As they drew closer to the Pioneer Territory, the biting wind gradually subsided, and the chill that had permeated the air was replaced by the fresh scent of earth.
Toka, riding a sturdy Iceclaw Bear and clad in the refined steel armor of a Knight Commander, led the vanguard of the procession.
Behind him were fifty Troll Paladins, uniformly armored in iron, with the Dragon God's divine emblem etched onto their chests.
They rode on Ice Plain Wolves, their formation tight, encircling a dozen or so covered wagons pulled by reindeer.
The wagons carried carefully selected priests, scriptures, and supplies from the Ital'ruk Church.
This path was not unfamiliar to Toka.
About two and a half years ago, he had followed this very dirt road, filled with both bewilderment and a sense of duty, to this new frontier known as the "Pioneer Territory."
He still remembered the shock of first seeing the Domain of Life, and the clumsy movements of the pioneers as they tilled the fields.
There was also the initial encounter with the Night Elf Druids, which nearly escalated into conflict.
Toka's thoughts rose and fell with the swaying of the bear's back.
After the handover with Nefarian, he had stayed in Ital'ruk for about nine months, followed by the "ZulDrak Unification War."
As for the remaining year and a half, there were no earth-shattering legends, only a long story interwoven with iron and blood, sweat and negotiations.
The smoke of war had not fully dissipated after the fall of Gundrak.
He led his army, clearing out the remnants of Frost Howl, suppressing small tribes that resisted stubbornly, and appeasing those who chose to surrender.
Eradicating banditry, mediating disputes, allocating land, establishing order—these tasks were trivial and complex, yet indispensable for building a truly unified nation.
Even now, this work could not be said to be completely finished, but it no longer required his personal attention as Knight Commander.
This gave Toka more time to learn how to manage and how to become a qualified leader.
Before his departure, in the stone tower of Ital'ruk, he saw the war records compiled and archived by Siye.
The thick dossiers, most of the ink concentrated on the decisive "Siege of Gundrak" battle—the Dragon God's descent, Rhunok's valiant fight, Moragon's madness and fall, Muehzala's defeat…
It was magnificent, like an epic.
Yet, the subsequent year and a half of arduous journey, bloodshed, and gradual accumulation were only briefly mentioned in the last few pages:
"...the Ital'ruk army cleared out the remaining enemies, healed the wounds, and ZulDrak was finally unified."
Toka held the scroll, lost in thought.
Siye happened to walk by, carrying newly transcribed scriptures. Noticing his expression, she smiled knowingly and said in her calm, slightly teasing tone:
"People don't remember these trivial details, Toka."
"They will only record it plainly in legends or historical accounts: 'Ital'ruk unified the entire ZulDrak after the Battle of the Siege of Gundrak.'"
She paused, placing the scriptures on the table, "Of course, there are always some people who like to stir up trouble, who will fabricate strange unofficial histories and embellish them. That's beyond our control."
Toka could only shrug, silently returning the scroll to its place.
He understood Siye's meaning.
History is like a rushing river; people often remember the turning points where the waves crash, rather than the countless, silent grains of sand beneath.
But it is precisely these grains of sand that pave the way to the future.
The wind from Howling Fjord swept through the treetops, letting out a low moan.
Toka shook his head, pulling his thoughts back to reality.
Ahead, at the end of the forest path, an open river valley came into view.
Drakof'Alor.
This was the name decided upon by the newly formed council after deliberation.
The once-simple "Pioneer Territory" had now been officially designated as one of the three major dioceses of the Emberglow Dragon Church and given this resounding name.
Their purpose on this journey was to escort this group of church leaders to support the growing spiritual needs of this burgeoning city.
Compared to two and a half years ago, the scene before them was vastly different.
The first thing that caught the eye were the orderly fields.
With the assistance of the Druids, they seemed to have successfully identified several suitable crops for cultivation, as the types of crops in the fields were mainly concentrated in those few categories.
However, Toka couldn't recognize what these crops were, only barely identifying one of them, a type of tuber commonly eaten by Ice Trolls.
Continuing onward, they arrived at the settlers' living quarters.
Neatly arranged log cabins or rammed earth houses lined both sides of the road, with smoke curling up from chimneys, mixing with the scents of food and fodder, permeating the air.
The road had widened considerably; although still a dirt path, it was firmly trodden and level.
From a distance, Toka spotted an area enclosed by a wooden wall. Only when he drew closer did he suddenly remember that this was the habitat of the Proto-Dragons.
Unlike the crude conditions before, the nest area now contained several sheds that could shelter the Proto-Dragons from wind and rain.
Clearly, the Proto-Dragons had no such refined taste; it was most likely the Ice Trolls who built them.
Several larger adult Proto-Dragons lay lazily basking in the sun, their scales glinting in the light.
Younger Proto-Dragons played and wrestled nearby, emitting low hisses.
Toka did not see Frost Fang among them and wondered where the Proto-Dragon Priest had gone.
Bypassing the Proto-Dragon's nest, Toka's gaze was drawn to the vibrant area on the city's northwestern edge.
It was a thriving woodland, completely different from the starkness of the surrounding coniferous forest.
Temperate tree species such as oak, ash, and maple were cleverly planted, forming natural barriers and arcades.
In the center of the woodland, several uncarved boulders were piled into a simple altar, adorned with offerings of fruit and flowers.
This was the "Druid Grove."
Students of different races—primarily Ice Trolls, with a few Vrykul and Dracthyrs, and even a couple of sturdy, hairy Furbolgs—sat in a circle, listening to an elderly Ice Troll Druid lecture.
He held an acorn in his hand, and emerald green natural energy flowed and swirled between his fingers.
Under a tall fir tree not far away, Fandral Staghelm and his Night Elf squad stood silently.
Their gaze was fixed on the Troll Druid's method of guiding energy, their brows slightly furrowed, their eyes filled with scrutiny and inquiry.
The Druidic path of Azeroth originated from Cenarius and the Emerald Dream, emphasizing communication with the spirits of the wild and shapeshifting.
However, the Druidic path demonstrated by this instructor seemed to focus more on the direct channeling of elemental energy, the control of specific natural domains, and a certain ritualistic quality more akin to "divine magic"?
This difference made them feel both unfamiliar and curious.
Toka did not linger. The procession continued, eventually reaching the heart of the city.
A magnificent structure was rising from the ground, situated on the most vibrant land in the city center, closest to the World Tree Dracofyrrassil—a sapling about two meters tall, radiating a soft golden-green glow—an artificial structure.
The temple's foundation, built from Obsidian blocks, was already taking shape, resembling a ring of flames.
Craftsmen were erecting stone pillars carved with the Dragon God's emblem. The temple's location left ample space for the future growth of the World Tree, nearly a hundred meters.
This was the destination for Toka's group: the new temple of Drakof'Alor.
Toka dismounted his bear and stepped onto the flat stone ground cleared in front of the temple construction site.
The Paladins quickly fanned out, guarding the surroundings.
The priests began to unload supplies from the wagons in an orderly fashion.
Toka took a deep breath. The air was filled with the scents of wood and stone, mingled with the aroma of the World Tree itself.
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