That afternoon, a thousand-strong mage contingent from Dalaran appeared in the mage district of Lordaeron. Interestingly, the first to appear before the people of Lordaeron were two white-bearded mages.
The magical fluctuations emanating from both of them created a sense of pressure on the royal mages of Lordaeron, indicating that not only did they look alike, but their strength was also comparable. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were twins.
They were Gandalf and Antonidas, distinguished only by one wearing an ornate purple robe, while the other wore a simple white one.
Antonidas led the thousand-mage group away, heading towards what seemed to be the core of Lordaeron's mage district. However, his expression suggested that his relationship with Gandalf wasn't particularly harmonious.
Gandalf was followed by only a hundred wizards, arranged by Galen to give Gandalf some presence. After all, going to Dalaran alone wouldn't be impressive enough. Without some followers, how could he display his status as Stromgarde's premier mage?
However, Galen hadn't expected that Gandalf would also have two petite figures by his side: a girl of about sixteen or seventeen, with a beautiful face, dressed in what appeared to be the attire of a noble's daughter, and a girl of about eight or nine, as delicate as a porcelain doll, who would undoubtedly grow into a beauty.
"Master, is this Lordaeron?" the older girl asked Gandalf. From childhood, she had only stayed within her family's territory, occasionally visiting the capital for a vacation. This time, her father had pulled some strings to make her Gandalf's apprentice, and she had only spent a few days in Dalaran before following her master to Lordaeron.
"Sister Ilucia, this is Lordaeron! I see the flag of the Kingdom of Lordaeron and the crest of the Menethil family!" the little girl interjected, her golden hair shining, wearing an expression that seemed to say, 'Praise me!', quite pleased with herself.
The girl named Ilucia patted her younger apprentice sister on the head, praising, "Jaina is so clever!"
It turned out that Gandalf's two young apprentices were Ilucia Barov and Jaina Proudmoore. Truly, life is unpredictable; Galen's appearance had significantly altered history.
The Barov family's desire for a marriage alliance with the Stromgarde royal family was a well-intentioned effort, actively contributing to the Alliance's logistics, relieving Lothar of any worries, and thereby elevating their title to Duke!
This leap required the Barov family to directly shrink their assets by one-third, but Duke Alerix believed it was worth it. Moreover, the Duke had somehow learned that Galen was not only a knight of the Church of the Holy Light but also a student of Gandalf, Stromgarde's chief mage, so the Duke took a different approach.
Stromgarde was the old capital of the Arathor Empire, and the Barov family's Caer Darrow fortress was also built by Emperor Thoradin. Being able to inherit this fortress indicated that the Barov ancestors had a close relationship with Emperor Thoradin.
He used Galen's father's connections to secure a spot for his daughter as Gandalf's apprentice.
Jaina's situation was more dramatic. Galen had arranged for Gandalf to go to Dalaran to challenge the mages, visiting each mage tower in turn, ostensibly to discuss arcane theories and experiments, but in reality, to showcase his strength.
From high-ranking mages to the Kirin Tor's Council of Six, except for Kael'thas and Krasus, Gandalf challenged everyone up to Antonidas's doorstep.
Among them, besides Dalaran's Archmage Antonidas, Gandalf stated that there was no one who could fight him, because he wasn't fighting alone. Gandalf had the support of Medivh's spirit behind him, the master of Karazhan, who possessed the largest magical library in all of humanity, the former Guardian. Medivh claimed that he only admired his mother when it came to knowledge.
Thus, Gandalf's reputation soared within a month, achieving the name of 'Erudite Mage' by defeating the various archmages of Dalaran. Coupled with his strength, which was no less than Antonidas's, he faintly became the number one mage in various countries outside of Dalaran.
Coincidentally, our Lord Daelin's mistress, the high elf mage Gina Goldsword, discovered Jaina's outstanding magical talent, and that she was of age to begin her magical education, recommending her to study in Dalaran.
Jaina, who was originally supposed to go to Antonidas's mage tower, happened to encounter Gandalf's widespread fame in Dalaran. Furthermore, Jaina vaguely remembered that this white-bearded old man was her Galen's teacher. Jaina had always remembered the kind older brother who often gave her delicious treats as a child and the naughty older brother who would pinch her cheeks.
Would the obedient Jaina still be Jaina?
So our Kul Tiras princess directly threw away the letter of introduction to Antonidas and instead went to find Gandalf, who was staying at Kael'thas's mage tower.
After pestering, acting spoiled, and using all sorts of little girl tricks, Gandalf stated that teaching one apprentice was the same as teaching two, so he accepted both of them.
As for whether there would be any political or diplomatic repercussions in the future, why should Gandalf care? That was something for his own prince to worry about.
That evening, in the Royal Palace of Lordaeron, Terenas held a banquet, firstly to gather the main nobles and military generals in the city to inform them of the upcoming great war, and to prepare them, and secondly, to welcome the various assisting forces.
Terenas noticed the two young guests at the banquet, and so this thoughtful king called out his own two children to accompany Jaina and Ilucia.
The thirteen-year-old Princess Calia Menethil and the eleven-year-old Prince Arthas, along with the nine-year-old Jaina and the sixteen-year-old Ilucia, left the somewhat somber banquet hall and went to the palace gardens.
Calia and Ilucia were both shy and quiet, and being older and having received noble education, they sat quietly in the pavilion, chatting idly, from noble anecdotes to childhood stories, and then together complaining about their troublesome younger brothers. The two noble girls, who lacked childhood playmates, quickly became close friends.
Jaina was lively and cheerful, and even though it was her first time at the Lordaeron Royal Palace, she was hopping around, observing everything and comparing it to the Boralus palace.
Arthas was also meeting peers for the first time and was very excited. Coupled with the fact that he had already begun warrior training and was very sturdy, he jumped around, introducing everything to Jaina.
"These are the tulips that Mother loves the most. She comes here every morning to admire them. This is the little tree that my sister and I planted. It has survived for two years!" Arthas said, using both his hands and feet to climb onto the branches of the little tree.
"Arthas, you're so agile!" Jaina thought to herself, 'What a mischievous boy, just like my brother Tandred at home, so barbaric!'
"Of course! In the future, I will become the strongest warrior on the continent! No, it should be a paladin!" Arthas declared his ambition.
"No, you won't. The strongest paladin is brother Galen!"
****
"Achoo!" Galen sneezed.
Galen set up camp in a hidden location at the base of the holy mountain where the monastery was located. Orgrim never dreamed that his carefully planned raid was completely exposed under Galen's watchful eyes.
Including his deal with Aiden.
Galen tossed a magic recording stone up and down in his hand. It contained the betrayal that occurred in Alterac Valley, recording Aiden and Orgrim every word and action clearly, including Haas's advice and Aiden's stubbornness.
This was the masterpiece of the great legendary rogue, Garona. With just a small cloak of invisibility, she could avoid Orgrim detection and find the best shooting angle in advance, thus creating the number one paparazzi team in Azeroth.
Galen watched the short film-like recording and came up with a plan.
He took out his communicator and made a video call directly to his old father.
"Father!" Galen greeted Thoras. Since he and Galen had last discussed finding a princess consort as soon as possible, Galen had run away and hadn't returned to Stromgarde for over half a year.
"You little brat, your wings have hardened. You leave without a word? If Danath hadn't told me you went to Quel'Thalas, I wouldn't even know where you were!" Thoras was furious when he mentioned this.
On one hand, he enjoyed the pride that Galen's achievements brought him, but on the other hand, he was annoyed that his child was too opinionated and no longer listened to his father's advice!
"Relax, relax, Father, I've already met a girl I like. After this war, I will...!" Oh crap, I almost dug my own grave. You can't just make these kinds of flags!
"Hmm." Although Galen didn't finish speaking, Thoras understood. For accomplished and opinionated children, some things shouldn't be forced too hard.
"Father, I think Danath is already twenty-eight years old, ten years older than me. I think he should find a suitable girl even more. Time waits for no one, in a while Danath will be thirty!" Secret jutsu : Shifting the blame +1.
"I will consider it. In fact, I have already found a suitable candidate." Thoras was also very concerned about his nephew, but this one also had his own ideas. Because of his guilt towards his cousin, Thoras would not force Danath to do things he didn't like.
"Oh ho, who is it? Father, tell me so I can give my opinion!" Galen's gossipy heart was burning fiercely.
"Amor's daughter, Niais!" Thoras said a name.
"Amor's daughter? Is that the guard captain who always follows behind Ms. Amarelin?" Galen recalled this person.
"Correct." Thoras seemed very satisfied with this choice. She was a relative of two high-ranking military officers in Stromgarde, belonging to the royalist faction within the royalists. Stromgarde had been almost completely integrated into a monolithic entity by Galen and Thoras. Originally, the marriage partner should have been Galen, because their ages were more similar, but Galen clearly had no such intention.
Thoras's liver hurt just thinking about this.
"Alright, you wouldn't call me for a chat for no reason. Speak, what do you need me to do!" Like father, like son, Galen's courteousness was definitely a request for something.
"A big deal, Father!" Galen's expression straightened, and he said mysteriously.
"Speak quickly if you have something to say, stop being so secretive."
Interrupted, Galen still wanted to maintain his mystery, but seeing that his father was a little impatient, he had no choice but to go straight to the point.
"What is Father's impression of Aiden Perenolde?"
"That old man? A coward, only knows how to play some conspiracies and tricks, can't get on the stage at all." Thoras thought of the frictions with the Kingdom of Alterac over the years and couldn't help but look around for his battle axe. "What does the deal you're talking about have to do with this schemer?"
Galen once again said mysteriously: "Father, Aiden has betrayed us!"
"He and the Orcish Warchief have reached an agreement behind our backs. He's giving up the entire Alterac Mountain Pass for the Orcs to pass through. I estimate that King Terenas will see his front door full of green skins tomorrow morning."
Thoras was shocked and almost stood up from his chair, but he restrained himself. Looking closely at Aiden's personality and style, he might really be able to do this kind of thing.
"What evidence do you have, Galen!" This was not a child's play. Even if Thoras already believed his son's words, the betrayal of a member state of the Alliance was too big, almost reaching the sky.
Galen, through the communicator, played Garona's work for Thoras to watch.
This kind of immersive recording stone made Thoras want to slaughter this brainless king for Haas.
"I will immediately lead troops to the Kingdom of Alterac. Seal off the mountain pass there, absolutely can't let the Orcs pass through at will again!" In normal times, Thoras leading troops into the Kingdom of Alterac would be equivalent to a declaration of war, especially since Stromgarde often had conflicts with this country.
"This is exactly what I was thinking. Currently, the main energy of the Alliance's various departments is in the capital of Lordaeron. Gilneas doesn't care, and only our Stromgarde still has the spare strength to send troops to turn the tide."
Galen expressed his agreement, but he had a deeper plan for this matter: "Father, you should lead the Highland Knights first, block the Orcs' retreat route, and the infantry regiment will follow closely behind. With sufficient evidence, we can completely announce Aiden's betrayal, we have the right to sanction him!"
Thoras had no objection to this. He had long been dissatisfied with Aiden, and being able to sanction him already made Thoras happy for several days.
"Father, for this war between the Alliance and the Orcs, nothing is undecided. Although Orgrim still has nearly 100,000 main forces in his hands, the potential of the Alliance has already been stimulated. Just our Stromgarde has seven legions that have not been put into battle, not to mention Lordaeron, the largest country. Orgrim choosing Lordaeron as his target will drive the lords of various places crazy."
"However, Father, have you considered what Stromgarde will get after the war is won?"
"The Orcs are penniless, and other than their strength, they are useless as slaves!"
"But now Alterac has made a bad move, so this country's territory has become the biggest spoil of war we can share."
"Father, I know you and Terenas are very good friends, but you should know this king's great talent and strategy. He has the means to monopolize Alterac, and may even implicate other innocent Alterac nobles, such as General Haas, such as the Barov family."
"I think you should let your council of advisors know about this. We know about Aiden's betrayal, I think we can use this time to prepare for the future in advance."
"What do you think?"