Hytharion sighed as he left the Council chambers. It was late in the morning now. He had gone to the Violet Citadel before they convened, thinking that if he got there early, then he could see them first, but to his surprise, there were already several people lined up, all of whom were extremely disturbed by him. By the time he got in, it was obvious they had already heard of his new appearance. He told the Council of Six the whole story and they were just as disappointed in him as he expected they would be. While they had expressed some sympathy for what had happened to him, it was short-lived. He was severely criticized, and while two of them thought his death was punishment enough, the others voted to banish him. It was exactly the consequence he expected, but it hurt nonetheless. What next? he wondered as he meandered down the street and absentmindedly kicked at a stone. I can't stay here. No, they didn't outright banish me, but they might as well have. How can I stay? What's the point? My friends will never look at me the same way ever again...

"Hytharion?"

He looked up to see a wide-eyed night elf. "H-Hey, Kamara..." he said as he looked away. "Darkshore didn't go so well..."

"Hythe, you... you died?" she whispered in disbelief as she looked at his bloodstained shirt. "W-What happened, how...?

"We were ambushed. I took an arrow to the chest and then..." He drew a line across his throat and made a sound as he sucked his cheek before letting out a heavy sigh.

"Oh Hythe, I'm so sorry." She wrapped her arms around him. He was surprised for several moments but then gladly returned it, enjoying both the warmth from her that he no longer held... and what might be his last hug ever. "Don't tell me Sylvanas did this?" she said as she pulled back.

"No... No, it was Falaria. She did this to me," he said quietly, leaning back against a wall as he rubbed his eyes.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"No, I don't think so..." He cocked his head, thinking for several moments. "Well, maybe... I returned last night, but I haven't been brave enough to face Delania yet. Would you help me?"

"Of course. She's been worried sick. I tried to assure her there was only a small chance you were dead, but that didn't really help." Hytharion raised an eyebrow, and she paused, grimacing a little. "Mm, y'know, hearing myself say that now... ehhh, that probably wasn't the best thing to say, was it?"

"Yeah, no, not really."

"Well, what's done is done," she shrugged. "She'll be happy to see you, Hythe, I'm sure of it."

He chuckled a little. "I doubt it, but thank you." She nodded, giving him a small smile. He sighed. "But what if-"

He was interrupted as she grabbed his wrist and dragged him down the street. "Come on, you're never gonna face her if you keep thinking about it so hard!"

"Okay, okay, I'm coming!"

They got to his home, and he stopped before the door. He could hear the voices of his children inside, and he closed his eyes to hold back the tears that came to his eyes when he thought of how they would react. "You'll be fine," Kamara assured him. "They were okay when they learned I was a dragon."

"Learning a friend is actually a dragon and learning a loved one now looks like -this- are two different things, Kamara. I look like something straight out of horror stories I've told them."

"You tell your children horror stories?"

"Not super scary ones, just every once in a- *sigh* y-you're missing the point."

"Right, right, sorry. Maybe they freak out, maybe they don't. There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" He nodded and sighed. He debated just going. He could just stay away and let them think him dead. He could make Kamara swear she wouldn't tell them, and he could tell Falaria to tell them he died. He didn't have the courage to do that, though. He had to see them again, even if it was just to say goodbye.

He took a deep breath and opened the door, muttering several colourful Thalassian swears as he saw Baladir perched on the couch. Delania had just stepped out of the kitchen with two teacups, and Kalira and Maxian played with blocks on the floor. Delania looked up at the sound of his voice and screamed. She dropped the cups, breaking them and spilling the liquid inside. Kalira and Maxian both reacted similarly and ran to hide behind their mother.

Baladir stood, immediately drawing the sword hidden under his cloak. "Kalira, Maxian, upstairs." Kalira didn't hesitate. She grabbed Maxian's hand, sprinting up the stairs and practically dragging him behind her.

"I know what I look like," Hytharion said quietly, looking at Delania as he slowly approached. "Woah!" he cried, barely ducking in time to dodge the icicle that shattered and dented the wall behind him.

"Don't come near me!" she cried.

"'Lani, please, it's me!" He was heartbroken to see the same terror in her eyes that he had seen in Falaria's.

"N-No, no, y-you're not my husband!" she stuttered as she hyperventilated against the wall, another frostbolt ready in her hand. "G-Get out!"

Kamara went to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's still Hytharion," she tried to assure her, but Delania wasn't listening.

"No, no, no..." she whimpered under her breath, shaking her head rapidly.

He sighed sadly. "I'll go... Please, just let me get my things, and I'll be out of here."

Baladir didn't look away from him as he spoke. "Go, get the kids. I'll keep an eye on him." Delania nodded and raced up the stairs, quickly returning with the children a few moments later. Avoiding eye contact, she hurriedly made her way past him to the door. As she tried to drag them outside, Kalira let go, pausing to look up at him nervously.

"Papa? I-Is it still you? W-What happened?" she asked in a small voice. She looked cautious, prepared to run.

Hytharion turned to her and crouched. "It's a long story, Firebug, one I don't think your mother will let you stick around long enough to hear," he said softly. She relaxed just slightly at the use of the nickname and looked like she wanted to ask more, but sure enough, Delania returned and yanked her by the arm out of the house.

"Delania, wait!" Kamara shouted as she chased after her.

"'Tharion?" He turned to look at Baladir, who looked concerned but wary.

Hytharion felt rage as he stared at him. "I know what I look like, but I'm still me, asshole."

Baladir looked down at his sword. "I..." He sighed and sheathed it. "Forgive me. What happened to you?"

"I went to fucking Lala Land and had tea and cupcakes, what does it look like happened?"

"You know what I meant, 'Tharion."

"You killed me, Baladir! This is your fault!"

Baladir blinked. "What? How is this my fault?"

"I wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for you!" he cried. Leaning back against the wall, he slowly slid down until he sat on the floor and wept.

He heard Baladir come over and sit down beside him. "What happened?"

"W-We were talking... We were talking a-and I saw an arrow. I pushed her out of the way." He turned his head to glare at Baladir, and he couldn't stop his voice from shaking as he spoke. "I pushed her out of the way, and it hit me. I laid there, terrified and in agony, wishing desperately that I could see my family one last time. Falaria held me in her arms as I died, Baladir!" He looked away again, letting out a sob as he relived his final moments. T-Thank you for s-staying w-with me. M-My family... T-Tell them... I... He shook his head. "S-She... She thought that I-I would be grateful for this. T-That I would thank her..."

"I'm so sorry, 'Tharion," Baladir said softly, sounding mournful. "I... I didn't think you would die, and I certainly never thought she would go so far as to do that. My next question, though, is, what happened to her? She came to Light's Hope early this morning hysterical, her arm severely burned. She refused to tell me what happened, but I believe trying to claw my eyes out made it clear how she was feeling. I couldn't get an answer out of her before she passed out, so I came here. What happened? I get that you're angry with her. I would be too, but how could you just leave her like that?"

"That's all? She wanted to kick your ass. Can't say I blame her."

"'Tharion."

"I didn't mean to..."

There were several seconds of uncomfortable silence before Baladir spoke. "You did that to her? How could you do?" When Hytharion remained silent, he stood. "Answer me!"

Hytharion quickly got to his feet, his fingers tense. He clenched his jaw as his anger began rising higher. "I. didn't. Mean. To. How dare you think I would do that intentionally?"

"Then what happened!?"

He curled his hand into a fist as he felt his palm growing hot. "I..." He sighed, taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm down. "I was just so angry after she brought me back... S-She grabbed me as I tried to leave, and I-I-I don't know what happened. I didn't mean to. Is she okay?"

Baladir took a deep breath as well. "The healers are doing everything they can, but that burn is bad. Did you know that there is such a thing as a fourth-degree burn? I didn't, not until this morning. Her arm will be very badly scarred, and that's if she keeps it." He shook his head disapprovingly at him. "I never thought she would dare to do something like this, but that's not a good excuse for hurting her. Angry or not, how could you just leave her? I could never do such a thing to her, to either of you, no matter how upset. Why-"

Hytharion scoffed. "Oh, spare me your sanctimony, Baladir." Before his brother could say anything more, he teleported himself upstairs to his room and put on a spare hand.

Baladir caught up as he began stuffing clothing into his satchel. "Damn it, 'Tharion, I'm serious! How could you do that and just leave?"

He looked up at him, hatred burning in his crimson eyes. "I already told you I didn't mean to! You're a fucking hypocrite, you know that? You chastise me for burning her when you hurt her worse than I ever could! She needed you, Baladir. We both needed you, and you left us!"

"And I have regretted that day for the last ten years! I can't change the past, so let it go. I don't regret leaving to become a paladin, but I regret how I handled it. I regret that I never came back. I know I hurt both of you, but at least it was never physically!"

"You might as well have!" He abandoned trying to pack clothes as he faced Baladir. Flames came to his hands before spreading to the rest of his body. His tears evaporated as he glared at him with pure, unfettered hatred.

Baladir's eyes widened as he stepped back and held a hand out defensively. "Hold on, we can talk about-"

"No! You abandoned us, Baladir! You abandoned me! You left me to pick up what was left of her mind! She gave up on life, and I had to take care of her for years! Not days, or weeks, or months. YEARS! I WAS THIRTEEN, BALADIR, AND YOU KNEW SHE WAS IN NO CONDITION TO TAKE CARE OF ME OR HERSELF! SHE TRIED TO KILL HERSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND I HAD TO SAVE HER OVER AND OVER AGAIN!"

There was suddenly intense sorrow in Baladir's golden eyes. "...What? I... I-I didn't know, I'm sorry. I thought... I-I thought she would be okay, I-"

"LIAR!"

"W-What? No, I'm not lying, 'Tharion, please!"

Hytharion felt his rage boiling. He gave up trying to fight it and let it take over.

Hytharion lifted his hands above his head, and Baladir watched with horror as the flames surrounding him coalesced into one powerful fireball. As he turned and raced toward the stairs, he heard his brother let out a roar. He looked back just in time to see the huge ball of fire that hit him and sent him to the ground. Groaning and coughing, he got to his knees and tossed off his burning cloak. He felt terrible, searing pain in his back, but there was no time to dwell on it. He scrambled toward the stairs, but Hytharion caught up and pulled him back.

"Where do you think you're going!?"

"Let me go, 'Tharion! This isn't you. Snap out of it!" He looked into his eyes, but as he searched them, he couldn't see his little brother anymore. Only rage and hurt.

"Shut up!" Hytharion snarled. "I've wanted to do this for a LONG time!"

Hytharion started punching. Baladir covered his face with his arms, desperately trying to block him. "Please, brother, stop this!" He tried to push him off, but Hytharion refused to budge and got in a punch that broke his nose. He cried out and covered his face again. Thinking for a moment, he grabbed Hytharion by his wrist and tossed him aside. He stood, panting, his nose bleeding, and watched Hytharion do the same. "Please," Baladir said, his voice as broken as his heart. "Talk to me. Sit with me and tell me everything that happened. Yell, scream, call me names if you want to, but I'm begging you, don't make me fight you."

"No! It's too late for that. I want to make you feel like I did, Baladir! Helpless, worthless, like you don't mean shit, like you're a fucking waste of life!" he sobbed. "Magic would make this too easy. I want to make you feel the same pain I did!"

Baladir felt his heart crack even more. He truly had no idea his leaving would affect his family in such a way, and now, he was questioning every decision he had ever made. "'Tharion, please-"

"Enough!" Hytharion conjured a sword of ice and charged him with it. Baladir drew his own sword just in time to block his blow. Hytharion teleported behind him, but Baladir managed to spin fast enough to deflect his swing. For several minutes, he parried blow after blow, hoping desperately that Hytharion would tire, but he showed no signs of giving up, and every block seemed only to enrage him further. Realizing he didn't have a choice, he began fighting back. Hytharion was decent in hand-to-hand combat, but he was not as experienced as Baladir. Baladir managed to anticipate one of Hytharion's teleports and kicked him hard, slamming him into a wall. He fell, knocking his sword from his hand, and as he reached for the blade again, Baladir brought his sword down, impaling Hytharion's prosthetic hand and lodging his sword in the floor. "This fight is over," he said, panting as he wiped his long, black bangs out of his face. "Please, 'Tharion, don't make me hurt you."

Hytharion ripped off his destroyed hand and got to his knees, sobbing. "No! It's not over, damn it!"

"Yes, it is," he said softly. He went to him and offered him a hand. "Come on, get up. Let's talk about this."

Hytharion looked up at him. Baladir immediately felt dread as he looked into his hate-filled eyes. "NO!" Hytharion grabbed his sword and slashed upward. Baladir couldn't react fast enough, and he stumbled back as the sword struck him.

Baladir was sent stumbling back in the direction of the stairs, and he was unable to stop himself before he started falling. Hytharion's eyes widened, and he winced slightly as he listened to him crash down the steps. That was certainly not his intention, but if he couldn't humble his brother in a sword fight, he supposed he would have to be satisfied with this. The noise finally stopped. He waited for groaning, shuffling, anything... but there was nothing. Swallowing hard as dread snuck into his heart, he crept toward the stairs. Baladir was sprawled face down at the bottom of the staircase, unmoving. As he waited, watching for any sign of movement, he spied blood beginning to trickle across the floor underneath his head. His anger turned to horror. "Bal!" He teleported himself down the stairs and turned him over as he took him in his arms. Blood poured down his face from a long and terrifyingly deep gash on his forehead. "No, no, no, Bal, please, y-you have to get up! H-Heal yourself or something!" He shook him in desperation, but to his horror, he was completely limp. "N-No... no, no, don't do this!" He shook him again, but still, there was nothing. "Please don't do this!" he sobbed. "I-I didn't mean to! Damn it, Baladir, get up! P-Please! Please, I didn't mean to... I-I didn't mean to..."

He heard a voice outside and looked up. It passed by quickly, but he was panicking. He needed to get out of there. Before Delania and the kids returned. Before this happened to one of them. The thought sickened him. He sprinted upstairs and quickly put on his armour and one last spare hand. Stuffing his clothes and a few other small belongings into his bag, he came across the carving he had used to find Falaria. He lifted it and stared at it for several moments. He closed his fingers around it, and when he opened them again, all that remained were smoking ashes that he flung against the wall with an anguished cry. He grabbed his staff leaning against the wall near the door before racing back downstairs, keeping his eyes closed as he passed Baladir's body to head to the door.

He opened the door but looked back at his brother one more time. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "By the Light, I'm sorry." For several long moments, he stared at him, debating turning himself in. No... No, that's a terrible idea. The chances he would be merely imprisoned were low. It was possible if it were only the Kirin Tor deciding his punishment, but if they let the Argent Crusade choose his fate, he doubted they would be merciful, not when he looked like he did now. No, he wouldn't go back to wherever he went willingly. He hurried outside and headed down the street, keeping his head down as he passed people going about their business. Panicked, his mind raced as he thought about where he could possibly go next. Stormwind? No, no, bad idea. Thunder Bluff maybe...? He stopped in his tracks as he shook his head. It doesn't matter. Anywhere that's not Alliance is probably safe. Struggling to focus, he began conjuring a portal to Orgrimmar. He was halfway done when he heard a small voice to his left.

"Papa?"

He stopped, shutting his eyes as he clenched his jaw. Keep going. You have to keep going. "Leave me alone, Kalira. You shouldn't be here," he said, sounding harsher than he meant to. He heard whimpering, and as he glanced at his daughter's heartbroken face, his heart melted. Damn it... As he turned to her, he spied Kamara, Delania, and Maxian standing further back, the latter two looking terrified. As they should be. "I'm sorry, Kally, I didn't mean it. Come here."

Kalira lunged at him, hugging him tightly as she cried. "Y-You said you were gonna go. Where are you going? Y-You're gonna come back, right?"

He let out a heavy sigh as he crouched down to her. "Kally, I... No. I-I'm not coming back. I did something very bad, and I don't want to do the same to you. I don't want to accidentally hurt you. I have to go. I'm sorry."

"No! You're not gonna hurt me!" She hugged him tighter, now sobbing. "Don't go! I-I'm sorry! I'll never be bad again, I promise!"

He sighed and held her tightly as he rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head. "None of this is your fault, Sweetheart, it's all my own. I just don't want to hurt you..."

"Surely you don't think you actually would?"

He looked up at Kamara as she crouched beside them, her expression full of concern. "I-I don't know, Kamara, I don't know. Not on purpose." His eyes flicked in the direction of his house. "I never intended to do what I just did to my brother either..."

She glanced in that direction, then looked back at him, her brows furrowed in worried confusion. "Hythe...?"

"He's gone, Kamara."

Her eyes widened. "What did you do, Hytharion?" When he just looked away from her, she turned from him, taking on her true form and leaping into the sky to race back in the direction of his house. He didn't have much time left to say his goodbyes now.

"Ple-he-he-hease don't go!" came Kalira's voice again, her sobs muffled by his chest.

"Baby, look at me." She pulled back and looked him in the eye as tears streamed down her face. "I died," he said softly. "I shouldn't be here. You know when you play pretend with your toys? Pretend this didn't happen. Pretend the last time you saw me was when I said goodbye. Pretend the last goodbye really was the last."

"But you aren't dead! Y-You're cold and kinda creepy-looking, but you're still alive!"

He chuckled a little as he gave her a sad smile. "I know it's hard to accept, but I have to go now whether you're ready or not. If Aunty Fal hadn't brought me back, she would be here telling you that I died. I love you, Kally. Tell Mama and Max that I love them too, okay?"

"I love you too." Hytharion looked up. He hadn't noticed Delania's approach. She held their son in her arms, who briefly looked at his father in terror before burying his face in her shoulder. She looked like she was fighting the urge to run as he stood. "I-I'm sorry for my reaction earlier," she said, swaying gently as she tried to comfort Maxian. "You look... M-My family... After they ate the bread, they..." She shook her head and closed her eyes, unable to finish.

"It's okay. You've told me. I understand."

"I-I see now that you aren't the same. I can see that you're still you. Kamara helped me with that," she said softly. "Please. Stay. I'm sorry for my reaction. We'll get used to your appearance."

Hytharion shook his head. "No. I can't. I'm sorry, but as long as I'm around, you aren't safe."

"What? W-What do you mean? Don't go!"

"I have to. Please, 'Lani, just trust me."

"Love, please!" She set Maxian down and wrapped her arms around his back as she pressed herself against him. "I trust you! Whatever is wrong, whatever you-

"I just killed Baladir!" That drew the attention of a few citizens passing by. He glanced around nervously as he sniffed and wiped his eyes.

Delania's eyes widened as she let go of him and stepped back. Kalira, who had been still clinging to his leg, stepped back and hid behind her. "W-What?"

"Yes, Baladir is dead... because of me." There was fearful murmuring from those gathered.

She picked Maxian back up and grabbed Kalira with her free hand. "W-Who are you?" she whispered, shaking her head, her eyes wide in horror. "W-What... What have you done with my husband!?" Turning, she teleported herself and the children away and raced down the street back toward home. Only Kalira spared him one last tearful glance.

He sighed. At least they'll be safe now, he thought, wiping away a tear sliding down his cheek. He looked up as he heard shouting nearby. Listening, he recognized the voice of the guard-captain. He couldn't make out words, but his tone sounded urgent. I'm out of time. I need to get out of here! Taking his staff, he drew on the power inside it to cast the portal quicker. Completing the spell, he looked back at the city one last time before stepping through and quickly closing it behind him.