"He's actually training his troops…"
Anastarian, having learned from Thranduil about the Crusader army's ten legions of high-level soldiers, instantly understood all his doubts.
"Of course, he's training troops." Thranduil stated affirmatively, "In Draenor, the orcish homeland, the Crusaders, in the form of an alliance, unified all intelligent races ten years ago, establishing the Draenor Allied Forces to fight against the Burning Legion for over a decade."
Anastarian could only forcibly suppress the turmoil in his heart.
While I was still in the northern frontier of the Eastern Continent, scheming and fighting for power with the Silvermoon Council, he had already left Azeroth and embarked on interstellar colonization!
These young people nowadays are really something!
"The High Elves have been out of touch with the times for too long." Anastarian sighed.
"This can't be entirely blamed on you." Thranduil comforted Anastarian, "The Quel'Thalas kingdom, when my… our ancestors established the co-rule of the monarch and the council, had already laid hidden dangers for the future."
Although he said so, Thranduil was still somewhat dissatisfied.
The problems within the High Elves are significant; these are historical issues.
Anastarian had spent his entire life engaged in political struggles but was still suppressed by the Silvermoon Council.
His vision and perspective were not broad enough; his focus was limited to the noble class. Not only did he fail to maintain the status quo of his predecessors, but he even saw it worsen.
It has been nearly six thousand years since I led the Highborne and a group of magic-inclined elves across the sea to establish a kingdom.
In these six thousand years, the descendants of nobles remain nobles.
There is no path for commoners to rise, unless they are born with exceptional magical talent and can gain the recognition of the nobles to become new nobles through their strength.
Then, the Sunstrider family and the Silvermoon Council control the permissions of the Sunwell, and the commoners can only enjoy the thin arcane energy dissipating in the air.
Even commoner geniuses with exceptional talent find it difficult to grow without resources.
In the High Elf kingdom, where mages are revered, there were originally paths to become Royal Guard, Farstrider Rangers, or priests of the church.
Priests still require Light affinity, but aren't warriors and rangers something you can train if you have hands?
Especially rangers; archery is something that comes with practice. High Elves have such long lifespans; if they train for a few centuries, they can always succeed.
Unfortunately, the Silvermoon Council squeezed out the Windrunner family. The Ranger-General sounds good as the commander-in-chief of the High Elf borders, but in reality, isn't it just an exile far from the center of power?
The Farstrider Legion is a legion that mainly recruits commoners; who cares?
Anastarian certainly knew that he was at a disadvantage in political struggles; even the prince had been driven to Dalaran.
The council holds most of the power, seeking only their own interests, indulging in extravagance and pleasure, while the people at the bottom cannot be promoted, and the country is like a stagnant pool.
Originally, Anastarian had pinned everything on his son!
Kael'thas is definitely the most talented of the next generation of High Elves; even the renowned Windrunners cannot compare. If he were given another five hundred years, he would definitely be able to crush all the High Elves. At that time, which council member would dare to say no?
Unfortunately, there is no 'if'.
Kael'thas did not have five hundred years. After the opening of the Dark Portal, Azeroth welcomed the tide of the times. Orcs, the Burning Legion, and the Old Gods followed one after another. The High Elf kingdom was like a terminally ill patient without a strong body to face the calamity.
Just as Anastarian was preparing to purge the Silvermoon Council, the Child of Prophecy, Galen, appeared.
Galen's appearance not only helped Kael'thas gain military merit to establish himself but also opened up the High Elf paladin class!
Unlike the human paladins who believe in the Holy Light, the High Elf paladins believe in the sun!
As the Sun King, the incarnation of the sun, the Dawnbreaker Knights composed of paladins are naturally loyal to the royal family. It is said that political power grows out of the barrel of a gun; now, the royal family can finally contend with the council.
Thranduil thought a lot. He served Queen Azshara in the first half of his life and fought for the High Elf race in the second half. He can be called a true bigwig, and he can see through many things at a glance.
Now reborn, constrained by the Heart of Origin, Galen is the one he is loyal to. The High Elves can only be helped along the way.
"Anastarian, your lifespan is coming to an end, isn't it?" Thranduil said pointedly, looking at the white hair at his grandson's temples.
"That's right!"
His life is not long. Three thousand years ago, when Emperor Thoradin of humanity rose, he was already sitting on the throne of the Sun King. Now, he is already old and frail.
This is also why he is eager to change the status quo. He even unconditionally agreed to allow the Crusader elite legions to enter the core of Silvermoon City.
He is worried that if he accidentally dies suddenly, Kael'thas's political ability will definitely not be a match for the Silvermoon Council. It is difficult to say whether the next generation of royal power can be replaced normally. It may even be that the High Elf kingdom will have no king!
"After this crisis, I guarantee that Silvermoon City will usher in a new life." Thranduil knew that Galen had a complete plan, and even if the plan collapsed, millions of troops could back it up.
"But have you thought about your future?"
"My future? Pass the throne to Kael'thas, and then return to the embrace of the Sunwell." Anastarian was quite open-minded.
Thranduil pondered for a while, then said with a serious face, "I can help you take other paths."
"Oh? I'd like to hear the details."
"Lord Galen has the Spring of Life, which can increase the lifespan of mortals, especially for people like you whose lifespan is coming to an end. However, if you drink too much of this Spring of Life, the effect will gradually weaken."
"Then what is the second path?" Anastarian knew very well that increasing lifespan with the Spring of Life was not immortality after all. From Thranduil's words, there seemed to be other options.
Thranduil did not expect him to dismiss the Spring of Life.
After a long silence, Thranduil finally said the second option: "Join the Throne of Heroes after death and guard Azeroth in the form of a Heroic Spirit!"
"Throne of Heroes?" Anastarian looked puzzled. He was considered well-informed, but he had never heard of such an organization in Azeroth.
"Throne of Heroes, an organization dominated by Heroic Spirits, only the strong are qualified to join." Thranduil's mind raced, preparing to complete the framework of this organization for Galen.