Paladins aren’t infused with the light. There is no fundamental difference between a paladin and priest other than how they use the light in the field. The Silver Hand ceremony is that of a blessing (akin to giving someone a buff), not an infusion.
Of Blood and Honor (Chapter 2):
- “Archbishop: In the Light, we gather to empower our brother. In its grace, he will be made anew. In its power, he shall educate the masses. In its strength, he shall combat the shadow. And, in its wisdom, he shall lead his brethren to the eternal rewards of paradise.”
- “Archbishop: Clerics of the Northshire, if you deem this man worthy, place your blessings upon him.
One of the clerics comes with a blessed dark blue embroidered stole in his hands, which he placed reverently around Tirion’s neck. Then, he dipped his thumb in a small vial of sacred oil and anointed Tirion’s forehead.” - “Archbishop: Knights of the Silver Hand, if you deem this man worthy, place your blessings upon him.
Two of the armored men comes, the first laid the warhammer before Tirion’s feet. The second, Saidan Dathrohan, placed the silver plates upon Tirion’s shoulders.” - “Each of the clerics and knights raised their right hands and pointed toward Tirion, empowered him with the holy light.”
Arthas: Rise of the Lich King (Part 1: Chapter 5):
- “In the Light, we gather to empower our brother.”
- & 3) are similar to the 2) & 3) from above
- “Sweat broke out on Arthas’s brow. What was going wrong? Why wasn’t the Light wrapping itself around him in blessing and benediction?”
The rest of the book makes a point that the light flows through him or he’s channeling it etc. Same as priests.
- Chapter 8 … “Maybe if he focused on fighting, on learning how to accept, and channel and direct the Light, he could get the hell over her. Over the girl he himself had broken up with”
Had he been infused, why would he need to learn to accept, channel, and direct the light? Seems like it’d only be directing.
- This ceremony is exclusive to the Order of the Silver Hand, which not all Paladins are a part of. There is no evidence to support that other Paladin individuals/races/organizations undergo the same process nor is it explicitly mentioned that it’s needed to become a Paladin.
This is just a fact. Silver Hand was originally just Humans and Dwarves.
Draenei became Paladins through the Naaru teaching them about the Light.
High Elves had Paladins through normal worship of the Light, but briefly lost in after most of them renamed to Blood Elves and had to drain it from Naaru. With the Sunwell restored, the Blood Knights returned to embracing the Light like the originally did.
Sunwalkers get the Light from basic worship of An’she, which is just a different form of the Draenei worshipping it through the Naaru and Humans/Dwarves through the Light itself.
The first Human Paladins were literally just Warrior + Priest
Tides of Darkness (Chapter 5)
- “I will establish a new branch of the Church, the paladins. I have already selected the first candidates for this order. Some were knights before but others were priests. I chose these men for both their piety and their martial prowess. They will be trained, not only in war but in prayer and in healing. And each of these valient fighters will possess both martial and spiritual power, particularly in blessing themselves and other with the strength of the Holy Light.”
And just so you’re aware there is zero statement about the ORIGINAL paladins of the Church, mentioned above, having gone through the ceremony mentioned twice earlier. This implying that the ceremony was created afterwards, and that again it isn’t necessary for one to be a Paladin.
Wielding the light is a matter of faith. Paladins don’t have the light within them. It answers their call just like with a Priest. The only Light infused mortals are Lightforged Draenei.
And before you mention the ceremony that supposedly “removed the light infusion from tirion”, that ceremony is literally just a gaslighting ceremony to make the Paladin believe they aren’t worthy and therefore their faith (and thus ability to call to the light) is disrupted. It’s why it didn’t actually succeed as he was able to rekindle his faith later after a self discovery/reflection journey.