Chapter 57: The Note

It had been three days since Solomon was made aware of the plot by the dean and Yari’s subsequent backstory.

In that time, Solomon had placed more of his focus on training and seemingly forgot about his mission altogether.

The plots of smiling tyrants, the revelation that he was carrying evidence of a crime around in his chest, and his brother’s firm refusal to be returned to life were all events that compounded on his mental wellbeing.

His conversations with Raizel had been brief, if not nonexistent over the last few days. He initiated them only rarely, and any responses he gave were usually one-worded, or simple grunts.

Solomon had begun to think of himself as unfair.

He should not have been upset with Raizel for making the choice to stay a spirit. And yet he was.

It was nonsensical. His brother’s choices were his own and he could not be upset with him for abstaining from a path that would go against his principles.

And yet, Solomon couldn’t shake off the mild frustration he felt. He wanted more for his brother than he wanted for himself.

Solomon watched Raizel gradually make more and more conversation with Nila as the days passed. He couldn’t help but imagine him, his body restored and a child between them.

But then the vision faded, and a reminder of the cruel reality set in.

Solomon is aware that his dark worldview is unique to him. Raizel seems happy just to be around his lost love and learn new things about her. His voice has become lighter. His jokes are far less crude.

Solomon desired to share in his brother’s happiness. To accept things for the way they were instead of how he wanted them to be.

A clearing of the air would be necessary. But he had little idea of where to begin.

“Can I go to a party, or are you going to be a great big turd about that too?”

Solomon opens his eyes after so long that the sunlight is disorienting.

The simple sights and sounds of the forest greet him.

As the sun sets over the horizon and turns the entire world a familiar orange, he and the rest of his group mates sit cross-legged atop a large rock covered in moss.

Raizel stood nearby, acting as a guard for them as they meditated.

Everett’s outlandish question hadn’t just roused Solomon from his practice of cultivation. It had thoroughly stumped all of them.

“A… party?” Dakota is unsure if he hasn’t consumed some hallucinogen.

“Well, I do believe it will be more of a bunch of bodies moving from dorm to dorm, but the term welcoming party was used when I was invited, so I’ll be sticking with that I suppose.”

Nila is equally dumbfounded.

“Who would possibly be hosting any sort of festivity at a place like this..?”

“Our upperclassmen, my dear tree-hugger. A few have taken a liking to me. As if you can’t tell why…” Everett smiles with infuriatingly perfect teeth.

Somehow, Solomon feels as though he can hear the blood boiling in Raizel’s suit. A monumental feat, considering that he didn’t actually have any to begin with.

“I knew it…” Nila shakes her head in horror. “The end goal of this place is to drive us all insane.”

Her remark wrests the first semi-laugh from Dakota that the group has ever heard. It also causes Raizel’s golden eyesockets to beam with pride.

Greatest of all, it seems to bruise the ever-dominant ego of their winged teammate. Something that Solomon resists the urge to thank her for.

“…I don’t care if you decide to stab yourself in the heart tonight, Everett. So long as you show up for training when I say and your performance doesn’t suffer, you can do what you want. I’m not your father.”

Everett grins as he stares at Nila.

“Oh, don’t you worry. Performing has never been something I’ve had an issue with.”

It is clear that by Nila’s lack of a reaction, she doesn’t actually understand the sexual intensity that has just been lobbed her way.

“Stop harassing Nila or I’ll kill you.” Solomon begins to walk away.

“But you just said-”

“If you’re harassing Nila it affects the team. She’ll be less inclined to save your life if I need her to if she doesn’t like you.”

Nila nods fervently, leaving Everett feeling just the slightest bit cantankerous.

“We’re done for the day. Rest up over break and I’ll see you at our usual spot next week.” Solomon waves the group goodbye without looking back.

“Ah, group leader, wait.” Nila quickly scrambled to her feet and chased after him.

“Might I borrow your… brother for a bit longer? He says that he knows of a style of swordsmanship that he believes is better suited to me. I must beat his head in to prove that is not the case.”

Honestly, Solomon was hoping to get a chance to chat with his brother about the last few days.

But an uncomfortable chat could wait for something of greater importance.

“That’s fine. And in the future, you don’t need to ask just take him whenever you feel like it.”

Nila seemed as though she wanted to ask why she would ever need him on more than just this occasion.

But before she could even get the words out, Solomon was trekking back to his dorm all alone.

–

The sound of small claws scampering across wood greets Solomon as soon as he enters.

Bansha stares at Solomon from behind a table. The creature’s middle head seems to be especially wary of him.

Despite this, Solomon smiles at her fondly as he removes his jacket and hangs it by the door.

“Nice to see you too, girl.”

Exhausted, Solomon lies on the floor and closes his eyes.

It isn’t long before he hears the sound of paws again, and Bansha comes to a stop beside his head.

“I don’t smell any smoke today. I guess you’re starting to mellow out, huh?”

The shredded pillow on Raizel’s bed would have disagreed with him.

Solomon gently reaches out to scratch one of Bansha’s chins.

It seems the creature is quickly growing adjusted to the strangeness of its new life. She no longer ran away from Solomon like before and even allowed him to check her sex. Though she did bite him after.

Looming over his head, Bansha sniffed Solomon once or twice and immediately recoiled.

“…Okay, I know, but you still could have told me a little nicer.”

Bansha goes back to her original position under the table and growls at him warily.

“I get it, I get it…” Solomon sighed.

He stands up begrudgingly and reaches for his jacket before heading to the bath.

But along the way, a yellow scrap of paper falls out of his pocket and catches his attention. He recognizes it instantly.

Solomon hadn’t spoken to Yari in days. Not even in class.

Their last exchange ended in her passing him this paper as if it were an imperative secret, but he never bothered to open it. Just thinking about her gave him a headache, so he surely didn’t want to read a note from her.

He considers just throwing it away and pushing it out of his mind. It is only at the last moment that he decides against it.

Sighing, Solomon unfurls the paper and is surprised that there is not a long letter inside. Rather, there is only a single word.

Aponia.

Solomon’s brow quirks up in confusion at the unfamiliar term.

But then his body suddenly lights up like kindling, and his consciousness immediately goes dark.

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