Lake of Souls Chapter 14

Previous Chapter

I woke up to the sun hitting my eyes. I squinted slightly and looked over to see Filon still curled against me. I reached my hand over and brushed his hair back, "Filon it's time to get up. The sun is out and we still have much to do."

He slowly opens up his eyes and then scoots back from me his face beet red, "I'm so sorry Xea! I must have gotten cold in my sleep and moved over to you. It's a habit I've always had. If I get cold and I know there's a person nearby I'll just curl up to them in my sleep. Got me in a bit of trouble anytime I was with other knights out in the wild like this. They would always think that I was trying to do something else."

I grinned sitting up now, stretching my shoulders some, "So you don't remember telling me last night that you were cold and I was warm?" I now became curious, "What else would you be trying to do? People often sleep together for warmth do they not?"

His face manages to get even more red as he starts rummaging through his pack to get us breakfast, "No I don't remember that. Yes people will sleep together for warmth but there are other reasons." He hands me some meat and bread then starts eating his own food in big bites trying to not look at me.

I start eating my own food looking off and pondering, "I wonder what other reasons people would sleep together. I'm going to be thinking about this all day. Trying to learn all these new emotions and how to act like a 'normal' person is so much more difficult than I would have thought. I thought after I got a soul of my own I would just instinctively understand these things but I guess not. Makes reading and understanding others' intentions rather difficult at times."

Filon laughed loudly, "I hate to tell you this Xea but as a person who has had a soul all their life I don't understand much about people either. I understand enough to get by and that's about it. Also if you come up with another answer for why people would sleep together please let me know." He finished off the last of his food now and began putting back on his armor, "Now finish your meal and let us make haste. It will still probably be close to nightfall before we make it to the next village."

I finished off my food silently pouting to myself a little about Filon putting his armor on. He was much more handsome without it but then handsome doesn't protect you so I understood. I closed my eyes briefly to pull up my mental map noting where we were heading and that there were several other villages near it. By tomorrow we would have many new patches of soil planted. I grabbed my blade, throwing it over my shoulder and we headed out. We spent the rest of our walk in easy silences and idle chatter. Only stopping twice to eat and refill our water pouches.

With only about an hour left before nightfall we finally made it to the next village. As we walked into it we found the runner from the air kingdom laying on the ground breathing heavily. Filon ran up to him offering him some water, "Are you alright? Where are the birds?"

The man drank greedily gulping down the water and then grinned, "They gave us eight instead of four. I just arrived a few moments ago with them. They're in the elder's house being checked to make sure they weren't harmed on the journey."

I walked past Filon patting his shoulder, "Tend to him. I'll go look at the birds. If all goes well they'll be released soon and be allowed to start flying." I made my way to the village elder's house kneeling down to knock on the door, "Hello. It is King Xea. I would like to see the birds but I am far too large to fit into your home so if you could bring them out please."

Shortly after the elder brought the birds out one by one, each one hopping up to perch on my arms. Soon I had four on each arm. I closed my eyes and reached out with my mind to the birds, "I have brought you here to help spread seeds and pollinate this land, for your King I hope you will do this." I opened my eyes to the birds nodding their heads at me. I smiled and nodded back before saying, "Fly free!" The birds took off into the air, each one speeding off in a different direction.

Filon walked up to me now, "So you can also talk to animals King Xea? You may be fascinated by my fire but I am far more interested in the things you can do."

I blushed slightly and shrugged, "Honestly I wouldn't be able to do any of it if I hadn't absorbed the lake. I still don't know the full extent of my abilities yet. I'm mainly learning through dreams and visions so I'm figuring this out as I go." Now I turned to the elder, "Please gather some planters and take us to your patch of black soil while we still have some daylight left." We then went to the soil and performed the ritual once again. After that was done we settled a bit outside of the village for the night. Our reason being that all the homes were too small for me to be in.

We set up our camp and ate silently for a bit before Filon asked, "What was it like living in the forgotten lands for so long by yourself?" He noticed a pained look cross my face, "We don't have to talk about that if you don't want to. I was merely curious was all."

I sighed softly, "No it's alright. I just don't always like remembering what I used to be. I stood in one spot for hundreds of years staring off into the distance. When the others first left me they set up their first village just close enough that I could see it. I would spend day after day watching them thinking about how I wanted to join them and yet having no actual desire to do so. Eventually I stopped even thinking about joining them. I was nothing more than a statue until the god came."

Filon looked at me eyes wide, "Wait a good came to you? Was it one of the original gods?"

I nodded and then shook my head, "Yes a good came to me. He was the one who told me about the lake and put the seed of desire in me to actually find it. He is not one of the originals though he claims to be their brother. He used me to disrupt the lake so as to lure his brothers back here. So that he can 'punish' them for what they've done to him. Which he claims is that they abandoned him. So now the original gods are returning to our planet to probably try and wage war on me. Which is part of why I'm trying to help fix everything but also because I am part of the reason it all broke. I feel like I should help fix it."

Filon sat there in stunned silence for a moment before reaching over and taking my hand, "You haven't told anyone else this have you? Nor do you intend to because you don't want them to panic. So thank you for telling me. When the gods return what will you do though?"

I shrugged, smiling, "No need to worry. I have no intention of just giving myself over to them. I do not desire to fight them nor do I think I could necessarily but I won't just give up either. Yeah you are the first one I've told, because I trust you enough that I thought I could. Please don't tell anyone else though. I really don't want others to panic."

Filon finally breathed though I'm not sure he knew that he had been holding his breath. He smiled at me, "Thank goodness! I would have been a bit heartbroken if the guy I liked was getting ready to throw his life away." He leaned up to me and kissed me on the cheek, "Which means you don't get to change your mind about it later either." With that he sat back down and finished off his food.

I sat there in stunned silence now. My cheek still pulsing slightly from where he had kissed it. I started eating my own food now, not sure what else to do. Finally Filon broke the silence, "Are you okay Xea? I didn't overstep any lines did I?"

I shook my head vehemently, "No! Just you caught me off guard was all. I wasn't aware something so simple could be so powerful." I could feel my cheeks getting hotter by the second as I wondered just what I was saying. I cleared my throat now as I finished my meal, "So listen if you want to just go ahead and curl up against me tonight you can. That way you won't get cold and I'm sure you will sleep better." I looked down at the ground now trying to hide the fact that my face was practically begging him to say yes.

He chuckled now as he started stripping out of his armor, "Sounds like a good plan to me. You were comfortable to sleep with and it seemed to make you plenty happy too."

I sighed and smiled sensing there was no more point in trying to hide it, "Yeah I liked it too. There's something very pleasant about skin to skin contact. Makes me relax some, at least when it's you." I laughed happily, "I'm starting to realize though I'm perhaps too honest for my own good. I keep saying things that make me feel kind of embarrassed to say them but I just can't help it. In my brief time of feeling emotions you have already made me incredibly happy. Simply by being yourself and being in my company." I leaned down and kissed the top of his head now, "So thank you for that."

Filon started blushing again now and grumbled something under his breath before laughing, "You know we're just playing tag with the blushing. Just handing it back and forth to each other. However we need to sleep so I'm calling our game done for now. So lay down so I can cuddle you."

I laughed and took my sword off laying it next to me before laying down myself. I raised my arm up so he wouldn't be laying on it this time. Filon immediately curled up against me draping his arm over my chest again. I lowered my arm down to pull him against me almost protectively. We both fell asleep quickly and were smiling. My dreams alternated between the war torn world and spending my days with Filon. My sleep while troubled was still pleasant.

We woke up in the morning and with haste began going to all the other villages that were close by. Before the day's end we had managed to plant seeds at another five villages. From there we continued working our way through the fire kingdom. Now we were both a little more affectionate with one another but Filon made me promise to say something if I became overwhelmed. We would often hold hands now while we were walking and little kisses on the forehead and cheek. Now I didn't blush nearly as much or get embarrassed by liking or wanting those things. They were normal things to like and want when you felt something for someone according to Filon.

Soon we only had two places left to go. The castle and the village where I had seen the little girl as I was leaving the fire kingdom before. Arriving at the castle we were greeted with large fanfare though I could see some people in the crowds who still didn't exactly trust me. However runners had started coming from the other villages in the kingdom where the seeds had borne fruit. They would bring some with them to share with others. I tried a little of it and was amazed at how sweet it was. While we were at the castle Filon found some men to take the fruit and go tame the lizards I had seen in my vision. We also took the time to plant around two hundred of the seeds at the castle. The ritual took me a little longer and actually took two souls this time but it still worked.

The castle looked mostly the same as from when I was last here. The damage to the tower the Fire King had jumped from had been repaired. Thankfully with my help the lava had never reached the castle and thus had spared it. There were temporary tents in the courtyard to take in civilians who had been displaced but many of them were empty now. People had been able to move into new homes and begin rebuilding.

We only stayed in the castle for a night. It was nice to sleep indoors for once and we took the old Fire King's bedroom since it was the only room that had a bed big enough for me. Filon and I both cleaned up while we had the opportunity. While I saw no harm in it Filon insisted we had to bathe separately and I respected his wishes. He almost didn't stay with me that night. When I asked him why, he smiled at me, "Because Xea people will assume things about us and may start spreading rumors about you."

I looked at him curiously, his statement having taken my mind off the fact that he currently had no shirt on. He had scars on him that I wanted to ask about and touch but now there were new thoughts, "Rumors about what? You and me? I mean if they asked I would tell them the truth, or would that be too much honesty?"

Filon laughed, rubbing the back of his head, "It probably would be too much honesty. People would assume you and I were lovers if we shared the same bed. Sleeping together for warmth in the wild is one thing but when people do it indoors there is an assumed implication about their relationship. I know we aren't lovers and so do you but other people would probably not understand our relationship in the slightest."

I tilted my head now saying that word to see how it felt on my tongue, "Relationship. Are we in a relationship? I guess we are, aren't we. Is that a problem? Should we not be in a relationship? Is it wrong for us to be in a relationship? I personally don't think so and anyone who does can keep their mouth shut or fight me." I ended my questions and mini tirade with a dramatic stomp of my foot which actually caused the stone floor to shake a little.

Filon laughed again loudly, this time at my dramatic moment, "I guess it is settled then. I'll sleep with you tonight but no fighting anyone if they ask about it. You're only allowed to hit them if they try to hit you first and even then I'll probably intervene and hit them first so you won't have to. So as long as you don't mind people potentially talking behind our backs about us then I don't care either."

I nodded, "Well I'm glad we worked all that out. Now come to bed and no shirt for you tonight. It's the one night where you can sleep without it so I would really like it if you did. Though if you want to wear a shirt obviously you can, I won't make you sleep without it." I groaned slightly at myself realizing that I had just kind of demanded him to sleep without it before correcting myself.

Filon laughed and climbed into bed with me without his shirt, "You're okay Xea. Personally I find it funny you see me without it and then demand me not to wear it anymore till I have to. Something on your mind you would like to say perhaps?"

I wrapped my arm around him pulling him tight against me, "I like the way you look without it is all. You're a very handsome man and I don't often get to see just how handsome. Plus if I'm perfectly honest I was curious about your scars and kind of wanted to touch them."

Filon stiffened up slightly, "Not tonight please or for a little while. They aren't something I like to think about."

I nodded and kissed the top of his head, "Alright that's fine I'll let that go then. Though if you ever get curious about any of mine or want to touch them you can. Though ask first."

Filon laughed softly, "I'll remember that. Good night Xea." With that we both drifted off into the most comfortable sleep we had both had in a while.

When we woke up we both took a little while to get moving. We were enjoying simply laying there and being in connection with each other. Finally though Filon pointed out that we were almost done with our mission in the fire kingdom. I groaned sitting up, "Yeah you're right. Let's head out to the last village and plant these last seeds, then we can make our way to the earth kingdom and see how we can help them."

Filon stopped as he was getting dressed, "We? Do you intend for me to keep traveling with you?"

I stopped what I was doing as well, "I admittedly assumed you would. So then let me rephrase that. Filon after we are done at the final village would you like to continue to accompany me on my journey? We will be leaving your home land for a bit though we will come back."

Filon smiled going back to putting on his armor, "I would love to continue with you on your journey. It would be my pleasure. Also thank you for actually asking instead of just assuming."

I grinned and grabbed my sword, throwing it over my shoulder, "Let's go then. By tomorrow we should be in the earth kingdom." We made our way from the castle quickly, taking only a moment for Filon to let another knight know where he was going. The knight simply gave a knowing nod and listened to all of Filon's instructions. After that we left and started our way to the final village. The journey didn't take us near as long as it did for me the first time. The land had shifted and changed from the volcanic eruption making an actual clear path now to the village.

It barely took us half a day to reach the village. When we did we were greeted by all of the villagers. My eyes scanned the crowd looking for the little girl. Finally I spotted her, "There you are! Hello little one. Do you remember me? I was the vessel who you spoke to by the river not too long ago."

The little girl broke from her mother's side running up to me, "Hi! Your King Xea now? Wow! I knew you before you were a King. That's really neat."

I laughed getting down on my knees to look at her, "That's right you did. At the time you were the first person to show me any kindness. At the time that meant a lot to me and I was hoping to see you again so I could say thank you."

The little girl wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and kissed my cheek. My mind has a moment of realizing how different it was compared to when Filon did it. There was a deep caring and love when she did it but none of the softness and intimacy as when he did it. It was interesting how the same action could feel completely different depending on who it was from. She let go of me now, "Bye King Xea. Good luck helping everyone." With that she ran back to her mother.

I called out now, "Where is the elder? I need him and five of your best planters. I've come bearing seeds to plant so that you may all have food. Take me to the nearest patch of black soil so that you may plant them and that I may help them to take root." The elder quickly gathered five others and we went only a short ways out of the village to find the soil. After the ritual was done I sat down on the ground and asked everyone but Filon to leave.

Filon looked at me curiously, "What are you doing?"

I took a deep breath placing my palms flat on the ground, "Checking in with the earth and making sure I've done everything it needed me to do before we leave." I let my conciseness drift now into the earth and let it flow through the entirety of the fire kingdom. The ground feels pleased now as if it can finally relax itself. It is beginning to heal, all that it needs now is time. I bring my consciousness back to myself and open my eyes only to realize night has already come. I can feel a fire behind me so I slowly spin myself to see Filon sitting in front of the fire humming to himself. I cough slightly to get his attention, "Hey there. I'm so sorry about that. I didn't think it would take so long."

Filon shrugged with a smile, "It's quite alright Xea. Watching you do that was beautiful. Your whole body was glowing and I could see at least some of the souls inside of you swimming around. I could have watched for the rest of the night to be perfectly honest. After the sun went down I figured I would set up camp and we would head into the earth kingdom in the morning."

Now he got up and walked around the fire to me, even with me sitting and him standing he was still face level with me. He cupped my face in his hands, "I have a question for you and you have to be perfectly honest." I nodded. "I want to kiss you, and before you say anything I don't mean like normal. I want to kiss you on your lips. Do you think you would be okay with that? Or would that be too much?"

I looked at him in silent contemplation for a moment before finally nodding. He smiled softly and leaned in to me bringing his lips to mine. Everything inside of me set off like an explosion, my whole body was warm and on high alert. Yet at the same time I found myself at peace in this moment. He parted his lips slightly and so I did the same. As I did I suddenly felt a familiar sensation and my whole body ran cold. I immediately closed my lips and pulled back, opening my eyes. Filon's skin had started turning pale and his normally bright eyes were somewhat dulled. I had started to absorb his soul into me.

He crumpled to the ground in front of me barely breathing. I picked him up and held him to me as I started to weep, "Filon! Wake up Filon! Please wake up!"

Oh no. I think that's all I can say on this one. Hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter at least up to the end. If you did then please heart, subscribe, and feel free to leave a tip. Till next time. The next chapter and the original short story will be linked below.

Next Chapter

Original Short Story