The Wizard has a few words for them before he lets them go. After they have the Spear contained, they find themselves teleported to his throne room again.

"I'm glad you managed to get it into its case. The magic would've booted you all out without the spear if one of you'd tried to hold onto it as your own."

He holds up a hand and they can see it's withered and blackened -- blighted.

"It was only the once for me, but after using it, it's never really gone away."