[Solo] Of Tragedy and Loss...

[Nosdyn]

The last day of rites...

A month had gone by. The children of the slums understood why the lessons were on hold by Nosdyn until the completion of this rite of passage. Long ago...when Nosdyn was growing up, The Tribunal made him slaughter his own family. They saw his Father as a threat. Nosdyn had been blind to that at the time. Somehow, this turn of events completed the cycle. When he'd become a man of his people...he'd killed his own Family on their orders. That day, in front of The Dark Elf...a different sort of transformation had taken place.

To honour the memory of his fallen wife, he'd joined their people...their fold.

The last portion of the rite, was going over the last few aspects of Dark Elf society Nosdyn needed to know. Nosdyn had memorized and taken to heart everything he could. He spoke from his heart, speaking in his honest and simple way before the people of Ettermire.

Once the last portion of the rite was upon them, Nosdyn looked up at The Speaker in The Assembly. "Nosdyn, Son of Tharak." The Speaker said calmly. "Rise, you are now officially granted the identity of a Dark Elf. You will one day unite or people."

Nosdyn nodded and he recalled the last portion of the rite he was supposed to say. "By the guidance of the moon's light. It shall be so."

***

Outside of The Assembly Hall, Lancaster handed Nosdyn a small packet of documents. "Formal parchments, little more. You've done very well. Nosdyn I'm proud to call you a friend."

Nosdyn nodded. At that point, he was thinking of her...as he often did those days. He wanted to be certain her memory was never forgotten. She'd changed The Demon...this had been possible because of her. Xyllea sat on the bench next to him. Nosdyn looked at her. "We did this." Nosdyn said to Xyllea. "Me and you, together."

But Xyllea knew...there would always be the hole in his heart as Llukai Lancaster had said. She knew. The Demon would never forget...he would always hold himself responsible for her death. Xyllea did the best she could to help him heal. But she knew...some injuries were too deep and bled too long to heal. It would always haunt him. "Let's go home." She said quietly. She would stand by his side always, as long as he would allow her to.