"Why is he so happy? – Incomprehensible."
Kael'thas had never understood the concept of an idol. He admired and respected his teacher, yes, but not to the point of worship. He wasn't like Nightborne, who behaved like a fanboy despite being ancient—so ancient, in fact, that even Aegwynn's great-great-great-great-grandfather would have been young compared to him.
It was hard to say if humans even existed when Nightborne was born.
"It was Medivh's fault that you died," Aegwynn said, her tone calm but sincere. "I apologize to you on his behalf."
Nightborne quickly waved his claws. "No, no! Medivh didn't mean to. I know he was under demonic influence—I don't blame him!"
He smiled earnestly. "Besides, if you hadn't intervened back then, my kin and I wouldn't be here today. All Blue Dragons owe you their lives!"
Kael'thas was speechless. He couldn't comprehend this kind of blind devotion. How could someone forgive an enemy so easily? Then again, dragons lived so long that their views on life and death must have warped beyond mortal understanding.
"What are your plans now?" Aegwynn asked.
Nightborne tilted his head in thought. "My mission here is complete. I'll return to the Nexus and report to the Blue Dragon Aspect." He paused, then added, "After that, I might fly to Dragonblight. That's where we dragons rest when our time comes. It's tradition."
He was a traditionalist through and through—disciplined, loyal, and entirely without ambition.
"The Blue Dragon Aspect?" Kael'thas mused. "Then there's no need for you to fly all the way there."
He activated the Dragon Soul and sent a message. Moments later, Malygos's spectral form materialized, projected from distant Northrend.
"Aegwynn. Kael'thas," Malygos greeted them before glancing around Karazhan. Finally, his gaze fell upon Nightborne. "I already know what happened. You did well. You may return."
Though his tone was weary, his eyes were alert—and Kael'thas noticed a faint trace of Red Dragon magic clinging to him. A mischievous thought surfaced.
"Your Majesty," Kael'thas began, "why don't we have Arcanagos stay here?"
He gestured toward the tower. "Karazhan is one of the largest Arcane nodes on Azeroth. It's also a temporal nexus—linked to both the past and future, the physical world and the Twisting Nether. Wouldn't it be wise to have a Blue Dragon oversee it? He could stabilize the energies here, benefiting both the Blue Dragonflight and the world itself."
In truth, Kael'thas had another motive: to trick the eager dragon into becoming Karazhan's permanent guardian. A powerful Blue Dragon would strengthen the tower's defenses immensely.
Nightborne's eyes lit up. "Your Majesty!" he said, his voice echoing privately through the illusion. "Aegwynn is the most powerful mortal mage alive! If I remain by her side, I could learn spells our flight has never seen. It would benefit all Blue Dragons!"
Malygos gave him a knowing look. Did this whelp think he was fooling anyone? He had been prattling on about Aegwynn even at the Nexus. Still, Malygos was too indulgent to expose him.
"Very well," Malygos said at last. "You may stay."
Among the Aspects, none loved their kin more than Malygos—and Nightborne was one of his favored descendants.
Aegwynn interjected, "Malygos, what about the item I asked you to safeguard?"
The Aspect's expression darkened. "You want that thing back? Excellent! It's been nothing but trouble. It tore through the Nexus, destroyed half a vault's worth of artifacts, and even tried to seduce my wardens! Dozens of young dragons have been led astray by it!"
Grumbling, he raised his claw. "Take it!"
A flash of light, and a metallic staff appeared before them, humming with Arcane energy. Then Malygos vanished, clearly eager to be rid of it.
All eyes turned to the staff.
It was elegant—slender, inscribed with intricate runes. Three rings encircled its head, each suspending a glowing Arcane sphere. Power radiated from it, the strongest of which contained a sealed Arcane entity.
Kael'thas could sense it immediately. The staff's energy dwarfed even the flamestrike artifact he carried.
"This is..."
"Aluneth," Aegwynn said quietly. "The Staff of the Guardian."
A childlike voice suddenly echoed from within the staff—playful, petulant, and neither male nor female.
"Malygos! Why did you take me out of the Blue Dragon vault? I was having fun with the whelps!"
A pause. "Wait—Karazhan? No! Not her Karazhan!"
The voice grew frantic. "Why does this place feel so strange? There's Sargeras's corruption... Medivh's echo... Are they—dead?"
Then, a horrified shriek: "Aegwynn!"
"Damn that Malygos! He's given me back to her! It's over!"
Another pause. Then, sly amusement. "Wait... your power feels so weak, Aegwynn. So that's why you abandoned me after your little defeat—Medivh drained your strength! Hah! Now I, Aluneth, am free!"
The staff flared with blue light, energy building as the entity tried to shatter its prison.
Aegwynn simply reached out and grasped the staff.
In an instant, the light vanished, the energy subsided, and silence returned.
"Aluneth," she said evenly, "you're being naughty again."
For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then the voice erupted once more:
"Aegwynn! I will not be contained! One day I'll destroy this vessel and regain my freedom! You can't control me, and you'll never draw power from me again!"
Khadgar, standing nearby, could only stare.
The legendary Staff of the Guardian—the artifact every mage dreamed of wielding—had a spirit.
And that spirit sounded like a mischievous child throwing a tantrum.
He blinked, dazed. Even Brann Bronzebeard wasn't this absurd.