Aethelos: The Bastard of Light

Eli slammed the door of his room so hard the walls shook. · He threw the newspaper onto the floor like it was covered in shit and dropped onto the edge of the bed. His cheek still burned where Yana’s hand had cracked across his face. The red mark throbbed in time with his pulse. Every time he closed his eyes he saw the headline again: two Vindicari guards dead, one fucking decapitated. · The door handle turned. · — Eli. · His mother’s voice was low, but there was iron underneath. — Open this door or I break it down. · He didn’t answer. A second later the lock gave and she walked in. Her eyes went straight to the crumpled newspaper on the floor. · — So that’s what this is about. · Eli stared at the wall. · — I don’t want to fucking talk. · — You skipped the first day at Solaris. After everything you almost died for in that forest. And now you’re hiding in here like a scared little bitch. · His fists clenched so hard his knuckles went white. · — She… Yana… we fought. I accused her of shit. · His mother closed the door behind her and sat down hard in the chair opposite the bed. · — And did you have a reason to accuse her? · Eli’s throat tightened. · — I don’t know. Lygar cut that man’s head clean off. I watched it happen. The newspaper is calling it a terrorist attack. I got scared. Scared they’d drag me into it. Scared my whole life at Solaris would be over before it even started. · She let out a long, tired breath. · — Fear is normal. But accusing the people who saved your life? That’s something else. You’re still wearing that Vindicari name like armor. And that armor is cutting the people around you. · Eli said nothing. He just kept staring at the floor. · — Tomorrow you’re going to the academy — she said, standing up. — Even if you sit at the back of the class and don’t open your mouth. You’re going. Because if you stay here rotting in guilt, you’ll lose every single thing you bled for. · She left, shutting the door harder than necessary. · Eli was alone again with the silence and the newspaper still screaming up at him from the floor. · Across the city, Yana walked through the gates of Solaris Academy alone for the first time. · The new uniform still smelled of fresh fabric and starch. The courtyard was packed with students laughing, showing off flashy Light techniques like they were toys. No one looked at her. Or maybe they looked too much. · Lygar was leaning against a white marble column, arms crossed, eyes empty. When he saw her, one eyebrow lifted. · — He didn’t come. · It wasn’t a question. · Yana stopped in front of him. · — No. We fought. He saw the newspaper and accused us of being part of some fucking movement. Said you and I killed those guards on purpose. · Lygar let out a dry, humorless laugh. · — Of course he did. The half-breed still can’t decide which side he’s on. One day he wants to be the Order’s little hero, the next he’s pissing himself because Shadow saved his ass. · Yana tightened her grip on the straps of her bag until her knuckles ached. · — I slapped him. · Lygar finally looked at her with something close to interest. · — Good. · — It wasn’t good — she muttered. — It was necessary. But now I feel… empty. · Lygar pushed off the column and walked past her, so close his shoulder almost brushed hers. · — Then leave him empty too. If he wants to come back, he can crawl. I’m not waiting around for some mixed-blood who still needs to apologize for standing next to Noxian blood. · Yana stood frozen in the middle of the courtyard while Lygar disappeared toward the main buildings. · The first day at Solaris began without Eli. · And for the first time since the forest, Yana felt the full weight of being completely alone.