Nocturne of Sorrow

Daylight.

The page on my desk is illuminated by the cool morning light. I continue my efforts from the previous night, researching, writing down any notes that I can manage to find. My head is so in my studies that I only passingly manage to hear a knocking at my door.

I give the go my visitor the go ahead. On sight of who they are, I drop everything I’m doing.

“How has my favorite knight been doing?” I hear the voice I’d missed so dearly.

He walks into the room and does a quick survey of the place. Smiling full and bright as he reminisces on the time long passed.

“I knew that someday you would be back in this old room. Hope you don’t mind my intrusion, but I’d finally come back and wanted to see my son with my own two eyes. It’s been far too long.”

He turns that smile so like the light of the sun towards me and his golden eyes find focus in my own, unabashed and full of pride.

Solus, the previous Celestial Knight, my own surrogate father, has come to pay me a visit.

✩ ✩ ✩

The hours fly by as he and I share stories of our lives since we’d last met. Making up for the lost time the best that we can together and enjoying ever minute of it. The noon hour comes quickly and Jupa is kind enough to serve lunch for the two of us.

“It was a long, arduous journey, but it was rewarding.” He speaks with nothing but cheer in his voice. “And it’s another amazing reward to see how well you’ve grown. I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am of you. For all that you’ve done. I’d been given updates as you’ve gone along and it was all a blast to hear.”

I can only thank him and give into the highest joy of hearing his praise.

“I mean, taking care of so many Feral is one magnificent feat, but the amount of lives you’ve saved just about brought tears to my eyes.”

In response, I let him know the wackier side of things. I even tell him about Juna and confess my troubles that I’ve been dealing with all this time.

“It always comes with the part. When there’s so much on your shoulders, the stress can come for you and those around you. It’ll get better and knowing you, Khiron, you’ll find a way to overcome all of it. Just like you always have.”

Having had an influential memory returned to me, I glance over to the clear glass of the window and remember that day. The day that I’d overcome the most difficult challenge and had made a promise to him that I would continue forging forward with all the might I have.

“I can’t hold back. I have to ask.” A huge smirk plasters itself on his face, so cheesy and nearly holding back from a hearty laugh. “Now that you’re in the know as to the Celestial Knight’s other duties, I have to ask what you think of the maidens you have gathered around.”

A fierce blush smacks me red. I stutter for a bit but quickly work to catch hold of my tongue and let him know.

“You like all of them, huh? Well, I’ve seen them and they’re all very charming. I can see from their hospitality and company that they’re all just as sweet on the inside too. But there really are so many this time around. Didn’t at all expect that. In my time there were only those you’d had as family, your mother and the others. Don’t let it all go to your head or complicate your life now. You have a duty to the kingdom.”

His laughter is set free. I feel even more mortified at his teasing. I laugh along with him and the embarrassment only makes me laugh harder. It’s a warm, wonderful feeling I’d sorely longed to feel once more.

Though as he’d brought me to think of the kingdom, I turn the discussion to a more serious topic. I confide in him for the truth of my troubles.

“Dreams? How peculiar. I’ve never thought of a world of glassy heavens. It does sound beautiful to see but quite frightening too. Fortino, that boy, he seems to mean much to you. Given how much he’s been on your mind and what you’d experienced with him.”

Solus rubs the back of his head, still sitting coolly in the chair before me. When he gets the puzzle of his thoughts solved, he reconvenes.

“I think it’d be good for you to honor your feelings. There’s something more to this. There’s not a doubt in my mind. I’ve been through enough strange things that this sounds completely understandable. Another world, as some might call it. Whatever it is you’re going through, be it with Juna or Fortino, don’t lose heart.”

At his word I can only agree. I promise him that I’ll continue forward no matter what comes my way. That proud look he gives me only grows stronger and he beams even more brightly. But that all quickly drops into a more serious, somber expression and he meets my eyes to hammer home the gravity of his next talk.

“I’m sure you know that as much as I love you and am happy to spend time with you, I have something important to tell you.”

I concede his point, having already felt there was even more reason for him to have come by to visit.

He unfolds his hands and uncrosses his legs, getting it together to let me hear the matter.

“Khiron, I need you to promise me another thing. I’m usually more lax, but this is something I have to be firm on. I can’t let you go until you promise me this one thing.”

There couldn’t be a thing that I wouldn’t promise to him. He had only ever had my good and the good of the kingdom in his heart. So I make my promise that I’ll listen and swear to him.

“Good. I’d needed to hear that. I know you were meant to go to Pride today, but you won’t be able to. Not here.” He sighs to himself and sharpens his gaze upon me. “Now promise me, Khiron. Promise me that you won’t give up. You’ll solve the mystery of that tower.”

Despite how much I could attempt to prepare for his request, I’m just confused to hear it. So I confusedly ask him what other towers he could be speaking of.

“There is another tower and it’s not pride. It’s that tower. The one. The very tower that you know well. It’s been there the entire time.”

He emphasizes his statement as he points beyond my shoulder and out the glass of the window. I turn to look and see nothing. There’s nothing there but blue skies and clouds, even if I draw nearer and give it a better look.

I turn back around and intend to ask him what he’s even talking about. To hear whether or not I’d fallen for one of his jokes. But when I look back to him, all I find is an empty chair.

All I can do is sit and stare. I watch it closely, let myself be lost in the image of that unoccupied seat. I let it be the one thing in my entire world, I let it be my mind.

A weeping sorrow rises up to touch my heart.

I turn back to the window and stare out its fractured, broken glass. And on the floor beneath, a large and jagged bloodied shard lays in a pool of blood.

“Solus. I miss you every day.” I speak and feel my chest heavy. The scar pulses with its pain. “I wish you were still alive.”

I look down at the palm of my hand and see that it’s bare. The cloth I’d wrapped around it is gone without a trace. I haven’t even the faintest recollection of having ever removed it.

I at once remember that I was meant to be at Pride now. Fighting for all of Celestia. Yet the dusk light is shining clearly and I’m still in my room. I step towards the door and take a deep breath before I open it.

The quaint residential hallway of the manor is gone. Replaced.

Clear panes of glass side the way forward and outside I can see the clouds far below. The sunset is no longer. Ever expanding heavens stretch out each way, leaving nothing else but a calm blue as the far off horizon continues.

A movement catches the corner of my eye and I twist to watch a man with black hair and a dark blue uniform walking his way off at the end of the hallway.

Fortino…!

I kick up into a run after him.

I can’t let him get away.