Solus

She had awakened in a cold sweat. Hoping it was a dream, Friza darts her head to the right of the room after shooting up from lying down.

Sitting in the right corner of this small cottage was her straw hat, black robe, two toed shoes, and Balmung. She looks down, looking at her topless body covered by a long blanket that was made out of sheep fur.

She sits at ground level, her heart racing as she looks around the cottage room. A traditional sliding door in front of her. She could see shadows moving around, quickly walking around. She realized where she was. It was The Soul Eaters Prefecture. A sacred temple where all Soul Eaters as children are taught by multiple teachers in different seasons.

Her eyes moved along the tan sliding doors until she reached the silhouette of Esther's.

Friza launched out of the bed. Her sleeved tattoo stinging as she rushes to the corner of the room, grabbing her robe and red tie. Quickly wrapping it around her body and sliding on her two toed shoes and tying the rope to her knees, she grabs her straw hat and Balmung.

She couldn't get to the door fast enough. Her eyes wide as she slides it open. Upon leaving the room, she was met with a beautiful garden gated off in the center of the temple.

"Esther!" Friza proclaims.

The star light came beaming upon the surface of the planet. The garden was lit up with the light, showing off the beautiful planets and large boulder that sat center of it all. Next to the boulder was an ancient sword Friza had been wondering about since she was a little girl.

The temple was a long, circular building that wrapped around this little garden. A garden she's only been in once to give her soul up to the Gods above.

But it wasn't Esther who she had called to. Kaijin looks past the guy and at Friza who had dried blood on her face. Her eye black and hand a fiery red as she squeezes Balmung in her palms. The guy she thought was Esther turns around. Wrinkles on his face and pupils purple as he places both his hands beside his shiny, white robe with a black band around his thin waist.

"Master." Friza bows. Her legs together, Balmung to her side, and her body at a 90 degree angle.

"You're excused." Kaijin looks at the man. The guy turned back to Friza and headed towards his student.

"You live." Kaijin looked at Friza who was still bowing.

"Stand." He commanded.

Friza lifts her body and looks into Kaijin's reptilian eyes once more.

"I deeply apologize for my actions. I used the Forbidden Element. I don't deserve to be a Soul Eater, Master." Friza admitted.

"And you apologize for something stupid. You were in danger. You did what you thought was correct. No tears, no fear, no mercy. You showed no mercy, showed no fear, and shed no tears. That is a true Soul Eater. Your friend, Esther, is safe and sound. He'll be treated in the hospital wing." Kaijin says.

"Thank you, Master." Friza bows once more.

Kaijin bowed only using his head before walking past Friza who now looked ahead at the Temple Guardians.

All of them wore a beautiful red robe with a golden dragon that was imprinted on their cloke just above the black tie around the waist. All of them wore a white hat and white two-toed shoes.

As Friza takes a few strides ahead, Zola comes into view. The Tizona in her hand as she stands in front of a sliding door.

"Zola!" Friza calls out.

Zola instantly looks to her left. Her eyes go wide as she rushes into Friza with a welcoming hug. "I'm so glad you're okay!" Zola squeezes Friza. Friza hugs back, shutting her eyes lightly in relief everyone is okay.

"Where's Arlo. Orion, Ellis?" Friza begins to panic.

"Calm down, Frizzy. They're fine. Out in the main courtyard near the entrance," Zola answers. Friza takes a deep breath.

"And the other Soul Eaters?" Friza looks into Zola's eyes.

Zola looks down and rubs her face. A little shake was given as she looked back into Friza's eyes. Friza knew the answer to that without hearing it. She sighs in frustration before looking around.

"The Soul Takers got to them… didn't they?" Friza asks.

"Master Kaijin is working on recruiting another 20 students from the Dark Side of the planet."

"That'll take 20 years, Zola!"

"But it's better than nothing. Me, you, and Arlo are the last ones. I don't know what those Soul Takers are after, or what they want. Arlo and I were awake when the attack happened back in Crescent Village. We tried saving as many as possible. We were ambushed and the Water Element wasn't strong enough to defend them. I was forced to use The Forbidden Element." Zola admits.

Friza looks down and nods a little. She licks her pink lips before looking into Zola's hazel eyes.

"Me too. We were also ambushed. I'm glad you came when you did. Even you running at 70 miles an hour couldn't get there fast enough. But you took the time and did so, so I'm grateful for you saving my life. I am in debt for you," Friza says.

Zola bows as so does Friza both with their arms to their side. Their eyes close lightly before reopening when lifting themselves up.

"Be safe, Friza." Zola pats Friza on the shoulder before heading off down the passageway. Friza could hear the wooden floors creaking as Zola walks away. The walls covered with tan sheets and wooden frames that supported the sliding doors.

Friza speeds off in a hurry, walking as fast as she could down the corridors of the prefecture.

The place was near perfect. Everything so clean. Out of the corridors and into the wilderness were nothing but bright leaved trees. The trees tall and wonderful. Pathways that lead to different parts of the prefecture as red and orange leaves fall onto the wooden bridges that curved over sparkling lakes.

Friza walks down a flight of steps. In front of her sat a beautiful Zen Garden. The gravel perfectly alined with large, flat rocks that sat neatly in different places. The main building of the prefecture sat behind a large balcony of nothing but glass and black metal. Surrounding the sides of the balcony were a gated off pond that flow around the building and under the bridge that lead towards the entrance of the main building.

Friza looks around to see Orion running around again with his fake sword in his hand.

Ellis could be seen talking to someone who worked here. A slight smile runs across her face as she heads towards the people on the black bench. The man she was talking to bowed at her before making his way into the main building of the prefecture that had no doors attached to it.

The sounds of animals tweeting and trees rustling lead this place to peace. Felt very therapeutic.

"Friza!" Orion dropped his sword before rushing at Friza. Friza smiles, kneeling down and wrapping Orion in her arms.

"Friza! Hey! You're finally awake!" Ellis stands and fixes her traditional Kaian Dress decorated in a red coat as paint and a golden dragon draped across the from and towards the back.

"Yes. I am, hehe." Friza gives Orion her straw hat before standing to the same height as Ellis were.

"Soul Takers? Those were the things that took out Kai?" Ellis's voice had lowered a little. Orion ran off with the straw hat on his head, barely able to see what was in font of him as he swatted at random objects.

"Yes. Apparently they must've broken the Curse of Gaze," Friza answered.

Eliss's eyes turn red as she swallows in fear. Friza could feel it. Her eyes fall to her two toed shoes.

"Listen. You and Orion are safe here, as long as Master Kaijin is here, no one is getting hurt. I'm going to request a team of Guardians to go back to Kai with me to look for any survivors." Friza says. Her voice trembles in fear as she speaks to one of her good friends at the moment.

"Be careful, Friza. If it wasn't for Zola and Arlo, you or any of us wouldn't be here right now. You haven't freed enough souls to become strong enough to take on all those S.T's by yourself. Without using the Forbidden Element at least," says Ellis.

"Thank you, Ellis." Friza bows once more and turns around to head up the small flight of steps into the main building of the prefecture. Friza smiles, grabbing her staw hat back as Orion swatted at her as if she were any enemy. Ellis and Friza chuckle before Friza left to go into the main building.

Just down the long building of tiled flooring was the West Wing also known as The Hospital Wing. Aside her was a lunch, breakfast, and dinner room everyone was required to eat. She remembered eating there during her days of training. She speeds walks down the long hall.

Three Guardians could be seen making their way towards the exit Friza had just left with their dwords attached to their waist.

It had only taken Friza a few turns. A door lingered in front of her. The tan sheet on it showing a bright light from the window inside. Friza stands at the door. Taking off her straw hat and placing it next to the door along with Balmung, she slowly slid the door open.

The sound of animals tweeting outside filled the room. Fresh flowers and a view of a large lake, a beautiful mountain covered in green vines and a vast waterfall of sparkling water could be seen outside the hole in the wall. Trees cover all parts of the land with beautiful flowers and leaves that fall gently from the roots.

Friza steps in hearing the sound of someone sleeping. Her eyes shift around the room that had a large plant in the corner of the room. A few clothes stacked on the other side as she looks at the mat on the ground with Esther lying in it.

His hands were placed gently on his chest, eyes closed as his hair was neatly placed in a bun.

His sword lie next to him as Friza stares at the tattoos he had on his arm and chest. She found herself smiling at the sight of him being okay. She gazed down the blue blanket covering him before looking at his blade. The stains of the Soul Taker's took a smile off her face.

"I'll be fine." Esther's groggy voice lifted Friza's eyes.

His eyes slowly open as he looks up with a slight grin on his face. The hazel in his eyes pierced Friza's brown.

"I thought you weren't going to make it." Friza grins and takes a seat on the floor next to his blade.

"I'm always going to get back up, even when it feels like I can't." Esther tries sitting up. The grunts of his painful body entered the room. Friza could see the bandage wrapped around his back and stomach.

Friza instantly lightly presses on his chest while supporting his back with the other hand.

"Stay down, Esther. You need rest." Friza helps him lie back down. Her sorrow growing deeper as she watches her best friend in pain.

He sighs in sorrow as well. His eyes looking up at the ceiling as he places his hands back on his chest.

"Did Master Kaijin punish you for the Forbidden Element?" he asked.

Friza shakes her head lightly.

"Not at all. But I shall not do it again. I will keep my word for as long as I can. But I need to train harder. I nearly gave up the other night." Friza twiddles with her fingers as she speaks.

She could feel Esther looking at her. His eyes looking through the few strands of pure white hair handing from his bun.

"Don't be too hard on yourself."

"But I have to. I trained for 20 years and almost died the same day of commencement. Something isn't right. A Soul Eater shouldn't be this weak." Friza looks into Esther's eyes who then looked away in the truth she was speaking.

"You just haven't freed enough souls of sin. Freeing souls of sin helps you become stronger. Soon you'll be able to use those freed souls as energy of your own," says Esther. Friza nods.

She looks to her right and grabs a bowl of water from the little stand that wasn't higher than her chest even when sitting on the ground.

She sets it in front of Esther and swallows before speaking.

"Drink. The water helps us Kaians heal," says Friza.

Esther again grunts. Friza helps him upright as he smiles in hopes to ignore the pain and focus on something else.

Esther presses his lips up to the cup, gulping down the water. Friza looks away for in her culture it was rude to stare at someone while they consumed liquids or ate something.

"So what about our village?" Esther places the cup down.

"I'm going to request a team of Guardians. We'll ride back on a horse to check for any survivors. Kai is large. I'm sure Soul Takers can't attack the entire population. Besides, Soul Takers have a thing for coming out when the stars are further away. Star light is something they despise," Friza informs.

"Take Zola and Arlo with you."

"I will." Friza stands back up. She towers over Esther as he lies back down. His eyes slowly blinking as if he were trying to stay awake.

"Get better, my friend. I will be back to check on you in three days time," Friza says. She bows as Esther smiles, lightly bowing his head back to Friza. Friza leaves the room and closes the door behind her only to be met by Arlo.

He stands so tall. His hands behind his back as his nun-chucks hand from his red band around his robe.

"I heard you've gotten back up. You're bruised. Badly." Arlo couldn't keep his eyes off Friza's black eye and scabbed over lip.

"Hi, Arlo. What do you want?" Friza stands as they both look each other in the eye of a way of respect.

"I heard you're requesting a team of Guardians. I've sent the word to Master Kaijin. He's preparing a team of five. Zola and I are willing to come along. We've paid a seller out in the camps for a horse to ride on when you are ready to leave." Arlo informs Friza of everything.

"Thank you, Arlo." Friza bows at him. Arlo does the same. His long hair falling off his shoulders as he bows a few seconds after Friza.