Chapter 9.5: Solara Silver

Solara pushed her sleeve against her patient’s sweat. Her prayer was depleting as she healed; however, it wasn’t as bad as before. Jun wasn’t nearby anymore, and powerful people were protecting the front now, allowing her to treat and then evacuate the injured.

As far as she understood, it was pure happenstance that they had been found. The rain had loosened the ground and Jun had fallen in. She stumbled to the mouth of the cave as another came, asking for help. She assessed the injury. The spellbind was potent and half of his limbs were responding sluggishly. Still, she did her best to treat it.

‘If only Jun were here.’ His ability to weaken the poison was indeed helpful. A monster down the tunnel roared, making her stiffen. While she was taking combat studies, she was no warrior. She knew her place was in the back, healing the injured. However, she wanted to get over her fears.

That roar triggered the unpleasant memories. Monsters plowing through her town, massacring everything. She’d only escaped because of the blood on her, and by hiding under the dead. The Church had found her, taken her in, and she had devoted her life to the Silver Flame. However, despite being proud that her devotion had paid off, granting her healing abilities, she still couldn’t move near monsters. It took the others coaxing her to the next patient for her to keep going.

The roar resounded again, this time closer, louder. Her staff circulated her prayer for her as she closed her eyes, refusing to cower. The scratching of footfalls echoed. As she peeked out, she heard shouts. Another beast had broken through. And it was charging right at her.

Fear. Those horrible green eyes stared into her soul. The dilapidated tounge flung out. Tentacles with spikes dripped with a foul liquid. Those claws carried the same liquid. It was agile, lithe. Darkened fur glinted in the firelight. All these details and more ingrained in her as she stared, frozen, time ticking slowly.

A figure jumped in between them, stopping the beast. How could she not realize who this was? Brown hair clashed with the white robes—hiding the right arm. Jun was back.

The tentacles lashed out, scratching, tearing at his clothes. However, his blade found the neck, piercing it as it rammed through. Jun staggered back towards her, getting pinned from the weight of the monster. The initial terror kept Solara there while Mei charged forward, pulling the beast off. Seeing this, Solara came, wanting to help. Jun didn’t look at her, but when their eyes met he offered a simple smile.

“You alright?” his voice was calm, helping her to regain her awareness.

“Yes, thank you. How are your injuries?” she reached forward, forcing her eyes away from the monster.

“I’m fine.” He looked a bit alarmed as she came close. “See?” He moved without problem, assuring her of his condition. Solara’s mouth hung. She had seen the attacks; the spellbind should still have affected him. He couldn’t dispel it that fast, no matter how proficient his medicine skills were. As Jun withdrew his sword, she tried to grasp what was happening.

‘Well, I’ll be…’ her staff hummed. Jun flinched but his eyes remained on the fighting.

“Let’s go, Mei. Looks like they could use the help.” He then glanced at her. “Will you be alright?” he asked once more and Solara nodded. Her heart was a mess right now, but that was from the emotions she couldn’t focus on, not a physical condition. Mei charged forward and Jun followed. A few others teamed up with them; one seemed like the boy whom Mei usually hung out with in combat class.

‘Let’s get on top of the healing. Then you and I need to have a little chat, dear.’ Her staff guided her, and Solara reluctantly returned to the cavern. The White Flame greeted her, and she took note of his staff before moving along. As more were healed, they were evacuated. The fighting only grew more intense, yet somehow the injuries that came were less serious than before. Solara couldn’t understand it. There was no way the warriors were gaining that much experience that rapidly. She had healed soldiers before, back at the Church, so it was an instinctive understanding.

As she continued on, it came down to a few patients, and soon she found herself being evacuated. The infirmary was being moved to the surface; they would keep the beasts in the tunnels while they got everyone out.

As she climbed the ladder, her eyes searched for any sign of Jun. There was none. Even when she was safely outside, she didn’t see anything. Despite the relative safety, there was a strange tension.

‘It seems not everyone is pleased we made it out alive,’ her staff warned her. She looked around, trying to spot this elusive threat.

Before she could locate the danger, a yowl sounded from the hole. Someone was flying through the opening. She ran over, jaw dropping as she saw Jun grumbling about rough treatment, trying to rise with his left arm. This only confirmed her suspicions. He couldn’t use his right arm. Two steps and she found herself by his side, helping him up. The nearness made her blush, but that feeling left as she smelled the blood on him.

“Thanks,” he muttered, rising with her assistance.

“You’re injured.” His clothes were torn in several spots, and drying blood could be seen. She didn’t allow him any form of protest as she pulled out her staff and guided him to a rock, the crowd parting to let them through.

As she healed him, she felt his prayer circulating strangely through his body before he stopped the flow. Their eyes met again, and she heard footfalls as someone approached.

“Hey, old—oh… Jun.” Mei complained as she came over.

“As if you can argue. What stunt were you performing with that blast?”

“That was a ninja skill. You were the one who charged in recklessly. It’s not my fault.” While the two bickered, Solara’s staff pulsed in her hand.

‘Close but not. Those two seem like siblings.’

“Indeed.” She kept her words at barely a whisper, trusting in the staff’s observations. Jun swatted at some unknown insect, and Solara heard her staff chuckle.

‘You are done, correct? There is no need to linger on him.’

The chiding made her blush, and she excused herself.

“Thanks.” Jun’s words trailed after her as she hurried her pace. Only when she was a distance away from the others did Solara find some solitude and consult her staff.

“That was uncalled for…” Her complaint only made the staff laugh.

“You did notice though. He may be trying to hide it but only barely. He’s no blue, he’s closing in on becoming a Silver and he has an artifact on his person. He’s not been at the school long enough to do that.’

“An Alinta?” Solara looked back in Jun’s direction, seeing him converse with Mei before his face turned dark and he looked about discreetly. Someone was targeting him. Did they know as well?

“Does that mean…”

‘Yes, he was the one healing and dispelling the spellbind on people. He’s got talent and skill, and the prayer and faith to boot. The amount he mitigated was impressive. There were a few patients who had already been healed. The areas would have been deadly if not taken care of so quickly.’

“I noticed it too.” Solara watched with interest as Jun led Mei away. The fighting began in earnest, but out here, and with some flares heading into the stormy sky, more people were gathering, including another White Flame—Amalie Earnested. Solara’s eyes slitted as she stared. Amalie had shown interest in Jun and Mei, even giving them housing. It wasn’t just weird; it was unprecedented. She had a reputation of ignoring first-years. Was she aware as well?

‘It’s likely.’ Her staff resonated. ‘In any case, you should grow closer with him.’ Solara felt her cheeks burn, and she hid them in her robes.

“Why would you say that?” she complained.

‘Your feelings are cute, child. But think logically for a second. He is an Alinta and a healer. Out of all the teachers here, are there any as skilled as he? He could take on spellbind! You could learn quite a bit and advance your skill. Once he does reveal his Alinta status, that will only increase your prestige and raise the Church. Who knows, he may develop feelings for you too.’

“But he is engaged.”

‘Pfft. His fiancée and he may be close, but there isn’t a romantic bone in their bodies. It’s not too late for him to change his mind… and there is also… hmmm.’

“Serena?”

‘It’s possible that they came here to avoid the marriage.’

“But he was the one who said it.”

‘You were coming on a little strong.’

At that remark Solara felt the heat increase. She wished to hide but heard someone call for her services.

“That’s enough you…” she grumbled, shaking the staff before heading away. The laughter followed her as she trudged up the hill.