Lireesa was not surprised. She knew Mareecia well. The woman was very ambitious, but her opportunities had been limited, which was why she had never succeeded. She quite admired such a driven and spirited junior.
"You may follow Prince Arthas, but to speak of renouncing Quel'Thalas is a bit too serious, don't you think? This time, I can pretend I didn't hear it. If I hear it again, I will immediately arrest you and report you to the Silvermoon Council for judgment!"
"Hasn't the Silvermoon Council oppressed us enough? Just because we don't use magic, we are ostracized from Silvermoon City. I will never forget how those people humiliated me when I went to Silvermoon City to study, saying a country bumpkin like me was not qualified to learn magic. I have already died for Quel'Thalas once. I have given my life back to them. This life is my own." Mareecia roared in anger.
Her obsession would lead her to pledge allegiance to the Lich King in the future, becoming a lich, a special kind of vampire. When High Elves were resurrected, they either became banshees or vampires. (Could not for the life of me find the name of who this is supposed to be.)
"Enough, Mareecia. If you want to go, then go. Don't spread rebellious slander against the kingdom here. No matter what grievances you have, do not forget that you are one of the Sin'dorei! Go. I don't want to see you again." Lireesa was furious.
She had served Quel'Thalas for over three thousand years and held a deep passion for this land. Compounded by the loss of her husband, her temper was on a short fuse.
She had never asked why her husband had not been resurrected, choosing silence instead. She worried that such a question would shatter the already paper-thin relationship between Quel'Thalas and Silvermoon City.
Mareecia turned and left, taking a portion of the Windrunner family members with her. They had all been resurrected and were so shaken by this god-like power that they decided to follow Arthas.
If not for the arrogance of the Silvermoon Council and their discrimination and oppression against elves not keen on magic; if not for the orc invasion that had killed them all; if not for Arthas's arrival and their resurrection. All these coincidences added up. It was both inevitable and a matter of chance.
Arthas was still giving instructions to the accompanying Naga, Hailey, about certain matters. When an army marched, it needed logistical support. With the Naga, a sufficient food supply was basically guaranteed. Combined with baking bread from wheat flour, things were actually manageable.
"Your Highness, a group of High Elves is here to see you," reported Captain Falric respectfully. He greatly admired Arthas, a prince who could create miracles and whose presence was as refreshing as a spring breeze.
"Let them come over." Arthas nodded at Hailey, who took the hint and departed. Her tasks were quite numerous; she needed to enslave murlocs, give them a little taste of sweetness, and try to be a competent leader. She also had to ensure the production of pearls, as pearls cultivated in the sea were of the highest quality.
Soon, a female elf with a graceful figure, dressed in a mage's robe and holding a staff, walked over.
Behind her followed a group of Rangers, mages, and even priests, numbering over a hundred in all.
Walking up to Arthas, the female elf bowed low with a pious tone and said, "Greetings, Your Highness. I am Mareecia. I lead a group of like-minded compatriots who are grateful for your healing. Your benevolence has made us feel the meaning of life. We have come because we wish to follow you, to become your followers and serve you. Please give us a chance."
Ding! Quest triggered: Elven Believers.
Elven Believers: The High Elves you resurrected have been angered by the long-standing discrimination and disrespect from Quel'Thalas. Only after death did they realize the beauty of life. They are willing to follow you and become your loyal retainers.
Quest: Demonstrate the resurrection spell to deepen their faith.
Reward: Mareecia becomes a follower and gains Fanatical Faith.
Fanatical Faith: Your subordinates worship you with fanatical devotion, will never betray you, and the faith they generate daily is doubled!
After receiving the system prompt, a brilliant smile spread across Arthas's face. No wonder the weather was so good today; it turned out something good was coming his way.
"Oh, of course. Today, I saw a magpie land before my tent. It chirped a few words to me before flying away. It seems it was a good omen. I accept your allegiance. But before that, I will take you somewhere."
Windrunner Pass. The scent of blood still lingered here. On the nearby hillside stood rows of wooden plaques, the graves of the fallen High Elves. An elf who was just about to be buried was laid on the ground as Rangers dug a pit.
Arthas walked over and looked at the dead High Elf Ranger. A holy radiance rose from his hand. "Life and death are a cycle. The end of life is death. But death does not mean the end of life's journey, only the beginning of another. Your name will be remembered. You have an unfinished mission, things you still must do. The world needs your protection. Our world is suffering, and we must heal the world that gave birth to us. Arise, my champion! Become my sharp sword, sever all the demon's claw marks, and shatter any conspiracy."
Hum! As the channeling time ended, a pillar of Holy Light descended, pulling the fallen High Elf Ranger back to his feet. The Ranger, who had been devoid of life just moments ago, sat up in a daze, clutching his head as if still unaccustomed to this resurrection.
"Heavens, he's been resurrected!"
"This is a miracle!"
"Praise be to His Highness the Prince!"
Mareecia and the other elves cried out in alarm, their eyes blazing with fanaticism as they looked at Arthas. They all dropped to one knee, showing him their highest respect.
Arthas was very satisfied with this display of posturing. In truth, the long-winded blather was ultimately to create an atmosphere.
This atmosphere was necessary to shape him into an upright prince with ambition and ideals. Such a persona was more easily accepted and could make his followers feel righteous and full of motivation.
"Mareecia, you will be my follower. All of you are my followers. You will be in charge of managing them. Under my rule, we will all have a beautiful tomorrow. There will be no discrimination, everyone will be equal, and you will have noble dreams to realize. Our task is heavy and long, but in the end, we will all achieve this goal, obtain great power, and find the meaning of our own lives!"