The Other had certainly made himself known the previous night for the Lunar Festival. He amused her and terrified her all at once. Araatris Valryss knew that she was much weaker than the others. The death knight who had just recently been bound had been bold and endured much better than she had. She was human and she was young. Had she thoughtless thought she could tread such a path? A night elven path? A kaldorei path?

She was changing. Soon she was sure that she would no longer recognize herself. Yet, the demon cajoled her in a strange way. His barking tone, “What did you expect, brat? We’re attached. Of course you’re going to change. It’s the way you humans adapt.”

It was true. If she truly looked at it, there were points in her life that great changes had occurred. Losing her parents. Meeting Tharion. And now… a demon. Yet, she knew that if she truly thought she was becoming dangerous what she would have to do. She would not be hunted. She would go quietly and with honor.

Araatris walked about the Site of Lessons. It was quiet in the morning light. Her fingers brushed against the books on the shelves, the familiar furniture. It had truly become a home to her. Finally, she stopped circling at the privacy screen and rummaged through her backpack. It took her a few moments, but she finally pulled it out.

She had not told Tharion about this keepsake, but hadn’t thought it truly mattered. However, she knew now that she was not the same person she had been upon entering this place. A child’s purple shirt was grasped in her fingers. She couldn’t see the color now, but she’d remembered buying this shirt with her mother. They’d been so exasperated with her fondness for the purple garment. She remembered sitting with her mother as she sewn on the patch on the upper left front of the shirt. It was the symbol of their family.

An orange and black tiger wound about a shield emblazoned with red and yellow sections, its head peeking out from the left and the tail from the right. Her fingers gently traced over the design. “A goodbye too long waiting. I’m sorry, mama… papa.” The Other was quiet. At times, he seemed to almost rest himself or perhaps he was lost in his own thoughts.

It mattered not. She eased a dagger from her side. It was time. Now, while the demon was quiet. Araatris gripped the dagger firmly. Today, she would bury the Valryss. She firmly thrust the dagger in with a grunt.

“Brat! What are you-” The voice cut off as suddenly as it’d begun.

She wanted no distractions. Araatris drug the knife with care, making a careful cut. Gritting her teeth, she wanted to look away, but she knew she couldn’t. She needed to finish the task she’d started. It would be more painful to do otherwise. Imaginary tears stung at her eyes, and she, now more than ever, wanted a comforting hug. But no was around to ease this pain.

It was almost done. She focused entirely on the task at hand. A few moments later, she pulled the knife away and viewed her handiwork. It would do. Araatris tossed the purple shirt onto the fire. In her hand, she held the removed family emblem. She slid the dagger into its sheath and stood.

Araatris had bought a shovel just for this task and she gathered it on the way out. She travelled to a sunny tree quite a ways from the Site. Far from the demons. Looking up, she smiled. “This looked like a spot that you would like to rest. It made me think of you and I came here often when Tharion wasn’t around.” She began digging. “I know you wouldn’t approve of what I’ve done and the risks I’ve taken, but… he’s really tried to prepare me for them.”

She continued digging; wanting to make sure it was deep enough that a stray animal wouldn’t accidently dig it up. “And I know that I haven’t exactly chosen a Valryss path, but I’m going to make you proud of me.” Wiping at some sweat on her forehead, she paused and looked at the tree. “But… I’ll never be the Valryss you wanted. I can’t. Maybe I never could, but rather than sully your name… I’m going to take on a new one some day. For now, I’ll just be Araatris.”

The patch was gently set into the bottom of the several feet deep hole. It was simple work covering it back up and packing the dirt down. Araatris’ fingers caressed the trunk of the tree. “Goodbye Mama. Goodbye Papa. I’ll always be your daughter, not matter the name I carry.” She glanced down at the two flowers she’d quickly transplanted there. Two beautiful purple flowers. She’d been here often enough, to know those flowers were indeed purple, even if she couldn’t see it now.

With a lightened heart, Araatris made her way slowly back to the Site of Lessons. Inside, she could feel the demon mumble a certain amount of approval. Perhaps, he’d had other thoughts about how this day would end. Perhaps, and just perhaps, those thoughts had passed through her mind, but they were fleeting and did not stay.