Something Immortal

35: Sowing the Seed

A small break was given to the participants of the next round, and Som found himself back in his room lying on the bed and staring straight at the golden apple that was on top of the pillow. He touched the texture and shining golden skin and couldn't believe it himself—this fruit was made of gold?

"So, what happens if I eat it?"

Instead of an answer, he felt his brother's hitting his head with a rolled parchment and heard the twins' laughter on the side. By the way, Sri, Irin, and the twins were in his room too. To be honest, he just wants to be alone. But after that flirtatious show of affection (thanks to Kali—yes, he normalized blaming the Dragon Prince), now everyone was well-aware that he had accepted being his consort.

"Ouch," Som complained and quickly sat on the bed. "What are you mad at me for?!"

"I'm allowed to get mad at you, I'm your brother," said Sri. See? Som thought ruefully. And everyone here was wondering where he get the attitude. "This is your last week at this place, make sure you make the best of it. Kali can't always be there for you."

"Are you trying to say that I didn't do much? Did you see what I just did there?!"

Sri gave him a long look before turning to Irin who was sitting next to the window and playing with the twins. "Irin, leave me with Som for a moment. Take the twins and take the tour around the place."

Irin stick out her tongue to the frowning younger druid before dragging her sisters with her who didn't want to go. Som wanted to leave the room too. He didn't want to be stuck here with Sri listening to his lectures and grumbling but this was his fate today.

"Som," Sri started, his low and soft voice was a bit startling, especially when he sat down on the bed as well to face him. "How much can you remember?"

Huh? Som's brows furrowed deeper as the question caught him off-guard. "Remember what?"

Now it was Sri's turn to frown. "You still don't remember anything?"

"Should I remember anything?" Som was very confused as much as intrigued by this. Then, he remembered what Ilarion had said, about him possibly being the so-called phoenix who has the power of reset. He was urged to tell Sri that he was actually from another world and was only reincarnated here, but in doing so, he would have to explain a lot of things and he wasn't certain how much of his knowledge could apply in the present situation. Better be quiet now and assessed what the next scene would be so he can decide what to do.

Sri took a deep breath, seemingly thinking too. "I thought..." he stopped, the words were struggling to come out of his head and his mouth. "...you just seem so comfortable with him."

"With Kali?" Som guessed this right, "Shouldn't I be comfortable with him? I'm his consort."

"How did you know about that?"

"I just learned about it," Som avoided his probing gaze. "Why does it matter now? Kali would protect me anyway, not like I can't stop him."

"You don't understand, Som. Kali is in love with you. He is very much in love with you. He would give you the world if you ask for it."

"And?"

"And he is also dangerous. There's a reason why the Dragon King accepted you as his brother's consort. Because you can control him but if your feelings for him are only half-hearted and your memory is still...Som, I don't understand you at all. Sometimes, I feel like you're not my brother."

He froze. A part of him felt saddened to hear this. Knowing that even in this world, he still feels like an outsider. "I do like him..." he whispered, but even he wasn't quite certain how much he liked Kali. There was just something about him. About them. Every time they come together, Som felt like a different person. It wasn't something that could easily be defined with words. "He makes me feel safe and accepted," at least this part he admitted.