The rune on Grey's neck pulsed violently, its flame-shaped mark glowing brighter than ever. As he offered the memory, the world around him dissolved, and he was pulled into the past—a past he had buried deep within his mind.
***
The forest was a living, breathing entity. Towering trees stretched their gnarled branches toward the sky, their leaves filtering the sunlight into a mosaic of gold and green. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the soft rustling of leaves was punctuated by the occasional chirp of birds or the distant call of a fox. It was a place of solitude, of silence—a place where a man like Sol could disappear.
He stood in a small clearing, his movements precise and fluid as he practiced his sword forms. His long white hair, like strands of moonlight, cascaded down his back, tied loosely at the nape of his neck. His pitch-black eyes, sharp and unyielding, focused on an invisible opponent as his blade cut through the air with a low, resonant hum. His body was a masterpiece of strength and grace, every muscle taut and defined, moving with the lethal elegance of a predator.
To the villagers nearby, he was a ghost—a figure whispered about in hushed tones. Some said he was a demon, others a fallen warrior. But to Sol, he was simply a man who had long since stopped caring about names or titles.
On this particular day, his training was interrupted by a sound—a soft, muffled sob.
He paused, his sword stilling mid-swing. His black eyes scanned the trees, narrowing as he pinpointed the source of the noise. Slowly, he sheathed his sword and walked toward it, his boots crunching softly on the forest floor.
In a small thicket, a little girl sat curled up on the ground, her face buried in her hands. She couldn't have been more than six or seven years old, her hair a messy tangle of chestnut curls, her dress—a simple, homespun thing—torn and dirtied from her wanderings. Her tiny shoulders shook as she cried, her sobs echoing softly through the trees.
The man stopped a few paces away, his expression unreadable. "Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice calm but devoid of warmth.
The girl flinched, her head snapping up. Her eyes were wide and red from crying, her cheeks streaked with tears. For a moment, she just stared at him, her breath hitching. Then, in a voice trembling with fear and relief, she said, "I… I'm lost. I can't find my way home."
The man tilted his head, studying her. "Where is your home?"
"In the village," she said, pointing vaguely toward the east. "I was playing with my friends, and then… I got lost."
The man sighed softly, almost imperceptibly. "Come," he said, extending a hand. "I'll take you back."
The girl hesitated, her small hands clutching the hem of her dress. She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. "You… you won't hurt me, will you?"
The man's expression didn't change. "If I wanted to hurt you, you'd already be dead."
The girl blinked, her fear momentarily replaced by confusion.
but she still didn't move
the man took his hand back and turn around.
seeing the man go back to where he came from the little girl got panic as she rushed toward him
"wait..."
the man stop and turn his head to look at her she stood there.
her head low...
Then, slowly, she reached out and took his hand.
the man didn't say a word as they started walking
The man led her through the forest, his steps slow and deliberate so she could keep up. The girl clung to his hand, her tiny fingers gripping his larger ones tightly. She sniffled occasionally, but her tears had stopped.
The forest seemed less intimidating with him by her side. The shadows that had once felt menacing now felt like a protective cloak, and the distant sounds of wildlife no longer made her jump.
"What's your name?" she asked after a while, her voice small but curious.
The man didn't answer at first. Then, almost reluctantly, he said, "You can call me… Sol."
"Sol?" the girl repeated, testing the name. "That's a nice name. I'm Lily."
Sol glanced down at her but said nothing.
Lily, however, was undeterred. "Do you live in the forest, Sol?"
"Sometimes."
"Why?"
"It's quiet."
Lily tilted her head, her curiosity growing. "Don't you get lonely?"
"..."
Sol didn't respond.
They walked in silence for a while, the only sounds the crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant calls of birds. Then Lily spoke again.
"You're really strong, aren't you?"
Sol raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think that?"
"Because you have a sword," she said matter-of-factly. "And you're really tall. that mean sol is really strong And… not scared of anything."
Sol almost smiled at that—almost. "Being strong doesn't mean you're not scared."
Lily frowned, her little brow furrowing. "But you don't look scared."
sol once again didn't say a word.
Lily now don't look scared as she walked cheerfully talking to sol... she was the only one talking.
When they reached the edge of the forest, the village came into view—a small cluster of wooden houses surrounded by fields of golden wheat. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, and the distant sound of laughter and chatter filled the air.
Lily's face lit up, and she let go of Sol's hand, running ahead.
"Mama!" she called, her voice ringing with joy.
A woman emerged from one of the houses, her face pale with worry. When she saw Lily, she burst into tears and ran to scoop her up.
"Lily! Oh, thank the gods!" the woman cried, clutching her daughter tightly. "Where have you been? We've been looking everywhere!"
"I got lost," Lily said, her voice muffled against her mother's shoulder. "But Big Brother Sol found me and brought me back."
The woman froze, her eyes widening as they landed on Sol. He stood a few paces away, his tall, imposing figure silhouetted against the trees. His long white hair glinted in the sunlight, and his pitch-black eyes were cold and unreadable. The sword at his side only added to his intimidating presence.
"Big… Brother Sol?" the woman repeated, her voice trembling.
Lily nodded enthusiastically, wriggling out of her mother's arms. "Yeah! He's really strong and nice! He saved me!"
Sol's expression didn't change, but for the briefest moment, his eyes flickered—a crack in his otherwise impassive mask. The title "Big Brother" struck him like a blow,
The image of his little brother kept coming to his mind.
Calling him 'big brother'.
Sol try to push those memories back and was about to return when the women approach him.
He look at her and she flinch. lowering her eye when it met his...
*gulp*
The woman was visibly uneasy. She glanced at Sol, then back at Lily, her hands tightening protectively around her daughter's shoulders. "Th-thank you," she said, her voice strained. "Thank you for bringing her back."
Sol nodded once, his face returning to its usual stoic mask. "She shouldn't wander into the forest alone."
The woman swallowed hard, her fear palpable. "I'll make sure she doesn't. Come on, Lily, let's go inside."
"But Mama—" Lily protested, looking back at Sol. "I want to stay with Big Brother Sol!"
"Not now, Lily," the woman said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. She gave Sol one last wary glance before hurrying back toward the house, half-dragging Lily with her.
Lily looked over her shoulder, her small face scrunched in disappointment. "Bye, Sol! I'll see you tomorrow!"
Sol didn't respond. He stood there for a moment, watching as the woman ushered Lily inside and shut the door behind them. The village seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with tension.
Then, without a word, Sol turned and walked back into the forest, his white hair catching the sunlight as he disappeared among the trees.