Nai Soari is often called a God.
It's usually by admiring women who call his charming looks god-like, but it is used by army generals and soldiers who have happened to witness the miracles this humble man can make on the battlefield.
You see, Nai has a gift. He can use the power of the Sun Goddess, Sorelia, and use it however he pleases. Solid beams of white-hot heat erupt from his palms, obliterating anyone who is unfortunate enough to get in its way. It is surprising, once you meet this 'Blessing from the Sun', as he is a gentle, tender soul with fair, elegant beauty like that of a woman. One would not know of his ruthlessness on the battlefield or his unwavering brutality whenever he kills. But he is the 'Blessing from the Sun', a prophesized hero who will save the slaves from their vicious masters, rid the world of unruly humans, and destroy the vile Demons from their lands. How could he dare to unmask his face and show the world how he truly feels nothing but sorrow when ending a Demon's life? They would despise him. How could he ever show the world that he really fucking hates humans and would rather team up with Demons?
No. That's not quite right.
Nai may despise humans, but he hates Demons just as much. He'd much rather live atop a mountain range, secluded from any forms of life, and live out his eternal life in solitude.
And do believe me, he has tried to run from his duties, but unfortunately, there is always someone there to drag him - often forcefully - back to the battlefield, where he is forced to kill again and again and again and again and again and again...
Nai often travels the country of Suri, visiting village after village, searching for someone who may need his help. This is general Candra's idea of a holiday for the 'Blessing of the Sun'. 'Nai' doesn't get the luxury of a holiday, so he takes whatever he can.
Currently, Nai is passing through the tiny village of Titus, the last village right before the city of Marici, one of Suri's largest cities, home to the Prince of the Sun. Ironically, the village of Titus - which means 'to burn' - is currently set ablaze.
Several buildings built of thatch and rotting planks of wood have gone up in flame, silky orange flames licking at the night sky. Nai drinks in the contrast between the black forest and the orange and red fire. The warmth that the fire brings, and the cold that the rest of the night envelops him with.
But Nai's attention is drawn away, the dozens of corpses littering the ground make his eyes widen. Villagers scream, but only at the fire slowly engulfing their homes. No one seems to pay attention to the dozens of dead. No one seems to be attached to any of these corpses ... And they all have such vastly differing characteristics. There are a few human corpses with slit throats, but also Demon bodies with holes through their chests, hearts resting on the ground next to them. Nai also spots a beast-man, half oxen, half man, and a fae with slender ears and dagger-like teeth jutting from open mouths, fixed into a position that makes Nai wonder if they were screaming right as they died...
The nearby rustling of leaves catches Nai's attention, head swerves in the direction of the noise. Nai leaves the vicinity of the strewn corpses and screaming village people, and starts clearing a path through the shrubbery that is yet to catch fire.
The village currently set ablaze can wait. Nai never liked the idea of being an overpowered hero who constantly had to help everyone because they are too weak.
Nai can only divert his attention onto one thing, and at the moment, this new rustling has managed to catch his attention.
Nai reaches a small clearing, hand on the hilt of his holy sword which glows when unshealthed. The rustling sound ceases, silence invading the forest. He scans the tree line, ready to attack anyone – human or Demon – who is willing to strike first.
But to Nai's disappointment, a tiny figure emerges from a bush, standing no taller than his thighs. Nai sighs, his excitement fading as quickly as it came. Surely something of this size would not be a threat.
Nai unsheathes his sword a fraction, solid white light erupting from the metal, and brightens his surroundings. The pale light illuminates the dirty face of a young human boy, who now stands at arm's length from Nai. His clothes are torn and filthy, and his long, curly dark hair has come loose from the string loosely tied at the back of his head. The child's lifeless dark blue eyes sparkle in the reflection of the sword-light.
They both remain unmoving, staring at each other for a few moments time, studying each other intensely. Crimson blood drips from the child's chin. Nai follows with his eyes, the stream of blood from the child's chin up to a large, deep gash above his tiny eyebrow. In fact, now that Nai has finished observing the small being, his clothes are covered in crimson blood, and cuts litter his body. Nai sighs, leaving his sword unsheathed as a source of light. He crouches, bringing himself to the child's eye level.
"How did you become injured?" Nai asks, his voice smooth like velvet and as a millpond. Nai rummages through his pockets for a spare piece of cloth he can use to wrap the child's head, as that is the largest wound visible on the child's body.
"…" The child doesn't speak and doesn't move. One would presume he was simply dead, standing upright, if he didn't blink on occasion.
"Were you hurt in the commotion in the village? Where are your parents? Are they injured, too?"
Again, the child remains silent.
Nai raises a brow. Perhaps he cannot speak?
Something tugs at Nai's chest. The child seems to be around the age of six or seven. Surely, no parents would leave a child of this age alone and injured in the dead of night?
Nai reaches forward, a loose piece of cloth in his hands. The boy flinches and takes a step back, creating a gap between them. Nai groans. 'Why should I even bother helping this kid? Whether his parents come, or they don't, he's as good as dead either way with a cut that big on his head.' But despite the voice in his head, Nai cannot stand up, much less walk away from a child so young and alone.
"Can you even understand me?" Nai tries again, placing his hand on his cheek, and propping up his head.
This time, the boy nods, the edges of his big, wide eyes turning red. Nai grimaces. He really doesn't want to deal with a crying child.
"I am here to help you, don't worry. Can you speak?"
After a short moment of hesitation, the boy nods again. Nai's mood lightens. "Well then, can you tell me your name?"
The boy shakes his head.
"Why not?"
The boy shakes his head. "None."
"Hmm? 'None', what? You don't have a name?"
Again, the boy shakes his head. His tiny hands clench into fists. "None."
Nai tilts his head and closes his eyes in frustration. 'Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't give in' ... "Would you like me to give you a name?"
Damn it. 'WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME??'