"Ding!"
With a crisp clang, Liadrin's dull training sword was once again knocked away by Arthas. Liadrin rubbed her sore wrist and the web of her hand helplessly. She felt like she wasn't facing a human, but the wildest Troll Berserker.
Although Liadrin's physical condition certainly couldn't compare to that of melee professionals who had trained for many years and experienced countless wars and deaths, her understanding of the Light, the nourishment from the Sunwell's energy, and her youthful body made her an outstanding High Elf priest.
After all, she had participated in several wars against the Trolls and had achieved many military merits, so she was not a combat rookie who knew nothing.
But even so, with Arthas clearly holding back, she was still completely suppressed by him.
Most importantly, Arthas hadn't restricted her from using the power of the Light, but the Prince's storm-like offensive left Liadrin no time to cast any Light spells.
He seemed to know every one of Liadrin's weaknesses, and his continuous attacks made Liadrin feel a life-or-death pressure that surpassed what she felt when fighting Trolls, because at that time, the Trolls never left her without even a chance to use the Light.
But now, Arthas used no power of the Light; relying solely on his swordsmanship and his understanding of a Light user, he rendered Liadrin completely unable to parry.
Arthas sheathed his sword and stopped. He looked at Liadrin and began the first round of instruction.
"Paladins were born during the Orcish Wars. Their existence is to face the tidal wave of Orc attacks, to protect themselves and their allies, and to use their combat skills to crush the enemy.
Although it's different from what many people imagine, the truth is that the paladin is a profession born for war. Every move we make is called 'The Art of War,' transforming complex Light divine spells into pure and simple killing techniques."
Indeed, tracing back to their origins, Paladins are not clergy serving the Light, but rather battlefield elites created to kill enemies and achieve victory.
Even the original intention of Faol, the Archbishop who created this profession, was to create a comprehensive military unit that could use the Light to heal themselves and their allies while also resisting the orcs.
Perhaps after the war, most Paladins, out of reverence for the Light and strict self-discipline, still believe that "guarding" is far more important than "offense," but guarding alone cannot defeat the enemy. Therefore, Paladins do not just wield shields; they also use heavy warhammers and greatswords to reap the sins of the unrighteous.
Even Lightbringer Uther, Arthas's teacher, had a warhammer that had been stained with the blood of countless enemies, not to mention Ashbringer Mograine's greatsword, which was as large as a door panel.
Kindness and justice are for the protection of the innocent, but when facing evil invaders, Paladins are the most fervent angels of vengeance.
Arthas was willing to teach Liadrin, not only because she would become the renowned Countess in the future, but also because Liadrin's own personality and talent indicated that she was more suited to be a paladin, armored and sword-wielding, charging into battle, rather than a priest or priestess quietly serving the Light.
Beneath her calm, peaceful, and gentle exterior lay a brave, fearless, and fervent heart.
If it were another priest being subjected to Arthas's rigorous training, they might have simply smiled and admitted they weren't suited to be a warrior, returning to serve the Light and bring blessings to ordinary people.
But Liadrin, after healing her injuries with the Light, stood up and gripped her sword again and again. At first, she could hide her competitive spirit, but later, the flames of ambition almost burst from her eyes.
However, to defeat Arthas, mere competitiveness and passion were not enough. Even Muradin, who had taught Arthas swordsmanship, was no match for the Prince now, let alone Liadrin, who was still a beginner.
She learned very quickly, it's true. After several rounds of training, she had even developed a basic stance, but she still lacked considerable practice to fully grasp and apply it in real situations.
At this point, Arthas forcefully thrust his dull longsword into the compacted yellow earth. Liadrin was startled by this sight; she felt that Arthas could probably use this dull sword to stab a fully armored High Elf soldier straight through.
Terrifying strength, terrifying skill.
As a calm Liadrin let out a sigh of relief, she also gained an initial understanding of Arthas's strength, concluding that he was an opponent she could not possibly defeat.
"Alright, that's enough. Your performance for a beginner is excellent. It seems your past combat experience has taught you a lot," Arthas removed his gauntlet and hung it on the upright sword hilt. "But combat skills cannot be mastered overnight. Even learning a magic spell requires diligent practice after learning the basic Arcane structure."
Liadrin leaned on her sword and performed a paladin salute, which she had just learned, to Arthas, "Thank you, Prince."
"No need. Let's stop here for today. You can digest this on your own for now and think about what else can be improved. If you have any questions, I'll answer them during our next training session," Arthas glanced at the sky. "It's getting late, and I have some things to do, so I'll be leaving first."
With that, Arthas departed directly, followed closely by a cloaked figure. She had been watching from beside the training ground the whole time, and Liadrin only noticed her now.
However, she didn't focus on the mysterious cloaked figure but looked towards Sylvanas. The Ranger-General hadn't left; instead, she was watching Liadrin with interest.
Liadrin seemed to understand the meaning in Sylvanas's gaze. Without showing any fear, she picked up her longsword again and looked at Sylvanas, eager for a challenge.
The Ranger-General's lips curved into a smile, and she gracefully leaped into the center of the training ground. She looked at Liadrin, who had taken her stance, and instinctively reached for the two short knives strapped to her thigh, but stopped before her hand fully descended—she was going to spar with Liadrin, not kill her. Those two knives were genuine magic weapons, and this dull training sword wouldn't hold up for more than a few strikes.
She pursed her lips, pulled out the training sword that Arthas had thrust into the ground, twirled it in her hand, and smiled, nodding at Liadrin.
...
"What do you think?" Arthas casually asked Tulani, who was wrapped tightly beside him.
Tulani paused for a moment before realizing he was asking her, "Huh? You mean that... Quel'... uh, Elf?"
Arthas nodded.
Tulani then continued, "Ah... her talent is very good, and the Light is very fond of her, but..."
"But what?"
"But weren't you too aggressive? I sensed her soul fluctuations; her personality is inherently very fervent and passionate. If anything goes wrong, I'm afraid she might go astray."