8 The Farewell

"Here you go sir Onyx." A bowl of hot soup was handed by Olivia. She made sure to make it extra special, adding as much of the fresher vegetables that they had.

"Thank you, ma'am." Was the courteous reply of their guest. Taking a sip and complementing the soup for its great flavor.

Before Arthur came, the group was actually preparing for a meal. While this happened, Onyx briefed them on the orders of the King. He also informed them that it was Solomon's plea and that, if they disliked it, they could simply direct their frustrations at the boy.

However none of that happened. Olivia simply hugged Sol like she always did. Making him feel the love and care which he always longed for. Tears fell from her eyes as she thanked both Onyx and Sol.

"I'll make some food." Her voice was sappy as she said this and, only minutes after this, the incident with Arthur took place.

"I'm actually a bit surprised to see you here sir Onyx." Arthur was already sent to prison. Not much time has passed since then but, one could already see how Olivia radiated. Like she had been freed from hell itself.

"Oh, so you've heard of me before?" Onyx said in reply, talking between sips of the soup.

"Of course, who wouldn't know of the child that tried to assassinate King Jubilee."

Onyx laughed after hearing the words. Thinking back to those days when his life revolved around killing.

"Mom, I think I heard you wrong. Did you just say that he tried to assassinate the king?" Cain asked.

"You didn't hear wrong kid. It was a long time ago. I was actually from the slums just like all of you but, because of that incident, I was given the chance to become a knight."

"Of course the King's guards and knights at that time all wanted to kill him. But since King Jubilee fancied him and his antics, this is the result." Olivia said, knowledgeable of the events because of hearsay and gossips.

"Woahh that's cool! Can I be like you someday?" Eve asked, with the other four in the room thinking if she was referring to being a knight or being an assassin. Regardless, it was only Sol who seemed to be unsurprised.

"There's not even any reaction in you kid." Sol stared at him for a few seconds then proceeded to speaking.

"That's because I knew of you already. As an orphan, I needed to know all those like me who were able to escape the gutters. Be it by luck or by sheer determination of will."

"So you also want to escape this place huh?" Onyx said, thinking that it was a normal dream for someone in the slums.

"No sir Onyx, I will change this whole place."

"HAHAHAHA! The king was right kid, you really are full of yourself." Onyx couldn't help but compare Sol to the king when he was younger. Back to when he was simply a prince and not the ruler.

"Please forgive him for his words Sir Onyx. It's probably due to all the soil he ate yesterday." Cain said, bowing in behalf of Sol.

Only hours from then, Sol would be gone. He was going to live within the [Inner Walls] for the preparations. In fact, that was probably how it was going to end. With Cain and his family never seeing the orphan again. But he didn't cry, nor was he sad because, there wasn't enough time to internalize what was going to happen.

Both Cain and Eve didn't' even know how to say goodbye. So just like Olivia, the two kids simply enjoyed their meal.

Meanwhile, Sol was already thinking of all the preparations he needed to do. Solomon needed all the names of the other [Titans]. He needed data on their abilities and weaknesses. Their habits and their behavioral patterns.

Of course he wouldn't be able to get much. However, using the proper methods, he might just be able to pull something off.

"Hey. Kid?" Sol was forced out of his train of thoughts by Onyx.

"Your soup's gone cold man. You really should stop that habit of thinking while eating." Cain said like he was Sol's parent.

"Yeah sorry about that." Was the short reply of the boy as he finished it in one go. It was good as always.

Sol could taste all the effort that went in making such a simple dish. It lacked a lot of things and wasn't enough to fill one's belly. But for Sol, it tasted like home. And as he looked at the empty bowl, his eyes began getting watery. With drops falling down on the bowl.

"H-hey are you crying man. You're so lousy." Cain said, beginning to form tears on his eyes.

"I'll take a smoke outside." Onyx said, reading the atmosphere perfectly and taking his leave.

"Don't go Sol!" Eve began crying and there was no stopping it. Although they weren't blood related, the three have always thought of one another as siblings. Even without having to say it out loud, they felt this among themselves.

"Ewas my fawwwwlt! Immm soowiiiii!" Eve continued.

"H-hey stop it guys. You all look ugly right now." Cain said, forcing his own tears to stop.

The three members of the Bloodbourne household held on to Sol. They wrapped themselves around him like he could disappear at any moment.

Sol himself didn't understand what was going on with himself and why he continued crying like crazy. Yet it was normal. He was only twelve after all and, nobody should expect a child like him to do all that he has accomplished. And yet he never complained nor did he ever back down.

But, in that instant, all the boy's fears and sadness were washed away by his tears. All the pain he felt. All his grief. All his resentment. Like a flowing river, his tears cleansed him of all these things.

And while this happened, Onyx stood at the front of the house. He heard all the cries but didn't bother looking. He simply enjoyed his smoke as he thought of something that gave him relief.

"Who would've known. He's human after all."