"Damn it!"
That voice was Chromie!
That little dragon had been hiding since the start of the battle, undetected even by Sargeras.
Galen knew that Bronze Dragons could easily hide in time rifts. For Chromie, guarding the timeline, it was effortless.
"Forget it," Galen thought. "I invited her to gauge her true feelings about me. If I can build a good relationship with her, she can help me if other Bronze or Infinite Dragons come snooping around."
Despite these thoughts, Galen cursed Chromie inwardly.
His actions, however, were swift.
He drew an ordinary longsword, rushed towards Sargeras, and, as the demon turned to curse Khadgar, Galen thrust his sword into the same wound made by the Great Royal Sword.
"Pfft!"
"Argh! You will all die! All things wither! The void will take you!"
Sargeras, wounded again, spat blood, but remained dangerous.
He turned and unleashed the incomplete aging curse at Galen!
Galen, not wanting to age like Khadgar, quickly pulled his longsword free to block the curse.
Unfortunately, Galen's "Colorful Sword" copy, made for realism, was too smooth and round!
The aging curse struck the sword and was reflected back!
Khadgar, already weakened by the curse, couldn't dodge.
Perhaps from shock, he fainted as the curse hit him again!
Galen felt a pang of guilt. It was unintentional!
Sargeras, seeing Galen unharmed, raised his right claw to crush his head, but a slender palm blocked it.
Aegwynn, having teleported to Sargeras, ignored her pierced hand and began to dispel the darkness:
"Light comes from darkness! Darkness submit light!"
"No!"
Demonized Medivh and Aegwynn glowed with golden light. Sargeras felt his soul being forced out of Medivh's body!
A wave of fel energy erupted from Medivh, blasting everyone and surging out of the window!
The Deadwind Pass was ravaged by the green storm.
Village roofs were torn off, and lush trees were reduced to charred, twisted remains.
The once-vibrant pass became a desolate wasteland.
The magical node at Karazhan amplified the storm, spreading arcane energy to distant places. The Elwynn Forest to the west became misty and ominous.
"High-intensity heroic spirit power detected, attempting to collect!"
"Collection failed!"
"Intercepting part of the heroic spirit essence!"
As the Origin Heart prompted, Galen sensed Sargeras's dark soul being stripped from Medivh. The demonic features on Medivh faded, restoring his human appearance.
Galen quickly removed the broken blades from Medivh's body and tried to heal him with Holy Light.
"Buzz!"
The Holy Light burned Medivh's wounds.
"It's useless, Galen. My body is corrupted by fel energy. Holy Light accelerates my death!"
Aegwynn, in tears, rushed to grasp Medivh's hand.
"No! Medivh, my child!"
Medivh's spirit also appeared, floating beside him.
Medivh, with his last strength, looked at his parents.
"Father, Mother, I'm sorry. I failed as the Guardian and brought the orcs to Azeroth. It's all my fault!"
"No, child, Sargeras's soul was forced upon you. My arrogance harmed you and your father!"
"Medivh, we expelled Sargeras. It can be fixed. Cheer up!"
Nielas Aran's voice was weak. His spirit was injured by Sargeras.
"I'm afraid not. The fel energy has destroyed my life force. No worldly healing can help me!"
"No!"
Aegwynn wept, and Medivh's spirit glowed sadly.
A family reunited only to face their final farewell.
Lothar stepped forward.
"Medivh, my old friend!"
"Lothar! My brother, I failed to protect Stormwind. Tell Llane I'm sorry. You have to clean up my mess!" Blood spurted from Medivh's mouth, and Aegwynn froze his wounds.
"Don't say that. We are brothers!" Lothar said, his eyes red.
Medivh summoned his staff, a crack appearing in the air.
It was Atiesh, the Guardian's legendary staff!
"Mother, give this to Khadgar. I don't care that he's a Kirin Tor traitor. He's my chosen disciple, Medivh's disciple!"
"After I die, teach Khadgar well. Sargeras's curse stimulated his potential. With his talent, he will protect Azeroth for me!"
"Okay!" Aegwynn agreed, wiping her tears.
"Father, Mother, I'm leaving!"
Medivh's face was tear-streaked as his hand fell.
The Guardian Medivh died in his mother's arms in December of the third year after the Dark Portal opened.
An era had ended!
"Mother!"
As Medivh died, his spirit spoke.
"I can't hold on either, my dear. Seeing you one last time comforts me. I must go too!"
"No! Nielas! Don't leave me!"
Aegwynn reached for him, but grasped only air. His spirit faded away.
"An Heroic Spirit has been detected. Do you want to collect it?"
"Collect!"
Galen collected the spirits of Medivh and his father.
"Perfect! I lost Tok'karar, but gained these spirits. And I can repair Tok'karar later, maybe even upgrade it!"
"Everyone, Karazhan is sealed. You may leave!"
Aegwynn, having lost her son and husband, handed Atiesh to Lothar. "Give this to Khadgar. He'll wait for me in Stormwind. I'll find him after dealing with Karazhan!"
She cradled Medivh's body and a severed hand, descending the steps.
"Let's go," Lothar said, taking Atiesh and carrying Khadgar.
"Kyle, come with me. Salorean is in Minas Tirith!"
Galen picked up the hilt of Tok'karar and beckoned Kael'thas and Rommath. Aragorn and Durin followed.
Gandalf's charred remains lay forgotten in the dome.
Karazhan's teleportation was now inaccurate, and they would have to ride back to Stormwind.
After they left, Chromie appeared.
"Galen, you are the source of the timeline change! You tried to mislead me into focusing on Gandalf. Only you could ensure Gandalf could be resurrected after being burned to a crisp."
"However, this timeline is improving. Medivh's early return and the Second Orcish War have created many Alliance heroes. I still need to observe Galen closely!"
She vanished again.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Meanwhile, at the Stone Cairn Lake, Gul'dan watched the orcs charge.
He was caught off guard by a sudden pressure, almost collapsing.
He recognized Medivh's aura. He had never trusted the mage.
Gul'dan saw himself in Medivh, a betrayer.
Of course, if Gul'dan knew Medivh was possessed by Sargeras, he might have been more frightened.
Gul'dan and Medivh powered the Dark Portal, which also served as a communication channel.
Gul'dan sensed Medivh in distress.
"A good opportunity!"
Gul'dan opened a portal to the Dark Portal to probe Medivh's mind.
He entered Sargeras's consciousness and learned that Sargeras had invaded Azeroth three hundred years ago and was killed by Aegwynn. His body was sealed in the Tomb of Sargeras!
Gul'dan cared little about invading Azeroth.
The Tomb of Sargeras was the key!
Absorbing the fel energy there would make him as strong as Kil'jaeden!
"Hahaha!"
Gul'dan forgot about everything else.
Just then, Sargeras was expelled from Medivh, and Gul'dan was forced to power the Dark Portal!
Boom!
Gul'dan blacked out.
When he awoke, he was filled with despair.