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Chapter 2 - Family Meeting

Fortunately, alongside the strength forged through relentless training, I possessed a trump card. As a transmigrator, to lack a unique advantage would be a disservice to the entire fraternity of displaced souls. Galen closed his eyes, and within the depths of his mind, a large, azure blue orb of light slowly coalesced and expanded.

-Heart of Origin:

-Extraordinary Artifact

-Bound -Unique Equipment Form Transformation: Can be transformed into a base core, requires deployment, and needs a 100 x 100 open space.

The Heart of Origin, nestled within his consciousness, was likely the catalyst for Galen's unexpected arrival in Azeroth. Transmigration, it seemed, came with its own mobile headquarters! When Galen had first discovered the luminous orb, the sheer excitement had robbed him of sleep for days. Finally, a tangible hope had taken root.

Form transformation, base core… As a seasoned gamer, Galen's mind raced with possibilities. Silently contemplating the glowing sphere and its tantalizingly high-tech description, he felt an almost irresistible urge to unleash it and witness its true form. However, the requirement of ten thousand square meters of unobstructed space presented a significant dilemma.

The primary issue was his current location: the heavily populated royal castle of Stromgarde. Aside from the constant presence of people, the sudden manifestation of such a massive structure would undoubtedly alarm King Thoras, an eventuality Galen had no plausible explanation for.

Galen opened his eyes, once again suppressing the eager tremor in his heart. Over the years, he had grown accustomed to this frustrating predicament – possessing a treasure trove yet being unable to access it. Soon, after solidifying his skills as a great warrior, he would finally be able to leave Stromgarde and seek out a secluded location within the Arathi Highlands to summon the base and explore its potential.

Since the tender age of six or seven, Galen had made clandestine excursions outside the city walls, desperately seeking a suitable site for his future base, only to nearly meet his end in the jaws of a hungry raptor. Following this near-fatal encounter, King Thoras had assigned a contingent of guards to watch him closely, effectively confining his explorations to within the city limits.

Slowly reining in his impatient thoughts, he reminded himself of the years he had already waited, and the dawning opportunity to reshape the future. Fortunately, his past life had instilled in him a considerable degree of patience; otherwise, he doubted he could have maintained his composure and diligently honed his physical prowess.

Having changed into more presentable attire, Galen left his private courtyard and entered the central section of the castle. The architectural design here mirrored what he remembered from the games of his previous life. Guard residences flanked either side of the main gate, with armories situated beside them. Staircases on both sides led to the second floor, where the council hall was located in the very center.

Within the hall, a massive wooden table of primitive and sturdy design dominated the space. Aside from the ever-present guards, only one other person occupied the hall, seated at the immense table. Galen approached and offered a respectful greeting.

"Good day, Cousin Danath."

Hearing his voice, the man turned his head and immediately rose upon seeing Galen. "Good day, Galen," he replied warmly.

This was a robust young man, nearly Thoras' impressive height of over two meters, with thick eyebrows and a strong, square jaw. His appearance bore the ruggedness characteristic of the highland people, and he wore practical red and white armor.

As he approached Galen, he enveloped him in a hearty bear hug. "I heard you completed your warrior's rite of passage. Congratulations, Galen!"

Barely tolerating the embrace, Galen quickly pushed him away, a look of mock disgust on his face. "Careful, careful, Danath! Your armor is scratching me, and you know I've always preferred the company of beautiful girls. Let's maintain a respectable distance; I'm not the little kid you could squeeze whenever you felt like it anymore."

Observing Galen's exaggerated distaste, Danath Trollbane chuckled, recognizing the jest. He feigned a wounded expression. "I've been away from Stromgarde for over a year, sorely missing your esteemed presence, and this is my reward? My heart weeps!" His dramatic portrayal of heartbreak was almost comical.

Danath was Galen's cousin, a member of the Trollbane royal family, ten years Galen's senior. Due to Galen's early maturity and his constant martial arts training, his physique was far from that of typical children his age. This, coupled with the ten-year age gap, surprisingly fostered a close bond between the two.

Furthermore, the Trollbane royal family was relatively small, with Galen and Danath being the only members of their generation, the rest being distant relatives. This scarcity of close kin further strengthened their relationship.

"How fares the situation in Goshek? Are those troll whelps behaving themselves?" Galen inquired, genuinely curious about Danath's experiences on the border over the past year.

"Those Witherbark trolls are surprisingly docile. Only scattered small raiding parties occasionally venture near our borders. Otherwise, all is well. I achieved the rank of high-level warrior half a year ago, Galen. You'll have to work hard; don't let me leave you so far behind that I can't even see your shadow, hahaha!" Danath puffed out his chest, a smug grin spreading across his face.

In truth, Galen found Danath's thick eyebrows, large eyes, and strong facial features gave him an upright and dependable appearance. His current unrestrained behavior was likely reserved only for close companions.

Danath's father, King Thoras's brother, had been a respected general of the kingdom, responsible for safeguarding Goshek Farm and ensuring the kingdom's eastern grain production. His tragic death in a troll ambush two years prior had deeply affected Danath. Initially inspired by Galen's diligence, Danath had become even more focused and driven, his combat training becoming an almost desperate pursuit.

Galen feigned disdain. "Don't get too cocky. You've only had ten more years of practice than me. I've already caught up; we're only separated by a few small levels." As he spoke, the image of the Heart of Origin flashed in his mind, prompting him to add, "Maybe I'll become a legendary warrior before you."

"Then I shall eagerly await that day, Your Highness 'the legendary hero.' Try not to trip on your own boasts in the meantime," Danath retorted, finally dropping the playful rivalry. He joined Galen at the wooden table, taking a seat at the end, and continued to regale Galen with tales of his experiences in the militia.

Listening to him, Galen recalled his earlier thoughts. "Danath, Father has agreed to allow me to travel. If it's along your route for the first leg, perhaps I could accompany you to Goshek and see the kingdom's eastern border."

"No problem at all," Danath readily agreed. "I'll be returning to Goshek after this meeting. You can find me at the Goshek town hall then."

At that moment, King Thoras entered the council hall. Galen and Danath immediately fell silent and offered respectful greetings.

"Sit down, both of you. We are family here," Thoras said, taking his seat at the head of the table, gesturing for Galen and Danath to do the same. "Danath, your performance in the militia has been commendable. What are your thoughts on your current assignment?"

"Uncle," Danath replied earnestly, "I wish to remain in the militia, on the front lines of Goshek. There, I can continue to hone my martial skills, combat the trolls, and uphold the honor of our Trollbane lineage." He was resolute; he had no desire to return to the relative safety of Stromgarde. He thrived on the challenges of the front lines.

Thoras nodded approvingly. The king, a powerful warrior himself, admired his nephew's choice. "I have reviewed this year's battle reports. The militia commander speaks highly of you. In recognition of your service, I hereby promote you to deputy of the militia unit."

Hearing that he could not only remain on the front lines but also receive a promotion, Danath's face broke into a wide smile as he happily accepted the order.

With Danath's matter settled, it was Galen's turn. Thoras considered his son for a moment before speaking. "My son, for the past few years, you have expressed a desire to travel. I previously restricted your movements to within the city due to the unstable situation in the Arathi Highlands. However, you are now a seventh-level warrior. In Arathi, and even in Lordaeron, you possess the ability to defend yourself. Do you have any specific plans for your travels?"

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