The forest is dark and quiet. One can only hear leaves scurry among the ground. A odd stillness is suddenly broken from the ear with a whistle, the whistle is heard at first faintly in the distance as it grows closer. A carefree whistle leaves an old man's lips.
Why do I follow him? This adventure isn't worth being on. We have traveled too many lands again and again from the southern regions not under empire control. He is avoiding empire entrenched areas, apprentice Mirkos mutters out loud.
"What do you mean I am avoiding the empire?" The old man's whistle drops from his lips and his smile turned into a frown. The crow's feet in his eyes walk down his face as he frowns, I run from no one for I have no reason to. It's un-honorable what the empire is doing. Wrangling the monks into their dirty business of expansion wasn't right the old man thinks to himself. He, the emperor, must not ever be able to use me.
"Of course, you're running master. Why else would we have traveled from the south of the monk strong holds only by night? In fact, we left in the middle of the night", says apprentice Mirkos with a concerned tone. "I just want to finish my trials, so I can graduate from the,"
"Academy! That is the problem. When I did my trails and studied under my master there was no academy. That's the empires doing. They just want to separate you all into different divisions and create an army out of you all," the old man exclaims. "Brainwashed! That's what you are," just as the words leave his creased wrinkled mouth, he slaps the young apprentice upside his head.
Birds fly quickly away with the sound of the thud on the apprentice's head and a small squirrel wallows away in fear. In shock the apprentice covers his head, "you're nothing but a charlatan, a scam, and a has been! Humph, and they all mutter your name as…"
The old man shouts, "Be quiet shrimp. You got potential and youth, but your mouth makes you sound like a fool. Why do you think I gave you a good thumping on your head?"
Mirkos notices the old man's colorless whiskers blaring in his nose. "Yes yes yes.. I know what comes next. The fool speaks and the wise listen. You have taught me this lesson many times master. In fact, fact I am bored with it". Mirkos leaps high into a nearby tree and shouts, " I am going to do the afternoon meditation now my master."
A humph comes out of the old man's lips and he shrugs and gives into his young apprentice. The old man thinks to himself about how much simpler things were only sixty years ago before the empire descended on Notos, the lands of the monks. Peace was known for millennia throughout the monk's old order. The monk's balance of life with tranquility, sincerity, and service to men was their mandate for as long as history existed on the island. In fact, most agree, Notos and the monks are the oldest order on the island and set the tone for most of the races. The monks are the only faction on the island with multi-races in their lands. Well most races other than Kaians, for no Kaian is to serve as a monk is a mandate from the high council and is acceptable by the monk elders. The old man has never accepted or approved of such things.
Suddenly the old man recalls a simpler time in his life. The old man thinks back to his master and when he was training to be a monk. He remembers the pivotal moment of his life and received his most important lesson.
"Master why do we help the people of the villages near Notos?"
"It is our duty my child. We the monks are here to serve at the behest of the people. Heal the towns people and purify their water. It's the least we can do to comfort their lives and you'll learn a lesson young one."
"But master they drink and say unkind things to their women, I don't understand. To me they are a lost cause… a cause not worth bothering with"
The elder master grabs the child's head in a caring manner, "Look at me, look at me in my eyes. You have a kind soul and you have strong ki. You will spread goodness in this land, because I am teaching you all I know."
"Master you won't teach me everything… I am not worth to even be your apprentice, I don't come from one of the higher houses to even inherit the ability. "
"This is your error, houses are not relevant what is realivent is goodddddddddddddd..."
Suddenly the elder master's eyes get wide as if he is in shock. The bright red in his checks turns pale suddenly and he grabs his chest. The young one notices a red circle forming through his chest and a shiny silver like object with a point coming out of the red circle. Tears come into the master's eyes. Just as he thinks to himself how could it have come to this the elder master extends his hand and turns around and fires a burst of circular wind towards his assailant tearing him apparent instantly.
"Listen carefully young one," says the master with heavy breath. "I … I must pass on the ability to you…"
The young one shakes his head no with tears in his eyes.The elder master lifts his finger to silence the yell before it exits the young one's lips.
"Look carefully. Look carefully at my hand and pay close attention, because you will see this once before I expire"
The elder master raises his hand and a hole opens from it. Small white globes seep out of the elder master's hand.
With a weak voice the elder master says, "This is the gi---ft… the gift of life."
The young one pays attention and notes the inaudible chant and the movements of his master hands. Just as his master's hand hole closed the white orbs ceased to flow from it. A loud no was heard in the village. The elder master's brown eyes go from bright to a dimness, "pay head, pay attention. You know have the secret to life… be… be… a wise.. you—" And with his final words the young one's master feel down to his knees creating a plum of dust around them.
"Master no, I can't be left like this no master," exclaims the young one with tears in his eyes. His master's face is now planted in the dirt with last breath used.
This memory ended just as quickly as it began. The old man had a creased nervous smile on his face and he began to think to himself.
My master was a fool to grant me this ability. Humph, me wise? The old man think's to himself to call him a wise young one was a stretch back then and now it's a stretch to call him wise. These days on the island and throughout the lands encompassing it, the old man is known as the Wiseman. Many seek his council for considering treaties, ending disputes, his abilities to heal the weak, grant health to the sick, and on the rare occasion grant life. The old man has always hated the wise moniker because he just wanted to keep his head down and avoid any trouble. He even tried to leave the monk lifestyle behind, but being the bearer of the ability he pretty much is stuck in the lifestyle. He rather help people and travel without the rigorous regime required. He was surprised when the monk elders assigned the shrimp, err, apprentice to him. He hasn't formally accepted him as an apprentice, but Mirkos is stubborn. Suddenly the Wiseman's acute senses are aroused, he senses distress.
"Fool come down here! I have spotted an injured young lady with tattered white clothing. We must assist her immediately."
Mirkos ends his meditation runs over to the woman immediately faster than ever he has. He has a puzzled look on his face, " how and why are you here Queen Rousha? Who attacked you?"