A Prophet? The Former Guardian Medivh

"Mr. Rod, what happened to Arthas? He looked like he was in a terrible mood," the mage asked Rod after Uther left.

She did not know what Arthas had gone through while she was away, but it was clear that her childhood friend had suffered an extremely severe blow.

Rod drew a deep breath. "He has taken too much responsibility upon himself. He even blames this disaster on his own incompetence. Pursuing perfection too obsessively is not a good thing."

Arthas's transformation was irreversible. This matter involved far too much—at least, more than Rod could handle right now.

"So what should we do, Rod?" Jaina's voice carried a trace of helplessness. "Lord Uther asked us to persuade him..."

"Then let's go try to persuade him, if he is willing to listen," Rod said.

"Alright. I'll cast an invisibility spell on you as well." Jaina nodded and cast invisibility on both herself and Rod. Then the two of them hurried after Arthas.

Half a day later, the army led by Arthas rested on a hillside. The young prince went alone to the mountaintop, and Rod and Jaina, still invisible, followed him there.

However, just as the two were about to reveal themselves, a massive raven suddenly flew down from the sky. It slowly landed on the ground, then transformed into a mysterious figure clad in grayish-brown robes and holding a staff.

Rod naturally knew who this mysterious man was—the former Guardian Medivh, who had only recently been resurrected by Aegwynn. He would also become a key figure in guiding the Night Elves, the Horde, and the Alliance against the Burning Legion.

"Who is he, Rod?" Jaina asked quietly.

"I don't know. Don't make a sound. Let's just watch from the side," Rod said, shaking his head at the mage.

Arthas also noticed the movement behind him and turned to look at the gray-robed mage before him.

He had originally hoped the person who caught up to him would be Jaina! Instead, it was an unknown mage.

"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Arthas looked warily at the mage before him.

"Greetings, young prince. I mean you no harm, but we must talk. We must discuss the future of your kingdom," Medivh said.

"I have no time for idle chatter. If you have something to say, mage, say it," Arthas replied.

"Listen to me, child. This land has already fallen. Darkness and despair have descended. No matter what you do, the outcome has already been decided.

"If you truly wish to save your people, then lead them across the sea, to the western continent of Kalimdor!" Medivh sighed.

This young prince seemed to have already caught the attention of the Burning Legion. Logically, Medivh should not have shown himself, but he still wanted to make one final effort.

If the young prince was willing to go to Kalimdor, that would be the best possible outcome. He would guide this young prince to meet the Orc leader Thrall.

"Are you joking? Mage, you want me to flee? This is my kingdom, my land. Protecting my people is my only mission!" Arthas demanded angrily.

He remembered who this mage was. The man had appeared at a meeting of the Kingdom of Lordaeron several months ago, when the Undead Plague had only just begun.

This mage had warned his father before, urging him to lead the people to Kalimdor.

What a joke. Relocating an entire nation's population was not something that could be done overnight.

For the Kingdom of Lordaeron, the task at hand was to resolve the plague.

"Then you have made your choice. But remember this: the harder you fight the enemy, the more you will deliver your people into the enemy's clutches," Medivh said with a sigh.

It seemed everything had already been fated. The Kingdom of Lordaeron was destined to fall. Medivh had done all he could—first persuading King Terenas, then Arthas—but it had all been useless.

There was nothing he could do. He could not reveal his identity as the Guardian, either. After all, Medivh was the chief culprit who had drawn the Orcs to Azeroth. If he showed his true face, he would likely be beaten to death by an angry crowd.

In other people's eyes, he was the embodiment of a demon!

Before leaving, Medivh cast a meaningful glance in Rod and Jaina's direction, then transformed into a giant raven once more and flew away.

After Medivh left, Rod and Jaina dispelled their invisibility and appeared before Arthas.

The three stood in silence. Arthas said nothing, while Jaina and Rod did not know how to begin.

"Arthas, we were very worried about you, so we came to talk. That mage... I could sense tremendous power within him.

"Perhaps he was right. Maybe he knows what is about to happen," the mage finally said, breaking the silence.

She could sense the immense power contained within that mage, power that even surpassed her mentor Antonidas.

"Enough! I don't care about the future that madman claims to have seen, Jaina, Rod.

"No matter what he says, I will never abandon my homeland or my people. We leave now for Stratholme. You will help me, won't you?" Arthas said.

"Of course, Prince Arthas. After all, our employment has not ended yet! I have not received my payment," Rod said with a smile.

"I will pay you double, Sir Rod." Arthas nodded to the two of them, then walked away without looking back.

Soon, the army set out once again. Along the way, many forces arriving to provide support joined Arthas's ranks!

Several days later, when the group arrived at Stratholme, the number of troops under Arthas's command had already exceeded ten thousand.

During the march, Rod built a Market and a Blacksmith. He also saved up 5,000 units of gold and built a Resource Warehouse. Now, he could receive one unit of ore and one unit of lumber every day.

Not long after Arthas arrived before Stratholme's gates, Uther also arrived to join him, bringing members of the Knights of the Silver Hand and a large number of Lordaeron soldiers.

Stratholme was the largest city aside from the royal capital of Lordaeron. This city absolutely could not be lost.

"Uther, you still came to help me. Good!" Arthas said to Uther.

"Watch your words. You may be a prince, but I am still your mentor." Uther's expression darkened slightly.

Ever since the Undead Plague began, Arthas's attitude had changed somewhat. He no longer respected Uther as he once had, and had even become somewhat hostile.