(Here’s response number 1!)Khadgar had made up his mind.He sat alone in the violet shadows of the disheveled library. Well, as alone as one could be in Karazhan. The silver moonlight leaking through the dusty windows illuminated the piles of books littered around Khadgar's feet. There had been no answers, no advice on how to heal Azeroth. How to stop the oncoming battle between the Alliance and Horde. He knew it wasn't right, he knew that something or someone was behind this. But there wasn't time. There wasn't time to find out who and stop them. Would his friends, the heroes and champions of Azeroth see reason? No. No they couldn't. Too many of them were conditioned to follow orders no matter what, too many of them had seen too much to ever question their leaders. They went where they were told. Very few objected. This war would destroy most of them. This war could lead to the destruction of Azeroth. Where Aspects and Gods themselves had failed to accomplish, the band of mortals that had seen too much war would be what finally brought the world down. Khadgar had made up his mind.The chair squeaked as he got up, and with a deep breath, mentally prepared himself as he sauntered towards an open window. "My friend. What are you doing?" A soft voice called out to him from the comfort of the darkness. "I'm doing what everyone has always wanted me to do. Be the Guardian."There was a soft cry of protest, but Khadgar ignored the plea and shifted into a raven, flying far far away from Karazhan.
Turalyon and Alleria worriedly rushed to Silithis, praying that what King Anduin had told them was false. Khadgar? Attacking Alliance and Horde troops? Had he finally lost it? They expected carnage once they reached the sight, but were relieved to see that thus far, all he was doing was teleporting people en mass out of the area. This hardly seemed like the dramatic scene that had been painted out to them, but none the less, their old friend needed to be spoken with. Alleria hung back, keeping watch. "Khadgar! Old friend." "Turalyon." "You look exhausted from all that teleporting, why don't we sit down and have a talk?"Khadgar didn't look exhausted, he didn't feel exhausted, but was annoyed now by the interruption. "I feel quite fine, actually. You know, when you've had to help teleport an entire city and all its people several times in a very short time span, single person teleportation like this is...a breeze!" Everyone in view was gone now, either from his magic or from fleeing out of sight. Turalyon reached over and grasped Khadgar's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "How about we sit and chat, anyways? Catch up? Perhaps go out for that drink you owe us?" There was a moment of silence. "You know. I searched a long time for you. Imagine then, my elation when I got your message in Light's heart. Imagine then, my disappointment when upon arriving in Argus I was ushered down below and left out of every bit of planning as if I...was just a soldier waiting for orders." Turaylon shifted uncomfortably, removing his hand from Khadgar's shoulder. "I'm sorry you feel so negatively about our reunion. All the more reason for us to go and celebr-" "No. You're not sorry. And no, this is -no- time to celebrate." "You're right, old friend. With the Horde brea-"Khadgar slammed the butt of Atiesh down into the sand and slowly turned his head to glare at Turalyon. "You mean the Horde that helped us defeat the Legion? You mean the Horde that helped stop Garrosh in Draenor? You mean the Horde that helped fight the Sha? The Horde that helped slay Deathwing? The Horde that fought the Lich King? The Horde that showed up in Shattrath, got A'dals blessing and helped stop Kil'jaedin, and Kael'thas? The Horde that frequently fights old gods? You mean the Horde, that is NOT the fel-enslaved beasts that we fought in our youth?"The paladin held his hands up defensively, taking a step back. "A few good heroes does not change the fact that the Horde has brought a lot of destruction to Azeroth. I have been catching up on what happened in my absence." "Oh. So then I'm sure you know that it was an Alliance Paladin that became the Lich King and brought the Eastern Kingdom to her knees. Which, the damage from that is still present almost everywhere you go. Tell me again how it's the Horde that is the problem?" "Alright, so perhaps there are troublemakers on both sides of the fence, but the Horde....the Horde has a history..." Turalyon gripped Khadgar's shoulders again, a bit more forcefully this time. "A history of being there when Azeroth needed help, when I needed help, and you were nowhere to be found." "If we could have come back or reached out sooner we would have!" "Something tells me, that that's a lie." Khadgar pulled away, stepping back. There was a moment of heated, angry silence as the two friends stared at each other. "No matter. What are you doing here? If our people can collect the Azurite before the Horde..." "No one is collecting Azurite." "Khadgar, it's invaluable and if WE don't use it, then the Horde...." "No one. Is collecting. Azurite. Not today, not now, not ever." Khadgar got right up into Turalyon's face. "Get out." He turned on his heal and sauntered off, looking for more people to clear out of the area. He hadn't seen Khadgar upset like this before, and it worried him. The paladin was quick to follow and it was easy enough to catch up. The Archmage wasn't walking very fast, after all. "Khadgar! What are you doing?" "I'm doing whatever it takes to ensure the survival of Azeroth. And that plan does NOT allow for people to poke at her wound and take her life essence for your own damn benefit! I can't protect all of the wounds. But I can at least keep people away from the biggest one." Another silent pause. "Ah, I see. So the mighty Archmage wants the power to himself? Is that it, then?" "What?" Khadgar turned, perplexed. "Of course not. I'm keeping everyone out." "You can't possibly keep everyone out of Silithis! And furthermore, old friend, the only people who keep power like this out of the reach of others are those who intend to use it for themselves!" "Oh for pity's sake. Do you hear yourself Turalyon? Do you hear how ridiculous you sound? You hand me the Skull of Gul'dan and I seal a portal -" "A portal that broke open again!" "Regardless, did I use that skull for anything else? Hm?" "I don't know, DID you? You're looking younger than when I last saw you."Khadgar rolled his eyes, exasperated. "All I did was shave! And perhaps all those years around A'dal helped."Back to staring in silence. Turalyon drew his weapons, eyeing Khadgar suspiciously.Khadgar, disheartened, took a step back. "You -were- cursed by Sargeras." "He drained me of my life when I destroyed his vessel, not enter my body!" "I've heard stories of you collecting and creating strange, powerful artifacts..." "I'm not the bad guy!" "Then what are you DOING?"The hot desert sun nipped viciously on their faces as the dusty wind danced in between the two friends. "I'm doing what everyone always wanted me to do. Become the Guardian of Azeroth. And I WILL protect her. Whatever it takes." Khadgar turned to look up at the looming figure of Sargeras's sword. With enough energy and concentration, he felt as though he could seal everything under some sort of shield, much like how Dalaran had been under for many years. It would take a lot of focus, and time. But he was -certain- it was doable. If only Kalec still had the power of an Aspect! Sadly, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of plated footsteps in the sand rushing towards him. "I knew it!" Turalyon cried out, swinging in anger. "You are just like Medivh!" Khadgar wasn't sure how the paladin made that jump in logic, but he had no time to think about that further. Alleria wasn't sure what to do, her arrow was ready to fly, but shooting Khadgar didn't seem right. Was he really trying to keep this power away from others abuse? Or did he truly want it for himself? They had been gone for so long...Khadgar clearly wasn't the boy that he had been when they last saw him. He had changed, he had grown stronger. He was managing to keep up with Turalyon, blow for blow. This had to stop.Khadgar had expected an arrow at some point, but the ice block wasn't quick enough to fully prevent him getting hit. The wound would be sore once he dethawed, but at least it wouldn't be as deep as it would have been otherwise. What to do with him? What to do?He was clearly a traitor.But was he?He had attacked the High Exarch!But Turalyon had swung first.He wanted the Azurite for himself!But he wanted to keep it away from being culled and abused.It didn't matter. It didn't matter to anyone. It didn't matter there were two sides to the story. The only side that mattered was the one Turalyon told. The only story that mattered was the one that the Alliance leaders heard. It didn't matter that Anduin thought it was off, it didn't matter that Magni thought there was more to it. Khadgar had gone rogue like Medivh, Khadgar had betrayed Azeroth. It didn't matter that Baine and Saurfang thought that that report was a load of shit. It didn't matter that most of the Council of Six thought the accusations were nothing but exaggerated misunderstandings. There was too much evidence, too much proof that Khadgar had betrayed Azeroth. What else was to be expected of the only apprentice to the Guardian that had betrayed Azeroth years ago?Khadgar was now in between them, and the Azurite they so sorely needed to defeat the other side once and for all. Khadgar could have stood by THEIR side, but had chosen instead to become the enemy.Khadgar had made up his mind.
