but we really should hurry!"

Uther closed his eyes and shook his head. "The man standing before you is Nathanos Marius. He's the one who captured Arthas."

All eyes turned to the intruder. The crowd buzzed with discussion. Nathanos realized that he was the only one who could ease the tension. He looked at Arthas and found the other staring back at him, a hint of surprise on Arthas's pale face. Nathanos decided to take a risk and guess. "I don't know the purpose of everything that's happening here today, but I'm curious to know, what mistake has Arthas made?"

A louder murmur arose around them, and the Knights' guards began to form a shield wall to keep the agitated crowd at bay. Besides those below the stage, there were also those on it. Nathanos observed the expressions on each of their faces. Terenas had already stood up from his seat, followed by Kael'thas and Antonidas. Nathanos recognized these people, but their gazes were so unfamiliar; even Jaina looked at him with strange eyes.

"Please repeat yourself, Nathanos. Are you trying to exonerate Arthas?"

"Perhaps," Nathanos told himself. "If Arthas did nothing but become an Undead, then..." Suddenly, Nathanos understood what he was going through. His questions, the answers he sought, would all be revealed at this moment.

What crime did he commit?

"Watch your words, Nathanos," Gavinrad said. "Don't forget you're the one who captured him!"

The human nodded. He believed he had captured Arthas, as everyone else said. But why hadn't he executed Arthas on the spot when he captured him, instead of handing him over to the Order of the Silver Hand? Because Arthas didn't deserve to die, and in fact, Arthas hadn't done anything heinous.

"Then please answer me, sir, what action did Arthas take that violated the law and required you to punish him with the Holy Light?"

"Look at him!" said Dathrohan, pointing at Arthas with disgust in his eyes. Meanwhile, Terenas had already sat down, rubbing his forehead.

"What's wrong with his appearance? Just because he has white hair and his altered skin color, can we convict him outright?"

"His very existence is a sin, Nathanos."

The Paladin's words were astonishing, Nathanos stared at Uther in disbelief. He couldn't help but ask himself, was this really the Uther he knew? He had assumed the leader of the Silver Hand was here on Terenas's orders; otherwise, given Uther's character, he would never have accepted such a mission. But now, the reality was completely opposite to what Nathanos had imagined.

"What do you mean, Uther?"

"Arthas betrayed the Holy Light; he chose to fall into death. The moment he took up Frostmourne, he was already..."

"What has happened?" Nathanos began to demand loudly, "Did he kill an innocent person? Just because he became Undead?"

"That's enough," Uther replied softly, pursing his lips. "Arthas's actions have brought shame upon the kingdom. Do you want to tell others that the future heir to the Kingdom of Lordaeron is a corpse?"

"That doesn't warrant the death penalty. Exile or imprisonment are both options, but even the Holy Light cannot make such a judgment!"

"This is what everyone wants!" Gavinrad appeared behind Nathanos without anyone noticing, while Dathrohan moved to his right, and Tirion and Uther stood to Nathanos's left and in front of him, respectively. It seemed that if Nathanos made a move, they would be the first to subdue him.

"As expected?" Nathanos's eyes swept around. The Paladin was right; everyone's eyes were the same, except for his and Arthas's.

"He has only changed his appearance, Uther."

"I know."

"He is still Arthas!"

"I know that too."

Silence...

Since we know Arthas didn't lose himself, and since everything wasn't destroyed by the Undead, then why... why won't people accept the sacrificed dead? If places like Lordaeron, Dalaran, and Quel'Thalas were destroyed by the Undead, then it's normal that people don't understand the difference between the Scourge and the Undead maintain their sanity. But now, all of this, the situation Arthas is in, feels unfair and unjust.

Ultimately, Nathanos recalled a topic from long ago, glancing at Tirion Fordring, the Paladin who had remained silent until now.

"Just because he became Undead, is that a crime?"

Uther didn't answer, which was taken as tacit agreement. Nathanos mustered his courage and roared his question at the top of his lungs, addressing everyone present who could hear him.

"In your eyes, this person kneeling on the ground, accepting so-called 'judgment,' is no longer human, is that right?"

No one answered. None of them wanted to admit the truth. The Elf, Dwarf, and other outsiders were just spectators and had no desire to cause trouble. The residents of Lordaeron and the nobles, including King Terenas, were also present. To accuse their Prince of losing face in front of outsiders was tantamount to doing so.

Silence is cold, and the answer is even crueler... The living will never accept the dead, never.

A bone-chilling cold swept over his body, Nathanos once again felt the chill of death. There was no breath, no heartbeat, only a body that was decaying with the passage of time.

Nathanos's gaze returned to Arthas's face, and he silently asked the Prince, 'How... how will you save yourself?'

Miraculously, Arthas seemed to hear his thoughts, and the Prince spoke, saying, "You can't save anyone!"

Illidan had had enough. He felt incredibly foolish for guarding a corpse for so long. Nathanos remained motionless, like a stone. The question wasn't when he would wake up, but whether he would wake up at all. Illidan thought no. If Nathanos didn't wake up, there was no point in bringing him back.

"You can stay here and feed the wolves!"

The Night Elf got up and left, cursing Nathanos all the while, saying he had ruined his plans.

He hadn't taken more than a few steps when a hoarse, deep voice sounded behind him.

"Wolves don't like carcasses; they prefer fresh meat."

Illidan turned around abruptly. The Undead had already stood up. The only thing that was unfamiliar to Illidan was that his eyes were even bloodshot than when they last met, as if he had gained something and lost something.

"You..."

"It's still more comfortable this way." Nathanos examined his hands. "Now, shouldn't we discuss the possibility of cooperation?"

This volume is almost finished.