57 Chapter 42: Solaris

"How could you-" Luke choked, storming up the vine stairs, "They were all innocent!"

"Oho?" Easton smirked, "Getting a little brave, aren't you?"

"Luke!" Rei and I ran up to stairs, "Get back down, he's too powerful!"

"Goodbye for now." Easton waved before rocks tumbled out of nowhere from the sky.

I was doomed.

Rei could use his wind element to direct rocks away from him and Luke could create an ice shield, but I could only use a shadow mask and that was useless against these rocks. I braced myself against the impact of the rocks killing me, but I felt nothing.

"Whew. I made it in time."

I glanced up into purple eyes looking back at me.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

I couldn't accidently anger him, or he might release his magic holding the rocks and kill me.

"Don't worry, I'm going to kill you." Easton smiled serenely, "I'll try to make it painlessly, but first I need to ask you a few questions."

"What questions?" I frowned in confusion, cautiously edging away from him.

"I'll cut the chase." Easton continued to smile, before leaning in, his eyes widened and his face blank, "Who are you? And don't act like you don't understand, Fake Ivory."

I gulped. How did he know?

"I'll answer it if you answer my question first." I answered after a few moments of thought.

"It's not like you're going to survive this." Easton shrugged after a few seconds, "What's your question?"

"How did you get so many elemental powers, how did you know who I was, why did you kill the headmaster?" I demanded, listing the topmost important questions I had been pondering about.

"Don't be greedy, I only said one question." Easton teased.

Although his eyes crinkled in joy, for the first time I realised that the cheerfulness in his eyes and his wide grin seemed fake. Imitated. Cheap. Like an actor playing on a stage. I wonder, were all the good memories we had, just a bother for him to pretend?

"But I'll be nice today." Easton smiled graciously, still holding the rocks above and around us with an invisible shield, "I'll answer all your questions!"

Easton leaned forward, a shadow casting over his features as a sudden solemn expression replaced his creepily fake happiness.

"It's going to be a long story." Easton promised, lighting a small fire on his fingertip to provide light, "So get comfortable."

***

Once Upon A Time,

There was a child born to a poor woman. Although the father was unknown, the mother was frail and sickly and they never had enough on the table to eat, they were a happy family. The child thought his mother was beautiful, with her shining, lustrous silver hair and her joyful, golden eyes, she almost looked like a fairy. She still looked like a fairy when she suddenly died.

The child got kicked out of their house and onto the streets once no one paid rent for a while. For two years, he barely survived by pickpocketing, eating leftovers in trash bins and begging. In the second year, a few noble children decided it would be amusing to beat him up for sheer entertainment every day. Every day, he endured the harsh words that seemed to rip apart his skin, the agonizing kicks and punches and the jeers and taunts when he screamed in pain. When he finally lashed out, he was punished by the children's' parents. How was it fair? He only pushed them once, compared to the black and green bruises on his body, that was nothing.

But when he reached the age five, he was taken into the orphanage after a rich couple took pity on him. The Matron never liked him, and she always made cutting, cruel remarks about him, but that was nothing compared to the torture he experienced outside.

When he turned six, his father reached out and decided to take him home. He was changed into new clothes; his hair was trimmed, and he was renamed. His new name was Easton. Easton was so excited; he was going to finally have a family! He had longed for relationship after his mother died, someone to depend on but during his stay on the streets, no one gave him the hand he needed.

He was so happy when he finally met his father, they looked so similar, albeit for the hair colour that Easton thought he was looking in a mirror. His siblings looked like him and seemed to be so much fun to play with! His new mother was so sophisticated and elegant, every movement seemed like a swan gliding across a lake.

But they didn't like him.

Easton's brother was always far away, practicing his swordsmanship, so Easton didn't know much about him. Easton's new mother despised him. She was worse the Matron, and worse than the noble children, every day was worse than torture. She knew how to emotionally wound him the worst way possible and had servants physically hurt him in torturous ways. The younger daughter, his so-called-sister imitated her mother and enjoyed tormenting him. The father witnessed this all happening, but he simply turned away and pretended Easton didn't exist.

How was this fair? Easton never asked to be born. Why were they being so mean to him? Was Easton simply an excuse for them to blame all their anger at the unfaithful husband? Thus, Easton grew up to be a cold, mysterious boy with a keen eye and quick mind.

He learned to endure all these unfair, cruel things with silence. But when he finally entered the Academy, it was like a breath of fresh air. Granted, his sister, Ivory, had joined the Academy and was a year lower than him but he purposely avoided her. Easton spent his days studying in the garden or lazing on the rooftops. Everything was so calm, even though he could spot girls giggling and blushing whenever you walked through the hallway towards his classroom.

Until he met her.

She was like a fairy like his mother. So pretty and loveable, everyone was entranced by her. Emilia was the perfect embodiment of loveable. Everyone couldn't help but adore her as she flashed a smile or helped pick someone's books up. Easton found her so different from him, in contrast to his 'family' back home, she was so innocent and pure.

At first it was little things, greeting her in the morning with a little 'Good morning' or, helping pick up her books or stopping Ivory's malicious plans to harass her. Eventually, it changed to things like; late night study sessions together, eating lunch together, teaching her magic or hugging her as she cried. And soon, Easton was completely in love with her.

But on a starry night, during the winter ball, Easton searched for Emilia to confess to her. Finally, he was going to let all his heartfelt love be conveyed.

"Please watch over me, Mother." Easton whispered earnestly into the night, letting the cold breeze sweep his words forever.

But as he stepped into the Rose Garden, there he saw; Kyle producing a rose out of hand and Emilia weeping in joy. A strange chill spread over Easton, and he suddenly felt detached from the world. He wanted to light the garden on fire in his sheer sorrow, but he simply left and decided to lie on one of the rooftops to count the stars.

The stars had never looked so much like tears tonight.