The air is scented, incense. Sweet, probably jasmine.
Slight pressure, something cold and wet. It's gone now.
Wake up!
Sluggish eye lids open half way. If he wasn't dead he sure felt close to it. His eyes, despite the blurred picture, followed the humming to a blob of white nearest to him. It was actually a person covered in what looked like a white sheet. The white figure dipped a cloth into a bowl then came back to dab his head. He could make out a hand through the sheet-like covering. Mustering the strength he had, he grabbed its wrist.
The humming stopped, replaced by a light feminine gasp; the damp cloth dropped from it's hand. His hand consumed the tiny wrist as he applied pressure to it; a warning. If he could, he would break it to show he was force to be reckoned with, but he hadn't the strength. But instead of screaming or trying to tear away from his weak grip, another gentle cloth sheltered hand covered his. It was warm applying a pressure of its own, but not threateningly, it was caring and assuring.
However, the action did not calm him, instead it confused him. Suddenly, a sweet voice drifted into his ears. The song from earlier, but this time in the form of a wordless melody. Weariness washed over him disabling his strength to take back his hand as the singing stranger continued to hold it in a warm embrace. The lilting tune echoed in his head as unwanted sleep over took him.
~***~
The last remnants of some intangible dream faded away as Ashen opened his eyes. He jolted a bit at the unrecognizable surroundings, but the aroma in the room jogged his memory. Though he still didn't know where he was, but figured it was nothing he would have to worry too much about.
Gingerly he sat up; he could still feel the weariness in his muscles. A sharp pain in his back quickly followed an attempt at a stretch. Thankfully the momentary pain went as quickly as it came, but he made a mental note not to do that again.
"Oh, good, you're awake!" Ashen's eyes snapped to a white cloth cover person on the other side of the small beige room. "I was beginning to fear the worst."
"…Where are my clothes?" he asked without acknowledging what she had said.
"Oh, forgive us, we had them washed and repaired. They're on the edge of the bed," she replied bubbly, "And I just finished fixing your vest."
He pushed the lavender quilt off of him and placed his bare feet on a cold stone floor. Slowly he stood up, a little wobbly, but he wouldn't fall.
"Oh-oh…uhm…" she stuttered awkwardly. Ashen saw her turn away quickly, well as quickly as one could covered head to floor in a large white veil. He continued on to his clothes paying no heed to the fact that he was naked; growing up with scientists always examining him, his nudity became second nature. Though he noted the girl's embarrassment, figuring that she was young and probably never seen a man naked before. He, of course, hadn't time for such modesty.
"How long have I been out for?" he asked while dressing.
"A-About three days I guess," She added, "Two of the monks found you washed up beside the river."
"Monks?" he paused briefly before pulling his shirt over his head.
"Yes, this is a monastery where priestesses and monks of Holy God reside."
"Vest?"
"What?" she was caught off guard by the question, "Oh, your vest…here."
She finally let herself turn about, the black vest folded in her covered hands. He took it without so much as a thank you, slipping it on. But for some reason she giggled at this, Ashen noticed though ignored it stating mentally that little girls with little minds find little things amusing.
Suddenly, a knock sounded on the wooden door; both Ashen and the white shrouded figure shifted their sights to it.
"Oh, come in," she rose her voice slightly.
The door opened slowly to reveal a honey-skinned woman dressed in ivory and red. Her mahogany colored hair sprung out from underneath the hood that covered her head. "My lady, I heard voices in here. Is everything alright?"
"Oh yes Nara, it is! See, our guest has finally awoken," The girl in the cloth chirped.
"Ah, so I see. I am glad to hear of it," Turning her face briefly to Ashen, enough for him to see her deep amber eyes and a red teardrop jewel between her eyebrows. "However, I'm afraid I must tear you away from your patient."
"Oh, no one's hurt are they?" concern in her voice.
"No, this is another matter of concern," the older woman's voice carried authority to it.
"Alright," the shorter white covered girl faced Ashen, "You should get some more rest, but I'm sure you don't want to. If you're hungry, just tell the monk outside and if you want to take a walk I'm sure he'll give you a tour of the monastery. I'll come back to check on you later."
She gave a light bow and left the room with the red headed woman. Ashen focused on finishing dressing, but his mind seemed to wander. I shouldn't be here. I should be dead. Why am I still alive? A sudden knock at the door broke him from his thoughts.
"Hello? Sir? Can I come in?" asked a male voice muffled by the door.
Ashen thought about it for a moment then reluctantly answered, "…Go ahead."
The door slowly creaked open revealing a man in his mid twenties. He wore a red sarong tied into pants and a white sash that cover half of his upper body. His skin was lightly tanned like Ashen and he was mostly bald save for long brown tendrils hanging from the sides of his ears and a short ponytail at the back of his head.
He was cheery and smiled at Ashen, "Hi. I was outside and figured you'd be hungry. So I came to see if you'd like me to show you the meal room?"
Ashen would have said no out of spite. He didn't like being here or having these people fawn over him. Yet he felt the hunger slowly creep into his stomach, soon it would be growling if he didn't do something. He nodded to the young man; he learned long ago never to argue with his own body. A lesson learned through his summoning abilities.
Kazu, the name of the young monk, continued to talk at the low wood table as Ashen picked at his bowl of cold oatmeal. Half way through the one sided conversation Ashen decided that Kazu talked way to much, the young monk would continue on and on complaining about another monk name Sesshin, then went into bouts about how much he loved to hear Nara sing the Sanc. Ashen drowned him out, here and there picking up on the conversation's current topic to see if it had any importance to him.
" 'We as monk have to look out for all life,' he says! Can you believe it?! This is the same guy who was a bounty hunter out here in the free lands before he became a monk! That Sesshin is SUCH a hypocrite and he says I need to let go of the silly child within me and become a REAL monk!" he continued, " Gah! I've been here ten years to his five! Anyway, that's when we came to the river and found you."
Found me? Ashen looked up, the conversation suddenly became interesting to him.
"We thought you dead originally. We were going to perform last rights then give you a proper burial, but when we picked you up you were breathing…barely. So we brought you back here. Man, are you lucky!" he smiled with a cheerful face.
"Lucky…whatever," Ashen stood up. Kazu watched blankly while he walked to the doorway then remembered he was in charge of the injured youth.
"Hey, wait up!" Kazu shouted after him, hopping from his cushion to jog after the youth.
Outside, it was warm and smelt like spring. The sound of the birds chirping and the wind in the leaves was heavenly to hear. The curvaceous and simple architecture of the monastery gave a peaceful feeling to those who walked its open halls.
Ashen walked faster trying to lose the talkative monk, but to no avail. Kazu was just as fast on his feet as he was with his words. Ashen's eyes bugged out slightly when he felt a light smack on his shoulder, turning to see Kazu's beaming smile. If only the monk knew that he'd maimed men for less then that.
Luckily for him, Ashen opted to continue walking. However, the young monk decided to continue talking as the moved through the hall.
A light giggle echoed down the hallway followed by a sweet familiar voice, "You really should be more careful, Sesshin."
Unconsciously, Ashen stopped. He turned his head to a little scene near a bench surrounded by green bushes with pink flowers. The older redheaded woman from earlier was standing next to a tall, older monk with a stern look on his face. A younger monk crouched on the ground before the bench, his bleeding hand in the gentle palm of a teen aged girl.
She looked different then many of the people he had seen so far. Most of her short and scrawny form was covered by an iridescent cloth, though it hung loosely around her bare shoulders letting the little violet dress with the intricate gold lines about the high neck be seen. A golden shawl was wrapped around her lithe waist dangling little tassels with each loop. Resting on her small bosom was a large gold pendant: a ring in between two out stretched wings.
A young, pale monk said meekly, "I'm sorry, my lady."
She giggled again, "Oh don't be Sesshin, it happens."
"And quite frequently, I might add," Kazu whispered to Ashen dryly, "Sesshin probably hurt himself in sparring. Don't tell anyone, but sometimes he does it on purpose just to see the High Priestess. He says it's cause she reminds him of his little sister, I say it's cause he's a pedophile."
Suddenly, the girl looked up noticing Ashen's presence. Her pale face brightened, "Oh!"
She gave Sesshin back his hand and hopped over to where Ashen stood the golden waves of her hair bounced around her waist as she did. She looked up to him with big emerald eyes, a beaming smile on her rosy lips, "I'm so glad to see you up and about!"
Ashen gazed down at her a little confused.
"It's so much better now that I can talk to you without that silly sheet over me. It would have been easier to work if I didn't have to wear that, but I couldn't very well be alone in a room with a naked man without a covering. Yukai would have a fit!" She giggled, only to interrupt herself with a sudden gasp. "Oh, I'm sorry, I've never introduced myself. My name's Aleura Goddhart, I'm the High Priestess of this monastery."
Bowing her head and touching her dotted hairline briefly in a form of religious greeting, she then continued smiling up at him. "What's your name?"
"…Ashen Maave." He let out, groaning inwardly at her talkative nature. Were they all like that here?
"Ah! So you are from Ghri," She exclaimed, taking hold of Ashen's arm, "And such an unique Ghri name too. What does it mean?"
He fidgeted uncomfortably while she led him to the bench, "I wouldn't know."
"Well that's okay. So did you live in the big city? I've never seen a city before, what's it like? You must tell me all about it," her words seemingly faster as they sat on the stone bench.
A light cough gained Aleura's attention; she looked to the tall strong looking older monk. "Aleura…" he scowled under his thick gray mustache.
Her eyes lit up with awareness; "Oh!" she turned to Ashen suddenly meek, "I'm sorry, sometimes I go kinda overboard."
"…It happens," Ashen's mind continued, 'children often do'.
Her facial expression changed to something unreadable she turned back to face the older monk, "Yukai?"
"Yes my lady?"
"Could I be left alone with Ashen for awhile?"
The older man's eyebrow raised his voice rather serious, "Alone?"
"Mmm-Hmm," she smiled sweetly to him. At which he turned and gave a look to Nara who shrugged slightly. "I mean, not all alone. Kazu's been assigned to attend to him for the day and Sesshin's injury will keeping from training the rest of the day. I'm sure they can work together for the remainder of the day?"
As if on cue, Sesshin popped up bowing his head respectfully to his master. Kazu rolled his eyes knowing what was coming next.
"Master, with your permission I would like to attend the lady for the day?!" He asked dramatically with a hint of excitement.
Ashen looked at them all curiously, wondering if this was one of those crazy moon cults.
"I'm satisfied with that," Nara intervened in a nonchalant tone. She met Yukai's gaze calmly, though the look on his face said 'so you're against me too, are you?'
Reluctantly, he sigh aloud, "If our lady wishes it, so let it be."
She beamed up at the large monk, "Thank you, Yukai."
"Yes, thank you Master, I will neither fail you, nor the lady," Sesshin bowed dramatically. Kazu was going to roll his eyes again when he noticed Yukai look at him sternly; he quickly joined Sesshin in his bowing.
"My lady," Yukai said with a bow to Aleura then turned to the two still bowing monks, "Sesshin? Kazu? I'll see you in training tomorrow."
Yes, Master Yukai," they both said in unison as he walked back to the hallway.
Shortly thereafter, he entered the hallway, Nara began to follow, but not before she gave a look to the two now risen monks, "Behave you two."
"Yes, Priestess Nara," They chirped in unison as she left.
Once the two older figures were out of sight, Aleura gave a slight cough. It alerted everyone's attention back to her.
"Eh…Sesshin?" she asked
"Yes, my lady?" All she had to do was say jump and he'd do it. Kazu could have smacked his forehead if they weren't in the presence of the lady.
"I'm kinda thirsty…could you get me some water?" She smiled despite her coy behavior.
"Of course, my lady," he gave another dramatic bow and grabbed onto Kazu's arm, "Come, Kazu!"
"Hey! She said for to you get it, not me!" Kazu cried while he was being dragged down the hall.
"Yes, but you are a monk of the Holy and as such should jump at any opportunity to serve her Holiness," Sesshin retorted as they continued.
"But it's just a glass of water!" Was the last thing Ashen could hear of Kazu though the argument continued on down the halls the distance was to great between them to hear now.
Aleura let out a relieved sigh when they were long out of sight, "Whew! I thought that would never work."
Ashen stared blankly at the girl to his right who met him with a beaming smile.
"I love them all, but sometimes I need a break," She giggled, "Besides, I can actually do what I've been wanting to do now that you're conscious and I'm not wearing that silly sheet."
He eyed her curiously, what the hell did she mean by that?
"Hold still," She smiled and lifted both of her delicate hands. The mendi on her hands laced about her fingers like gold circuits in a computer chip. Before he could do anything about it, her light fingertips touched on both of his temples.
Immediately, a rush of energy rummaged through his brain, reminding him of the impulses that the summons used to send him. He saw flashes of images, his memories, but he was not the one bringing them up. He was not fully aware of what was happening, but he knew he didn't like it.
Forcing her hands away, he shot back several feet from the girl. Even after falling off the bench he continued to back up. His red eyes wide with alarm and confusion, holding himself protectively on the ground, his breath ragged.
Aleura looked at him confused and concerned, "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you did I? It not supposed too…"
"What the hell did you do to me?!" he barked at her, his voice sounding both angry and confused.
She was taken aback, no one's ever spoken to her like that before. "I'm sorry. I was only trying to help. I thought that if I could scan your memories I could understand how to be of better help to you. I didn't see anything, if you're worried about that?" her voice meek and innocent.
Scan memories? More like mind rape! In all his days of with Dynasty, even with scientist who tested him and examined him every which way, never did they do anything like what she did to him. At least not to his knowledge.
Ashen continued to stare up at her dangerously, "Just stay the hell out of my head, got it?!" His composure returned to him, "Besides…" He stood up, "I won't be here long enough for you to worry about what's in there."
Shock enveloped her face, "What?" she hopped off the bench and scurried over to him, "You can't leave! You're still recovering from your injuries!"
He took a step towards the hallway, "I'm fin…" No sooner then when he said this did his legs gave way beneath him.
Aleura intercepted him before he fell, keeping him up by acting as a human crutch. Ashen looked down at the girl trying to help and scowled at her attempts. He pushed her away roughly, not caring if he fell; though he didn't fall. "Get off! I don't need your help," He told her coldly.
Dejected and confused, Aleura looked at him. All she was doing was trying to help, why was he being this way to her? He began to walk away from her, "Wait!" She cried to him.
His red eyes flashed once more, "I'm leaving now…"
"I know… and I have no intention of keeping you here against your will. But please rest here a few more days, you are not well enough to brave the Frontier yet. If you give us a few more days we can prepare supplies for your journey."
"I don't need your charity…"
"I know…but please accept it?" a hint of strength resided in her sweet voice.
He stared at her coldly for a moment. What she said did make sense, his injuries could still be a hindrance to him and without supplies he wouldn't last long. He sighed in defeat, "Fine…I'll rest here for a few more days."
A relieved smile graced her rosy lips, "That's all I ask of you."
