Solis knelt on the blood-soaked ground, Tedric's lifeless body resting in his arms. His mind was in turmoil, a swirling storm of despair and anger that drowned out the chaos of the battlefield. The sound of clashing steel and guttural roars was distant, muffled, as though he were trapped underwater.
Tedric's final words echoed in his head:
"Be a good Postknight. A person… who helps others… in need."
Then, like a haunting refrain, his father's voice joined the cacophony:
"Promise me, Solis. Promise me you'll protect those who cannot protect themselves."
Solis clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The weight of those promises crushed him, suffocating him under the enormity of their expectations.
"Why do they believe in me?" he thought, his tears falling unchecked. "I couldn't save my father. I couldn't save Tedric. How can I protect anyone when I can't even protect the people who matter most to me?"
---
As the battlefield faded into a haze, Solis suddenly found himself standing in a desolate expanse. The ground beneath him was cracked and barren, stretching endlessly in every direction. The sky above was a void, neither light nor dark, just an empty nothingness.
In the center of this emptiness stood another version of himself.
This other Solis was clad in pristine Postknight armor, his face stern and his posture commanding. His orange aura glowed faintly around him, a sharp contrast to Solis's trembling, blood-streaked form.
"Who are you?" Solis asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The other Solis tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "I'm you," he said simply. "Or at least, the you that you're supposed to be."
Solis staggered back, his eyes wide. "What do you mean?"
The other Solis took a step forward, his gaze piercing. "You're a Postknight, aren't you? Or at least you're supposed to be one. But look at yourself."
Solis glanced down at his hands, still shaking, still stained with blood.
"You let your fear control you," the other Solis continued. "You let your doubts paralyze you. Do you really think you're fit to be a Postknight? To carry the weight of their trust?"
"I…" Solis faltered, his voice breaking. "I tried… I tried to save them…"
"Tried?" The other Solis's voice was sharp, mocking. "Your father tried. Tedric tried. And look where that got them. Dead. Because they believed in you."
Solis's chest tightened, the words cutting deep.
"You're weak," the other Solis spat. "And because of your weakness, the people who love you keep dying. You don't deserve to be a Postknight. You don't deserve their faith."
---
The barren expanse began to tremble, cracks spreading across the ground. Faintly, the sounds of the battlefield bled through the void: the Omega Dire Wolf's savage growls, the clash of steel, and…
"Ada!" Solis's eyes widened as he suddenly saw a vision of the wolf looming over her unconscious form.
"No…" he whispered, panic clawing at his throat.
The other Solis crossed his arms, unimpressed. "What are you going to do? Run? Cry? Wait for someone else to save her?"
Solis turned to him, his eyes blazing with desperation. "I have to save her!"
"Save her?" The other Solis scoffed. "You couldn't save Tedric. What makes you think you can save her?"
"I—"
---
Before Solis could answer, two figures appeared in the void, stepping forward from the shadows.
One was his father, his face kind yet firm, his armor shining as it had in Solis's childhood memories. The other was Tedric, his features lined with pain but his eyes filled with unwavering resolve.
"Solis," his father said, his voice steady and warm.
Tedric smiled faintly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We believe in you, boy."
Solis took a shaky step back. "But… I failed you. Both of you. How can you still—"
"You didn't fail us," his father interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. "You've stumbled, yes, but failure is only permanent if you refuse to rise again."
Tedric nodded. "A true Postknight isn't defined by their victories, Solis. They're defined by their determination to keep fighting, even when the odds are stacked against them."
Solis's throat tightened, tears streaming down his face. "But I'm not strong enough. I keep losing the people I care about."
His father placed a hand on his shoulder. "Strength doesn't come from being perfect. It comes from choosing to stand when everything inside you tells you to give up."
Tedric stepped forward, his gaze piercing. "We've seen your heart, Solis. That's why we believe in you. Not because you're flawless, but because you're willing to fight for others, no matter the cost."
Solis looked between the two of them, their words sinking into his heart.
"I…" he began, his voice trembling. "I don't want to lose anyone else."
His father smiled, his grip firm. "Then fight, Solis. Fight for those who still need you. Fight for the future you want to create."
---
As the void began to crumble, Solis felt a surge of energy unlike anything he had ever known. His father and Tedric faded into the light, their parting words echoing in his mind:
"We believe in you, Solis. Now believe in yourself."
The barren expanse shattered, and Solis's consciousness snapped back to the battlefield.
He opened his eyes to see the Omega Dire Wolf lunging at Ada, its fangs bared and its dark magic pulsating with deadly intent.
"No…" Solis whispered, his hands trembling. Then louder: "No!"
A wave of rage and hatred surged through him, directed entirely at the beast that had taken so much from him.
His orange aura erupted like a wildfire, blazing brighter and hotter than ever before. The ground beneath him cracked as the energy radiated outward, engulfing him in a storm of light.
---
The sudden eruption of Solis's aura drew the wolf's attention. It skidded to a halt, snarling as it turned to face the new threat.
Solis rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on the beast. His trembling hands were steady now, his resolve unshakable.
"You've taken enough from me," he said, his voice low and deadly. "No more."
The Omega Dire Wolf roared, its dark magic flaring in response. But Solis didn't flinch. He gripped his axe, the weapon gleaming in the light of his aura.
With a roar of his own, he charged at the wolf, his orange aura trailing behind him like a comet.
The battlefield trembled as their clash began, the force of their blows sending shockwaves rippling across the land.
---
Inside the Academia, the ground shook violently once more, causing students and instructors to cry out in alarm.
"Again? What's happening out there?"
Elizabeth's eyes widened as she felt the sheer intensity of the energy emanating from the battlefield. "That aura…" she whispered. "It's Solis."