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“Sariel, you’re much too slow. Pick up the pace,” the father proclaimed with a voice dripping in disappointment. He stared forward at his much too pale son, with a sigh leaving his lips as the book within his grasp slammed its pages together.

“Y-yes your radiance” the boy mumbled out, completely exasperated.

He looked ahead of him, the whites of the ethereal finish line wisped ahead, almost reaching out to pull him across the edge already. His legs felt unbearably heavy. If he were alone, the weight would not be near this unbearable — but no — father and he had to be there. Solaris… The name itself caused a searing irritation. The kind that never went away and only got worse the more one thought about it. He was there too. Already across the line, staring back with the blankest expressions. Not even something smug or pitiful; just nothing. Almost as if he knew this was gonna happen, so there was no point in even reacting.

Regardless of the fact, Sariel trudged forward. His feet dragged along the divine stone, weathered away white, with a strong contrast against the blacks of his boots. The stars above him seemed to shoot along with him, right across the finish line. Where he tripped and stayed for the better part of an hour. The people around him walked away after the exercise was done, including father and Solaris. Not a voice of concern, or a hand for support. It’s okay. After all, things were always like this. Even knowing that deep in his heart — the warmest of tears began to well up along his eyelids, staining the floor gray on impact.

꒰ა ໒꒱

“Sariel… you don’t always have to match what I do. It’s probably better to just complete something easier, rather than — well — embarrass yourself, time and time again” Solaris smiled.

“Embarrass myself? Is that how you see it, Sunny?”

“Do you see it another way?” he sighed.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“...”

“I thought as much. Look, just do your own thing alright? That’ll probably be better for you,” Sunny shouted as he leaped out the window of the infirmary.

It wasn’t that high of a jump… but he still could’ve just walked out. I wonder why he came anyways, Sariel thought. No matter how many times he ended up in a hospital bed, Solaris never came by. Perhaps he was too busy, maybe something came up, or it could be he just didn’t care enough. Whatever it may be, there was nothing to think. It didn’t seem like he cared much, but at least there was a small sliver of compassion since he actually showed up.

Sariel gripped the white sheets that hugged his legs, those casted legs. He’s always been on the frailer side. If people had to name his distinctive qualities, that would be the most noteworthy one. Besides his pearly white hair. The boy was just thirteen years old, without a friend to his name. The hospital could count as a companion at this point — with how often he’s checked in over the course of his life. All these thoughts slowly drifted across his mind, with sighs of exhaustion leaving his lips each roadblock they hit. Those memories of failure, embarrassment. Though it was definitely easier to just excuse those moments as a hitch in the path. A necessary evil almost. In order to make it somewhere that he truly wanted to go.

꒰ა ໒꒱

“My lord, I mean Sariel, isn’t it time to go back ‘home’?” the koi fish spoke.

In unison they spoke, a whole school of them. Sariel stared down at the planet of Hyethour below him, atop his moon, with his ever so loyal fish swimming in a gleaming river around him. The water itself was like a living entity, that seemed to flow along with the currents that blew Sariel’s hair side to side. The boy was now seventeen years old. Though life hadn’t panned out exactly as he thought it would. He lived alone on the moon, which was to be expected for many, since who wanted to follow the moon god.

They all flocked towards the sun instead.

Solaris, the god of the sun, had a much better ring to it. Maybe it was the warmth instead, his appearance, whatever.

Regardless, it was time to go back to the realm of the deities. For Sariel had just one chance, one final chance, to make his mark on the universe. His faith wavered… but his resolve battered it together. He would make people turn their gaze to the moon, at least once.