In what seemed like a dream, a handsome young man with white hair spread on a soft pillow, furrowed his brows, his closed eyes fluttering. He didn’t look in pain, just.. lost in a confusing dream.

  Seon saw many things as he slept, myriad lights behind his eyelids, children laughings and parents crying, one thing and the opposite. This wasn’t the restful sleep he could put himself in, enduring hundreds of years. This merely was a nap, and a tumultuous one.

  He heard snippets of conversations, lovefelt confessions and last goodbyes.

  A sharp pain on his forehead woke him up from this state. Azure, having followed him here, was pecking his face. ‘’ Fine, fine, you can stop now, you little imp’’, Seon said as he gently swapped his hand and sent her away.

  He stood up from the bed, stretched and passed his fingers through his hair, detangling it as he walked to the door. ‘’ What time is it.. I didn’t even have the chance to take a bath’’. He looked ahead as he went out in the corridor, faint sunlight still lighting the way. ‘It must almost be night, I only slept a few hours, I think’, he made his way down the stairs to the counter, where the man still was.

  '’ What can I do for you, young sir? Would you like your bath now?’’ The innkeeper said as he watched Seon approach. ‘’ No need for now, I’d just like to eat something. Do you deliver meals to the rooms or are they to be taken in the dining hall?’’. Seon hadn’t put much thoughts when he came here earlier in the day, and he only now noticed the people sitting around tables to the right of the counter, in a very clean dinning place. There wasn’t a large crowd, only around a dozen people were there, speaking in sometimes loud and bantering voices, sometimes muttering and careful.

  The inkeeper made his way out of the counter, made a gesture telling Seon to follow him, and led him to a bare table. He took a cloth attached to his belt, and began wiping it. ‘’ We don’t take the meals to the rooms, but you’re welcome to sit here even aside the meals. Lots of people come and go, it’s never boring.’’ The man then bought wooden chopsticks, put them on the table and said; ‘’ Tonight we’re having lamb noodles. That’s the only thing we have, since we’re not a restaurant so to say’’. Seon took a seat, looked up to the innkeeper and smiled, ‘’ It’s perfect, lamb noodles it is then’’.

  Seon waited for around five minutes before a steaming bowl of noodles was put before him. He rubbed his hands and quickly began eating. Azure was hidden in his sleeve, not interested in his meal in the slightest. She’d rather eat critters than noodles.

  Midway through his meal, he heard a gentle knock on his table. He looked up and saw a man standing there. He was dressed in what seemed like luxurious red robes, embroidered with golden lotuses. He had black, long knotted up hair, a golden crown sitting on top of his forehead. His black eyes looked straight into’s Seon’s own eyes, a smile dancing on his up turned lips. ‘’ Hello there. Sorry to disturb your meal, I was just wondering if i could join you? All the other tables are full’’, Seon looked around and indeed, there was no place to be found to sit. Seon responded with a smile of his own, nodding his head as he slurped a mouthful of noodle. The man pulled a chair in front of Seon and sat, ‘’ Thank you, friend. I am called Jacob. May I ask for your esteemed name?’’.

  Seon put down his bowl and answered, a gentle smile on his thin lips; ‘’ My name is Seon. I like your clothes! ‘’.

  Seon was somewhat blunt with his words, not caring much about etiquette.

  Jacob’s face lit up with a more sincere smile, ‘’ I know! It’s the latest trend in the capital, lotuses are in for a show these days!’’. He looked excited just talking about it, and went on a tangent about different clothing styles and how it changed depending on the County. ‘’ Though I have to admit, your attire is somewhat lacking. Do you need help to find a good tailor?’’ Jacob looked concern as he sized Seon up and down.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  '’ It’s not a matter of a good tailor, it’s a matter of my lacking silver ‘’ Seon laughed heartily as he looked at this surprisingly easy going man. ‘’ I just got back in town and have no job, I haven’t put much thoughts into it yet, but I guess I need one now..’’ a concerned look on his face, Seon thought.

  Now that he had re joined civilization, he had to live like a civilized man. And money, this scourge, was needed everywhere. But what could he do? He had no special skills, could not carve woods or make clothes. The only thing he knew to do was to sleep and to wander around. He could survive int he wilderness without problems, lucky as he was ,to always find what he needs at the time he needs it. But in a city or a village, one needed skill, and money.

  '’ It’s no matter friend, i can get you a nice robe without problems! A friend on the road is a friend for life, as they say’’ Jacob confidently said, thumping his chest.

  This man was a bit boisterous, but Seon didn’t mind and found it quite novel. He was quick to make friends, and Jacob seemed to be of the same mind.

  A waiter came and put a bowl of lamb noodles in front of Jacob and a pair of chopsticks. He began to eat and exclaimed how good it was for a small inn like this.

  This made Seon think, what did a man dressed in such expensive clothes do in a small inn like this? Thus, he asked ‘’ Speaking of it, why did you choose this inn when you can obviously afford a restaurant?’’. Jacob put both his hands on the table and leaned in closer to Seon, a gossiping look plastered to his face, ‘’ It’s to see you, of course! With the fuss you made earlier at the Town’s Square, who wouldn’t want to befriend a character like you?’’.

  At least the man was honest, Seon inwardly joked. He didn’t know what could be so interesting when a man had lost a hand, but maybe the commotion was enough for a place where nothing usually happened.

  '’ Then you’re from here? I wouldn’t have guessed, seeing you speak so highly of the Capital’’, Jacob was somewhat taken aback by the question, then understood, ‘’ Ah, no! I’m here on business. But it’s not my first time here either, I’ve been coming here for five years now. But it’s always fun to see an Official lose face’’.

  Seon thought it made sense, not caring much in the end. ‘’ Then is your curiosity satisfied? There’s not much to see I’m afraid’’.

  '’Bah! Nonsense, you have the bearing of an immortal. And I’ve seen my fair share of cultivators, you should know’’. Seon smiled a bit at this, amused to be seen through amongst casual banter. As far as Seon knew, lifespan would never be an issue for him. The dread an expiring lifespan could bring was a sentiment he simply couldn’t feel. He was to live through the ages, and to see his friends leave him to join reincarnation at some point. His smile dimmed a bit at the thought, even when he hadn’t lived through any of that yet. The very idea scared him to bits. He quickly put his worries away, looked at Jacob who was still flattering him with flowery words, and a glint formed in his eyes.

  '’ If I have the bearing of an immortal, then you have the bearing of a noble. Tell me more about yourself?’’ Seon put his elbows on the table, put his face in his hands, a lazy smile on his lips. His white hair glistening in the faint sunshine coming in the inn.

  His brown eyes were fixed on the young man before him, waiting.

  Jacob was at a loss for words, how could a man be this beautiful? He wasn’t attracted to Seon, but his beauty still transfixed him.

  It was like seeing a natural scenery, being unable to take one’s eyes away from it.

  '’ Well, as I mentioned before, I’m here on a job. I’m here to get the salt prepared in the Town, and bring it back to the Capital. I work for the Empire, so to say, since only merchants employed by the Empire can move salt around nowadays.

  As for me.. Well, it’s what you can find in any big City, really. Just a big Clan’s scion making his way through social circles and bringing money back to the family’’.

  A bored looked could be seen on his face as he talked about his situation, even if his eyes glimmered as he spoke about his job. Jacob seemed to like being on the field, away from the intrigues of big families.

  Seon couldn’t understand his thoughts, but he was curious. He put a wandering strand of hair behind his ear, listening to the Wind. It told him about conspiracies, schemes and backstabbing actions, which apparently were the usual in the Noble Clans found in the Capital.

  The Wind also whispered about Jacob, telling Seon how gentle he was compared to the men in his family, and how trustworthy he seemed from his actions.

  So Seon smiled, looked down at his empty bowl and said, ‘’ Can you tell me more about the Capital?’’.