𝙵𝙸𝙳𝙴𝙻𝙸𝚂𝙼𝙴𝙳𝙸𝙲𝚄𝚂 𝙰𝚂𝙺𝙴𝙳: " 𝚈𝙾𝚄 - 𝚈𝙾𝚄'𝚁𝙴 𝙱𝙰𝙲𝙺 - " ( 𝚇𝙸𝙰𝙾 )
Of course he came back. He had given his word that he wouldn’t abandon him here, keep walking and forget that he had a bit of a newfound responsibility. Most were hesitant and to be quite honest, a bit brute at times with a perfect stranger. Some believed his presence to be demonic, that they were being sent to learn about them. Their strengths, their weaknesses, but Xiao knew better. He has seen and has felt dark energy. Whoever this man truly was, he had no doubt that he was here to learn and share.
It had taken some thought, as to where to take him first. A journey that would not be so long, a place where Xiao Xingchen was confident he would not be harmed. “I’ll come back.” Spoken as a silent promise, but followed with stern instructions not to wander. To stay with his teachers, learn all that he can without pushing boundaries.
Which he may, or may not have been a bit concerned about on his time away. Knowing how difficult it is to control oneself, always wanting to take things a bit further, push oneself physically and mentally. Xiao Xingchen had taught him all he could teach him, in how to speak and carry himself and the things that should not be done. So many were already angry that he was even there, and Xiao Xingchen didn’t want some to be given more reason. Based on his tone alone, he assumes that all has been going very well.
“Did you think I forget?” Not that he blamed him, if he did. He was gone for quite some time, much longer than even he had expected. Still, it doesn’t deter the grin that’s slowly beginning to pull across his face. Clearly, becoming excited to share the good news that he had been hoping to come back with. “You are almost done.” He had already spoken to one of the doctors ahead of time, wondering if he had come back too soon. Luckily, such was not the case. Another two or three days, and he would be able to move on.
Gives him a break to rest, since they’ll be travelling once more. Further out, a journey that was well worth it. Rob would enjoy the Lotus Cove, he thinks.
“Have you eaten?” He could go for something to eat. Make a trip, get some vegetables for some soup. It’ll give them time to talk, for him to be updated on what he has learned. And hopefully, he’ll speak of the place he came from, from the other places he has seen. “Come.” He turns, and only proceeds when he knows he’s being followed. “Have you heard of Lotus?” He doesn’t know if they might have been mentioned. Most likely not, since they’re not quite theirs. They practice different solutions that the Lotus offers when they’re unable to buy or trade it. “A doctor already waits for you to finish here, to teach you.” Which had been what he wanted to start off with, content that he had managed to find someone else that was willing to teach and be taught as well. Agreements, that had to be made ahead of time.
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If truth were told, Rob had begun to suspect that Xiao Xingchen wasn’t going to return. It was a promise made in a long list of promises broken in his life, and he wouldn’t have held it against him in the slightest. This new world he found himself in could be as treacherous as it was beautiful, accepting of outsiders one moment and hostile toward them in another. Rob was grateful for all the things that Xiao taught him - rules and customs, what medical knowledge he had, ways to survive – however, it wasn’t his responsibility to tend to a stranger.
Hence his excitement at seeing the other man once more.
“Forgot? No.” British accent was still crisp and clear, despite all his years away from home. “I simply thought business had kept you away.” The relief was heavy in his tone, in the way he reached out and touched his friend’s upper arm. “I learned a few things while you were away.”
That train of thought faded when Xiao asked if he’d eaten, a question that promptly had Rob shaking his head no – and then realizing the error of his ways. “No. I would love to though.” His stomach had been angry with him for the past little bit, but he’d been so wrapped up in his studies to do anything about it yet. Eating with Xiao Xingchen though? It seemed the perfect way to spent part of his afternoon.
Rob fell into step beside him, continuing where he’d left off earlier. “I’ve learned a few things, not medical things.” Obvious pride in his voice. “Now I can say yes, no, please, thank you…” All of which he demonstrated in Xiao’s language, hesitant and scratchy – but understandable. “I’m learning. There is an older woman at the inn who teaches me after dinner.” One day, if his travels didn’t take him outside of these lands, he wanted to master the art of their language; it was beautiful and lyrical…and also highly complicated.
“Lotus? You mean the flower?” No, he’d never seen one, at least not in person. The woman who had been teaching him a few words of their language had a tapestry hanging on the wall next to her dinner table, and he’d asked what it was. Lotus flower, she’d said. Sacred and beautiful, but that was all he could understand.
“I’ve only seen an image, woven in a tapestry. Nothing more. I was told it was sacred, but not why or where it is found.” Rob’s face lit up with Xiao mentioned another doctor to train under, someone else that would teach him more of their ways. Already his teachings had come in handy when a man was brought to town suffering from a broken leg and a stab wound. “Where will we be going? Will you be accompanying me?” A better question would be whether or not Xiao would be staying. After such a long time apart, Rob was looking forward to spending some time with him.
They reached the market area, and he stepped closer to the other man’s side. Eyes turned in their direction (as they always did when Rob ventured into crowded areas), but no one said anything that he could fully understand. “Soup? There are turnips for sale…Do you want to start there.”
He shook his head, letting Xiao lead the way since his nose was a better guide than Rob’s eyes were. “One of the things that I miss most about my home…my mother when I was a child used to make this bread over the fire. It was the best thing I had ever tasted. And soup – made from potatoes. It has been years, and I can still remember. Did you have a favorite food as a boy?”