It was a cold morning in the plague lands when the king’s call rang out across the dead fields. Jenna slowly opened her eyes, taking her first breath in what seemed like an eternity. But the light hurt her eyes and her body felt wrong – heavier, colder.
Memories flooded back of her final moments as a human before the Scourge took her. Now risen as one of their minions, a powerful but soulless creature. She looked down at her pale hands, her once rosy skin now ashen and gray.
Yet something was stirring within her – a spark of her humanity remained. And the king’s summons was not one of darkness and decay, but of honor and redemption. If she pledged herself to the cause of protecting Azeroth, perhaps she could overcome her monstrous origins and redeem herself.
Others among the risen were hearing the call too. Kaleb, once a proud warrior who fell defending his village. Mila, a daughter and healer cut down before her time. They had been chained to the Lich King’s will, but now a new path opened – one of freedom and purpose.
Together they would become Death Knights, wielding powers of both life and death as champions of the Horde and Alliance. No longer slaves to the Scourge, they rose to defend their realms against any who threatened them. Through their courage and sacrifice, souls corrupted could find redemption on the fields of the living once more.
Jenna and the others spent weeks under the tutelage of Bolvar Fordragon and his knights at Acherus. It was an uneasy time, as both teacher and student struggled to accept the changes wrought by undeath.
For Jenna, evenings were the hardest. While her companions slept dreamlessly, memories from her past life would haunt her waking mind. She recalled warm summer nights around the fire with her family, a joy now forever out of reach.
But in battling against her inner demons, Jenna found camaraderie with the others. Kaleb empathized with her grief, having lost his own family to the Scourge. Mila helped Jenna accept her cursed nature, reminding her that their powers could now save others from a similar fate.
Slowly, purpose replaced pain. And when the day came for the Death Knights to ride forth, a tentative hope had taken root amongst them. They would prove their redemption by actions, not words. Wherever the Scourge or other threats to Azeroth emerged, Bolvar’s students would stand against the darkness.
Though corpses walked in their company, in their hearts burned a flame for all that yet lived. This new life granted a chance to avenge old wrongs and protect old loves still living. And so the Death Knights rode to glory and redemption on the frozen fields of Northrend.