Sol bent over again and clutched his head. He had a pained expression on his face.
“Sol…?” He heard Katie's voice from behind him. He looked up to see her ruby-red eyes full of worry.
He forced out a smile, “I'm fine, Kate! Really! Just need a bit of sleep.”
“Okay…” Katie wanted to ask more but after spending 2 years with him, she knew not to ask. She knew he wouldn’t want to make her worry. So all she could do was help subtly.
“Come on, let’s find a seat,” Katie came in front of him and reached out her hand. Sol looked at it before looking at her with a slightly puzzled expression. She just looked back at him and nudged her hand at him with a slightly shy face.
Oh... It took him a second to understand before he took her hand. She led him by the hand whilst searching for empty compartments. He smiled and shook his head. Are kids these days that embarrassed by holding other people's hands? Even if it is to help? What’s going to happen to them when they become adults?
Sol didn’t see the red tint on Katie's cheeks but did feel that she felt a bit embarrassed. Though not for the reason he thinks.
After a while of walking, the two finally found an empty compartment. Sol went in and took a seat near the window. He closed his eyes, focusing on only his thoughts.
Reincarnator...I guess it’s not surprising someone like him is here. But the better question, has he found me out? Based on the look on his face, he suspects me. But I don’t think he should know. I didn’t see him use any magic. I-I can't say. He shouldn’t have better magic than me. I’m from a high-level world myself. He should at most have magic equal to me. Even if it was slightly better, I would’ve found out. So what gives? It’s a bit of a problem that the Law Of The World blocks me from looking into him. It gives me a migraine just to look into his soul. Only the 『Creator』knows what’s it going to do if I look into his memories. Soul Theory is finally coming into effect. Now the most important question is, what do I do with him? If he’s a threat, I’ll just-
Wait!
As Sol was embroiled in his inner turmoil, Cormac came into the compartment. He greeted Katie and sat down. When he looked at Sol, he asked, “Asleep already?”
Katie nodded, “I don’t know why but he just started to grab his head like he was in pain. It looked like he was having a headache.”
“Is he alright?” Cormac asked with a worried expression.
“He just said that he needed to sleep.”
“You think that’s all?” Cormac raised a brow.
She shook her head, “You know him. He won’t tell us anything.”
“Rightly so. What good would happen by telling us?”
The train engine started and smoke started to bellow from the top. Hogwarts Express had left King's Cross Station.
Katie glared at him, “What do you mean by that? We're his friends. We can at least-”
Cormac cut her off, “What, help? Listen, both of us are worse than him at magic. If he can’t then what can we do?”
“B-But...but...” Katie looked defeated. She said in a quiet voice, “That’s not right.”
“If you feel that it’s unfair, then better yourself.”
“How?”
“Learn things, be better. You can ask him to tutor you if you want,” Cormac pointed at the sleeping Sol. “Look at me, I like potions. So I study by myself, sometimes I even ask him to help me out.”[1]
Katie fell into deep contemplation. She looked at Sol again. After letting out a breath, she relented, “ You're right. I should start studying.”
“That’s great! Now, you won’t get barely passing marks for most subjects.”
“Can't you just praise someone like a normal human being?” She glared at him.
“But I wasn't,” Cormac confessed.
Katie felt speechless at his honesty. Once she regained her senses, she scoffed and sat down.
Meanwhile, Sol was thinking of an even bigger problem.
Is he one of those reincarnators with knowledge of the plot? Then, is he a part of the plot as well? Am I in a motherfucking fanfic?[2]
If he is part of the plot, then it might be easy for me to- no...just the restriction from the Law Of The World proves that he isn’t. Then what do I do? Reincarnators are a bit rare. Only the worlds whose whole gimmick is reincarnation can have a surplus of them. So, they may be rare. Like 1 in a billion. So doesn’t that mean there are other reincarnators? Can I consider them to be a potential threat? I should. But how do I go about this?
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Sol’s brows furrowed instinctively. His chaotic thoughts and indecisiveness have shocked both Katie and Cormac as flowers started blooming near Sol. They did not know what was happening but could guess it was because of Sol. Begonias and Red Columbines blooming from the steel floor of the compartment and out of the cushion seats.
“O-Oi! What the hell?” Cormac panicked.
“I don’t know he might be having a nightmare,” Katie bit her lips looked at Sol with a worried and frantic look on her face.
“What kind of nightmare makes flowers bloom?! Bloody hell, wake him up!” Cormac told Katie as she was sitting next to him.
“O-Okay,” Katie steeled herself and turned to Sol. She nudged him and called out softly, “Sol, are you okay?”
“Huh?” Sol looked at her groggily. He had a late reaction, clearly not expecting to be pulled from his thoughts. He rubbed his eyes, “What’s wrong?”
“Next time the princess turns into a gorilla, just run away,” Cormac advised him. He secretly glanced at Katie only to receive a jab from her.
“What the fu-” Sol didn’t understand what he was going on about but then he saw what the compartment looked like. Flowers covered every inch of the floor and some parts of the seat around Sol. “O-Oh.”
“See?” Cormac raised his brows.
“Chill out, there were no princesses and no gorillas either.” Sol waved his hands the flowers turned into little balls of lights as they floated around the compartment. The balls of light shifted in the colors of the rainbow as they danced around the compartment. Their soft glow enchanted the other two.
Nodding in satisfaction, Sol snapped his fingers and the other two instantly leaned in their seats, asleep. The balls of light disappeared as well. Cormac leaned and started sleeping in the unoccupied space of his seat. Katie did the same but as Sol was beside her, she ended up leaning on his shoulder. Looking at the two, Sol smiled. “Sweet dreams,” with that he concentrated on the scenery outside. His thoughts pushed to the back of his mind.
----------------------------------------
In the evening, the train reached Hogwarts station. And at the same time, Katie and Cormac woke up as well. Sol didn’t feel particularly surprised as he was the one who put them to sleep. So he had a good idea as to how long they would’ve done so. They both rubbed their eyes and looked around groggily. Their eyes were a bit red from sleeping.
“Come on, we’re here!” Sol said softly as he began to bring his satchel down.
“Can you not put us to sleep?” Katie asked, a bit annoyed.
“I didn’t do it intentionally. But you did give me a good idea on how to use that spell,” Sol lied.
“At least, we’re somewhat useful...” Cormac muttered quietly as the three made their way off the train. As they walked around the platform, they were greeted by the familiar sight of students scampering about and Hagrid calling for the first years in his gruff voice.
They quickly made their way to the carriages and on their way, they met Cho.
“Hey, guys!” Cho greeted them.
“How are you?!” Katie went up and hugged her.
“Hey there, Cho!” Cormac greeted her as well.
Cho left Katie's embrace and looked at Sol with a smile.
“Heyo!” Sol met her with a grin, “Let's talk on the carriage!” With that, Sol walked forward followed by the other three. Cho waved bye to her friends from Ravenclaw as she followed Sol. The three got on the carriage pulled by thestrals although Sol was the only one who could see them.
They sat in the open carriage and the thestrals started walking. Sol took in a deep breath. His headache had already subsided so he just took in the scenery. The four chatted as their carriage headed towards Hogwarts. At one point, Katie said, “We're finally in our third year. That means weekly visits to Hogsmeade.”
“Yeah, I'm looking forward to it and Butterbeer. My pops told me about it. It’s supposed to taste fantastic.” Cormac agreed.
“I hope I can get the extra sweet version. I heard Madam Rosmerta from the Three Broomsticks Inn sells that variant. I also want to see Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop!” Cho eagerly expressed her opinion.
“I guess it’s not very alcoholic if it’s being served to students,” Sol lamented.
“What'll you do if it was?” Katie asked. But then she quickly shifted her gaze to Cho and wore an inquisitive look, “So will you take Cedric to Madam Puddifoot's?”
“Wha-?” Cho was caught off guard and felt a burning sensation on her face as blood rushed to her cheeks. As she was feeling, a certain thought came across her as she glared at Sol, “Sol!”
Sol choked on his saliva as he was subjected to her gaze which seemed to want to eat him alive,” Keuk! What?! I didn’t tell her! Swear to the gods!”
“There’s no one else but you!” Cho said through clenched teeth.
“Relax!” Katie waved her hands and grinned, “He doesn’t need to tell me. Most of the girls know.”
“H-How?” Cho stammered, her cheeks still tinted red.
“We always see you stealing glances at Cedric. Mostly in the great hall, anytime we eat. How you try to talk with him any chance you get and how happy you seem after doing so. Especially at breakfast. I'm pretty sure all of Ravenclaw knows by now.” Katie confessed.
“It’s very obvious,” Cormac chuckled.
“See?! Even someone like Cormac noticed. You were obvious to the point that Sol didn’t need to tell us,” Katie laughed as well.
“T-That's...” Cho tried to defend herself but couldn’t find anything to do with.
“That’s enough,” Sol stopped the two from laughing. He then grinned at her, “We should at least congratulate her now that she found her husband candidate.”
“That’s right,” Katie nodded, “Cedric is the dream boyfriend of many. He's smart, gentle, and good-looking. It seems only our Cho is worthy of him.”
“I agree,” Cormac nodded as well, “Cho is pretty. Many of the seniors confessed to her but got rejected. We've finally found someone who she'll accept.”
“S-Stop!” Amidst everyone's teasings, Cho felt more and more embarrassed.
“I’m not lying,” Cormac spread his hands innocently, “Even some of us like you.”
Cho looked at Cormac who’s cheeks seemed a bit red when he admitted that, “Do you?’
“I do. But I’m trying to stop. No use liking someone who won’t reciprocate.”
Cho smiled gently then patted his shoulder, “Don’t worry. You’ll find someone.”
“I know,” Cormac smiled which made him seem perverted, “I’ll try my luck with the juniors.”
He then added, “Of course, it’ll be after a few years. They’re still kids.”
Cho nodded then looked at Sol who was looking at the trees, “Does he as well?”
Cormac understood what she was asking. Katie did as well so she listened carefully. “Hah! It'd be a miracle if he showed some interest towards anyone.”
“Enough!” Sol stopped them. “We’re here.”
The carriage stopped at the gate which was a five-minute walk from the castle. They got down and saw Professor Flitwick taking names.
As they came to him, he just looked at them and asked in a flat tone, “Names?”
“Sol Balor.”
“Cormac McLaggen.”
“Katie Bell.”
“Cho Chang.”
As they said their names, the professor wrote them down. After he was done he motioned at them to go ahead.
With that, the four walked to the castle, starting their third year at Hogwarts.