Sol's Shine and the Kingdom of Fire

Chapter 14 Reunite

     It was almost time for Sol to meet back up with Lilac and Ella. Sol couldn't believe that it's almost been two weeks already. It was still taking Sol and his group a bit to get back to Silverlite Village. They all had to stop and rest in a cave for shelter because heavy rain was pouring down. Lightning could be heard striking the land.

Brook was running low on medication and he couldn't stop holding his head because of the pain. William was sulking in the corner and no one could blame him. Sol didn't personally know the orcs William called his friends but he felt empathy. Sol's father and William's crew were casualties of someone else's wrong doing.

Even so, Sol didn't even know where to begin on how to cheer William up again. It was Sol's own brother responsible for the attack. Sol didn't want to stir the pot and accidentally say something to make things worse. All and all Sol was still trying to figure things out himself. The street full of lifeless bodies in Luminar was still fresh in his mind.

Sol couldn't take the silence anymore and started to walk out in the rain. This alerted Brook. "Where are you going?" He asked. "I'm going to take a walk around the area we're in. I'll be back." Sol said to him as he walked away. "You're going to get soaked!" Brook warned him but Sol left anyway.

The mud stuck to the bottom of Sol's shoes. He eventually made it down to a fast flowing river and sat down on his knees near the very edge. Sol took his hands and pushed them through the mud as if he was trying to grasp the land. Sol felt like he was starting to lose his sanity.

Sol started to punch the ground. Mud and water got flung everywhere. Sol couldn't stop screaming and crying. He couldn't stop thinking about every event that unfolded until now. He ran his muddy fingers through his hair and held on to it tightly. He leaned forward and put his head face first into the mud.

Sol didn't notice but Brook had actually followed him to the river. "I can't stand to see you like this." Brook said in a worried tone and with a sad expression. Sol got up and turned to look at him with mud all over his face. "I understand that you went through a lot, we all did." Brook said as he came over to sit with him.

Nothing but silence was exchanged between the two for a good few seconds. Sol just sat there looking at the river. "We all know the risk in what we're doing. If you feel like you're the blame for everything, well you're not." Brook told him.

Brook understood Sol more than anyone else and there wasn't hiding anything from him. Sol was growing more anxious each day leading up to the festival. He knew he couldn't meet the kingdom's expectations so he didn't bother trying. All he did was goof off and had fun around town. Sometimes he would even skip his tutoring lessons to do something else.

Even after all that it didn't make any of the civilian's comments about him feel any better and he tried to pretend like it didn't affect him. Looking back on it all Sol knew that was nothing compared to what was happening now. Sol thought if he had just learned to take things more seriously then maybe no one would've gotten hurt or killed.

"I look pretty pathetic right now huh?" Sol finally spoke out. "No. You have every right to feel the way you do." Brook stood up and looked down on Sol who was still sitting on the ground. "But you just need to know this. Think about all of the families the deceased left behind in Luminar. Think about all the other people like you or me who were forced to become fugitives. Think about William's crew and their sacrifice. You're not the only one suffering right now but unlike anyone else we have a chance to make things right."

Brook held out his wing to help Sol off the ground. Sol accepted it and was lifted up. "You're right. I'm sorry I can be troubling for you sometimes." Sol said to Brook. "Don't sweat it. This is what friends are for." Brook smiled. Just like that, Sol felt like he was at ease.