Demontext
Part 1

The sun was shining high over Elwynn Forest, beams of it piercing the canopy and making the water in the river sparkle like diamonds. The Lightheart Cottage was quiet and peaceful, it’s windows open to let in the pleasant summer breeze. Inside the Cottage Alexander Lightheart worked away at his latest engineering marvel whilst his twelve year old son, Atton, watched with interest. Alexander was renowned amongst engineers as one of the leading authorities in the field. He refused to build anything harmful to others though, believing it to be a misuse of  his talents. On this particular summers day he was working on a Mithril Ring for his wife and teaching Atton as he went.
“What’ll you do with it when it’s complete Dad?” Atton asked as he peered around his father’s arm to try and get a closer look at the tiny cogs within the ring’s socket.
“My little Atton, always so inquisitive,” Alexander chuckled, “This will be a present for your Mother when she returns”
“Doesn’t Mother already have a ring?”
“Not like this one m’boy, watch” Alexander said with a smile as he tapped the Mithril sphere he had affixed in the socket. It seemed to tremble slightly before blossoming into a beautiful flower.
“Whoa!” Atton exclaimed, “When will I be able to make things like that?”
“Don’t be in such a hurry son,” said Alexander kindly, “You have proved an excellent pupil this last year but Engineering is a discipline that takes many years to master”
Atton looked somewhat disappointed.
“But I want to make great things like you do, things that can help the Alliance” He said.
“A noble ambition lad and I have no doubt that you will grow into a celebrated engineer known throughout the land but for now your just going to have to be patient” Smiled Alexander.
“How do you make parts small enough to make the flower open?” Asked Atton, undeterred.
“I use a little bit of magic”
“Magic?” Queried Atton, surprised, “but I thought Engineering and Magic were different?”
“Atton, magic is involved in nearly everything in the world; it can be a useful tool if used responsibly. This ring, for example, it wouldn’t work without the simple enchantment on the cogs within”
“So magic is good for Engineering?” asked the boy.
“It can be as useful as a spanner or micro-adjuster. But magic, like any tool, should be treated with the proper respect.” Said his Father wisely.
“I can’t wait until I can make things like that” said Atton excitedly.
Well while your waiting it’s a beautiful day outside, why not go chop some wood for this evenings fire?” suggested Alexander.
“Ok” the boy replied and with that Atton hopped off his seat and vanished out into the garden.

The rest of the day drifted by and after a beautiful sunset the evening sky was covered in a dazzling blanket of stars, the cottages door was open to let in the night air. Atton had already gone to bed but Alexander had decided to do a bit of work on a design for an improved robotic squirrel, it was to be a birthday present for his son. A floorboard creaked behind him and before he could turn a sadistic voice spoke to him from the open doorway.
“Hello again Mr Lightheart” hissed the voice.
Alexander recognized the voice. He had heard it before, not that long ago.
“I thought I told you people I wouldn’t help you” said the engineer calmly
Alexander turned around to face the man standing in his doorway. His face was hidden in the shadow of his cloak’s hood and he was clad in jet black.
“We think we can convince you to reconsider your decision Mr Lightheart” Sneered the man as he advanced.
Atton had been dreaming peacefully. He dreamt of marvellous Submersible devices and robotic dragons and many other things he would barely remember after he awoke. There was the sound of a struggle from downstairs and Atton’s eyes opened sleepily at the noise. Rising from his bed Atton cautiously walked over to his door and pushed it ajar. A horrifying sight met his young eyes. His father fell to the floor at the feet of a black clad stranger, a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of his  mouth. Atton wanted to scream but he was frozen to the spot. The stranger turned and walked out of the Cottage and the second he was out of sight Atton hurried to his father’s side. He dropped to his knees, tears running down his face as terror gripped his heart.
“D-Dad, come on Dad wake up!” Atton pleaded. Alexander’s eyes opened a little and he coughed, blood staining his white teeth.
“Run Atton,” said the engineer between coughs, “Through the back door, hurry child!”
“Come on then,” said Atton as he took his Father’s arm, “I’ll help you”
“You cannot help me this time son, please run! These people will not spare your life if they catch you!”
“But… But I can’t” Atton replied, his voice little more than a terrified whisper.
“Atton,” Alexander cut across him, “you are capable of a lot and I’m more proud of you than you could know. I need you to be strong and look after your mother for me, do you understand?” Atton nodded silently, his voice stolen by pain.
“Well then boy GO!” Alexander coughed.
“I won’t let you down” Atton promised as he walked backwards toward the back door.
“I know” Said Alexander, smiling weakly as his son turned and ran. “Goodbye my son…” he said to the empty room. Alexander’s head dropped to the floor, blood still dripping from his mouth.

Atton ran and ran through the trees, oblivious to the dangers Elwynn held off the beaten track. He ran until grief took him and he could run no further. He fell to his knees, fresh tears streaming down his already tear-stained face. His racking sobs echoed around the trees but stopped abruptly as Atton heard a rustle in the trees nearby. Atton’s hand searched the ground until it grasped a sturdy tree branch. A figure was just about discernible in the shadows before him. Atton rose to his feet, wielding the branch as though it were a sword and seeing this the figure halted.
“I am not afraid of you!” said Atton defiantly.
“Good,” said a calm female voice, “You have no cause to be” The figure stepped into a ray of moonlight that illuminated her slender and elegant frame. She was only a little taller than Atton though she was at least twenty-five and she was clad in a suit of Plate armour crafted from bright metals. Atton knew this at once to be the raiment of a Paladin.
“Who are you?” Atton asked hesitantly.
“I am Sister Vangrad, you can call me Holly,” Said the Paladin, “I heard you crying and came to see if I could help”
Atton lowered the stick and used it to rest his weary weight on, the tears running down his face once again. Holly moved forward to hug him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked in a concerned voice.
“They… they killed him”
“Who killed who?!” asked Holly, startled.
“I… he just” Atton sobbed uncontrollably into Holly’s chestplate.
“Take your time child” said the Paladin in a comforting tone.
“I… I don’t know who he was, but he killed… killed my father.”
“Where did this happen?” asked Holly, her voice now quite serious.
“At my home, not far from here” Atton replied, gesturing in the direction he had come from.
“Come on then. I’ll do what I can. You’d better come with me my young Paladin, it’s
not safe to leave you alone with such people abroad, despite your obvious stick-combat skills.”

As Atton and the Paladin approached the clearing where the cottage stood Holly gasped and clutched Atton to her as they saw Atton’s home. Flames were consuming the once delightful structure. Atton’s childhood home was burning before them.

There was a light shower of summer rain on the day of Alexander’s funeral. Atton had not stayed long at his Father’s graveside. He had felt guilty being there after leaving his Father to be burnt. He had retreated to his room at the Lion’s Pride Inn. He was sitting on his bed alone when Holly appeared in his doorway.
“How come you didn’t stay at the funeral?” she asked quietly.
“I didn’t deserve to be there” replied Atton in a mournful voice.
“There was nothing more you could have done for him, you know that don’t you?”
“I ran and I left him to die, I am nothing more than a coward” Atton said flatly.
“And why did you run, Atton?” Holly asked in a kindly voice.
“Because he told me too but I” the boy began but Holly cut across him.
“Well then I see nothing cowardly in what you did” said the Paladin.
“If I had been there when they started the fire….”
“Then you would have burned too Atton! No more could’ve been expected of you!”
“I was useless”
“Do not undervalue yourself young one, if you apply yourself you could be much more than you realise.” There was a pause as Atton thought about this.
“Remember when you found me in the forest?” the boy asked, slowly.
“yes…” Holly replied, giving Atton a quizzical look.
“You called me a Paladin”
“So I did,” said Holly with a smile, “what of it?”
“What made you call me that?”. Holly smiled a private smile.
“I think because that’s what you reminded me of when I first saw you with that branch, you were like one of the young students at the Cathedral of Light”

    There was another pause as Atton looked down at his feet, lost in thought.
“Do you think I could be one? A Paladin I mean?” He asked eventually.
“I’m sure you could if you were prepared to commit yourself to it,” replied a surprised Holly, “but might I know why you’re considering this path?”
“I want to learn to fight,” said Atton resolutely, “to protect others from this pain, and to heal those in need of healing”
“If that is what you wish I’m sure something can be arranged, I’m sure you’d make a fine Paladin one day. Be warned though Atton, do not make this decision lightly. Be sure it is for the right reasons.” Said Holly seriously.
“I will be sure” Atton promised.
“I have something for you,” Holly said as she withdrew something from her belt pouch, “This was in your Father’s hand when we recovered his body”
Atton looked at the item Holly had placed in his hand. It was a slightly damaged and soot blackened Mithril Ring.
“This was meant for my Mother” he said quietly.
“Then I would be obliged if you would pass it on to her for me” said Holly.
“I will”
“I must return to the funeral, are you sure you won’t come with me?” Holly asked.
“I will go back later when the rest have gone,” said Atton, “I have some thinking to do”
“As you wish” said Holly and departed.
Atton closed his fist around the ring and clutched it to his chest.

The rain had almost stopped that afternoon when Atton returned to his father’s graveside, bearing a single white rose. Atton crouched next to the gravestone to place the rose.
“Dad… I know that I couldn’t help you,” said the boy in a low voice, “I wanted too but didn’t know how… I am going to learn how to help people, not just with mechanical things. I’m going to join the Paladins, and one day I will find the person who did this to you and I will see justice served upon him. Goodbye…” With that Atton placed the white Rose upon the grave.

17 Years Later

Atton placed the single white Rose on his father’s grave. Wildflowers covered the area and a creeper was growing up one side of the headstone. Atton could remember the first Rose he placed there, just after his Father’s murder. He had returned there once a year ever since to leave a white Rose on the grave and repeat his vow. He like to give his father an update on how his life was going as well and was never short of a story. So much had happened in the two years since Atton and Corbec’s now famous return from the dead. So much had changed. The arrival of the Dranei, The Blood Elves emerging once more, the Dark Portal opening to the Outlands… Atton hardly recognized the world around him anymore. There was a rustling behind him and a familiar voice spoke.
“Atton?” Corbec said as he approached. The Paladin raised his head but did not stand or turn from the stone.
“Could this wait my friend?” Atton asked.
“I’m afraid it can’t bud. We’re need back in Stormwind at once” said the Warrior apologetically.
“Any idea what’s happening?” Atton asked as he rose and walked to join Corbec.
“Not in the slightest but I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.” The two friends walked to where their horses were tethered and mounted up.
“You know these days we just never seem to get any peace” Said Atton ruefully.
“Would you have it any other way?” asked Corbec with a grin.
“Gods no!” Exclaimed the Paladin, “Life might get boring!” Att and Cor spurred their horses onwards towards Stormwind City, laughing as they went…

TO BE CONTINUED