Embers of Sun and Flame: Before We Have It (Fuegoleon x OC)

Chapter 25 Before We Have It

Solstice. The longest, or the shortest day of the year. Either a turning point for something to take place and begin an era of light, allowing more and more of that gentle radiance of the sun to fall upon the earth. Or, to cast the world into increasing darkness, day by day robbing it from more and more of sunlight's grace. Solstice can be both, but it's always a turning point, a change of course. It's always a point from which you can't go further into that direction. Either it's the point where the light, no matter how faint, begins to cascade onto the earth. Or it's a point where that light is deemed to be snuffed out.

Or, or the other. But never both. Because it's a point, a crossroads.

Solstice holds a dual meaning, but neither of the meanings can be decipher from the other based on the word alone. Until it's too late.

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What happened next came so fast.

Lucifero grabbed Salamander by its mouth, as if the Great Elemental Spirit of Fire was nothing but a toy, a bat, a hammer, a tool; like it was nothing. And the Demon King roared as he swung his arm, while still holding onto Salamander, slamming right back to Solara, Mereoleona and Fuegoleon.

Like they were nothing; just small beings in his way. This meant nothing to him, nothing more than a nuisance.

Such an overwhelming weight that was slammed against them all. But Mereo was the first to get up. She would not go down quite so easy. And this, this was her first proper prey in years, which is why she was the first to head back into the ring.

Her roars echoed around, accompanied by Jack's laugh.

Meanwhile Fuegoleon tried to gather a hold of his own body. The feeling wasn't too unfamiliar; to hear Mereo roaring in the background while running after her prey. None of it was... that unorthodox.

But his body ached in a way he had never felt before. The times, the years of sparring with Mereo aneue had been tough on him, and all those punches and bruises had taught him how to carry himself despite the pain. Those years had taught him how to get back up, instead of kneeling down and accepting defeat.

This is nothing, he told himself, even if the weight of the world tried to pull him down, even if the weight of the high heavens had slammed against him with the mass of Salamander. He had to get up. Get back on his feet.

And so, he did.

His muscles burned, screamed at him; the sound of which was only muffled by the sound of his blood rushing through his ears.

This is nothing, he told himself again as Salamander was rolling back up, ready to face the opponent again.

This is nothing. I didn't take the full force of that blow, only a fraction of it, so I can- The thought stopped.

A passing memory of a ... sensation.

Why... didn't I... take the full force? I should have... taken... Lucifero was... right there. That mana was so hostile and slammed against us as he grabbed Salamander and hit... us.

Us...

His head turned around as his eyes were opened wide.

A push...?

The faint memory of something his body had felt.

Where...?

Then his eyes landed on her.

The sound of blood rushing through his ears ceased. The sounds of battle around him disappeared.

His body forgot the taste of air.