Darien Mograini.

There's a lot to say about the name. His father, his brother, the weapon tied to his family, the Ember Bringer, and himself. But Dineen has no interest in the history of the Mograine family and doesn't want to learn about Darien's past. None of that made sense to him.

The Darien Mograini he knew, the Death Knight Lord who led the Knights of the Black Blade, was a madman who had been burned up by hatred, hostile to the living, cruel and tyrannical, and desperate for revenge.

And the person he wants to kill is the person Dinin wants to save.

So it is only natural that Darien and Dineen spit on each other, disgust, and even hate each other. Part of this is the contradiction between the attributes of the Silver Crusade and the Knights of the Black Blade - the former is a living person who believes in the Light, and the latter is a distorted and degraded undead after death - but more often it is a natural opposition caused by diametrically opposed purposes. They quarreled, blamed,-for-tat, and rattled with each other, and if it weren't for the High Lord Tirio Fordin, they might have fought to the death before they even saw Icecrown Fortress. Tirio's consolation was only a temporary delay, and everyone knew that when one of them got their wish, the fight to the death would inevitably break out.

However, the final victory was not decided between the two of them - Tirio Fordin, judging that the Lich King had fallen beyond redemption, defeated Arthas himself at the top of the Icecrown Fortress.

For Darian, although he failed to kill the enemy, the enemy was dead, and he reluctantly accepted this result. But for Dineen, it was a bolt from the blue. It was Tirio Fording himself who inspired him to confront his past and invite him to join the Silver Crusade in the hope of saving his former savior.

He was betrayed by his mentor, whom he relied on and respected. And the reason for the other party's renegade is so full and righteous - for the life of the whole world. Dinen did not hesitate to fight against Darion Mograine, who was bent on revenge, because he was willing to sacrifice his justice for the sake of Arthas, who had given him honor and courage and saved him from the shadow of his murderer. But he was unable to wield his sword at Tirio Fortin, who had done justice to the Light's will, for he still had a human conscience.

Dinein, who was young at the time, was completely devastated. While everyone was celebrating, he chose to leave with a dead heart, treating it all as a nightmare and abandoning it forever. His impression of Darien Mograini is fixed on the legacy of the long conflict, and the utter anger and hatred that the other side brings as the "victor".

But back to the present, where everything is far from happening......

- What the hell is this soft and cute golden retriever cub hiding behind his brother and crying in fright?

Dineh felt that his three views were about to be shattered.

Maybe his expression was too hideous, maybe it was the twisted iron drill in his hand, and the three teenagers standing in front of him shrank like frightened rabbits, and no one dared to ask the reason first.

Albert was also startled by the roar, and immediately lost the idea of killing them all, but only intimidated the rest of the gang members with an extremely perfunctory gesture, and when the gang of villains slipped into the dark alley one by one, he turned around and threw a healing spell first.

Dineh, who was brushed by the holy light, was a little confused. He blinked blankly and turned to look at his partner who was rushing back. Albert didn't care about explaining, but grabbed his shoulders and pushed him backwards, and then smiled awkwardly at the teenagers: "Sorry, he didn't mean ......"

Although he didn't know what happened to Dineh, the two sides were still more frightened than the other side. What's more, they are still the sons of their own colleagues, and the paladin, who considers himself an elder, can't help but feel guilty.

"Are you a paladin?" The tallest one looked at him and asked cautiously.

Albert nodded, "Yes." ”

Then he breathed a sigh of relief along with the teenagers. The high credibility attached to this identity quickly erased the strangeness and wariness between them, and the three boys looked at him with a little more affection and admiration.

"Thank you for your help, sir." It was the eldest brown-haired boy who spoke, "My name is Tyran Fordin, this is Renaud Mograini, and his brother Darien. ”

Paladins were not surprised by their status. He hesitated for a moment, then replied, "You can call me Albert...... This is my partner Dinein. ”

As he pointed behind him, the three teenagers flinched again. Albert stabbed Dineen a little uncomfortably, and motioned for him to say a few words to ease the atmosphere. But the first thing his partner said when he came back to his senses was: "Is this kid really Darien Mograini?" ”

Albert's face stiffened, and he regretted his actions.

What kind of grudge do you have against a teenager?

"Well, I didn't know you knew each other before......" he said, looking at Darion for help, hoping that the boy would give him a hint. After all, if Dinen was targeting Alexandros Mograini, then he shouldn't ignore Renault, who is the eldest son. But now it seems that it was just a matter between the two of them?

Renaud also turned his head to look at his brother, "You know him, Darien?" ”

Darien grabbed Tyran's cloak and shrank back without saying a word, his face flushed. He looked embarrassed for a moment before he nodded.

Renault was shocked: "How did you provoke this...... His? ”

He had the impression that his brother, who had always been shy and shy, could even mess up with pranks, how could he have a holiday with such a fierce and vicious guy?

"No, I've only met him once," Darien explained in a panic, "he's the one who defended Uncle Tirio in court that afternoon. ”

Renaud and Tyran, two pairs of surprised eyes, looked at Dineen together, plus an Albert. The party who was exposed was strangely happy.

"Ah, I found it." Dineh asked expectantly, "Can you kill your mouth?" ”

"Nope." The paladin said firmly, "Don't even think about it. ”

"Hush." Dinen turned his face away unhappily.

"So what the hell are you having with this kid?" Albert asked with a headache, "Dineh, he's almost ten years old!" ”

"Twelve." Renault corrected in a serious manner.

"I'm sorry, twelve." Albert looked up, "Not half your age." ”

"And that's the problem." Dinen replied roughly.

He had no interest in explaining, and turned away, leaving all four of them where they were. Albert turned his head to look to the side and saw that the teenagers were all looking at him worriedly.

"Mr. Albert." Tyran looked up at him with an apologetic expression, "Is your partner mad at us?" ”

Renault looked a little annoyed, and he swore that "if you need to keep it a secret, you can trust us!" ”

Darien was the hardest hit. He lowered his head and whispered, "I'm sorry...... Well, did he leave you behind? ”

Albert bent down slightly, reached out and touched Darian's head as a sign of comfort, which was quite fruitful. The little golden retriever rubbed his hand with his head, and finally he was willing to lift his face.

"No, it won't." He replied mildly.

He saw Dineen casually turn into an alley instead of following the path he had come from, apparently just wanting to be quiet. Judging from his expression, his partner was not so much angry as a little confused, as if he had encountered something incomprehensible. As for what it is, it should have nothing to do with these children. They are completely innocent and do not deserve to be treated as such.

And Albert remembered that the gang members who ran away were on the same path, so he didn't worry about anything at all except a little sympathy.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine." He said to the boys, "As for you, will you talk to me?" ”

***

As Albert thought, Dineen didn't go far at all, and at most he made two perfunctory turns at the nearest fork, once to the left and once to the right.

That is, it is still on the same road.

After sending a few drunks and shoving two more robbers in the trash, Dineen creates an undisturbed environment for himself to calm down and think.

He could compete with the hedgehog-like Death Knight Lord, but for such a small Darien, Dineen really couldn't muster the strength to hate it, except for the annoyance that his opponent suddenly withdrew his strength during the wrestling.

But more importantly, he once again found a difference in the timeline. When Tirio Ferdin's trial and exile were sentenced, his son Tyran was just five years old. And the young man with a sad expression and a resolute expression just now, who spoke well, looked like he was fifteen years old and was almost about to start the practice of a paladin. Renault and Darien were still younger than him, but had clearly learned how to wield their weapons. This is also the reason why Dineen did not expect to meet his old enemy again.

Not only his enemies, but also his allies have changed ahead of their time. Dineen didn't know if it was good or bad. The young people have grown up, but what about the older ones? For a moment, he was even worried about the situation of Uther and the others. Is the Silver Hand stronger than he knows, or weaker? And what about this kingdom?

Dineen realized that his plans were about to change.

According to his original plan, he wanted to prevent the catastrophe of Stratholm and use it to expose the existence, nature, and machinations of the Cursed Cult in order to alert the kingdom of Lordaeron. The state apparatus will work to deal with the virus, while he himself continues to operate in the shadows until all of the Lich King's minions are thwarted. He did not do this because he was worried about being targeted for reprisals, he simply rejected the possibility of being drawn into politics.

For this world, Dineen has no past, no clear position and belonging. But Dinen himself has a definite inclination. Stormwind, the city he had been fighting for, was more intimate than the homeland that gave him half of his life and accepted him in times of despair. And Varian Ureon is also the leader of the alliance that he is convinced of. Dineen had always hoped that he would return to Stormwind in the future, but if he was labeled Lordaeron by being honored or something, the city would always treat him as an outsider. You know, the members of the coalition are not close at the national level.

But now, he's probably going to have to forge a closer relationship with Lordaeron. He can't take everything for granted, he has to understand, to contact, to influence, to make sure that the Cursed Sect doesn't resurge through some negligence.

It was a very important decision and he had to think about it.

When Albert sends Tyran, Renault, and Darien out of the neighborhood and back again, it's easy to find the pensive Dinen in the alley. He didn't say hello right away, but looked around seriously.

"What are you looking for?" Dineen looked up at him.

Corpses, or bloodstains. Albert said in his heart. But none of that. It looks like his partner is a little better behaved than he thought.

"Would you like to talk to me about Darian?" Of course, he couldn't say that, so he tried to change the subject. Of course, Albert was actually interested in the topic as well.

Dineen stared at him, then shook his head.

"It has nothing to do with him." He calmly said, "I recognized the wrong person." ”

The explanation still doesn't hold water, but Albert duly stopped getting to the bottom of it. Anyway, the result is good and enough.

"I talked to Tyran." Since Dinen didn't want to say it, it was up to him to say, "These kids are here to find Tirio. ”

Dinen looked at him suspiciously.

"Yes, he didn't come home. No one has seen him since the end of the trial. Albert shrugged, "Tyran was worried, so he ran to Stratholme to find out." Until this accident, he had taken the other two little ones to the inns and taverns of half the city. A capable lad, isn't he? Do you know where Tirio might go? ”

Dinen thought for a moment, "No, but I might know what he wants to do...... Let me tell me first, what is the final verdict? ”

"The court deprived him of his status as a lord and the right to rule, and did not allow him to hold any public office again. However, he was still allowed to retain the power of the Paladin and his status as a member of the Silver Hand. ”

"What about Itrege?"

"Who?"

"The orc."

"Oh." Albert continued, "The orc...... He was still sentenced to death and will be executed tomorrow morning in the city square. ”

"And Tirio Ferding didn't come home." Dinen prompted.

"What's the ...... Oh. Albert reacted suddenly, "You mean, Tirio still wants to save the orc?" He ......"

"Not crazy." Dinen calmly continued, "I just felt that I should do it, so I did it." ”

Albert glared at him.

"He can feel it, and he should feel it." Finally, the paladin said weakly, "But if he single-handedly rushes into the execution ground and tries to snatch a half-dead orc from a group of soldiers and countless citizens—if he does, he will be caught and hanged on the spot, and no one will have time to save him this time." ”

"-Really?"

Dineen and Albert turned their heads together.