As the Life Essence entered her body, a burst of light erupted from Maricia, and her aura began to grow powerful and long-lasting. This enhancement was all-encompassing and without side effects, everything falling into place as if naturally.
Looking at her hands, Maricia knelt down in excitement, prostrating herself before Arthas. "Thank you for the blessing of the great Goddess of Life! Thank you, Lord Messenger! I will surely do my utmost to spread the teachings of Life!"
Seeing that the first person to "eat the crab" had succeeded, the followers below grew restless. Initially, many had joined simply because of Arthas's prestige, combined with the fact that the affinity of the Holy Light was indeed very effective at swaying people. No one would feel repulsed by it; instead, they felt this was a Guild they could trust. Coupled with the Guild's continuous acts of charity and kindness, these interlocking factors had drawn in a large number of followers.
Those gathered here were considered the core members. While there were no shortage of opportunists among them, many were sincere. Now, after witnessing this scene, everyone—whether they were there for the ride or out of genuine devotion—was deeply moved. No one lacked the desire to become stronger; the only question was whether they were willing to pay the price.
Arthas looked over the list. When his eyes fell upon a certain name, his gaze sharpened slightly as he recognized an old acquaintance. Lillian Voss. Her father was a High Priest of the Church of the Holy Light in Lordaeron—a position high enough to be nominated for the election of Archbishop, essentially a figure of real power. Why would the daughter of such a powerful man appear in his Guild? What did this mean? Was she a scout sent to test him, or was this a genuine attempt to curry favor?
The Church of the Holy Light was good, at least for now. Those who believed in the Holy Light were generally beings of justice and conscience; whether they were humans, elves, or Orcs, all could wield the Holy Light. However, those of a devious or despicable nature could not be accepted by the Holy Light. This meant that most priests were kind-hearted, though they occasionally had their own calculations and schemes within a normal human range—after all, it was impossible for a person to be entirely without self-interest. It wasn't that there were no villains among Holy Light users; it was just that these villains were exceptionally good at disguising themselves, often being the most treacherous of antagonists.
"Lillian Voss, step forward!"
A young girl with bright eyes and white teeth looked up in surprise. She had a beautiful face and golden hair, perfectly embodying the grace of a fair-skinned maiden. Her sweet looks, combined with her pure white Priest Robe, gave her a faint aura of sanctity.
Lillian Voss's history was quite legendary. In the game, she appeared as an undead—an undead with self-awareness. Her father was a High Priest, and after her resurrection, Lillian had refused to accept her identity as a Forsaken, loathing her own "hideous" appearance. Becoming a Forsaken had filled her with extreme terror, but she firmly believed her father could help her. With an anxious heart, she had gone to see him, only to have her father—who was adamantly against the undead—disown her and order her execution.
Then came the story of how she became a "filial daughter" to survive. Even within the Horde, she was a unique figure, a loner who rarely participated in major Horde affairs, appearing only on a few occasions. How could Arthas not remember such a woman?
With a mix of trepidation and anticipation, Lillian slowly walked up to Arthas. Widening her eyes, she summoned her courage and looked directly at him, wanting to get a close look at this legendary prince. He had saved the Dragon Queen, thwarted powerful Orc assassins, defeated the Horde army, conquered the Naga, and tamed the Gnolls. Such feats made him seem magical to her, possessing an aura of brilliant martial prowess.
Looking at his face from so close, she saw how young and handsome he was. Was this the Prince Arthas the noble ladies gossiped about? Lillian felt her heart start to race. She was nervous, wanting to strike up a conversation but not knowing what to say. She had no idea she had been targeted by a "beast"—a beast who, just moments ago, had been riding two delicate maidens, thrusting into them without protection and spraying thick semen deep inside. If she didn't turn back now, she would likely face the same fate!
"Hello, Lillian. We've met before, haven't we? We were both so young then. In the blink of an eye, we've already begun to shoulder our own responsibilities. Your kindness and enthusiasm have helped many. Life is beautiful. The Goddess of Life is very pleased with your actions; please keep it up, and she shall favor you." Arthas stroked Lillian's hair, placing his right hand on her head as he began to pour in Faith Power.
Hum! A gentle wave of Holy Light began to spread, making everyone feel refreshed and uplifted. Compared to traditional Holy Light prayers, this light felt gentler and more comfortable. Merely being bathed in its glow brought a sense of spiritual peace. Their focus became incredibly sharp; this unintended effect of mental clarity seemed to wash clean the hearts of the believers!
Lillian was the most astonished of all. she felt her understanding of the Holy Light deepen significantly. She attempted to cast a healing spell, and it was exceptionally smooth; even the time needed for the chant was nearly instantaneous—an ability usually reserved for a middle-rank priest.
"This...!"
"Do not be surprised. This is the gift of the Goddess of Life to her most devout follower. Lillian, are you willing to use the Holy Light to dispel evil and provide aid to commoners in need?" Arthas asked in a god-like manner. Clad in his shimmering Holy Light, no one would ever suspect he was actually a beastly scoundrel in private!
Lillian tucked away her shocked expression. From her initial curiosity to shock, and now to a sense of solemnity, she began to believe in this Goddess of Life. If not for the Goddess's favor, such a sudden enlightenment could never have happened!
"I am willing."
"Are you willing to dedicate your strength regardless of status, race, or importance?" Arthas continued his inquiry.
"I am willing!" Lillian's expression gradually became one of true devotion. This ceremony was designed to add a sense of mystery and to systematically entice the believers into accepting the results.
"Congratulations, you have become a priest of our Guild. Our tasks are heavy, and we cannot succeed without your help. For the Goddess of Life, let us work together!" Arthas encouraged everyone with impassioned words. He had Lillian stand to the side as he continued to empower the followers, this time choosing commoners with no prior foundation.