If one had asked Meena to describe Solo in great length, she could say much about certain features he possessed. For instance, his looks, he was certainly tall and dashing with his wild green hair. His combat prowess, being able to deftly mix swordplay and magic.
But as for his personality, the only thing she should could compare him to would be nature itself Unpredictable and unfathomable. At one moment serene, at another wild and ravenous.
Though the eight Chosen were together for only a short time – a little more than three months, four counting the time she and Maya had spent with Solo – she had already managed to get a fair reading on most of them. From the proud and headstrong Tsarevna Alena, to her beleaguered and loyal servants Borya and Kiryl; the stalwart Ragnar McRyan to the weak, but uncannily erudite, Torneko Taloon.
But the one she could not get a read on was Solo himself. Often quiet and placid, at a moment's notice he could be quietly fuming or incandescent with rage. Alternatively leading the entourage by force of personality and deferring to her, Ragnar, or Torneko for guidance. Fighting cleanly and efficiently against swarm of beast and demons to indiscriminately bombarding them with magic and sword strikes.
Even Maya, while flighty for much of their life, was never quite as arbitrary or quick-tempered.
She could confidently assert he was no mere weathervane, instincts and leadership alone had proven too successful thus far for her to casually dismiss him as much, but she could not assert much more.
A loud crashing noise had jolted Meena out of her thoughts. Peeking out of the wagon, she saw a tree – rather, several trees – that had been slashed in half by Solo, all of which feel to the earth with a mighty thud.
With a swing of his sword, Solo cut the last standing tree in half. The upper half slid and crashed down, with all of the noise a half-ton of wood hitting the ground one would expect, as he stomped off. Some dozen trees she had seen this morning next to the lake had been destroyed.
"Arey, are we under attack?" Maya, who had been laying languidly on the seat across the wagon from her sister, asked. "I was hoping there would be time for more beauty rest.
Meena sighed. "No. It seems that Solo is in one of his moods today."
"Ah." Maya closed her eyes again.
"It is good when he is focusing his efforts on monsters, less so on arbor." She mumbled.
"Perhaps arbor was secretly monster in disguise? Would not be first or third time." Maya offered.
Meena shook her head. "No, they were regular trees, Ragnar checked them all this morning. He refused to be caught unawares after last time."
"Hm." Maya said. "Perhaps young Solo was just testing the edge of his blade."
Meena sighed. "Sister, do you not care why the hero is so arbitrary in mood and rages?"
"That is how men are, no?" She said.
"Father was not like that." She countered. "Father was kind and quiet, not raging inferno on bad days. Which are most days for him."
Maya sat there, quiet and ruminating, a rare sight to Meena.
"He is young man, no?" Maya eventually said. "Few years younger than cute baby sister."
Meena rolled her eyes "Yes? And?"
Maya sighed and sat up. "Meena, you focus too much on gazing into the future, and not enough on gazing into the past. Or understanding present."
"Hm?" Meena cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean by that?"
"Young Solo lost not just father, but mother, and friends and town in one day, no?" Meena flinched at the bluntness of her sister's words. "Arey, how can we judge him for having anger in his heart when we are spending so much time to find despicable traitor Balzack and kill him?
Meena opened her mouth, meaning to say something, anything to refute her sister's words, but couldn't.
Gently placing her hand on Meena's shoulder, Maya smiled. "Fret not little sister. Sometimes in life we look too much at big picture, no?"
"His anger is much different from ours." Meena bit her lip.
She shrugged. "Such is the ways of men. Their anger, their pain, is expressed in action, not in words."
"Words...should we talk to him about it?"
"No, no, no." Maya said quickly. "Getting men to speak about emotions is so, so very difficult. It is like trying to wrench drunkard from bottle. Or coins from miser. Best to let him work out his anger on monster and tree alike."
She nodded, uncertain about the logic of her elder sister's words.
While never the most dependable woman, Maya understood people better than most. Certainly better than Meena herself. So it must have been the correct course of action, she thought.
Surely.
A few hours later, Torneko had returned with Mary Lou, their horse. After a short soiree with Solo, they had assembled all of the Chosen near the lakeside.
"According to some of Torneko's sources," Solo stated to the group, "there is a cave system that directly takes us through the mountain. Travelers use it to get between towns in a pinch. While a bit obscure and windy, it will likely save us a week of travel if we go that route."
Borya, always quick to speak his mind, sprung up and asked Solo, "How certain are we of these traveler's veracity, hm?"
"Very much, very much." Torneko interjected. "Known some o' these folks the better part o' a decade. Good men, would never lie to ya." He quivered. "They did warn of some ravenous beasties an' demons in there from time to time. Chased them off a few times. Nothing I want ta deal with."
Solo nodded. "Which is why I want to lead a small group through it, both to verify the cave's usability, and to ascertain how many, if any, threats are in it currently."
Jumping to her feet, Alena boisterously declared, "I shall be going! I shall not allow wicked creatures to occupy caves!"
"Tsarevna, please!" Kiryl yelled. "We cannot be rushing into things."
"Very right Kiryl," Solo said, with a small smirk. "I'm glad you're volunteering to go with her."
"I am!?"
He nodded again. "You are. Who else can stop her from getting into trouble?" Kiryl sulked as Alena began declaring her desire to fight any and every monster hiding in the caves.
Meena set her crystal ball down and stood. "I shall go as well."
Maya turned to her "Sister? You are going?"
She looked back to Maya and nodded. Maya nodded back, confused but quiet.
"Alright then. Based on what they said, we should be back in a few hours." Solo turned to Ragnar. "Should we not return before tomorrow-
"Come after ya, I know." He grinned. "I cannae imaging you lot being troubled by anything in there."
Solo smiled back and nodded. "Kiryl, Meena, you two will keep track of our provisions; Alena, you and I will lead the way.
"Hyah!" She struck a pose, too giddy to stay still. Kiryl next to her, muttering all manner of complaints. Meena merely returned to the wagon to gather the supplies they'd need.
As Torneko's sources had promised, the cave was uncomfortable and claustrophobic. Being just barely tall or wide enough to fit Mary Lou and their wagon, with constant drops of water making the ground slippery, poor visibility, and a deathly chill, it promised be a tedious journey. Short, but tedious.
The odd branching path was marked by a sword slash from either Solo or Kiryl on the walls. Deep enough to make a mark, but not too deep as to risk a cave-in.
"Cave is very damp and lonely, yes?" Meena eventually said. "Very cold and quiet. Good atmosphere for concentration."
Solo turned to her, the torch in his hand illuminating half of his face, and raised an eyebrow. "You like dark, creep places like this, Meena?"
"Much so, yes. Do you not?"
Kiryl, way in the back with Alena, shook his head vigorously. "No. Absolutely not. Caves are necessary evil in life to be tolerated. Much like taxes, or diatribe from Borya."
Solo gave a weary smile while Alena laughed. "I don't disagree with my priestly friend." Solo said. "They can be useful during a storm for cover, or what have you, but I'd rather be out in the warm sun if possible."
"Caves sometimes possess strong monster, such as bear." Alena slammed her first into her palm. "Often no more than sleeping Dracky. Is worse than no challenge at all to be assaulting small harmless creature."
Abruptly, Solo stopped. "Speaking of-" he quickly extinguished the fire, and hid behind a stalagmite next to the wall. The other three quickly followed suit, Meena ducking next to him, Alena and Kiryl rushing to the other side.
The sounds of footsteps and growls soon flooded the cave. Light soon shone in, as a Beleth lead a small army of Firespirits, Chicken Poxers, Pit Vipers, and Bulldozers.
"Alright you lot," the demon yelled, "humans have been making their way through this cave system for some time now. They've been coming through here every few weeks like clockwork. But no more! When they come, we will devour and slaughter any of them that pass this way!" The throng of animals roared and hissed in agreement. "Go forward to your stations, and prepare to eat good, gyahahaha!"
As the Beleth retreated back and the throng of beasts began to congregate near them, the lights of the Firespirits illuminating more and more of the cave, Solo gave the signal to Meena. A few second after they passed, he jumped out and cast Poof. A blinding light emerged from his hand, extinguishing the Firespirits.
While the hoard were dazed by the sudden assault on their senses, Meena, with a simple snap of her fingers,cast Kasnooze, instantly putting them all to sleep.
Reigniting his torch with a simple Frizz spell, Solo whistled. "Impressive." About twenty animals laid before them, all unconscious. He kneeled down next to the until now ravenous Pit Viper and poked it. "They look almost cute when they're not trying to bite our faces off."
"I am always impressed by you magic users." Alena said. "Very jealous in your ability to make much hocus pocus."
Meena picked up her knapsack, making sure nothing inside was damaged. "I presume you are not having much interest or inclination towards arcane arts, yes?"
The Tsarevna shook her head. "Nyet. Never had single ability to cast magic." She crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks. "Stupid father and Borya say it because I refuse to study. I say it is because they are stupid and cannot teach better."
Out of the corner of her eye, Meena saw Solo smiling and nodding at Alena's ranting. But then, like the torch he had just blown out minutes ago, she could see the light in Solo's eyes suddenly go out.
In the center of a large room stood Beleth and, from a distance, what looked to be several dozen demons.
"Alright you lot," he barked out, "I want all of you prepare for war! Humans have been using these caves as a shortcut. And I want to make it even shorter, as we cut them down and send them to the afterlife! Gyahahaha!" The assembled demons roared, beeped, and laughed in tow. "Now, I want you sta-AAAHHHHH!" The Beleth roared as a ball of fire smashed into his back and exploded.
"Ah!" A Minidemon screeched. "A human!"
Solo walked up into the room, Alena and Kiryl to his side. "Humans, actually."
"Attack!" The Killing Machine ordered.
Without giving them a second to prepare, Alena immediately jumped in, kicking straight through one Killing Machine, and then roundhouse kicking a Grim Rider off of its horse. A second Killing Machine took quick aim to stab her in the back, only to be intercepted by Kiryl's blade.
The swathe of Flamethrowers and Minidemons were dispersed with a simple Woosh from Meena. The ones who got back up first were immediately slashed to pieces by Solo.
"Y-You bastard!" The Grim Rider stood and pointed his lance at Solo, shaking and rattling the entire time. "I-I'll kill you!"
Solo held out his palm, and with a blinding light disintegrated him to nothing. He spun around and locked swords with a Skeleton Soldier.
With a sigh, Meena took aim and cast another Kasnooze. Half of the remaining combatants fell to the ground, the only remaining ones being the Killing Machine, who was quickly dismantled between Alena's fisticuffs and Kiryl's blade.
"Phew." Solo wiped his head. "That went wel-yearg!"
"Solo!" Meena shouted. The downed Beleth had forced itself to stand back up, and had struck Solo in the back with his own fire magic.
"Infernal beast!" A wave of magic flowed from Kiryl's hand to the Beleth.
"Gyahahah, nice try hum-eh?" Beleth's attempts to cast more magic failed. "W-What?"
As he began to heal the downed Solo, Kiryl shot Beleth a look of utter contempt. "You have picked the incorrect people to challenge today, wicked one. You are now a- Solo?" Solo, without waiting for Kiryl to finish, stood up, and walked over to the downed demon.
The Beleth fell on his back and tried to crawl away. As Solo approached him, he began to laugh. "Miserable humans! Do your worst! Kill me as you wish! But know this! Demonkind shall prevail! Prevail and slaughter you all! Gyahahaha!"
As the bleeding demon laid on the ground, laughing hysterically, Solo twitched. He held out his hand. Fire swirled in it until it exploded outward, reaching twice as tall as Solo himself. What started off as defiant laughter quickly turned to shrieking howls of pain that echoed throughout the cave.
In a matter of seconds, the Beleth was reduced to a charred corpse, and then, with a scream, Solo further incinerated it down to nothing but ashes.
Solo's three companions stood some feet behind him, Alena and Kiryl taking unconscious steps backwards.
"...I-I sometimes forget how terrifying you magicians are." Alena eventually said, voice quavering.
Kiryl, mouth drier than the ashes before him, nodded in agreement. "Father once told me that certain kind of magic requires certain motivation to truly use. He said I lacked...willingness to kill, and that is why I should be healer. Not fighter." He steadied himself, trying to steady his shaking legs. "I am not possessing such a killer instinct as Solo is."
Without waiting for his comrades, Solo stomped forward, following a trail of torches.
"Solo, wait!" Alena yelled out, but did not move to follow him. Kiryl, as always, stood by her side.
With a sigh, Meena placed her hand on Alena's shoulder. "Wait here, I shall go."
Meena had followed the path until she had found him, sitting on a rock a few hundred feet away from them, staring down the path ahead of them. The back of his shirt was singed and burned open in spots. The flesh on his back still burned where Kiryl had not finished healing him.
As she approached him, she could see no expression on his face, simply a blank stare.
"Often it is my sister who soothes ruffled feathers and talks about feelings with people." Meena said as she sat down next to Solo. "People often say my manner of speaking is too terse, or too blunt."
Solo said nothing, quiet and tense like a coiled snake. He gave no indication he had heard her, or even recognized her existence.
Even with the dim lighting in the path, Meena could see that furious look in his eyes, that sneer in his face, only inches from her.
Had she looked like that all these years? Had Maya seen that virulent fury in her eyes and never said anything?
"I cannot presume to be truly understanding of your feelings. I have always had my sister, no matter how much of a pain she is being to me." She smiled a bit. "For as much as I scold her, Maya kept our spirits up after father was killed by traitorous Balzack. She had always stood by my side."
Meena could see his muscles tensing up, and his fingers balling into fists.
She sighed softly. "I merely wish to let you know, Solo, should you ever need to confide anything, I, Maya, Alena, Kiryl, all the others," she gently placed his hand on his shoulder, and kept it there despite him flinching, "we are here."
A few seconds passed and he said nothing, merely sighing. She could feel his muscles relaxing a bit.
Meena stood. "When you are ready, I shall be waiting with the others."
A minute later, she could hear his footsteps, thankfully coming her direction.
The remainder of their expedition remained in silence. Neither Kiryl nor Alena attempted to ask Meena or Solo what had happened, both simply walking a few extra steps behind their leader.
The discovery of the exit, and the still bright day outside, prompted several of them to breath sighs of relief.
"Solo." Kiryl stood before him, tall and with his arms at his side like he was speaking to Tsar Stepan. "May I suggest Tsarevna and I retreat back and fetch allies? Possibility of enemy reinforcements this way is not negligible. It may be best if you and Meena remain on lookout."
With a weary look on his face, Solo nodded. All the energy he had displayed in battle earlier evaporated.. Meena could see how more clearly how Kiryl and Alena's faces looked. Stiff, uncomfortable, almost afraid.
After they walked away, Solo chuckled, bitter and short. "They think I'm unstable." He fell down next to a tree. He laid his head back against the bark and looked to the leaves above. "I don't blame them."
"No, that is not the case. It is merely that..."
He scoffed. "This was a mistake. I-I'm no hero. I'm no leader. I'm just a idiot. A fool out of his depth." Solo spat out.
Meena sighed and sat down next to him. "You're strong, you've led us well, and when you weren't able to you have deferred to those who could. I believe you have done well for a young man your age."
He snorted. "You're not much older than me, you know."
She smiled. "Perhaps, but I am still your elder and can command respect."
Solo burst out laughing, a laugh so sincere and infectious that even she had to chuckle. "Fair play." He said.
They sat together for a while, keeping one eye open for any potential movement by enemy reinforcements.
Eventually, as the hours passed and the sun began to set, Solo broke the silence. "Sometimes, out of nowhere, I flash back to that day." Solo said slowly. "It's always the smallest things. I'm practicing my sword swings, I'll remember my dad teaching me how to wield it. I'll be casting magic and I can remember my mom showing me how to conjure fire. I'm chopping wood, and I remember spending days climbing trees with Eliza, or, or" his voice cracked, "-sorry." He shut his eyes and turned away.
"Do not rush on my account." Meena said softly. "Please. Go at your own pace."
He nodded, holding back tears. "I-I know my anger isn't under control sometimes. I know that sometimes I lash out badly. I'm sorry."
Meena gently placed her hand on his face. "For many years, I-" She bit her lip, turning away. "For many years after father died, I would wake in the middle of the night, crying, shaking, vomiting. Maya was always there to be comforting me when I needed her. Some nights she would just hold my hand, or hug me until I fell back asleep." She gave a small, pained smile. "I never realized how much I needed my big sister until then."
Solo nodded. "I always did think she had a lot more going on than she let on."
"My sister is silly-billy sometimes, but not a fool. Well," she put her finger on her lips, "not always a fool."
They both laughed.
"My sister is a good woman. One I must confess I listen to on some things." She paused. "But other times I must ignore her. Sometimes because I disagree, sometimes for my own sanity."
Solo snorted again. "Reminds me Eliza. She is...was my friend. She was always playing pranks and doing crazy stuff growing up." He smiled softly. "She was a real terror after she learned Morph. I remember she got stuck looking like my dad for almost a whole day."
"Oh my." Meena put her hand to her mouth. "That sounds inconvenient."
"You wouldn't believe it." His smile fell, that empty look in his eyes returning. "The last I saw of her, she, she transformed into me. Our home was attacked and she, she sacrificed herself, letting them think I had died."
He turned again to the leaves above them.
"For weeks after I escaped, I, I just blindly wandered the land. I barely knew where I was, or what I was going to do." He said, gripping his scabbard. "At some point, I can't even remember when, I got tired of crying. Of waking up in the morning praying it was a bad dream. Of not wanting to even get up" He sighed. "I didn't just want to kill them, I wanted to make them suffer. I still do." He turned away. "How heroic."
"Do you not think Maya and I are not prepared to kill Balzack in cold blood?" She retorted. "Arey, I would be so, so much of a hypocrite were I to judge you."
He turned to her, one eye raised.
"Yes?"
He chuckled. "We're messed up, aren't we?"
"I am prepared to fight for this world. I am not prepared to start pretending I am perfect."
Solo scratched his head, likely sore given how long he had laid against the trunk. "That's a good way to think about it, I suppose."
"I am your elder," she said in a faux-haughty tone, "I should know it."
They both collapsed into a laughing fit once more.
"Meena?" He said wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Hm?"
He smiled. "Thank you."
She smiled back. "But of course."
"I should probably apologize to Alena and Kiryl when they arrive...and the others."
"If it will make you feel better, do so." She said.
"Do you think I should...tell everyone what I told you?"
Meena opened her mouth to speak, and then shut it. She turned to the cave entrance, with still no sign of them coming yet, and then back to Solo. "Only if you are ready to. Are you?"
For a moment, he remained quiet. He looked at peace, tired, but at peace. "Yeah, I think I am."
It's hard to keep all of the character's verbal tics in order. It's fun, and it gives them a lot of flavor, but man is it hard to write them in their own voice.
Also, it's not until recently that I really considered the various parallels between DQ4's various cast members. Solo and the Mahabala sisters aren't too different from each other, given how their adventure's began with the murder of a loved one, or loved ones in Solo's case. Since DQ4 was originally on the NES, and the protagonists of Dragon Quest rarely get to emote about their predicaments, I'm plugging in my own headcanon about what Solo was like in the first few months following the start of his journey.