World of Warcraft: Paladin: Warrior of the Light: Book 1: Redemption

Prologue: Close to death

(Blades Edge Mountain: https://youtu.be/KrKlW_v-Ylk)

  The wind blew past him violently, almost pulling down his now iconic, even though ironic, red and gold hood of his Judgment Helm and threatened to push the hardened Paladin off the Blades Edge Mountains and onto one of the thousands of spikes protruding the mountains, hence their name. Their path should lead them to a nearby Alliance outpost, Toshley's Station, just after all the winding turns ahead.

John would not have minded coming to the mountains. After all, it was where the last vestiges of the ogres held out, and he always loved fighting opponents who claimed to be stronger than him. Sadly though, he must resist the urge to go and fight the ogres, for he was on a quest that he only took to get more gold. His mission: to help Nelphi, the apprentice to one of the strongest and brightest wizards on Azeroth, Lady Jaina Proudmore, retrieve an ancient ogre magi tome. He knew of the Lady's accomplishments and achievements. For example, she-

"Did you even plan an escape route for us? Because it's only a matter of time before the ogres realise they are missing their tome." Nelphi yelled out, trying to get John's attention over the howling winds. Trying and succeeding.

She constantly moved her blonde ponytail behind her. Shuffling through her violet robes to better snug the ogre tome and keep it from falling out. Nelphi pulled her wand out and let it hang at her hip in case they were beset by any would-be reclaimers of the ogre tome.

John never really understood why or how wizards and mages used their magic and honestly could not care for it. All he cared about was getting this quest done so he could get paid.

It always stung him whenever he thought about getting paid and nothing else, especially on an escort quest like this one. Being trained by the Paladins of the Order of the Silver Hand, he was taught to be selfless and to care for people, but...

"Did you hear me tin head?!" Nelphi said to him. "Do I need to repeat myself so you can hear me over your self-chanting?!"

Interrupted again by the violet-dressed witch. Even with a mage near, one of the few people he thought would be quiet, she would be louder than the arenas and battlegrounds he competed in.

He turned around to retort her quip when he heard something falling, more like small rocks falling.

Wait, small rocks don't fall by themselves! He thought to himself as he looked up, inspecting the cliff face and watched as more specks of dirt and rocks fell. Looking over at Nelphi, who was busy ranting about the importance of this tome.

He pulled her to his front and yelled at her, "Go! We've got assassins behind us! Go! Go!" He pushed her forward, "There should be a cave up ahead we-!" John recoiled. He was right. There were assassins after them, and they had arrows. This assassin got a lucky shot off and pierced him through his shoulder. He looked over at the wound and saw the arrowhead protruding from him, and what he saw on it made him swell up with anger. Poison, more specifically, the poison commonly used by Forsaken assassins. "We need to go now!" He shouted, finally getting Nelphi to run.

Where are they? He asked himself while running with the arrow still in him, They must be stealthed.

John had to devise something to reveal these assassins and get them out in the open. Then out of nowhere, another arrow hit him through his stomach, falling him to his knees.

What's the point of wearing plate mail if their arrows go through it?

He saw rocks falling and a small puff cloud where the Paladin guessed where the assassin had landed. He quickly recalled one of his spells, used specifically for these situations. He stood up and murmured the spell as soon as he could. Then specks of golden light came from all around, being drawn to him, and after a second, they were released into a brilliant display of light leaving his body, blinding the assassins and revealing them.