They suddenly appeared upon an isolated island in an oceanic world. Endless waves crashed against the shore below, mist drifting through the air. Before them stretched a mountainous land thick with wildlife and blooming flowers swaying in the sea wind. At the heart of it all stood the ruins of an ancient castle, its broken towers wrapped in vines and age.
Uriel: He gazed across the land, his wings settling slowly behind him as his eyes searched the distant ruins. "'Tis the place where last I felt his presence linger. Here did the trace of his essence fade from mine senses."
Sophi: She rubbed her eyes and took a moment to look around as they appeared. The second she saw the waves, though, her mind went practically blank of their objective, and she ran towards the water. She quickly slipped out of her dress and dove into the sea, her legs shifting smoothly into a shimmering mermaid tail as she splashed in, giggling and smiling and turning around to wave at Uriel happily.
Uriel: He tilted his head slightly. Though he had no face to show it, he felt a small sense of warmth watching her enjoy the sea, but he remained focused. "Sophi, we possess not limitless time. Thy merriment is fair, yet we must make haste."
Sophi: She piped down a little, sticking her lower lip out in a pout. "Right, I'm sorry, let me dry off..." She concentrated her strength into her arms and pulled herself onto the shore, grabbing her dress and using it to cover herself a little as she waited for her legs to return.
Uriel: He looked toward the distance, noticing a figure clad entirely in white tending quietly to a patch of flowers near the ruined path. His posture stiffened slightly as he observed them for a moment. "Sophi, look thee ahead."
Sophi: She squeaked and quickly covered herself as much as she could, flopping her fin in the sand while trying desperately to dry it back into legs. "H-Hold on, coming!!!"
Uriel: His hand moved to the handle of his sword as he watched the distant figure begin to ascend a long flight of worn stone stairs leading toward the broken gates of the ruined castle. His wings shifted slightly behind him as his voice grew more urgent. "They depart."
Sophi: She felt the familiar shift as her legs finally returned, springing quickly to her feet and shimmying back into her dress while running up beside him, hoping he had not seen too much. "I'm ready!!" she yelped, nearly colliding with Uriel before stopping herself right at his side. She smoothed her dress quickly, cheeks a little pink as she looked up at him apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't know we were on such limited time..."
Uriel: "It is all right, but we must not waste more time." His wings shifted as he lifted Sophi onto his back and began marching up the stone steps after the distant figure. As they climbed higher up the mountain, flowers slowly began blooming along the path beneath them. The air felt warm and full of life. Soon it became clear that the castle above sat at a perfect elevation with the sun resting directly above its quartz structure at all times, no matter which direction one looked. "I would fly, but I would rather not startle him."
Sophi: She yelped softly and giggled, wrapping her arms around Uriel tightly as he carried her. Her eyes drifted down toward the ground while they ascended, watching the flowers bloom beneath them one by one. "Wooaa...pretty..." Her head perked back up when she heard Uriel speak. "Mmh, I understand, just do whatever you prefer!" she said with a soft smile.
????: "State your business." At the peak of the steps stood a figure in tan-colored cloth flowing from his waist. Beneath it was armor of life itself. White plated metal with silver underlining, golden vine-like etchings running along the plates, and dragon symbols engraved across his chest and shoulders.
A flowing white energy trailed behind him like a cape, much like Noctum's. "Do not make me repeat myself..." He leaned forward slightly, his yellow eyes narrowing through the dragon-themed helmet before pausing. "Uriel? Is that you?"
Uriel: He gently set Sophi down, his wings shifting slightly as he bowed his head. "Aye, it is I. I see thou hast updated thy raiment."
Sophi: She stepped slightly behind Uriel after hearing the tone in the figure's voice. Peeking out from behind him, she gazed in awe at the being before them, quietly taking in the intricate and beautiful details of his armor. She bowed shyly alongside Uriel, doing her best to hide her nerves.
Uriel: "Sophi, this here is the being of life and light, Solarius, whom many have taken to calling the Allfather. Solarius, this is Sophi, the Goddess of Love."
Solarius: He lowered himself to one knee, the metallic dragon-skull helmet catching the sunlight as though the sun itself followed his movements. "Why hello there, my dear." The golden claws along his fingers slowly retracted as he extended his hand toward her.
Sophi: "H-Hai...you're pretty..." She stepped out from behind Uriel slowly, wonder filling her eyes as she looked up at Solarius. Carefully, she reached out and took his hand, giving it a small, gentle shake before bringing it closer to her face. "M-May I...?" she asked shyly, waiting for his response.
Solarius: "If it makes you comfortable, my dear, you may." He gave a soft chuckle. "I know my appearance can be a little intimidating."
Sophi: "I-I wouldn't say that...I like how you look." She gently kissed the back of his hand, holding it for a moment before softly lacing her fingers with his. After a second, she let her hand slip away and smiled shyly, stepping back beside Uriel as she looked up at Solarius with quiet wonder.
Solarius: He stood up slowly, his gaze shifting between the two of them. "So, may I ask what exactly you two have come for?"
Uriel: He glanced down at Sophi and let out a quiet sigh before looking back to Solarius. "We require thy aid in a tournament against Valkun...and thy brother."
Solarius: His eyes locked onto Uriel, his entire posture tightening at the words. "Out of the question." He turned without another word and began walking back inside the ruined castle.
Uriel: His wings wrapped around Sophi protectively as he moved after him into the castle halls. "Wait!"
Sophi: "W-Wait..." she whispered, hurrying after Solarius. She gently placed her hand on his arm, letting her warmth flow through him as she tried to calm the tension in his body. "Are you alright? What's wrong?"
Solarius: "I will not fight my brother. That is the end of the discussion." Her calming energy barely seemed to reach him. He slowly pulled his arm away from her grasp.
Uriel: "I beseech thee, we are sorely outnumbered. He hath every advantage set against us, and many lives do hang in the balance."
Solarius: "I understand that. Truly, I do. But I cannot...I will not fight the brother I love." He turned away from them and placed both hands on a ruined stone table, staring down at the cracked stone.
Sophi: She turned her head toward Uriel and silently mouthed don't push him before walking over to Solarius. She stopped across the table from him, resting her hands near his, careful not to touch him yet. Her voice softened into a gentle whisper. "You seem like something is really troubling you...would you like to talk about your brother?" She looked up at him nervously, offering a small, understanding smile as she waited.
Solarius: He let out a slow breath. "You do not understand our history. Noctum and I were once just humans. We lived on a large farm here with our father." His gaze drifted across the ruined hall as though he could still see the past around them. "He always wished to prove himself to father, but father favored me above him. I never asked for that."
He placed a hand against the white armor over his chest. "This armor rested within this castle. I used to tell him the armor would choose him, that he would lead our kingdom to greatness. But my words were not enough. Jealousy and envy slowly consumed him, and over time...I lost my brother." His hand tightened slightly against the table. "Yet my spirit was deemed worthy of the armor. When it chose me instead of him, he broke completely. He made a pact with something dark, an ancient entity, and that is how he obtained his armor."
Solarius slowly turned to face her, golden tears trailing down the surface of his helmet as his voice lowered. "The bargain granted him what he desired. Power beyond mine. Invincibility." He pressed a hand to his chest. "Now there is only one being capable of harming him. Only one who can end him." His head lowered slightly. "Me...and yet I do not wish to kill my brother."
Sophi: She walked around to his side of the table, rising onto her tippy toes as she gently took his face into her hands. Carefully, she wiped the golden tears from his helmet before wrapping her arms around him, hugging him softly and rubbing his back in slow circles. "I hear you...I understand, it's okay...it isn't your fault. I'm sorry if we pushed you..." she whispered, holding him close and trying to make him feel safe, waiting patiently until he was ready to pull away. "I'm so sorry..."
Solarius: He placed a gentle hand on top of her head, slowly rubbing it in appreciation. "I am grateful for your listening ears... truly. But I am sorry that I cannot help you all."
Uriel: He gave a slow nod. "Then I shall return and inform Star of thy decision."
Solarius: He suddenly jolted upright. "Wait. Star is fighting him in this tournament?"
Uriel: He glanced briefly toward Sophi, then back to Solarius. "Aye...he is. Why dost thou ask?"
Solarius: His posture stiffened. "Though I cannot fight my brother, my allegiance to the Golden Warrior stands above my own life." He raised his hand and, in a sudden flash of radiant light, a massive broadsword formed within his grasp. The blade gleamed with solar brilliance, its white metal illuminating the ruined hall as intricate sun and dragon designs along the hilt seemed almost alive. "So I will aid you. I cannot promise that I will strike him down... but I can defend those who stand against him."
Sophi: Her ears fluttered as she smiled up at him, a soft purr escaping her throat before she realized what she was doing. She immediately stopped, her face flushing as she looked down nervously at the floor. When Uriel spoke again, she perked back up, only to jump slightly as Solarius summoned the sword. She lifted her arm to shield her eyes for a moment before crouching down to look closer at the weapon, studying the glowing engravings with wide eyes. "Wooaa..."
Solarius: He tapped the tip of the sword against the stone floor. A spiral of warm sunlight erupted around them, circling their bodies in a rising vortex of light. "Bring me to the fight." In a blinding flash, the spiral collapsed inward and hurled them through space. In the next instant, they reappeared within the arena, the light fading as Solarius stood beside them. A new ally had joined the side of light.