[Two years later]
[Third POV]
The forest of time is a pequliar place even for the spirit world's standards. It consists of two circles. The outer one that works as a barrier that keeps every being thatwants to enter out. That happens by slowing the tresspasser's time making him think that he walks like usual, while he is not moving at all.
Then there is the inner cicle. This one is weirder that the outside one since time itself is chaotic here due to Chronos working nonstop. This makes the place perfect to observe the effect time has in the world.
'At least that's what Chronos said when he brought me here to train' thinks Solon as he observes a sapling growing rapidly and immediately wither away in from of his eyes.
"You've spend two years here looking at every different effect time can have on an object. So tell me what do you think time represents?" asks Chronos not hiding his curiosity.
"Time represents nothing, yet is a part of everything."
"How did you reach that conclusion? Tell me your thoughts I am interested to listen to an outside view of my concept."
"From what I have observed so far, everything that is affected by time finds it's end, either by going back until it didn't exist in the first place or by going so far forward that it gets forgotten by the world itself. In other words if you get affected by time you are moving towards your end either you like it or not. The existence of time means that the world itself moves towards it's destruction.
On the other hand if you stay still in time, then it's as if you don't exist, your existence becomes vain since you are unable to act or do anything. You get trapped in a single moment unable to be part of the world that continues to move around you." Solon says, he pauses, takes a breath and continues.
"At the same time it's a part of everything because you cannot exist without time, the moment you set foot outside of the confines of time you seize to exist. You get erased."
"Hmm... that is an interesting point of view, but you seem to look at it in a negative light."
"How so?"
"You see, time is way more than just a timer that counts to the end. It's a way of life, if time doesn't exist, if it isn't a part of everything, then everything would stagnate. There would be no life, no death, no chaos, no peace. There would be space and never-ending stillness. The passage of time is nessessary, it gives meaning to everything. If life didn't end, would humans and spirits alike treasure it? Would they protect it like they do now? Would they fear death?" Chronos explains patiently
"Among all beings the concept-level spirits, our family and some extras, are not confined by the passage of time, that's because our concept protects us from it. Yet, because of that some spirits at our level don't treasure their lives, they know once they die they will come back after a while, they see life as something they can waste away."
"Is that wrong?" asks Solon clearly intrigued, confused at the prospect of thinking of life as something useless.
"We are not here to discuss about right and wrong. When you think of the world as black and white, you are foolish. There is no right nor wrong. Everyone has a different point of view.Tell me, What do you think about life?"
"I see it as something precious. I think that surviving and living are two different things. When I was a fruit I was surviving, now I started living."
"Hmm... You seem to think that the time you spend in that form was wasted."
"Was it not? During all that time I could be learning something more useful than how to photosynthesize."
"I on the other hand, believe that you got a way more valuable lesson during that time."
"What lesson? Was I supposed to learn something from that time?"
"Patience Solon, the key to wisdom and tea is proper aging."
"Tea? What tea?"
"You will understand in the future."
************
[98 years later]
Time passed and Chronos taught Solon about the concept of time.
He told him about the fixed past, that has already happened and cannot change without the approval of at least 6 concept-level spirits
The everchanging future, that no one can define no matter how powerful he/she is.
The present that becomes a door from the past to go towards the future.
The time dilation between the dimensions Aether rules over.
As well as the art of tea-making.
'I still don't understand, what does tea have to do with my lessons?' he thinks, as he prepares a cup of jasmine tean for Chronos.
"Here. Your tea."
"Thank you"
"So, now what?"
"What do you mean?" asks Chronos clearly intrigued
"What are you going to teach me now?"
"Nothing..."
"..."
"I have nothing left to teach you. During the last 100 years you have shown incredible growth both spiritually and intellectually. You haven't noticed, but everytime you learn something new, you get stronger. Now it's time for you to go and learn from your next teacher, Aether the spirit of Space."
"I see... So, when do we leave?"
"We? No, no, no. You are leaving, I am staying here."
"How am I going to find Aether then?"
"That is for you to find out. The only clue I will give you is that he resides in the material world."
"But you said, that I shouldn't go to the material world since humans don't hide themselves on the back of lion-turtles anymore."
"You don't have to worry about that, Vaatu has taken some actions to keep them there."
"How did he do that, I thought that Raava was the one that controlled the world's direction right now."
"Well, your birth has changed a lot of things. Even if you don't possess the power a concept-level possesses, you do belong in the rank. In other words the world needs your existence and we are not sure if your concept can bring you back, so we made the nessessary preparations to protect you from dying."
"Wait, I thought that all concept-level spirits can come back to life when they die."
"That's not true, only spirits that are needed for the world's existence can come back. The mother of faces for example cannot come back to life, if she dies."
"Why is that?"
"Well, even thought she managed to climb up the power scale and comprehend a concept to become a concept-level spirit. 'Faces' are not nessessary for the world, only humans need them during their birth. Her death would spell the end of humans, that's all."
"So, where do I stand at the power scale?"
"At the rock bottom, right now you have power equal to a low-level spirit. That's why I am sending you to the material world to experience life. I hope that will help you, find your concept. Good luck." Chronos said as he opened a portal behind Solon.
"Wait, I didn't agree to thiiiiiiiiiiii-" Screamed Solon as he was thrown through the portal.
"I never asked for your permission to begin with." Commented Chronos as he went back to work.
~~~~~~~{Chapter end}~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All "lesson" chapters are going to be time skips where Solon can obtain new knowledge and increase his power.
Between these lessons there will be adventures for Solon to experience life.