Maxwell

Candles flickered in the medium-sized chapel. In the center sat a large oak table, covered with a massive map depicting the lands of the Eastern Plaguelands in minute detail. Four men sat around the table, conversing amongst themselves. Maxwell Thales sat at the head of the table, staring at a section of the map showing a woodland followed by a river. The other three were Erigor, Kolfax, and Duke Nicholas Serenhof. Lost in thought, Maxwell showed no interest in what the other three were saying.

The chapel doors opened with a whoosh, and a slender, graceful figure entered. His thoughts were interrupted.

Erigor, who was slightly younger Maxwell, recognized who it was.

"Greetings, Ms. Rhine. But shouldn't you have informed our guards before entering? After all, we are discussing the Argent Dawn's next move."

"I'm sorry to bother you, Dawn Herald." Rhine addressed Erigor first, then paid homage to the other two, "Champion of the Light, and Your Grace, please forgive my uninvited arrival."

The Champion of the Light was Kolfax's title. The strong Warrior nodded to Rhine and asked, "What brings you here?"

"I'm here to see Baron Maxwell." Rhine looked intently at the highest-ranking person present. "I have something to say to you, my lord. And I think it would be best if we spoke privately." The Night Elf noticed the exchange of glances among the advisors. Under normal circumstances, this request wouldn't be a problem, but it was during a high-level meeting, and Rhine's behavior was somewhat impolite.

Maxwell's one eye stared directly at Rhine, and he shook his head. "Madam, there are no secrets in the Argent Dawn. If you want to talk about your private matters, I will not interfere. If it is business, then you must be open and honest."

A flicker of fire flashed in Rhine's eyes. After a moment of silence, she stepped forward and acknowledged the Paladin's statement. Erigor, who had his back to her, made way for her so that she could speak face-to-face with Maxwell.

"Argent Dawn has been able to survive in tense situations because of the mutual trust among its members. I apologize for my unreasonable request just now." She bowed deeply.

Then, Rhine recounted her entire experience from the previous day. She had intended to keep it brief, but her observations and feelings made her words flow and become long and detailed.

"Three Undead? You mean...they spared you?" The high-ranking members exchanged surprised glances at the Night Elf's statement. Maxwell tried his best to keep his voice steady and even. The others remained silent while he spoke with Rhine.

"I've been in the Plaguelands for a while now, and I've fought the Scourge. I know what kind of creatures they are. But... what I encountered yesterday completely changed my understanding."

"Praise be to the Holy Light, madam. You don't seem to be seriously injured," Erigor said, though he wondered why such a small thing would bother her so much. Perhaps those three Undead just couldn't catch up with the female Druids.

"So... what exactly is it that you're wondering about?" Maxwell asked Rhine. "Or, what are you trying to say? Do you want us to send someone to find those three Undead?"

"No, my lord," Rhine said in a tense voice. "What I mean is that the three Undead did not attack me at the same time at the beginning, and the other two did not move at all from beginning to end."

"Perhaps they think one person can defeat you," Kolfax speculated, but he quickly realized his words were inappropriate. "I'm sorry, ma'am, you know that's not what I meant."

"It's alright, Champion of the Light," Rhine replied with a smile. She was indeed no match for the three Undead, not even one of them. That was a fact. "But I don't agree with your guess. I did find it somewhat difficult to face even one of them, but no matter what, they wouldn't let me go, would they? Even in the midst of the battle, they wouldn't stop when they were about to kill me."

Kolfax fell silent. He couldn't explain this strange phenomenon; the Undead usually didn't take live prisoners, they would wipe out all living things.

Maxwell took over the conversation and asked, "So what would you like to know, ma'am?"

"I think no one in the world understands the Scourge better than the Argent Dawn. You should be able to give me the answer, Baron Maxwell." Rhine prepared herself and said, "What I want to know is, is it possible for those Undead to regain their consciousness from their previous lives? Can they revert to their benevolent nature? Or are they still who they were, just living in a different form?" Rhine asked. She was becoming somewhat excited, like a fervent apprentice.

"How is this possible?" Sørenhoff exclaimed, completely taken aback by Rhine's words, and even somewhat angry. Erigor and Kolfax also gaped in surprise; how could the usually composed Rhine have asked such a question?

"The Undead were indeed our family and fellow human beings when they were alive, but now they have completely fallen and become tools of slaughter," Kolfax explained.

Erigor agreed with his point of view, adding, "There are thousands of Undead dwelling in Stratholme, many of whom were once warriors who believed in the Holy Light, such as Baron Rivendare, a once revered lord who became a nightmare in people's hearts after his death. He rose from the dead and still has his own consciousness, yet he stands in opposition to the Holy Light. If even someone like him cannot escape the curse of death, how can others?"

Before Rhine could speak in rebuttal, Maxwell suddenly said, "But there's a very small chance she's right..."

"Terothos?"

"Grown ups?"

The other three members of the Argent Dawn were simultaneously shocked, and Rhine looked at Maxwell in astonishment.

The one-eyed Paladin took a slow breath, glanced at the crowd, and said, "I still remember the day Tirion Fordring was stripped of his the Holy Light duties." He paused for a moment, allowing the other three members of the organization to reminisce with him, even though some of them hadn't witnessed it firsthand, they must have heard of it. "You all know that Fordring lost his Paladin status because of an Orcs. I remember Uther, Fordring's colleagues, even his family, all urging him to pin all the blame on that Orcs, but he refused, without hesitation. He chose exile." Maxwell closed his eyes, seemingly grieving for the man he spoke of. "Years later, when I was still Crimson Crusade, in Hearthglen, Fordring's son, Taelan, told me that his father had told him: race does not define honor. I know some Orcs, as honorable as the noblest knights; I also know some humans, as evil as the most ferocious Scourge."

He paused, then took a deep breath and said, "This is why the Argent Dawn has stood the test of time. I am grateful to Fordring, because of his words, I resolutely left the Crimson Crusade and chose to cooperate with all the races. My brothers, I know what you are worried about, something I haven't mentioned before. We all hated the Orcs for invading our world, but when Kel'Thuzad's army attacked Light's Hope Chapel, how many Orcs gave their lives to protect this Tranquility place? They were our enemies, but now we fight side by side." The Paladin smiled, noticing an Orcs Warrior in the camp discussing combat techniques with a human. "This is the power that comes from our mutual trust. We dare to entrust our backs to our former enemies because we know they are good and trustworthy, just like us. So, if Orcs and Troll can be accepted by us, why not the Undead?" Maxwell looked around at the others.

Egrit leaned on the table, lost in thought. Serenhof crossed his arms and bowed his head. Only Kolfax responded, but not in a rebuttal. "Thinking about it now, the Undead are really similar to the Orcs of the past. They were both controlled by evil forces, their souls were stolen, and killing was not in their nature. If any of them could break free from control... But if such Undead truly exist, why don't they seek our help?"

"Because we are all living beings," Rhine said regretfully. "They think we will attack them mercilessly and won't listen to their explanations, just like I did." The Night Elf lowered her head. She still remembered the aggressive urge she had when she first met those three Undead ...it was almost instinctive.

Maxwell raised his voice and announced, "This misunderstanding must be cleared up. We must instill this idea in the Warrior of the Argent Dawn. We failed to protect our fallen brethren in life, and now, as they break free from the Lich King's control, we must help them."