Chương 23: Just a Boy

"Now what?" Solstice said as he tried to wipe all the mucous and stomach acid still stuck to his skin and clothes. Despite the biting wind and cold, His skin felt the tingling sensation of the Oryth's stomach acid. The stench was putrid. Looking to the pile of flesh below him, he took a deep breath and assessed himself. His legs, shoulder. Looking for anything crimson, the particular sight that screams, bleeding.' My thigh is still bad. Shoulders are bad. Now my skin is blistered. Great.'

Solstice looked, beyond him stood The pale silhouette of Ourola's walls. Towering over everything in his sight. Solstice let out a sigh. Cold mist forming from his mouth.' I have to get back. But with this state.. how? Do I find another way?' Solstice dismissed the thought instantly.

'No. there's no other way. Not unless I plan to freeze to death here.' Solstice had to go through the gate. Solstice made his way towards the wall. Limping from his injuries and hissing through the sharp burns he accumulated.' Now, what's the plan? Do I just walk straight up? Surely the guards will let me in, right? That's very convenient, really. A bleeding stranger covered in shit, just waltzing through the gates. What could possibly go wrong?'

The stench clinging to the Nameless boy was so foul that the guards had already noticed him before he came within twenty meters of Ourola's gates. The putrid smell alone was enough to put them on alert.

"Hey! What is that smell?" The tall guard suddenly jerked to his feet. Already Cupping his nose."

"That smell? Something burning? And metallic?"

"Look! Someone's approaching." Immediately three of the guards reacted at once. Drawing black firearms stutted with red glowing gemstones.' Crap. Why the fuck are they aiming at me' Instantly the nameless boy raised his good arm. Keeping the other one close to his body.

"Hey! Don't shoot! I'm a human I got into some trouble on the way!"

"Identify yourself! Don't move!" Solstice bit his lower lip out of frustration.' Where is emelia? Didn't I tell that little bastard notify her? Or was he to useless to even manage that?'

"I SAID STOP! Or we will open fire!" The tall guard shouted. His firearm already glowing faint red. Solstice flinched. He stopped moving and raised both arms. His injured one protesting every movement.' Must because of how I look and smell. I need to convince them that I'm no harm, otherwise I'm dead.'

"Again. I'm a human, I got into little trouble with an oryth and manage to get out" Solstice spread his arms, wincing as the movement pulled at his injured shoulder.

"As you can see, I am not armed or anything! Just let me in or do you seriously gonna let me freeze to death out here!?" Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The three guards exchanged glances before one of them turned and hurried off. The remaining two shifted their attention back to Solstice. Neither lowered their weapon. Their fingers remained poised on the triggers, ready to blast the nameless boy into the snow.

"Ten minutes ago I walked out of the very gates you stand beneath! Can't you recognize me!" Solstice continued, pointing at the goggles perched on his forehead, lenses covered with mucus.

"I am—" Before he could finish, a streak of red shot past him and struck the snow nearby, erupting in a burst of white.

"CONSIDER THAT A WARNING SHOT!" Solstice froze. He had no idea what was happening. Unknown to him, the guards weren't seeing a filthy, half dead Nameless boy stumbling back toward the gates. They were seeing something else. A legend known to every man on the frostbitten continent. A prophecy that spoke of a blood covered boy who would appear at the dawn of every Frost Epoch. And the Nameless boy, Solstice, was completely unaware. Unaware that the guards standing before him were not trembling from the cold.

But from fear.' Fuck! They're not listening!'

"I beg you! Do not shoot! I know a person inside named Captain Emelia! She runs an orphanage inside! I am one of her acquaintances!"

"Shut it— you— monster!"

"Monster? What kind of salt you are smoking? You frostbitten bastard?!" Then, a voice suddenly rang out from behind the gates.

"The Wandering Star, you say?" It was a low, gentle voice, almost calm and angelic. Despite the distance between Solstice and the gates, he could hear it as clear as day, as though someone had whispered directly into his ear. The guards parted and make way for a person to walk through. A tall and lean man. Strikingly handsome. With His eyes concealed beneath a black band. His ashbrown hair swaying faintly with the wind. He walked with an air of absolute tranquility, a faint smile resting on his lips.

He wore a long coat, its white and black design fitted closely around the shoulders before flaring out past the knees. The kind of clothing that practically screamed authority, something Solstice was all too familiar with. Solstice tilted his head ' Who?' Solstice noticed, distantly, that the man wasn't shivering. Not in the slightest, not even a visible attempt to keep the wind off his face. Was it some kind of equipment beneath the coat? A domain perhaps?

The man lifted the black band, revealing a pair of striking, deep crimson eyes that seemed to glow faintly. The moment his gaze met Solstice's, every hair on the nameless boy's body stood on end. Before solstice could react the mysterious man's lips parted"Sleep." And instantly Solstice felt his shoulder grow heavy. Every nerve in his body screamed to lie down. His vision swayed, and his limbs no longer seemed to obey him, as though his body had ceased to belong to him.

'Wha—what?' Solstice cupped his eyes, smearing mucus across his forehead.

'What the fuck is happening…?

'Solstice fought against the overwhelming urge to fall asleep.' A Domain?' His knees buckled. Solstice met the pale snow. With a soft thud. Already fast asleep.

"What do you think sir? This boy came out of nowhere. Smelling like he'd killed multiple people!" The tall man didn't answer immediately. Instead he pulled the black band down, concealing his crimson eyes before finally speaking. Then, a sharp, genuine laugh escaped the man's lips. For a moment, the guards exchanged confused glances, seemingly unsure of what was happening. The man turned his attention back to the sleeping nameless boy, his faint smile returning.

"Just a boy."