Shortly after healing Sylvanas, Arthas saw the combined banners of Lordaeron and the Farstriders in the distance.
"Arthas, what have you done? Shortly after we left, those trolls seemed to go crazy, charging the magic barrier, and then taking a full-power explosion." Uther entered the fortress, spotted his student, and asked with curiosity.
"They sent a priest to hunt us down, but we took him out."
"A priest? Is that the lynx head impaled on the wall?" Uther noticed the deterrent "banner" at Arthas's prompting.
"Yes, Uther. You also know about the trolls' divine priests?"
"I've seen related records in some ancient texts, but I've never truly encountered one on the battlefield," Uther responded. "It's said they possess the power of the gods, are mysterious and unpredictable, and very difficult to deal with."
"Exactly, Uther. If I hadn't used a trick, that troll priest alone could have killed us all." Arthas took out his damaged armor to show Uther. The Lightbringer saw the armor, which was nearly torn through, and frowned deeply. "You must have used the Holy Light to protect yourself?"
"Yes, but against his terrifying claws, my defense was almost nonexistent." Arthas did not mention that if he had fully unleashed the power of the Holy Light, the power attached to the surface of his armor would have scorched the opponent, but then the opponent would have certainly fled directly, and he would have lost the opportunity to kill Harraz. The necessary feigned weakness made Harraz misjudge Arthas's strength, which allowed him to find an opportunity to quickly slay him.
"This is armor crafted from fine iron by a Dwarven master, and it has a wizard's enchantment… The troll priests are even more powerful than recorded in books." Uther's expression was extremely solemn; he felt it was necessary to explain the danger of the trolls to His Majesty after returning. Because the trolls had not directly threatened human-controlled areas for too long, and the last time they appeared was with the Orcs, humans inevitably overlooked their inherent threat. Now, having witnessed the trolls' ability to mobilize tens of thousands of troops in a very short time, and such powerful extraordinary strength, Uther believed that the kingdom's border defenses must be taken seriously.
"No need to worry too much, Uther. The trolls' high-ranking priests are not stones on the road, otherwise they wouldn't have become so crazy after losing a priest." Arthas explained the possible strength of the Amani trolls to Uther. "We should indeed take the troll problem seriously, but Lordaeron has not fully recovered from the wounds of the Second War. A large-scale attack on the trolls deep in the forest at this time would only result in a mutually destructive outcome. Moreover, as long as we defend against the trolls' upcoming attacks and inflict sufficient losses on them, we won't have to worry about the troll threat for at least the next few years."
By that time, in his plan, the kingdom would have long since shed the enormous burden of the Orc internment camps, and he himself would go to change a crucial destiny. He would formally possess methods to contend with demigods. Then, he would ally with the Elves to resolve the troll threat in the northern forests once and for all. "Furthermore, the Elves should be more worried about those trolls in the forest than we are; after all, it is they, not us, who directly border the Amani territory." Let the Elves and trolls be in a stalemate; as long as the High Elves are not exterminated by the trolls, it is basically impossible for the trolls to bypass the Elven Gate and threaten Lordaeron on the other side of the mountains. Even in another area where trolls frequently appear, the Hinterlands, which connects to a part of Lordaeron's territory, the only pass out of the Hinterlands is considered home by the Wildhammer Dwarves, and the trolls there are busy fighting the Dwarves every day, so they have no time to bother with humans.
In short, the main problems for Lordaeron at present, besides the burden brought by the Orc internment camps, are certain dark forces hidden in the kingdom's shadows, attempting to subvert everything.
"You're right, the pain caused by the Second War is still vivid. We don't have that much strength to wipe out so many trolls." Uther sighed, recalling the chaotic years of war, where humanity paid a heavy price to defeat a powerful enemy. And the fragile alliance formed at that time is now merely a useless clause written on paper; they are no longer united at all.
Patting his student's shoulder, Uther said, "I'm going to check on the soldiers' condition. You've just been through a fierce battle, so go rest for a while. By tomorrow morning, the trolls should launch a major offensive."
When the moon was high, Arthas walked out of his temporary lodging and onto the high wall, quietly gazing at the tranquil forest.
"The view here is quite nice, isn't it?" Sylvanas's voice sounded behind him; the Ranger-General also had no intention of sleeping—with their strength, staying awake for several days in a row was not a very difficult thing. And Sylvanas had not expended too much energy in the daytime battle, so she took the opportunity to patrol the city wall, only she didn't expect to meet Arthas here.
"Yes, Lady Sylvanas. In Lordaeron, to see such a view, you have to go to the westernmost mountains." Arthas leaned against the parapet, enjoying the night breeze.
"Are you talking about the western mountains of Tirisfal Glades?" Sylvanas naturally took over the conversation. "In the records of the Quel'dorei, that's not a good place—"
"The books say inauspicious monsters live there, and many people go mad, right? Lordaeron's royal library also has similar collections," Arthas said casually. "But in reality, many small towns are on the foothills, and there's also one of Lordaeron's most prosperous towns there."
"Who knows? I haven't read many of those mysterious books, and most of the records left from that era are very vague." That was indeed a very ancient era, even before the High Elves settled in this forest, at which time Sylvanas had not even been born. Arthas just smiled and didn't elaborate on the matter—he naturally knew what was buried deep in that mountain range; it was just that he currently lacked the strength to uncover that secret.
Perhaps Arthas's personality was quite likable, as Sylvanas was now quite willing to chat with him for a bit. "You are a prince of humans. I didn't expect you to know so much about these ancient secrets."
"It must not be as much as you, Sylvanas. Your family in Quel'Thalas was once a legend; I never thought I would fight alongside you." Arthas's words stirred Sylvanas's memories, and her tone became somewhat subdued. "My family was indeed once a legend, but now, only I remain."
Her sister, Alleria Windrunner, followed the expeditionary force into the Dark Portal—the passage through which the Orcs came to this world—during the Second War. That towering portal still stands in the Blasted Lands at the southernmost tip of the continent. It is like a silent stone tablet, inscribed with the suffering of the entire Eastern Kingdoms continent. In that war that swept the entire world, she lost two of her closest relatives: her sister entered the Dark Portal and her whereabouts are unknown, and her younger brother unfortunately became a casualty during the war when the Orcs ransacked Elven villages. Her only remaining younger sister is also not within Quel'Thalas territory now; she is far away in the human magical kingdom of Dalaran, serving as the highest commander of the High Elf Ranger Corps stationed there. The vast Windrunner family, in just a few short years, was reduced to just her. She had no choice but to take on the heavy burden of Ranger-General from her relatives, either stationed on the front lines or arguing with the council members in the Silvermoon Council.
She had long grown tired of those good-for-nothing, short-sighted council members; they simply didn't understand the threats the Elves faced—even the breaking of Banthinoreil by the Orcs during the Second War failed to awaken them. If not for protecting her compatriots in Eversong Woods, she could have, like her elder sister and younger sister, stayed away from trouble, or quietly served as an ordinary Ranger.
"I'm sorry, my phrasing might have been a bit off." Arthas suddenly spoke again not long after, and Sylvanas was noncommittal after hearing him. Perhaps this Prince Arthas also realized that the Windrunner legend was long gone?
"I think the Windrunner family has always been a legend." Arthas turned to look at Sylvanas. "Your sister sacrificed everything to protect this world; your younger sister also left her family to stay in Dalaran, maintaining our fragile alliance—you too have given too much for your compatriots. You have always been legends."
Sylvanas stared at Arthas for a while, then suddenly said playfully, "You haven't fallen for me, Prince Arthas, have you?"
"Cough cough!" Arthas was almost choked by Sylvanas's words. He said with a wry smile, "Lady Sylvanas, I have no improper thoughts about you. I am already engaged."
"Heh, who knows? Isn't it normal for you human nobles to have multiple lovers?" Sylvanas seemed to intentionally guide the conversation in that direction. "Although I am a General, unlike the ladies of Silvermoon City who have time for upkeep, I am at least somewhat confident in my appearance. Moreover, didn't that human fellow named Turalyon also trick my sister away?"
Arthas truly hadn't expected this Windrunner to already be thinking so far ahead—Turalyon went and hooked up with your Elves, I never even considered it! But Arthas also couldn't deny that Elves are naturally endowed with extremely beautiful appearances; picking any one of them would result in a beauty one in a hundred among humans. Especially Sylvanas, who has been constantly on campaign, possesses a unique charm. Arthas felt that most men couldn't resist the allure of her exquisite face, stunning figure, and queenly demeanor.
"Haha," seeing Arthas's frustrated expression, Sylvanas felt much better, even no longer wanting to pursue his "clumsy" healing methods. "I was just joking, Prince Arthas. I would never fall in love with a human, but I think we can be friends."
Arthas finally let out a long breath. He hadn't expected Sylvanas's personality to be so lively before that major change. He certainly didn't want to get involved in any complicated relationship with this Lady Sylvanas. Not to mention the various troubles that might arise, his fiancée alone would be enough to give him a headache. Although his fiancée was gentle, considerate, and understanding, Arthas did not want to incur a woman's displeasure in this matter.