Sol: Trivia

• Keeps a small knife with him that is not ceremonial at all. It is plain, old, sharp, and mostly used for practical things like cutting rope, fruit, loose threads, or stubborn knots.
• Can fall asleep in a chair if he trusts the room enough. It is rare, but when it happens, no one moves him unless Elara is involved.
• Has a habit of checking saddle straps twice before mounting, even when a stablehand already did it. Not because he distrusts them. Because Coridan taught him never to put pride above safety.
• Talks to Amatage in a low voice when no one is around. Amatage absolutely acts like he understands every word and judges half of them.
• Has very little patience for decorative swords. If it cannot survive actual combat, Sol considers it expensive wall nonsense.
• Can identify most castle guards by posture before he sees their faces.
• Has an old habit of standing with one hand behind his back when he is trying not to react.
• Gets quieter when he is amused in formal settings. Caldur knows this and has to avoid looking at him, or he will laugh first.
• Once, he tried to help Elara knead bread as a boy and took the task so seriously that she had to tell him that dough was not an enemy to be subdued.
• Has a private weakness for warm bread with salted butter. Nothing fancy. Just fresh bread, butter, and peace.
• Can sit completely still for so long that birds will land near him.
• Dislikes being fussed over by physicians but will tolerate Elara fussing because arguing with her is pointless and also vaguely dangerous.
• Has a very specific look for “I heard what you said, and you should regret saying it.” It is calm. It is polite. It has ended conversations.
• Was terrible at sitting still during history lessons as a child unless the lesson involved battles, old kings, or magical relics.
• Has an excellent memory for maps. Show him a route once, and he can usually retrace it later.
• Sometimes, he taps his thumb against the pommel of his sword when thinking through a hard decision.
• Has a habit of stepping closer to Tarana when a room gets crowded, even if there is no obvious threat.
• Does not sing often, but when he does, it is low and almost private, usually old Tydarian songs that Seraphyne or Elara once sang around the castle.
• Has burned his mouth on soup more than once because he was too focused on reading reports while eating. Elara has scolded him for this, as if he were still twelve.
• Children are often intimidated by him at first, then become fascinated when they realize the king will actually answer their strange questions seriously.
• He once allowed a child to place a crooked flower crown on his head during a village visit and wore it longer than anyone expected.
• Does not like wasting food. If a meal is simple but well-made, he respects it more than an extravagant feast made only to impress him.
• Has a habit of reading bad news twice before speaking.
• Sol’s anger goes quiet before it goes dangerous. The louder version is not the warning. The calm, low-voiced version is the one where everyone should reassess their life choices.
• If he is truly furious, he stops pacing. The stillness is the warning.
• Can recognize Caldur’s footsteps from down a corridor. Caldur claims this is unfair. Sol says Caldur walks like he is late to trouble.
• Has a training scar he forgets about until someone notices it. He usually gives the shortest possible explanation.
• Is deeply suspicious of chairs placed too far from exits. Court designers may call it elegance. Sol calls it poor planning.
• Keeps his crown polished but dislikes it when it feels too perfect. A ruler’s crown should be respected, not treated like a shrine.
• Has a habit of lowering his voice around sleeping children or injured people, even if he was speaking sharply a moment before.
• Was once dared by Caldur to race through a castle corridor as a prince. Sol won. Garnet appeared at the end of the hall like a summoned punishment.
• Knows how to make a fire quickly and properly, even without his magic. He gets mildly offended when people stack wood badly.
• Has a soft spot for elderly castle staff and will quietly request schedule adjustments from Elara if he thinks they are overworking.
• Can tell when Tarana is pretending to be fine by the way she holds her shoulders.
• Has terrible tolerance for being idle while someone he loves is in pain. He needs a task, even if it is only holding a cloth, heating water, or standing guard.
• Prefers storms when he is inside and everyone he loves is safe. Outside, he treats storms like tactical enemies.
• Has a habit of looking toward the eastern windows at sunrise, even if he is in the middle of a conversation.
• Knows more about farming seasons than visiting nobles expect. He actually listens when farmers speak.
• Has a quiet fondness for badly told jokes if the person telling them is sincere.
• Cannot hide concern from Elara. He can hide it from councils, nobles, knights, and half the kingdom. Elara takes one look and knows he has not eaten properly.
• Keeps old notes from Coridan in a secure place and has read some of them so many times he knows the words without looking.
• Has a low tolerance for nobles who mistreat servants. That is one of the fastest ways to lose his warmth.
• Is careful with books even when they are not rare. Liniver approves of this. Loudly.
• Has a habit of offering his arm rather than his hand when someone is frightened, injured, or unsteady. It gives them more control.
• Is not easily startled by battle noise, but a sudden crash in a quiet domestic room will make him turn immediately.
• Has fallen asleep with paperwork on his chest more than once. Elara and Caldur have both found him like this. Neither lets him forget it.
• Once let Tamra “command” him in play and followed her tiny orders with complete royal seriousness.
• Does not brag after winning sparring matches. This annoys some opponents more than bragging would.
• Secretly finds it charming when Tarana steals warmth from him by tucking herself against his side without asking.
• Has a habit of touching Tamra’s hair or checking her blanket while passing by, even if she is already perfectly fine.
• Is very good at spotting hidden fear in confident people. It makes him difficult to manipulate.
• Once broke a training dummy so badly that the knights named it after a particularly annoying noble.
• Will absolutely pretend not to notice when someone is crying if giving them privacy would be kinder.
• Has one laugh that is rare and full, the kind that catches people off guard because it makes him look suddenly younger.
• Keeps his promises with almost frightening precision. Even small ones. Especially small ones.