Disclaimer: I do not own Diablo II, the expansion or anything else that I may happen upon in these adventures.

Chapter 4: Paladin's Awakening

Many people wonder sometimes how a paladin can be so devoted to one cause. However, they no longer need to worry. Due to the latest events in the Order of Zakarum, where paladins hail, many have broken off and become, what you could call, a splinter group. One young man, just fresh out of the academy, saw the horrors of what the Priests of Zakarum were ordering them to do and decided to leave with the others. His name was…

"William!" The young paladin shook out of a light sleep as he heard his name called. "What do you need, sir," he said as he looked over at his mentor, whom he had affectionately dubbed "Sai", wondering why he had been woken, but glad to be up and doing something. He looked over at his superior, and smiled as he got up and stretched his arms. "Is it time to be woken already?" Immediately, he felt a hand close tight around his mouth, effectively cutting off any possibility of speech.

"Be silent and look outside." The young man looked to where his mentor told him, and saw horrible things. He saw many demonic things known to the Ancient Text as Fallen, and he also saw the undead, such as Zombies and Skeletons, and even greater horrors that must've come from the depths of Hell. "You put on what little armor you can, and take this book." The paladin stuck a book into the back of William, who was more than a little frightened by the fact that he had easily slept through the slaughter of most of his comrades.

As Sai let go of William's mouth, William could smell the blood and sweat from his master and realized what had happened. He rounded on his master and saw the large wound in his side which was already festering, and looked at Sai's face in shock. His old friend smiled at him and said, "Please, don't be so shocked. We're being attacked by these creatures, and we probably should've been more prepared. Just grab the short sword, a buckler, and get out of here with the book.

William looked at the ground, realizing that he couldn't help his friend, who had taught him much about the same wound that now was draining Sai's health. Tears started to well at his eyes, and he knew what would come if he didn't leave. He would be slaughtered, just like his friend would.

William put his head down, then sighed, and finally, looked back up at his friend. "Fine…I'll go." Sai smiled at William and handed him the book. "This book holds the secrets to all of our powers. Take from it as you grow stronger, but remember that there are things that you can't read yet because you simply aren't strong enough."

William looked at his friend, suddenly feeling the full impact of the loss he was about to experience. The young man felt his eyes tear up, and then he just took the book, made sure his buckler and sword were secure, and ran out of the back of the tent. He didn't look back, not even when he heard his friend cry out for battle. He knew that if he turned around that he would not run away anymore. Tears spilled over his eyes as he heard the echoes of his friend's dying screams.

A few days later, William was in the wilderness when suddenly, he saw an old robed man walking through a nearby area full of the Fallens. The paladin rushed forward, only to be surprised at the fact that the fallen had all died, deep gashes in them. "Excuse me, sir?" The hood moved towards the paladin, and he heard a smile in the man's voice. "What do you need, young one?" The old man said, and the Paladin brought himself up. "As I have sworn, I will protect anyone traveling without protection." Once again, he could hear the smile. "How do you know that I cannot defend myself?" The paladin stopped a beat, and just sat there looking at the robed figure.

He heard a laugh emanate from the hood, and the voice sounded somewhat surprised. "You? Defend me against Fallen? Hardly…after all, you have no training in the paladin arts, do you?" William stopped cold, for he had not shared that tidbit of info with the hooded figure. "What's your name, venerable sir?" The paladin asked, feeling a bit of sudden fear of the man. Suddenly, there was a flash of light.

Ribbons flowed out of the back of the man's robe, and the robe immediately disappeared, as though it had never existed in the first place. In its place, a white robe adorned with golden thread appeared. The paladin kneeled immediately, awed by what he thought he'd never see. An angel. A real angel! "Get up, young one. You have much to do and not much time in which to complete these tasks. You do know where you are now, correct?" The angel asked. William couldn't find words, so he just shook his head.

"You are currently in the province of Westmarch. You are close to where a group of rogues have set up camp to try and save themselves from the constantly fighting, tireless demons of Hell." The angel told him, an air of superiority now surrounding it. William nodded, then said, after gulping down a breath and steeling himself for the answer, "Is my friend ok? You would know, right?"

The angel moved its head, as though slapped, which would've been imperceptible, if not for the drooping of the hood. William's eyes widened slightly, then he drooped his head. "I sorta knew anyways. Where's this camp you're telling me about? Sai would want me to move quickly to stop the spread of evil."

As the angel explained, William realized more and more just how insignifigant he was in the greater scheme of things. When the angel stopped his explanation with the Hero becoming what everyone knows now as the Wanderer, William stood there for a moment, as though frozen in time. He looked at the angel, and even though he knew why, he couldn't believe that such a great hero would become evil.

"Are you ok, young one?" The angel asked, sounding slightly concerned. "I...I guess. It's just hard to believe that someone so strong could be turned so easily." William said, hoping he wouldn't be reprimanded for such a question. "Hmm...An interesting thought. Although, with the parts of Diablo inside of him, he had no hope of ever resisting. But, wondering is not something we should do, young paladin. Now then, I have something for you to use." The angel said, offering a scroll out with his hand. The paladin took it hesitantly, wondering if it could be dangerous.

"Open it, young one. Don't just sit there and stare at it." The angel told him, guiding him to the next course of action. The paladin broke the blue-red seal on the scroll and read it. Instantly, a portal opened up in front of him, and he could see a fire and a man in blue clothes and a skull cap walking nearby it, trying to keep it lit.

"Now then, go through and never look back, young one. Your destiny begins now. You have been...awakened, I may say." The angel said as he pushed the paladin into the portal, sending him into the Rogue Encampment.

AN: Sorry that this one was shorter than my other chapters, but I wasn't exactly inspired on this chapter, and there's only so much you can do with an annihilated camp of paladins.