Reforged Chapter 64: Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian

As the blue-violet arcane glow filled with flowing runes dissipated, the reaction of the Stormwind Royal Guards served as a benchmark.

Having witnessed Medivh's grand entrance countless times, the royal guards initially remained motionless. In an instant, at least ten guards chose to quickly level their long spears.

Their fine steel spears, measuring over two meters in length, were never just for show.

However, as their stance was only halfway formed, they clearly began to hesitate.

Each guard recognized that it was indeed Medivh, but every one of them harbored doubts. Beneath that familiar face they had seen many times before, was it truly the same soul?

In the past, even if Medivh was powerful, he always had a humble, kind, and comforting smile. Some even doubted if he was a powerful mage, or rather an artist.

Now!? His chin slightly raised, his eyes sharp as a blade, he exuded a fierce pride as he surveyed his surroundings with an air of supremacy. Instead of the blue and white mage robes that symbolized the glory of the court mage, which he often wore at formal occasions, he was clad in a soft black feathered cloak and a casual velvet mage robe. His hair was not properly combed, resembling a bird's nest.

Most importantly, there was not a single emblem of the kingdom of Stormwind to be found on him.

This was the highly valued New Year's banquet for the entire kingdom's upper-class nobility! In this most formal setting, Medivh, King Llane's closest comrade and the supreme authority in the kingdom's magic domain, had the audacity to disregard decorum and not even wear anything that signified his status as Stormwind's court archmage?

Not only the guards but also the nobles were dumbfounded. No matter how arrogant they were, they would not forget that their relatively comfortable lives were largely thanks to Medivh's protection. In the northern regions of Quel'Thalas and Alterac, there were troll tribes, and in fact, most kingdoms had organized external threats; only Stormwind was the most secure.

A significant reason for this was the presence of Medivh.

What was Medivh up to now?

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became tense.

Medivh paid no heed to the gazes of the nobles and guards. He, or rather Sargeras, cast an interested glance at Duke, who was not far away.

"Heh, I didn't expect to see you here, Duke, my boy."

Duke's eyelid twitched as he saw the system prompt: "You have caught the deep attention of Medivh, who is now completely controlled by Sargeras."

Duke bowed to Sargeras and said loudly, "I never expected to see you here either, respected Guardian. I heard that you had gone missing. Everyone was worried about you during your solitary journey. Although you seem like a different person now, it doesn't matter. The Guardian's well-being is the assurance of the kingdom and the entire world of Azeroth."

Duke's neither humble nor arrogant, yet seemingly pointed words amused Sargeras greatly. He turned his gaze to the naga standing next to Duke's 'carriage.'

Faced with Sargeras' aggressive gaze, the four muscular naga couldn't help but shudder, their eyes filled with deep fear. They were unaware that their ancestral fear stemmed from their ancestors – a group of elves centered around the high elf queen Azshara, who once served Sargeras.

Sargeras didn't care for the weak and incompetent naga in his eyes.

He chuckled and pointed at Duke, "Only power is eternal! Relying on these beast-like creatures to establish the so-called 'Sea King' title is meaningless. Nagas and the like, I could annihilate them with just one finger."

Duke's efforts over the past six months were belittled to nothing, but he remained unflustered, hinting, "On this vast land, there is nothing that you cannot destroy."

At these words, even the nobles gasped in surprise, taking a sharp breath.

...

Duke really dared to speak out. Was he accusing Medivh, the Guardian of Azeroth, of being the most terrifying existence?

There were a few nobles who reveled in the misfortune of others, as they had grown tired of seeing Duke's success and envied his seemingly untouchable position under the protection of King Llane Wrynn, Lothar, and Medivh. They longed to have a piece of the invaluable Pearl Shipping Line but couldn't touch it.

Now Duke was actually clashing with Medivh?

What good news! Great news!

Unexpectedly, Medivh didn't get angry. Instead, he seemed to be in a great mood because of Duke's words, "Hahaha! Kid, one day you'll know that only power is eternal! Hahaha! Hahaha!"

His arrogant laughter was like a night owl, chilling and eerie, making the atmosphere on the scene drop several degrees.

At this moment, the mighty and majestic Anduin Lothar arrived, wearing a blue and white knight's uniform. He seemed to have noticed Medivh's unusual state early on.

Nevertheless, he approached, and out of sensitivity to evil, he instinctively held the hilt of his sword with his left hand, the thumb pressing against the sword guard. This was a completely unconscious action, but many observant people noticed this detail.

"Medivh?" Anduin asked tentatively.

"Ah, my old friend," Sargeras, controlling Medivh, revealed a mocking expression. Then, he put on a warm face and opened his arms wide. Wearing his black-feathered cloak, he resembled a hawk swooping in for its prey.

Anduin suppressed the strange and ominous feelings in his heart, stiffly enduring the embrace of the 'Medivh.'

Seeing this, Duke secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that there probably wouldn't be any major incidents tonight.

The Demon Lord Sargeras possessed endless life, and his invasion of Azeroth had failed more than once. Each failure filled him with immense shame and anger. Millennia of hatred had been branded into the soul of the Demon Lord. Even though he now controlled the world's most powerful mage, Medivh, and harnessed terrifying magical power, Sargeras still felt it was not enough.

Simple slaughter could no longer fill the rage in his heart.

He wanted to toy with every being in this world, make them fall under his schemes, and have them beg and worship him in pain and despair.

So today, Sargeras would still play the part of Medivh until the very end.

Ignoring Duke, Sargeras held Medivh's most famous strange staff—Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian—and walked affectionately with Lothar up the red carpet into the banquet hall.

Seeing Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian, Duke felt a momentary daze, as if he had returned to the days of playing the game. The real-life Atiesh was just as ugly!

The entire staff was deep orange, the staff head resembling a chicken leg, with a slender body slightly taller than a person.

The most notable feature was that every now and then, three semi-transparent ethereal ravens would circle above the staff head at a not-so-high altitude.

Duke was a bit embarrassed, but his heart began to heat up—wondering if, in this life, he would have the chance to obtain this unique artifact just like he did in the game.

...