BXBX NOVEL Chapter 53: You're Still Only Human.
"As usual, your rise is punctual," Sol smiled at her and closed his book, storing it into a small pocket dimension full of miscellaneous items he used for his hobbies. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did," Ikaris lazily rolled toward him and then sat up with a groan. "I also dreamt a little; even for me the fifth dimension sometimes makes no sense." Ikaris took Sol's extended hand and was pulled to her feet while he stared at her form through her semi-transparent gown.
"Lady Ikaris," Someone called from the outside, and in an instant Ikaris's nightgown was replaced by proper clothes.
"Enter."
"Pardon the intrusion," A man walked in, he was apparently supposed to be her aide, since like Eris, all of the heroes had someone that stayed by their side, and since nobody knew of Sol's skills aside from the captains and generals, she too was assigned someone. "Good morning milady," he took a knee before her.
"What do you want, is the camp moving out earlier than discussed?" Sol asked, and his eye twitched when the man ignored his question with his eyes closed and his attention directed toward Ikaris.
"Answer vermin, or get out," Ikaris took a seat in Sol's lap. "My master asked you a question."
"I arose earlier, and was wondering if milady was interested in a quick spar before we set out toward the hills." He spoke with visible spite despite keeping his eyes locked to the floor.
"Why?" Sol asked, and the man sucked in a breath when he heard Ikaris gasp and looked up to find Sol's hand inside of her blouse. "What does fighting Ikaris accomplish, don't you have someone else to ask?" Sol looked at him again. "Is there a specific reason why you're coming here this early before everyone else is even awake?" Sol's eyes narrowed.
"Listen imposter, even if you are called master by the hero, I have no obligation to treat you on equal standing as her-"
[Activated Telekinesis stage 1]
[Activated healing stage 7]
"What a waste of flesh," Sol interrupted him, snapping his fingers in irritation while Ikaris sighed and got outof his lap.
Ash was a proud man, and he believed he had the looks, physique and abilities that granted him the capabilities to get any woman he desired, he was specifically chosen by the princess because it was her intention to separate Sol and Ikaris.
But when he saw that indenture in the space in front of him and felt the sudden force pressing into his chest and breaking his ribcage he realised that he had made a grave mistake that was about to cost him dearly.
"Don't ever show your face in front of her again," Sol pointed toward him, and the man was sent flying by an invisible force that blew up their tent and tore him to shreds both from the inside and on the outside, he crashed the entire length of the encampment and slammed into a large tree that stopped his momentum and broke upon impact, falling on him.
Before anyone could get a grasp of what was happening the tree was rolled away when Sol pushed it, further crushing him before the healing effect of his earlier attack took root and prevented Ash from dying.
As his consciousness returned, the first thing Ash saw was Sol looking over him with clear grey eyes. "Remember my warning, Ash, remember it well, if I see you near Ikaris I'll take your head off your shoulders." Sol patted his neck with a dagger and stood, turning toward the shocked soldiers that had all been alerted under the assumption that it was an enemy attack again.
"Seriously," Sol scratched his head with the dagger as he walked through the ditch Ash's body had made. "Did he actually try stealing her in my presence, what's wrong with Arkadian men?"
"H-hey," one soldier approached Sol. "What happened-"
"Don't bother me right now I've been put in a bad mood," Sol swatted his hand away in irritation.
The man would have retaliated since his sword had already been drawn, but Arla intervened quickly and grabbed his hand to prevent him from attacking an irritated Sol.
"Master Vestic, did someone offend you again?" Arla asked, she was only partially dressed unlike her usual cloaked attire, her blouse struggled to keep her proportions in check, and her shorts were leaving too much to be desired as they loosely hung on to her curves revealing just enough that she was being ogled by even the women, everyone quickly became distracted by her presence.
"Don't worry about it," Sol spun around Arla and dropped his coat over her shoulders flicking his finger against her forehead. "You should be more mindful of the way you dress around these men, I get the impression that I might have underestimated how barbaric they are." Sol narrowed his eyes at her, and she nodded and lowered her gaze with a rising blush on her cheeks.
People usually just stared, but not only was he unaffected, but he even showed control and concern for her well-being.
"I know that well, it was an error on my side, thank you." Arla held on to the coat around her form and quickly retreated back to her tent, disappearing with a chant and a wave of her hand.
"Did she call him master?" One of the female soldiers asked.
"Eh, that imposter?" Another responded with a scoff. "No way you're hearing things."
"I don't know what happened, did you see... Isn't Ash around level 100 how did he lose when not even the heroes have broken level 100 yet?"
The rest of the morning went by with rumour that Ash was beaten by Sol because he caught him and Arla together and confronted them, obviously this wasn't the case, but Ash dared not mention that he attempted to steal Ikaris away and was nearly killed, and Sol himself seemed to not care about the whispers amongst the soldiers.
What did bother him though was that Arla despite hearing the rumours still chose to ride next to him while the heroes resided in their large carriage. Sol would have been in there as well, but he wanted to give Ikaris space to interact, and it seemed like his presence only made her reject any conversation in favour of cuddling or teasing him.
"Master Vestic," Arla looked over at Sol, speaking her first words since they set out.
"Could you please stop calling me 'master,' I don't hate it but it has already caused a few misunderstandings in the past, just use my name like everyone else," Sol looked over at her, his usual playfulness was still absent after he had gone his first night without sleep and then Ash had put him in the worst mood.
"I find that ridiculously hard, considering your magnificence," Arla leaned closer and whispered. "I know you dislike my endless curiosity, and I have chosen to lock my questions away until you are comfortable enough to reveal them-"
"That won't ever happen."
"-And that is why I stopped asking," Arla chuckled. "But, that is not the focus of my concern this time," She stared at his eyes and the residual magic she felt on his person. "Sol... have you slept yet?" Arla asked, and Sol turned and stared at her surprised.
"It is none of my business, I understand, but I sensed a very powerful barrier throughout the night that I believe could have only been your doing, and right now, you look exhausted,"
"What is she saying, does she realise I can go weeks without a wink of sleep?" Sol thought to himself.
"Master," Ikaris spoke directly into his head.
"Listen to her this once, take rest, from dusk until dawn you were overexerting your divine magic with a barrier strong enough to protect us from the descent of several of the most powerful gods of the pantheon, I understand your tenacity more than anyone else, but please pay heed to your health, after all, you are still human; regardless of your power and control over divinity, your mind cannot always keep up of you use it to such extreme levels."
"Huh?" Sol blinked as his blurry vision focused on Arla again. "Are you certain?" He asked, he hadn't even been aware he was tired until they pointed it out.
"Rest, master,"
"Of course, come, as long as Lady Ikaris doesn't mind of course," Arla patted her horse after suggesting that he ride with her and close his eyes for a bit. "She is very introverted, and since she only truly likes and tends to you she dismisses everyone else quickly, this is why you chose to ride instead of stay in her carriage with her right?" Arla hit the nail on the head again.
"Sorry for bothering you then," Sol sighed.
[Forceful activation of divinity has been cancelled, consequence is fatigue]
Sol skillfully stood on his horse and stepped over to Arla's while she raised her arms and allowed him to hold on to her before his forehead pressed against her back and he passed out.
She had hoped to at least have a conversation before he fell asleep, but he lost consciousness so fast all she could do was chuckle.
"How on Arkadia did you manage to stay awake until midday?"
Inside of the Carriage Ikaris had a distant expression, staring in the other direction across the plains instead of to her right where she knew Sol was holding another woman and sleeping soundly.
"Ikaris..." Eris was going to comment on the matter, but saw Ikaris's discomfort and sighed, she was right next to her, so she had heard Ikaris speaking when she told Sol to rest, which is why she even noticed Sol before the others.