Post by Tabién de Valclesa(I) on Aug 17, 2007 22:55:47 GMT -5
The last remnants of winter had escaped the northern Ch'n province. In the quite temple courtyard of Jath' an, I was completing my morning training, which I had been doing every day since I took up residence. Consisting of a of quite mediation and blade form movements, it had become a ritual, and passing soothing at that. Unshod in a white robe, I sheathed my sword with a quick click, and offered a bow to the temple spirit alter.
Approaching the temple proper, I crossed the threshold. and bowed as custom to the four corners. I approached the shrine. It was dim lit, save for a few candles around a hunched old man, bowed in a chant.
"Morning Elder." I bowed with practiced discipline.
"Ah. Morning Youngling." The elderly man rose, with an exuberant smile. "I've come to a decision, I'm...." I was cut off..
"You've decided to return, I thought as much."
"You knew," I sighed with regret and relief.
"Tabien, I knew from the moment you arrived that this place was not meant for you to stay. But we accepted you, in hopes to use kindness to teach. How long has it been?"
"It will have been five years come this new moon." I said dryly
"Far longer than any of us expected," the elder mused. "Still, If we would have sent you away, you wouldn't have stopped running. I take it you've come to peace with your past?"
I thought about it. Delrae, the love of my life, entangled in the arms of another man. To this day I don't know what possessed me, only that I moved in a bloody haze. Her cowering in the
corner, and him bloody and motionless, a letter opener in my hand. And still, the only thing I wondered was If I could love again after that. That intimacy seemed so far away now, almost a dream.
"Peace, no. Acceptance sounds better."
"Acceptance then." the elder smiled. "Sit, join me for tea." I knelt next to the elder, and was poured him a small cup of herbal tea.
"Do you know what you will do when you return?" I paused a moment, then sipped my tea.
"Honestly, no. But your right, this place was not meant for me. Beautiful, serene, quiet, it is all these things, but they are not enough."
"A soul of ambition." the elder breathed.
"I'd like to think you've helped tempered it. Still, I cannot deny my heritage, for good or ill." The elder merely nodded in agreement.
"What do you think I should do master?"
"What do you -want- to do?" the master replied back. You could never get a straight answer from him, part of his charming wisdom. I mulled it over. What did I want?
"Well, there is the estate, but I've never had a love of money. Join the army and defend my country?" The master's expression was blank.
Funny how he could say so much without saying anything. I wonder if I could carry any of that power with me.
"No army then. Your probably right, What was it 'Fight not for yourself, but for others'? Can't say I have that conviction." The master gave a shallow nod of approval. At least I remembered my lessons.
"I know" The idea just sort of appeared in my head,I sipped my tea while I wrestled my thoughts. "A University. I could attend there in Terre de' Ange, perhaps even teach. I'm sure they could use a Ch'n translators.!" Once more, the master nodded.
"I did always enjoy your conversations master, despite their riddles." That part was true. They were a good deal more enjoyable then the memory drills offered at the University.
"May you one day offer riddles to others then youngling." We said nothing else then, enjoying each others company in silence.
I spent the remainder of the day preparing my things, of which their were few. I'd arrived with little more than the clothes on my back, losing bits and pieces along the way. My only indicators of my homeland was a signet ring of house Valclesa, and several notepads with notes from my university classes, along with the horse that carried them and myself. Furion was a good horse. Not a great one, but a good one. As for my return, all I would be taking with me would be my training robe, and sword. Or, at least that's what I thought. Just before I was to depart, a fresh recruit approached me hauling some object.
"You are the foreigner, yes?" He was just being polite, there was no mistake of who I was. I nodded wordlessly.
"Many of the temple elders discussed, and decided that they'd like you to have these. "What are these?" The recruit said nothing, offered a sizable box, and then hurried away. I stood there for a moment with a large chest. Inside lay several artifacts, historical scrolls detailing their peoples past, culture, and martial style. Also were a few prayer beads, a couple rice paper drawings, a selection of silks, and two masks one of a dragon, and one of wisp spirit.
I couldn't help but laugh. In only a short time, they knew me better than I knew myself, where I come from, and the challenges that'd await me. I closed the chest, and breathed
thanks. "Thank you elders, I believe these will help very much indeed.
Approaching the temple proper, I crossed the threshold. and bowed as custom to the four corners. I approached the shrine. It was dim lit, save for a few candles around a hunched old man, bowed in a chant.
"Morning Elder." I bowed with practiced discipline.
"Ah. Morning Youngling." The elderly man rose, with an exuberant smile. "I've come to a decision, I'm...." I was cut off..
"You've decided to return, I thought as much."
"You knew," I sighed with regret and relief.
"Tabien, I knew from the moment you arrived that this place was not meant for you to stay. But we accepted you, in hopes to use kindness to teach. How long has it been?"
"It will have been five years come this new moon." I said dryly
"Far longer than any of us expected," the elder mused. "Still, If we would have sent you away, you wouldn't have stopped running. I take it you've come to peace with your past?"
I thought about it. Delrae, the love of my life, entangled in the arms of another man. To this day I don't know what possessed me, only that I moved in a bloody haze. Her cowering in the
corner, and him bloody and motionless, a letter opener in my hand. And still, the only thing I wondered was If I could love again after that. That intimacy seemed so far away now, almost a dream.
"Peace, no. Acceptance sounds better."
"Acceptance then." the elder smiled. "Sit, join me for tea." I knelt next to the elder, and was poured him a small cup of herbal tea.
"Do you know what you will do when you return?" I paused a moment, then sipped my tea.
"Honestly, no. But your right, this place was not meant for me. Beautiful, serene, quiet, it is all these things, but they are not enough."
"A soul of ambition." the elder breathed.
"I'd like to think you've helped tempered it. Still, I cannot deny my heritage, for good or ill." The elder merely nodded in agreement.
"What do you think I should do master?"
"What do you -want- to do?" the master replied back. You could never get a straight answer from him, part of his charming wisdom. I mulled it over. What did I want?
"Well, there is the estate, but I've never had a love of money. Join the army and defend my country?" The master's expression was blank.
Funny how he could say so much without saying anything. I wonder if I could carry any of that power with me.
"No army then. Your probably right, What was it 'Fight not for yourself, but for others'? Can't say I have that conviction." The master gave a shallow nod of approval. At least I remembered my lessons.
"I know" The idea just sort of appeared in my head,I sipped my tea while I wrestled my thoughts. "A University. I could attend there in Terre de' Ange, perhaps even teach. I'm sure they could use a Ch'n translators.!" Once more, the master nodded.
"I did always enjoy your conversations master, despite their riddles." That part was true. They were a good deal more enjoyable then the memory drills offered at the University.
"May you one day offer riddles to others then youngling." We said nothing else then, enjoying each others company in silence.
I spent the remainder of the day preparing my things, of which their were few. I'd arrived with little more than the clothes on my back, losing bits and pieces along the way. My only indicators of my homeland was a signet ring of house Valclesa, and several notepads with notes from my university classes, along with the horse that carried them and myself. Furion was a good horse. Not a great one, but a good one. As for my return, all I would be taking with me would be my training robe, and sword. Or, at least that's what I thought. Just before I was to depart, a fresh recruit approached me hauling some object.
"You are the foreigner, yes?" He was just being polite, there was no mistake of who I was. I nodded wordlessly.
"Many of the temple elders discussed, and decided that they'd like you to have these. "What are these?" The recruit said nothing, offered a sizable box, and then hurried away. I stood there for a moment with a large chest. Inside lay several artifacts, historical scrolls detailing their peoples past, culture, and martial style. Also were a few prayer beads, a couple rice paper drawings, a selection of silks, and two masks one of a dragon, and one of wisp spirit.
I couldn't help but laugh. In only a short time, they knew me better than I knew myself, where I come from, and the challenges that'd await me. I closed the chest, and breathed
thanks. "Thank you elders, I believe these will help very much indeed.