We're continuing our journey and passing through uneven terrain. Along the way, we met several merchants and travelers. After another two hours of walking, we rest again for a while. Both Eris and Rowan try not to bring back previous arguments because of me. They realize that they had gone too far and made me angry. This time Eris asks a bit about us, about Cordville and how men in the Dallas district live. We share some stories with her and so does she. It's interesting to know that there are so many differences between our customs, yet we also do something similar. After 20 minutes of rest, we continue our journey again.

We're now almost arrived on the outskirt of Cordville, probably in another 3-4 hours of walking. The weather has changed to cloudy, which indicates that it will rain soon. And sure enough, it didn't take long for it to drizzle. We keep walking ahead wearing our coats in the drizzle, the roads became wet, making the journey even more difficult and dangerous. If I am not careful, I can fall and hurt myself. The drizzle becomes rain and the rain is getting heavier by minutes. We are forced to stop and decide to postpone our journey. We're planning to continue it to the next day as the rain looks like it will last a long time. Rowan creates a camp for us so we can sleep tonight. He also prepares something to celebrate my birthday today, he put some cookies together, turned them into a birthday cake, and lit candles for me to blow. Eris also congratulated me when she found out that today is my birthday. She said that in better condition, she will prepare me a beautifully crafted gift from clays as the present, a charm to evoke evil spirits and bad luck. It's the custom that has been done in her village. We're chatting through the night and somehow we become a friend. Traveling together indeed can make you get closer to someone else. The rain was getting heavier, the weather is humid and cool, the perfect situation to make you fall asleep. Eris who hasn't gotten any sleep these past days decides to sleep early. She enters the camp and prepares to sleep, while Rowan asked me to help him do something with him before the day passes. It seems there is something that he wants to ask me and has bugged him since yesterday.

"Well, I don't think I will ever ask you this, but since yesterday... There is something in my mind that I can't brush aside." Said Rowan.

"What is it?"

"Your eyes.... your reaction... it's just like... I don't know.... how could I explain it...."

".... I have never seen you so interested with anyone else before." continue Rowan.

"What do you mean? Who do you mention about?" Asked me.

"Do you like Eris?"

That night Rowan asked me about his hunch that if I was interested in Eris. While I should answer that ridiculous question right away, but the fact that I couldn't answer surprises me even more. I don't know whether it's just my curiosity or something else that makes me care about Eris and try to help her.

My reaction and hesitation also surprise Rowan. Eventually, my silence answers both of us. I might indeed like Eris romantically. Rowan asked if I had been "bewitched" by Eris unknowingly. If that was the case, then he would try to find a cure. I said to him that there is no way Eris can do that kind of magic. If she could, Rowan should be charmed as well and she will have no trouble getting out of cordville without our help. I guessed he will hate me since he always detests this kind of anomaly before. Yet, Rowan also said that even if I couldn't be cured, he would still consider me as his friend, no matter how "strange" I am. Rowan is my true friend, he still accepts me although I might not be the norm.

Meanwhile, this discovery made me realize about myself more, is this the reason why I haven't fallen in love with anyone else this entire time? Because I have different preferences than many other males?

The situation becomes awkward and stiff as we have a lot of thoughts in our minds.

"I think we both need to get asleep." Said Rowan closing our conversation.

"Yea let's go to sleep."

It takes time for us to digest everything that has happened, both of us need time to accept the revelation.