Chapter 10: Leaving & library

[Solon POV]

[1 month later]

When I was at the forest of time Chronos told me that no real friendship can be formed in less than 1 year.

'Seems Chronos was lying to me.' I think as I dodge a large amount of rocks that were thrown my way without even opening my eyes.

"Your body has been proven to be abnormal even by spirit standards. No matter how injured you are and how much you push it, it will always heal and become stronger to face the stress it was subjected to. Use that fact, train you body until it breaks down and then allow it to heal. If you powers are depended on your mind and understanding, then having a strong body could help you a lot."

"How does having a strong body help my mind?" I ask, since his words made no sense.

"A strong body will allow you to study for longer hours, it will support you moving around as you use your powers and will help you control your energy better." He told me as he continued to send stones and spikes my way.

Suddenly he starts coughing

*COUGH* X2

"Are you ok?" I ask concerned about him but he, like every other time answers with the same phrase.

"My health shouldn't be your concern, kid. Now continue dodging as if your life depends on it, because it does."

After about an hour of training he stops and tells me with a straight face

"Ok let's stop here for today. You will need all the energy you can to travel after all."

"Travel?"

"Yes, I have nothing else to teach you, now what you need is to train on your own. The best way to do so is by traveling and using your body to the limit. The long journey across the hot desert will make sure to help you adapt to extreme enviroments."

"I see, so it's time to say goodbye, huh? I am going to miss this place." I said as I got up and got close to him stopping, 2 meters from him.

"Me too kid. Me too." He said as he hugged me.

I immediately hugged him back.

"I will miss you, my friend." I said with a smile.

'You're never fully dressed without a smile isn't that right Chronos?' I think as I hide my sadness at leaving.

"You talk as if you will disappear, you brat."

"I am older than you."

"And I am stronger than you."

As we stopped hugging I took a deep breath and looked at him in the eyes.

"I will come back, that I promise." I told him as I started away from the camp where I made my first friend.

[Third POV]

"I know you will come back here, kid. What I don't know is, if I will be here to meet you." Bumi mutters to himself before he starts coughing once again.

*COUGH* X5

As he removes his hand from his mouth a large amount of blood could be seen in the palm of his hand.

[Third POV]

The Si wong desert named after the first king that create the city on top of the earth lion-turtle, also known as the unending desert is the largest, driest, and hottest desert on Earth, and due to its extreme climate, the region is almost impossible to cross successfully.

'That is what Bumi told me but, it's not that bad. For me that is, If a normal human being came here without the nessessary equipment and ratios he would be dead before the next morning. The only reason I have no problem whatsoever, is the fact that I don't need to eat solid food and drink water to survive.' Thought Solon as he walked in the middle of what could be called [The closest thing to hell], in the material world.

"According to the map Bumi gave me, the library should be close to my current location. But I see nothing here." He said to himself aloud while looking to the colossal amount of sand that went beyond the horizon.

As he was looking around he saw a small fox-like spirit running towards a particular direction with a book in it's mouth.

"Well, if that spirit doesn't lead me to the library, I don't know what will." he said to himself as he followed the spirit.

After about an hour of non-stop walking he found himself face-to-face with a gigantic ivory-white marble mausoleum standing on a 5-metre high square plinth with sides measuring 100 metres in length. The building has four identical sides with arch-shaped doorways, topped by a large dome and finial. Each side of the iwan is framed with a 33-metre high vaulted archway with two similarly shaped arched balconies stacked on either side. This motif of archways is replicated on a smaller scale on the chamfered corner areas, making the design completely symmetrical.

Solon immediately started climbing the stairs that lead to what he assumed was the library and after reaching the top, he opened the door.

Inside there were thousands upon thousands of large bookcases, each housing thousands of books filled with unknown knowledge.

Immediately after seeing the spectacle Solon's thirst for knowledge intensified as he walked to the book closest to him and reached for it.

Milliseconds before he picked it up, he stoppped took a deep breath, calming his mind and immediately steped away from the book ignoring his insticts screaming at him to start devouring the colossal amount of knowledge this place houses.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" He said loudly, looking for the owner of this place.

Yet the only thing that answered him was absolute silence.

"Why are you here, Spirit?"

Suddenly from behind him a calm but loud voice sounded behind him. Solon turned around and found himself face-to-face with a giant, black owl that looked directly at him.

 ~~~~~~~{chapter end}~~~~~~~~~~~~~~