TBATE - Lightseeker

Greetings. I'm feeling like letting the stoner juices flow, and I liked the idea of this ff, so imma just write a random chapter. If it gets enough support I might pick up where I left off or start over entirely, who knows. Enjoy.

In a vast jungle, deep within Dicathen's beast glades on the brightest day of summer, a lone man walks through the trees, frequently gazing up at the sky. His eyes, like two miniature golden suns, mirrored the great star in the sky. Around his neck hung a simple golden chain with an ornate sun pendant.

His pace slowed to a leisurely stroll as he took in the forest around him, breathing in the rich and fresh air before turning around and smiling knowingly.

His brows pricked up and he smirked silently, as if waiting.

"I fail to understand why you cower beneath the shade on such a beautiful day."

My supposed hunters have been following me for hours in a dance of shadows and silence. Truthfully, it was surprising they dared follow this far. Are they unaware of the danger lurking just around the corner, or do they choose to disregard it? 

Agrona Vritra's Wraiths - his asura-killers - had tracked the man with golden hair and eyes during his venture to the Hearth. With being this close, elites from the Hearth could be sent at any moment to deal with Agrona's spies, however, they followed nonetheless.

"You dare try to cull me in my domain? Look at the sky, the brilliant holy sun above the clouds shall banish your shadows." He called out in triumph, his voice carrying a distinct reverence for the sun.

At that moment, four gnarly figures cloaked in black manifested from the darkness. Agrona's Wraiths had revealed themselves.

One of the four, indistinguishable from his allies, stepped forward slightly before speaking.

 "How long had you known we were tracking you?" Her tone carried an unbothered hint of curiosity.

"I'd like to think it was as soon as you started tracking me, but I guess we'll never know." The man opposite them shrugged, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. 

As he finished speaking, an aura of purification and serenity temporarily placated the four wraiths momentarily.

"I'm a little preoccupied at the minute. Is there any chance we can reschedule?"

"There is none. We came with a clear order from the High Sovereign himself. You are to be brought with us. As for where, I guess we'll find out, won't we?"

"Unfortunate." The young man's reply came bluntly, a stark contrast from his earlier amicable nature. Immediately, he spread his arms wide and inclined his head back, the sun shining down on his form.

His majesty reigned down on the four wraiths as he radiated an almost tangible wrath, causing his adversaries to be temporarily pinned in place. A sea of light spread forth from his body, enveloping the surrounding expanse.

"He's trying to get rid of all our shadows!" A tall, brutish wraith called out in realisation.

The Wraiths conjured respective spells in response, each bearing one of the characteristic Vritra elements. A thin, agile wraith conjured multiple torrents of void wind tornadoes that seemed to cut the very space around them. Next to her, the wraith of a much larger build smashed his fists together, producing numerous black fireballs of soul fire.

The other two wraiths retreated back into the treeline as Solis meandered through the sea of light towards his targets. A large spear of light manifested before Solis and shot through the yellow-orange mist, forcing the two wraiths to disperse. 

With a swipe of his hand and a flash of yellow light, a cleave of purification disrupted the tornadoes of void wind, revealing the positions of his closest foes. 

Countless ravens of brilliant white fire darted from the mist of light towards the two visible wraith figures. Iron black blood-stained spikes erupted from the treeline as another of the wraiths breathed a sickly greenish-black smog into the sea of light. 

Genuflecting, Solis pierced his sword of light into the dirt and summoned a wall of solid light before him. A revolting stench hit his sense of smell a few moments later, and the once majestic and pure yellow might dyed a deep green.

He took to the skies immediately. "Divine Purification!"

With a reverent exclamation beneath the sun, Solis purified the Vritra poison and readied for another wraith's assault. 

The slim female wraith narrowly avoided a burning raven and lept for the sky in pursuit. Her void wind-infused daggers poised with precision toward Solis's back, but a glowing illusory light suffused his body, forming an ornate set of armour the colour of dawn itself.

"Enough with your games, Vritra dog."

His grip caught the throat of the void wind wraith, and without bothering to remove their mask, conjured a pillar of light that descended from the heavens, purifying the wraith in his hands entirely.

As the pillar dissipated, the female wraith's ash blew in the wind before dissipating. Her allies watched in horror at their target's display. A ray of holy light capable of exterminating Vritra.

With no time to comprehend their adversaries' power, the remaining three prepared to launch a final attack. Their target had shown more power than intel believed he suggested; he must be dealt with.

A glowing ball of white fire grew from Solis' palm, and he pressed down with visible effort as the massive fireball sped towards the jungle where the wraths lay.

The sheer amount of mana radiating from the fireball was enough for the wraiths to come to the same conclusion.

I cannot let that hit me!

The blazing white fireball collided with the earth, uprooting trees and carving a crater in the jungle. Fire jumped from the ground to the trees, consuming the forest with a mana-fueled hunger.

Solis waited a few moments before ending his spell. With a proud smirk, he glanced around at the damage he had caused. He stood in the middle of a massive crater void of all life and trees, nothing but dirt in sight.

"I hope Lord Mordain isn't too upset about the damage I caused to close to his home, not to mention the noise."

Three of them either managed to flee or perished like their scrawny comrade...

-----

Amidst a sea of green and blue, Solis sat coss-legged before a vast body of water, silently meditating.

Soft, calm, and unhidden footfalls announced the arrival of a tall figure with fiery red hair, few white streaks, and an aged, wise expression.

"Lord Mordain, I hope you'll forgive the disturbance near your sacred sanctuary earlier." A playing smile danced Solis's lips, eyes still closed in meditation, not bothering to turn and view the man behind him.

The Lost Prince of the Asclepius regarded Solis momentarily with a disguised expression. 

"You did the right thing. Had Agrona's hunters discovered any trail to the hearth, a simple crater would be the least of our worries." His ancient voice embodying wisdom and power dismissed Solis' jest.

"Are you here to take me personally to the Hearth?" Solis questioned, unmoving.

"I shall be your escort, yes."

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