Chapter 84: Saving Grace

Solomon watched the sudden explosion of water knock his enemies unconscious.

His plan to see them drown appeared to have been worth some merit. The only problem was that pulling so much water from so deep underground had effectively depleted him.

The strain on his spirit heart was immense.

Keeping consciousness was an uphill battle. Regrowing his brain had the side effect of making him feel incredibly dizzy and disoriented.

Solomon blinked slowly under the water.

At one moment, he was floating inside the barrier with the other high orcs.

Next, he was floating on his back as the water he summoned rushed through the gorge.

He wasn’t sure what made the shield spell deactivate. He would have liked to believe that it happened naturally when the caster died, but somehow he doubted that he would have been that lucky.

Solomon knew that he had to move. He wasn’t out of danger yet.

But his body refused to do as he needed. Even turning his head felt like it demanded a monumental effort from him.

Solomon needed to close his eyes to get his bearings. Just for a moment…

–

“This was a grave mistake, elder brother.”

“Perhaps it might have been… but I would not have repaid favor with indifference. The house of Eirbaine pays it’s debts.”

“You have already done more than enough to help him by rescinding the order I gave to Commander Xu. This is excessive.”

“Do not speak to me of overstepping boundaries, sister. When Father learns that you have attempted to leverage our sister’s position against his wishes, punishment will be swift. You have my sympathies.”

“…”

Slowly, Solomon’s eyes flutter open, and the first thing to greet him is a cavern ceiling.

He stretches his fingers reflexively, feeling the hard ground at his bare back and the nearby warmth of a crackling fire.

When he stirs, a nearby conversation immediately ceases.

Solomon sits up abruptly, an immense pain still running rampant throughout his body.

“Move slowly. Your core was all but depleted when we found you. Even if you are talented, you cannot simply shrug off those kinds of consequences.”

Solomon resists the urge to wince as he scoots back toward the wall.

“…Andros.”

The brawny, golden-skinned prince stares at Solomon with a neutral gaze. “Prince A’Kenai. It has been quite some time.”

Solomon’s brow creases into a frown.

“…Apologies. You are Lord of your house now, aren’t you?”

“I care little for titles at the moment. Call me what you prefer.” Solomon brought a hand to his sore midsection. “I merely do not recall a time when I have heard you say so many words all at once.”

Andros’ lips threaten to break into a smirk, something Solomon barely notices. The prince has an excellent poker face.

“How barbarous!”

Solomon looks past the large prince towards his sister.

Canari Eirbaine stands against the cave wall with her arms folded across her chest and a scowl filled with venom.

“Speak to your saviors with more decorum. Were it not for the magnanimity of my lord brother, you would still be floating in-”

“Enough, Canari!” Andros barks. “I have taken no offense.”

The princess glowers at Solomon for a moment longer before turning her head toward the mouth of the cave.

Andros sighs deeply. “My apologies. My sister’s fire is only superseded by her pride in our house. It creates rather volatile meetings.”

Solomon can see Canari’s ears turn red, but she does not turn around.

Though he is pretty sure he could picture what kind of expression she was making at the moment.

“…It’s fine. You have offered me your aid and I will not forget it.” Solomon said sincerely.

“It was pure fortune that we came across you. Finding each other was easy enough, but we have yet to glimpse anyone else from the academy.”

Solomon is silent for a moment. “…So it is an examination then.”

Andros raises his brow.

“Obviously. Have you made many enemies capable of snatching you from a secure academy on an unknown island and leaving you for dead in an entirely different realm?”

Solomon rubs the back of his head. “…One can never dismiss the possibility.”

Andros cannot say for certain whether Solomon is attempting to make jokes or not, but regardless, he doesn’t laugh.

“We’ve sat here too long.”

Andros’ and Canari’s brother was the most put-together of the bunch.

Virgil Eirbane is neither the tallest nor the brawniest student in the academy. However, among the first-year students, he is one of the most famous.

As a divinely handsome noble with pockets as deep as the ocean and a talent in spearmanship that only arises once in a generation, he is the envy of many.

Were it not for the existence of Solomon A’Kenai, he would be the uncontested rising star of the academy.

He carries himself with an effortlessly posh air.

Pushing his glasses up with his middle finger, he stares down at Solomon with a cold expression that seems to be genetic.

“Can you stand?”

Solomon got to his feet, his joints groaning audibly.

He ignored all of the pain still shooting through his body and kept his expression neutral.

Virgil started towards the mouth of the cave after kicking sand on the fire.

“Do not fall behind. We shall leave you behind if you become a liability to our efforts.”

“I was going to say the same.”

Canari whirls around abruptly. “Y-You…! Be grateful, cur! I will not tell you again to be more respectful to your betters and show some degree of gratitude for-”

Solomon and Andros walk past Canari.

“I always wanted a sister. Are they always this haughty, though?”

“In my very thorough experience, yes. I have plenty I’m willing to give away if you yearn so deeply for the experience.”

Canari grinds her teeth together as she stalks after the boys, cursing her fate.

–

The suns had begun setting over the reddened lands of Darrod. And with the setting of the sun, Solomon became visibly more nervous.

Something Canari seemed to find absolutely hysterical.

“Oh my. Doth my eyes deceive me, or is the biggun afraid of the dark?”

Solomon jumped down from a ledge and landed hard on the ground. “I would prefer to be seen as someone cautious rather than cowardly. The stories about Darrod after dark leave me a bit anxious.”

“You have an objection to make?” Virgil responds from the front of the group.

“Not at all. If something does come out to get us, I’m confident I can at least outrun Andros.”

The brawny prince’s brow furrowed. “Speed is indeed… an area I find challenging.”

“…You are aware that I was joking, right?”

“… Obviously.”

He wasn’t.

The group had made good progress in descending the mountain and now travelled through a small wetland area.

The surrounding water was green with filth and film. Flies buzzed around like mad, and Canari zapped any that got close enough to nibble her noble skin.

Once the suns had started going down, the temperature in the room began dropping rapidly. Solomon had no doubts that in a few more moments, he would be able to see his breath.

“At the risk of sounding more undignified and further earning Canari’s ire…” Solomon began.

“You’ve already breached the threshold I am capable of feeling towards a person.”

“Wonderful. So I’m in no more danger then.”

Canari started to pull her sword from her side and stabbed Solomon, but a look from Andros dissuaded her from doing so.

“Do we actually know where we’re going, or are we just walking and seeing the sights?”

Virgil scoffs. “You’ve been following us all this time, and you didn’t think to ask where we were going?”

“As I said. Didn’t want to earn your sister’s ire.”

“My. How timid.”

“I just like quiet.”

Virgil and Andros both snorted. Canari found her threshold being raised once again.

“We need to get out of the savage lands and make our way towards the sanctuary city. It is a two-day journey as it stands. I wish to be out of the muck and the mire as soon as possible, so yes, we travel even after dark.”

Solomon looked into the darkening sky.

“You all seem to know a lot about this realm.”

“I frequented the market in my youth. Trade here is plentiful. Many of the orcs and trolls here do not know the value of what they stumble upon. They are more than happy to trade a shard of orichalcum for a cart full of cheese or near-spoiled meats.”

Canari snorted. “So you snuck off here to rip off those who don’t know any better?”

“I paid them in a surplus of what they wanted, but I cannot make them take gold. Do not make me out to be some thief taking advantage of the stunted.” Virgil snapped.

“Stop.” Solomon paused.

The golden siblings stopped in their tracks and turned to him.

Solomon’s orange eyes darted across the ground.

He had sensed it before he saw the signs. But now, as the water vibrated, there was no denying it.

“What’s wrong with you, biggun?” Canari sneered. “Need to pee-”

“Hide. Now.”

Once Solomon began moving, the trio finally hears it—a distant sound like thundering footsteps. It was only getting closer by the second.

It wasn’t long before the trio witnessed an enormous head peeking from over the rocky walls…

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