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Erin frowned, "Oh, I see..." He gave the elf a sympathetic look, "I can't imagine something so horrible that it would do that to a person."

"The problem stems from attachment." Abhaidev noted, "As with all suffering, Crysor's affliction comes from his attachment to the physical world, specifically the event that traumatised him thus. The only way to reverse his muteness would be for him to let go of whatever has caused it, no easy task." The mystic smiled sadly, "This is why I speak of non-attachment to others. I am free of this world, and therefore do not suffer. I want to bring this peace to everyone... but the road to moksha is long and arduous... but then, no thing worth seeking is easy to find."

Crysor ran a hand through his silvery blond hair; it wasn't exactly as easy to let go as Abhaidev made it sound.
Kori tugged gently on his shirt, looking up at him with round hazel eyes. The elf smiled slightly at his small companion and ruffled his already messy hair, then jerked his head at the road like You coming or what?

Erin had finally gathered all his things together and gotten them sorted neatly in his pack again, shouldering the large backpack he started heading down the road, "We'd better get moving if we want to reach the next town before it gets dark."

Abhaidev followed the young feline, "Why the hurry? I, for one, have always enjoyed travelling at night. The majesty of the Creator's works are easier to see once the sun has gone down."

"But it's more dangerous out here in the dark, and we've been attacked once already.. besides, I'm looking forward to a nice warm bed." Erin replied.

"Another sign of your attachment, young one." Abhaidev chided gently.

Erin rolled his eyes, "I'm not sleeping on the cold hard ground. Comfy beds might not be good for my spiritual well-being, but at least I'll be able to sleep."

"Rocks are no fun. They make awful pillows... Crysor would make the point though that the stars only come out at night, and he loves stargazing."
Crysor nodded, taking the lead with his long-legged stride.
"Sometimes I wonder if his neck will be stuck in the position of looking up," Kori said in a playful manner, trotting to keep up with his friend.
Crysor just rolled his eyes, poking the hobbit's nose with a long finger.
"Hey!"

The mystic smiled, "Indeed, I spent many long hours gazing on the face of Heaven when I was younger, before I set out on my journey to find peace."

"And now?" Erin asked curiously.

"I still enjoy stargazing at times, when I look up at the night sky... well, sometimes I feel closer to the Creator, seeing his works in such an awe-inspiring display." The mystic said, "In fact, the first mystical experience I ever had was when I lay under a great tree, gazing at the stars... I saw the face of the One."

"In the stars?" Erin asked sceptically.

"No, not exactly... I... felt the One, saw it... the... ah, interconnectedness of heaven and earth I suppose you could say. It is... difficult to put into words." Abhaidev shrugged, "Trying to put my experience into words is like trying to fill a cup without a bottom; all the words in all the languages of mortalkind can pour forth from your lips, but you'll never find the ones that will fill your cup."

"So... you really like stargazing."

Abhaidev chuckled, "Yes, I do." He then smiled at Kori, "And you could suffer fates far worse than being made to lookup at the stars forever."

"Yes, I know, but it would make life in the daytime far more difficult if you were always looking up at the sky. Like, what if you were trying to get through a crowded street? You'd always be bumping into people because you couldn't see where you're going," Kori pointed out, demonstrating this and bumping into Crysor.
Crysor just shrugged, looking up at the sky as if the stars were there already waiting for him.

Abhaidev smiled and shrugged, "I very rarely venture into heavily populated places. The noise and bustle can be very distracting, and it can be difficult for any one seeking me out to find me. I know some holy men who stick one arm, or both, high into the air for so long that the arm atrophies and it gets stuck up there, as a test of will and dedication to the rejection of bodily needs. Compared to that, looking up at the sky for the rest of your days isn't quite so bad."

Erin made a face, "If enlightenment comes at such a high price, I think I'd prefer to remain as I am."

"Very few people are at the right incarnation for moksha. Perhaps in your next life, Erin."

The young feline shook his head, "Doubt it."

"I think Crysor understands, at least a little. Many of the Elves I have met have been spiritual people." Abhaidev said.

Crysor looked back, hearing his name. He thought for a moment, then nodded slightly, gesturing at all the trees and things on either side of the road.
"He's very connected to nature," Kori supplied. "He hates big cities."
Crysor nodded, wrinkling his nose.

The mystic nodded, smiling, "Then we have something in common, Crysor. I may not be an elf, but I take greater pleasure in the works of the Creator than the works of Man, and the noise and chaos of the big cities does not agree with me."

Erin shrugged, "I like cities. There's always something going on, something interesting to see... then again, I grew up in a big trading port of to the east, so I'm a little biased in favour of city life." He frowned to himself, "I miss home sometimes, no one this far west can make decent tea, or a good rice dish, but there's a lot of fun and interesting places to see."

Crysor nodded, smiling slightly at Abhaidev. He honestly did prefer a heavily wooded forest to a bustling city. He would be alone in either case, and he preferred being alone with the trees than being alone and surrounded by people.
"Ah, I like cities too," Kori agreed. "More things to see and do." He almost added And more things to steal, but decided that would be a bad idea considering the circumstances.

Erin nodded, "Yeah, too bad there're more criminals and things in the cities though. I mean, last time I was in a big city some cutpurse...um... cut my purse and stole my money. I had to sell some of my geography books to cover my inn bill." The feline made an irritated noise, "Of course, my dad being a silk merchant and all, I really should have been more careful with my money." He chuckled, "good thing I wasn't back home, or that thief would have got his fingers removed... my dad really hated thieves, and he had a fair bit of political influence, thanks to his wealth."

Abhaidev shook his head, "Perhaps your thief was hungry, and needed the money to buy food. Perhaps if you gave your money freely to the poor, they would not be driven to take it from you. I don't know any one who steals simply because they find it fun."

Erin shrugged, "Hey, take it up with my father, he's the one cutting off the hands of thieves, not me."

Kori paused uncertainly. He did steal to keep himself alive, but, being a klepto, he oftentimes did steal for fun.
First time for everything, eh Abhaidev?
He kept his trap shut, though, glancing over at Crysor. The elf was silent, as always, and seemed determined to ignore the conversation. Kori was on his own.
Well, not like Crysor would say anything anyways, so it would be best if Kori said nothing at all.

Abhaidev chuckled and shrugged, "Perhaps you should pay one of the Hobbit settlements a visit sometime Erin, I've been to one or two in my time, they seem to be mostly peaceful little places. Not much crime... though Hobbits can be very good at being quiet, I bet they'd make a killing if they ever decided to branch out into thievery. Not met one who made the jump yet though. Maybe it' the culture."

Erin smiled, "I've never been to a hobbit town. I mean, I've read about them, of course, but before today I'd never even seen one." He glanced down at Kori, "I thought people were making it up when they said Hobbits don't wear shoes."

Yes, Kori could make a killing if he wanted to, and sometimes he did- no one ever caught him, ever. He was too good of a thief to be caught.
Hmm.
"Oh, shoes?" he said, looking up at Erin. "We hate shoes. At the most we'll wear slippers in the winter in case our floors get cold, but shoes? Those are awful. The soles of our feet are thick enough as it is, and running around barefoot just feels good anyways, so we have no use for shoes, those vile things. I hate shoes."
Crysor smiled slightly at Kori's little rant against shoes; he remembered one time when he offered to buy him a pair after he had a thorn stuck in his foot, and the hobbit had exclaimed vehemently that he would rather have a whole pricker bush stuck in his foot before he wore any shoes.
Good times.

Erin smiled slightly, "I suppose next time I'm home I'd better tell my father to give up on his 'sell shoes to those Hobbits' plan. He'd heard that Hobbits had no shoes, so he thought he'd be able to corner a new market..." The feline laughed, "We have no Hobbits near my city, so he was planning on selling them over in these lands... oh dear, he'd lose a small fortune."

Abhaidev shook his head, "Selling shoes to a Hobbit is like selling fire to a dragon. Pointless, and likely to be painful."

Erin laughed, "Exactly. Or a fur coat to one of my race."

"Complete waste of time. Last I checked I wasn't the only hobbit who didn't like shoes," Kori added before getting caught up in dragon fire. "Wait- fire- what about fire? Have you seen dragons before? And fire?"
Crysor facepalmed. Here he went again.

Abhaidev shook his head, "No, I have seen no dragons... and the only fires I have seen are camp-fires and the fires of the hearth."

"Same here." Erin said,looking confused over the Hobbit's odd behaviour, "Um... It was just an analogy. No need to get worked up. I mean, it's only fire."

"Only fire? I like fire."
Crysor rolled his eyes at the little pyro. He didn't like fire that much, and he was pretty glad he hadn't seen a dragon before. It probably wouldn't end well.

The mystic didn't seem at all perturbed by the fire-loving little Hobbit, but then he wouldn't. Erin on te other hand took a few steps away from him, "Nah, I'm not exactly a fan of it. Maybe it's the fact I'm covered in flammable fur, but the idea of loads of fire never sat well with me. Or giant lizards that breath fire and eat people. In fact, I think I'm allergic to them."

"I've always liked fire. It is the element of creation and renewal; it warms and gives light, and where it destroys it also brings forth new life. Still, too much fire can lead to wanton destruction, as well as burning and injury." Abhaidev eyed the Hobbit, "I hope your enjoyment of fire does not lead to... unfortunate ends."

"I like fire," was all the hobbit said in response.
Crysor shook his head. He knew Kori was smart, but boy, he sure didn't act like it sometimes.