A Man for Himself (Norton X Eli) [Identity V] *UNEDITED*

Chapter 30 - The Galaxy

From the front steps of the manor house, Norton watched the sun as it set on the horizon and dragged with it the light of the day. Soon the sky was blanketed with darkness, creating a blank canvas to be adorned by the silvery moon and its accompanying stars.

The sky was beautiful tonight. There were no clouds to obscure the planets that lay among the stars. It was like the galaxy was allowing itself the admiration of humanity. It was an opportunity for the naked eyes.

That was Eli Clark tonight. He was the galaxy in Norton's eyes.

Norton had walked his way to the lake with his clammy hands jammed in the pockets of his pants. The wind was cold, yet he perspired as if he's walking under direct sunlight. He couldn't keep his heart from thrashing inside his chest whenever the image of Eli conjured itself in his mind's eye.

What the fuck, Norton? Are you seriously behaving like this?

As Norton drew closer to the lake, he caught a whiff of smoke not too far from where he was. He surveyed the area until he found the source—a bonfire. The prospector followed the light of the fire until he stumbled upon a small camping site set up by none other than Eli Clark himself.

"Good evening, Mr. Campbell," Eli greeted with his warm and welcoming smile.

Eli Clark is the galaxy, the stars, and the moon himself. That's the thought that entered Norton's mind at the sight of the fortuneteller.

Eli was sitting against a fallen log, clad in a gilded white robe with intricate gold patterns resembling the moon and the stars, a white veil, and a gold mask with a sapphire in the center that he had worn during the night when Norton got invited into the seer's room for the first time. The fabric looked perfect on him, creating a spitting image of a cleric serving a divine god. Eli himself was divine.

Norton didn't believe in any gods, but Eli Clark was the perfect evidence of their existence.

"Good evening," the prospector replied politely. "I hope I didn't make you wait."

"Don't worry about it. Come and take a seat." Eli lightly patted the space next to him. "I prepared tea. Would you like a cup?"

"Sure." Norton nodded and sat down next to the seer, setting his helmet down.

At this point, Norton was struggling to keep his heart calm. He wasn't supposed to behave like this. He used to be so composed around Eli.

To distract himself, the prospector searched for anything that he could lay his eyes on aside from Eli Clark. He let his sight wander, suddenly finding interest in the objects around them.

Underneath them was a thick red silk-like cloth that was soft and cool to the touch. A few feet away from them, there was a metal pot sitting on top of the grates set up over the bonfire. The aroma coming from it blended in the air and embraced them with its relaxing fragrance. The scent was familiar.

Eli picked up the pot by its handle with his blue glove and poured its steaming content into two porcelain cups sitting on top of a picnic basket.

"Is this rose?" Norton asked as Eli handed him a cup.

"And licorice," Eli answered, setting the pot down back on the metal grates and returning to his spot next to Norton.

The prospector took a sip from the cup, letting the liquid travel into his body and spread its warmth throughout his system. He seemed to have calmed down for a bit after a couple more sips.

The night was cold, but the heat from the bonfire, the tea and the living body next to him were enough to make him feel cozy and comfortable. Too cozy.