Heartfelt Pain
Today wasn't the best for Solaria either. All was fine in the morning: get up, feed herself and her hatchling, sort herself out so she at least looked presentable, and finally wait for that fat oaf of a bear to turn up so she could leave herself…
That was standard though. It was what always happened after a break that ground her gears, when everyone else resumed their work. Then, all of a sudden, problems from the last three days flooded onto her table. She sat in her small office, skimming through the tower of reports on her table, each one detailing one of the city's smaller problems. She felt like that, of the four guardians, she dealt with the most citizen quarrels, and that they purposefully redirected some of their own to her while they focused on the larger problems of the city. Not that she could complain. She had tried several times to be involved in the larger politics, but found it too confusing for someone as inexperienced as her, where you had to consider the views of many and come to a solution that met the criteria of several participating parties. Here, at least, it was mostly between two people and easier to decide who was right and wrong along with what needed to happen.
However, this was not what was plaguing her mind today. It was Spyro. Last night in her opinion...was atrocious. She was used to him being null, but last night was unacceptable, especially considering it was their celebration. In previous years he had gradually been getting discourteous, but last night was the pinnacle of it, and she'd had enough.
She was a cross between angry and disappointed at him. Solaria didn't know why he was acting like this, or what could be done to change it. But something needed to be done, otherwise it would jeopardise their marriage...and she didn't want that. She loved him and their one son more than anything, but this was becoming too difficult to bare, even for her.
Something needed to be done, but she didn't know what...and that scared her.
She slumped in her cushioned seat and took a moment to observe her office. Her thick oak desk took up a chunk of the space. The desk had several drawers either side of the foot space facing away from the door, gold-coated handles attached to open them. Behind her, two large candelabras stood behind her in opposing corners, illuminating an otherwise dark room. Two wooden chairs sat opposite her so moles could berate her in comfort while dragons sat behind them. A row of locked cabinets lined the wall to her left, made of reinforced steel and used to store the more important files and documents. Lastly, a durable beech door with a small, wired window was hinged to the doorway, designed to resist impacts should the citizen wish to leave the office in a childish tantrum.
Solaria heard heavy footsteps approaching from down the hallway and sighed begrudgingly. It wasn't so long ago the last person came.
However, as the footsteps got closer, a rhythmic pattern could be made out, one that Solaria knew very well. Sure enough, a familiar ice guardian entered her office, taking up a vast amount of room.
"An excellent morning to you, Mrs. Solaria. How are you faring today? I hope yesterday was as splendid an evening as you planned?"
Solaria sighed. "Morning, Cyril. I'm afraid yesterday was a disaster," she replied bluntly.
"Oh, and why was that?" Cyril pretended to question, when in reality he knew full well what the issue was. He was just trying not to be assumptious and let Solaria get it out on her own.
"It's Spyro." She planted her elbows on the desk and slumped her head onto her paws.
"That bothersome issue once again? Am I correct in assuming he didn't partake in the festivities as much as you wanted him to?"
Cyril acted as a sort of sponge for the young dragoness, absorbing her anger and pent-up frustration while returning spouts of wisdom. Of course this was an internal affair, one that Solaria didn't want anyone taking direct partage in, so Cyril could only do so much. But he understood her woes and even felt a bit disheartened himself about the matter. He remembered the purple dragon's optimism, how he would defy even the world's destruction so that the rest could live in peace. It even made him feel young again. But as the years ticked by, that slowly changed, the youth oozed out of him and he became a shadow of a once glorious light.
Still, it was Solaria who felt the worst of the darkness, and as such it was his duty to remain that beacon for her.
"I just don't know what to do with him anymore. I try again and again to get his attention, but each time he just looks back like I'm a distraction. I'm scared that I'm losing him..." Her eyes lowered to the desk, unable to maintain the conversation when she felt so pathetic.
This was worse than what Cyril was used to. Normally Solaria would berate or be angry at the purple dragon...but never felt like giving up.
"I just don't know what to do anymore…" she repeated, her words trailing off at the end.
"Enlighten me with the more jolly events that happened yesterday," Cyril pepped up, he lowered his old body onto his stomach, so that he could meet the dragoness' eye level.
"Huh? Why?"
"I find that if ever I have a dreary day, whether due to the rabble or Volteer's incessant rambling, I reflect on the positives to counter the negatives. So, go on, my dear, what happened? I am all ears," he said with a gentle smile.
"Well, I guess there was a moment last night when everything was just peaceful. I leaned onto him and he just looked at peace, not with that frown he carries everywhere. Then there was also this nice old lady I met in the market yesterday, she didn't say anything but she sold me this beautiful necklace. But then I got into an argument with Spyro over it-"
"The good memories, Mrs. Solaria," Cyril reprimanded.
"Right, sorry. So anyway, there was also another caring moment between us when I mistakenly thought Spyro was cheating on me with Cynder. But-"
"I apologise for my interruption, but did you say Cynder?" That was a name Cyril hadn't heard much of in the last few years, but he was sure he misheard.
"Yes, I did. It was weird if I'm honest and quite annoying. Spyro allowed her into our house without a second thought or anything. But not only that, he thought it was okay to give her my favourite necklace?! I mean what is up with that, she was gone for a good ten years and suddenly just turns up, and Spyro acts like there is nothing wrong or even anything suspicious about that!"
Cyril had stopped listening at this point, and was enveloped by his mind. Old memories returned as he dusted off the old folders in his mind. While at first he wasn't so keen on having the old Terror of the Skies residing in the temple, a lot changed between then and now. All he had now for her was praise and good words ever since she and Spyro saved the world…
He had wanted to say all these kind things years ago, but was left disappointed when she vanished the day after… But now she was back, and he could say all those nice things he had pent up. He shuddered like he was two-hundred years younger, he couldn't wait to leave Volteer speechless with the news.
"Excuse me, Cyril?" Solaria called out, somewhat cross that even Cyril was ignoring her now.
Cyril snapped out of his thoughts. "My apologies, Mrs. Solaria, my thoughts were elsewhere. When did you see Miss Cynder last? I would be exhilarated to see her."
Solaria was left with a dour look upon her as she let out a low growl of exasperation. Even Cyril was acting like nothing was strange, which annoyed her almost as much as how excited Spyro was yesterday... "I only saw her briefly yesterday, not sure where she is now."
"Well, I do hope she reveals herself in due time. I do not think the celebrations are the same without her after all. What a marvellous time for her to come back though."
"Can we get back to the subject at hand, please?"
Cyril looked back to her, seeing that she was not as excited as her about the turn of events. "Errm, of course. The matter about Spyro, yes." In the back of his head, thoughts of meeting the delightful dragoness were still taking his fancy.
"What would you do if you were me?" Solaria was too worked up for sadness to steer her emotions, thus giving her tone the blunt and direct attitude.
"If I was you?" Cyril look perplexed at the question, secretly hoping this question wasn't what she was directing at.
"Yes, if you were in my scales, what would you do help win Spyro back?"
Cyril breathed inwardly. Not many dragons could get through his proud nature and make him feel uncomfortable, but Solaria was one of them. "I do not believe I am qualified for that question. Perhaps ask one of the other more-experienced guardians in the complicated field of love that question?"
"Really?" Solaria crossed her claws sarcastically. "I highly doubt that. Terrador once had a girlfriend who cheated on him while he was on term in war, and vowed he could never love again or risk being heart broken once more. Volteer is too fixated on his experiments and work, and even if he did go on a date, he probably would talk about quantum physics when his date was going on about flowers. You on the other hand, Cyril, are the only one besides myself who has actually been married. So, tell me again how you aren't qualified?"
Cyril had mixed feelings about her attitude. It was great when trying to resolve conflicts. As it was both giving her authority and also providing facts, it meant that Solaria wasn't a door mat when it came to being a guardian. But it also meant she wasn't afraid to use it on her friends and colleagues, which came off as arrogant and rude. This was one of those times… All he could do now was just hopefully come up with a solution to appease the dragoness.
She was right about one thing though, Cyril was the only guardian outside of Ignitus who had ever gotten married, even if the one he married turned out to be a filthy gold digger.
Before he could suggest anything, the red guardian intervened once more. However, she was much more calculating and less demeanouring. " It can't just be subtle actions here and there either, they don't work. I need a plan. Something bold, perhaps."
Cyril couldn't help but subtly shake his head at her irrational thoughts. Though he couldn't blame her, she had been under a lot of stress recently. What, with trying to raise a child, coax her husband into stepping up, and on top of that trying to uphold her duties to the city, which in itself was a full time commitment to any standard guardian. To last this long without having a mental breakdown was commendable to say at the least. Perhaps she needed a break from all this.
Then he had an idea.
"Mrs Solaria, why don't you have a break from all this demanding posterities? You of all people have certainly earned the time. A week I would say, starting this afternoon. Perhaps a holiday with young Master Spyro is what you both need?"
Solaria listened carefully, the prospect of it did resonate nicely with her. Some time away with just her, him and their beloved son sounded like what they needed. He was always complaining about his job, so she doubted he would complain. However, several problems still posed an obstacle. With a dubious look upon her, she replied "But what about my work, it will just build up and then I'll never be able to catch up."
"Leave that for us to fathom about. I'm sure us guardians can handle a few measly days of extra chores, just as I am sure Volteer and Terrador will understand the gravity of the situation." The wholehearted smile plastered on his face convinced Solaria enough in that section. However, there was one other issue that still irked her. "But what about Spyro, even though he will agree to this… Burrow will be highly insistent he doesn't, especially a week. He would only ever let Spyro go if it was an emergency..."
Cyril frowned at that name. He despised that mole, always demanding and pulling poor Spyro this way and that, not giving a damn what Spyro was doing at the time. Even on weekends he would drag Spyro away, just so he could make more money for himself, (Though this wasn't true, as Burrow often let Spyro leave at a minutes notice, should he deem it worth it). He even partly blamed that mole for the way Spyro had been acting. Regardless, if there was one thing Cyril could smugly say about him, it was that the mole had no real authority or power.
"I do not think that should be an issue, would you say? We are guardians after all and what we say goes. Regardless, does this not constitute as an emergency?"
This part dawned on Solaria. This was an emergency, her marriage could be at stake if she didn't do this. With a smile she nodded. "Yes, this is an emergency! Thank you, Cyril. "
"It is my utmost pleasure, Mrs. Solaria. You know the standard protocol; fill out the holiday form, alert your assistant to redirect any new cases to us, so on and so forth. But most importantly, Mrs. Solaria, enjoy your quiet time together. Perhaps you will find that spark in your romance once more."
"I will do. Thank you again, Cyril."
Cyril politely nodded before rising off his stomach. He picked up the stack of papers on the desk and held them carefully under one claw. They almost looked tiny when held by Cyril. He then reversed out the office, carefully peeking between the tiny gap between the doorway and himself.
Once the blue guardian was out of sight, Solaria set about preparing for departure. She breathed relievingly, knowing that the work was literally taken away from her. She then alerted her assistant to the sudden change, who although was confused to begin with, understood. She told him to continue their duties, but alert her of anything major the instant they knew. To finish the morning off, she savoured filling out the holiday form, signing it herself and storing it away in her personal folder.
Now it was time to find Spyro.
Hey all, this chapter is purposefully shorter since any more would just cram the chapter longer than I would like it. Regardless hoped you enjoyed and until next time.
