Outlanders - Chapter 6 – Insanity of those Neglected

Back on Meclite, things, for lesser of a better word, are…okay. During the time that it took Rythian to get to Minecraftia, events have unfolded back on the homeworld. Solon also reached the 'coming of age' but was not crowned as the prince since Xephos was first in line to be the next king. Of course this action by King Rothum kindled a new resentment, a new hatred in Solon for his 'older brother'.

As more time passed and Xephos became somehow even more well known, Solon grew to realize that his years of mingling and speaking with those who were rich and in power were all worthless as of now. After realizing this, he began to lurk in his room during all the official parties and regal affairs. Rumors began to spread about him, that he was sick, that he was dead, some even accused him of having run screaming out the palace windows.

Yet had any of them stepped into his room, they would've been quite wrong as to his condition. Solon was quite well, and quite sane. He was also very, very angry. In his own eyes, he had been scorned and mocked for the final time, and he had to get back, had to have revenge. So he began to study, began to learn new tricks, new things. He started reading older and older books, delving into the darker parts of the universes tricks. A single butler came up four times a day with food, drinks, and more books that he had ordered. Whenever the butler returned down to the station where the servants waited, he would always talk about Solon in a hushed voice, as if he was afraid.

"The boy is possessed," he'd say. "He keeps muttering about things. 'If he can do it, why can't I? What's his deal? How does he work? Where did he COME from?'"

Once a week a maid would go up to collect his linens and make his bed. She was always horrible shaken upon exiting, and could be heard speaking of Solon in the same was as the poor butler. "He just... he stares at you with those cold white eyes... and you get the feeling he hates you, he hates everything about you, and he's going to kill you if you stay too long."

Of course, Rothum could not ignore these rumors forever, so after three months of total seclusion, he walked into Solons room and threw open the curtains. He was immediately repulsed by how his son looked.

Solon had become pale from lack of sun, and for that matter any other light than his single candle, and his eyes had lost whatever silverish quality one remained. He was thin as a twig, and remains of his uneaten food littered the floor in huge molding mounds. He stared at his father with a glare that spoke volumes.

"Son?"

Solon only choked out a laugh and walked forwards a bit. "Father..." His voice had taken on a raspy quality, and any amount of cheer it once held was gone. "how... pleasant to see you... here. In my room. Alone."

Rothum chuckled a bit. "Indeed. You'd see more of me if you exited your room you know..."

Solon only laughed harder, slight amounts of spit leaving his mouth with each wheezing coughing laugh. "Right... come out there and see you dote on the royal spoiled brat. I'd prefer my solitude, thank you."

"Son... this isn't healthy."

"Nor is giving power to those who don't deserve it. Yet you certainly were in a hurry to put that crown on Xephos's head, weren't you?"

It is, at this point, important to remember the piles of molded food on the floor. It is also important to remember that you can bury a lot of things under said piles of food without them getting noticed, which was occurring to Rothum as we speak.

"Son... why do you have this food here? What have you been doing up here for so long?"

At this point I would also like to retract the statement that Solon is perfectly sane, because if he was upon entering the room, his sanity has, by now, vanished. Solon approached his father, reached into his molding food pile, and took out a single book, one that was now covered in the remains of old meals. "I found this father. It was hidden quite well, but the butler was willing to find it for me."

Rothum was disgusted, not only because his son had just reached into a pile of molding food, but because of what the book read on the cover, and because of what it was. "Son... you've been reading forbidden magics."

"Then so has Xephos. You saw him... his whole body glowed. That's in this book too! Just look!" He tried shoving the book into Rothum's face, but Rothum only threw it out of his hands and glared. "I WILL NOT TAINT MY EYES YOU FOOLISH BOY!"

Solon quivered a bit, in some odd mix of anger and excitement, and looked at his father with the eyes of a disillusioned young child whose hero had just been slain before him. "Y-you didn't. why would you throw my book?"

"Son... it's not yours... and you shouldn't be reading such things."

Solon stepped forwards a bit, still shaking. "At least the writer of that book is honest... at least she admits what Xephos is, what we all are..."

"Son... step back." Rothum clenched his fists, bracing himself for the inevitable snap.

"No... I don't think I will."

With that, Solon leaped upon his father, knocking him to the ground. He beat his father's head into the ground until his father lost breath and consciousness, and then stood, looking at himself in the mirror. "Huh... I do look odd..."

He raised a hand, and an odd green light came out of it. In a moment, Solon was no longer thin and pasty, but looked good enough to rival Xephos. He glanced in the mirror with a smirk evil enough to make Satan himself lose his lunch, and whispered, "I love you too dad."

As he walked out of the room, he waved his hand and his father's body was covered by his old blanket, where he wouldn't be found for at least a few hours. Solon no longer cared, simply hopping out of a window to the ground and heading towards the lower and poorer sections of the capital.

"It's time to find whoever wrote that book..." He mused aloud, "And if that doesn't work... i'm sure there are enough people here who hate my brother to give me a fighting chance."

Little known to him, or to anyone on Meclite, and in fact to anyone in this galaxy, Rythian was stirring in his sleep at that moment, having a nightmare involving the king and several dark thin men.

He wouldn't put two and two together for some time. Poor mage.