morii

by Lydia Zhao, Reporter

Short Story

THE person in front of him was not a hallucination.

When Dara had been called into his father’s office, he hadn’t been expecting to see the stranger that had appeared in their courtyard at the crack of dawn, when the robins had just begun to sing. It had happened so fast that Dara would have missed it if he had blinked. In fact, he had missed it even without blinking. One moment there had been nothing, and the next, a person had filled the space. With the yards of distance between them and the low-hanging cowl of the other’s cloak, Dara had only been able to make out golden eyes because, quite frankly, they had been glowing.

He had passed the sight off as sleep deprivation. After all, it wasn’t the first time unexplainable things occurred after Dara had not slept for several days. However, this was the first time one of those things caught up to him after he had gotten a few hours of rest into his system.

As he faced his not-hallucination, several questions, heavily embossed with a variety of swears, laid at the tip of Dara’s tongue. Only through sheer will and a lifetime of ingrained manners did he manage to swallow them down. “You called, Father?” he asked instead.

“Ah, yes, Dara, come in,” his father said, motioning for him to close the door behind him. “I have someone I’d like you to meet.”

Dara glanced over at the stranger curiously, a learned smile firmly in place.

“Solaris. God of light,” the other said in greeting. Their voice was warm and playful. It was suited for their occupation. Dara would be more inclined to share in the amusement that was clearly audible underneath their words if he wasn’t spending so much of his energy trying to wrap his head around the fact that the Sun God was sitting across from him. “I fear I gave you a bit of a fright this morning.”

Never mind this morning. They were giving him a fright now. A stranger appearing where they should not be? Dara knew how to deal with that. But, a god? Dara could only stare. The smile that had gotten him through so many public appearances faltered.

Thankfully, his father stepped in before his actions could be called out as rude. “I didn’t know you two had met before.”

“We haven’t,” Dara replied, tearing his eyes away from the god. “I just happened to catch their entrance.”

Solaris offered him a grin. “I was not expecting anyone to be awake. Apologies.”

The honeyed words made his brain stutter. There was absolutely no protocol for what to do when a god apologized to a mortal. If there was, it certainly wasn’t something Dara was well-versed in. A wrong word could end up with him being smited into smithereens.

Taking the safest route, he snapped his smile back into place and quickly waved Solaris’ concerns away. “It’s okay. There’s no need to apologize. I was too tired to be too alarmed.” Hardly a lie. He was still far too exhausted to fully panic over the situation.

Solaris accepted his words with a laugh, and Dara breathed the smallest sigh of relief. He lived for another day.

“Is that all, Father?” Dara asked, hoping to get away from the god as quickly as possible. Perhaps he could take a much-needed nap.

“Not exactly.” His father sent him a stern look, and Dara let out another minuscule sigh. But, this time, it was one of defeat. “Lord Solaris is staying at our residency for the next few weeks. They wish to learn about mortals and will require a companion to accompany them. No one knows this estate better than you.”

Dara’s eyes widened, and he felt the dread rising in his chest. His fate was sealed at his father’s next words. “It would only be hospitable if you were the one who gave them a tour of the area and aids them in their encounters with humanity. Lord Solaris has already agreed to this arrangement.”

“Only if you wish to accept,” Solaris interjected.

Dara looked at the god and then at his father. He really didn’t have a choice. “It would be my honor.”

DARA didn’t know what to do with Solaris.

After he had shown them to the largest of the guest rooms and ambiguously informed the head maid of the highly-esteemed individual that resided within them, he promptly passed out at his desk. Of course, he had had no intentions of doing so, and sleeping in that awful position was never pleasant. Yet, as unpleasant as it was, Dara would prefer that to the situation he was in now.

The three hours of extra rest he managed to catch helped clear his head immensely. However, Dara wasn’t sure if that was a good thing. He could now analyze his impending doom without fatigue softening the blow.

There were so many issues with his arrangement, the first being that he had absolutely no clue what learning about mortals entailed. It was unfairly broad, and Dara hadn’t the first idea of Solaris’ intentions. Did they wish to simply learn about the human world? Did they want to live among humans? Was this a vacation of sorts? Did gods even take vacations?

A knock on the door drew him out of his thoughts. Spinning in his chair, Dara called out, “Come in!”

Mari, the head maid, cautiously entered. “The guest wishes to see you, Sir.”

Just the words that Dara didn’t wish to hear. He supposed there wasn’t anything he could do about that. He would have had to fulfill his duties sooner or later. He’d just hoped it would be much later.

“Noted,” Dara answered. He stood and stretched, tense muscles fighting every step. “Lead the way then, Mari.”

For her part, Mari simply sent him an apologetic smile. She had even less understanding of what was happening than he did, but perhaps he looked more miserable than he thought. That certainly wouldn’t do.

During their walk, Dara fixed his hair and straightened his clothes, glancing at his reflection in the windows to help him in his endeavors. “You’re free to leave,” Dara said as he stared at the door that loomed ahead of him.

Mari bowed her head, leaving him alone in the hall. It provided him the slightest bit of reprieve. He didn’t exactly want an audience as he psyched himself up to knock.

Dara didn’t have to do that as the door swung open on its own accord. Solaris filled the frame, their features alight with mirth. “I might be immortal, but even I do not have that much patience,” they commented, stepping aside to let him in. “Do all humans have the time to stand outside a door for that long?”

Dara flushed, embarrassment sending waves of heat through his too-warm body. At least Solaris didn’t seem angry. “I apologize. I was simply trying to figure out what to say,” Dara stammered out. “Mari informed me that you wished to see me, my Lord?”

“Indeed, I did.” Solaris hummed thoughtfully. Lithe fingers tapped against the wall. “I suppose you must have qualms with my stature. Speak to me as you would speak to anyone. You are to be my companion, not my subject. I promise that I will not be angry. After all, you would not be able to teach me anything if you are afraid to speak.”

Dara glanced away. “Of course, my Lord. May I ask if there is anything that you need?”

“Solaris,” the god said. “I would much prefer if you called me by my name. And, yes. I wanted to know if you had any questions for me, as well as when you would be available to provide a tour.”

There were plenty of questions that Dara could choose from, yet despite Solaris’ reassurances, he didn’t trust himself to ask them. So instead, he chose the ones that would apply most closely to his task.

“Father told me that you wished to learn about humans.”

“Yes.”

“What parts about them do you want to know?” Dara asked, hiding his nervousness behind an unwavering voice.

Solaris gave him a look that told him they saw right through him but didn’t comment. Instead, they replied, “Everything. If I am, to be honest, this is something my sister had asked of me. She has always wished to relinquish her godhood and walk amongst our people. As this is something that she cannot do, I will do so in her place.”

“Your sister?” The question slipped out before he could stop it.

“Lunaria. The Moon Goddess,” Solaris said softly. “She is not quite as well-known, but she never minded.”

The melancholy look in the god’s eyes was something that Dara wouldn’t touch with a six-foot pole. Instead, he simply motioned for Solaris to follow him out of the room. “If it’s humans you want to learn about, the city will be the best place to start.”

THE marketplace was bustling despite the setting sun.

Shop owners called out items, hoping to entice a customer into purchasing one. But, amongst the colorful stalls, Solaris seemed out of place. They stared at the vibrant fabrics and gleaming metals with awe. Hands trailed behind as they walked.

Seeing them with such a childlike air, Dara nearly forgot why he had been so scared of them in the first place. “You seem surprised,” he said.

“I am impressed,” Solaris corrected. They picked up an astrolabe, flipping it over before setting it back down. “I have been watching, but being here myself is different. It is remarkable how much you mortals can achieve in such a short amount of time.”

Dara decided that he’d rather take those words as a compliment rather than an insult. He knew that the god meant well. “We only have the time given to us. We might as well make the most of it.”

Solaris ducked their head down abashedly. Although it was not meant to be a reprimand, it was evident that they recognized the one inside it. Dara would’ve panicked far more if he hadn’t learned within the past few hours that Solaris truly didn’t take any offense to his words.

“Time takes its toll on all beings, it seems,” they mused. Fingers played with the milk-white silks of a shirt before moving on to a necklace, the translucent amber pendant sparking against the light of the dying sun. Unlike other times, Solaris held onto the jewelry just a beat too long to be a passing interest.

“Do you want it?” Dara asked.

Solaris’ gaze snapped to him. They set the necklace down in a flurry. “Not particularly.”

The words hung in the air between them. It was almost miserable how unconvincing they were.

“If you like it, you should buy it. Or, let me buy it,” Dara told them. “I don’t know if you have money on you.”

His concerns were waved away. “It does not matter if I like it or not. Even if it is purchased, I cannot take it with me when I leave. Earthly possessions are something that gods do not have.”

Dara frowned. “I thought you wished to learn the ways of mortals.”

“I cannot change who I am. I will learn, but I cannot be.”

There were several things he wished to say to that, but he was well aware it wasn’t his place. Holding his tongue, he watched as Solaris flitted away to another stall. The stall owner had drawn them into a conversation, and while their back was turned, Dara quietly purchased the necklace. He hid the box in his cloak by the time Solaris glanced back to call for him.

Later that night, Solaris found a package with a note on it.

Sometimes, it is better to have something and lose it than not have it at all.

Inside lay the necklace from their adventures that evening. In the shadows of their room, Solaris huffed out a laugh.

DAYS passed in a similar manner.

Sometimes, Solaris would follow Dara around as he did his other duties. Other times, Dara would take them to various places, showing them foods, shops, and people. The few moments that the god didn’t spend with Dara, they could be found in a room reading one of the books they had gained on their trips or plucking at the strings of a guitar.

The concern that Dara had faced upon meeting them had faded. It was almost too easy to forget that Solaris was a divine being. Their ever-perfect presentation and occasional odd comment about godhood and mortality was Dara’s only reminder that he was dealing with someone other than another one of his friends. His guard around them fell so much that he could be caught slouching at times, something that was unheard of to anyone other than Mari.

Dara was in the middle of doing rounds around the estate, one of the many jobs he had been slacking on and desperately needed to catch up on when Solaris joined him. “What is it that you are doing?” they asked.

“Morale,” Dara replied after catching his breath from the god’s surprise appearance. They seemed not to grasp that materializing from thin air wasn’t something he could ever get used to. Or, they did and purposely used it against him. “I check in on people and make sure that they don’t have any complaints and are in good health.”

“It is nearly midnight,” they observed. The barest uptick of their jaw said everything that needed to be said. “Are you certain that it is just morale?”

The remainder of the time made Dara yawn. When he turned to Solaris, he found them as alert as ever. Come to think of it, he had never known for them to go to sleep. They were around at all odd hours of the night. “Do you ever rest?”

“I do not require it.” They lazily slid their eyes over to him. “You avoided my question.”

“It wasn’t intentional.” He waved goodnight to a passing maid before saying, “It doesn’t matter what time of day it is. Someone is always working. But, you’re right. The rounds I do are also a precaution. I make sure that everything is in their place.”

Solaris let out a soft hum. Dara had noticed that it was a sound that slipped out whenever they were thinking of something. It had become a cue for him to remain silent and wait for the other to speak.

Strangely, several long minutes passed before they broke the quiet. “You seem tense. Is something wrong?

The question is unexpected. Mind blanking, Dara stilled, the gait in his step-changing for just half a second before he snapped back into himself.

“Dara?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” he assured. The half-smile that followed it up was almost instinctive, and Solaris looked at him disbelievingly. It was truly a shame that they knew him well enough now to tell his real and fake smiles apart. Just a few weeks, and they already knew him better than some who had known him for his whole life. “I’m just tired.”

“Then get some rest.”

When they put it like that, it seemed so simple. Nothing was ever that simple.

“I can’t.” Dara muttered.

“Why not?”

He could feel their eyes on him, and he sighed, unable to deny the genuine curiosity in their voice. “The summer solstice is in two weeks, and it’s tradition for the lords to invite everyone in their lands to a feast. Father always throws extravagant celebrations. He likes seeing his people happy, and so do I. It’s just that celebrations always come with a lot of work.”

Solaris frowned. “I see.”

“I’ll be okay,” he said, facing the god just as he rounded the corner. Solaris let out a small cry of alarm as Dara stumbled into a servant. They reached out to steady him, but the servant had already done so, stammering apologies all the while.

During the encounter, a slip of paper passed from one hand to the other. Before Dara could hide it away, Solaris caught his wrist.

“What is that?” They didn’t seem angry. Their furrowed brows gave off more confusion than anything else. “I assume that was intentional.”

Dara winced. “Nothing escapes you, huh?”

I am a god,” Solaris reminded. “Humans do not move fast enough for sleight of hand to go unnoticed.”

Bowing his head in acknowledgment, Dara led Solaris out of the hallways and into a private alcove. Then, with a quick check of his surroundings, he handed them the paper, unveiling a series of names.

“I do not understand.”

Dara took the paper back, scanning through the list. “That was one of my spies,” he explained as he read. “They allow me to keep track of everything happening inside and outside the estate.”

“You have spies within your own estate?” Solaris didn’t seem all too enthused. Dara couldn’t blame them.

“It was a precaution I set up a few years ago,” he said. The paper bent as he fidgeted with the edge of it. Then, without looking down, Solaris reached out to stop him, tangling his fingers with their own. The presence nearly went unnoticed but was reassuring enough for Dara to continue. “My father has made a few enemies in his lifetime. Our status makes a few more on its own.

“When he was younger, Father made several reckless decisions that still are catching up to him. After a more unpleasant encounter, I created my network. They’re normally not quite so brash as to come up to me in another’s company, but the celebration has set everyone on edge. There’s only so many assassination attempts one can go through until one succeeds.”

Solaris gave him a sad look. The bitter humor in his voice certainly didn’t escape their notice. “So, you live your life without any trust? You love your people, yet you do not give them a chance to love you back.”

“I do trust,” Dara said defensively.

“You expect the worst in people.”

“Because people aren’t always good,” he argued. Dara tugged himself away from them. “If this is how I must protect my family from everyone else, then so be it. Perhaps it’s better to not trust anyone.”

Solaris refused to let him stray too far. They walked at his side in silence, and despite their close proximity, Dara never felt more distant.

Minutes turned into hours, and as the sun began to rise, Solaris pulled him onto the balcony where Dara had been when he had first seen them. “I trust you,” they said gently. “You are right. In all the millennia I have watched over humans, I will not say that they are always good. However, that does not mean you should not give them a chance.”

“That’s how fools think,” Dara muttered, slumping against the wall.

Solaris laughed. “And that is how I know that you trust me.”

“What do you mean?”

“You would have never told me that a week ago,” they said smugly. A hand traced the cracks on the floor before they reached up to drag Dara down next to them. “I will not tell you to give your trust as easily as I give mine. But, you do not need to be so alone. It is never worth it.”

Dara looked away.

“Rest. I may not be human, nor do I have any ties to keep me to you, but I hope you will trust me to protect your family,” they murmur. “The solstice is a time for celebration after all.”

For the first time in two weeks, Dara finally fell asleep.

“WHEN do you leave?”

Solaris paused strumming the guitar in their arms. “Eager to be rid of me?” they teased.

Dara rolled his eyes and flipped over to face them. “I’m just preparing.”

They sat the instrument aside and laid down next to him. A strand of dark hair drifted across their face as they shifted into a more comfortable position. The familiar hum that Solaris emitted was cut off when Dara swiped it away. “I do not know,” they admitted at last. “I have already stayed longer than I thought I would. The day after the solstice, I assume.”

A week.

Dara felt as though the air was being cinched out of his lungs. The tightness in his chest was unexpected. When he was first informed that he was to be Solaris’ companion, he never thought he would come to see them as a friend. “I see.”

The god watched as he drew away. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Of course.” He gave them a half-hearted smile. Even as he dreaded losing them, the smile wasn’t forced but filled with fondness. “I’m going to miss you.”

Solaris sighed, interlacing their fingers together. Their brows were furrowed with unease as they stared at their joined hands. “And I you.”

The melancholy draped itself around them. Its weight was uncomfortable yet inevitable. The looming date of the god’s departure was much too heavy. If Dara let it, it would crush him. So, he did what he did best. He shrugged it off, leaving the sadness for a later time, and drowned himself in the present. “Let’s make your remaining days count then,” he said brightly. “I fear I haven’t been the best teacher. There must be something that you’d like to do.”

Solaris took their cue from him. “Of course.”

THE solstice festival was in full swing. The estate was alight with the warm glow of lanterns, and every corner was filled with laughter. Glasses clinked together filled to the brim with drinks of all kinds. Children swiped pastries from overflowing platters. It made all the preparation worth it to see everyone come together with smiles and dancing.

Dara watched from a distance, a glass of wine forgotten beside him.

“Are you not participating in the festivities?”

He tensed, spinning around to face the grinning idiot. “Please, stop doing that.”

Solaris laughed as they joined his side. Their shoulder brushed against his as they gestured out at the crowd.

“They seem pleased. It seems all your hard work paid off. Why do you not join them?”

I will in a bit,” Dara murmured. Resting his head in his arms, he adjusted to their company without missing a beat. At this point, all sense of decorum had vanished when he was around them. “I just wanted to look at it all and take some time to myself. It’s nice.”

“Do you want me to leave?”

Dara shook his head. They already had so little time together as it is. Telling them to leave was out of the question. “How do you like the festival?” he asked instead.

“It is lovely,” Solaris replied easily. They reached around him to steal his glass with a teasing smile. “I can see why you put so much into this celebration. Their happiness is intoxicating. And, it seems that there is no trouble tonight either. I know you were worried about such a thing occurring.”

“I’m glad.” Dara watched his friend through half-lidded eyes. “You should be down there too.”

There was a soft hum as they leaned against him. The warmth of their body seeped into him. “I will if you join me. It is a pity to participate in a celebration alone.”

With a huff, Dara straightened, sending them a look that said he knew exactly what they were doing. Even still, his lips held the ghost of a smile. Just to get back at them, he said, “Your wish is my command, my lord.”

Solaris laughed again. It was a gorgeous sound.

THEY stood in the courtyard at sunset. Vermillion hues painted the skies, and a chill blew through the air. A lone crow cried out as though it knew what was to come.

“You have to leave, don’t you?” Dara asked quietly. The somber air was so different from the levity of last night when Solaris had dragged him into the heart of the party and made him forget everything. But, just as they had said, not a thing went wrong. It was as though everyone had put on their best face to throw a last hurrah for Solaris’ time on the mortal plane.

“I do,” they said. Solaris’ eyes were downcast.

Dara reached out and intertwined their fingers together. “I hope you got what you came for.”

At the touch, Solaris looked at him as though trying to memorize every feature. “I did. I am glad that I got you as a companion. I would not have wished to learn about the way of humans from anyone else.”

“Good,” Dara said. He laughed even though he felt like crying. The weight on his chest that had suffocated him in the past was gone, and a hollow feeling took its place. He tightened his hold on Solaris’ hand as though it might make him stay longer.

“Will you regret this?”

The response is immediate. “No. Never.”

An unspoken question hung in the air. In response, Solaris reached up with their free hand and took off a necklace. The familiar amber pendant swung back and forth for a moment before it was pressed into Dara’s hand.

Dara smiled shakily, and leaned against Solaris, eyes fixated on the vanishing sun.

At dusk, the empty air reclaimed the space it had lost.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of Kamiak High School or The Gauntlet.