In no time the boy caught up to Sol and he snorted as he rushed past to reach the top of the mountain first.
Sol smiled at him as he rushed by before he went back to calmly walking up the steps, this time one at a time; he even began humming a melody as he went along.
It was when about half an incense's worth of time went by that a bloodcurdling scream filled with immense pain and regret suddenly reverberated further up the steps.
Despite the tragic cry, Sol didn't raise his head and only focused on walking up the staircase.
After some time, Sol came across a puddling of blood just after the eight hundredth step.
"Ah, he didn't die did he?"
Even though Sol's words sounded concerned, he was smiling mischievously.
It wasn't that he had lied to the boy.