Into the Light

50 | A SILVER CIRCLET

Brilliant light exploded from Idira. Khadgar felt the fel tethers binding him burn away. Released, he rushed forward, but the wall of ice still stood in place, preventing him from reaching her. He felt Kalec's fingers digging into his shoulders, dragging him back. Khadgar kicked out, struggling against Kalec's strength, smashing his fist against the ice, trying to break through it.

"No. Please. No!" he screamed, desperation clawing at him. He was going to lose her. He had to stop her before it was too late.

Kalec's arm came around his shoulders, jerking him, rough, away from the ice wall. The sound came next, a deep bass vibration that plummeted so deep, Khadgar's arms and legs went numb. He could feel every cell in his body shudder. The ice barriers exploded, and the winds of a hurricane blew outwards, tearing at his clothing, sending him slamming against the wall, whipping shards of ice across his face. The wind pushed into his nose and mouth. He couldn't inhale, he choked, gagging. Pinpoints of black speckled in his eyes, his vision darkening as he suffocated.

The hurricane stopped, abrupt. Silence fell. He toppled to the floor in a heap and gulped at the air, his lungs burning. He lifted his head, but he could see nothing, white light suffused the Chamber, cocooning him within its embrace. He sagged against the wall, panting. Idira. He crawled forward, blood dripping down his nose from his forehead, his hands searching the floor, trying to find her.

The light dissipated, slow. No longer obscured by the thick light, the features of the Chamber coalesced. Kalec and Illidan were on all fours, recovering. Illidan bled out from a deep gash in his temple. He shook his head, spattering blood onto the floor. Wiping his brow, he shifted over to what was left of Tyrande and picked her up, gentle. He cradled her against him, sheltering her, his shoulders wracking with silent sobs.

Khadgar knelt where Idira had last stood. Her silver circlet lay on the stone flags. The runes encircling it lay dormant and silent, their violet light extinguished. He took it up with both hands and pressed it against his tunic over his heart. Idira was gone. Numb, Khadgar sank back onto his haunches, and stared at the place where she had last stood cleansing the fel from Tyrande's ruined body. Idira had just been there, and now she was nowhere. He didn't even have a body to mourn.

"The portal," Kalec pointed at the wall. "It's gone. Azeroth herself has sealed the breach to the Nether."

Deep booms vibrated from far below the Chamber. The structure around them shook, trembling under the force of the shifting foundation beneath them. The floor began to tilt, groaning, under the pressure of its own weight. A rushing, grinding noise moved towards them from the depths. A massive pillar of rock shot up from the floor, slamming into the ceiling far above, a cascade of masonry rained down around them. The floor's tilt escalated, sending Khadgar sliding across it. He hit the opposite wall, fast becoming the floor.

"We have to get out of here, the Tomb is collapsing!" Illidan yelled as he crashed into the wall, still holding Tyrande against him, her blood spreading across his tunic.

Kalec cast a portal to Dalaran, Illidan leapt into it as a massive rock tumbled down from above, landing where he had just been. Clutching Idira's circlet, Khadgar stared at the glowing portal. The bright colour and order of the city of the Kirin Tor were no longer what he wished for. He took a step back, the thunder of collapsing walls within the vast structure deafening. Kalec gestured, frantic at the portal. Khadgar shook his head. He would stay. He had done his job, he had protected Azeroth. The Legion was vanquished. Azeroth had used Idira's life to channel her titanic power into the seal against Sargeras. He would die here, with Idira. There was nothing left for him now. Without her, his life felt empty, meaningless.

Kalec roared at him, his face twisting with frustration. The floor shifted again, throwing both of them back across the room. Khadgar slammed into the pillar, it hurt, but he didn't care. A crack opened in the floor, and the wall they had just stood on slid into the abyss.

Kalec's lips were moving. Khadgar didn't need to guess what he was casting. Kalec. Don't. Let it go. Leave me.

The ground moved again, and the abyss opened, wider. Sea water gushed from the depths, the rich smell of brine saturating the air. The water washed over Khadgar, soaking his heavy tunic and collar, dragging him down. Still he held onto the circlet. All his life he had wondered what his true purpose was. Now he knew, it had been to aid Idira, Azeroth's human vessel; to discover her abilities, and give her access to the library he had salvaged from Karazhan, which he realised he had never done for himself, but for her. Azeroth had guided his steps all his life, grooming him, preparing him for this, for Her stand against the Legion.

The world soul had chosen him, and now in a matter of days his entire purpose had been fulfilled and concluded. Nothing could compare to what he had experienced in the short time he had had Idira in his life. Nothing. The water pulled at him. He let go, sinking into the depths, even as the ancient masonry of the Tomb of Sargeras crashed into the waters around him. In death he would find her again. Idira was still a human, her spirit would be in the Nether. He would find her.

Light flashed. Khadgar opened his eyes. Dalaran. Xe'ra's room. Kalec, soaking wet, shifted over to him, and pulled him up by his collar. Khadgar looked at the circlet in his hands. Idira was alone. He felt Kalec's hand on his shoulder, gripping him, trying to reach him. Tears burned in Khadgar's eyes, making the circlet blur. He had left her alone, like a coward.

"Khadgar, I couldn't leave you. I couldn't do it. I understand your pain. I was there once, too, but for her sake, you must go on, there is still much to do. The people of Azeroth need you to guide them."

Khadgar shook his head. No. He was finished. He teleported to his apartment and warded it. Still holding Idira's circlet tight in his grip, he cast another teleport and left Azeroth, intending never to return.