Blood Moon Cycle

Rielle sat huddled in a cave beside a small fire Solidus had managed to build. Outside, the wind howled and stinging snow filled the air. Solidus stood near the entrance looking out.

“It should soon slow down enough to make it to the summit. There was a cabin built there a long time ago and should provide much better shelter.” Rielle nodded and pulled her cloak tighter around her.

“You know,” Solidus said, without turning around. “You will stay warmer if you don’t bundle up so tightly.” Rielle glanced up.

“What?” She asked quizzically. Solidus turned and made his way back to the fire and threw a few more sticks onto the tiny blaze.

“If you bundle your cloak around you tightly, then the air cools your cloak and your cloak cools you. If you let it stay out from you so that there is air between you and it, then you warm the air and the air acts as a buffer between you and the cold cloak. Then the cloak holds in the warm air and keeps you warm.” To demonstrate, Solidus sat on the cave floor close to the fire and set his cloak over himself like a tent. Then he opened the front of his cloak to let in what little heat the fire could provide. It had been hard to follow what he had said, but Rielle copied him and when she opened her cloak she felt herself warm slightly.

“Amazing.” She said. Solidus shook his head.

“No, what is amazing is how many people freeze at night because they think bundling up makes them warmer. Then they wonder why they were cold all night.” He chuckled to himself. “People amaze me.” Rielle laughed a little.

“Not everyone is that bad just because of that one point.” Solidus nodded.

“True, but you mistake me. People amaze me. Not only in how naïve they can be, but also in how skilled they can be, how intuitive they can be, and how creative they can be. The human being can be an amazing creature. Then again, they can also be horrible, vicious, prideful, greedy, violent things. And worst, they never learn from their own mistakes.” Rielle looked at Solidus.

“Of course they do. Without learning from our mistakes we would never advance.” Solidus half smiled.

“And yet, no matter how far humans advance, they forever repeat the mistakes of the past. Even before the thousand years of peace there were wars, and contentions, and struggles for power. And though the loss of human life was great and peace ensued from remembering the pains of those struggles, you always manage to start another war and more lives are lost.” Solidus stared into the flames, which had seemed to burn brighter as he spoke. Rielle thought silently to herself for a moment.

“Wait, you said, You always manage to start another war. You said, humans do not learn from their mistakes. As if you were not part of the human race.” She stared at him hard. Solidus half smiled and chuckled to himself.

“It seems I have been away from people too long and have let my tongue slip away in my frustration. You are a bright young woman to have caught it.” Rielle stared for a moment longer and then understanding dawned on her.

“The Hermit Mage.” She whispered. Solidus locked eyes with her, the blue color draining from them and leaving them a clear silver. She immediately saw why he had never made eye contact with her before. Through his eyes, Rielle could see limitless knowledge and power, and a cool agelessness that made him seem far older than he appeared. Solidus half bowed from his position on the floor.

“Grandmaster Silver Mage Solidus, at your service. Or, as I am more commonly known, The Ageless Hermit Mage.” Rielle sat in shock for a few moments.

’I have been searching for the Hermit Mage, and all this time he has been my guide? It can’t be, it just can’t be. It is too convenient.’ She looked back at Solidus.

“How can you possibly be the Hermit mage? How do I know you aren’t trying to trick me in some way?” Solidus laughed.

“I suppose there is really no way I can definitively prove it to you, young Rielle Toriel Lyvinius of Hortaal.” Solidus reached into the fire and pulled out a small handful of flames. He let the flames dance in the palm of his hand for a moment then forced them into a small orb which he then, like liquid, poured back onto the fire, Rielle watching in astonishment all the while.

“I guess you will just have to take my word for it.” Rielle sat silently, staring intently at Solidus. Now, he fearlessly met her gaze.

’It just cannot be. The Hermit Mage was a myth, a legend. He can’t exist. But the fire… and that ageless look in his eyes, how could he be anyone else?’ Rielle’s lip began to tremble. She slid back on her knees and bowed low to the ground, her arms stretched before her.

“Please, Great Mage Solidus, you must help…”

“The allied kingdoms in their hour of need before they are overrun by the forces of the Telatian army and their unknown reinforcements. Yes, I know.” Despite herself, Rielle felt angry with Solidus for interrupting her prepared statement. Solidus stood and, with a wave of his hand, extinguished the fire.

“The storm has abated, we may discuss this matter at my home on the peak. We are not far from it now.” Rielle looked outside the cave to see that the storm had, indeed, stopped and late afternoon sunlight was beginning to break through the clouds. She stood shakily and brushed off her knees and followed Solidus from the cave onto the mountain path. Following quietly behind Solidus, Rielle carefully planned how best to convince Solidus to help.

“No!? What do you mean, No!?” Rielle exclaimed. Solidus sat at a small table and flinched as Rielle yelled.

“I cannot help you. I won’t shed blood unless it is absolutely necessary. And before you say it, your war is not a necessity.” Rielle scowled.

“How is war not a necessity?” Solidus sighed.

“It is hard for me to explain, but this war may still be averted. There are choices that may still be made that can turn it aside. When those choices are made it will create other choices that could also change the outcome of the war. If those choices are made, and the full war begins, then, perhaps, I may help. But only then, and only if I choose to.”

“We are already at war!” Rielle yelled again, causing Solidus to flinch again. “It can’t be turned back, we are already fighting, and Losing!” Solidus shook his head sadly.

“You could not possibly comprehend what this small battle could become. It is only a precursor to a much greater catastrophe, that can be avoided if the right decisions are made. If not, then you will have much greater worries than holding a few insignificant gates against human enemies.” Rielle faltered.

“Worse than the tragedies already taking place? It couldn’t be.” Solidus sighed.

“If you want my help that much, then I will teach you and you can support the allied kingdoms yourself.” Rielle halted completely.

“What did you say?” She asked, confusion coloring her voice.

“I will teach you what you wish to gain from me and you can support the kingdoms.” Rielle shook her head.

“No, I couldn’t possibly do magic. Not at all.” Solidus stood.

“You have strong mage potential, you descend from the old lines of Hortaal. Not the kingdom itself, but the one for whom the kingdom is named. One of the greatest masters of all time, Lotus Grandmaster Hortaal Lyvinius, my first and most talented student.” Rielle’s jaw dropped.

“You taught High King Hortaal? That isn’t possible you would have to be… well… old.” Solidus chuckled.

“They don’t call me ageless because I don’t have wrinkles.” Rielle stared at Solidus.

“Be that as it may, I can’t possibly have mage potential. I would know if I did.” Solidus shook his head.

“Many people have the mage potential, but almost no one discovers it on their own. It takes skill and training to bring it out. Some have it come to them naturally, but only a very few. And in these days, when magic has been banished from the world, it has become nearly impossible for one to know their potential.” Rielle was not convinced.

“I still don’t believe I am a mage.” Solidus nodded and stood from the table.

“Of course you don’t. You have been taught from a young age that magic is a terrible thing. Why, now, would you turn and embrace it?” Solidus took a small clay mug from a shelf and went outside and filled it with freshly fallen snow. Bringing it back inside, he handed the mug to Rielle.

“Hold this please.” Rielle took the mug and held it between her two hands. “Would you mind taking a quick test? If I am wrong nothing will happen and we have lost only a small amount of time. If I am right then you will realize your potential for being a mage. Is this acceptable?” Rielle harrumphed.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try.” Solidus nodded and began rummaging around through containers and cupboards.

“First, we have a cup of tea. Then we shall see your potential.” Rielle followed Solidus with her eyes.

“How will you heat the water? I don’t see a cooking fire.” Solidus chuckled.

“A little thought will solve the problem.” Rielle looked at him with one eyebrow raised.

“Thought? About what?” Solidus grunted in triumph.

“Aha! I found the tea. As for thought, young Rielle, the thoughts are Fire.”

“Fire?” She questioned.

“Heat, Combustion.”

“What are you talking about?” Solidus turned and walked slowly towards Rielle. “Passion, intensity, inferno, power, warmth, blaze, Fire.” Solidus stepped within inches of Rielle. After a moment of hard staring Rielle felt her cheeks burning and Solidus smiled.

“And thus these thoughts bring us our solution.” Rielle drew breath to voice her confusion and felt warm steam fill her lungs.

’Wait, steam?’ Rielle looked down at her hands. The mug sat there, still clutched tightly in her hands, but the snow inside had melted away and the water inside steamed as if it were about to boil. Rielle stared at the mug as Solidus took it away from her and prepared two cups of tea, pouring the steaming water over the leaves. Solidus took a sip and sighed.

“You make excellent tea Rielle, why not try some?” He pushed the second cup of tea across the table and sat in his chair. Rielle sat at the table and took a sip of the tea Solidus had placed in front of her. It tasted excellent, and was at the perfect temperature for drinking. Solidus sat grinning and sipping at his tea. Rielle stared into her cup.

“How did the snow melt so quickly.” She looked up at Solidus. “Did you…?” Solidus shook his head.

“No, it was all you. I only provided the thoughts you needed. With your hands close together your energy flows naturally. Then the thoughts of heat and warmth caused you to heat the mug with your inner power. You have mage potential.” Rielle sat silently in her chair, staring blankly at the tabletop. Solidus finished his tea and set the cup on the table.

“Do you know how to meditate?” Rielle jumped slightly, being shocked back into conscious thought again.

“Um, yes. As an ambassador, I was trained in many forms of meditation to help keep calm and thoughtful during difficult discussions.” Solidus nodded.

“Good, come with me.” Rielle stood shakily and followed Solidus into a tiny room built into the side of the small cottage. Inside, Solidus waved his hand through the air and hundreds of candles lit, covering every inch of the walls and floor except one small space in its center. Solidus beckoned Rielle into the room and had her sit in the center of the floor.

“Sit here and meditate. Come to terms with what you are and accept it. When you have cast aside all of the things you have been taught about magic up to this point. When you have come to fully accept it as not just a weapon of war, but as a tool to create, a skill to heal, and, of its self, an art… then come to me and we will begin to teach you to use the great gift you have been given.” Solidus turned and closed the door behind him, leaving Rielle with nothing but the candles to keep her company.

Rielle watched him go then glanced around at the hundreds of flickering candles. Taking a shuddering breath, she sat quietly and struggled to slow her rapid heartbeat with slow measured breaths. It took her a long time to finally accept that she had heated the snow herself, and even longer to accept that what she had done was not a product of dark sorcery.

She realized that, throughout her life, she had been taught to fear magic as a dark and demonic power that warped it’s wielders into frenzied psychopaths. But now that she had met the Hermit Mage Solidus, and somehow used that power herself, she found that what she had been taught could not be the entire truth.

The time drifted away as she struggled to accept that she had gone out to search for help, but would return as the help she had been sent to find. Rielle’s stomach growled as the scent of food drifted into the room where she was meditating. After a few moments of struggle between mind and stomach, stomach finally won and Rielle stood and left the room.

She found Solidus hard at work in front of a small stone oven, chopping vegetables and stirring something in the oven periodically.

“I thought you might be coming out soon.” Solidus commented, tossing a handful of something into whatever was in the oven. “Supper is almost ready. There are some bowls and plates in a cupboard just over there.” He waved vaguely behind him without turning around. “If you wouldn’t mind, it would be helpful if you set the table.”

Rielle looked around and made her way to the cupboards and began searching for the bowls. When she had found what she was supposed to, she made her way back to the table and placed them across from each other and then turned and watched Solidus pull a steaming pot of stew from the oven.

He made his way to the table and sat it in the center and then returned to the oven. After a few moments he reached in and pulled out a juicy roast which he also placed on the table.

He shuffled through a few drawers and cupboards before returning with forks and knives. Placing them on the table, Solidus slid out a chair and motioned for Rielle to sit. He slid the chair forward as she sat and then took his own seat. Rielle watched Solidus as he carved the roast and placed the first piece on her plate. Solidus half smiled, seeming to read her mind.

“My manners surprise you? I may be a hermit, but I was not always shunned by civilization. You seem to forget that I taught High King Hortaal and some few others, and I was a high standing member of society. That may be why your superiors were able to find records of me. An oversight for which I blame myself.” Rielle could not respond. She had never before met anyone who could read her so easily as the seemingly young man across from her. Solidus chuckled.

“When you have been around as long as I have, you tend to pick up on certain things.” Rielle blushed and resolved to not be so openly readable. Solidus smiled knowingly, but said nothing. She sampled each bit of food and marveled at the harmony of flavors that filled her senses. After eating her fill, Rielle wiped her mouth lightly with a handkerchief.

“That was a very good meal.” She stated as Solidus cleaned off the table and placed the empty dishes in a wash basin. Solidus nodded.

“Thank you. I have been practicing for a very long time.” He held his hand over the wash basin and made a quick, smooth movement. The basin filled with steaming water and Solidus added some soap before reaching in and scrubbing the dishes clean. Rielle watched him for a few moments.

“Why do you wash your dishes by hand? You filled the basin with water and heated it with magic, yet you clean the dishes by hand.” Solidus half smiled.

“Magic is mechanical. Working with your hands has meaning.” He stated. Rielle tilted her head, uncomprehending. Solidus scratched his chin, searching for the proper words and leaving a slight film of soap on his face.

“Let me put it another way. Being an ambassador, you know how to argue a point, correct?” Rielle nodded and Solidus returned the gesture. “Imagine that every argument could be won by a simple, preconceived, statement. That is like magic. Though it may be faster, and easier, it means nothing. It does not show what you can or cannot do. It does not have any meaning for anyone involved. It is mechanical. But if you get down and use your hands or, in your case, use your intellect to convince another party of your point, then it has become something that you can have pride in and grow from.” Solidus turned back to his dishes and continued scrubbing to let Rielle absorb what he had said.

Rielle slowly understood what Solidus meant and then sat back at the table and stared at the floor. Solidus finished his work and turned, grabbing a towel to dry his hands as the dishes put themselves away.

“What holds your thoughts now?” Solidus asked her. Rielle looked up at his calm face, staring into his bottomless eyes.

“How can I learn magic? There are so many things that seem to work against each other. How do I know what I am supposed to think?” Solidus smiled and laid the towel aside and sat at the table across from Rielle.

“Magic is a simple art. What I have said thus far have not been rules of magic itself. It is a philosophy that I encourage all of my students to embrace. If you can do it with your own two hands I encourage you to do so. Doing everything with magic could cause you to become callous and unfeeling. Being entirely dependent on your magic causes you to have fatal weaknesses in other areas. Even the greatest mage in the universe could not survive a knife to the heart. But a well trained warrior can sense the attack and deflect it without thought.” Rielle listened carefully.

“So, if you develop other skills, then, in a tense situation, they could protect you long enough to do what is necessary.” Solidus nodded.

“Exactly, an action that you have practiced over and over again will aid you more precisely and more quickly than if you have to gather your will to use magic.” Rielle nodded and then frowned.

“But what if you get into a situation in which you have no experience?” Solidus nodded seriously.

“That is a good question to ask and leads us to your first lesson.” Solidus stood and Rielle quickly followed. She followed him from the small cabin and out onto a bare space of rock just outside. The wind blew across the peak and chilled Rielle through her cloak. She pulled it around her and looked out over the clear sky. Mountain peaks rose up around them like jagged claws reaching to tear at the sky. Far to the north she could see the vast plains of Laytrow stretching out into the horizon. They seemed small to Rielle from her vantage point on the peak.

“Very rarely do the clouds clear from the peaks enough to see the view.” Rielle was shook out of her daydream by Solidus’s voice. “You asked a question.” He continued. “Would you like an answer?” Rielle turned herself towards Solidus and nodded.

“Yes.” She said simply. Solidus returned the nod.

“When in a situation that you have no experience, you must first assess the situation. If you are not in danger, then you have time to think through the problem and find a solution. If you are in harm’s way, then you must protect yourself accordingly.”

“What do you mean?” Rielle asked. Solidus smiled at her continuing questions.

“There are two main kinds of danger, Magical and Physical. Magical danger could be another mage attacking you with their magic, or something could be trying to invade your mind. Physical danger could be a knife in the dark or a mountain falling on your head.” Rielle swallowed hard.

“How do you protect yourself from something like that?” She asked. Solidus raised his hands in front of him, his left hand resting under his right arm.

“You create a barrier between yourself and the danger.” To demonstrate, Solidus fluidly moved his hands across his body and shifted his feet into a wider stance. A shimmering barrier of silver energy accumulated around him into a small dome.

“There are two types of barriers.” Solidus said from inside his dome of energy. “Shields, which protect you from physical danger, and Wards, which protect you from magical and mental attacks. Each are almost useless against the other.” Rielle stared on.

“So a Ward will protect you from magic but not physical attacks?” Solidus nodded and let his barrier melt away.

“Exactly. Now you try and make a Shield around yourself.” Rielle glanced at her hands.

“How?” Solidus smiled patiently.

“To protect yourself from something, you must understand the nature of it. Physical harm is easy to understand. A knife or sword can cut, a club can bludgeon, but for these things to do so they must reach your body. You create your shield with your inner power to keep these physical forces away from you. First, you must feel your energy flowing through you.” Rielle looked a little lost. Solidus motioned towards her. “Close your eyes.” She did as he asked.

“Breath deeply and slowly. Feel each breath enter your body and each exhale leave your body.” Rielle focused on the air filling and then leaving her lungs. Solidus continued. “As you breath, feel your heart beating, making harmony with each breath. As your heart beats, feel the blood rush through you to each part of your body.” Solidus paused until he could see that Rielle was following him. “Now that you can feel everything you are doing… ignore it.” Rielle opened her eyes.

“Ignore my heart and my breathing?” Solidus nodded.

“These things have been happening from the moment of your birth. You should not have to think about them. Let them continue on without your mind attached to them.” Rielle nodded and closed her eyes again. She tried and tried but her thoughts always seemed to return to how she was breathing. Solidus seemed to see her struggle.

“Let your mind wander. Let it latch on to anything it can find to steer your thoughts away from your breathing.” Immediately her mind latched onto Solidus. She didn’t understand why, but she could suddenly visualize him standing before her with a patient smile.

“Good.” He told her. “Now that you can see with your mind, stretch it out to see beyond just me.” Rielle blushed slightly and lost her vision for a moment. Slowly, she rebuilt it, taking in Solidus, the bare ground around them, and the small hut. “Good.” Solidus repeated. “Now, continue to ignore your breathing and your heart, but turn your attention back inward, on your own body.” Rielle did as she was asked and, for a moment, her attention went back to her breathing. But, after a few moments of silence, Rielle suddenly felt a pulse. It started in her abdomen, flowed through her entire body, and returned to its point of origin. After a few seconds she felt it again, a pulse of energy flowing through her.

“Excellent.” Solidus said. Rielle opened her eyes.

“That is incredible.” She whispered. Solidus nodded.

“That is the origin of your inner power. It starts in your core and flows throughout your body much like your heart pumps blood. But, unlike your heart, you can influence your inner power. You can will it to beat faster, to increase the power flowing through you, or you can make it beat slower, to hide it. When you make your shield I want you to will your power to beat faster, then lead it through your body to your arms and down to your hands. Once there, let it build until you don’t think you can hold it any longer.” Rielle nodded and closed her eyes and felt for the pulse again. Once she found it she counted each pulse in her mind.

Then, not really understanding how, she willed it to go faster. First one beat, and then another pushed flowing tides of warmth throughout Rielle’s body. She struggled to get hold of the energy but was unable to direct it to her arms. She heard Solidus speak again.

“Start by thinking of your energy as a river. It flows down many channels and not always where you want it to go. Shut off each branch as it comes to it and direct it down the stream you want.” Rielle concentrated on the energy flowing down into her legs and imagined a door closing the power off from its stream. Immediately her legs felt cold and she felt tension grow in her arms and chest. After a few tries, Rielle created a wall instead of a door, starting at her waist. Then she imagined the wall pushing upward, forcing the energy up into her shoulders. When the wall reached her shoulders, she felt the energy flow down her arms and into her clenched hands. Solidus spoke once again.

“As your energy builds stand straight and tall, as if in the presence of royalty.” Rielle corrected her bent over posture. “Now keep your elbows at your side and lift your hands in front of you. Imagine a dome forming around you. A dome of energy, flowing like water, denying passage to anything from the physical world.” Rielle obeyed the command and built the image in her mind. By the time she had finished she felt as if her arms were burning and she ached to let go of the bottled up energy inside her. Solidus let her struggle with herself for a few seconds before giving a final instruction.

“Now, open your hands slowly and let the energy inside you fill the image of the shield around you.” Rielle gratefully opened her hands and felt the power she had built rush out of her. She willed it to fill what she had imagined her shield should be and felt a slight pressure over her whole body.

“Open your eyes.” She heard Solidus say. Slowly she opened her eyes and light filled her vision. Around her was a smooth purple dome of flowing energy. Through it, she could see Solidus standing at the other side of the small clearing, a smile on his face.

“I did it.” Rielle muttered to herself and she saw Solidus nod.

“You did very well for your first time. With practice you will be able to build the energy, and create the shield, in an instant.” Rielle looked around her.

“I feel pressure.” She said. Solidus nodded.

“It is your personal map to your shield. You will be able to feel where your shield is weak, or from where an attack is coming.” To demonstrate, Solidus picked up a small stone and threw it at Rielle. It struck the shield in front of her face and bounced off, landing harmlessly on the ground. As the stone hit, Rielle felt a slight pressure on the tip of her nose that left it tingling.

“The added pressure you felt was your shield deflecting the stone. In this way you can tell from where your enemy is attacking and can add power to that place to strengthen it.” Rielle nodded her understanding and Solidus nodded again in return.

“Good. Now, bring your hands down to your sides and imagine the dome around you draining away. Then open all the barriers you placed inside yourself and let your power flow freely again.” Rielle dropped her hands to her side and felt the pressure from her shield drain away from head to toe. She removed the wall and opened the doors in her body and felt her energy pulse through her like it had before. Instantly she felt weak and nearly dropped to her knees.

“You will get used to the drain. Your body will recover in a few minutes and you will feel the same as always.” Rielle looked up at Solidus and opened her mouth to speak but saw a strange expression enter his features. Like a bolt of lightning, Solidus drew his sword from beneath his robe and rushed at Rielle. Unable to move in her weakened state, Rielle squeezed her eyes shut and gasped as she felt Solidus’s sword pass beneath her right arm. She could feel Solidus breathing in measured breaths by her left ear.

“Run.” He whispered. “Ignore the weakness and run.” Without understanding why, Rielle ducked and ran towards the cabin. When she reached the door, panting heavily, she turned and looked at Solidus. The Hermit Mage stood over a figure in black clothing, wiping his sword clean.

“Go inside, Rielle. You will be safe there.” He called. Rielle saw another black clad figure with a mask come up the path to the cabin and ran inside, bolting the door behind her. She ran to a window and gazed out. The black clad figure slowly circled Solidus, a long curved dagger in his hand. Solidus looked on calmly, his sword hanging loosely in one hand.

When the figure struck, Rielle could hardly keep track of what happened. One instant the figure had launched themselves at Solidus, dagger held to strike. And the next instant, Solidus had moved out of the way and struck a fatal blow with his sword. The figure crumpled and laid unmoving.

Another two figures came up the path and another leapt from the roof of the cabin in front of Rielle, causing her to scream. The figure spared only a glance towards her and then moved to join it’s comrades in a circle around Solidus. They circled for a few moments and then Rielle heard Solidus speak.

“You don’t have to do this you know.” He told the figures. “You still have the chance of taking your dead and leaving this place alive.” The figures continued to circle. “It is bad enough that you were forced to come to these mountains in the first place. You have shown great strength of heart just by coming here.” One of the figures faltered for half a step and then continued to circle. Solidus noticed and glanced at the figure.

“I know you don’t want to be here, why not return to your families? I have given all the warning I can give. If you continue this nonsense there will be more pointless bloodshed.” The figure faltered again, but this time the other two jumped in to attack. Rielle watched in awe as Solidus masterfully deflected one figure and killed the second in one movement. He turned and disarmed the third figure, twisting in time to deflect the first figure a second time. With a swing of his sword, Solidus crippled the third figure then twisted it behind him and the first figure ran onto the blade. With a gurgle, the first figure went down and Solidus swung his sword to remove the blood.

Rielle, finding strength to move, opened the door and went outside. She walked carefully to the third figure and knelt beside him. Solidus joined her and removed the figure’s mask. He was a young man, about twenty, with dark hair and tan skin.

“Telatian.” Rielle said. Solidus nodded.

“Why are you here?” He asked the young man. The young man looked fearfully at Solidus.

“We were sent to follow the Ambassador and discover her purpose. Then do anything necessary to keep her from success if it was meant to hinder our movements.” Rielle’s eyes grew wide. Solidus thought for a moment.

“Do you know who I am?” He asked. The young man shook his head. Solidus nodded. “I thought as much. I am a mage, my name would mean nothing to you so I won’t even bother trying. I can use magic in many forms and, as you have just witnessed, I am also quite skilled with a blade.” The young man nodded silently. Solidus scratched at his chin.

“I don’t suppose you would go home if I asked you to, would you?” The young man shook his head.

“I cannot. I must fulfill my mission and return with honor, or not return at all.” Solidus nodded.

“So you will try again if I let you go.” The young man nodded but said nothing. Solidus sighed.

“I am sorry then.” With a quick movement, Solidus thrust his sword through the young man’s heart. The young man jerked once and then was still. Solidus removed his sword and wiped it clean on a red cloth before returning it to its scabbard. He looked at the sky then closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose, testing the air.

“Things are beginning to change.” He said quietly after a few moments. “The decision has been made.” Rielle felt dread in the pit of her stomach at Solidus’s words.

“What decision?” She asked, almost inaudibly. Solidus sighed and turned back to Rielle.

“The decision that will force me to fight. Someone has given their soul to make a bid for power. That power will grow to overwhelm them and then destroy everything in its path unless it is stopped.” Rielle shook her head to try and make sense of what Solidus was telling her.

“You are going to come and help us now? After telling me you wouldn’t? What is this power that is so terrible that it has changed your mind that easily?” Solidus sighed again.

“Let us hope this crisis is turned aside before you have to find out.” Solidus turned and walked toward the cabin. “Gather your things, young Rielle. We leave before nightfall.”