Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

Chapter 11

~Erro's POV~

Suddenly, a wall of lightning formed behind us. I looked up with a smirk, "You old dog." I looked over, Callan, his men, and I were blocked in. Lothar realized it too, charging at the wall. I had to think quick and fast. Khadgar also charged over, looking through the wall at me, screaming my name, "ERRO!" My heart was racing along with my mind. "A spell... A spell." Lothar stuck his arm through, grabbing Callan's shoulder, "Hold on, son." Callan looked back at him, "For Azeroth." He looked over at me, walking over and pulling me in for a kiss. "A man's dying wish, eh?" I couldn't speak as the giant red orc picked up Callan. I stuck my hand into the wall, drawing its power. "Put him down." The orc looked at me, "No." I let my anger boil inside of me. I glanced back to see Khadgar with his hand against mine. "Khadgar no!" I screamed, and the power flooded out of my hand in a giant group of chain lightning. The orc dropped Callan as his body recoiled from the electricity.  Khadgar was thrown back as the shock had affected him too, "KHADGAR!" I could only hope he was okay.

Sadly, my anger was not spent and neither was my sadness. As I soon looked at Callan, I realized my plan had backfired. The electricity had jumped to Callan, who laid unmoving. The orc grinned at me from the ground. I walked over and grabbed a green orc, slitting its throat with the dagger I kept on me. I thought of the spell Medivh had cast, channeling the fel from the orc through me, taking my emotions with it. The burning festered in my gut along with my emotions, gaining power. Then, I threw my fists to the ground, throwing out the cracks all the way down the gorge, splitting beneath the army and drawing in their skeletons.

Adrenaline kicked in, and I grabbed Callan before running, using his sword to scale the side of the gorge. Tears were running down my face as my arms smoked. I ignored the overwhelming pounding in my head as spots filled my vision. The entirety of the army was standing there, regrouping and getting ready to leave. I collapsed in front of Lothar, his son in my arms. "I-I'm sorry, L-Lothar. I-I tried to s-save him. I-I didn't m-mean to... I didn't w-want to h-hurt him."

My head pounded as I thought over everything everyone had said to me. Maybe I had been corrupted. Maybe I was a monster. I mean, I just killed the man who kissed me as his dying wish. Khadgar moved to me, hugging me as Lothar and I cried. "It's not your fault. You were trying to help."

"I'm a monster, Khadgar."

"No, no, no, stop. You did your best. You tried to help him."

"My father tried to help his people, and he almost killed them. I tried to help Callan, and I... I killed him."

"Stop it. You did what you could. You didn't mean to hurt him. Listen to me, please." He was crying now too. "Please, you're not a monster. You're my best friend. You're my only friend. You're the strongest mage I know. You're the love of my life." He froze, realizing what he had just said. His cheeks flushed red, and I wiped away his tears. "I have to get Medivh to Karazhan. Come with me."

"I will. Just... Let me talk to Lothar." Khadgar nodded before leaving quickly to help Garona with Medivh. I stood up and walked over to Lothar who pulled me into a hug. "Thank you... Thank you for trying to save him."

"I'm so sorry, Lothar. I didn't mean."

"No, you did your best. I-Thank you."

"I'm sorry he had to go so soon. Please, wait for me to return for a burial."

"Of course."

"Now, I have to go. I will see you back at the castle." I hurried over to the griffin, climbing on behind Khadgar, and we were off. Garona carried him inside and set him into the font. "Morose, what's wrong with him?"

"I told him not to leave Karazhan." Khadgar held his head slightly as he gasped awake. As he relaxed again, Khadgar seemed uneasy, "Erro and I must go. We need the help of the Kirin Tor. Now."

"Go," Garona said. Khadgar hurried off, taking the steps three at a time. Even with my long legs, I struggled to keep up. "Khadgar, what's wrong?"

"When he opened his eyes, they were green. Not as bright as yours when you absorbed the fel from that tree, but... Something is wrong." Khadgar and I took off on the griffin. I held onto him as the wind whipped around us. He landed the griffin in Dalaran, and I didn't have time to be struck with nostalgia as Khadgar grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the council's seat. "Khadgar! Erro!" Modera shouted at us. "How dare you two return here!?"

"I come seeking your wisdom." I felt eyes bore into me, and I wished I had my cloak with me. "There is nothing for either of you here now." Vargoth said, eager to be rid of us.

"The Guardian, Medivh, is unwell."

"What?" Karlain questioned. "He has been poisoned by the fel."

"Ridiculous."

"What do you know of the dark portal?"

"You come back and accuse the Guardian-" Vargoth started angrily. "What is Alodi?" Khadgar asked, silencing Vargoth. Whispers from each council member started as Karlain stepped down, walking quickly away, "Come with me."

Karlain led us into a room with a large black cube, "Alodi."

"What is it?" I questioned, restraining myself from reaching out to touch its surface, which was ingrained with all sorts of shapes and symbols. "An entity from a time before the Kirin Tor existed. We think it served a function similar to that of the Guardian."

"Protector."

"No one beyond the Arch Council knows of its existence, and it will stay that way." Khadgar and I nodded in agreement. "For you to mention it in the same breath as the Dark Portal is too much to be mer-" Karlain stopped as Alodi stopped spinning. A doorway seemed to ripple into existence like water. "Coincidence," Karlain finished. "Do I go in?" Khadgar asked, confused. "I don't know. It's never done that before." Khadgar placed his first foot on the first step before reaching his hand out to me. The door opened a bit more, adjusting for my height. "Come on."

"A-Are you sure?" He rolled his eyes and nodded, grabbing my hand. We both stepped inside. The doorway closed behind us and a figure appeared from within the darkness.