Solomon and the Honey Badger

Memories of Charlie’s family played through his mind as fast as lightning. The death of his dog, the vow he and Cherry made that night, all the whimsical adventures, all the people they’ve met, and the last two years at Astrale Academy—all of it flashed through his eyes.

The boy lay there in the pile of rubble, utterly dumbstruck.

Solomon picked up the scabbard and threw it back at him. “Again.”

Charlie snapped out of his daze and grunted in pain. “Ugh, what was that for?! You almost killed me!”

“You should be glad that this isn’t a real fight. Now get up.”

Charlie’s head continued to ring, his vision blurry. Solomon strode toward him and yanked him up by the collar. “Giving up already?”

Charlie gritted his teeth and snatched his arm, albeit weak. Solomon forcibly threw him back into the courtyard alongside the sheath.

“Until you can pull the sword from its case, you have no chance of surviving out there,” said the former knight.

The boy snatched the scabbard and pulled as hard as he could on the hilt. No matter how much strength he poured, the sword remained sealed shut. Damn it, was this part of his ‘test?!’

Charlie glanced over his shoulders, watching in terror as his trainer bolted at him. He stumbled backward and helplessly brandished the sheath.

Solomon threw a hook too fast for him to dodge, knocking the boy down, the ground caving in beneath him and the scabbard clattering beside him.

God, it felt like his skull cracked. For a moment, he could’ve sworn his vision also split in half. He could barely let out a squeak of pain, twitching his fingers. He tried reaching for the sheath mere inches from him.

Solomon stomped on his arm and crouched down. “You’re too weak,” he hissed fiercely. “Far too slow, weak, and pathetic.” He pressed harder on his foot, and the boy cried in pain. “And here I thought the rumored Honey Badger would be more ferocious than this.”

Charlie held his breath.

It had been a while since he heard that nickname.

Memories of him beating up Eloi’s bullies crossed his mind.

At that time, they merely wanted to treat themselves with some pastries after failing to make any friends. When Eloi came to deliver their order, a group of students began to pick on him for not working on theirs first, despite ordering later than the twins did.

At that time, Eloi was still a stranger. The twins knew far better than to get involved, but when the bullies ruined their pastries as collateral damage, they couldn’t look away any longer.

It started as a heated argument, then an exchange of insults, and eventually shoving. When a bully slapped Cherry, Charlie snapped, broke their nose, and left their face swollen and purple.

…In Theatreux, reputation meant everything.

After word got out that a student from Astrale Academy had beaten up his fellow schoolmates—who turned out to be high-class elites—his family’s reputation plummeted to hell.

The assault happened at a bakery, hence “Honey.” The aggressor was a young man, short but vicious, hence “Badger.” The Honey Badger, the delinquent from an esteemed institution, was the first to ever commit such violent misconduct in the school’s history.

Even though his family reassured him that he did the right thing, he couldn’t ignore the public’s voices. At that time, they only made one friend, Eloi, who barely started hanging out with them after the incident. In the end, it was three voices against the majority of the school.

His mind began to fog with bitter memories—faces of his classmates and professors wrenching with disgust, repulsiveness, and fear, their voices whispering dozens of ignorance and criticism. Among such faces, Monty was also there, sneering scornfully.

No, not like this. To hell with them. To hell with everyone who hurt him and his family! They tried their best to make amends and restore their image, and yet, they fell into this shithole anyway! This wasn’t fair. This wasn’t fair in the slightest!

Something sparked inside him—something hot and fierce, burning with fury. It was the same raging fire he felt when he hugged Cherry’s body.

“Don’t you dare call me that again,” Charlie growled. His eyes began to glow brilliantly, and Solomon backed away. The young man gritted his teeth, baring his fangs. He snatched the scabbard and held it firmly.

As if the case sensed his intensified emotions, its golden decorations slowly dulled scarlet red and radiated with an intense aura. Gradually, the golden leaves disintegrated away, clearing the body and unsealing its throat. With a hiss, it clicked open. Charlie grabbed the hilt and began to pull, smoothly unsheathing the sword. He tossed the case away and brandished it as it shined brilliantly under the sunlight.

Solomon couldn’t help but smirk. “Now we’re getting somewhere.” He flattened out a palm, and a spurt of blood poured out, quickly solidifying into a cluster of vines. He swung his arm, the vines soaring at the boy in full force.

As much as Charlie wanted to question how in the name of science and physics could he possibly do that, now wasn’t the best of times.

The boy stomped his foot—cratering the ground underneath—and dashed. With a battle cry, he slashed through the vines. He grimaced in pain as a branch grazed through his shoulder. He shook off the pain and quickly sliced it before it struck again.

Another vine began to charge behind him. Charlie grunted as it ensnared his neck and lifted him. He tightened his grip on the sword and tried to swing at it, only for another vine to knock his blade down and tie up his arms.

Charlie squirmed and kicked his legs around, cursing all the while.

“There will be battles where a weapon will be beyond your reach,” said Solomon. “What will you do then?”

The rookie grunted and tried wiggling his arms free, only for the vines to squeeze tighter. His throbbing heart continued to pump out frustrations that blazed through his veins. It was getting so hot that he wanted to combust like he did on—

The vines bursted.

Charlie collapsed back down with a grunt. He glanced up and gaped at the vines now burnt into ashes.

“I knew it,” said Solomon. “That black and red fire that devoured the Galactic Stage was your doing, wasn’t it?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Did you know? When a vampire’s emotions go beyond a certain threshold, their heart will respond to it and begin to go into overdrive, converting their desires into physical manifestations. That is one of the few ways where vampires achieve a ‘Crimoire Awakening.’” Solomon rubbed his chin, pondering to himself. “However, if a vampire is heartbroken with such intensified emotions, they’d lose control of themselves and self-destruct. It’s a miracle that you and Cherry even survived.”

“Wh-What are you talking about? Crimoire Awakening? Did I awaken something? You mean to say I almost died?”

“Indeed, you were so heartbroken and angry that day you quite literally combust into flames.” He raised a hand, where more vines manifested behind him. “However, once you’ve survived that phase, it’s only a matter of controlling your emotions and understanding your desires to use them frequently. On that note, look down.”

Charlie glanced down at his hands, widening in surprise at the shadowy flames dancing around his arms. He yelped and flailed around with fright before realizing they didn’t hurt.

“Wh-What’s happening to me?!”

“Breathe, Charlie. Clear your mind and focus on striking me.”

Confused, the rookie’s only option was to take a deep breath—pausing for a moment to silence all thoughts and questions—and face him. Acting on pure instinct, he sprinted at him with clenched fists.

The vines charged at him, and Charlie swung his arms. Waves of black fire soared through the air and burned all the obstacles in his path. Solomon couldn’t help but widen his eyes in astonishment, underestimating his speed. He grinned with anticipation and approached him himself, raising his fists.

Solomon threw a hook. Charlie ducked and returned an uppercut, striking him in his jaw. The man barely twitched before snatching his wrist. “Too soft,” he said.

Charlie smirked back. “You fell for it.”

“Huh?”

Charlie raised his fiery leg and kicked him at his waist, a blast of black fire exploding on impact and blowing him away.

Solomon slid backward and slammed into a nearby pillar, stunned. His eyes gleamed as he watched the boy chase after him full of vigor, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

Charlie threw a punch, and Solomon blocked it with a forearm, parrying it with a jab. The boy leaned away and threw another punch. The two continued with their fistfight as such, and time flew faster around them.

When Charlie finally collapsed from exhaustion, sunset had arrived.

“Hahaha! I haven’t had such a wonderful exercise in ages,” said Solomon, messaging his shoulders. “Well done, Charlie. You’ve passed.”

“H-Huh?” Charlie croaked, drenched in sweat. “Y-You’re telling me… that… that this whole fight… was just… a test?!”

“Yes? I was going easy on you.”

“What do you mean, ‘easy?!’ You almost broke my bones!”

“Hmm? Nonsense. You seem fine.”

“Ugh, I can’t believe you…” Charlie wiped his forehead and lay on his back, heavily panting.

Solomon approached him and offered a hand. “Good job today,” he said with a smile. “Let’s have some dinner.”

With a tired sigh and a grin, Charlie grabbed his hand and got up.

The two went back inside, not noticing the spectating raven perching on a tree branch.