Chapter -74: New Inspirations

Bright and early in the morning, Auris works out in a chamber installed beneath her house. It is reminiscent of the place she used to train with Gabriel, though in lieu of not having her favored sparring partner, she settled for a wooden dummy.

With sword and shield she surveys her surroundings. Positioned near the stairs is a wooden crib, the baby inside snoring comfortably under his sheets.

She raised her sword at the dummy while putting on a smile towards the baby.

She took a deep breath to memorize the steps in her head one more time. Then, she executed them.

A weightless slash carried the dummy up on a trail of glittering aura. She then slid beneath it and swerved around, slicing down the back to drag it to the ground.

It bounced and while suspended there, she thrust her shield into it a few times to carry it forward, before wreathing the shield in aura, leaping back, and throwing it hard into the dummy's back.

It went flying into the wall and on impact, cut midway into the waist.

Auris made a gesture to recall the shield and then stood tall and unsure of herself, "Too much strength."

She eased up the tightness in her muscles a little and then walked over to carry the dummy back.

As she put it back down she watched as Sarajin descended down the stairs, greeting her with a heartfelt joke, "Hey, did I miss breakfast?"

She smiled and dispelled her weapons, fondly rubbing her arms together under her chest, "Welcome back."

Sarajin then turned his gaze around the corner and his mood shifted a little more towards concern, though his tone still carried his humorous charm, "Uh, you sure it's ok to have our baby here?"

"I've noticed he's a heavy sleeper so I figure as long as I don't hit the crib, it'll be ok."

Sarajin put his hand on the crib and stared at their child with a chuckle and a slight rocking of the wood. The baby had grown a bit over these past few months, but no more so than in the hair department. He's got a fine little bush of red atop his head.

"Look at him," Sarajin smiled fondly, then leaned in and whispered, "Hey Zeno, hey. Dad's home. He loves you."

Auris couldn't possibly love him anymore than she does now but when he makes such natural gestures like that, it proves that some limits can still be broken.

Sarajin then withdrew and he and Auris walked off as to not disturb the baby with their conversation, "So how's he been?"

"He's been holding up. The sweating has all but stopped."

"That's great!" Sarajin said with a sigh.

As grateful as they were to have this child, he came with an unexpected tribulation to overcome...

"His attunement with the Fire element is weaker?"

Sarajin had been talking to Magmankey about his son's sweating, and upon reaching this part of the conversation the Titan was being more caring like a deity should be...Despite picking wax out of his ear.

"Yeah, it doesn't happen too often but some newborns have a hard time drawing in the natural elemental energy in the air. In your kid's case, it left him without a strong resistance to fire. He'll probably be weaker than his peers too."

"I don't care about how strong he is, this won't be fatal to him will it?"

"Naaaaah," The Titan wagged his hand down, "As long as you keep him outta hot places throughout his early years he'll be fiiiiine."

Sarajin took another look at his young boy and saw his peach-white skin for what it was: A sure sign that he would grow up to be a very healthy child.

But to give him that chance to enjoy it, the future needed to be secured.

So, Sarajin looked to his loving wife and put on a more inquisitive, serious tone, "Did I miss anything?"

"No," She replied with a softened closure of her eyes, "The Ten Sages have still been quiet."

"Probably planning their next moves..."

While Sarajin rubbed his chin, Auris took a glance over his body and noted, "I see you're in good shape this time."

"Huh? Oh yeah, the mission was pretty easy this time." Sarajin said in his more light-hearted manner.

"I would hope you wouldn't have a hard time against a few floating masks." She replied as a slightly prickly jest.

Sarajin's grin broke sideways and with a few awkward chuckles he remarked, "They surprised me. They could control the elements like I can."

He then gestured his hand off his chin and snapped his fingers, "Oh! But the natives of that world gave me an idea! I'm going to head over to Aquamoria and discuss it with Lulu."

"Hmm..." Auris' hum put Sarajin on edge a little.

"Bad idea?" He was hesitant to ask.

She shook her head and then gestured her hand around, "No, I was just thinking. Isn't Valic close to completing the new generators?"

"He said he would be running a test on the first one today..." Sarajin's hands then jolted downward with him biting his teeth and hissing, "Oh, wait...! I still haven't gotten him the pure water!"

Auris then nudged her smile and brow, "Perhaps take that into consideration with your conversation with Lulu, honey."

"Absolutely!" Sarajin regained his posture with a nod and smiled, "Would hate to break a promise."

"So what do you plan to do today?" He then asked.

"Well...My clairvoyance is telling me that a few teenagers from Oreore are going to attempt to topple some trees in Tanglefae as a joke, so perhaps I will go and intervene before they do something they'll regret."

"Ividae wouldn't hurt them that badly..." Sarajin pointed out.

"No, but the Rot Walkers will when they run away too frightened to think straight."

"Ah." Uttered Sarajin dully.

"I know this will be inconvenient, but could you...?"

"No worries, mom will be ecstatic to babysit."

Auris then closed her eyes and smiled warmly, "Then I guess that's that for the day."

"Sounds like today will be a breather."

"As far as I can see anyways."

Thus, the two had their morning meal together, Sarajin being the cook while Auris worked on preparing the custom formula that has kept Zeno fed so far.

Then, Sarajin took Zeno, bundled him up warm in a few blankets, and tucked him against his chest.

Auris kissed her fingertips and then blew the kiss towards Sarajin's cheek on his way out. He felt warmth landing there and gave her the same gesture.

Then he was off towards home, flying carefully so Zeno wouldn't wake up.

There is a small sense of guilt whenever he comes back to Arc Hurricanos, as it feels like these days he spends more time working around everywhere else.

But when his mom welcomes him with a hug and kiss all that guilt just melts away.

After spending a few extra minutes to see how things had been, he handed Zeno off and headed down to Aquamoria.

The last world he went to had shores full of sand but nothing compared to the smell of salt in the air in Aquamoria.

When he went to the village they seemed to be getting ready for another celebration. There were a lot of oysters, probably because they're still scared off from eating clams.

And where there was plenty of seafood, there was Lulu, barking orders to make sure they're all prepared properly.

"What're ya doin'? Schuck those shells like yer fighting off an eel! We've gotta be ready for tonight!"

The days of youth were long behind her but that thunderous voice would have anyone second guessing.

"Lulu!" Sarajin announced with a friendly tone.

She turned and had gotten a few tiny wrinkles under her eyes since the last time they saw each other. With her toothy grin she wagged her hand out and said, "Oi, good timin', Sarajin! Wanna show these whelps how it's done?"

"Heh, can't lighten up on them for a second huh?" Sarajin joked with a hint of fondness.

She chuckled and then propped her fist on her hips, flashing a smile of pride, "Can't blame a lass for being a wee bit excited can ya?"

"You seem a little more perky for once."

"For once? Bah! Watch yer tongue, boy," She said, all the while keeping her smile, "But ye. For yer information, I'm in high spirits cause that little guppy of mine finally won his first competition!"

"W-What? Really...?" Sarajin muttered, his mood gaining a hint of awkwardness.

"Yep!" Lulu then brushed her hand out to the left and muttered, "So I'm bein' a wee bit selfish, but ain't a teacher allowed to brag a 'lil?"

"I'm...happy for you." Sarajin pushed out a grin.

Lulu frowned and puffed her cheeks, "Oh my great gills, ya two are still at odds?"

"C'mon boy, ya two are supposed to be chums, can'tcha muster up just a 'lil excitement for 'im?"

Sarajin kept avoiding contact with her judgmental glare until he mustered up the courage to speak up, his tone dragged down with a hint of exhaustion, "S-Sorry, I came to discuss an idea with you."

"Haaaa..." Lulu deflated then brushed her fingertips to the right, "Alright, shoot."

"...If you want me to come back later-"

"No no, yer clearly excited about yer idea. Don't mind this young lass."

Sarajin let out a minor sigh and then waved his hand out, "The last world I went to had these tribal people who were navigating the water with these large objects made of wood. They were shaped like regular fish and hollow out, with enough room to fit two, maybe three people along with baskets for holding fish or spears."

Lulu was nodding along as he spoke.

"So it got me thinking. You can only fish as far as the docks stretch out. But I bet there's more sea life to catch even further out!" Sarajin made a powerful gesture towards the sea to draw her attention to his point, "And maybe we'll find stuff out there that could make things easier around here, or other Tribes too!"

Lulu raised her hand to his face and walked past him, "Hold yer seahorses, boy."

She then grinned and whispered, "Ya sold me on the sealife part."

Sarajin lit up as she went along with his suggestions with input of her own, "Now, there's a limit to how far we can go out. And we're gonna need to get the cooperation of our nature-ly neighbors to make this work."

"I'm sure I could convince Carmine or Mos to-"

"Hey," Lulu put her foot down, "I'm still the leader in these 'ere parts, boy. Lemme handle the talkin', ya just worry about telling us how to build them."

"Now, we're gonna hafta come up with a name for them..."

"How about...boats?" Sarajin suggested out of the blue, "Because they're wooden boards...that float."

"Heh, not too shabby a name," Upon finishing that sentence she started to shiver, "Hooo, just thinkin' about all the new sights to explore is gettin' me skin all bubbly."

Before he got swallowed up in the excitement of the moment, Sarajin winced and then hastily said, "Oh, before I forget! I wanted to ask you for a favor."

"Ye?"

"I'm working with a scientist in Pulsa Minoria to power a new generator using a water current, but he needs the pure water Coralcea produced in the sea to keep it running without the metal rusting. Is it ok for me to take some with?"

Lulu's brows turned down and she shook her pinched lips with a hum. She then brushed her hand up and said, "Guess the blokes there ain't ever caused us much grief. Sure. I'll allow it. BUT, on one condition."

"Sure, name it." Sarajin said without hesitation.

"I want ya to reel it in from work for a bit and come join us on the docks like old times. Bring the wife and kid if ya want," For as fierce a woman as she was, Lulu could lay on the gentleness where it counted, and it touched Sarajin's heart with every word, "The world can wait a day for ya. I don't want ya to forget why yer fightin' for it."

"...Alright," Sarajin said with a smile and nod, "I'll do you one better, I'll be one of the first to test out the boats."

Lulu reached out and patted him on the shoulder, "Atta boy, Sarajin! Love the enthusiasm!"

"Hey, teach!" Brine came walking up to him carrying some dry wood for tonight's fire, and beside him was little Tina, carrying one shaved down log, "I got my load for the..."

His eyes met Sarajin's and the tension in the air grew awkward, as neither wanted to retain focus.

Lulu quickly swooped in, grabbed the fire, and tried to keep the mood uplifted, "Thank ya, Brine."

She then rustled Tina's hair before taking her log, "Atta girl, y'all make a fine fisherman yet!"

Tina covered her hair and blushed, "Thank ya Auntie Lulu!"

Lulu then turned around and wandered off with a not-so-subtle nudge for them, "I'll leave ya boys be."

When she was gone Brine threw out a cough and Sarajin sucked his lips in with a smack.

Tina, her innocence shielding her from the tension of adulthood, wedged herself between them and then jumped and threw her hands in the air at Sarajin, "Mr. Sarajin! Mr. Sarajin!"

"Y-Yes, Tina?" Sarajin answered with reluctance.

She landed and squeezed her fists, "Daddy caught a fish...!"

She then threw her hands out as far as they'd go, "Thiiiiis big!"

And it wound up propelling her onto her back, "Whoa whoa...!"

"Ack! Tina!" Brine got on his knees to help her up, brushing the sand off her back and fixing the loose strands of hairs, "Ya gotta watch yerself."

While he rubbed the last bit of sand off her cheek, his touch was making her smile, and looking at them so...close made Sarajin's heart sink.

He blacked out of the next few seconds and awoke to the sound of Brine saying his name.

"Ey," Brine then brushed his hand up and spoke with a mix of soft melancholy and forced politeness, "I'll see ya around, chum."

As he was about to take Tina off to the market Sarajin stepped forward and shouted, "Brine wait!"

The man took a few extra steps then dragged down to a sluggish pace. He then looked back past his shoulder and with a feathery gesture to his daughter whispered, "Go see if yer Auntie needs help."

"Ok!" Was enough to get Tina out of the way.

Sarajin was then allowed to approach his friend, where further silence ensued.

While staring pensively at the sand, Sarajin waved his hand in his direction and murmured, "I-I think I owe you an apology."

"I've been upset at you and honestly, I don't even know why..." Sarajin then raised his head to look him in the eyes and say, "Like who cares? You're trying to be a great father for Tina. Now that I have a kid, I get it, I do. It's not easy...But you're not giving up either."

He then bit his teeth out to slow himself with a hiss, and got his thoughts in order, "W-What I'm trying to say is...I was wrong, and I'm sorry."

Brine was leaking a few tears as he swiped his finger under his nose and sniffled. He then reached out and patted Sarajin on the shoulder a few times, "Apology accepted, chum."

He then withdrew his hand, "I overheard a bit of yer conversation on my way over. Ya want to expand our fishing spots with floating wood crafts?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm hoping it'll expand our horizons a little."

"..." Looking a little morose, Brine hung his head and whispered, "And maybe I'll finally snag the Golden Reefquiem."

Sarajin smiled lightly and said, "Haven't given up?"

"I can't, now more than ever," Brine said, a fire of determination lit under his feet, "If that fish can grant me anythin', then I'm gonna use it to save Torren from 'er fate. That's what I've decided."

Sarajin stood stunned and Brine continued to lay into him with a closed fist before his chest, "Ya can call me a fool again if ya want-"

"Do what you have to, Brine." Sarajin said with encouragement and a smile.

"...Thanks." Was all Brine had to say back.

Then they let a light pause separate the tension between them some more before Brine asked, "So how's it goin' with yer kid anyways?"

"So far the only difficult part is feeding him. We've had to remake the formula multiple times to get it just right. But, he's a quiet sleeper."

"Oh, lucky you," Brine said sardonically, "It takes me hours to get Tina to settle down for the night."

He then smiled and chuckled fondly, "Least she makes for a good alarm."

Sarajin stuck around to help out a bit more and play along with Tina's growing love of seashells. Then, he headed out to sea and plucked up three times his body size in water to fly on over to Pulsa Minoria.

It was too risky to fly it over the walls as a single drop could cause a bad short in the city. Thus, it was agreed that when the water arrived, it'd come through the front door.

But upon arriving there Sarajin saw an unusual guest waiting outside.

It was Mother Divine, guarded by a pair of her priests, herself basking in a pure white light that looked like it came off the sun.

His friends mentioned her showing up to take in people on occasion but for the most part, he hadn't seen her in years.

He approached with a friendly but quiet demeanor and kept the water at his back.

He glanced aside her way, and found her staring back, her lips curled in a smile.

His body cast off a shiver and he kept looking at the door, nervously shouting, "H-Hey Valic! I brought the water! Oh, and you have a guest..."

"They're well aware." Mother Divine spoke in a soft, sovereignly tone with a hint of an echo.

She then peeked out of the corner of her eyes and smiled, "You must be Sarajin Stratos. Word has been spreading throughout the lands of your...exploits."

"Really?" He murmured, giving her a little more attention.

She then nudged towards the water and inquired, "So, what futile efforts are you up to today?"

That little bite in her words caught Sarajin off-guard, "I-I...what?"

She then curled her lips and remarked, "I just presumed you're delivering aid to these people. Or am I wrong and this is some...juvenile prank you're performing?"

"N-Not at all. This water will help finish a project we've been working out."

"Ah, well," The lady steadied her posture towards the door and made an off-handed remark, "If you think that will do any good..."

"Is something wrong?" Sarajin blurted out.

She closed her eyes and whispered, "I am but the Light's humble messenger, born into this world to guide the lost, and seek the path to salvation."

"Your way may give these people aid now, but one mistake will turn them against you. And when that occurs, who will they turn to next to save them?"

"...You?" Sarajin said with mild concern, and he couldn't explain why.

"The ivory gates of Heaven deny war and offer peace," Mother Divine then gestured her hand towards him as a show of invitation, "You're welcome to visit and see the proof laid bare before your eyes. You have a child to consider protecting, no?"

A shiver went down his spine and he bit his lower lip, "H-How do you...?"

"The Light of God gazes down upon all, my child," She then pulled her hand away and whispered in a tantalizing tone, "Think about it."

At that moment the gate was dispelled and Valic came wandering out to greet his guests.

First eyeing the lady of Light, he gave her a quick bow and then spoke with casual manners, "Mother."

"Valic," Mother Divine spoke back in a similar tone, "So, given any consideration to my request?"

"No, I'm afraid my mind is focused on more...present worries at the moment."

"Hmph," She turned her smile upward and then stepped aside, beginning a patient stroll to the north, "Until next time then."

After she was a fair distance away Sarajin looked at Valic and whispered, "This a common thing with her?"

"I'm guessing it's the same for you." He spoke back.

"Not for my home anyways."

"I'm sure there's some merit to having a tranquil mind, but...there's no rest for the gifted," He then hastily snapped his fingers and smiled, "Now then! You have the water?"

Sarajin looked back and "patted" its side, "As pure as pure can be!"

"Then let's put the final steps on this project." Valic guided them through the city towards the generator district.

Along the way Sarajin had to voice some lingering thoughts about Mother Divine's presence, "So...you're sure everything is ok around here? Nobody's gotten hurt, everyone's happy?"

"We're managing. Those stoneheads have stopped trying to assault our walls as much," Though it started off optimistic, Valic's tone soon shifted more towards the curious, "But...I'm surprised. When word got out that there was new leadership in Obscura everyone presumed something worse would take that monster's throne."

Sarajin tensed up a bit.

"Yet our drones haven't seen hide nor hair of the beast...The darkness is silent."

Valic seemed happy, and his bliss made him ignorant to Sarajin pausing with intrigue.

"Solomon hasn't moved...?" He put on his worried face and then kept following Valic to the generator district.

A new building was being put together but the priority was focused on getting the generator up and running. It was of a larger scale to the model he showed him a while back, but with a few tweaks to compensate for various factors.

The two stopped before the generator and Valic turned to face him, "Now, remember the directions?"

Sarajin nodded, "First I'll pour the water in slowly to get it started. Then, I'll need to go filter my own electricity through the city to keep it running while the old generators are shut down and the new one is run through tests. Finally, if it works, someone needs to turn on one of the old generators."

"If this works I predict one water powered generator will do the work of four turbine generators," Valic then brushed the back of his fingers out confidently, "We'll worry about reconstituting the city's structure to handle more power at a later date."

"You guys are all set?" Spoke Rai, walking up to them with Adderbolt at his side.

Valic narrowed his gaze and muttered, "Yes, I suppose we are."

"Val, don't be sour. This is YOUR day." Rai replied.

Valic actually smiled and raised his head, "You're right."

Adderbolt took a bite of his fluffy sugary food and then pumped his fist, "Good luck to you both!"

Valic and Sarajin then exchanged nods and began the operation.

Putting the water into the generator was a delicate process that went over quickly...And it was also the easiest part.

To keep this entire city from shutting down for even a second might take every volt Sarajin could let loose from his hands.

Valic ordered the other scientists on standby to watch over the generator as the water made the wheel turn and electricity was slowly being produced.

At the same time the other generators were shut down, only one at a time, with Sarajin being given access to the wiring beneath them to begin his part.

He took a deep breath in the one second he had to spare and then bent down, slamming his hands against the wires to let electricity go flying through the city.

The metal threads dug into his palms and he felt like he was being sucked dry if he ever gave an inch.

His hair went on the fritz and the electricity began to surround his whole body, justifying some black glass from the other scientists to avoid seizing at the strobe effects.

Sarajin became deaf to his screams of exertion and was fully enveloped in this cause. His mind functioned on one directive...Produce electricity.

Soon he would stop breathing and moving, and his mind would become one with the city.

Valic was too intoxicated by the progress unfolding before his eyes to see what was happening.

Rai, however, stood by and shouted, "VALIC! Sarajin can't handle the pressure! We need to cut the experiment, NOW!"

There was no answer. Rai bit his teeth down and murmured in a panic, "He's not listening...!"

Adderbolt, cheeks stuffed with sweets, stared at his best friend's face and then glanced over at the water generator.

Dropping his sweet treat to the floor, he rushed over to the generator quicker than the eye could see and tapped some of the copper sticking out, "Excuse me!"

He then ran at normal speed and got in close to Sarajin, braving the hot bolts spewing out of his body until he could get in close to touch him.

Using his body as a makeshift conductor, Adderbolt was able to divert the excess electricity until Sarajin was in a better state of mind to realize what was happening.

And when he did he immediately gave Adderbolt a tired look while the guy flashed a thumbs up.

Sarajin then gasped for air and kept going comfortably for about five minutes. That allowed Valic enough time to give a trustworthy statement of, "We're in the clear! You can stop now!"

Sarajin pulled his hands free and collapsed onto his back, wreathed in smoldering smoke, some of which he coughed up.

Another scientist turned on the spare generator and the city was back to running at full capacity, if not just a little bit brighter.

"W-Was that all...? That was...nothing..." Sarajin laughed, a little unhinged at the jaw.

Adderbolt extended his hand and asked, "You gonna be ok?"

Sarajin, following a brief look of reluctance, clasped his hand and used his grip to stand, "...Thanks. I mean it."

His brain remained a little fuzzy for a little while afterwards.

He caught up with Valic on the outside and he looked positively giddy. With a wide smile and his fingers wiggling in anticipation to do more work he waltzed up to Sarajin and declared, "A success! Oh, what this means for the future of our city! Of the world!"

Sarajin coughed up the last bit of smoke and joined him in smiling.

The man wagged his fingers around in the air and seemed to be content musing regardless of who was listening, "We'll need more generators, more production lines. Hmm, with this extra power we might even be able to achieve lift off the planet's surface!"

"S-So in other words...you're going to need more metal." Sarajin said, relinquishing his joy to a sigh when Valic nodded at him.

"I really need to work on their relations with Oreore soon..."

But this was an honest to lord step in the right direction. A victory, a sincere, unmistakable victory.

So for now, Sarajin felt it was ok to just...let the moment be, and not worry about what problems lie in the future for the city of Pulsa Minoria.

A few minutes later, following the clean up, he was ready to head out for other places when Valic ambushed him from behind at the gate.

"Sarajin." He spoke quietly.

Sarajin turned and the man withdrew his monocle from his face to give it a quick clean or, more than likely, diverting his attention away from Sarajin's face as he spoke.

"I...don't ever recall saying this, but...I...appreciate what you've done for me so far," He then smirked and put the monocle back on, "Lords, it sounds so odd saying that, but Rai insisted I try."

Sarajin smiled and waved out without a care towards intent, "Hey, I'm just trying to do my part. Until next time?"

Valic smiled and nodded, "Yes, there's lots of work to do still."

Sarajin then vacated the premises and took comfort in the momentary aloneness to gather his thoughts.

"There's plenty of places I could still go to, but..." His gaze darted southward and he put on a serious air around his face, "I should stop there first."

Next stop, Obscura...

Through the ivory trees and towards the palace, the same path leading to that same front door.

Sarajin took a moment to gaze over at the spiral hill of graves on the horizon, its black silhouette painted against the pastel sky.

"I'm still going strong, Ophelia. I hope you're watching, wherever you are."

He then took a deep breath and, remembering the last note he left on with Solomon, was cautious about opening the door, and only fully parted it when he realized...the king was not atop his throne.

Instead, the palace seemed to be solely occupied by the napping Titan and the demon parasite in his jar.

Xiark's ears rose and with a lazy lift of his paw he grumbled, "Ah, you."

"Where's Solomon?" Sarajin asked while taking one brave step inside.

"Hmmm..." Xiark paused for fifteen seconds and then murmured, "Behind you."

Sarajin suddenly felt a chill down the back of his neck and a shadow growing over him and turned around to find the black armored king standing over him with his towering presence bearing down his face.

The man stared, his ebony cage rattling with a sigh before he marched on, brushing past Sarajin and returning to his throne to complete the image of what this unexpected guest expected.

The initial shock passed him, Sarajin looked straight into his eyes and attempted to approach the throne. The deep curl of the king's hands around the wooden arms pushed Sarajin back.

Sarajin then waved his hand out and asked, "H-How have you been lately, Solomon?"

There would be no answer beyond the man's gaze tightening, and another growl rattling his armor.

Sarajin did not see this as a signal to back away, but rather, a cause of concern, "...You...have spoken to other people since the last time I was here, right?"

This morphed the king's gaze into a piercing look of bright red, as Sarajin felt his breaths getting thicker and his sighs more labored.

Sarajin drew back the bow to the back of his throat and laid on it an arrow that would cut right to the heart of things, "Solomon? What are you doing with your life...?"

In an instant, a grim chill swept through the palace as Solomon raised his voice in defiance of his gilded arrow, "I did not demand your pity nor do I require it. How often must this be heard before your ears are no longer deaf to my words?"

Sarajin stood tall, this being a moment he believed he could not afford to be cowardly towards, "Well I'm sorry, you can't make me stop feeling concern. That's...who I am."

"Who YOU are...?" Solomon muttered as a pained echo, "Must feel lovely to be certain of such...a basic fundamental of existence."

Sarajin pressed his gaze down harder but never raised his voice in anger, "Look, I've done nothing but try to be a friend or ally. I don't know what I've done to deserve this attitude from you."

"Then you're not as observant as the air you put on suggests." Solomon barked back bitterly.

Sarajin clutched his fist and reeled back with a sigh, "...The only thing I'm observing is someone wasting their life away sitting on a throne...And it's sad."

"Hrrmmm..."

Sarajin waived his hostility for the moment and gave him his sincere thoughts, "There's more to this world than the place we were born. You-You've never had any desire to see what else your planet has to offer?"

"...All that lies beyond my borders is the hubris of man." Solomon said, his tone definitive in its judgment.

"You can find more than that if you look!" Sarajin declared with positivity, "Even though she disliked humanity, your mom still enjoyed walking around the-"

Solomon broke the arms of his throne beneath his iron grasp and then raised his voice enough to shake the foundation of the palace, "I tire of you leveraging her will against me! And I tire of YOU...! Now leave...return to your childish world of 'peace' and 'unity'!"

Sarajin trembled all over, and though he was prepared to leave, he wouldn't do so without leaving behind a few more parting words, "You're a part of my world too, Solomon. And I swear, I'll make you see what you're missing out on one day."

He then departed, and in the absence of what made his heart stir, Solomon felt it grow cold as he sat back against his throne.

"He is relentless..." Whispered the visage of his mother leaning up behind the throne, "But continue to ignore him. That is the best for all of us here."

"Hrrmmm..." Solomon's body creaked as he laid against the back of his throne.

Then, his gaze stirred to the left, and with a mere squeeze of the hand he summoned talons from the shadows to pin down an unwelcome guest behind his throne.

It was Atrax.

The Sage raised his spider limbs in surrender and chuckled, "Ah, perfect reaction time, Lord Solomon."

"You..." Solomon growled.

"May I offer a moment of my time?" He responded in a cavalier tone.

"If you speak on behalf of Borealis, then I am deaf to your words."

"I am here on my own this time," Atrax insisted, "And I speak...merely as your echo."

Solomon eased up the tension, the talons applied just a tiny bit, and the Sage put on his overly polite tone, "You've been lost for too long. And as much as you wish to ignore it, your curiosity draws you towards only one figure...Our rising Elemental Overlord, Sarajin Stratos."

"But you don't want to admit that. Of course not. Humility is far beneath the king on his empty throne."

"My offer is thus...Let me be your eyes, so that you may peer into the world of Sarajin Stratos, and through it, find the answers you seek."

"...You have something to gain from this, spider." Solomon deduced with a blunt tone.

"This is a selfless act. You'll learn what those are through his world as well." Atrax said in a jovial manner.

"I understand you. We're both men of curiosity. So? What do you say?"

"You speak with too much authority, spider. This is my land, and I am still king," Solomon stated definitively on the matter, "If you are to serve my interests, then you will deliver reports on the outside as I request them, when I request them. And if you are a second out of line, you shall pay."

"I never meant to step out of line, Lord Solomon. But fine, I can agree to those terms," Atrax then slipped into the shadows with one final whisper, "I look forward to seeing you find your way..."

And so, the world continues to turn. Just where, exactly, will Solomon fit into future events...?

Next Time: The Tainted Lord of Monsters