The atmosphere in the hall was suffocating. Everyone held their breath, their eyes locked on young Anduin, who stood with eyes closed, waiting for the little prince to make his choice.
Rhodes and Benedictus stood on opposite sides, both radiating intense fluctuations of Holy Light. Both possessed such immense power that laymen were completely unable to tell who held the upper hand. They began to look toward the surrounding priests and paladins for help; as practitioners of the Light, they should be able to distinguish whose power was gentler or more potent.
But this time, everyone was disappointed. Even the high-ranking priests and paladins could not judge. The Archbishop's power was indeed formidable, but the Light emanating from Rhodes could only be described as unfathomable. With his eyes closed, Anduin felt two powerful, gentle sources of radiance. For a moment, the little prince hesitated; deep down, he wanted to stay by his father's side, but the Light whispered to him that following Rhodes was the better path.
Benedictus struck first. A gentle yet massive golden glow, like the warmth of a spring sun, spread out from him, filled with a soothing power. This Light seemed accompanied by the faint hum of a choir—solemn and divine—eliciting an involuntary sense of awe and trust. Many Stormwind nobles and generals wore expressions of intoxication and peace; this was the familiar Light of the Archbishop they had always believed in.
"Do you feel it, child? This is the teaching of the Light. Let me show you its path!" Benedictus's voice was warm and magnetic, transmitted into Anduin's ears via a specialized technique. Although they had agreed to remain silent, the Holy Light rarely requires a mouth to convey a message.
Rhodes saw right through Benedictus's little trick. Hmph, a minor parlor trick. You dare show off your meager skills before a master?
The Light on Rhodes's body possessed an indescribable quality of penetration and vitality, like the morning sun piercing the darkness, brimming with infinite life and hope. Golden flames leaped around him, faintly condensing into the ethereal forms of holy creatures like phoenixes and angels that let out silent cries. This Light didn't just provide warmth; it stirred the courage and strength within people's hearts, calling them to fight and protect.
Rhodes even went so far as to secretly cast a spell, summoning Holy Light Elements. Four of them appeared—each over four meters tall with massive wings of light, appearing as beautiful women. Rhodes had recently perfected this spell into a Tier 1 magic, allowing him to summon an upgraded version of these elements with minimal mana. While an ordinary priest or paladin could learn to summon one for support, Rhodes's versions were all-rounders: they could deal damage, tank, and heal.
The nobles were awestruck by these beautiful, divine beings. While they had heard rumors of Light Elements, this was the first time they had seen them manifested so clearly.
"Anduin, the Light is not just a prayer in a temple or a dogma in a book. It is the sword in your hand, the shield that protects the weak, the flame that purges evil, and the source of courage that empowers us to change the world! Feel it, master it—do not merely fear it! Besides... do you truly feel pure Light within that Archbishop?" Rhodes's voice echoed in Anduin's mind.
The two distinct powers intertwined in the hall, subjecting the onlookers to a spiritual shock. However, once the Light Elements appeared, Rhodes clearly gained the upper hand. These elements began to chant beautiful hymns, leaving the nobles entranced. Sometimes, a beautiful exterior is the best deception; these Light Elements possessed a "charm" ability that rivaled a Succubus.
Varian was growing anxious. Rhodes's power was beyond extraordinary, and he worried his Archbishop wouldn't hold out. But because of the prior agreement, he couldn't speak up, leaving him to fret in silence.
Young Anduin's brow furrowed, and his small body trembled slightly as he underwent an intense internal struggle. He felt Benedictus's familiar, stable Light—like a safe harbor representing Stormwind's tradition and order. But at the same time, Rhodes's powerful, searing Light, which felt capable of incinerating all darkness, exerted a much stronger pull. And one sentence stuck with him: what was that "other thing" Rhodes mentioned? He did indeed feel a slight discomfort coming from the Archbishop... a trace of darkness.
"You don't need to speak, child. Just think, and I can hear your voice," Rhodes said.
Rhodes had established a mental link with Anduin, and he ruthlessly evicted the Archbishop's mental presence from the connection. This left Benedictus fuming but helpless. Although Rhodes hadn't summoned his five Archangels or the Holy Fire Phoenix from his system space, he could borrow their power through his personal army space. To put it bluntly, forget a regular Archbishop—even a Naaru would be hard-pressed to win here.
"Lord Rhodes... you are right. I feel something different about Archbishop Benedictus. His Light is strong and warm, but it isn't pure like yours. I feel... something uncomfortable inside it," Anduin finally communicated in his mind after a moment of hesitation.
"Clever boy. It seems you've found the problem. Indeed, Benedictus has forsaken his faith. That chilling power you feel is the Shadow. While Shadow itself is not inherently evil—some priests study it to become Shadow Priests—his source is different. His power comes from the wicked Old Gods. He is a believer in a doomsday cult that craves destruction," Rhodes explained.
Shadow Priests weren't a massive secret; since Alexandros discovered that the extreme of Light is Shadow, many had studied the path for its superior offensive capabilities. Priests weren't like Paladins; in the wild, Shadow was often their only means of defense. However, practicing Shadow magic takes a toll on the mind, requiring immense mental fortitude to control.
"Lord Rhodes... are you saying Archbishop Benedictus has betrayed my father? Betrayed the Kingdom of Stormwind?" Anduin's emotions flared, causing the onlookers to notice a change in the boy's demeanor.
"Don't be nervous, child. Now is not the time to unmask him. One day, I will personally deal with him and the Old Gods behind him. You don't need to worry about that now. You only need to make a choice: are you willing to train with me?"
"Lord Rhodes, I am grateful for your guidance, but I would rather stay with my father," Anduin admitted.
"Training with me doesn't necessarily mean leaving your father. Besides, I don't have enough time to teach you all year round. I'd teach you maybe a month or two out of the year," Rhodes said with a smile.
I'm a busy man, Rhodes thought. I don't have time to be a full-time babysitter. In these early years, he only needed to teach the basics—or even have Finna do it. The main goal was the title of "Mentor." Having the future King of Stormwind as his disciple was the real prize. He didn't need a hostage; if he needed high-level tutors, he could find someone like the undead Archbishop or even Prophet Velen later on. Once Anduin mastered the basics, Rhodes would teach him the "Holy Light" versions of Gate of Babylon, the Holy Mecha, and the Giant of Light.
"Oh! I see, Lord Rhodes. You should have said so earlier! If you put it that way, my father would definitely agree."
"Hahaha, it would be boring if it were too easy. Besides, we can't let the Old Gods catch on. Our enemies are very cunning," Rhodes laughed.
Finally, to the shock of everyone present, young Anduin crossed the boundary of the invisible field of Light and walked straight to Rhodes. He opened his clear blue eyes and looked up at him.
"I... I felt it. Lord Rhodes's Light is... brighter, warmer. It felt like it was calling to me... it told me that the Light can do... can do so much more! Lord Rhodes, I wish to take you as my master."
"Very well, my disciple, Anduin," Rhodes said with a smile.