Chapter 12

Sitting atop a large rock Eirwen looked to be staring at the sky. Stars lined his sight like a field of flowers. He had seen the stars many times as a rock, it was grueling boring days that back then felt like staring at a wall. Now though, the vast inky blackness standing still while a breeze swept past his white hair that never grew in size. It felt peaceful.

He was alone everyone else was asleep back at the cart and Eirwen had wandered off without notice. Eirwen didn't really know why he felt the need to not sleep and to travel the forest not thinking about how he might get lost but to just enjoy the experience. He hadn't learned much in a while so he craved to see more things, and he did.

He saw flying insects with huge bug eyes, and little night critters running around. Plants that glowed and the red eyes of a predator lurking in the shadows. He then found a field full of clovers and a rock perfect for sitting and stargazing.

Sometimes in the village elder humans would go out into the night and come to his rock praying and looking at the sky as if something otherworldly laid above. Like the god wasn't him the rock as if trying to send their prayers to the sky and he was some messenger supposed to report the words. Elaborate thoughts always somehow made it into Eirwens head when he had nothing to do but just exist. He had much time to think.

As Eirwen sat and thought of the past he felt the presence of a powerful being. Solomon, he assumed.

"What's on your mind?" Sol called suddenly straightening his robes and sitting beside him. "Why do you wear that garment? Is it culture-related?" Eirwen questioned resting his fists on his cheeks.

"No, it's just tradition for cultivators." Sol smiled flapping the big sleeve as if to say it's too flopping and unpleasant.

"Can't sleep?" Eirwen blinked up meeting his eyes.

"I don't need to, the planet nourishes me. I don't even need to eat or drink." Eirwen was shocked, he had no idea that was the case for immortals. When he was a rock he also didn't need any of those things but unfortunately to keep his human form he has to nourish it the way a human would. "Doesn't it get boring being an immortal?" Eirwen plucked some clovers lazily.

"Well, there are many sides to being an immortal. There are the cool sides and well...the boring ones." Sol chuckled.

"Cultivators and magicians. Why the difference? Are some people just born with the aptitude to only be able to do one or the other?" Eirwen narrowed his eyes and continued, "and why are some not cut out for any of them?" Like himself, Eirwen couldn't do magic or have a spirit root to do immortal cultivating.

"That's a very good question!" Sol was a bit taken aback by the question and Eirwen spotted a change in his demeanor.

"During my training, an immortal master once told me it was all at random. Somone who was born in an immortal family or sect could only have the attitude for magic. And sometimes not have an aptitude for any of the two basically leaving them impure. That's what they call normal citizens with no talent for the two practices. Even if people have a spirit root or magic money is needed for spell books and such," Sol ended.

"So bloodline doesn't determine it fate does?" Eirwen said lowly in deep thought.

"Something like that?" Sol laughed unsurely. "Shouldn't you get some sleep?" Solomon began tying his hair up with a loose string of fabric.

Eirwen shook his head not feeling the need to sleep. He wanted to ask more liking the feeling of talking to someone somewhat openly.

"Is it true you'll live forever?" Eirwen tilted his head.

"No one lives forever Eirwen," Sol quietly composed shaking his head lightly.

Eirwen didn't really understand because that defeated the whole point of being called an 'immortal' but didn't continue on the subject. "Let me ask now, what are your thoughts on this adventure?" Solomon inclined letting his robes leisurely glide with the wind flapping the heavy fabric around.

"Adventure? Like in the hero books?" Eirwen furrowed his brows leaning forward.

"Well, this is an adventure don't you think?"

"I guess, I don't mind traveling I get to see things I've never seen before. Like Steam City where I stayed with Doxin. I had never been in a city before then," Eirwen said.

"How did that cat force you to be his partner anyway" Sol rolled his eyes.

"He kissed me and I was interested in what being in a relationship was like. I still don't really understand how to be in a relationship..." Eirwen trailed off aloofly.

"Maybe you could understand faster if you had another partner?" Sol smoothly compelled.

"Another partner?"

"Yes, for instance, me."

"But I've never seen anyone have two partners," Eirwen tilted his head recollecting his knowledge on the subject.

"It doesn't seem like you've seen a lot right? It's completely normal in some places to have multiple partners, of course, I'm not forcing you."

"Hm, okay then I don't mind, is Sprout considered my son now too?" Eirwen smiled, he had never had kin and was interested in seeing what that was like.

"Yes of course!" Sol smirked planting an excited kiss to the crown of Eirwens head.