Something Immortal

41: Avarice Part One

When Kali said draconian, Som had a bad feeling that he knew exactly who this person was. As they continued with their trek, imposing rock formations were creeping into the landscape as they were near the edge of a cliff. They have no set destination and they were both walking aimlessly hand in hand.

"I'll turn," Kali decided. "It's easier to see from above."

"Wait," Som stopped him by holding his wrist.

The prince turned. "Som?"

"That strigoi is after me. Not Sri or anyone else. But me."

Kali straightened out, staring straight into his eyes. "I won't let them hurt you."

"I know that. But I can't come back not until I find out why are they after me," when Kali frowned, Som continued, "You're with me on this. Aren't you?"

The silence was grappling but as Som searched Kali's eyes, he could see that the draconian prince had no intention of ever denying him of any kind of request. "Tell me what to do, bunny."

"Let's follow that Vegard's last trail," Som decided, and Kali was surprised by this courage. "Come on, don't you want to know what he did before he was killed?"

Kali took a deep breath before facing his "wife" once again. "Bunny, it wouldn't just be a walk in the park. Traps would be everywhere, there are other creatures out there, uncivilized. Not to mention, undead crawling in every dungeon and crypt."

"I know that," Som walked past him, continuing their sojourn and Kali had to follow him. "I just feel like if I returned, there'll be coming after me anyway. I might as well come to them if that's the case."

Although what he said made sense, Kali couldn't help but wonder if Som had other things in mind that he wouldn't tell him. He glanced at the other's countenance and could see that Som was deep into this. That he truly wanted to unveil whatever was hidden out there, preventing them all from knowing. And with that, he couldn't help but ask, "Why are you so invested in this?"

Som halted, and for a moment or two, he didn't turn around, not wanting Kali to see his face. What was he supposed to say?

Why am I invested in this? Som thought. Would it be enough to tell him that he was invested in this because he didn't want to continue with the following chapters knowing that it's nearing the Nightfall campaign and that he might end up pushing him into the Serpent's Peak after all? If he could be given a chance to write his own story, he wanted to be together with Kali without all these creatures after either of them. How could he tell this man that he actually know Lord Phaibun and that he knew how frightening that one can be? He would kill anyone in his path regardless of their race, and he was powerful only because he had no compunction, nothing to hold him back.

"Som?"

At last, he turned around. "Have you ever wanted to be in another world aside from here? Like, you suddenly wake up and at long last you're in this story, wearing a different persona, a new you. Have you ever thought that perhaps it was your second chance in life?"

There was a frown, but Kali did get what he means. He slowly approached the other with his hands behind his back. "I do," he peered into his eyes. "And in those times that I did, I often wondered where you were."

Som was surprised but also flattered that his cheeks grew pink. "You always know what to say."

"Only with you."

Som laughed heartily. "How cool would it be to be someone else, somewhere else but at least when I'm talking with you, I feel like I can easily be the person I want to be. I can be myself with you."