#nionor

Ericnox sat in the small church that was on the property. He was healing still, but he was doing better. Nearby sat his son, his hair cut short to hide the tuft that was missing.

Upon Val’s lap rested an old, old book. It tattered in places, the spine of it worn and replaced several times over, faded ribbons marked various pages, and it has carefully written words in it. Everything was hand done.

“This was your book, wasn’t it Daddy?” He asked softly, Eric responding with a nod.

Almost reverent awe, he carefully opened the cover. On the inner cover was words written to four generations of Lightsouls. In neat, careful text, Eric had written to his son.

“My son, May this book Light your darkest hours, and may it’s words echo in your soul. - Ericnox Lightsoul”

Eric reached over and ruffled his hair softly, breaking the child’s trance. “When I was your age, I started to train as you are, but I trained my mind as well. My spirit followed suit.”

“Daddy, I thought you couldn’t hear the Light any more.” Val said, making Eric look down.

“It’s true. Your father cannot hear the Light, but that does not mean he is without faith.” A strong male voice called.

Val’s eyes searched our the source, grinning wide when he spotted it. “UNCLE KAISANE!!”

The older Elf smiled at the pair. “It has been a number of years since you have come here… Brother.”

Eric nodded softly and took a slow breath. “Some days, I wonder if I am welcome here… but, my son needs to know what I was and what you follow. Sit with us? Help point out things that I miss.”

Val couldn’t contain himself when Kaisane got close, carefully closing the book, setting it next to him, and running to hug his uncle.

With a soft oof sound, Kaisane hugged back and nodded. “That sounds like a wonderful afternoon. The Light will understand if miss my prayers for the afternoon.”

Detatching himself from the boy, he sat down and smiled at the pair. “It is good to see you here Eric. It is good to see you doing this.”

(short, sweet and cute)

***!!!*** Warning! From here on out, it will be getting VERY graphic! Read at your own risks ***!!!** !!!! NSFW !!!! ~~ One year, Five months ago ~~ ** Sub Story (Part 6 of ??) **

Eric laid in his cell, his eyes closed as he took slow, deep breaths. He was going to beat her, he was going to beat this. She was trying to use the drugs and solitary confinement to break his mind... He knew this. He would have done so as well.

But she made one horrible mistake, one she couldn't have realized easily...

Eric had done this before. Long ago in the halls of Naxxrammus, he had done this. Shaking his head, he tried to force out the memories, but they started anyways. He snapped his fingers to make a noise and then said a name.

"Nionor..." He whispered, going back to when he first met her, the memories shifting quickly and being replaced by the brighter, happier ones.

He had just been transfered to the main force. He  was sixteen years old, fresh out of training for battle and inquisition. He was in plate armor and wore an eye patch over his left eye. He had already been in several fights within the last few days. Ericnox didn't take shit from people, ever. The last one who had attacked him was a sergeant, the one over him in fact, because he had tried to pull some serious bull shit. Ericnox had broken his jaw in two places, broken the man's nose, and fractured both bones in his upper arm, he'd never be a soldier again.

The rumor of Eric's victories had eventually reached the brothers and they watched him. He took on anyone that challenged him, and in it he didn't hold back... At least so far. The brothers had planned this one. They wanted to really test the boy and give a test to Nionor as well.

To this day, Ericnox didn't know what they told her, but she showed up at his training circle, armored and armed. She stepped in and glared at him, her eyes nearly as sharp as her daggers.

"Hey, asshole... I heard you need to be knocked down a peg or five." She said, walking towards him with her hands on her hips.

"Can I help you then? Or are just going to be in my way?" He asked, looking at the woman. He was taller than her already, though he wouldn't be getting much bigger at this point.

She smirked at him. "No, you can't help me in other way than laying down and getting your ass beat."

"Fuck off." Eric said bluntly, shifting as she drew her daggers.

She blinked and stepped forward, lowering herself into a battle stance. Eric stabbed his blade into the ground and started to undo his armor, watching her as she did. She gave him a perplexed look and he spoke.

"It's hardly fair sweetheart, if I'm in plate and all you have are those butter knives." He responded, grinning at her.

"Oh you prick... Keep on your little tin suit so it keeps in your bowels. I'll cut that damn eye out of your fucking head now!" She yelled, stepping forward and slicing at eye level.

Eric had stepped back, his arm flashing up and her blade connecting with the heavy steel of his armor. The bracer absorbed the full impact, only scoring the steel. He could tell she had speed, but no power. He shot out with a hook and she avoided it, kicking him in the chest as she spun out of range. He stepped back only a single step and lifted his blade back up.

"Oh you are a stubborn bastard, aren't you?" Nionor shot at him in Thalassian.

He grinned at her. "Yes I am... Now, leave or it's going to get real you crazy bitch." He shot right back in Thalassian.

She stared at him in confusion for several moments. When she burst forward, Eric was ready. He parried the first blade and the second scored his armor, leaving a deep scar upon it. She was much faster than him, but when she rolled and came up, he had already turned towards her. She slashed upwards again, both blades being blocked by his one.

Twisting her blades, she flipped it his blade out of his hands, disarming him with ease. She came in with both daggers next, aiming for his neck to atleast score his gorget. This time he surprised her. His arms shot up and he blocked her at the wrists, sending shockwaves into her arms and making her dive backwards. Eric turned, physically turned away and picked up his sword. The insult was there, and she rushed to it, furious. Once was nearly to him, she realized the mistake. He was in motion, spinning around with a deadly look in his eyes.

She narrowly avoided the blade, it left a thin mark only on her armor, just under her ribs.  She sprang forward and slashed from his blind side. He shouldn't have seen it, he couldn't have... But he did. He made a half step back and she clipped the patch itself, sending it flying.

She grinned at this. "Take that fucker... Now we can all laugh at your empty head and... What?"

Eric had turned back and looked dead at her. His left eye was filled not air or a void, as most would expect, but a glowing quartz crystal. He pointed his sword at her and glared, anger building in the real eye.

"I wear this patch so I don't unnerve everyone else... I wore it for everyone else... But no, this Elf Bitch," He spat the last word. "Had to come along and knock it off... No more playing. No more games..."

Light glowed all around Eric for several seconds, his weapon becoming sheathed in it. They rushed each other, and the song of steel rang out once more. In the span of several minutes, a majority of Nionor's daggers had been broken or cast aside, Eric's greatsword had deep chips torn from it, and both of them had scored a few minor hits. Ni stepped in again, managing to disarm Eric in her fury, and knock him to a knee. She stabbed downward toward his face, she was going for blood now.

Eric caught this one... Sorta. The blade ripped though the back of the armor on his hand... After punching right though his hand. He gripped the blade as best he could, but lashed up with a punch to her side, several ribs breaking from the impact. She let go of the dagger and staggered back. Eric stood fully up again, walking towards her, pulling his hand up, the dagger facing outward, he was going to backhand her with the blade.

Nionor rolled, painfully, but she did and sprang up. She pulled out her last dagger, bringing her back up to two. Both of them were breathing heavily at this point, both filled with hate and anger, when a figure stepped in.

"Stand down, both of you." The voice called out. "Can't have you two die... Go clean up."

The incessant cawing was more than enough to drag the man from a deep sleep, eliciting only a brief moment of confusion before he realized the source. Given the raven's appearance, it was safe to assume that the woman had at least made it safely to her destination, that much was certainly a relief.  

As quickly as he read the letter, a response was written and sent on its way back to her.

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Nionor,

I'm glad to hear you made it there safely and ecstatic to hear about such a warm welcome from your son!  Children are marvelous that way, aren't they?  They can hold such a grudge, but in the blink of an eye it disappears and they forgive without word.  I think adults could learn a lot from watching children, the way they are able to bounce back so easily and really put things into perspective.

I know it'll be difficult to tell him about his father, but at least he has others there that love him to help him through the grief, and I've no doubt he'll aid in helping your own as well.  That's the nice thing about family, sadness and grief is burden you can share together and just having that connection with another always helps to lessen the pain. 

I'm keeping myself busy over here, fulfilling a rather large order for a good friend who runs his own ship, so it's been eating up all my free time.  I wake up, I work all day then I go to sleep before I pass out from exhaustion.  Doesn't sound so thrilling, but I'm in my element and doing what I love, so I certainly can't complain.  

I think about you quite a bit as well, you'll be happy to hear I've only hammered my thumb once when my thoughts drifted away from me a little bit too much.  Am I happy?  Now there's a loaded question!  For the most part, I suppose the answer is yes.  I love my shop and enjoy working in it, I love my family and spending time with them, I meet a lot of interesting people and have a handful of close friends I know I can count on.  If that's what happiness is, then I suppose I've obtained as much.  

You don't believe me though, do you?  I guess there is always room for improvement.  I wake up looking forward to what the new day has to bring instead of wanting to hide away from the world, so I think I'm on the right track.

I can't wait to hear more of your adventures with your little boy and perhaps one day I can meet him.  If you're ever in need of a baby-sitter, you know where to look, there's always room on my walls for more drawings and I'm sure I've got another small pair of goggles laying around here somewhere if he ever gets the urge to help in the shop.

I should probably get back to those orders, I enclosed a little surprise for you.  

Take care beautiful, and enjoy every moment with that little boy of yours,

Dicenne

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Enclosed within the small pouch the raven carried was a rolled up sleeveless white shirt.  Something small enough to fit comfortably and not bulk down the bird too much, but it was obvious that he had worn the shirt before he sent it, the faint scent of the soap he used lingering on the fabric as well as his own natural scent.  Inside the shirt once unrolled, a photograph:

Written on the back:

I'm not the best photographer, but here is an oh so sexy shot of me in the tub.  Enjoy!