Solar Mage

Chapter 79: William

I lay unmoving on his shoulder, with a complex expression on my face, too deep in thought, staring blankly at the steps after us, as William treads upwards. His face, also out of touch with reality, as he reflects on the event that had just played out before him, his brows randomly wincing aggressively at times, but staying silent, his automated steps being the only noise echoing in the dull, empty hallway.

"Say, why do you want money that badly? You don't seem like the greedy type."

I say without the movement of any part of my body, limped around his shoulder like a noodle.

His automation up the stairs abruptly ends, his bent leg hovering above the next step of the stairs.

"Were you conscious when those nurses were committing those horrible acts onto you?"

He says in a sad, almost angry tone, his voice both clear and trembling at the same time, setting his foot down on the step in front of him.

Shit! I spoke without thinking! Now he thinks I'm some pervert who enjoys being abused!

After a few seconds pass, as if I let his words marinate, so that I can fully process it, I reply in a trembling, almost scared voice.

"Y-yeah, I was awake..."

My muscles suddenly contract, producing a large, abrupt shaking on his shoulder.

Damn it! Hold still, body! Don't start freaking out! Maybe he hasn't figured it out yet!

"Oh Arthur, I'm so sorry that you had to go through such horrible atrocities, I will make sure that all three of them get the punishment they deserve! You must've been so scared. This just had to happen when you just started recovering!"

He stomps on the stair loudly with his next step, pausing for a second before continuing his ascent.

"I didn't know where you were relocated, by the time I had finished planning for your new room, you were already gone, and no one I asked knew where you were. I know this still isn't a fair excuse, I should've searched harder for you, so you can put all the blame on me. I can be your therapist, or even find you one so please, don't be so scared!"

William's speech abruptly comes to an end, the silence that comes after it, unnatural, and almost deafening.

So this is the real William, a doctor with an unbreakable sense of justice, and empathy like no other. His will, even stronger will when children are involved. He must have had a rough upbringing. If I had to guess, he probably experienced what those nurses were about to do to me. It's unusual, I feel a strong burning rage inside me, even though I have yet to awaken my Solar Mana. Regardless, if those who did that to him are still alive, I want to kill them with my own hands.

As William continues to carry me up the stairs, through the silence, a new substance absorbed by the stone stairs, its dark color trailing behind the newly passed stairs.

William– he's a kind person...

"Thank you."

My voice comes out with a long sigh, my nose beginning to fill with mucus as a sudden wave of emotion overwhelms me.

William's shoulder tightens, a spasm occurring from out of nowhere, just I finish speaking. His eyes narrow, with much rage to be seen in it, but then suddenly, his down-pointing frown suddenly softens as he relaxes his eyebrows, fastening his grip, before he starts up the stairs again, two steps at a time.

I had forgotten since I started training, but it's not so bad to be treated like a kid.

I lay happily on William's shoulder, now enjoying the faster bumpy ride, hiding my wide smile, I hadn't shown since I was a kid, under his freshly cleaned lab coat.

It smells so nice... I wonder if he can tuck me in like dad...

***

Feeling the harsh red light of the sun shining on my face, my eyes wince away, almost like a spasm, pulling my blanket over my head to block it.

Ugh– I'll never get used to that sun.

A second later, I pull the sheets off my head and sit upright, staring out the window, staring directly at the sun.

"Red."

I blurt out randomly, in a dry and sickly voice, the emotion void from it, with no context to make sense of it. Half asleep, my brain is yet to be turned on.

"Yes, it is red indeed."

A voice from my left side spoke.

"I like it much better, orange. The red seems a bit too violent for me to be looking at, the first thing in the morning."

The voice speaks again, almost responding automatically.

"Right? It's much too violent for me as well, it reminds me too of blood, doesn't it?"

The voice speaks steadily, my brain beginning to turn on, sending me signals of something yet to be processed.

"Yeah..."

The horrifying memories and nightmares I pushed behind me, ache throughout my head in a blurry image, but the pain manageable enough for me to keep it hidden.

"Hey who are you again?"

I turn around with my finger at them as I turn my body to face them.

"Greetings, Arthur."

My brain, still half asleep, fails to process the signals my ears and eyes give it, unable to recognize the person, covered in blood in front of me.

Hmm... who is this? Why can't I remember who they are? Lets see, rectangular glasses, well kept black hair–