The Destiny Of Solaris(Book 2 of "The Planets In Exile")

The Shields Of Solaris

The first man who appeared with these kinds of tattoos was in the early 1900s. There might be people before, but it is possible that they might not be recorded because of the lack of technology or some other reasons. So, I began to keep going back in history to look for cultures or events which referred to Phoenix and the Demon Arrow and there were many instances related to it. In one instance, it said that people who are born with those tattoos are marked by the God of Death and that they would eventually get killed, which would count as a sacrifice to fuel the long-lost Gods. Now, I have studied many mythologies and cultures, and with that expertise, I believe that this idea was started by a madman and soon adopted by groups with similar mindsets, thereby forming cults. And the second reference was in some AD. The year was not clear though. A group of people claimed that some of the Gods and some of the species were suddenly erased from the Earth. They also believe in the creation of a new world similar to earth and all the people who disappeared were transported there somehow. They had drawn some paintings depicting what they tried to tell. This is the problem with mystical approach, the one that we think to be fake might turn out to be the correct one. These are all theories with no solid proofs.

Izumi directed his index finger to a wall, on which many pictures were stuck. So, from the first painting, it can be seen that there are two suns and the people are praying to the Sun, The Ra God. From the second picture, we can see that the entire civilization was surrounded by darkness. And in the third picture, we can see the remains of dead people and dried-up trees, and from the last one, we can infer that the civilization was led by someone and darkness somehow ceased to exist. Now even this one might also sound like a good story, but what caught my attention was the flags held by the people. A symbol of Phoenix. I know this might be overwhelming, but keep an open mind and welcome all the possibilities. There might also be many instances that I may have overlooked, but so far only these seemed close to our situation.

' Frankly speaking, I don't want to believe any of these, but for the sake of discussion, I'd like to put forth some points, ' said Tron, ' The first thing is assuming the second reference to be a match for our condition, Ash said that the temperature over there was higher than here, maybe it is because of the two suns. But even if this is true, there is still no link between us and the teleportation or whatever that is. And how do Gods get disappeared from a world, huh? That sounds far-fetched. '

' Everything isn't available in history, Tron. There are many hidden mysteries that need to be solved by someone in order for them to become history for future generations and solving this one might be our one and only chance to uncover this mystery and make history, ' said Izumi.

' Izumi, I am ready to be a part of this amazing journey, but what do we do next? I mean, we made great progress, but this isn't enough. We need to know why it is happening and the reason behind it. Is it random or does it serve a purpose. All we know is that something is happening and we are somehow a part of it, ' replied Ash.

' Exactly. This might just be the case. Something is happening, and you both are somehow a part of it. You could either be the one who might be triggering the event that is about to happen or a solution to prevent what is going on. Every time you teleport, you find yourself in someplace, right? Maybe that is the place that might be in danger and needs help or it might be in danger because of you. The latter is highly unlikely, so we will proceed with the former option. Now, there might raise a question saying, if both of you are a part of it, then only why does Ash experience it alone? Why not Tron? Maybe, you and Tron are like the one who predicts and the one who acts. If this is a viable solution, then maybe the nightmares Tron had faced all his life were trying to tell him about the dangers Ash must face before it is too late. It is because of him that we knew that something bad would go down, ' said Izumi and sipped water from his bottle.

' Wow. Does this mean that we becoming friends was coincidental or completely random? ' Asked Tron.

' A good question. It is because that you both are friends, you are able to discuss about this, but this wasn't the case for the people who had same tattoos as yours. They were strangers. You becoming friends had become an advantage, ' replied Izumi.

' Then, according to my dream, the guy who is walking at the center of the road is Ash, which we already knew and the stalker was the one who was trying to warn Ash, and the racing car might be the outcome if the danger is not dealt with or might be if Ash fails to serve his purpose. '

' All the people who bore the Phoenix tattoo must have died because of this reason. Maybe they were unable to decode this in time and ultimately that resulted in their death and I shall suffer the same fate as theirs if we don't understand the goal behind all this. '

' Do not worry, Ash. We will figure this out before it is too late. I guarantee you that. I think you should stay with us all the time, so if you ever get teleported again, we might be able to understand more about it. What do you say, Ash? ' Asked Izumi without shifting his eye contact even for once.

' I guess I don't have any other option now, do I? I'll go to my house after this meet and then from tomorrow, I will be with you guys all the time. Is that alright? '

' Yes it is, ' said Izumi and Tron in unison.

Just as the meeting was about to end and Ash was about to leave. He started to feel dizzy.

' Guys, ' he said, ' I think it is happening now. '

Tron and Izumi were a few feet away from him and in a matter of seconds, they approached and held him. They tried to hold him from getting sucked.  The surroundings began to change and in no time Ash was again in an alien location.

Tron: What the f**k did just happen? Huh?

Izumi: Ash was telling the truth all along, he really did teleport to somewhere.

Tron: I can't believe my eyes even after witnessing it in the first person. What do we do now? How the f**k are you so calm?

Izumi: When I scanned your bodies, I inserted a small tracker in your bodies. In case if you ever were to teleport, I would be able to track your location and know about the place where you are getting teleported.

Tron: Amazing, man. Check his location right away.

Izumi: On it. Whatever continent he might be in, we would be able to trace him out, even if there exist signal dampeners.

Tron: Quick. I can't wait even for a second.

Izumi: This cannot be.

Tron: What cannot be? Say it clearly.

Izumi: I am not able to pinpoint any location. It is as if the tracker is not working and that could only mean one thing.

Tron: I hate suspense, especially in situations like these. So spit it out.

Izumi: He is nowhere on Earth.

Tron: What do you mean nowhere on Earth? Where else could he be?

Izumi then pointed towards the pictures on the wall about which they discussed a few minutes earlier.

                                                                                ----*----

Thank God, at least there were witnesses this time. I was really tired of them not believing me completely. But why didn't they come along with me? They were holding me at the time of transition, right? So I can carry only carry inanimate stuff with me, I guess. 

Ash was submerged in his own thoughts that he didn't look at the location he was in and when he snapped out from his thoughts, his mouth remained wide open. He felt like he was in heaven. If not, this might be a place that could be more beautiful than heaven. How come he had not heard about a place like this all this time, he asked himself. He decided at that moment that this would be the first place he would travel with his friends once after all the things sort out.

Ash began to walk, hoping he would find someone or something that would help him understand or at least give him some clarity over this unexpected journey. As he was walking, admiring the beauty of the place, the fragrance of the flowers, the sweet voice of the ravens, the crystal clear lakes, the cheerful bunnies jumping here and there, he spotted a marvelous structure.

' A colosseum! ' Ash exclaimed.

' Am I in Rome? '

There was no way that place could be Rome. It was something else. If it was Rome, then it would be flooded by people, taking pictures and all but this place was free from the noise made by humans and their vehicles. Ash could only hear the sound of nature.

Ash moved past that structure, and a few meters ahead, he could see a person sitting alongside the lake. Ash was delighted to see another human for the first time. He ran towards the person.

Klaus could hear someone coming from behind him and he turned in an instant to check who it was.

Ash: Hello there.

Klaus remained silent.

Ash: It is really good to see someone other than nature for the first time. What is this place? Where is it located?

Klaus: This is Solaris.

Ash: Solaris? Where exactly is Solaris located? Can you give specifics of this location?

Klaus: This place is called The Altar Of Demons.

Ash: The Altar of what now? And why are you dressed like that? Something doesn't feel right. Which country is this?

Klaus: Are you The Chosen One?

Ash: No, no. I am Ash. Ash Bertrand. I need to know where I am. Can you know where can I find a bus here?

Klaus: What is a bus? 

Ash: Are you kidding me?

Ash thought him to be a hillbilly.

Ash: Can you take me to the nearest village? 

Klaus agreed and Ash followed Klaus. Since the Merchant told Klaus not to use the tunnel for returning, Klaus had to take the long route. Klaus is almost certain that he might be the Chosen One because no one else would go to the Altar and also he seemed different from the people in Solaris and he even failed to recognize the very name of the planet they reside in.

As they moved forward the temperature was increasing gradually, since Ash wasn't accustomed to a climate like that, he was rapidly sweating because of which he had to take off his jacket thereby revealing the tattoo on his body. Klaus successfully executed his first task of finding the Chosen One and now it was time to train him, but he wasn't sure how.

Ash couldn't keep up with Klaus. He took a number of breaks in between. Ash looked normal and probably weaker than an average soldier of Thunder. But if he was the chosen one, then there definitely be some reason, because the fate of an entire world cannot be entrusted to an unworthy individual.

The supplies with which Klaus started was barely sufficient for him and Alpha and since now Ash also joined them, so Klaus had collected some fruits from trees near the Altar. Ash was so hungry and completely focused on the journey that he totally forgot about when was he going back to his friends. That night, they rested at a place beside a river that appeared to be safe. Ash's hunger was subsided with the fruits and the river quenched his thirst and unknowingly he gave in to sleep.

The next morning, when he woke up, fear started to build up when he noticed that he was still here in that place which he doesn't have any idea about. Klaus was already up and was planning on how to use the remaining rations.

Ash: Please tell me where am I. This is so confusing. I need to be back by this time.

Klaus: I don't know where you are from, but now you are in a world called Solaris. And according to the legends, you are the Chosen One, who is here to save our world from darkness. I am here to assist and protect you, so you can save us.

Ash: I am from Earth and I don't know how to save you.

As Ash was talking, he then remembered the discussion he had earlier with his friends and suddenly a question popped into his mind.

Ash: Are there two suns here?

Klaus: Yes.

Ash: Ah, we were right. And Klaus, I know you are hiding something from me, but I want to know whatever you know about this.

Klaus: I have no intention to hide anything from you, Ash. But you are already stressed and knowing about things might overwhelm you.

Ash: Trust me. Not knowing is making me mad. I am tired of not knowing. I think it is time for me to have clarity over what is happening.

Klaus: Okay. I will tell you in general. This world is called Solaris and according to the legend, for every few centuries, Solaris would face a threat from the demons which would annihilate all the life on Solaris unless The Chosen One protects our world. And I think we might face that threat soon and you are The Chosen One who is going to save us. I don't know how, but you are the key. And my task is to keep you alive during the process.

Ash: I don't know why I became The Chosen One. I am not special. I am not strong. I am an average human being whose only skill is to draw and I don't think art is going to help you in any way.

Klaus: I know it is new for you. It is new for both of us, but we are together now and I know for sure that we will figure it out together. I just want you to focus on your inner self and I believe we'll know what to do next. I had guidelines till now, which I followed, but now I do not have any idea about how to proceed further.

Ash tried to calm himself so he closed his eyes and inhaled and exhaled till his heartbeat became normal. He knew that panic wasn't going to help him in any way. He tried to think rationally. He now knows for sure that there was no problem with him and he was a part of some mystical drama. Suddenly, he thought about his parents. He started to think about what would happen to them if the transition doesn't take place again. It would be impossible to go to earth again. he could never see his parents, friends and vice versa. The thought about his parents distressed Ash and he screamed abruptly, holding his head.

Klaus immediately offered support and helped him stand.

Klaus: What happened?

Ash: I, uh, I am having visions of a place.

Klaus gave a moment for Ash to settle. The headache soon disappeared and Ash felt alright.

Ash: I saw a place. It was drawing me towards it. I don't know what this place is, but I know how to reach it. 

Klaus: Maybe that is where we should head next. We might get to know something there, which would help us in knowing how to stop the demons or figure out our next step.

Ash: How can you be so sure? It can also be a trap. This is not the first time I had come here. I came here five times but at five different locations every time. Out of them, the first one was the scariest.

Klaus: What happened when you came here for the first time?

Ash: I found myself in a pool of blood. It was entirely dark that I couldn't see anything properly. I felt as if some monsters were lurking in the dark. I don't know if they could see me. Thankfully, I didn't stay long enough for the first time.

Klaus: I had heard about monsters and demons in the history of Solaris but had never encountered one in my real life. Also, they only come out when the end is near according to what I heard. So there is nothing to worry about. And even if they show up, I will protect you with my life. I give you my word. Your safety and well-being are my utmost priority.

Ash: Alright. Let's go, it is not that I have other options. Maybe continuing forward is my ticket back home.

Klaus was surprised at Alpha's strength because he now had to carry two people on him but wasn't showing any signs of exhaustion. But Klaus felt bad for him and hoped that he might find another horse for Ash as well.

The route to the place became Ash's current thought. He couldn't think of anything else. It was as if the path was imprinted on his brain and until and unless he completes the objective, he couldn't think of any other matter. His mind wasn't in his control. Ash kept guiding Klaus in which direction they should go. The path was narrow, filled with rocks and fallen branches of trees which made it difficult to go at a faster pace. So the journey was slow and steady. The narrow path soon turned into a forest. Luckily, they didn't encounter any wild beasts, or else it would have been difficult for Klaus to protect Ash as a single warrior couldn't fight off a group of creatures.

The forests consisted of many trees which consist of fruits that helped them to restock their food supplies. They also witnessed a waterfall on their way, where they halted for a while. Klaus and Alpha were covered with dust from all the journey, so they freshened up.  Without any further ado, they resumed their journey. As they progressed, they found themselves in a cave. Klaus had to tie Alpha as he couldn't travel through those caves.

Ash: I get the feeling that the place we are looking for is nearby.

Klaus: I hope it is. We can't leave Alpha here for long. We need to hurry back.

They traveled through those little, dark caves. Ash was terrified because he could see many insects and reptiles move past him. But he tried to act as if they don't bother him because he is, after all, the Chosen One and it would be embarrassing for him to be afraid of tiny creatures. When they finally got out of the cave, they spotted a very huge tree. It was easily higher than a hundred and fifty feet. And it wasn't just a tree, they could also see a treehouse over it.

' This is it, ' said Ash who was now panting badly.

' The only way to get there is to climb it. I hope you know how to climb a tree. '

' Yes, of course. I know how to climb. Back on earth, I used to ascend mountains that were triple the size of this tree. This is a piece of cake. '

Ash had never climbed a tree in his life before and he doesn't have a clue about how he would climb such a big tree like this for the very first time. He was intimidated by Klaus that he had to make up stories to project himself as a strong person. He asked Klaus to start climbing and that he would follow him. Klaus agreed and started climbing at a decent speed.

Ash couldn't possibly handle his own body weight for such a long time. The best he could was ten seconds maybe. Starting a task with negative vibes would never be successful. He tried to motivate himself. Adrenaline makes people do things they feel impossible and with that hope, he started climbing the tree using the roots which were hanging downwards. After a minute, he could no longer go up, and just when he decided to let go of the root, he spotted carvings on the trunk of the tree, where he could place his leg, which acted like steps for the tree. Now, he no longer had to carry his body weight, which made it easier for him to climb it easily.

When Ash finally reached the treehouse, Klaus offered a hand to help him.

' Hello? Is anybody there? ' Asked Ash.

Klaus slowly walked forward towards the door and just when he was about to knock on the door, the door opened and they could hear a voice which said, ' Welcome. '

They exchanged glances and Klaus was the first person to enter inside. There was an old man, whose body was covered with white clothing. The interior was small and almost empty.

' I have been expecting you. And finally, you are here. '

Even though he was old, his voice had an intensity that would make you want to listen to him, that would steal your attention and that would captivate your mind.

' I had visions about this place. This place was the only thing I could think about all this time. Now that we are here, my mind feels free. Am I making any sense? '

' Yes, Ash. Visions are one of the things that makes you unique, Ash. But beware, not all of the visions would lead you to the right places, some can be deceiving, ' replied the old man.

' How do you know my name? ' Surprised Ash.

' I keep track of everything that goes on here. ' 

' My name is Klaus. We were hoping that you can help us in determining our next step. '

' Ah, the Knightstar. I have heard about your clan but never met anyone until now. Your future is astonishing. You have a role that must go hand in hand with The Chosen One. The Chosen One is the shield that would protect Solaris from the darkness of demons, and you are the shield that would protect people from the darkness within them. Both of you are important for Solaris to thrive. And coming to your question, in order to know about your next step, you need to know about the past. '

' I know about the history but there are many areas where I felt like they were improperly connected or missing a few aspects. I'd like to hear if you can tell us the real story. One that is not in the books or one that is told to the kids by their parents. '

' Only a handful of people know the entire story and we are not even sure if that's the complete one. But I will assure you that it is going to be better than what you had heard and would possibly eliminate most or all of your doubts, ' said the old man while taking out a book from the shelf beside him.

As the old man began to start the narrative, Ash started to feel dizzy and he collapsed to the ground before Klaus could help him. The old man asked Klaus to carry and put him on the bed and he started preparing some liquid with ingredients that Klaus didn't recognize. The old man made Ash drink it and within a few seconds, Ash regained consciousness.

' What happened? ' Asked Ash in a feeble voice.

' You are exhausted from the travels and you didn't have a proper meal, so you're weak and need to rest, ' replied Klaus.

' Back on Earth, I used to fast, but I neither fainted nor felt weak. This weakness seems different. '

' Well, tell me, Ash, how many times had you been on Solaris? ' The old man questioned.

' Five times excluding now. '

' You know the reason behind it? When you had come here for the first time, I think you spent here a small duration of time and then the duration began to increase in the subsequent visits, right? The reason behind this was your body needs to accustom to the new environment. The elements of nature and forces might seem similar to that of Earth, but they are a bit different, and your body needs to accustom to these new changes. So after all those visits, I think you can now fully function here. Staying for more amount of time will not affect you. And the tiredness you feel is because of those visions. They consume energy from you. The more it happens, the more energy it consumes and the more tired you become. It is normal, so do not worry. '

' There is nothing mystical about the things that you said regarding the nature. I get a feeling you are not telling me the real reason. '

' Oh, I don't have any reason to lie to you. The main reason is all this time, there was no anchor to hold you here. And now Klaus is your anchor. '

' How do I go back to... ' Ash fell asleep before he could finish that sentence.

                                                                            ----*----

Tron: What are we supposed to do now? It has been one day and Ash hadn't come back. I am really worried now.

Izumi: I think this transition might be permanent.

Tron: What makes you say that?

Izumi: Simple concept. Ash's defense mechanism was the reason he came back all the time. It might be possible that in the initial transition, he could not adjust to the new environment. So, somehow he came back. It's just like how we throw up when we ingest something that doesn't go hand in glove with our body. Maybe he now got accustomed to the new place and therefore, no reason to come back. This is just a theory, though.

Tron: What you are saying is, we lost him forever?

Izumi: Might be or might not be. Unless there is some mystical way for him to get back, I think he cannot return.

Tron: Oh my God, what would we tell his parents? How are we going to live without him? How is he going to live there on his own? I still can't believe this man.

Izumi: I will keep digging until I find something, Tron. Don't lose hope. We are not giving up on him.