Onward to the Sun

Chapter 6: The Ruins of Sunfioree Kingdom

Chapter 6: The Ruins of Sunfioree Kingdom

As Raiyah—Helios’s horse or mare—galloped across the busy street of Tempus City, I can feel the fresh morning wind slapping against my face. Helios was right behind me, holding the reins of Raiyah in order to control her. I was a little bit conscious that my long honey-blonde hair might be hammering his face, but when I twisted my head enough to see him from my back, I realized how small I was as my head was just at the level of his chest and my hair is just slipping through the side of his body and arms. I returned to looking at what lies ahead of us shortly and saw the envious glare of the many ladies around the city. Some looked at us as if we were a spectacle, and I can feel that most are already curious as to who this girl that Helios is with, in other words: me.

“Sunfioree Kingdom used to be a bordering and allied kingdom to Celeste Kingdom, the realm where we currently are at. Unlike Celeste Kingdom and other empires across Magus Mundo in general, Sunfioree Kingdom has no cities or towns that are scattered across its domains, it is only one fixed fortress that lies on top of Mt. McFall. That is also the reason why I am the only Sunfioreen left, as it was a total m******e when the Obscurum Army decided to strike us during the Sun Festival, a celebration that was meant to commemorate and thank the Sun Goddess, Sol. What should have been a happy night that is full of joy and festivity turned out to be a gory and deadly evening that marked the end of a kingdom, all because they wanted the Phoenix to revive the Dark Lord.”

“If you do not mind me asking, how did they manage to do it?” I asked Helios, I did not need to specify anymore and I know he already knew what I meant when I said that, “it is alright if you do not want to talk about it. I mean, going back to the past to relive that hellish night is surely going to be very hard.”

“It is alright,” Helios replied, “the Obscurum Army spilled poison on all of the food and drinks that were served for all Sunfioreens, causing sudden fever and nausea among every one of us. You see, during festivals, it is already given that people will surely eat and drink, and they took advantage of that. I was unaffected, however, as I locked myself up in my own room and did not consume anything that our handmaiden has served for me, it was my own little way of rebellion. I was eight at that time, and I was angry at my parents, the King and Queen, because they would not allow me to learn how to properly wield my acnologia because I was still too young to train and be taught. Acnologians usually awaken at the age of ten, but I awakened three years earlier, and somehow, the fact that they did not allow me to wield it yet made me unorthodox.” He narrated.

“Who would have thought that it will be my last memory of them? It was not a good memory at all, being mad at your parents before they are gone—if only I knew, I would have acted differently—all I could do when they were already ill was hide as I watched my own people be slaughtered and my own kingdom to fall into ruins. I could not do anything but hide and run as more blood is spilled by the enemy. There were several knights and servants, despite being ill due to the poison, they helped me escape and bought me time. I ran for my own life... I was a coward. I blame myself because I was too helpless. I could have gone and saved the Phoenix too, but all I could think of back then was to save myself. I am both a fool and a coward.”

“You didn’t see it coming. You did not expect it to happen. No one did. It is not your fault too, because it is the doing of the Obscurum Army. So, do not blame yourself... I may not know your parents, but I know they would also not like it if they find out that you are accusing yourself of what has happened.” I do not know if my words will reach him or cheer him up. I cannot see Helios at all because of our position, and there was nothing that engulfed us after that but a cold silence, the swishing sound of the wind, the loud voices of people across the boulevard, and the clip-clop of the hooves of Raiyah as she ran. “I am sorry for the trauma and the hurtful event that you had to experience when you were just a child. You were eight at that time, right?”

“Yes.” He replied.

“You didn’t deserve to go through all of that,” I assured. “But we cannot really turn back the time. All we can do is to live in the present with the rippling effect of the past’s influence. We cannot outrun it because it already has shaped us too and took us to where we are.” I am unsure where I am getting my words at and whether Helios can hear it through the noise that has engulfed us, but I just wanted to say whatever was on my mind because I think he deserves to hear it. “Stay strong, Helios. I mean, I know your strength is extraordinary as I have seen it first-hand already, but still—stay strong.”

“Thank you for the kind words, Luna. I very much appreciate it.” He stated after a few seconds. We already got out of the gate of Tempus City, and Helios simply nodded at the two knights who were stationed there. We followed the red-bricked trail off towards the Sunfioree Kingdom.

Despite the fact that we’ve just known each other for a few hours, I already feel ‘somewhat’ close to Helios. Well, if you take it in a literal sense, it is quite true since he was just right behind me and I can feel his body against me. He was masculine, and his arms too that are on my side is firm, with those chiseled biceps and such. I shook the thought away.

“So, how long will we travel?” I asked.

“The Sunfioree Kingdom is three hours away from us, that is at an average speed. But Raiyah is a fast runner, and we will arrive there in an hour and a half. I will just pray for at least thirty minutes, and after that, we proceed to Astaria Academia, and it is expected that we will arrive there by nightfall. The academy is actually as big as Tempus City, or perhaps even bigger. It is like a city in itself already, but just an academy dedicated solely for acnologians and swordsmen in order to fully bring out their maximum potential and enhance their skill and talent, and it lies five kilometers away from Celestial Citadel, the royal capital of Celeste Kingdom.”

I do not really get whatever it is that Helios was trying to explain because it sounded complicated. I guess it is just better if he hands me down a map of the kingdom, or Magus Mundo in general, but of course, I no longer inquired for it and just let him speak about the logistics instead. I love listening to his voice—it is quite gentle and soothing to the ears. I find it attractive; the depth of it and his tone, even his accent. I suddenly felt like a moth drawn towards his seductive flames, but before I get blinded and burned by it, I decided to just shift my attention away from it by admiring the scenery that we are experiencing as we journeyed.

It was about an hour or more already when we started to ascend a mountain where I can already see broken structures and ruins of what used to be a marvelous kingdom that lies on top of the mountain. If I remember it correctly, this is Mt. McFall, and the ruins that we see are all of what’s left of the Sunfioree Kingdom, the home of Helios that no longer exists, just history and a past.

The place was deserted already, and there was no sign of life. There were several statues around that were thrice my size, and some of them are missing a few parts of their body, like their arms and head. The housings around had broken windows and doors, and the place is dusty already and in a state of mess. Many buildings also lost parts of their wall and roof, and wild plants have already grown through the cracks of the cobblestone paths. At the very top of the kingdom is a palace that seems to be centuries-old, with high pillars and twin towers. The right tower still had an old flag-waving furiously, a dirty white flag with a golden Sun carved by it. Perhaps this used to be Sunfioree Kingdom’s flag or insignia.

There were no signs of skeletons or such, so I am taking a wild guess that the bodies have already been given a proper burial. I no longer pried who buried the bodies or how, because I know it is something very sensitive and I have no reason to find out anymore. Of course, not unless Helios tells that without my inquiry. It should be beyond my control.

Helios hopped out of Raiyah, and he aided me down as well. Some muscles on my legs are sore already since I am not really used to horseback riding, but Helios seems to be used to it, and he looks unbothered. He was now absorbed in the place that used to be his homeland.

“Our kingdom had one hundred thousand and five hundred fifty-six people; this includes children, women, men, acnologians, families, friends, and acquaintances... And among them all, only one survived. The rest were slaughtered.” There was bitterness in his voice now. He sighed and closed his eyes as he lifted his face upward to look at the blue sky that seems too out of place, given how tumble-down the place we are at. “Do you mind, Luna, if I ask you to hold onto Raiyah’s reins for me? I will just pray.”

“I do not mind at all,” I smiled and took the reins of Raiyah, which he held. After that, he walked towards the center of this ruined city, where there lies an ascended platform. Helios knelt on it after, and he closed his eyes and had his fingers intertwine in front of his chest. I remained rooted on my spot alongside Raiyah, who was now busy eating a few of the wild plants around us.

I watched Helios, whose eyes are now closed, and he prayed fervently for the soul of the Sunfioreens, his people. As Helios prayed, I felt something powerful from him, like a force that wants to connect and be reckoned with. I ignored it and just closed my eyes and prayed for the strangers who used to live in this city too.

Whoever it is that watches over us here—a God perhaps, or divine beings, whoever you are—I pray for the soul of all Sunfioreens, that they may be granted a peaceful eternal rest. So be it.

My prayer was short, because I was not used to it. Now that I think of it, I never was a religious type of girl, but I have always believed that there is really God who is omniscient and omnipotent. I was more of a spiritual type, and I am a little bit ashamed to admit the fact that I only remember God at crucial moments of my life, which rarely happens. So, I infrequently remember God.

I do not know for how long that Helios prayed, but I know he took his time. When he was done, he stood up and descended the platform where he prayed, and he walked towards Raiyah and me who were just waiting for him to be done with his prayer. It seems like he was kind of relieved already now that he has personally visited his home and prayed for his people. This made me curious out of the blue. “When was the last time you came here to offer a prayer for them?” I asked.

“Probably last year. I rarely am given permission to go out of the Academia. Well, everyone is... Especially those who belong in the Divine Tier, not until we are graduated. Not unless we are given tasks and missions to accomplish too which are outside the Academia.”

“So, I remember what Lady Marcelle said—did you really escape the Academia, then? And it was because of the gossip about the Obscurum Army lurking on the outskirts of Tempus City?”

He nodded.

“Yes, and since I am out of the Academia, I decided to also just come here and visit Sunfioree so I can pray for my people.”

It made sense now.

“Now that we are done with all of my side-plans, let’s go now to the Academia and have you meet the Headmistress. I am sure she will be very thrilled to know your special case, and to test you too in order to find out what kind of acnologia you wield, what tier you belong to, and whether you are a descendant of a divine being, as Lady Marcelle has theorized because of your gray eyes.”

“Okay,” I smiled. He helped me mount on Raiyah once more, and then him. We finally left his kingdom and ascended Mt. McFall. When we were back on track already, we finally headed straight to Astaria Academia where our expected arrival will be on or before nightfall.

However, along the way, I felt myself being hungry already and Helios seems to have realized that. “I guess it is time for lunch already,” he mentioned and that made Raiyah snort, as if the mention of ‘lunch’ which she overheard brought her excitement. “I know a perfect spot where we can eat.” He declared as he pointed out orchard apple trees from a distance and right beside it is a clear stream where water flows. Raiyah ran in that direction, and we were there in a flash.

We hopped out of Raiyah once more, and she immediately went straight to the river in order to drink water. On the other hand, Helios climbed one of the apple trees that also provided shade for us against the Sun, and he started to pick fresh red apples. He got at least six pieces, and he jumped off the tree, landing on the grassland beneath.

He cleaned the apples first at the river and offered three pieces to Raiyah, who ate it all in a flash as if she was already hungry for so long. He took one for himself and offered me the rest of the apples.

I thanked him and took a bite from the apple—it was sweet and fresh, it tasted like the actual apples of my own world. Suddenly, the reminder of ‘home’ made me feel melancholy inside, but I shook the feeling away. As we ate, Helios removed his shoes and socks, and he grabbed a branch of the tree from behind us.

Afterward, he sharpened it by using his acnologia to burn specific parts of the wood. He removed the charcoal after, revealing a pointy edge of the branch that now turned to a javelin, then he went straight to the river’s water that wasn’t really that deep, just a few inches below his knees. As the water was clear, I can see the fishes that were swimming around, as if waiting to be caught. He threw the sharp stick like a spear and took it from the water shortly. My eyes widened because he caught a fish already, he motioned the spear towards the riverbank, and the caught fish was thrown there like a ball. He started hunting for more until there were four freshly caught fishes.

After that, he created four wooden sticks where he struck once more the fishes so that they can be suspended midair. Then he made a fire where the fishes were cooked and grilled using his acnologia. He offered me one and the two to Raiyah, then he got one for himself too. It is quite pleasant how he used his fire acnologia for convenience. This demonstrates that acnologia is not only meant for battles, wars, fights, and such. It can also be used as a part of daily life. It is amazing how multipurpose acnologia can be. It is both dangerous and useful.

The crispy fish was tasty, and it was delicious, despite the fact that there were no seasonings to add more taste to it. I was already full and satisfied after I have devoured my share.

“If you want, I can still go and hunt for more. There are still a lot of fishes out there waiting to be eaten.” Helios grinned as he pointed out the clear river where we can see the fishes around.

“I am full. Thank you.” I smiled.

“Alright, if you insist. Anyway, let us rest for twenty minutes, then we proceed again to traveling back to Astaria Academia.” He declared and I silently nodded my head.