Calia—no, now Queen Calia—turned to face her people, her eyes shimmering with tears of emotion. The day of Lordaeron's rebirth had finally arrived.
Not long ago, when she first set foot on the path to Kalimdor, she never imagined she would return so quickly to be crowned. It had been barely over a year since her father's death. Rhodes had shown her the true meaning of "swiftness." Now, only one regret remained: when would the Northrend campaign begin to finally eliminate Arthas?
Despite the necessity, Calia felt a flicker of conflict. He was her brother, after all; how could blood ties be severed so easily? But Arthas's crimes were too monstrous; he had to face justice. Her body swayed slightly. With Rhodes's current power, that day would likely come soon. When it did, would she be able to handle it?
Rhodes moved to her side, steadying her. He whispered softly, "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine, Rhodes. I was just thinking," Calia replied. Everyone must answer for their crimes, Arthas. Perhaps death and eternal silence will be your only redemption.
"The people are waiting for their Queen. Go on, Calia. Don't overthink it. You are the Queen of Lordaeron now," Rhodes said with a firm nod.
Calia centered herself. A smile of warmth and absolute confidence graced her lips. she raised her hand to signal the crowd to rise and stepped forward.
"My subjects! People of Lordaeron!" Her voice, amplified by magic, echoed clearly in every ear. "Please, rise! The future of Lordaeron does not rest on me alone, but on the collective effort of every one of us! Today's coronation is not the finish line, but our starting point! Let us walk hand-in-hand to build a stronger, more prosperous, and more hopeful Kingdom of Lordaeron!"
Her gaze swept the VIP gallery before meeting Rhodes's eyes; they shared a silent nod.
"I also wish to thank our allies—Stormwind, Ironforge, Gnomeregan, Darnassus, Quel'Thalas, Theramore, and our new Draenei friends! It is your support that allowed Lordaeron to be reborn! The unity of the Alliance is our firmest shield against any challenge! For the Alliance!"
"For the Alliance!"
King Varian was the first to rise, hand over his heart, saluting the new Queen. The other leaders followed suit. At this moment, the Queen officially entered the highest echelon of the Alliance. The King—or Queen—of Lordaeron was, in practical terms, the leader of the Alliance.
The coronation concluded amidst thunderous applause, making way for a grand military parade and city-wide celebration. As the "For the Alliance" cry faded, the deep, majestic blare of war horns signaled the start of the review.
The "Way of the Light," the main thoroughfare leading to the palace, had been cleared. Citizens lined the streets, necks craned in anticipation. At the end of the road, the first units appeared: the Royal Lordaeron Infantry.
Clad in pristine blue-and-white plate, their boots struck the cobblestones with a rhythmic, thunderous precision. Rhodes had personally overseen their training, implementing drill methods from his previous world. These men weren't just trained for combat; they were trained for the psychological impact of absolute order.
"Steady pace, high morale," Varian whispered to young Anduin. "To rebuild such a legion in this timeframe... Rhodes and Uther have worked wonders."
Next came the mixed formations of archers and riflemen. For the archers, Rhodes had secured training assistance from the Night Elves. He even planned to have Maiev Shadowsong train a specialized assassin cell, a counterpart to Stormwind's SI:7.
Then, the ground began to tremble. With the heavy clank of metal and the hum of divine energy, the Order of the Silver Hand arrived. Led by Uther the Lightbringer himself, the Paladins rode massive, armored warhorses. Their plate was crafted from Rhodes's specialized anti-wear alloys. As they channeled the Light, they shimmered so brightly that Rhodes felt he was looking at a procession of "Gold Saints."
However, the real shock for the visiting dignitaries came next: Rhodes's Private Army.
Emerging first were the constructs—the Iron, Gold, and Diamond Golems. The Iron Golems marched in massive blocks, followed by the rarer Gold Golems reflecting the sun like a literal golden army. Finally, the Diamond Golems appeared, their translucent bodies refracting the light into a breathtaking rainbow of colors, yet possessing a hardness far beyond steel.
"By the Titans! What craftsmanship!" King Magni Bronzebeard bolted upright. As a master smith, he could sense the impossible stability and engineering within those metal frames. "Those aren't just puppets! Look at the joints! Rhodes, where did you find these treasures?"
High Tinker Mekkatorque adjusted his goggles, buzzing with excitement. "Incredible energy circuits! This exceeds current Gnomish and Dwarven engineering by miles!"
After the constructs, the sky ignited. Sacred Fire Phoenixes soared overhead, raining down holy sparks. Then, a terrifying pressure descended as several Black Dragons—immune to magic and physically titanic—loomed in the sky, their shadows covering the square.
Following the dragons were the reinforced elemental divisions: the Holy Ice, Lightning, Solar, and Earth Elements, interspersed with the mysterious Magic Elements. Finally, five Archangels descended from the heavens, their wings spanning the square, bathing all of Lordaeron in a divine glow. Rhodes chose to keep his Tier 7 Titans in reserve; today was about awe, not total intimidation.
As the parade reached its climax, the Queen made a final, historic announcement:
"In the name of the House of Menethil and by the authority of the Queen, I, Calia Menethil, solemnly declare: In recognition of the immortal service rendered by Lord Rhodes in the restoration of Lordaeron, his peerless wisdom, and his contributions as Regent and Grand Marshal, he shall henceforth Co-reign with the Queen! In times of necessity, his word shall carry the weight of the King's authority!"
She paused as a hush fell over the crowd.
"Furthermore, to honor his deeds and entrust him with the protection of the eastern seas... I hereby grant the city of Theramore and its surrounding territories to Prince Rhodes as his hereditary fief!"