Kapitel 3: Chapter 3: First Battle
The early morning fog clung to the ground like a blanket, making it difficult to see beyond a few yards. His body still ached from the previous day, his mind still racing with the impossible reality of where he was.
But this was no dream. He was living in Azeroth—a world he had once only known through a screen. And now, the threat of death hung over him as real as the cold steel of his borrowed sword. There were no second chances here. No respawns.
Nathan inspected his armor. It was a mismatched set, hastily assembled by the paladins who had found him. He still hadn't fully adjusted to the weight of it, but there was no time for hesitation. The Scourge was coming.
The camp was already in chaos. Soldiers scrambled to ready their weapons, and paladins gathered in tight formations, their shields raised, their eyes steeled for the battle ahead. The fog made it hard to tell just how many of the undead were approaching, but Nathan could hear the guttural snarls and moans carried on the wind. The Scourge was close.
"Form ranks!" a voice boomed over the noise, cutting through the din like a blade. Nathan turned to see Uther the Lightbringer standing atop a small rise, his presence as commanding as ever. His silver armor gleamed in the dim light, and his hammer rested heavily in his hand, a symbol of both faith and destruction.
Nathan felt a wave of relief wash over him at the sight of the legendary paladin. If anyone could lead them through this nightmare, it was Uther.
Nathan hurried to join the ranks of the Silver Hand, positioning himself among the younger conscripts who had been thrust into service. He could feel the tension in the air, the fear that lingered in the hearts of even the most seasoned warriors. They had all heard the stories of the Scourge, seen the horrors they left in their wake. But facing them in battle was something else entirely.
"Nathan!" a familiar voice called out.
He turned to see Elias, the young paladin who had first greeted him upon his arrival, pushing through the crowd to stand at his side. Elias had a reassuring smile on his face, but Nathan could see the anxiety in his eyes.
"You ready for this?" Elias asked, his voice laced with a nervous laugh.
"No." Nathan replied, he wasn't sure he would ever truly be ready for what was coming.
Elias clapped him on the shoulder. "Just stick close to me. We'll get through this."
Nathan nodded, grateful for the camaraderie. He glanced down at his hands, still trying to come to understand this feeling of, warmth maybe, that had been slowly growing within him. Ever since his arrival, he had felt the "Warmth" stirring inside him more and more, like a river of energy waiting to be tapped into.
The horns blared again, louder this time, signaling that the undead were nearly upon them.
"Brace yourselves!" Uther shouted, raising his hammer high. "The Light is with us! Stand firm!"
The paladins formed a tight wall of shields, their eyes fixed on the swirling fog ahead. Nathan could hear the ground rumbling beneath their feet, the clatter of bones and the shuffling of feet growing louder with each passing moment. His heart raced in his chest, and he tightened his grip on his sword, feeling the cold metal against his palm.
Then, from the mist, the first of the Scourge emerged.
They were a hideous sight—ghouls and abominations, their decaying bodies twisted and deformed, their eyes glowing with an unnatural light. Some were little more than skeletons, their bones held together by dark magic, while others were bloated, rotting masses of flesh and sinew. They moved with a mindless hunger, driven by the will of the Lich King, and their numbers seemed endless.
Nathan swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising tide of fear. He had fought the Scourge countless times in the game, but this was different. The stench of death filled the air, and the sound of their claws scraping against armor sent shivers down his spine. This was no simulation. This was a battle for survival.
The first wave of ghouls crashed against the paladins' shield wall, their claws scraping and tearing at the metal. The force of the impact nearly knocked Nathan off balance, but he held his ground, gritting his teeth as he drove his sword into the chest of the nearest ghoul. The blade sank deep into its decaying flesh, and with a sickening squelch, the creature crumpled to the ground.
All around him, the battle raged. Paladins swung their hammers and swords with practiced precision, cutting through the undead with a combination of skill and the power of the Light. Holy energy flared in the midst of the chaos, healing wounds and burning the undead with purifying fire. The air was thick with the clash of steel and the moans of the dying.
Nathan fought alongside them, trying to keep pace with the more experienced warriors. He wasn't as skilled with a sword as the others, but he fought with desperation, hacking and slashing at anything that came too close. His body moved on instinct, his mind focused solely on staying alive.
But then, something changed.
As the battle wore on, Nathan began to feel the that "Warmth" stirring within him once again. It was stronger this time, more insistent, as if it were trying to break free from the confines of his body. He could feel it pulsing through his veins, filling him with a power that was both comforting and terrifying.
And then, without thinking, Nathan raised his hand.
A burst of radiant light shot from his palm, engulfing the ghouls that had been closing in on him. The undead creatures screamed in agony as the holy fire consumed them, their bodies disintegrating into ash. The intensity of the power was overwhelming, and for a moment, Nathan feared he might lose control of it.
But then, just as quickly as it had come, the power receded, leaving him standing amidst the smoldering remains of the Scourge.
Nathan stared at his hand in disbelief, his heart pounding in his chest. He had done it. He had called upon the Light without even realizing it, and it had answered him with a force beyond anything he had ever imagined.
Elias, who had been fighting nearby, looked at Nathan with wide eyes. "Did you just—"
"I… I think so," Nathan said, his voice shaky. He wasn't entirely sure what had just happened, but there was no time to dwell on it.
The battle continued to rage around them, and the undead kept coming. Wave after wave of ghouls and abominations crashed against the paladins' defenses, their numbers seemingly endless. Despite the paladins' best efforts, they were being pushed back, their lines beginning to falter under the relentless onslaught.
Nathan's mind raced. He knew they couldn't hold out forever. The Scourge was too numerous, too powerful. If something didn't change soon, they would be overrun.
And then, in the midst of the chaos, Nathan felt it again—that deep connection to the Light, stronger now than ever before. It was as if the very essence of the Light was flowing through him, filling him with a sense of purpose and clarity that he had never known.
Without hesitation, Nathan raised both hands this time, focusing all of his will on the power within him. He could feel the Light responding, gathering in his palms like a brilliant fire.
"By the Light," he whispered, and then released the energy.
A wave of holy light erupted from his hands, sweeping across the battlefield like a cleansing storm. The undead shrieked in terror as the radiant energy tore through them, burning away the dark magic that held them together. In an instant, the tide of battle shifted. The paladins, renewed by the sudden surge of holy power, pressed forward with renewed vigor, cutting down the remaining Scourge with ease.
When it was over, the battlefield was eerily silent. The fog had begun to lift, revealing the charred remains of the undead scattered across the ground. The paladins stood in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on Nathan.
Elias broke the silence first, his voice filled with awe. "Nathan… what was that?"
Nathan lowered his hands, feeling the last remnants of the Light ebbing away. He was exhausted, his body trembling from the effort, but there was also a sense of peace within him—a quiet certainty that he had done what needed to be done.
"I don't know," Nathan said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But it felt right."
Uther approached, his expression unreadable. He stopped in front of Nathan, looking down at him with a mixture of bewilderment and curiosity.
"The Light flows through you with a strength I have not seen," Uther said quietly, his deep voice carrying the weight of decades of battle and faith. He studied Nathan for a long moment, his blue eyes reflecting a mix of awe and suspicion. "You wield it as if it were part of your very soul."
Nathan swallowed, unsure how to respond. His chest still ached from the power he had unleashed, his muscles fatigued beyond anything he had ever experienced. It was as if he had tapped into a force far greater than himself—something primal and pure. And yet, he couldn't fully comprehend how or why he had been given this power. He wasn't a paladin. He wasn't even from this world.
"I don't know how I'm doing it," Nathan admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "It just… happened. I feel the Light inside me, guiding me, pushing me to act. But I have no control over it."
Uther placed a hand on Nathan's shoulder, his touch both heavy and comforting. "The Light does not choose lightly," he said. "It sees something in you, something worth fighting for. Trust in it, and it will guide your path."
Nathan nodded, though he wasn't sure if he truly understood. The Light was a mystery to him—a force that had existed only in the lore of the game he had once played, but now seemed to be the very essence of his existence. He had always admired the paladins of Azeroth, their unwavering faith and strength, but living among them was something else entirely. It was one thing to role-play as a paladin, but another to actually wield the Light in battle, to feel its power coursing through his veins.
Elias approached, his face still a mask of disbelief. "Nathan, that was incredible. I've never seen anything like it. You're a natural paladin."
Nathan shook his head, overwhelmed by the praise. "I'm just trying to survive, like everyone else. I'm no warrior."
"Perhaps not yet," Uther said, his eyes gleaming with an almost fatherly pride. "But the Light has a way of revealing the true measure of a man. You have a gift, Nathan. And it's time we hone it."
The other paladins began to gather around them, murmuring amongst themselves as they took in the aftermath of the battle. The remains of the Scourge lay scattered across the battlefield, their twisted bodies reduced to smoldering ash. The fog had lifted entirely now, revealing the rising sun casting golden light over the horizon. The threat had been vanquished—for now.
"Come," Uther said, motioning for Nathan to follow. "We have much to discuss, and the day is not yet over."
Nathan fell into step beside Uther, feeling a strange sense of purpose settling over him. He had survived his first real battle in Azeroth, and though he was still shaken by the power he had wielded, there was also a part of him that was curious—eager even—to understand it.
They walked through the camp in silence, passing rows of tents where soldiers tended to their wounds and paladins offered prayers of healing. The weight of the battle still hung in the air, but there was also a palpable sense of relief. They had won, at least for today.
As they approached a large command tent, Uther gestured for Nathan to enter. Inside, a small table was set up with maps and scrolls, the plans of the day's battle strewn across it. Uther moved to the head of the table, his gaze serious now as he regarded Nathan.
"You have shown great potential, Nathan," Uther said, his voice low and measured. "But potential alone is not enough. You must learn to control the Light, to channel it with purpose and discipline. It is a gift, yes, but it is also a responsibility. One that cannot be taken lightly."
Nathan nodded, feeling the weight of Uther's words. "I want to learn," he said, his voice firm with determination. "I want to understand what's happening to me and how to use it."
Uther smiled faintly. "Good. Then your training will begin in earnest. But be warned, Nathan: the path of the Light is not an easy one. It requires sacrifice, patience, and unwavering faith. There will be challenges ahead—both from within and without."
Nathan clenched his fists, steeling himself for what lay ahead. He had always been a quick learner, adapting to new situations with ease, but this was something different. This wasn't a game. This was real, and the stakes were higher than anything he had ever faced.
"I'm ready," Nathan said, his voice steady.
Uther studied him for a moment, as if weighing the truth of his words. Then he nodded. "Very well. We shall see what the Light has in store for you."
Nathan spent the rest of the day in training with Uther and the other paladins. Uther focused on teaching him the principles of the Light, how to channel its power with intent rather than relying on instinct. It was a slow process—much slower than Nathan had expected—but Uther was patient, guiding him with a steady hand and calm demeanor.
The lessons were grueling. Nathan found himself pushed to the brink of exhaustion time and time again, his body aching from the physical toll of the training. But he refused to give up. He could feel the Light within him, stronger now than ever before, and he knew that if he could just learn to control it, he could become something more—something greater than he had ever imagined.
By the time the sun began to set, Nathan was utterly spent. His muscles screamed in protest as he collapsed onto a makeshift cot in his tent, his mind still reeling from the day's events. The battle, the power, the training—it was all so overwhelming. And yet, beneath the fatigue, there was a quiet sense of satisfaction.
He was learning. He was growing. And perhaps, just perhaps, he was beginning to understand what it meant to be a paladin.
As Nathan lay there, staring up at the canvas ceiling of his tent, he felt the familiar warmth of the Light stirring within him once more. It was faint, barely a flicker, but it was there—a reminder of the power that had been awakened within him.
And for the first time since he had arrived in Azeroth, Nathan allowed himself to believe that he might have a place here. That he might be more than just an outsider, thrust into a world he didn't belong to. That maybe, just maybe, the Light had a purpose for him after all.
With that thought in mind, Nathan closed his eyes and let sleep take him, the warmth of the Light guiding him into the night.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein