Chapter 695

Chapter 695: The Throne of Lordaeron

Boom, boom…

The palace door slowly opened, and Jesse watched as the view unfolded before him. Silver-armored soldiers in deep blue cloaks turned to look his way.

Compared to the narrow castle-like corridors of Stormwind Keep, the palace of Lordaeron truly felt like the heart of a great empire. Blue and white drapes hung from the heavy walls, and Lordaeron’s emblem, made of its initials and a shield with a sword, was seen on the soldiers’ shields, cloaks, and curtains.

As Vereesa entered the palace, she didn’t show much curiosity. Back in the old craftsman district, she had been looking around, but now she seemed more interested in who sat on the throne than in the decorations.

“Master Jesse Seso, court mage advisor of the Kingdom of Stormwind, and Mrs Vereesa Windrunner, Ranger Lord of Quel’Thalas, have arrived at the palace…”

The long, old-sounding announcement echoed through the corridors and walls. Jesse turned his head to the female elf beside him and whispered, “They know you’re the Ranger Lord without a promotion ceremony?”

Vereesa replied softly, “I am already the Ranger Lord. The Farstriders, the Sunstrider royal family, and the Silvermoon Council all agree. It was mostly settled before Grim Batol. You know how those ancient beings are about doing things… Anyway, the ceremony can happen anytime. It’s up to me, or really, to you.”

“Okay, I get it,” Jesse whispered as they walked.

A tall knight in silver armor and a white robe led the way, his hand on his sword. His metal boots clanked on the stone bricks. Jesse heard the announcement repeat and felt more uneasy about the title “court mage advisor.”

With his current skills, he could barely pass the Apprentice Mage Exam at the Wizard’s Sanctum. He was far from being a real mage.

Of course, as a black magic advisor within Stormwind’s walls, he was good enough.

But his true strength didn’t match his fame. After returning to the Kingdom of Stormwind, he needed to help his parents fix up their new house and study black magic to get better.

Please don’t test my magic, Your Majesty, he prayed silently.

They crossed the wooden bridge over the inner city canal. The knights’ steps made the boards shake. Jesse looked around at the palace’s red walls and golden towers, the guards watching him, and the nobles peeking from windows. It all felt familiar.

But the nervousness of meeting King Terenas II of Lordaeron left him no time to recall this life or the last. The royal hall door was right ahead.

As the last palace door opened and they stepped in, the whispers went quiet.

It was a solemn and slightly gloomy great hall. The floor had a circle pattern like a magic spell, centered on Lordaeron’s emblem. Stepping in felt like being trapped in a law-bound curse.

On the high terraces stood nobles in fine clothes or knights and generals in armor. Their stares from above added to the pressure.

At the far end, on the raised throne, sat a man who seemed carved to fit the seat.

Jesse saw King Terenas II clearly for the first time. He wore a spiked golden crown with jewels and a light gold breastplate. A chain linked symbols of the Holy Light and a royal lion, holding his heavy fur cloak on his broad shoulders. But his face looked weak, like a rotting wooden statue.

Terenas II tilted his head to look at the newcomers. Then a noble on a high terrace shouted, “Bow to the King!”

Jesse and Vereesa both bowed and greeted His Majesty. The King nodded weakly. When Jesse looked up, his eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he saw a young man near the throne steps.

He had golden hair and wore a rich blue cloak. Under it, his vest, belt, and pants were covered in gold and gems. He wasn’t as heroic as Varian Wrynn but was more handsome.

That was Arthas Menethil, Jesse knew for sure.

Prince Arthas of Lordaeron looked at Jesse with bright blue eyes. He was tall and strong, handsome like a golden-maned warhorse, as if he owned the place.

Jesse knew he was fifteen now. He remembered seeing him in the Cathedral when he was just a kid. Jesse had kept that image in mind, forgetting two Feast of Winter Veils had passed.

To the Alliance rulers and nobles, Arthas Menethil was the bright future. He was like the rising Kingdom of Lordaeron itself—a shining golden king, strong and glorious.

Then Terenas II murmured, “Mrs Vereesa Windrunner, welcome to Lordaeron. Mr Jesse Seso, perhaps I shouldn’t see you as a guest. You grew up in Brill and the royal city; you’re a child of Tirisfal.

“I heard about the terrible disaster at Grim Batol. The black dragons and red dragons burned it down, and your bravery saved our young warriors from spilling their blood on the old dwarf walls. I am grateful, and the whole Alliance is grateful.”

After saying that, the King seemed to have used up half his strength. He leaned on the throne to catch his breath. “As a Farstrider, serving the Alliance is my duty, Your Majesty,” Vereesa said, lowering her head.

“The Wizard’s Sanctum has long been looking into the link between Grim Batol and the dragons, Your Majesty,” Jesse said. “Finishing this was my mission.”

“The Wizard’s Sanctum?” a court mage in white robes spoke. “If you’d stayed in Lordaeron and studied at the magic academy, instead of going to Stormwind where Orcs are everywhere, you might not have gone astray. Your magic skills could have been used right.”

Hearing this, Jesse froze for a moment. Vereesa frowned. A noble on the terrace, maybe from the Council, said, “His Majesty knows about Nethergarde, Mr Jesse Seso. Many of us fear what happened there, but His Majesty doesn’t think you’re a threat. He wants to give you a chance to make things right. The Grim Batol crisis shows you’re a good warrior who just got off track. I’m sorry for judging you too quickly before.”

“Redeem himself?” Vereesa shot back.

“Do you want your friend mixed up with black magic, demons, and Orc spells, Mrs Vereesa Windrunner?” another noble said, looking down. “Remember Quel’Thalas five years ago.”

“Silence.” The King ordered weakly, but his voice was lost in the noise. Still, the whole room went quiet at once.