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Author: nameless
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III – An unexpected proposal
I swallowed hard as it hit me fully, I did need help. My head began to feel cloudy and all I could do was nod. “Come.” He said gently placing his hand on my unhurt shoulder and guiding me down the alley. “I’ve rented a room at the hotel.”
I didn’t argue or fight as the blood loss became more apparent and I began to sway. I don’t remember what happened next but the next thing I remember is waking up in his hotel room, a small one room place with one bed that I slept on as he sat with his eyes closed his arms crossed and his head lowered.
“Good morning.” He said not looking up. He wasn’t wearing a robe this time, I could see it hanging on the wall and I again marveled at how nice his clothing looked. He wore a nice clean white short sleeve shirt and long white pants of material that I could only guess with patterns trailing the corners and a large symbol on his back.
“Uh…yea.” Was what I came back with sitting up and rubbing my shoulder, which was now all bandaged up. “You did this?” He nodded. “Why?”
He looked up at me finally opening his eyes. “Would you rather have had me leave you there to die?”
I clenched my jaw swallowing hard. “I don’t like getting help.”
He smiled. “You’re very proud, which is astonishing for someone with so little.”
“Listen here, I don’t know who you are but you can’t talk to me like that!” I said standing up angrily, preparing for a fight. Whatever effect the blood loss had on me was over and I was no longer under any spell from him.
“Calm down that was a compliment. Being happy with nothing is close to enlightenment. To be one with everything around you and need nothing for your physical body.”
My face changed from anger to confusion. “What are you talking about?”
He smiled. “Maybe that was coming on too strong. Have you ever heard of a monk son?”
I looked him up and down again my anger only fading slowly as I shook my head. “Stop calling me son.”
He nodded. “Alright I’m sorry.” He smiled which again seemed to oddly calm me. “A monk is a holy man. We hone our bodies into weapons for our God.”
I scoffed. “God?” I rubbed my chin. “A holy warrior, you mean like a Paladin?”
“Sort of, but while they use weapons and armor enchanted by their magic…Monks train our minds to be able to use our body more efficiently then anyone else on Norrath.” He paused. “And yes I do still worship my God, and although there aren’t as many true Monks anymore they do exist.”
“In Qeynos.”
He nodded. “Mostly yes, Freeport sort of shuns the practice.”
“More like its illegal.” I said smugly. Growing up on the streets of Freeport and surrounded by the constant talk of how horrid Qeynos is I naturally grew to hate them as well. I had never met anyone from Qeynos, but justified it as being loyal to my city.
“Yes I suppose.” He said as I smiled. I finally knew why he was sneaking around.
“You know I should probably turn you into the nearest guard.” I said with a smirk
He smiled right back, looking me strait in the eye. “I think what you meant to say is you should extort me for whatever you can get in return for not turning me in.”
I chuckled rubbing the back of my head. “That’d work too.”
He nodded. “It would, I would be glad to oblige, but…
“And what?” I said interrupting him getting angry. “You save my life, tell me some nice storys, and what? You expect me to start believing in God? Become a Monk?” I shook my head. “I am not a Monk, I do not believe in any God…and I never will.” I said harshly.
He was quiet as he walked closer, not breaking eye contact. “I sense something within you. Something special.” He said softly. “I know you feel it too, you’re way beyond your peers. You’re smarter without having to study, stronger without having to work out. Do you really want to become another street brawler? Just some thug when you could be something special?”
I bit my lip; it took all of my restraint not to punch him in the face at that moment as I pointed my finger at him. “I will be something special.” I said firmly.
He nodded with a smile taking a few steps back to give me space. “I know, I can feel it…and I can help you get there.”
“And you just want me to betray my city, abandon my life?”
“What kind of life do you have son…what do you even know about it?”
“What do you know about it!” I said walking back up to him. “And I told you not to call me son.”
“I don’t know, but we can uncover your past and your future together. I can mold you into a good fighter, a good thinker, and hopefully a good person.” He said. “Let me give you the tools you need to be great, and not just a thug who goes around mugging people.”
I stopped, switching my train of thought. I saw the other way I should be seeing this. He was offering to train me an ancient art to make me even stronger. I would have a place to stay, food to eat and I would be getting trained by a Monk. Then when I was strong enough, when I didn’t need him anymore I would leave.
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