Ice and snow, winds howling, vast icecrown glaciers as far as the eye can see, that is the land of the dead.

Standing on the top of the cliff, it is the melancholy and sorrow of being alone. The once massive, well-armed Azeroth coalition had now been shattered, with most of its warriors killed under the tall, icy walls of the Icecrown Fortress, and Ares could not forget that day, the most tragic day in the history of the Northern Expedition. Rivers of blood flowed and wailed for thousands of miles.

And now, what is left in their hands? Exhausted Northern Expeditionary Army, battered Confederate Army. A war without hope, without daylight, without light. Darkness seemed to perpetuate the cold, dead land of Icecrown.

A bruised but still strong Ancestral Dragon crouched quietly beside Ares, looking at the snowfields of the North with Ares. Winter is coming...... The long winter will be the biggest test for the remaining members of the Northern Expeditionary Army......

"Khadgar, I can't go back to Varian's funeral, you help me get this letter into Anduin's hands. He'll understand. ”

In the cold wind, Ares turned around, took a warm letter from his bosom, and handed it to Khadgar.

"Well, I will. So what are you going to do next? Stay here by yourself? ”

Taking the letter, Khadgar asked with a heavy heart.

"Yes, the Silver Northern Expeditionary Army will stay here with me. There......"

Ares pointed to the flat land in the valley and continued—

"We're going to build a new fortress as the front line of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and I'll call it the Crusader Proving Ground."

……

Stormwind.

The warm winter sun is like flowing water on the Lion's Sleep Square. Amidst the blue and red flags, Varian's funeral slowly began.

Anduin didn't have the heart to see the whole funeral. He had a haunting nightmare in his mind, and when his father's body was transported back to Stormwind two weeks ago, he saw his familiar father lying in a coffin, his body as hard as ice. Affected by the plague, Varian's body and face turned slightly green. The Coalition's wizards used spells to freeze their bodies so that the plague did not spread further, thus giving Varian a whole corpse. Yet, even so, Anduin was still terrified.

What he feared was not what his father had been when he died, not the ferocity and bloodlust of the Scourge. It's the fall of the Lion of Stormwind. In Anduin's eyes, his father, Varian. What a strong man Urian is, he can take on the orcs alone, without any pressure. He can rush into the chaos alone, kill the enemy leader, and retreat. Even, he can kill a black dragon.

And even such a powerful person cannot resist the plague of natural disasters. For the first time, Anduin had a truly intuitive understanding of the war taking place in the north.

The solemn music sounded, and in the silent gaze of ten thousand people, Varian's body was lifted onto the stone pier.

The Lion Guards held torches and lit it.

Anduin remembered many things in the raging flames, his father's face and voice echoing in his ears. Those unpleasant quarrels in the past now became Anduin's deepest self-reproach. He remembered the time when his father, Varian, taught him to practice swords, and remembered the time when he sat in his father's arms and slept on those bright afternoons. Even, he remembered his mother, the life of their family in the palace...... And now, everything is gone. It was as if the growth came too fast, and in just an instant, he became an adult. What awaits him next will no longer be his father's respectful teachings, but really complicated and heavy state and military affairs.

He didn't know where to go. Just staring blankly at the blue sky of Stormwind.

The Duke of Berval was at Anduin's side, and he made it clear early on that he would assist him in becoming a true king, as great as his father. However, Anduin didn't dare to believe it too much. In the face of power, who is sincere? Politics is not a game, it is more complicated than the military. Although during Varian's reign, Berval was definitely a loyal vassal of the courtier. But now, Anduin can't guarantee it. He smiled at the Grand Duke. But set his sights on Khadgar.

In such moments, outsiders are more trustworthy than those around them. At the very least, Khadgar does not belong to the citizens and officials of Stormwind. He belongs to the Union.

After the funeral, Anduin left only Khadgar behind. Together, they walked to the deepest depths of the fortress of Stormwind. In the past, everything here seemed so solemn and full of life. And now, it's so cold. In just a hundred paces, they seemed to have walked for a long time.

It wasn't until he entered the apse that Khadgar slowly pulled out a beautiful letter from his bosom.

"Come with me, Anduin, there is a letter from your mentor asking me to give it to you with my own hands."

"Ares?"

Anduin asked.

Khadgar nodded slightly.

"King of Stormwind, when you received this letter, I think I should have addressed you as such, Anduin. The loss of my father is a source of grief for you and me. Your father is my closest comrade-in-arms and brother, and we have experienced many great things together. I can understand how you feel, because I have lost loved ones in the past...... But now, this is not the time to be sad. As you may know, in the next battle of Icecrown Fortress, the Alliance and the Horde will no longer be able to confront the Lich King head-on. The Lord of the Undead is entrenched in the north, and his power has increased greatly, and soon, a new force will move south. Invade our land, brutalize our people. I led the remnants of the Northern Expeditionary Army against the Scourge in the north. But I don't know how long I can hold out. ”

"You have to grow up and grow as fast as you can. The Alliance needs you, your father gave his life to save the Seventh Legion, and now, they need a commander, they need a king to command them. Yes, they owe you only allegiance, Anduin. Take your legion north, I am waiting for you in the coldest valley of Northrend, and here the Seventh Legion awaits you. ”

Looking at Ares's handwritten letters, Anduin's mood could not be calmed for a long time. He remembered that his father had said something similar to him. Before he died, it was recorded by the clerk, organized into letters, and given to himself. Unlike Ares, Varian detailed the affairs of Stormwind's administration after his death, and indicated to Anduin who could be reused and who needed to be warned. But these are not easy for a young man in his early twenties.

He prefers to employ people rather than personally participate in complicated affairs. And the person named by Varian has undoubtedly become Anduin's right-hand man at this moment.

The young prince looked at Khadgar with trust and gratitude.

"Tell me, what should I do? Khadgar ......"

Anduin asked seriously.

"Go speak, Anduin, and reassure the people. Let them feel that you have a heart for your country and a passion for your heart. Show your feelings for your father to the people. It was a child's love for his father, and a prince's love for his country. But remember, don't show your cowardice and weakness in front of the public. People don't like the weak, especially in an era of war...... After that, you are to take up the Salamani, yes, the weapon that your father used in his lifetime, and use it to command your army. Use him to intimidate your enemies. Even, use him to govern your country......"

Looking at young Anduin, Khadgar said with a heavy heart. And these words were actually conveyed by Ares to the old mage to Anduin......

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