Immediately I am hit with a wave of heat, I hit the ground with a thud. The stone beneath me stings my skin and melts the ice covering my heavy fur coat. Shortly after, a very heavy meat bag lands on top of me with a grunt, I push Simon away and sit up.

     “You there! State your business!” A boy swings down from a rope connected to a stone monkey’s outstretched arm, His curly chocolate hair bouncing into his golden eyes, and sunlight kisses his tan skin as he stands before us.

     “Deactivate the Null!” Simon yelps loudly, pointing to the boy.

     “Why should I,” the boy says narrowing his eyes.

     “Leuthar is coming!” Simon yells passing out shortly after. The boy’s eyes grow wide and he Immediately starts towards the orange glowing crystal set into the stone. He jumps and latches on to the crystal, it won’t budge. He presses his feet against the stone surface, veins seem to bulge from his caramelized forehead. I scream as something touches my shoulder. A large armored hand latches onto my shoulder and starts to pull me back into the Null. I struggle against it but his grip is too strong. Suddenly the boy falls to the ground, a small orange crystal in his grasp.

     The glowing wall fades to a dull gray and the fist on my shoulder sprays blood into my face as it falls to the ground with a loud clunk, the blood pools on the ground. Well, I’m not gonna be eating anytime soon…

     And so we are walking to the temple of the sun… The boy, also known as Lyric, is prancing along the way, all the while barefoot, carrying the soldier’s hand and humming a tune. I get very tired of it, very quickly.

     My damp clothes grow heavier and warmer by the minute. Simon has basically stripped off all his clothing, his coat and shirt had been abandoned long ago, his socks rolled down, his pants rolled up. Hot sweat rolls down his forehead and stains his waistband, his pale chest turns red in the hot sun and his eyes grow more bloodshot with every step.

     “What is wrong with him? Lyric says pointing his thumb at Simon who is basically dragging himself on the ground.

     I shrug. “I don’t think he does too good in the heat,”

     “Then why is he wearing such heavy clothing? He should be wearing something more like this.” Lyric gestures to his own light clothing, a simple pair of silky shorts and a handkerchief.

     “We don’t really have that on Theia…” I say,

     “Why not? They are so comfortable and light!” Lyric laughs

     “Theia is kind of an arctic wasteland of sorts, we can’t really wear anything other than heavy clothing. It's too cold to wear such cloth.” I remind him, pulling at the hems of my own heavy clothes. Simon screams, I stop and turn to look at him. He proceeds to tear off his snowshoes, socks, and pants, then throws them as far as he can, leaving Simon only in his baby blue undergarments. 

     I advert my eyes, looking down at the dry dirt below my feet. Sweat drips off my face, and onto the hot ground. The small beads evaporating immediately upon arrival. I look up at Lyric, his face is flushed and he looks flustered.

     “That is totally inappropriate!” Lyric says shielding Simon from his field of vision.

     “Well unless you’re gonna give me something better to wear I’m choosing comfort over anything else,” Simon says passive-aggressively. Lyric groans and keeps walking, less joyful but still playing with the severed hand. Simon’s face is red and he looks dehydrated. He keeps trying to use his power to freeze the sweat pouring like a river out of his pores but to no luck, He just manages to dehydrate himself further.

     Lyric stops at a large rock covered in lizards basking in the sun off to the side of our path and lays down. Basking in the sun like the lizards beside him. The warmth from the rock seems to seep into his skin. After a couple of minutes, the lizards flee the scene and Lyric sits up, a big warm smile on his face. I walk up to the rock and touch it, it’s cool to the touch…

     “You can absorb heat!?” I yell.

     “Um yes? Most on Utu can…” He shrugs.

     “Why didn’t you tell us!?” Simon moans.

     “You did not ask, also I thought it was common knowledge…” He says scratching at the back of his head.

     “Well, would you care to help?” Simon groans pointing at his sweat ridden body. Lyric walks over to Simon and places one finger on his arm. Immediately Simon’s face returns to its natural pale tone, and he looks more energized. “Now go help Astrid,” Simon says pointing to me.

     “Oh no, I’m fine,” I say taking off another layer so that I’m just down to a tank top and pants. I will not be losing my pants like Simon.