I was once weak, now look at me

Chapter 19: Birth of a Kingdom

World of Floating Islands, Jaune's Island, Aerith's Flower Field, Noon

Jaune slowly opened his eyes, gazing up at the clear sky above him from the shade of the tree he had been leaning against. For the first time in weeks, he felt a sense of peace, a weight was lifted off his shoulders. He had finally allowed himself to mourn Aerith, reflecting on his journey and who he had become.

The first moments after his return to the floating islands had been marked by rage. His immediate attack on Sol was born from a fury that had been simmering beneath the surface, only escalating after Sol threw him into another world. It sent Jaune into a spiral of suspicion and fury. What did Sol really know about him? What was his true agenda? Was he simply trying to help Jaune grow stronger, or was there something darker behind it all? The questions that had haunted Jaune since the beginning only grew louder, amplified by the weight of his past losses. Overwhelmed, he exploded, attacking without hesitation.

The battle was a swift and one-sided massacre. Sol made it clear just how outmatched Jaune was. The first thing Sol did was disable Jaune's system, and from that point on, Jaune's efforts were futile. His magic—Inferno, Gale, Arcane Dragon Slayer— and his sword skills were effortlessly countered and crushed by Sol's superior abilities. In a matter of moments, Jaune was left on the brink of death, his body broken, his aura shattered and magic exhausted. Still, his spirit remained defiant, glaring at the god who then delivered the killing blow. Or that is what Jaune thought happened.

Jaune woke a few days later, his body bound by glowing golden chains anchored to stakes planted firmly in the ground. He was stunned that he was still alive, the realization slowly sinking in—Sol had opted to knock him unconscious instead of delivering the deathblow. The thought of being spared in such a manner only fueled Jaune's anger further. Moments later, Sol appeared before him, his voice calm and deliberate as he requested Jaune's presence. He needed Jaune to see something. Jaune had little choice in the matter. The stakes floated from the ground and followed Sol, pulling him along in reluctant obedience. Despite his inner fury, Jaune was forced to follow, his body dragging along helplessly

What Sol showed him was a massive floating island, a creation Sol had made specifically for Jaune. It was a place for him to rest, to call home, a sanctuary of sorts. Sol explained that he had sent Jaune away so he could prepare the island and to give him a task that might help him break free from the dark place he had been trapped in. He then apologized for his harsh words and actions, but he admitted he had his own reasons for not intervening in the Reunion.

Jaune stood in stunned silence, the chains around his body fading away as they were no longer needed. He had believed Sol's actions had been cruel, but now, it seemed Sol had been trying to help him in his own way. Giving him something to focus on, something to help him clear his mind of past events, was Sol's form of guidance. The revelation hit Jaune hard, but it also brought clarity— Jaune had been so consumed by his own anger and grief that he hadn't seen the true nature of Sol's intentions.

As he processed this new understanding, another realization struck Jaune as he remembered something very important about Sol. Sol had lived for millennia, witnessing the universe in its vast, unfathomable scale. He had fought beings whose power made Sephiroth's wrath look like the tantrum of a child. He had seen tragedies that would break even the strongest wills dozens of times over. He had thwarted apocalyptic schemes that would have wiped out entire galaxies if allowed to come to fruition. With such a vast reservoir of experience, it was no surprise that Sol had viewed the Reunion as a relatively insignificant issue. To him, it was just another fleeting event in an endless, ever-changing universe.

Jaune's anger and hatred towards Sol began to fade as understanding took their place. He realized that Sol was neither cruel nor malicious, but someone who approached life with a perspective shaped by eons of existence. The way he saw things, the way he dealt with problems, was different—not wrong, but vastly more complicated, more intricate. A perspective earned after living through the unfolding of countless galaxies, civilizations, and cosmic events. It was a view that Jaune could never truly understand without living as long as Sol had, exploring the boundless reaches of existence.