Peace of Mind

King's Crown

The young monk shivers at the chill of an adolescent winter's breeze. The grass along the road that has been so frequently travelled is now coated in a blanket of frost. Snow has yet to fall, though it will no doubt come soon. Clouds cross the sky at a steady pace, the wind encouraging their movement.

You walk alongside the horse carrying the monk, feeling the need to stretch your legs. The past few days you spent in your dove form were nice, despite having to listen to all of that irritating monkey's exaggerated tales, but sitting on Tripitaka's shoulder for so long was starting to feel tiring.

The Monkey King walks on the other side of the horse, whether he is unaware of your annoyed glances or just doesn't care is unclear. Aside from occasional jabs at one another, the two of you haven't spoken much since that night by the river. Honestly, you feel grateful for it. Even if you do have to listen to him boasting about his many accomplishments to his master, at least he isn't prodding you with questions like before. Though, you do find it hard not to give the demon an irritated glance every now and then as he blabbers on. You didn't think it was possible for someone to talk about themselves this much. Whether he picks up on your glares or not, he doesn't acknowledge them.

The young master himself also fails to pick up on the annoyance that stems from you, too enamoured with his disciple's stories. Wukong has a true sense for theatrics, which makes his tall tales all the more entertaining. Even if the monk seemed ever so slightly put off whenever the Monkey King explained how he committed some of the atrocities from his past to earn his reputation, the Tang Monk keeps his small smile from the excitement in his disciple's voice.

Sighing in amazement over how the Great Sage earned his iron staff, Tripitaka turns to your side. "What of you?" The question makes you look up in slight surprise. "You've nearly lived as long as Pilgrim Sun here, even despite your morality. Have you any tales as grand as his?"

You smile for a moment before humming in thought. It's sweet that the monk is curious enough to ask about your own life. It takes you a moment to peruse your memories for something that might intrigue him while every exciting moment from your life fails to recall itself. "None that comes to mind, Great Monk. I spent most of my life in training, which was long and tedious."

"You have lived over five hundred years, have you not? Surely you have some stories to tell." He frowns, certain there must be something for you to say.

His curiosity makes you hum in amusement. The monk is close to you in age, though his wide eyes of wonder fill you with a strange warmth. Many weeks have passed since the start of the journey, and if not for the formalities you attempt to hold yourself to, you might consider the Great Monk a good companion, a friend. But that feels inappropriate to say.

"I suppose there are some, though not all of them are as light-hearted as the supposed Great Sage." You cast another glance at the celestial primate, who now finally looks at you. His expression is neutral, though, from the past few weeks of travel, you feel that the abrupt flicks from the tip of his tail expose a glimpse at his own irritation.

Maybe he can't handle not having his master's attention. How sad. "However, I haven't lived as long as you believe. Those five hundred years were spent in the Jade Palace, where time moves differently. What was centuries in the mortal realm was less than two years for me."

To your surprise, the monk laughs lightly, eyes shining in delight. "You say you have no stories to tell, yet you lived in the Jade Palace? Never have I heard of a mortal staying in the realm of the celestials." You don't miss the twitch of Sun Wukong's brow, a hint of a smirk creeping its way onto your face. "Tell me, what is it like there?"

"Why ask the measly Dove?" The Monkey King laughs before you can answer. "I lived up there as well, you know. I've held two different positions with those heavenly deities! I can tell you of the feasts, how servants waited on me, that I was even given my very own office!"