NaNoWriMo Day 5

Below is what I wrote during day 5 of NaNoWriMo.

(Reminder, this is a WIP, there will be spelling and writing errors. | Join me for live writing streams on Twitch. | If you like what you see, consider supporting me on Ko-fi and/or Twitch so that I can continue making more content for you to enjoy. https://linktr.ee/GoldThornGuild)

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"Looks like someone is ready to go to bed," Progenitor said as they approached Liwen, who was still sitting on the bench where Jia had left them a while ago.

"Mmm, I'm fine," Liwen said.

"It's alright to be tired. It has been a long and eventful day for you. How about we head back to the main house?"

"Don't worry about me. You can stay and celebrate with everyone."

"I told you that you are my main priority today. I've celebrated with everyone enough; they won't mind if I leave to take care of you."

"... I guess I am pretty tired."

"Come on, let's get you home. Can you walk or would you like me to carry you?"

"I can walk."

"As you wish," Progenitor said as they held out their hand.

They helped Liwen to their feet and then walked hand-in-hand back to the main house. The streets were almost as empty now as they were when they left the house. Most of the village was still in the square, only a few people were heading home. The main house was lit warmly by light stones but was silent because no one else had returned.

"How are you feeling?" Progenitor asked when they entered Liwen's room, "Besides tired. Did you enjoy the celebration?"

"I did enjoy it. It was a lot of fun and it was nice to get to spend time with people. Lilian taught me a lot and introduced me to so many people and experiences. It was a little overwhelming at times, but I enjoyed it."

"I'm glad to hear that. You did so well today and I am so proud of you. Though, don't push yourself too hard. You should head to bed now; get some good rest after your long day."

Liwen didn't respond, just stood in place holding the Progenitor's hand.

"Would you like me to stay with you?"

"...You don't have to..."

"Would you like me to?"

Liwen nodded.

"Then I will stay with you. Lay down and sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."

"Thank you," Liwen said before finally letting go of the Progenitor's hand and climbing into bed.

Once Liwen was settled in bed, the Progenitor lay down next to them. Liwen snuggled close and let out a sigh.

"I feel so relaxed and at ease when I am near you," Liwen said.

"I do have that effect on people," Progenitor said as they ran their fingers through Liwen's hair.

"You smell like flowers," Liwen said drowsily.

"My hair is full of them."

"It is pretty," Liwen said as they reached up and lightly touched one of the flowers, "Maybe next time I can put one in."

"I'd like that. Now go to sleep, beloved."

Liwen nodded and was soon peacefully asleep.

~~~

As promised, the Progenitor remained with Liwen the whole night. Sometimes laying by their side, sometimes sitting on the edge of the bed to remove the flowers from their hair and brush the icy-blue locks until they were smooth and shiny again.

"Good morning," Liwen said with a smile when they opened their eyes and saw the Progenitor laying next to them reading a book.

"Good morning, beloved," Progenitor smiled in return as they closed the book and set it aside.

"What were you reading?"

"A novella I was given last night. The author is still new to learning word-magic but they are doing well so far. This was their first full-length, bound book. It is far from a masterpiece, but I will treasure it regardless."

"You get so many amazing gifts from everyone. But I haven't given you anything. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I don't require gifts from anyone. I accept any gift I am given but I do not look for or expect gifts. Give what you want, when you want, because you want to. That's all I ask. Gifts given simply because you feel like you should give a gift are of little interest to me. I will still gladly accept them of course, but what I really care about, what I treasure, is the gifts that are given with the whole heart. Do you understand?"

"I think so. But I want to give you something. I just don't have anything to give."

"You give me your love, that's more than enough for now. Eventually you will have more that you can give but until then I happy just to receive your smile and the gaze of your beautiful eyes full of so much potential."

"Do you know what color my eyes will be? Can you see the colors or are my eyes black like they are to everyone else?"

"I know what color eyes will be. I can see their whole evolution of colors when I look at you. It is beautiful."

"Their evolution? What do you mean?"

"Evolution meaning the process of the color changing. The change is rarely an instantaneous event. Rather it is a gradual process that can take many days or even seasons to complete. Little by little the color fades from one to another. I see every step of the transformation. For many people, their eye colors change multiple times in their life. I see each of those changes, past, present, and future, when I look at someone."

"What does that even look like? I can hardly imagine it."

"The best way I can describe it is that it looks like a shimmery pool of water. As the water moves and ripples different colors become visible and dance together. It is something kind of like that, a glittery and dancing rainbow of colors."

"That sounds amazing."

"I told you it is beautiful. Everyone's eyes are slightly different. Even two people who have the same colored eyes to you can have vastly different eyes to me. To each other your eyes are a representation of the present you. To me your eyes are like the fingerprint of your whole journey through life."

"That's incredible."

"Yes, I quite enjoy it. Now, how are you feeling? Are you ready to get up and start the day?"

"I'm feeling peaceful and well-rested. Thanks to you, I imagine."

"My presence does help with that, but those are also things you can obtain without me."

"What are we doing today?"

"Whatever you want to do. Whatever you need to do to get settled in here. Today is for you to do with as you please."

"Really? I can do whatever I want?"

"Yes. Whatever you need to do you are welcome to do. You can rest, explore the village more, start your education, socialize, explore the forest-"

"The forest! I want to go see the forest! I've heard that it is beautiful."

"It is indeed. Who would you like to go with you? Jia would be a good guide and she should be available to go with you not long after breakfast. Any other day Lilian would be happy to go with you but I doubt we will see her any time before noon. She is always one of the first to arrive and last to leave any celebration."

"Can I not go with you?"

"You can but having one of the villagers guide you will give you a more practical perspective on the forest and will help you bond with people here. I can't stay here like this forever, so you should start getting used to doing things with the people you will be living with."

"I guess that makes sense..."

"You can do it. I wouldn't suggest anything that you aren't ready for."

"Part of me wishes I wasn't ready for it. The faster I adapt to life here, the sooner you will leave. I know I should be happy to settle in and start my life here but I can't help feeling a little sad about it too..."

"There's nothing wrong with that. It is a normal feeling when you have to say goodbye to someone even if it is just a temporary parting that is for the best of everyone involved. Remember, even when I am gone I am never far and I will come back and visit you again. It may be hard to imagine now, but our parting is not the end or a pause in our relationship but the start of the next chapter of it."

"The next chapter?"

"Yes. There are aspects of my relationship with my beloved that you have not been able to experience because I have always been standing by your side. You haven't experienced what our relationship is like when we aren't together."

"I can't even imagine what that might be like."

"Soon you won't have to imagine it. You will get to live it every day until I visit again."

"I guess that doesn't sound too bad."

"You must be getting hungry. How about you change clothes and then we go downstairs to see what has been prepared for breakfast?"

Liwen's stomach responded before they could.

The Progenitor laughed and then sat up so that Liwen could get out of bed. Liwen changed into fresh clothes and then the two of them went down to the kitchen where Jia was preparing breakfast.

"Good morning you two," Jia said when they entered the room, "I hope you slept well, Liwen."

"I did, thank you."

"I bet you are hungry. The bread is fresh from the baker's oven and the eggs are almost done cooking. Feel free to help yourself to any of the fruit you want. Would you like some tea or coffee? I think there is still some hot water in the kettle, so I can brew you something in no time."

"I don't know what I want..." Liwen said.

"Oh of course, silly me. I forgot that you have never had tea or coffee. I'll start you with tea. Coffee can be a bit strong for some people."

"Your sweet floral tea is a good place to start," Progenitor said as he sat down on one of the stools next to the counter, "Everyone loves that blend."

"Excellent idea! Would you like some as well? Should I make a whole pot?"

"I would be delighted to have some."

Jia's face lit up and she began making the tea with an even brighter aura then she had a moment ago. She was so focused on making the tea that she didn't even notice that the eggs were at risk of burning on the stove. With a chuckle the Progenitor walked over to the stove and moved the eggs to a plate which they brought back to place alongside the other food on the counter.

"Eat up," Progenitor said to Liwen, "Jia has a passion for tea and will be busy at her craft for a few minutes. Trust me though, the tea is worth the wait. Jia knows how to make the drink extraordinary."

"Really?" Liwen said in wonder as they watched Jia combine a variety of dried leaves into the tea pot.

The Progenitor prepared a plate of food and set it before Liwen, who was still distracted watching Jia work. "Eat, beloved."

"Oh, thank you," Liwen said coming out of their distracted gaze enough to grab the slice of bread from the plate and begin to eat it.

A few minutes later, Jia brought over two mugs filled with a pale golden liquid. The Progenitor took their mug and breathed in the scent blissfully. Liwen followed the example and sniffed the contents of their cup.

The warm liquid was unlike anything they had smelled before. First there was a sweet floral scent. Liwen didn't know what flowers they were smelling but were pretty sure they were some of the flowers that had been woven into the Progenitor's hair. Behind the floral smell as a sort of warm, earthy smell. Liwen had no idea what the source of the smell was but the scent itself was inviting.

"Taste it," Progenitor encouraged.

Liwen took a sip of the warm liquid. It was smooth and light like water. Though not sweetened, the taste had a sort of sweetness to it. There was also a bitterness behind the floral tones. It wasn't a bad bitterness, in fact it complimented the sweetness well. The flavor was somehow complex and simple all at once. The various ingredients merged together to form an earthy taste that was inviting and invigorating.

"What do you think?" Progenitor asked.

"It's good," Liwen replied, "There are so many flavors all combined together. It's incredible."

"Jia is a tea master, though she never claims to be. Between her plant-magic and her mixing skills she could be the best tea crafter in the world. But she prefers a quiet life here taking care of everyone here. Which is just as respectable."