THE SUN SUMMONER

05

500 AD
GREECE

SOLARYA SAT WITH children surrounding her. She laughed as she spoke to them. Druig watched from a distance as a small boy approached her and handed her a flower.

This boy had been giving Solarya flowers since he laid eyes on her. Solarya thought it was adorable but Druig thought it was silly. She smiled gratefully and Druig walked towards them.

He crouched down and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, "I'm sorry but she's taken."

The boy pouted and left causing Solarya to look at Druig with a playful glare.

"Is that what it's come to now? Being jealous of a child?"

"Yes my sun, you're mine," he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips and the children around them squealed, some in disgust and some in awe.

Solarya laughed, "Don't worry. I am yours forever."

"Good." He kissed her once more before screams rang out and they stood.

The heavy sound of large paws beating on the ground echoed around and a large Deviant burst through the square. The stalls that were set up were thrown in every direction and people were running madly about.

"Get the people to safety. I'll deal with the Deviant," Solarya said. Druig nodded and Solarya advanced towards the Deviant.

She opened her hands and fired the small suns she had created at the Deviant. It screeched and bounded towards her. It pounced and its large teeth embedded into her shoulder as she collided with the ground.

She cried out in pain and shot it off of her. It ran and she blasted it forcefully and it crashed through a stall. It ran off limping slightly and she ran around the destroyed stall and saw it.

The Deviant had something trapped underneath its paw. It pushed it further into the ground, the concrete cracking as it did so.

Solarya ran towards it and blasted it off. She looked down at the being and a sob racked through her body. Moulded into the broken concrete, the little boy from before laid motionless.

She crouched beside him and shook his body desperately, "No. Wake up. Please," tears streamed down her face as she cradled the boy's lifeless body.

Ikaris' beams of light tore through the Deviant and she looked up hopelessly. He landed beside her, "I-I couldn't do anything."

Ikaris shook his head, "There's always something you could do."

The rest of the Eternals came forward and Ikaris stepped aside to reveal the scene.

"Oh Arya," Ajak said in pity.

"Can you save him Ajak, please," Solarya cried.

Ajak shook her head, "My powers do not work that way, my child." Solarya sobbed as Ikaris took the boy's body from her and flew towards where they had protected the civilians.

Makkari sped towards her best friend and hugged her tightly causing her to groan.

"What's wrong?" Makkari signed worriedly.

"My shoulder," Solarya signed back. Ajak looked at it. Solarya's blood, soaked through her now destroyed dress and the girl was going slightly pale.

"We should get her back to the Domo," Ajak said.

 Just then Druig ran up, "Arya?"

"Druig," she stood and stumbled over to him, engulfing him in a hug.

"Ikaris told me. I am so sorry," he soothingly rubbed her back as she cried into his shoulder.

"Druig, bring her back to the Domo. We need to address her wound," Ajak said. Druig looked at her shoulder and nodded. He led her towards the ship and into the medical bay.

She laid on the table, tears still leaking out of her eyes as she replayed what had happened.

Ajak carefully passed a cloth doused in alcohol over her shoulder, causing her to hiss, "Sorry."

As the blood was cleared Ajak passed her hand over the wound. It stitched back together and Sol looked at it in the mirror. A small pink scar ran from the base of her neck to the beginning of her arm.

"There's a scar," she spoke shocked.

"Deviants' teeth have an enzyme that I can't completely get rid of, it causes a scar," Ajak replied she then looked at Druig, "Take her back to her room. Let her sleep for a while. She'll need it."

He nodded, "Thank you Ajak."

The two Eternals exited the room and went towards Solarya's. It was more like their room, considering the number of times Druig had slept in there and the amount of time he spent in it.

He opened the door and walked into the bathroom. Solarya stood by the mirror and lightly traced the scar. As he emerged he sighed.

His arms snaked around her waist and his head rest on her uninjured shoulder, "It's not your fault, my sun."

"But I could have done something. He wouldn't be dead. Even Ikaris said so. I should have done something instead of just standing there," she replied, turning in his arms.

Druig stayed quiet, knowing there was no point in arguing with her when she was in this state. Solarya was extremely stubborn. All he did was kiss her lips gently.

"Go take a shower my sun. I'll find you something to eat and then you can sleep off this horrible day."

She nodded and parted from him, walking into the bathroom and undressing. She stepped into the shower and allowed the water to rush over her. Her salty tears mixed with the water as she sobbed.