Chapter 279: The Druidic Order of Sola Red Forest

Yorkshire, located in the northeastern part of England, is famously known as the "God's Own County." Former King George VI of England once remarked, "The history of York is the history of England." For Solomon Damonet, his initial impressions of Yorkshire came from reading Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, as well as from his passing familiarity with Yorkshire puddings and gingerbread. Yet he had never actually been to Yorkshire, nor had he seen its iconic white roses or the purple heather that dotted the countryside.

Even now, standing in Yorkshire, Solomon didn't have the time to enjoy the flowers or the long-haired sheep roaming the North Yorkshire countryside. He was in a hurry. After dropping off Maya Hansen at the equipment distributor's office, he rushed to the headquarters of the Druidic Order of the Sola Red Forest. According to Balthazar, this ancient order had lost much of its heritage, and most of its current members were young and inexperienced.

The Druidic Order of the Sola Red Forest, however, had ties to Camelot. The order originated from Merlin's court and was considered a small but significant branch of the Merlinian Mage Circle. For Solomon, who was sorely in need of manpower, he didn't care if the druids' heritage was fragmented. What he needed were researchers who had some knowledge of magic, and the members of this order—educated in both magic and modern science—were precisely the kind of talent he required.

Solomon even wore his Sanctified Relic Robes to the meeting, hoping to impress them. He wanted them to recognize the significance of his attire and the Kamar-Taj badge pinned to his chest. That way, negotiations could move faster. However, the moment Solomon laid eyes on the members of the order, his hopes were dashed.

The first thing that caught his attention was the floor of their headquarters—a series of Solomonic magic circles and sealing arrays carved into the marble. Not a single traditional Druidic ogham rune was in sight.

It seemed Balthazar's assessment of "lost heritage" was putting it mildly. This group had completely abandoned their Druidic roots.

"I am Marianna Stern," announced a blonde girl with thick glasses, nervously stepping forward to greet Solomon. Despite her disheveled appearance and loosely tied hair, her eyes sparkled with magical awareness as she sensed the arcane aura surrounding him. "I am the High Priestess of the Sola Red Forest Order. May I ask, what brings you here? We offer exorcisms, tarot readings, and water-mirror divinations. Would you like to book any services? Oh, and… may I ask, are you a wizard?"

"You're the High Priestess?" Solomon frowned as he studied her. "Where's your mistletoe staff?"

"We're not exactly a traditional druidic order," Marianna stammered, nervously adjusting her glasses. Her loose, fluffy hair bounced with her movements. "But we do have a solid understanding of Druidic magic. The Sola Red Forest Order has always served Britain's magical needs—"

"Alright, alright." Solomon cut her off with a dismissive wave. His worst fears were confirmed. This order had truly lost its roots. The so-called High Priestess standing before him hadn't even recognized the Kamar-Taj insignia on his chest. These were not druids—they were a group of self-styled mages who had abandoned their ancestral traditions and now dabbled in medieval Kabbalistic mysticism. In the magical community, they were essentially bumpkins.

"High Priestess," Solomon began, trying to remain patient, "I'm assembling a group to handle magical affairs in the mundane world. This organization will strengthen Kamar-Taj's influence in earthly society. If you're unfamiliar with Kamar-Taj, I can explain later. I've come to you because this Druidic Order traces its origins back to Camelot, and I am the rightful heir to Camelot."

"Uh…" Marianna hesitated, clearly unsure how to respond. She didn't trust a word this stranger had said.

"If you don't mind," Solomon continued, raising a hand. A sharp scent of ozone filled the air as concentrated magical energy crackled around him. Standing confidently on the marble floor, Solomon allowed the ancient Solomonic magic circles beneath him to activate. Each time the High Priestess attempted to channel her magic through the "Raymond Gaton Magic Array" inscribed on the floor, Solomon would subtly interrupt her with a flick of his fingers, neutralizing her attempts.

The magic circle was based on the Star of David, with the word Adonai inscribed around its perimeter—a reference to the Kabbalistic concept of the Malkuth (Kingdom), the closest divine emanation to the material world. The position Solomon stood in symbolized the manifestation and completion of the universe, the dominion of the material over the visible cosmos.

"As above, so below; as below, so above. Thus is the miracle of the One fulfilled."

These were concepts Solomon had learned in his youth. The mages of this order were no match for him. By seizing control of the circle's highest node, Solomon wrested the material plane of the mansion from Marianna's grasp. The windows and doors of the mansion's grand hall slammed shut, causing the other members of the order to rush into the room, alarmed by the noise.

"I'm recruiting you to continue doing what you've already been doing," Solomon said, extending a hand. Golden light coalesced around him. "Your heritage may be fragmented, but I can help you restore it with the knowledge passed down from Merlin's disciples. However, there's a condition—you must pledge yourselves to Camelot once again, to the legacy of King Arthur. You can refuse me, but you cannot refuse the Holy Sword."

The members of the Sola Red Forest Order gasped as a radiant golden sword materialized in Solomon's hand. The sheer power emanating from the weapon caused the magical energy in the room to spike dramatically. Even the most skeptical among them could feel the overwhelming presence of the sword.

"Hey, who the hell are you?" demanded a burly young man, pointing his chin at Solomon. "We never thought anyone from Camelot would come looking for us."

"Shut up, Gerald!" Marianna snapped.

"I told you," Solomon said impatiently. "I am the heir to Kamar-Taj and the successor of the Holy Sword. You can either join me, or you can decline."

"We need time to discuss," Marianna said hesitantly. The sheer display of magical power had shaken her confidence, and she knew this mage was far more knowledgeable and powerful than anyone she had ever met. His offer seemed genuine.

"And if we refuse?" she asked cautiously.

"Then I will reclaim Camelot's power from you."

"We need time," Marianna repeated, more firmly this time.

"Not too much time," Solomon warned. "I don't have any to spare, and neither do you."

"Is this your base?" Gerald asked, his voice filled with curiosity as he wandered through the ruins of the Eternal City. Compared to the other members of the order, he was far more daring. Marianna, however, followed close behind Solomon, clearly nervous. She avoided touching any of the strange machinery scattered throughout the ruins.

"Is it just us here?" asked Karim, a young Black woman and one of the more level-headed members of the group.

"No, there's also a biologist," Solomon replied.

"What about Kamar-Taj?" Marianna asked tentatively.

"You're not ready for Kamar-Taj yet," Solomon said bluntly. Leading them to one of the intact buildings, he continued, "You'll be able to travel freely between your mansion and here through the portal array I've set up. But first, you'll need to sign a contract."

Note:

Sola Red Forest Order is derived from the Marvel X-Men: Excalibur series.

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