Chapter 448: First Paladins

Though pure warriors might not be exceptionally strong on their own, under the blessing of the Holy Light, their combat prowess soared to astonishing heights. 

These warriors could contend with top-tier enemies—though merely contend. 

The first generation of five paladins all possessed remarkable strength, each leaving a significant mark in the history of Azeroth.

While their power might pale in comparison to the future's overwhelming champions, at this point in time, their presence offered a substantial boost to the Alliance's forces.

Compared to the Horde's elite warriors, the Alliance had a plethora of formidable spellcasters but lagged far behind in producing top-tier physical combatants.

Among the orcs were warriors like Orgrim Doomhammer, Kargath Bladefist, Varok Saurfang (High Overlord Saurfang), his brother Broxigar, Grom Hellscream, Kilrogg Deadeye, and Samuro—each a peerless fighter in their own right.

In contrast, on the Alliance side, beyond Anduin Lothar, only Genn Greymane and Daelin Proudmoore could be considered notable, while other strong warriors like the Bronzebeard brothers were primarily dwarves.

The emergence of the paladins significantly bridged the gap in elite physical combatants between the Alliance and the Horde.

It was truly a cause for celebration.

However, the first meeting between the Alliance's supreme commander and the future strongest melee combatants under his command was far from pleasant.

After Faol departed, Lothar and Alaric found themselves surrounded by the paladin candidates.

Some of them, like Turalyon, appeared timid. Others, like Uther and Tirion, were more at ease.

As Lothar was still contemplating what to say, Uther broke the silence.

"My lord," he said, his voice steady, "the Archbishop has informed us of the approaching battle and the Horde's advance. 

We stand ready to fight for the people at your command. We will utterly defeat our enemies, drive them away, and let the Holy Light protect this land."

He was a tall man with a resolute expression and deep blue eyes.

Alaric could sense the man's devotion—it rivaled even Faol's, though it lacked the Archbishop's warmth.

"You were once a knight?" Lothar asked.

"Yes, my lord," the paladin candidate replied. "But long ago, in my youth, I became a follower of the church, a devout believer. 

With the arrival of these foul creatures, I realized we must embrace the blessing of the Holy Light to defeat them, to protect our lands, our homes, and our people."

Lothar nodded, understanding part of the man's faith-driven answer.

Alaric and Lothar spent over an hour conversing with the four paladin candidates. After these holy warriors left to attend their afternoon prayers, Lothar turned to the mage.

"So," he asked, "what do you think of them?"

"In my opinion," Alaric began, "a paladin's strength depends on their devotion to their faith. Without a doubt, Uther is the strongest among them. 

However, his shortcomings are equally apparent. 

I sincerely doubt he would resort to less honorable means to achieve victory due to his unwavering focus on glory and faith—yet war itself is neither honorable nor glorious. 

True warfare spares no effort in pursuit of victory."

Lothar nodded in agreement. He was impressed by his advisor's ability to cut straight to the heart of the matter. 

Suddenly, Lothar realized the mage before him was even more capable than he had previously assumed.

"While Uther is undoubtedly suited to lead the paladins, I don't think he can effectively command anyone outside of their ranks. His unyielding devotion would likely alienate many soldiers."

"Saiden Dathrohan lacks Uther's flaws but is perhaps too zealous. While this zeal makes him decisive on the battlefield, it also makes him prone to impulsiveness and extremes."

"Tirion Fordring, though neither as devout as Uther nor as zealous as Dathrohan, is relatively unremarkable. 

However, I see him as the most promising due to his balanced mindset. His openness to advice makes him the most likely to achieve true self-awareness and growth as a paladin."

"As for Turalyon," Alaric concluded, "his faith is the weakest among them, but in my view, he is the strongest overall.

He was trained to be both a clergyman and a loyal servant of the church, but he lacks the radiant passion of the others. 

However, his greater wisdom makes him more suited to leadership."

Alaric's assessment left Lothar amazed. 

In such a short time, this mage had not only discerned the paladins' personalities but also provided an analysis that Lothar himself, despite his vast experience, had not considered. 

This was natural, of course, as Alaric's knowledge extended beyond mere observation—he knew their futures.

From Lothar's perspective, Alaric defied the typical image of reclusive, aloof mages.

Overall, Lothar completely endorsed Alaric's evaluation.

"I completely agree with your points. I'll speak with Faol," the commander said with a wry smile. 

"You've covered everything so thoroughly that I have nothing to add. 

The value of the paladins is undeniable. I'll appoint Uther as our liaison with the church."

"And I'll recommend another candidate," Lothar added, as Alaric had anticipated.

"His name is Gavinrad. He's a knight from Stormwind, deeply loyal to us, and an excellent person. I believe he would make a fine paladin," he said with a smile. 

"As for Turalyon, I'll make him one of my lieutenants."

"That's an excellent choice," Alaric agreed. In truth, he was delighted for Lothar to have more lieutenants, as it meant he could offload more daily responsibilities onto them. 

"Now we just have to hope the Horde gives us enough time to prepare. The biggest issue for these paladins is their lack of experience and the time needed to grow."

However, Alaric wasn't as worried as his words suggested. Unlike arcane magic, the divine magic system didn't rely on accumulated knowledge but rather on faith and inner clarity. 

"Faol has great faith in them, so perhaps we must trust them too," Lothar murmured absentmindedly, already pondering how to allocate the troops provided by the various kings. 

"At the very least, we must do everything in our power to prepare ourselves. That's all we can do."

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