As Solaris left Sami's office, he took a deep breath. Exhaling, he straightened up and decided to take a seat in the lobby.
It was a larger room than the one he had been given, and that put him at ease.
That thing really did a number on me... I'll sit here for a moment.
Solaris closed his eyes and tried to relax; his breathing was staggered and deep, and his mind was in turmoil, yet before he knew what was happening, he was already asleep.
***
Solaris stood up.
Looking around, he saw a great hall filled with Skulls and countless amounts of gold, jewelry, and other valuables.
Solaris felt a chill cover his entire body; it was as if he were a zebra and a lion was about to pounce upon him.
Solaris unnaturally shot to the ground. His body felt the lack of resistance he had felt on Earth.
As his chest hit the floor and his arms covered his head, a massive shadow passed over his body, leaving a lingering feeling of pure dread and death.
Solaris felt as if the shadow's pure presence was telling him to kneel and grovel before the being in front of him.
So Solaris accepted; he kept his body pressed against the ground. No matter how much he wanted to rise, he couldn't; he wouldn't, lest he be killed.
The pressure was merely metaphorical in nature, yet its effects were substantial and physical as long as the being willed it to be.
In other words, Solaris was being crushed under an immeasurable and incalculable weight.
Solaris pressed his head into the ground harder and harder until the stone began to bend under his skull's pressure, and his skin began to break.
Throughout the pain, Solaris managed to spout a small sentence.
"I'll..... Kill....you.....MALITH!!!"
***
Moments later, Solaris snapped back to reality; the dream was over.
That was a new one...
Solaris thought, gritting his teeth.
"I'll..."
Opening his eyes, Solaris was met with a face.
"Hey, what's..."
The face began to speak, yet its kind voice was met with a fist that seemed to warp the air around it, its skin completely black with glowing heat emanating from deep within.
The fist flew with insane speed at the stranger's face.
Yet the devastating attack never landed; the mans whos face had once been in front of Solaris was now across the room, pressed tightly against the wall.
Solaris looked forward at the man.
"God damn it, you again."
"ME! You're the one who keeps trying to kill me! What the hell, man!"
Solaris looked at his fist; the shards had slid from beneath his skin and formed a blade along his knuckle.
Sighing, Solaris slid the blade back under his skin and stood up. The heat under his skin subsided instantly, and the black coating disappeared.
Looking at the man, Solaris spoke, his hand outstretched as a peace offering.
"Im Sorry; you just keep catching me off guard."
Solaris smiled softly as the man stretched out his own hand and grabbed Solaris's.
"What brings you here. Lucian?"
Lucian's face lit up with his normal smile as he spoke, shaking Solaris's hand in a peace offering gently.
"Oh well, you know, the tournament, to say hi, and most importantly..."
Lucian paused, clearly for dramatic effect.
Noticing Solaris's questioning gaze, he finally finished his sentence.
"This is my new home!!"
Lucian had let go of Solaris's hand, raising both of his own into the air in celebration; the long sleeves on his baggy white shirt rustled rapidly with the sudden jerk of movement.
Solaris choked on the air, losing his composure for a moment before regaining it and asking, half-joking.
"What are the chances? It's like you can see the future or something."
Solaris shook his head slightly. He had seen a lot of crazy things so far, but an ability like that would be simply unstoppable; he could dodge any attack before....
Solaris's eyes widened as his head shot up to look at the bright, cheery man who was now scratching his cheek.
"Yeah...Something like that..."
Solaris looked at the oracle before him in amazement.
"Whoa, you can really see the future! Is that how you dodged my attacks?!"
Lucian shrugged and nodded.
"Wow, that's incredible! How far can you see? What's the limit to it? How much do you know? Does this make you immortal? How does..."
Solaris began to ask so many questions, forgetting entirely about the dream.
After almost an hour, Lucian's smile had grown even wider, and Solaris was feeling pure amazement and even joy.
The two were sitting in the dining room eating a bit of food. Lucian had grown quite hungry during his run to the building, yet he somehow didn't look tired or even all that sweaty.
As Lucian was eating, Solaris continued to ask more and more questions about anything that came to mind.
To him, it was strange; he had originally only wanted to know about Lucian's future sight and its abilities, but as the two talked more and more, Solaris began to ask more and more mundane questions.
For some reason, Solaris was enjoying talking to someone.
It could've been because he was another guy, or even because he was around Solaris's age.
But he had people like that already; he had Ember, and he even sort of had Selen, even if she was a bit estranged after he ruined it with her.
But this was different; he didn't have to walk on eggshells around Lucian as he did with the other two.
He was free to be himself.
As Solaris was about to ask another question, most likely one that had little to do with anything important, Lucian spoke.
"Solaris, might I ask a question?.
"Sure, go right ahead."
"That girl, does she also live here? Because I..."
Interrupting Lucian, Solaris answered with a carefree smile.
"Selen? Yeah, she does. Do you also happen to..."
Solaris stopped mid-sentence as the woman of the hour walked through the doors to the dining room, her clothes covered in blood.