Solomon

Amber eyes bore into my soul. Those eyes were cold, ruthless. I looked around, not recognizing a thing. I was in the , now I was somewhere else. I used my to gaze into Nil’s future, then I was brought here. His was in my hand, showing his four and . What was happening? All around me was black; a null space. This was some . I couldn’t even sense who cast this . Emperor Azzeck was skilled with , but nowhere near what was needed to do this.

“Who are you? What do you want?” I called out. There was no response. Then it hit. . Pressure. The presence was absolute. I noticed two amber eyes appear, boring holes into me. I could not breathe. How strong is this person? Who is this? I am a Grand Archmagus! How is someone this powerful?

“Hello Solomon.” the voice said calmly. It was deep, radiating with .

“Who are you? What are you after?” I asked. This voice was too powerful.

“It does not matter who I am. What matters is what you are going to do for me.” the voice threatened.

“I am a Grand Archmagus! I will not roll over for anyone!” I bellowed back. The eyes just laughed.

“So stubborn Solomon, I am not asking you to roll over. I am requesting you do a favor for me.” the eyes replied calmly.

“Who are you?” I asked again. The eyes just laughed. To so calmly threaten a Grand Archmagus. What a terrifying existence.

“Solomon, why are you so tense? Relax. You are going to want to do this favor for me anyway.” the voice said, ignoring the question.

“What do you want?” I checked, dreading the answer.

“When the Crowthornes leave, they will be attacked by a group of assassins sent to kill Nil. Poor Nez will valiantly sacrifice himself to save the baby. I want you to prevent Nez’s death. More accurately, the death of anyone in the entourage.” the voice explained.

was impossible; no one could turn back time. No to tell the future was that accurate. How does he know? What value is Nez to him? He is demonstrating such overwhelming force to save Nez? Nil or one of the Imperial family maybe, but Nez? What is his angle?

“If you are strong enough to do this, why not save him yourself?” I retorted, trying to buy even a second.

“This is about the limit of how much I can intervene. If I was allowed to intervene more I would do it myself, but I am not, so I need you to do this for me.” the voice replied calmly.

“And if I refuse?” I inquired as the voice just laughed; it was not a pleasant laugh. This was the laugh of a general when a recruit threatened them. His laugh made it clear: I am not asking and you will regret not obeying. Who on Tenebrae was this existence? It is like a Lord has descended upon me. It didn’t hurt to help him, but obeying the request of random beings was not a good precedent.

“Fine, I will accompany them back to the castle.” I retorted, trying not to audibly sigh.

“Thank you, Solomon. I am not completely unreasonable; I will help you in any way I can for doing me this favor.” the voice explained.

“If you cannot intervene, how could you help me?” I checked, not understanding this voice.

“So greedy Solomon. Don’t worry, I never break my word, and I hate owing people.” the voice soothed.

“I would rather settle this soon as well. Is there something you could just give me and save us both time?” I asked the voice.

“Fine.” the voice said boredly.

A appeared in the air. The surging from the was intense. The intricacy and complexity was . What kind of being can so casually pay with ? I went and touched it, and it seared into my brain. It was not just the ; it was the full process as well. I shivered. And I was rude and uncooperative with this being. In an instant, the room returned to the exact moment I finished the . Then I felt drained.

What power. How on Tenebrae did he do that? Did I just meet a Lord? I wondered. I started blankly at the , trying to gain my composure.

“What else is on the Solomon?” Nox asked suddenly from behind. I can do without any more scares.

“Nothing. Just got a premonition. I think I will be accompanying you all back to the castle.” I replied, trying to sound unfazed.

Maybe I should warn them of the attack; how would I explain it though? Some unknown being so powerful it scared even me and warned me that it was a for sure occurrence that was going to happen. Today is going to be exhausting, isn’t it?

*

Nil

I was turning my on and off, bored out of my mind as the adults talked. I left my on, adjusting to the sensation. I got hit by a terrible feeling of dread as my breaths became short and jagged. Something was terribly wrong, but everything appeared to be fine. Please tell me these are not following me into this life. I was trying to identify why I felt like there was an impending disaster. I turned off my and the sensation vanished. Why does my cause such a terrible sensation? So far it let me see and once gave me the vague sense of meeting a bird. Now it gives panic attacks? WHY? WHAT PURPOSE WOULD THAT POSSIBLY SERVE? WHY ON TENEBRAE WOULD THE DO THAT? I turned back on my ; the horrific sensation returned. Okay, definitely the result of using my . Now why did it feel like I was about to die? I just felt like when we left here my life was in mortal danger. I got Mom, Dad, and uncle Nox. Nez is here too. How could my life be in danger?

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“I think it is time we left. Thank you for your help today.” Dad told the pale Solomon. He looked at my dad with a blank stare.

“You know what, I think I will join in for his birthday celebration. Do you mind if I tag along back to the castle?” Solomon asked as he shook off his daze

My parents looked at each other and shrugged; they had no reason to refuse. My parents took me and we all got into the carriage which only made the sensation worse. Something terrible was making its way here; with each passing second, the sensation only got worse. Then came the explosion. The carriage went weightless, launched by the force of the blast. I mean, at least I was right? Was the only thought going through my mind as Solomon instantly reoriented the carriage, making it simply slide across the street. Uncle Nox vanished in an instant, while Nez and my mother threw up protective in an instant. My dad unleashed an aura that was beyond words. Black tendrils began forming around him as he kicked the carriage door wide open. He vanished, and there were some terrifying sounds outside the carriage. Solomon was already prepping an arsenal of , when a figure snaked out of the shadows, lunging directly at me.

Nez threw himself between the attacker and I, but Solomon already formed some cube around the attacker. The attacker tried hitting the sides, but it just repelled him. Solomon gradually began decreasing the size of the cube. The insults were quickly changed with the attacker begging for mercy, which did not deter Solomon in the slightest. Eventually, large crunching sounds echoed in the carriage as the cube got too small for its occupant, before all went silent. The disaster lasted a total of ten seconds. Solomon simply vanished the cube and its contents from existence, not leaving a speck of dust remaining. That was kind of brutal. Then I realized what had happened. They were here to kill me. Then something else hit me. Nez threw himself in front of me. If Solomon weren’t here he would Nez have- I don’t want to think about that. My dad and uncle reappeared in the carriage, each with a grim expression.

“Apparently some families have forgotten their place.” Dad snarled as he sat next to Mom.

“Thank you Solomon.” Nez said, a bit of the reality of what happened visibly hitting him.

“It was nothing. More importantly, what family was bold enough to try and kill Crown Prince Nil in broad daylight?” Solomon replied with a smile.

“I am not sure, but we are going to find out.” my dad replied, his gaze cold as ice.

Why would people want to kill me? What have I done to anyone except Uncle Nox? I am a freaking baby! Why would another demon want to kill the Crown Prince? Did my family have enemies? Thinking about it logically, probably. I am guarded at all times now that I think about it. I definitely needed to stick to my training. I looked at everyone, who were in an interesting mix of relieved and absolutely furious; all except Solomon, who again looked incredibly pale. Why?

*

Solomon

No sooner than when Emperor Azzeck and Prince Nox reentered the carriage, I was again in a blank space, with a hauntingly calm clapping sound. This presence again. I couldn’t sense it, but I knew it was there. I mean, I could hear it clapping.

“Brilliant Solomon. I knew I could count on you.” the voice praised. It was as hollow and artificial as a .

“You dragged me here to congratulate me? Surely you have better things to do with your time.” I snapped at the voice.

“I have all the time I want. I understand that age can make a person impatient Solomon but do bear with me. I realized I made you tag along to little Nil’s birthday party without a gift. I was going to give you one to save you the embarrassment.” the voice mocked. I could feel the waves of condescension rolling off this being.

“I think I can make do.” I retorted in the most level voice I could manage.

“Oh, I insist, give him this.” the voice said in a tone so condescending I wish I could slap whatever this thing was.

In front of me, a small box appeared, wrapped and everything. What is this thing after? It asked me to save Nez, now gives me a gift for Nil? Is it interested in Nil? Nez is one of the best teachers alive and can teach which is well suited for Nil. But why? What does this thing gain? I contemplated, wondering what this thing's goal was.

“What is your interest with Nil?” I asked the presence.

“What makes you think I am interested at all with that little demon?” the voice probed, clearly humoring me. The arrogance of this thing. Then again, I am pretty sure it could kill me whenever it so desires. My main question is, how is something this powerful?

“You had me save Nez, an excellent teacher who could also teach Nil and now summoned me here to give me a present for Nil. There is a good chance you want something with Nil.” I explained trying to get any read on it.

“Observant enough to catch that. I might have an interest in the little demon. Or I might owe him a favor.” the being taunted. I didn't need to see the face to feel the smirk.

“How could you possibly owe Nil? He is a baby.” I asked incredulously.

“Maybe I will owe Nil, and I am paying him in advance. Or perhaps I happened to see him and got bored and figured he was worth the time to see with a little interference how much he could grow.” the being replied, making its intention clear.

“You have no intention of answering me. What is this gift anyway?” I snapped at it.

“If I wasn’t going to answer your first question, what makes you think I’ll answer the second one?” the being mocked.

“Well, if I am to present it to the Imperial Highnesses, I would like to be able to at least explain what it is.” I tried. The being just laughed.

“So desperate to be in control. So desperate to have a handle on the situation. It is almost adorable.” the voice ridiculed. I let out a deep sigh.

“I am just asking to be able to explain the gift I will present, or I will just give him something else.” I said right before I collapsed to my knees; this being did not take kindly to that petty threat. I couldn’t even breathe. Right before I would have passed out, the pressure let up. As soon as I took a breath, the pressure was immediately reapplied. Again, at the brink of me passing out, the being let off.

“Do I make myself clear? I will gladly compensate you for time, but that gift will easily get you enough goodwill to pay off doing this favor for me. But if you insist, I can give you something more, but you better stop asking me questions.” the figure snarled.

“Yes.” I gasped. How much was that it just exerted to show off? A small metal ball appeared from nowhere. I took a look at it. This being does at least pay well. It wasn’t much, but enough to bond a . This being has a crazy amount of information. How did it know I would need this? The box was maybe a three-inch cube, what could it possibly contain?

“Now, I know I shouldn’t have to say this, but to be clear, if you try to give that gift to anyone but Nil, they will die. You will see that gift, and think I am absolutely mad for giving it to a baby. Ignore such thoughts. I guarantee you that the gift is completely safe.” the being lectured.

“I find that so comforting. And other people like his parents will see the gift and think, wow, what a totally safe gift for a child! I assume.” I taunted. The eyes narrowed at me.

“You are on incredibly thin ice Solomon. It is likely only Nez might recognize what that gift actually is. Now do not disappoint me.” the being snapped before putting me back in the carriage.

Lords of Tenebrae I hate that thing. It has restrictions on what and to the degree it can interfere, but why does it keep choosing me? I looked down at the box it had given me. Chills radiated down my spine as I looked at the box. What on Tenebrae was in this box? As we approached the castle, I just had a sense of impending dread. Wherever I left the box just turned cold and felt like death itself had brushed against me. I clearly was just being paranoid. Why can’t I just shake this feeling that this box is bad news? What on Tenebrae did that being put in this box?