Fated

Chapter Eight

It's been three days since the incident and yet the female remained unconscious. This may not affect most of the resistance functions, but her physical absence does. The base doesn't seem to be as lively despite Wahid's continuous attempts to liven up the atmosphere: they laugh, albeit a little but it's still a laugh, that's what mattersㅡhe told himself. He was now on his way to his and Falan's shared room, a plate of sweets in his hands ready to share it with his son. But stop upon opening the door when he heard his wife spoke from the inside.

"It must have been pretty difficult then..." her worried voice tugs at his heart unknowingly.

"It is... do you..do you think it is not the right time?" It was Sheba's voice, she seemed concern about something. But Wahid being a dedicated eavesdropper, listen in.

"Maybe now isn't the time.. one of our member was still unconscious, he was probably worrying about that.."

There was silence.

"But... I.. I wouldn't have the chance to ask him if she's... well.." she trailed off, Wahid then heard a sigh from his wife, before she finally consoled the pink haired.

They must have been talking about Solomon.

Sheba has been making advances lately, what a poor choice of word it was, Wahid thought. But that's how he sees it. The pinkette has find this a perfect opportunity to ask out their leader. He's very much aware as to why.

When the tactician was around, Sheba barely have the time to talk or get close to Solomon, it was probably out of respecting both of their privacy in general. Wahid wouldn't know.

But if it were him, he would indeed find this time as close to opportunity. A bad time, but still an opportunity. Additionally, it wasn't as if their leader and the tactician herself has a relationship above good friends, unless?ㅡOf course Wahid wouldn't know, he isn't the type to pry every now and then.

But then again, Sheba wouldn't know unless he ask the man himself. It's just always a matter of what ifs.

Knocking on the wooden door, he made himself known, he opens it with a flourish, grin etched across his lips as though he just arrived,

"I have sweets!"

ㅡ

"Maybe if we can try the extracting method?" Ugo asks himself, as he carefully pour a liquid into a beaker, the murky pink liquid turning into purple.

"We could try, but it'll be a dreadful and painful process." Solomon pointed out, as he flipped onto the next page of his book. "You've never tried it before right?"

The engineer winced, "Sadly." He set the beaker down with a sigh, before scribbling on his notepad. He set it face down before angling his full attention on his leader.

He looks as carefree as ever, not even a wrinkle on his clothes nor eyebags underneath his eyes. He just looks like himself, apart from everyone else in the resistance. Ugo wondered if this even affects him the slightest.

It's been three days, however her body remain unresponsive. Her breathing and other functions are working well just how they used to and a good amount of magoi has returned naturally as wellーIt's just a matter of waiting at this point.

However it's pretty much putting them on edge, there's a huge possibility that her physical body would survived, but unfortunately her rukh wouldn't. It was something the engineer has told the resistance that day and it never left their mind since.

With a sigh, Solomon excuses himself
"I'll go get something to drink." He said before leaving his lab.

Ugo's gaze followed him until he was finally out of his sight. He knows Solomon well compared to other members, but he somehow seems more unreadable these daysㅡmuch to his dismay.

He shook his head slightly as to shoo the thought away.

His gaze soon landed on Solomon's place a while ago, the lone book perched on it allowing him to see the title.

It was the book (Name) gave to Solomon as a gift a few years back.

ー

"Have you seen Sheba?" Falan worriedly asks that night, they have just finished their dinner and on their way to bed, but the pinkette was unusually nowhere to be seen.

"I'll go look for her." Solomon's voice mused out from his bedroom's doorway, he's finally doned in his sleep robes, his hair however remained as it is.

"Thank you, Solomon!"

"All of you should get your much needed rest. The mission today was pretty rough, you earned it." He issued, the resistance nods to his words, tired eyes gearing for a much needed sleep. With the absence of the tactician, their mission has gotten a little harder lately, their tactics and strategies were pretty rushed as to make amends of the lost days, it wasn't well thought of, which led to few mishaps then and there. Who knew her absence could be this severe.

As soon as everyone else has retire to their rooms Solomon made his way down the dark hallways illuminated only by few candles and the luminescent glow of the moon itself. The night was quiet aside from few cicadas and rustles of tree leaves. It was one that Solomon always finds comforting.

"I figured you'd be here." Solomon stated, startling the pinkette perched on the roof, the shingles clanking in alert.

"Solomon!" Her blush was prominently etched across her innocent face, much to her dismay.
Solomon sighs, finding it tiresome to climb up and accompany her. "Get down there this instant."

The female can only furrow her brows in fury, however she couldn't help but assess the blue haired male from belowㅡthe silken robe made him look almost ethereal against the moon's glow. She hates this effect he had on her. "You don't tell me what to do!"

"The others are getting worried. You know the mission was pretty tough, you need the rest too."

She pursed her lips in thin line, her rosy eyes glaring daggers at the man below. She felt mad, who would have thought he'd be the one to search for her of all the other members? She's expecting Falan, Arba or maybe Ithnan for Il Illah's sake, just not him?

"Go away Solomon." She muttered under her breathe, the male almost finds it inaudible if it weren't for his keen sense of hearing.

"I wouldn't, unless you'll return with me."

Again, with those words...

As simple as it is, but it's something Sheba would treasure, think of before she sleep, even dream about. Everything about this man, and his stupid charisma has brought her heart aching in nothing but pure pain.

She already knows all too well that her feelings wouldn't be reciprocated.

She was turned down for Il Illah knows how many.

Even if (Name) wasn't around, she's just as hopeless. If only she could turn back the time, she wouldn't wish to fell for this stupid excuse of a man.

"Sheba?"

"I'd like to be alone, Solomon."

"Butㅡ"

"Can you at least, respect that one?" Her voice sounded harsh, and she hates it. In factㅡShe don't want him to leave, she wants him to climb up the roof, sat beside her, and maybe...just maybe accompany her for a while longer.

But these ideas has crashed thoughtlessly, as soon as Solomon took it to heart,
"...Suit yourself." He finally dismissed, he turned around, a single thought in his mind about leaving her alone was there is to it, nothing else.

That night, Sheba has silently cried herself to sleep.