The gradually cooling corpse of his friend in his arms spoke of the cruel reality.
Although he had long been prepared to kill his friend with his own hands, it was only because the demon had possessed him, and he was willing to kill the demon to protect his friend's honor. But when his friend finally awoke and chose self-sacrifice, his heart could no longer remain calm.
'You are truly the Medivh I know, the champion who fought for Azeroth!'
Gently releasing his arms, he slowly pulled out the Great Royal Sword from his friend's chest. He then retrieved a magic shield that Medivh had collected from the ruins before turning to look at Khadgar, who was sitting on the ground constantly gasping for breath, looking utterly drained and pretending to be dead on the rubble.
"Friends, we don't have much time. We must close the Dark Portal!!"
Lothar was deeply saddened and longed to stay here to mourn his friend, but he knew this was not the time. He had a more important task ahead of him. This was not only his duty as a soldier of the Kingdom of Stormwind, but also his friend's final wish, and he had to fulfill it!
"Drink this first."
Just then, Lancer, who had recovered some strength, walked over and handed Lothar a bottle of Potent Stamina Potion.
Looking at Lancer, who was also covered in dust and whose armor was marred with several new gaps, Lothar didn't hesitate to lift the small bottle and gulp it down.
A strange bitterness spread in his mouth, and then he felt his body surging with strength.
Lothar, surprised by the medicine's effectiveness, looked at Lancer in disbelief.
"Proprietary formula."
Hearing Lancer words, Lothar asked no further, but then he glanced at Khadgar slumped nearby. Lancer followed his gaze.
"Would you like a bottle? It can temporarily restore your stamina."
"Yes... please... give me... one."
Khadgar had never felt so tired in his life. His lungs felt like they were on fire. As an 'elegant' mage... perhaps he was more 'lively' and prone to mischief than his colleagues, but that didn't change the homebody nature of a mage. Compared to warriors who could wear heavy armor, carry greatswords, and still run like blurs, his physical constitution was almost negligible. Being chased around by the golem and finally successfully defeating it had completely drained his last ounce of strength.
He took the 'Potent Stamina Potion' from Lancer and drank it in one gulp, just like Lothar, and his expression instantly became extremely peculiar.
Although he was only an ordinary mage and not an alchemist, he was somewhat familiar with 'magical potions.' As far as he knew, no magical potion in the world tasted like this yellow liquid.
"What a magical potion..."
After sighing with emotion, he forced himself to stand up, but the Potent Stamina Potion could only restore and maintain stamina; it couldn't eliminate muscle soreness. He nearly collapsed again, but just then, a figure supported him.
"Garona? Thank you. Could you please help me get to 'Teacher'?"
The silent half-orc assassin said nothing, simply helping Khadgar over as requested.
Since being sent by the 'Eye of Dalaran' to Karazhan, Khadgar had guessed that one day he would inevitably break with the Archmage, but he had not expected the day to come so soon.
And it was completely impossible to say there was no affection between them. Although their positions were different from the start, Medivh's dedicated teaching was genuine, whether it was Arcane, Elemental, or Enchanting...
He had grown significantly under Medivh's guidance. In fact, the very method for destroying the golem's core was taught to him by Medivh.
'Teacher...'
He said nothing, but silently straightened Medivh's slightly messy clothes. Then, he walked to his side and picked up the staff, 'Atiesh,' which represented the Guardian of Azeroth.
"Sir Lothar! Please allow me to accompany you to the Dark Portal. I believe the help of a mage will make your efforts much easier."
The young man, whose personality was once like a playful child, seemed to have grown up in this moment. His voice became steady, his eyes became resolute, and the staff in his hand seemed to regain its former glory, beginning to flash with brilliant azure Arcane light.
"I couldn't ask for more."
Lothar hadn't expected Khadgar to make such a request, but he nodded. After all, as the mage said, the more assistance, the better.
After speaking, he looked at Lancer next to him again.
"Mister Lancer..."
"Isn't that what I came for? Besides, I didn't help much this time, and I would feel uneasy asking you for a noble title later on! Of course, it would be even better if you could get the Dwarf blacksmiths to make me a new set of armor, and furthermore—"
The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by an extremely serious expression.
"If all those green-skinned Orcs truly enter this world, then I'm afraid the whole world will be engulfed in war. When the nest is overturned, no eggs remain whole [in the total collapse, no one can be safe]?"
Lancer words made Lothar nod solemnly. It was indeed true; he was now beginning to believe what the Lady Aegwynn had said.
"Good, then we shall..."
"Sir Lothar! Mister Lancer! Hurry! The portal's time is almost up!"
Khadgar's sudden shout changed the expressions of Lothar and Lancer. The two immediately grabbed their weapons and rushed towards the flashing portal. There was no doubt that with the 'Master's' death, the portal Medivh had summoned could not last much longer.
After inscribing their whereabouts on the ground with magic, Khadgar also jumped straight in.
The magnificent and mighty Karazhan stood there as always, but its Master lay peacefully in the center of the hall. Approximately a few minutes later, several Gryphons hovered up from the surroundings. They immediately saw Medivh's body on the ground and the message Khadgar had inscribed, but before they could land, a woman cloaked in robes appeared on the platform at some unknown point.
Aegwynn looked at her son's corpse with deep sorrow.
She was filled with self-reproach over his temptation by Sargeras. She should have noticed something was wrong when he was a child, but her arrogance caused her to ignore that possibility, which led to the tragedy before her.
Not only had her son perished with Sargeras to drive him out, but there was also the 'Dark Portal' that had been opened...
Under the gaze of the Gryphon Knights, Aegwynn stood silently for a long time before gently lifting Medivh's body with magic.
"Lothar and the apprentice have already gone through the portal to the Black Morass. I will now take you to Stormwind City. Who will return with me?"
Aegwynn undoubtedly knew that stopping the Dark Portal was not something three people alone could accomplish.