"What the hell is a paladin?"

Anduin sat in the garden of Stormstorm Fortress in the bright sun, looking up at Ares with a confused expression. Since the last time he was rescued from the clutches of the black dragon by Ares, Anduin has become close to Ares. At the same time, the young prince became curious about the Holy Light and the Paladin. Because he saw that day, when all the soldiers could not help the black dragon, Ares was able to stand in front of the dragon with one man and one sword. What kind of power is that that can make people overcome their inner fears, reach or even exceed their own limits, fight against darkness, fight against evil?

"Paladin...... It is selflessness, dedication, a sword, and a shield. ”

Faced with Anduin, who had entered adolescence and was ignorant, Ares explained as much as he could. Looking at Anduin's inquisitive gaze, Ares suddenly felt a little emotional, originally the little prince should have followed Veren to learn the Holy Light and become a qualified priest. At this point, everything has changed...... He actually became the object of the little prince's pursuit every day, and almost became his mentor......

"What the hell is that? I've heard that paladins are a group of priests who believe in the Holy Light and take up arms, and they fought bloody battles on the battlefield to become the first paladins? ”

Anduin was clearly unhappy with Ares' erratic explanations, and his curiosity was so strong that he continued to ask.

"That's a paladin in the narrow sense of the word, Anduin, you know, it's not just the priest who takes up arms that is called a paladin, the knight who holds the holy covenant and prays for his companions and heals his teammates on the battlefield where arrows fly, they are also paladins. Paladins represent a spirit, not just the faithful who charge at the forefront with only a warhammer. ”

Looking at Anduin's immature face, Ares explained calmly. For a moment, Ares felt as if his mental age was ten years older out of thin air. This kind of earnest teaching does not look like the education of a twenty-eight-nine-year-old to a fifteen-year-old child. It's like an uncle in his forties educating a child......

"And what is the Light?"

After Ares finished explaining, Anduin nodded in confusion, and then continued to ask.

"Holy Light...... It is a bright autumn afternoon, a memory of a good time, a warm big hand from a father, a careful care from a mother, it is everywhere, like an energy, it will be poured into your weapon, it will also be poured into your body, so that your injured parts heal quickly. It is the guardian of life. ”

Ares continued. At this moment, Anduin's face flashed with joy, and he then asked—

"Can I learn this spell then? I mean, I want to try to heal some people's wounds. ”

"Well, yes, but the light is different from magic, it doesn't rely on learning, it relies on meditation."

Ares's explanation made Anduin a little confused, and the young prince could not understand.

"By meditation?"

Anduin asked.

Yes, read the prayers in the holy scriptures carefully, think about them and understand their meaning. Believe that there is a source of light above all things that will protect you, protect you, and give you the strength to overcome darkness and evil. As long as you believe in the Light, one day, it will come to you. ”

Ares explained in as much detail as possible.

"That is, if I read the holy scriptures carefully, comprehend them, and understand them, the light will appear, right?"

Anduin asked excitedly. Ares knew that one day, the young prince would grow up to be a qualified and great priest, or even a paladin, but he wondered if it was reasonable for him to consider himself a teacher? Ares believed that his possession of the Ember Bringer was just luck, and that he was not born a staunch believer in the Light like Uther. Even sometimes he himself will lose the power of the Ember Bringer by doubting the existence of the Light. How can such a self be Anduin's mentor?

"Well, yes."

Ares said thoughtfully.

……

Anduin's obsession with the Way of Light has led to his alienation from combat, much to Varian's growing resentment. Although Varian, as the leader of Stormwind, is not opposed to the Light Doctrine, he prefers his children to be warriors, brave warriors like him, who fight for their country and for their people.

"The people need a leader who can lead them to victory, not a priest who will only treat the wounded in the backfield."

This is what Varian says most often to his son. But Anduin's interest was not in fighting and killing at all, he held his sword like a woman, and even after training, he barely managed to pass. Once the fight starts, it is completely impossible to parry the opponent's attack.

"I'm going to learn the way of the Paladin from Ares."

Finally, one day, young Anduin summoned up the courage to propose his idea to his father. Varian was stunned for a moment, and then his expression froze, Ares was like a brother in distress to him, and if it weren't for Ares and Gianna risking rescue, he might still be fighting wild beasts in a gladiator arena in Karimdor.

But is his son going to give up the path of a warrior like this?

"Before you can become a paladin, you must first be a qualified warrior. Do you see paladins who can't use weapons? ”

Conflicted, Varian yelled at Anduin. He still did not give up his determination to train his son to be a great warrior.

"I haven't seen it, but Ares told me that there are paladins who don't use weapons, they fight on their faith, they heal their comrades on the battlefield, and protect their teammates. These people can also be the core of the team. Win a war with divine spells. ”

Through Ares' words, Anduin resisted his father's repressive policies.

"What's the difference between that and a priest?"

Varian muttered.

"Priests are also sacred professions, and they are equally important to the kingdom of mankind and to the army. During the Orc Wars, there was no Paladin in the Alliance, it was Alonsos. Archbishop Fao proposed to combine the Holy Light with warriors to create the class of Paladin, and the Knights of the Silver Hand were born. In the Second Orc War, the Knights even became a banner of the Alliance, inspiring many Alliance soldiers to fight bloodily. ”

In the face of his father's reproach, Anduin continued to argue with reason.

"Ares told you this?"

Varian asked, looking ugly.

"Yes."

Anduin replied in a whisper......