DXD: A Solomon King

"I saw them. .

. They are dead, aren't they?" His voice was breaking, and his sobbing slowly began.

Solomon looked upon him with pity, feeling sorry for the boy. In one night, he lost it all.

The King wished he could say such a thing was possible, but he did not lie. Instead, he simply went to him and hugged the boy close.

For Issei, this felt somewhat like how a grandfather would hug their grandson. "I am sorry, Issei, but I cannot.

" Issei jolted in his arms, his tears pouring now without control. He cried in Solomon's robes, but the old King knew only one way to comfort him.

"Cry all you want, child, for it is normal. Death comes and goes, taking everything it touches to the afterlife and leaving those like you behind.

Those who loved the ones they took. But do not blame it, because this is just how it is.

In order for a new door to open, another must close. In order for a new life to begin, one must end.

" Issei seemed to calm down somewhat as he talked. "Your parents died, yes, but they are not forgotten.

The flames took them, but you must not blame the fire-" Then a thought struck him. How did the fire start?

Solomon was so focused on the revelations the boy revealed to him that the thought completely evaded him! How did the fire start? The fire was going from the upper floor to the lower one, which is not normal. No natural or accidental fire would work like that.

No. .

. Solomon quickly realized.

Issei's parents didn't die in a fire. They were murdered using fire.

His fist clenched itself, feeling bile build in his stomach. Who would do something like this and why? Why try to kill an entire family? What possible twisted reason could they have? Why leave a child without its parents?

Issei looked up at him, seeing the grave expression on his face. "Solomon?"

The king looked back at the boy slowly, deciding to tell him. "Issei, how did the fire start?" He asked.

"The fire? I don't know. The stove at home was electric, and we are always careful not to put anything flammable near it when it is still hot.

" The boy said. "And the fire seemed to come from my parent's bedroom, but they had no candles lit.

" He shuddered. "They usually light them when they want to do grown-up stuff.

" Solomon didn't dare question how the boy stumbled upon that information. The parents were likely sloppy in hiding their bedroom activities or too loud.

"I don't know how the fire started, Mister Solomon. "

"Call me just Solomon, Issei. " The king replied, not feeling well being called Mister.

"Oh, call me Ise then. It is kind of my nickname.

" A shortened version of his name? Solomon had nothing against it. "But why were you interested in how the fire started?"

Solomon took a moment to find his words, then he looked at Issei directly. "Ise, know that my words are possibly not going to be to your liking, but it is the truth I have reached.

The fire was not started by something in your home. SOMEONE started it.

" Issei's eyes widened.

"What?! But who would do something like this?!"

"I do not know…" Solomon said, gritting his teeth. Not knowing the reason behind such a drastic action angered him, frustrating him.

"Nor do I know their goal. "

"Mom. .

. Dad…" Issei muttered as he felt the tears build up in his eyes again, but this time he whipped them away.

"No! I won't cry! I have to be strong! My parents were murdered! I have to find the one who did it and punish them!"

"Easy there, Ise!" Solomon said, noticing the boy's fire. "You cannot go after whoever did this by yourself! You are but a child and the one who did it might have been an adult.

Not to mention you mustn't let vengeance be your friend!"

"Why not?!" He asked, anger surfacing.

"Because it will bring shame upon you and your parents!" Issei flinched as Solomon shouted at him. "Taking revenge on your parent's murderer is not something I tell you not to do, but you must do it with a leveled head! If you end up becoming the same monster you sought out then you will not bring your parents peace, but shame for all eternity! First, grow up, grow strong, and be smart.

Learn, for I will teach you about the old ways, even magic, and you will teach me about the modern world so I can guide you through it. "

"Fine…" Issei sighed, listening to Solomon. "What now?"

"Now?" Solomon looked up, noticing how the space around them was breaking apart. "Now you must wake up.

Up until now, we have been talking inside your mindscape, a place within yourself. But you have no mastery over it, meaning you cannot simply bring it forth.

I will teach you how to do it later, but for now, you are waking up. "

"Will I see you again?" Issei asked the king.

"I was the one to save you before, child. Despite not being there with a body, I am always in your mind, guiding you.

I see what you see, hear what you hear. I am never away.

"

Issei looked down as the cracks started to reach all around them, white light pouring through. "I am scared, Solomon.

What am I going to do now without my parents there?"

"Let the adults take care of you, Issei. Trust them.

" Solomon replied. "And trust me.

" The world around them finally broke into pieces, and Issei vanished from the mindscape, leaving Solomon there by himself. Or so the old King believed, but he felt it.

A presence, powerful and old, slumbering with the boy. He looked around, searching for its source, and he saw it.

A crimson spark at the edge of this white wasteland. "Who are you?"

Issei woke up in the hospital, roughly two days after the fire, and when he did, he immediately noticed some changes to his vision. Solomon didn't know what those...