DISCLAIMER: I'd like to acknowledge the fact that I do not own any of the worlds, races, spells, techniques, weapons, armor sets, religions, cults, or schools of magic in this fanfic. All of that crap belongs either to Square Enix or Blizzard Entertainment. Please read and review this fanfic, but please do not flame me for it. Constructive criticism is cool, but flaming will NOT be tolerated. Now, on with the story!

Of Ivalice and Azeroth

Erich Lightsworn was incredibly nervous. The 32-year-old Human Paladin hadn't been this high-strung since his time serving in the Third War. He chewed his beard and looked at his Shattered Sun Offensive standard-issue armor, making sure it was still polished. "Calm down," he said to himself, "you're just going before A'dal for a ceremony. You'll just get your reward along with the rest, and then it'll be over."

A week ago, Erich had been a part of an attack on the Sunwell Plateau made by the Shattered Sun Offensive. It hadn't gone well, and Erich was left half-dead inside Parhelion Plaza with the corpses of some of his comrades. However, a band of 25 adventurers, who were also being celebrated at the ceremony, came in and saved him from the brink of death. In his gratitude, he had helped them as best as he could to get to the re-ignited Sunwell and stop Kil'jaeden from coming into this world. The battle was long and hard, but eventually he and the adventurers (with the aid of the Blue Dragonflight and Anveena Teague) prevailed.

Now, A'dal, the powerful Naaru ruler of Shattrath City, was going to reward Erich and the 25 adventurers in a large ceremony, and he had to look his best.

"Knock, knock," said a voice from the door to his quarters. Erich looked behind him and saw the figure of his Draenei C.O., Lady Kataa. "Ma'am!" Erich shouted, snapping to attention and saluting. "At ease," she replied, and Erich put his arm down. "Pardon the state of my quarters, ma'am, but I'm in the middle of getting ready for the ceremony today," Erich said. "By the Light, man, have you got enough product in that ponytail?" Lady Kataa asked with a grin.

"Just trying to look my best, ma'am."

"You DO know that the ceremony isn't for another four hours, right?"

"Four hours? Good! That'll give me enough time to apply another coat of polish to my armor," Erich said, looking for his jar of armor polish and the handkerchief that he used to apply it with. Lady Kataa grabbed his hand. "You've got enough polish on your armor as is, son," she said reassuringly. She sat Erich down on his cot. "You're really high-strung, huh?" Lady Kataa asked. Erich nodded yes. "Don't be. You know as well as I do that A'dal is a kind and benevolent being. You'll be fine. Show some courage, soldier." Erich smiled weakly at the last part. "The entire city'll be there, though!" Erich responded. "I have to look my best!" "Relax," Lady Kataa responded. "You're getting an honorable discharge from the Offensive at the ceremony, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"Really? Well, then, I'll miss you," Lady Kataa replied, hugging Erich tightly. "I'm glad we got to be friends." "Me, too," Erich said. "Well," Lady Kataa said, breaking her embrace, "I have some business to take care of. I won't be at the ceremony, so I'll say this now. Goodbye, soldier, and good luck. Dismissed." She stood at attention and saluted, and Erich did the same. With that, Lady Kataa walked from the room.

Three and a half hours later, Erich gathered his things and put his armor on. He walked through the Offensive's base camp (with many cheers and huge amounts of applause) to the special portal to Shattrath that Astromancer Darnarian had (grudgingly) made for him. Stepping through the portal, he found himself in Shattrath. He was surprised to see that he wasn't the first one there: four of the adventurers were there as well.

In half an hour the ceremony began. It was long and quite boring, or so Erich thought. The fact that he had to kneel the entire time wasn't so great, either. In the end, he and the other 25 people gathered there received a new set of armor and a weapon (Erich received the Lightbringer Battlegear and a hammer similar to those that the Shattrath Peacekeepers used, along with a new Libram). The ceremony ended with A'dal congratulating and thanking Erich and the 25 adventurers.

After the ceremony, Erich decided to walk around Shattrath and stretch his legs. "Two full hours of kneeling really gets to you," Erich thought, rubbing his sore knees as best as he could through his new armor. He decided to go to Aldor Rise and pray for a bit. As he was waiting for the elevator to Aldor Rise to come back down, however, a small dragonhawk materialized out of nowhere and squawked in his ear, starting him. Erich looked at the dragonhawk and realized that it was the familiar of his best friend, Gyram Runekeeper. The dragonhawk had a small piece of paper in its mouth. Erich pulled it from its mouth, upon which the small beast disappeared. Upon reading it, Erich found it to be no more than a hastily scrawled note. It read, "Discovered something big. Meet me at my house ASAP." "He obviously wants me there now," Erich thought. He rummaged in one of his bags and pulled out a golden horseshoe. He tossed the horseshoe on the ground and chanted a few prayers, summoning his Charger. He rode it back to A'dal's chamber, where he used the portal to Stormwind. Once there, he paid for a gryphon flight to the ruins of Dalaran, where Gyram lived with his wife and the rest of the Magi.

Erich could tell that Gyram had discovered something big when he saw the big, stupid smile on Gyram's face. "Erich! You're here!" Gyram shouted, embracing Erich in a hug. Erich returned the hug, saying, "Long time no see, old friend!" "Hello, Erich," Gyram's wife, L'lura, said from the doorway. "Hello to you too, L'lura," replied Erich. "So," Erich said to Gyram, "What's the big discovery that you've called me here to see?" "Ah yes, that! Come inside, and I'll show you, old friend," Gyram said, guiding Erich into the house.