Solace and Nox: A New Light

Chapter 25

Raiden hated himself for leaving Cytra like that.

He wanted nothing more than to be safe. To be someplace where all his troubles disappeared. He had a chance to be happy, and safe, but he chose a dangerous path. He wanted to be with Cytra. He wanted it so bad, but he couldn't go back on his promise.

He had a life in Shodon. He had good friends, a good job, and a great responsibility. He had to protect the king, and his new squad. He had to make sure Markis recovered physically, and Trace was trained properly.

And most of all, he had to make sure none of them died.

Raiden reentered the city, feeling everyone's eyes on him as he passed by. Something seemed different.

Shodon was busy as usual. The streets were bustling with citizens. Raiden walked straight through, trying to figure out what was different. The people were the same. The markets were the same, selling the same goods.

What was different?

The weather seemed the same. The sun only set a few minutes earlier, but the sky was still clear. In fact, Raiden could see the various constellations that lined the black sky. It was beautiful, but it was the same.

Then Raiden realized something.

Everything was the same, but he was different. Was it because he was threatened by Moldark? Was it because he refused the fairies? Or was it because of Cytra?

When he left Cytra, he knew that something was missing inside. It was almost like he was missing a piece of his soul. A piece of his being.

A piece of his heart.

When Raiden left Cytra, he lost to his inner darkness, even though he knew what he was doing was right.

Or was it?

"Raiden!" Markis exclaimed as his best friend, and partner, arrived. "Where have you been?"

Raiden didn't respond. He just walked into the barracks, dropped his sword and shield, and sat down in the dark building.

"Raiden?"

He curled up into a ball in the corner. Markis didn't know how to react. He had never seen Raiden like this before. This was one side that Raiden refused to show others, but that day, he didn't care.

"I don't know what to do, Markis," Raiden said, pushing his hair back in frustration. He fought back tears, trying to stay strong for his friend.

Markis slowly wobbled over on his cane. Raiden looked up at his friend and saw his missing arm. Raiden was the reason Markis's arm was gone. Raiden wasn't good enough to save him that night. Markis, and the rest of his squad, would have been perfectly fine if he had been strong enough to save them.

Seeing his friend without an arm only reminded Raiden of the man he was before. He was different now. He had to be...

"I don't know whether I should do what's right, or do what my heart tells me to do," Raiden said in frustration. He leaned his head back on the barrack wall. Markis didn't sit, but he stood next to his friend.

"How do you know your heart isn't telling you to do what's right?" Markis asked.

"I don't know which path to take," Raiden replied. "Both paths are right, but I can only take one."

Markis thought about this scenario for a moment.

"Are you sure there isn't a third path?" he asked. "Is there a road connector that connects both paths?"

It was Raiden's turn to think about the scenario.

"I wouldn't know unless I chose a path," Raiden said.

Markis smiled. "Well, I think it's time that you made a decision, Raiden. But remember, once you make your decision, look for that connector. It may be the answer you're looking for."

Markis wobbled away, his brown curly hair was a mess. Raiden assumed it was difficult for him to fix up his hair and stand up straight at the same time.

"How do you do it?" Raiden asked.

"Do what Raiden?" he asked, turning to face his friend.

"How do you manage this new life you live?" he asked. "I can imagine it hasn't been easy for you to do a lot of the normal things in life with only one arm, and a weakened body. So how do you deal with that?"

He looked confused.

"Raiden," Markis said, baffled. "How do you not know?"

Raiden cocked his head.

Markis was taken aback by this new reaction. "Whatever choice you've been given has really changed you."

Markis stood directly in front of his partner, made him get to his feet, and stared him right in the eye.

"The one thing that keeps me going is the man I joined the military with. The man who taught me everything I know. The man who has trained by my side for years. The man who became my best friend taught me that there is always a light in this dark world," he said angrily. "That friend always knew how to find that light in any situation, no matter how dark it was. That partner would never let this darkness overwhelm him. He was a strong man. Where is that man now, Raiden? What happened to him? Because he is the man that Shodon needs now more than ever."

Raiden looked down. He was right... he had changed...

"Find that man," Markis spat. "And make sure he's ready for what's coming, because if he's not, he's going to die."

Markis shoved Raiden back with his good hand, quickly regained his balance, and wobbled out of the barracks.

Had Raiden really changed so much that his best friend didn't even recognize him?

Raiden looked down at his sword and shield. Those two tools have gotten him through several battles, keeping him alive and giving him a chance to protect himself and others.

Raiden picked them up with Markis's words running through his mind at full speed. Markis told him to make a decision. Markis told him to shape up. No... Markis commanded him to shape up.

Raiden sheathed his sword, and strapped his shield to his back. He rolled up his green sleeves and stepped out of the barracks. He took a deep breath and headed towards the castle.

It was time to find the man he once was...

It was time to be that man.