"Attention, at ease, attention, forward march, one-two-one, one-two-one..." The rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed through the window.
Alpha rubbed his eyes, exhibiting a languid demeanor, his open garment revealing a pale yet muscular chest marred by a maze of scars that lent an air of ferocity to his appearance. He fastened his clothes, donned his leather armor, and after completing his morning ablutions, he pushed open the wooden door. The sight before him altered his initial impression.
On the rudimentary drill ground, soldiers were conducting their exercises with precision, their formations as orderly as cut blocks of tofu. Despite the harsh conditions and rudimentary facilities, the soldiers' determination was unyielding; their sweat glistened in the sunlight, and their resolute faces were unshaken.
Not far off, the archery targets were bristling with arrows, yet the archers continued to nock and draw, while swordsmen dueled with wooden blades, rising steadfastly after each fall to continue their practice. Riders were in the process of armoring their steeds, making final preparations for the upcoming patrol.
"How did you sleep, Alpha? My accommodations are quite modest; I apologize if they were lacking," Lord Adonar approached, clad in armor.
Alpha replied, "I slept very well, much better than in the wilderness." Noticing Alpha's focus on the soldiers training on the field, Adonar suddenly asked, "Would you care to give it a try?"
"Ah?" Alpha shook himself from his reverie and rubbed his hands, embarrassedly saying, "That would be quite an imposition, I wouldn't want to disrupt the soldiers' training."
Adonar chuckled, "No trouble at all, the session is nearly over. Join us."
"Attention!" the centurion bellowed as the lord approached. "At ease, everyone, this is Lord Alpha, who wishes to engage in a friendly spar with you," Adonar interjected unexpectedly.
"Ah?" Alpha turned swiftly, his eyes wide with surprise. However, catching sight of Adonar's mischievous grin, he reluctantly smiled and said, "Greetings, all. I am at your service," adopting a warrior's stance.
The soldiers exchanged glances, puzzled by their lord's intentions. When had this stranger appeared, and why did his attire seem so familiar? It dawned on them that a worgen in similar garb had arrived yesterday. "I am Sisso, and I seek to learn from you, my lord," a young soldier proclaimed, stepping forward.
The soldiers formed a wide circle around Sisso and Alpha, who each selected wooden swords and bowed to each other before swiftly assuming their stances. Sisso charged forward with both hands gripping the hilt, his wooden sword slashing downward from above. Alpha, with both hands firmly on his own hilt, blocked the blow, bending his knees to absorb the impact.
Clang! The wooden swords collided with force, sending splinters flying.
Seeing his first strike blocked, Sisso swiftly delivered three more, yet Alpha's guard remained unbroken. Suddenly changing tactics, after a high slash was parried, Sisso leveraged the recoil to swing his sword horizontally, aiming a swift, precise, and fierce blow.
However, Alpha had anticipated the move. As Sisso shifted his stance, Alpha executed an upward flick, the tip of his sword targeting the guard of Sisso's weapon. With a firm push, Sisso's sword flew from his grasp.
Gasps echoed around the circle. "My apologies," Alpha said, sheathing his wooden sword and standing at attention, facing Sisso. The young soldier could hardly believe his defeat; in Sentinel Hill, his swordsmanship was second to none. Flushed with embarrassment, Sisso, filled with anger, declared, "Let's have a rematch; that was just a warm-up." He retrieved his wooden sword, its tip pointed directly at Alpha, drawing the onlookers' attention back to the worgen once more.
Alpha regarded the flushed soldier before him, at a loss for words. Adonar, sensing that things had gone a bit far, stepped in to intervene: "That's enough for now. Dismissed, all of you, go have your breakfast. We have a patrol to conduct later, so everyone disperse." Sisso was led away by his comrades.
Watching the soldiers disperse, Alpha remarked to Adonar, "My lord, you've put me in quite a predicament. Look at that soldier's gaze—it's as if he'd devour me whole. A show of dominance wasn't necessary."
Adonar clapped Alpha on the shoulder, nonchalant in his response: "I did intend to give you a bit of a challenge, but you, being the heaven-sent warrior that you are, have certainly made an impression on these troops. Well played."
"Your..." Alpha was left speechless.
In the council chamber, after breakfast, Alpha and Adonar discussed the current situation.
"In my opinion, to unravel the complexities of our predicament, we must first understand the state of the Defias Brotherhood. If we can neutralize them, all else will fall into place," Alpha said, biting into an apple.
Adonar sipped his coffee and sighed, "I'm aware that the Defias Brotherhood is the key, but their influence here is greater than we thought. It's not that I don't wish to act, but doing so would disrupt all our plans. It's not just a joke; there are many Defias sympathizers even within these walls of Sentinel Hill."
After a long moment of contemplation, Alpha inquired, "So, what is your plan? We can't simply let them act with impunity. Do you know where these individuals congregate? Don't tell me you're unaware; it would be quite negligent for a lord who's been here so long." Casting a reproachful glance at Alpha, Adonar thought to himself that this individual held a grudge—over a mere morning's scheme. Nevertheless, he complied and said, "My spies have reported that the thieves most frequently gather in Moonbrook. However, that place is now a ghost town, inhabited only by restless spirits with unfulfilled desires."
"Moonbrook, a ghost town—it sounds like an ideal spot for such gatherings," Alpha remarked solemnly. "Based on my experience, it could be our point of breakthrough."
Adonar, scrutinizing the map, responded with disdain, "I'm well aware that there's something amiss there, but I currently lack the additional troops to investigate. Even if I had someone, there's the risk they could be Defias spies. And even if not, the thieves there would recognize any familiar faces, rendering any reconnaissance futile. Unless..." He paused, his gaze fixed on Alpha, slowing his speech. A sense of foreboding crept into Alpha's mind. "Unless you go. You're new here, not well-known, and to the soldiers, you're just a capable swordsman among adventurers."
"I had a feeling this wasn't going to be good," Alpha muttered. Observing Alpha's regretful expression, Adonar's mood brightened. As if recalling something further, he added, "By the way, the soldier you dueled earlier is named Sisso. His swordsmanship ranks among the best here. Being a young man with pride, he won't let being bested by you in front of everyone go easily. Put away that look as if you're about to devour me. Defiant, are you? If you dare, come at me. I am the lord; who am I afraid of? Hmph." With that, the lord, who had been reserved moments ago, left the council chamber with an air of playful arrogance, as if transformed into a different person.
Alpha, suppressing the urge to strangle Adonar, repeatedly intoned his calming mantras to expel the rage within. Watching the lord's retreating figure, he gritted his teeth and muttered, "Pray that you never fall into my hands; I'll make you understand the true meaning of darkness." He also reflected that perhaps the lord now regarded him as a confidant.
In the following days, Alpha was either acquainting himself with the current state of Westfall or gathering intelligence on Moonbrook, and incessantly sparring with Sisso.
"Lord Alpha, please guide me," a wooden sword appeared before Alpha. Looking at the stubborn soldier before him, Alpha massaged his aching temple and pleaded, "Sisso, how many times have we done this? Can you let it go? I surrender, alright? You've won; you're stronger than me."
"Your lordship, do not belittle me, I ask for your guidance," Sisso remained unmoved by Alpha's words. After hearing this, Alpha's headache intensified, and he finally made a decision.
"Follow me inside, and I will convince you thoroughly," Alpha turned and entered the room. Sisso hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and followed. Soon after, the sounds of a scuffle emanated from within, followed by a scream and the howl of a creature, "I've had enough of this annoyance lately, and you keep bothering me. I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget, so you understand why the sky is so blue."
With a resounding "bang," the house shook. In the upstairs council chamber, the lord leisurely sipped his tea, feeling the vibrations, and mused, "Perhaps I've been pushing Alpha too hard lately? Making him so irritable. Never mind, it's a relief to have someone else bear the burden. Who else to torment if not him? Prince Anduin was indeed prescient. It seems I can return sooner than expected. Ah, this tea is quite delightful."