Fractures in the Sun
The journey from the Forgotten Temple had been long and weary, but as they neared their next destination, a quiet determination settled over the group. The threat of the Fallen Sun loomed over them, but even as they trained for the inevitable, there was something more pressing for Tranquility—something that weighed heavily on his heart.
His strained relationship with his father, King Helios, hung in the air like a storm cloud. Despite the urgency of their mission, there was an underlying tension that couldn’t be ignored.
---
Training Sessions: The Strain Between Father and Son
It was early morning when the group gathered to continue their training. The air was crisp with the first light of dawn, and the Sun Peridot pulsed softly within Tranquility’s chest, its warmth a constant reminder of the power—and responsibility—that now resided within him.
He stood apart from the others, his mind preoccupied. His gaze frequently flickered toward his father, who stood at a distance, overseeing the training session with a stoic expression. Tranquility’s frustration simmered beneath the surface. The distance between them seemed wider with each passing day, and his father’s coldness only seemed to grow.
“Don’t let it consume you, Tranquility,” Clow’s voice broke through his thoughts. The sorcerer was standing nearby, watching him closely. “You’ve got a powerful force within you, but your heart must be just as strong if you’re to wield it properly.”
“I know,” Tranquility replied quietly. “But it’s hard to focus when everything feels... fractured.” He glanced over at Helios again, his jaw tightening. “He doesn’t even want to talk to me. I don’t know how to fix this.”
Clow studied him for a moment before speaking. “Sometimes, the path to understanding isn’t easy. But running from it won’t make it any clearer.”
---
A Quiet Conversation
During a break from training, Syaoran, Reiko, and even Endymion made an effort to reach out to Tranquility. They knew that the weight of the situation was wearing on him, and it was clear to them that the underlying issue wasn’t just the growing power within him—it was his unresolved feelings toward his father.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Syaoran asked one evening as they sat by a campfire, the others distracted with their own preparations.
Tranquility’s eyes darkened. “It’s... complicated,” he began, staring into the fire. “My father and I—we never had a great relationship. But now... with everything that’s happened, it’s worse.”
Reiko sat beside him, her tone gentle but firm. “He’s not the only one struggling with the past, you know. Sometimes, we all put walls up—especially when we’re afraid.”
Syaoran nodded. “There’s no need to fight this alone. We’re here, Tranquility. You don’t have to fix everything all at once.”
“I know,” Tranquility said, voice barely above a whisper. He sighed deeply. “I just want things to be different with him. But I don’t know how to break through that wall.”
Endymion, who had been quietly listening, added, “Helios may be your father, but even he carries burdens. We all do. His silence is his way of dealing with things, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. It just means... it’s harder for him to show it.”
Tranquility met Endymion’s gaze. “But how can I trust that?”
“I don’t have all the answers,” Endymion replied honestly. “But sometimes, the first step is just showing up. Take the initiative. Even if it’s hard, even if it feels impossible.”
---
A Father's Attempt
As the days wore on, Tranquility found himself unwillingly drawn to moments when Helios was alone, when the king would stand off to the side, watching over the group with a quiet intensity. Tranquility had always looked up to his father, but the chasm between them now felt insurmountable. Still, he couldn’t ignore the pull—the desire to try.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Tranquility found himself standing in front of his father. Helios was sitting on a large rock, looking out over the landscape, lost in thought.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension was thick, the weight of unspoken words heavy in the air.
Finally, Tranquility broke the silence. “Father, we need to talk.”
Helios turned to him, his expression unreadable. “I have nothing to say, Tranquility. Not now.”
But Tranquility wasn’t ready to back down. He took a step closer, his voice firm. “We can’t keep pretending everything’s fine. You can’t shut me out like this, especially with everything happening. I need you.”
Helios let out a long, tired sigh. His eyes softened, though only briefly. “I didn’t want this for you. I didn’t want you to bear this burden, but it was never your choice. And now, this power... it’s more dangerous than you know.”
“I’m not asking for your approval,” Tranquility replied, a slight edge to his tone. “I’m asking for you to be here. To help me. I can’t do this alone.”
The king looked at him for a long moment, his features hardening again, but this time, Tranquility noticed the faintest flicker of regret in his father’s eyes.
“I’ve never known how to be the father you needed,” Helios admitted quietly, his voice low. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to try. This... this is the hardest thing I’ve ever faced. Not because of the power you bear, but because I failed you long before it ever became a problem.”
Tranquility felt something shift in his chest. The wall that had been built between them was starting to crack. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.
“I just need you to be present,” Tranquility said, the words a release from the tight knot in his throat. “We’re in this together. I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to fight beside me.”
Helios’s expression softened, his stern demeanor faltering for the first time in what felt like an eternity. “I’ll try. For you. I’ll try.”
---
Training Resumes
The next morning, as the group reconvened to continue their training, the atmosphere had changed. There was a subtle shift in the air—something lighter, though still heavy with the anticipation of the upcoming battles.
Tranquility stood beside his father, not as a king and his subordinate, but as a son and a father, each finding their footing again in the midst of a war neither of them had asked for.
They didn’t speak much during the training session, but for the first time in years, Tranquility felt like there was hope. The gap between him and his father wasn’t entirely closed, but they were on the same path now, side by side. That was enough for him—for now.
And as the sun began to rise higher in the sky, the warmth of its rays felt different. It was the warmth of a new beginning.