Hey people, here is the new chapter. Updates should be more frequent from now on, and please review! Your comments and critics help me very much, and I am thankful for them.

A bit more worldbuilding and talk in this chapter, but we have to get that out of the way.

Enjoy!

Lordaeron
In the Forest, a few miles from Hearthglen

After a day of traveling, John and Fairbanks made a small camp to rest through the night. With no immediate danger in sight, the questions the both had on their minds start to pop up.

„So you are not of this world then?" – Fairbanks said, finally breaking the silence.

"They might dress like medieval peasants, but they sure are bright" - the AI commented

„My world is somewhere up there" – John said as he pointed to the stars

„A portal brought me here, at the end of another battle"

„Was it the undead? Are other worlds under assault?" - Fairbanks said worryingly

„Mankind thought itself alone in the universe for a long time, unlike you, we were the only sentient species on our planet. Eventually our technology progressed so far that we could traverse the distances between stars, and settle other planets – when we finally met another species it resulted in a decades long war, and countless billions of deaths. Had it not been for a schism in the ranks of our enemies, humanity would have been extinct"

„But how? Such advanced technology, combined with magic, how could you loose to them, surely you did not just surrender?" - Fairbanks wondered

"This Holy Light sure would have been useful against the flood" - his companion made another snarky comment

„There is no magic where I come from, everything we had, we gained through science and experimentation, however our enemies were much more advanced than ourselves. We could hold our own in ground battles, but we were hopelessly outgunned in space."

„Magic might not be common, but everywhere you go, you can feel its presence, I cannot image what a world without magic would look like. What seems to be a constant though is that humanity has no rest, anywhere might look. We had suffered a similar invasion, one of our own – Medivh – who was supposed to be the guardian of the realm, led an alien invasion force onto our world - the orcs. It took the combined forces of all our kingdoms, and the help of the elves, dwarves and gnomes to put a halt to them. Had not a similar schism occured in their ranks, who knows how it may have ended. The orcs were but pawns of their demon masters, but they were brutal beasts - their only goal, destroy as much as possible to feed their bloodlust. After they were defeated I had hoped that peace would prevail once again, but it seems evil and treachery feel no need to rest. A foul plague was concocted by our enemy, and spread through our grain shipments, soon half the kingdom died, but it did not end there, for those who died rose again, and slaughtered anyone they could find. You saw the man, or what is left of him, who was behind this plague yesterday - Kelthuzad – once a powerful mage, now a servant of the Lich King."

"Who is this Lich King?" – Asked John

„He was once the heir to the throne of Lordaeron. His father Therenas ruled this kingdom for seventy years, and his son brought it down in a matter of days. He was once a paladin, the same order as Alexandros, but bit by bit the evil he sought to destroy, corrupted him. Eventually he turned against his own friends, and took up the sword Frostmourne, which took his soul as its first victim. He returned changed and killed his own father, ransacking the capital with his undead hordes. None were spared, and Lordaeron was only the first Kingdom that fell before him. The Elves of Quel Thalas were decimated as well, their Ranger General – Sylvanas Windrunner – turned into a banshee – eventually she broke free from his will – and now she leads the free willed undead in the capital."

"Free willed? How did they regain their will?"

Nobody knows for sure, but the Lich Kings grasp seems to have weakend somewhat – those who had stronger wills in life have had a chance to break free. It is a complicated issue, and the views on them are divided. Some think that they are soulles shells of their previous hosts, while others would have us negotiate with them. Sooner or later, we will have to deal with them, one way or the other.

Fairbanks straightened his bedroll, and lay beside the campfire.

"I will try and get some sleep, tomorrow we will have alot of work to do. Would you be so kind and take the first shift, wake me once my shift is up." – Fairbanks said as he faded off to sleep.

„We really are a long way from Kansas here" – his AI companion said jokingly

„Did you triangulate our position from the stars yet?" John asked

„None match up to the starcharts in my database, and the sensors in your suit are limited, a satellite or a starship would be helpfull here, I dont suppose you have one stored in your pocket?"

„Not this time." – he replied with a sigh.

„Elves, magic, undead – intelligent brutes dont seem so farfetched now."

„The UNSC will manage without us, but as soon as we find a way, I plan to return to the fight."

„Somehow I get the felling there will be no shortage of fighting for you here."

The next day – Hearthglen

John and Fairbanks entered Hearthglen early the next day.
All eyes were fixed on the green giant – but more importantly – on the sword on his back.

„There" - Fairbanks pointed to the large stone structure in the middle of the town.

"Renault and the Grand Crusader will be there"

As they entered the keep, Renault was in conversation with Saiden – it seems he got there only moments before them.

When Renault saw Fairbanks and the Chief, all color drained from his face.

"Fairbanks, what is this golem with you, and why does it have my fathers sword – where is he!" - Renault shouted while trying to appear authoritative

„Do not feign ignorance Renault, I was there! I saw you stabbing your own Father and then fleeing the scene – this is the man your father entrusted the Ashbringer with.
Justice will be served today, guards apprehend Renault at once!" - Fairbanks commanded the guards stationed in the room.

The guards sprang into action at first, but after a stern look from the Grand Crusader, they froze in place. Finally the Grand Crusader Saiden spoke:

„Old man, you have no authority here, and you will address your new Highlord with respect – the alternative could be disastrous for your health." - He rose from his seat and together with Renault walked towards them.

„I will have you both executed for treason, I do not know what this creature is, but it has forfeited its life when it touched the Ashbringer" – Renault decreed

Suddenly the Ashbringer shined brightly and in front of them an image appeared – Alexandros with the Ashbringer in hand.

Renault fell to his knees and pleaded

„No! Father! Please forgive me, Saiden had tricked me, I only wanted you to see my worth! Please forgive me!"

Alexandros slowly walked towards his son, and in one fell swoop separated his head from his body.

"You are forgiven, son." - Alexandros said coldly.

Then he turned towards Saiden.

"And you, demon, show your true guise!"

Saiden started laughing, but golden chains soon enveloped him, his laughter turning to anguish, his form turning from human into something much more sinister.

Puny mortal, you may have blown my disguise but your cause is lost. My brethren and I will dismantle whats left of your pathetic kingdom, and I will enjoy every second of it.
He cast a spell and the image of Alexandros vanished, but John heard Alexandros still as if he were talking to him.

"Trust your instincts, as you are part of the sword, so the sword is part of you."

John readied the Ashbringer and walked calmly towards the demon.

"And what is this – this golem is supposed to defeat me – here, taste my claws." – Balnazzar said as he swung towards the chief.

His claws made contact with the armor, and broke off instantly. The demon yelped in pain, clutching his hand close to his body.

"Now I will talk, and you will listen." – The chief said calmly, pointing the Ashbringer towards the demon.

Golden chains enveloped him, searing his corrupted flesh.

"I will not yield, you will kill me, and I will return, my soul is immortal – can you say the same golem?" - He barked defiantly.

The chains tightened, John knew all eyes were peered on him, he saw the people around the room – their frightened, betrayed and sorry eyes – they had no hope.

He would give them hope.

"Look into the eyes of the mortal who will end you Balnazzar." - John said as he undid the clasps on his helmet.

He took his helmet off, and stached it under his left arm. Showing everyone the pale skin and piercing blue eyes underneath.

Gasps could be heard around the room, for now they knew what he was – human.

Realisation struck Balnazzar – this was not a golem, but a man - armored with the strangest plate he ever saw – and whats more – he knows his name.
Confidence quickly left Balnazzar as the man continued.

"I know of your kind – the light has shown me – you may be immortal under normal circumstances – but the Ashbringer will sever the bond with whatever accursed place you return to normally." Chief said with his usual stoic tone - no underlying emotion in that statement - just the simple truth.

"So I suggest you cooperate."

"You ask, and I answer." – Balnazzar said obediently

"Whom do you serve?" - was Johns first question

"The Dark Lord of course." - the answer

"What is his plan?"

"To destroy or enslave every single being on this puny planet."

"What does he hope to gain from this?"

"We do not ask why, we just do what he bids us to do."

"Are there more of you?" - John asked again

"Of course, hundreds, hiding in your mists, listening in on your secrets, sleeping with your wo… aaagh!" – The chains tightened around the demon.

"Speak truly, or I promise you, the agony you felt now is just the beginning." - John warned him.

"There are only a handful of us left, two of my brothers are missing, one is with the free willed undead."

"Why did you plot to kill Alexandros? Was your position as the leader not enough?"

"He was the greatest immediate threat, sooner or later he would have found us out, and his faith made him uncorruptable. We killed him, but you foiled the best part of our plan, he was to be risen as a death knight of Kelthuzad – that is the fate that awaits all of you." - Balnazzar started laughing.

"My patience has ended, and now that I have told you our secrets, I will ensure that they do not leave this room. I will posses your body, and bring ruin to all what is left of this wretched kingdom."

Balnazzar broke free of the chains with a dark spell, and channeled dark magics towards the guards that rushed him, they fell, writhing on the floor in agony.

Before he could start channeling another spell though, a green blur flashed before his eyes, and he felt a sharp pain in his stomach.

John had closed the distance between them in a split second and thrust the Ashbringer through the demons chest.

Radiant flame spread out of the wound and soon the Natherezim once known as Balnazzar was nothing more but a heap of ashes - the last thing he saw - piercing blue eyes filled with golden flame.

John turned towards the men on the ground, his instincts telling him to hold out his hand. He called upon the light, and the light answered. A golden glow engulfed the footmen, and their wounds disappeared, their faces, contorted from the pain, forming smiles.

"All hail the Highlord!" - Fairbanks was shouting, soon a chorus followed his lead.

As the people were cheering on their savior, more bad news came from the Weapon.

"Chief, I have worrying news. I analyzed the demons DNA - it has traces of the flood in it." - said the AI

The small smile John had on his face, instantly turned into a frown.

"For Lordaeron! For the Light!" - People were cheering and crying. Dancing and hugging each other – in their darkest hour, a hand reached out, pulled them back from the brink, and gave them hope – the hand of a hero.